Sins of the Fathers, A IVth Legion Log (Now with Titans!)

[Phatsquirre1]

And now I present for inspection the humble Quad-Mortar- the real Iron within, who has turned the tide of many a game.

 

Quad Mortar Battery "Zephyr"

Echo-2-3, 411th Support Company, 52nd Grand Battalion

 

++++++++

 

+ Zephyr Two-Three, This is Vyrr, Beta 1-1, requesting fire mission, over.+

 

+ Solid copy, Vyrr Tactical, this is Zephyr. Send it.+

 

+ Requesting fire mission for Grid Alpha-Echo 0850-2631, break, direction two-hundred and eleven. How copy?+

 

+Copy that, Vyrr Tactical. Fire mission for Grid Alpha-Echo 0850-2631, direction 211.+

 

+ Affirmative. Target for foot-mobiles, 30+ in AO. Requesting phosphex-canisters+

 

+ Target is thirty-plus infantry, affirmative.+

 

+ Vyrr, please confirm: fire mission on Grid AE-0850-2631. Target 30+ hostiles. Sending four by three rounds, phosphex variant.+

 

+ Confirmed.+

 

+ Solid Copy, Vyrr. Shots over, splash in twenty.+

 

+ Shots out. Splash in twenty.+

 

+(est. fifteen second pause in chatter)+

 

+ Splash over- confirm effect.+

 

+ Good Effect, Zephyr. Preliminary suggests twenty-three hostiles down. Clearing the rest now. Standby for further fire missions+

 

+ Solid Copy, standing by for futher missions.+

 

++++++++

-Transcript of Zephyr Battery vox-logs, during the Raid on Khadros. Further analysis indicates another sixteen fire missions conducted by the battery.

 

Seen here is Battery Echo 2-3, call sign "Zephyr", conducting a fire mission on hostile legiones forces during the raid on Khadros.

 

http://i.imgur.com/CMB8kO5.jpg

 

One of a number of Quad Mortar batteries, Zephyr and its sister units have been the backbone of the 52nd's artillery during the Salient campaign- their ease of production and maneuverability a huge advantage to the highly-mobile Battalion, allowing rapid redeployment for sudden assaults and tactical withdrawals- current hallmarks of the 52nd's battle-plans.

 

 

Denied the heavier self-propelled artillery common to other Battalions, the 52nd have been forced to requisition and make use of a number of rapier variant-chassis, such as the cluster-common Omydan-pattern Recluse and Ryzan Widowmaker to fill out its depleted ranks. However, the Rapiers above are still some of the most common, and are without a doubt the most favored, their reliability, flexibility, and accuracy invaluable to the oft-embattled Iron Warriors of the 52nd. 

 

 

Such is the reputation amongst the 52nd, that to be assigned to crew one of the rapier-quad mortars is a high honor, the marriage of siege-craft and durability that the Rapier provides cementing its favor amongst the Iron Warriors of the 52nd. Where once it was held in the same regard as the role of any legionary, now, the yellow stripe of the 411th Support Company has begun to rival the power of the Tyranthikos Elite or Iron Havocs, something these echelons view with rising jealousy.

 

With that said, even those groups have to respect the humble quad-mortar, its power a lynchpin in the 52nd's repertoire, and a key component in their continued fight against the Chapter of the Rampant Eclipse.

++++++++

Edited May 5, 2018 by Phatsquirre1

[Phatsquirre1]

++++++++

Pale light kissed the air around Axiarch Arghast as he stared on, the fog of battle drifting away, a smile of supreme arrogance twisting his mouth into a sickening grimace as it uncovered the results of the furious battle that had raged here just a second ago.

 

Directly above him, the Aedifex Perditae stalked forwards, grinding the broken chassis of a dead Knight-Lancer into the dirt, its warhorns booming in triumph as their enemies fell back in disarray.

 

A shame, Arghast thought, that the Cerastus had to die this way. If only her scion had not been so vain as to challenge the might of the Aedifex, he, and his steed, might yet have lived. Such was the fate of those who twisted the Omnissiah's will to their own ends.

 

His mind refocused as the God-Engine’s horns sounded one final time, Secutarii and Cybernetica units staggering into positions of covering fire as the air crackled around them. Already aware of what was about to occur, he looked away as twin spears of light tore into the flank of the mountainside before them.

 

With a splitting crack of ionizing air, a hole the size of a fell-blade opened up in the granite walls of the hell-forge before them, and an almighty howl followed, every one of the Wolves nearby charging forwards, eerie green light bathing them as they rushed into the maw of the tech-crypt.

 

Arghast shivered, and felt his smile twist into a frown as he considered the entrance to the forge. For all his faith, for all his conviction, he was still glad to remain outside of that abyss, and glad to accompany his charge back to her ark-conveyor now that their mission was complete. Something wrong emanated from the blackness of that forge, and he watched with trepidation as Magos Khortan scuttled inside, flanked by his Castellax retinue, a spot of black and green against the storm grey of the VIth.

 

Arghast had no doubt that whatever the mysterious Magos sought, he would find in that stronghold of heretek design. The Axiarch just hoped that he was off-world when that happened.

 

He turned away, mimicking the disinterested Aedifex as she lurched off owards the coffin-ship descending in the distance, and felt a rueful smile worm its way back onto his face at the sight of his blessed charge walking so freely, thankfully untouched by the vagaries of war.

 

It was time to get off of this forsaken world.

 

Time to move on to better things.

++++++++

 

Hey guys,

 

So just a quick update, today I played a fantastic 11,000 point Apocalypse game with two of the frater here on B&C (Guiltysparc and Nova_Chron), and finally had the chance to put down the Aedifex Perditae and see what she was made of. While I'll leave most of the game and pictures to a thread I hope to put up in the AOD/Apoc section soon, I would just like to leave this here, probably my favorite two photos of them all (which are courtesy of Guiltysparc and his eye for cool mid-battle pictures):

 

http://i1374.photobucket.com/albums/ag437/Phatsquirre1/05292db8-3a70-4273-8823-32877c79ae82_zpsdpthd3oy.jpg

 

Obligatory battlefield shot.

 

http://i1374.photobucket.com/albums/ag437/Phatsquirre1/8f0b4cea-2833-40aa-bc6e-9ef477d3fdd3_zpsvess5urd.jpg

Peek-a-boo, mother

[Guiltysparc]

Thanks for the game man, it was awesone!

[Phatsquirre1]

No way, I should be thanking you, it was a riot to play!

 

Princeps Herbert sends his regards. 

[hushrong]

Obligatory battlefield shot.

 

http://i1374.photobucket.com/albums/ag437/Phatsquirre1/8f0b4cea-2833-40aa-bc6e-9ef477d3fdd3_zpsvess5urd.jpg

Peek-a-boo, mother:cuss

Yes!

[Phatsquirre1]

The Mathematics of War

Havoc Squad Crythe, “De Primo Bello”

411^th Support Company, 52^nd Grand Battalion

 

"The complete or partial destruction of the enemy must be regarded as the sole object of all engagements . . . Direct annihilation of the enemy's forces must always be the dominant consideration."

-attr. Karl Von Klausevitz, Strategos-General, M1

 

++++++++

 

Ibraghim Crythe watched the enemy armor element swerve away from the Iron Warriors’ defenses, their vehicles outmatched and outgunned by the concentration of Artillery and Heavy Weapons hidden behind the meters-thick ceramite walls of the IVth Legion Bastion, impervious to the heavy ordnance of the foe’s armor. Pin-point accurate barrages hammered down onto the Bearer’s tanks, cracking some open and immobilizing others, and quickly, the enemy began to fall back, pulling out to find another avenue of assault.

 

To the armor officer’s credit, they rallied and began to push onto the position Crythe’s squad now held. It was a sound choice, the high rock formations providing a fantastic defilade against the 52^nd’s artillery which led right up to the walls of the bastion proper. Unfortunately for them, the Iron Warriors had figured that out long before.

 

He and his brothers stood alone on one of the plateaus, surrounded by sandbagged positions. There were other Iron Warriors nearby, but Crythe didn’t know, or care, for their exact assignments or disposition. It wasn’t that he was cold or callous like that bastard Sargaethon, rather, it was that who they were didn’t matter to Crythe, at least not at the moment. They would do their jobs, and he would do his. Khyze knew what he was doing.

 

As if on cue, the Warsmith’s voice came over the vox-net, the crackle of gunfire and sounds of combat sneaking into his transmission. He sent a short burst, not waiting for a reply, knowing Crythe would follow it to the letter.

 

‘Crythe. You will stop the armor advance and hold them long enough for us to encircle them.  Centurion Vyedz will coordinate the defense of the rest of your force, but you will hold this spot or die, no matter what.’

 

Crythe nodded to himself as his picked up the portable heavy weapon at his feet, his hands sliding the cable-feeds attached to his backpack into the slot on the Lascannon’s underside, a low whine escaping the casing as the weapon came online. He grunted in approval as he judged the angles and sight-lines of his kill-zone, studying the area for positions that would afford his squad the best chances of killing their targets, his knack for it one of the reasons he had made Sergeant so early. By the time the first Predator rounded the kill-box, he had every angle, every corner and outcropping factored in, his Havocs placed to maximize their killing power.

 

He broke comms-silence to give the order, a faint note of indifference slipping from his voice as he signaled to begin the slaughter.

 

‘Havocs, Kill.’

++++++++

 

 

Sighted during the operations on Salient during the close of the campaign, Havoc Squad Crythe is seen here advancing after engaging armor elements in support of a company strength push by the 52^nd. Armed with Ryza-pattern lascannons, a choice made to offset the 52^nd’s lack of armor, the counterattacking XVIIth Legion Forces were deprived of vehicle support long enough to allow IVth Legion reinforcements to arrive.

 

 

The above account is a prime example of the no-nonsense attitude of the squad in fulfilling its role, taking no accolades or pride in killing its enemy, focusing on completing their assigned task and nothing  more, unlike other units in the Battalion. Rather, the squad is a notable link from to the typical line unit of the 52^nd, largely unconcerned with the dramatic and with no appetite for unnecessary combats, preferring to utilize its strength in well-organized attacks which afford the 52^nd numerical superiority, rather than expend lives in fruitless frontal assaults for glory or commendations.

 

 

This has, however, certainly left a rift between the more callous and glory-hungry elements of the legion, to the point where Crythe has argued heatedly with some of the more violent in his battalion, such as And’r Jolus, who views his tactics as cowardly and unbefitting of an Iron Warrior. Only the 52^nd’s, and by extension Jolus’, innate respect for the Havoc corps has stymied most altercations, although that line comes closer to being crossed every time the two interact.

 

Regardless of the internal politicking of the 52^nd, the fact remains that Crythe Havoc Squad holds a respectable record among its peers, and offers Warsmith Khyze a reliability that is hard to find amongst a brotherhood whose hatred can overwhelm them at times. They are a rock around which the Iron Warriors can ebb, and can be found in the thick of combat, carving apart any vehicles that come into its sights. 

Edited May 5, 2018 by Phatsquirre1

[Phatsquirre1]

Okay guys,

 

Here's one of my aircraft that has long deserved be put up in honor of his achievements, which range from surviving in almost every game he's seen to single-handedly winning a game for me. Also, unlike that obnoxious Storm Eagle, he was a great model to build and paint.

 

Without further ado,

On Wings of Fire, pt. II

Accipiter 8-5, Rarog Air Detachment

52^nd Grand Battalion, IVth Legion Astartes

++++++++

‘Wait one.’

 

The words were accompanied by a hand that found itself inches from legionary Sarbaan’s face, holding up a single finger that threatened to be torn off by the frustrated legionary.

 

As if the finger’s owner, an astartes named Rythe, knew what Sarbaan was thinking, he looked down at the bolter held in his other hand, pointed both away-from-and-right-at Sarbaan’s gut. The meaning was clear: Shut up, and simmer down.

 

Not that Sarbaan didn’t have the right to be pissed. He was one of the few marines left of Squad Dheved, whose eponymous leader lay nearby, his oh-so-valiant brains leaking out onto the floor of the trench-works they had so effectively “taken” about an hour ago. He was joined by ten other astartes, whose bodies lay in various states of ruin, all thanks to a single Mangonel Duncrawler that the Syfrakti had managed to get from somewhere.

 

Thankfully, the artillery platform was some kind of half-breed knockoff, armed with quad-mortars instead of the helix-mortar they usually carried. But getting to it was proving to be a problem, and the Syfrakti didn’t need plasma-weaponry if they could pin down the IVth long enough to shell them into oblivion.

 

Rythe, on the other hand, seemed to be enjoying this somewhat more, since he had become less of an rancorous feth-head and more animated as time wore on. Maybe it was Dheved being dead. Maybe Rythe was just a psychopath. Sarbaan was disposed to assume the latter.

 

As if trying to reinforce Sarbaan’s beliefs, Rythe chuckled quietly as another marine handed him a barely functioning vox-set and started murmuring to himself. A few seconds later, he chuckled again, and dropped the set into the mud as he stood up from cover. Sarbaan went to pull him down, taken aback by absurdity of the action, but caught sight of a flash of iron, fire streaking from its nose before his world erupted in blood and thunder.

 

By the time he shook the aftereffects of the sensory barrage clear, everything but the four Iron Warriors in the courtyard was dead or running.

 

‘We’re clear, Accipiter. Our thanks for the show.’

 

Rythe, somehow now on top of the parapet, took a moment to glare at Sarbaan expectantly before turning towards the fleeing Syfrakti.

 

Sarbaan frowned, and hustled out of the bunker, joining his squad once more as they pushed towards the factory. Four astartes were supposed to take the complex.

 

It would be one hell of a day.

++++++++

-Recording of Elham Sarbaan, Legionary, Rythe Tactical Squad, during the Raid on Khadros.

 

Seen here is Accipiter 8-5, one of a number of Fire Raptor Gunships in service to the 52^nd Grand Battalion.

 

 

Captured in action during the Raid on Khadros, 8-5, and its wing-mates in Accipiter Squadron, have been involved in every action since First Contact, flying various missions in pursuit of the 52^nd Battalion’s objectives.

 

Favored for its heavy payload, durability, and endurance in theatre, the Fire Raptors of squadrons such as Accipiter have enjoyed the full favor of the Battalion, who uses them in the way they were designed- as fire support platforms for ground operations, tasked with clearing light armor and infantry from landing zones in advance of the wings of Storm Eagles and Drop-ships used so commonly by the 52^nd.

 

 

Accipiter Squadron, however, is unique in its deployment as a direct sub-formation of the Rarogii Interceptor cadre, allowing it more freedom in its missions. Typically, 8-5 and its kin will accompany the Rarogii in airspace clearance, and begin individual operations once enemy air elements have been neutralized, engaging in whatever missions its commanders deem necessary. In this way they act as a sort of stopgap mobile reserve and reinforcement.

 

 

8-5 in particular is famous for its record of service that predates the heresy, and shows its scars of honor proudly. In particular, it is honored for both the annihilation of an Ork Dreadnought mob during the Samaphant Crisis, and its role in the evacuation from Auror, during which it flew protection missions for Warsmith Khyze himself, holding off waves of Word Bearers long enough for Vyrr Tactical to recover him and get him to the safety of the Steel Valkyrie. In honor of this, Accipiter 8-5 has unofficially become Khyze’ personal escort craft, and allowed first choice in its missions.

 

++++++++

Edited May 5, 2018 by Phatsquirre1

[Phatsquirre1]

Wow... 

 

Time really flies by, huh? Been over a year since I've updated this log. 

 

As per the B&C site wide requests, I am just posting to indicate that this log is still active and in use, and the broken links will be fixed shortly.

 

Glory to the IVth!

 

[Dantay VI]

I am glad about that, I just started reading through it and got really disappointed when the PB wrecked the visual pleasure of seeing your models.

 

Stories are really well written too. :tu:

[Phatsquirre1]

But i thought the stock "click for photos" image was what everyone actually wanted.... 

 

But on a serious note, thanks.   I feel I've done a great disservice by not updating this log. Need to get the ball rolling on that and finish the 52nd's story. 

[Phatsquirre1]

Gotta love when you say you'll update a thread, and then don't for another year. 

 

Anyways, I managed to actually get myself moving.  Broke out my Battalion to see just how much I had left and do some mental prep for the ETL. Not far to go before these boys are complete, dependent on my transfers holding out.

 

 

As of this moment, I only have the following to finish off:

 

• 5x Tyrants
• 10x Marines (5x Volkite Calivers, 5x Bolter- may make them a Veteran squad...)
• 1x Rhino
• 1x Predator Executioner
• 1x Whirlwind (maybe, may go somewhere else)
• 1x Leviathan

Crazy to think I'm so close to calling these guys finished, but we'll see, as my habit to buy stuff ensures no project is "finished" for long. I've already got a Land Raider and Sicaran i'm considering adding to the 52nd...

 

 

[BrotherEndcat]

Iron Within, Iron Without! Always fun to come back to an old thread :D Went through a bunch of the older posts in this thread just before and man everything completed looks fantastic! Keen to keep up to date with this one :D

[Phatsquirre1]

Thanks Endcat, appreciate the compliment!  Just need to make sure I don't end up doing what I did last year...aka not working on any Iron Warriors whatsoever. Luckily, with the ETL coming up I should have more than enough motivation to get these boys done!

[Phatsquirre1]

Well, after a real long time without photos, I am proud to present the following, my first ETL VII vow:

 

 

Tyranthikos Squad Serpakhov:

 

 

Ancient Tarasque Sedargaddon, The Tyrant-Primus, Leviathan Dreadnought:

 

 

Alexos Daman, The Ashwalker, Storm-Lieutenant of the 52nd Grand Battalion:

 

 

 

Despite the pict-feed failure (potato photos ftw), these are the first Iron Warriors i've painted in years, and boy, does it feel good to get back into the swing of it. 

 

Of course, I'll be writing up some fluff for each unit, and taking better photos (Emperor willing...), but for now, I'm just glad I got them done. 

Edited June 10, 2019 by Phatsquirre1