Battle Report - Ambush at Huygens Reach

[sataniel]

Ambush at Huygens Reach

 

999.M41

 

“The Damocles Gulf. This small region of space, that the upstart Tau claim it for themselves in defiance of the Imperium of Man, the rightful ruler of the galaxy.

It has seen its share of war, death and suffering, especially in the last couple of hundreds of years.

 

Reports of renegade marines actions in the area have attracted the attention of strike force “Solon” of the blessed on =classified= mission.

 

The renegade’s identified as belonging to the thrice cursed Night Lords legion have been tracked to the unimportant world of Huygens Reach. Once alive, now dead. Only ruins and desolation greet the unlikely visitor.

 

What are the traitors doing on a dead world? This is something that the Salamanders will find out, and in the process they will expunge the renegades from the galaxy.

 

 

Adi (Salamenders player): Knowing that it was played just for fun the idea of using a Vulkan He’stan list was dropped quickly. I also slightly got above the 1500 pts. Mark. I hope Mihai won’t be upset about this.

I chose the mandatory 2 troops choices as standard marine squad as I usually run them and added just the meltaguns to give me some more oomph against armour, believing that flamers would be next to useless against marines. I also gave them transports to act as taxi’s and help me get quickly to objectives if need be.

I knew that I wanted to use next my rarely used Land Raider (because we have played only rarely I did not have much chance to use it), just because I like the big taxi bunker.

To fill him up I took one terminator squad with a heavy flamer to help with large amounts of wounds and a chainfist against armour.

Knowing this, I immediately thought of a commander to lead them. In this edition of the marine codex I prefer to use the Librarian for the flexibility and support it gives me with it’s psychic powers and he is no slouch in close combat either. Sometimes I use the captain or a special character but the chaplain, my favorite leader has fallen in disgrace.

I took 2 dreadnoughts for the support role, one Ironclad for CC goodness and one regular dread (if you can call a 10 ton metal monster “regular”) with plasma cannon as fire support.

To top it off I took one assault squad to cause as much havoc as possible and maybe help support one of my squads in CC if need be.

 

My strategy is to try and overwhelm the enemy with the terminators supported by the librarian and Ironclad and with the back-up of 1 of the tactical squads and the assault squads. The other tactical squad and plasma dread is used to capture objectives or support the main force.

 

 

HQ

(1) Librarian "Solon"

Terminator armour, stormbolter, the avenger, might of the ancients

130 pts

 

ELITES

(2) Ancient "Altarian" Ironclad Dreadnought

Heavy flamer, meltagun, chainfist

145 pts

(3) Ancient "Kadai" Dreadnought

Plasma cannon, heavy flamer

125 pts

(4) 4 Terminators + Sergent

Heavy flamer, chainfist

210 pts

 

TROOPS

(5) 9 Tactical marines + Sergent "Rampart"

2 meltagun, power fist

200 pts

(6) Rhino

35 pts

(7) 9 Tactical marines + Sergent "Bastion"

2 meltagun, power fist

200 pts

(8) Rhino

35 pts

 

FAST ATTACK

(9) 7 Assault marines + Sergent

Power weapon, melta bombs

174 pts

 

HEAVY SUPPORT

(10) Land Raider Crusader "Furious"

Multi-melta

260 pts

Total 1514 pts

 

Mihai (Night Lords player): Finally, after almost one and a half years, I will use my 2008 Romanian National Championships list against Adi (unfortunately, he was unable to attend that event). I wanted to see how I would have done against him if he would have attended.

First of all, the only played missions at that event were Seize Ground and Capture and Control, as the organizers decided that Annihilation would disadvantage certain armies. So I took four troops choices, which in the end at the event proved a good cannon fodder for my last draw against a superior army. This time we will play all three missions and I hope this won’t be a big disadvantage for me. Each squad has it cheap Rhino with extra armour, which would assure a better chance for my troops to keep their mobility. Most Night Lords armies have at least a Raptors squad and this is no exception. And Night Lords love lightning claws don’t they? So my aspiring champion got a pair. Second drawback I see, is that my army isn’t build for a specific army and in this game the four flamers will probably be rather useless. As support I chose a defiler. I preferred the CC version since there was a high chance I would meet some hordes army at that event (and actually I fought two hordes armies out of four played games). Finally I chose as my leader the most inspiring Night Lord leader, Nighter, who has wings and a pair of lightning claws.

 

P.S. Initially my army had a generic predator and two more flamers in it, but because at the last moment there was a problem and I didn’t have a model for my predator, I dropped it and exchanged two flamers for two meltas.

 

HQ

(1) Nighter, Chaos Lord

Pair of lightning claws, wings

140 pts

TROOPS

(2) 10 Night Lords (Chaos Space Marines)

Aspiring champion, power weapon, 2xmeltagun

200 pts

(3) Chaos Rhino

Extra armour

50 pts

(4) 10 Night Lords (Chaos Space Marines)

Aspiring champion, power weapon, 2xmeltagun

200 pts

(5) Chaos Rhino

Extra armour

50 pts

(6) 10 Night Lords (Chaos Space Marines)

Aspiring champion, power weapon, 2xflamer

190 pts

(7) Chaos Rhino

Extra armour

50 pts

(8) Night Hunters (Khorne Berzerkers)

Skull champion, power fist

208 pts

(9) Chaos Rhino

Extra armour

50 pts

 

FAST ATTACK

(10) 6 Chaos Raptors

Aspiring champion, pair of lightning claws, 2 x flamer

170 pts

 

HEAVY SUPPORT

(11) "Nancy" the defiler

2 x close combat arms

150 pts

 

Total 1458 pts

 

After the dice were thrown the fate was decided: two armies of super humans, using the most advanced battle gear, will try to annihilate each other. The nihilistic Night Lords lead by Nighter are always ready to eliminate any trace of 'civilized' life forms from the face of the galaxy, but the Emperor's trained dogs, the loyalist Space Marines, are one of the best prey the galaxy has to offer. On the other side, the pure-hearted Salamanders would purge anyone that would walk away from the Emperor's true path, but to be able to wage revenge against one of the treacherous legion is a true feast for any Salamander. The clash between these two forces can only lead to an epic battle.

 

Turn 1:

 

The fight began badly for the Night Lords, as due to bad strategy or compromised communication; their forces became split in two, each force arriving on a different quarter of the battlefield. The Salamanders took advantage of this situation, deploying the entire army massed to annihilate the left wing of the Night Lords before the other half would be able to intervene.

Trying to avoid the massive direct fire that could be directed upon them, Nighter and his raptors took refuge in an abandoned manufactorum; two rhinos filled with more Night Lords tried to reposition in order to avoid the Land Raider Crusader firepower and to get closer to the dreadnoughts. The other two Rhinos started maneuvers in order to outflank the enemy. "Nancy" from the safety of some ruins, shot her enourmous battlecannon, only creating dust on the battlefield.

The Salamanders advanced towards the Night Lords' position. Trying to destroy one of the rhinos, the Dreadnought shot his Plasma Cannon but hit the manufactorum. The manufactorum shook and two of the raptors got killed by the ruble that crushed them.

 

Turn 2:

 

One of the rhinos on the left wing sprang across the battlefield towards the Dreadnought and the Ironclad, leaving more space for the other rhino to maneuver to safety. The other rhinos on the far right side continued their outflanking maneuvers. "Nancy" blew again its Battlecannon, its shot falling close to its target, yet so far away.

Though the Rhino left near the Manufactorum had more space to avoid being caught in direct fire, it was not able to outmaneuver the crew of the Salamander's Land Raider Crusader, who sneaked behind it and shot its linked assault cannon, turning the rhino in nothing more then a crater. The rhino's explosion shook again the fragile structure of the manufactorum, two more raptors loosing their life in the rubles. Also one Night Lord was not able to make it out of the Rhino before it exploded. The Salamanders gave the Night Lords no time to breathe, as the Land Raider Crusader's frontal hatch opened, giving way to the Librarian and his terminator armoured escort. They threw themselves at the Night Lords engulfing them in the purifying fires of heavy flamers. Though the surviving Night Lords from the exploded Rhino were able to avoid the flames, the mechanisms of the raptor with a flamer that was in near vicinity overheated and exploded, living behind only chunks of burned flesh and ceramics. The librarian called upon the powers of the emperor, throwing avenging lightings at the Night Lords. The Raptors Aspiring Champion, who was exiting the cursed manufactorum that took four of his men, got caught in the poring lightning dieing along with two other Night Lords who couldn't avoid the librarian's wraith. The terminators closed down upon the Night Lords to finish the kill. In a desperate attempt the aspiring champion swung his power weapon against the librarian but was unable to harm him, while his men cornered the terminators' sergeant bringing him to his knees. Seeing their sergeant fall, the rest of the terminators, aided by the help and guidance of the librarian hacked down all remaining Night Lords squad with the exception of the Aspiring Champion who fled the battlefield, finding himself against such uneven odds. Nighter saw both this squad and his raptors fall right in front his eyes and his anger grew.

 

Turn 3:

 

From the remaining Rhino on the left side, the mighty Night Lords disembarked. Two melta beams were launched at the Ironclad, but the massive structure of the Ironclad was able to resist the damage, leaving only its occupant briefly dazed. Enraged, Nighter opened his wings and flew over the Manufactorum falling upon the assault marines that were just entering it. Five hits of his lightning claws, five salamanders fell down dead. Trying to save his men the sergeant threw himself at Nighter trying to take him down, but even though his force weapon hit Nighter, the wound was just superficial. Another brave assault marine, charged Nighter and was able to hit him with his chainsword over the chest, inflicting a wound that would have killed any other space marine. "Nancy" shot again, but her target was protected by a cloud of smoke and she missed again.

The Land Rider Crusader's Assault Cannon opens fire upon the closest Night Lords Rhino, but even though it hits it three times, it is unable to cause any major damage. The weapon crew of one of the Salamanders' Rhinos opens fire upon the Night Lords squad who attacked the Ironclad, tearing one down to bits. The Dreadnought put all effort into taking down the rest of the squad, but a malfunction at its plasma cannon makes the shot miss its target and only kill one Night Lord of the squad. Another one is to die under the heavy flames poured by the massive walker. Seeing the squad in trouble, the other Salamander rhino opens fire upon them, but even though the occupants shoot a melta and a volley of bolters as well, they are unable to make anymore casualties. The Dreadnought now closes down upon the squad tearing two Night Lords in half with its massive power fists. Seeing their brothers fall under the rage of Nighter, a squad of salamanders joins the battle. Nighter ignores them concentrating on the remaining assault marines, but because of his chest wound he is unable to wound any of them fataly. Taking upon the moment the salamanders sergeant of the other squad closes up on Nighter hitting him with his power fist. Mortally wounded, Nighter decides it would be better to take revenge upon the Salamanders another day, then to die there for nothing, so he flies away from the battlefield.

 

Turn 4:

 

The empty Night Lords' rhino tried to block a Salamanders rhino and at the same time get a good position to fire upon a squad of Salamanders. The tactic proved successful and one space marine fell at the fire of the twin linked bolter. Finally the other two rhinos get in their positions, but a bit too late, as the salamanders are waiting for them. The dreadnought and the squad of Night Lords remain locked in combat without any of them being able to inflict damage upon the other. "Nancy" fires... and misses.

The Ironclad fires upon the closest of the rhinos that was trying to outflank it immobilizing it. The second squad of Salamanders who have just disembarked from their rhino shoot their melta at the same Night Lords rhino. The beam goes right through the driver's cabin and into the main engine, transforming the rhino into a wreck. Its occupants, while disembarking, are welcomed with volleys of stormbolters from both Salamanders' rhinos, but they walk unscratched. The three surviving assault marines try to help the dreadnought finish its job faster, but the Night Lords turn their attention to them taking one of them down. The sergeant decides it is better to retreat.

 

Turn 5:

 

The ambushed ambushers decide to return the warm welcoming by opening fire upon the Salamanders squad who destroyed their transport, killing two. Afterwards they proceeded in assaulting them killing their sergeant and three more of them. Even though the Salamanders manage to kill one of the offenders, they decide to retreat, leaving others to take revenge for their loss. The dreadnought manages to kill two more Night Lords, but they stubbornly keep fighting the metallic monster. And lets not forget "Nancy" who targets a rhino and... misses, but the shoot ricochets in the assault marine sergeant killing him. The only assault marine left is the courageous Salamander who was able to inflict the wound upon Nighter. Alone he decides to take cover in a nearby ruin and await further orders.

The Ironclad lets off the purifying flames upon the previously victorious squad of Night Lords carbonizing one of them. The librarian disembarks again from the Land Raider Crusader, close to this squad. His psychic powers and the heavy flamers take down three more Night Lords. After their recent defeat, the Salamanders squad makes up by taking down the Night Hunters rhino, two of the Night Hunters dying in the explosion. The tactical squad assaults the Night Hunters, while the Ironclad and the terminators assault the other squad of Night Lords. Though, the Aspiring Champion tries his best to hit the librarian even though he manages to wound twice with his force weapon, the injuries are barely seeable and he and his men are massacred under the heavy power fists of the Ironclad and terminators without inflicting any damage back. The Salamanders kill three more Night Hunters losing only one of their own.

 

Though the tactical fight is over, the Salamanders taking out seven of the Night Lords assets without any of their forces being wiped, though some of them taking a high toll, the war between this two combatants goes on until there will be only one ruling the battlefield.

 

Turn 6:

 

Finally the defiler, leaving the safety of its cover moves closer to the massacre. Only three Night Hunters, a Rhino and an aspiring champion fighting for his survival with a dreadnought are left standing on its side. "Nancy" aims the terminators and finally her aim is true, the librarian being gravely injured. His body is dragged inside the Land Raider Crusader where it will receive the needed medical care. The Night Hunters are killed, but not before they take down two more of their enemies.

After the Night Lords rhino is destroyed all the fire power is concentrating upon "Nancy" and she looses one of her four arms. The Ironclad assaults "Nancy" but she not only defends from his attacks, but rips his armour apart crushing the sarcophagus in her claws. A mighty machine falls as a mighty warrior should, in the fires of the battlefield.

 

Turn 7:

 

Trying to place a krak grenade on the dreadnought the aspiring champion exposes himself and is crushed by the dreadnought power fist.

"Nancy" shoots at the Land Raider Crusader that was carrying the librarian body, trying to finish what her previous shot started but she is unable to penetrate its massive armour. More fire power is directed at her destroying her legs and another arm.

 

Turn 8:

 

Immobilized, “Nancy” fires at the dreadnought in front of her, though the dreadnought remains untouched.

The Land Raider Crusader’s melta gives her coup de grace, but the Dark Mechanicus of The Night Lords are ready to catch her spirit and put it in another of their soulless cybernetic space marines, which will be caged with a new lesser daemon in the belly of a new defiler body.

 

 

Aftermath:

 

Although the battle had been costly, the enemy forces have been annihilated . Also many of the fallen brothers, including the venerable Altarion, have been saved by the quick intervention of the strike forces apothecaries.

The only blemish to a memorable victory remains with the escape in to the night of the hated enemies leader. Of his reasons for visiting the dead world nothing is known….

 

Adi:

I am the lord of hellfire! And I bring you….Fire!

 

Well, most things went according to plan, and I could use most of my forces to overwhelm a portion of Mihai’s army due to the fact that I waited to see his deployment and I could counter that accordingly.

I managed to use short range firepower followed by assaults to win the day.

The assault marines got almost completely wiped out, as usual, but bought me time by keeping his CC lord away from my other valuable assets. They will be remembered fondly. Also most of the other units performed well especially the Termies and the Land Raider.

Also I will not underestimate the power of the mighty defiler in CC as I was so painfully reminded.

All in all it was a memorable and enjoyable fight with Mihai being as always a very good natured gamer. Always a pleasure playing with ya mate.

 

Salamander of the match:

 

The Salamander of the match was in fact the Land Raider Crusader “Furious”. It presented me with a solid mobile firebase while helping to deliver the Terminators where they were mostly needed. The destruction of the Defiler and the Rhino was just a added bonus. I’ll be sure to use it more often in large games.

 

If I was a cursed traitor:

 

Well, Mihai tried to do his best but his largest mistake was in deploying his forces split in two, and allowing me to overwhelm him in one part of the battlefield, and this caused him to fight an uphill battle from the start.

I would have used the Defiler more aggressively and not just a shooting platform for most of the game, especially since it was kitted out for close combat.

Also I would have used the raptors deep strike ability to strike at some vulnerable spot in the enemies defenses and away from enemy shooting to which most of them succumbed for no real gain.

 

Mihai:

“We will come for you”… later

 

Though I lost, I think my army did very well, especially after that really bad deployment. Let us keep in mind that this wasn’t an army built against space marines. I could have deep striked my raptors, but as a last moment thought I wanted to reenact my National Championship tactics, the raptors flying behind a wall made of two rhinos speeding aggressively at the enemy. Adi’s moves didn’t allow me to use this tactic. I was so afraid of the dreadnoughts that foolishly I kept “Nancy” in “reserves”. Now I know that with a bit of luck she can take down a dreadnought and walk unscratched, so from now on I will take a chance.

 

Night Lord of the match:

 

I would have said “Nancy” the Defiler, but her destructions begun only when the game officially ended. So I think Nighter deserves this title for his dramatic swooping assault and five out of five kills.

 

If I was a loyalist dog:

 

There ain’t much I would have changed if I would have been in Adi’s shoes. Probably I wouldn’t have let my assault marines get assaulted and would have blocked the lord and second left wing squad with the two tactical squads. Only when the tactical marines would have engaged the lord and Night Lords squad, I would have brought the assault marines to turn the battle in their favor.