Battle Report: The Swarm vs The First Company

[Knyx]

This has been a long time coming, and I'd always meant to write more of the games I play up. So maybe I'll made a habit of it. Its fun to write, even if its just this and regardless of if anyone likes it. And I don't really get to write very much anymore with all this damn chemistry I have to do :"""""""(.

 

My List:

HQ|

Captain Karlean - 160 (Jump Pack/LC/Storm Shield)

Epistolary Leto - 175 (Jump Pack/Unleash Rage/Sanguine Sword)

Chaplain Kerros -125 (Jump Pack)

Honor Guard - 260 (Blood Champ/Chapter Banner/Jump Packs/3 PWs)

Heavy|

Ancient Iraal - 115 (Assault Cannon)

Elite|

Sanguinary Priest Raphael - 75 (LC)

Sternguard Squad Trucido -165 (LC/Combi Flamer/ x2 Combi-Plasma/ x2 Combi-Melta)

Troop|

Death Company - 300 (Lemartes, x2 PF)

Kain the Lost -125 (Blood Talons)

 

 

His List:

HQ|

The Swarmlord

+ Tyrant Guard with lash whips

Heavy|

Mawloc (ADGlands)

Mawloc (ADGlands)

Mawloc (ADGlands)

Elite|

Venonthrope Brood (3)

Troop|

Hormagaunts x30 (ADGlands, Toxin Sacs)

Hormagaunts x30 (ADGlands, Toxin Sacs)

 

 

 

 

Battle Missions: Infestation (Third Nid Mission)

 

I won the roll to determine my quarter (he had the other three), and deployed in the Corner with a bunch of buildings. He deployed first, 12"s out from my corner with his Gaunts in front of his Swarmlord/wfriends and Venomthropes. I deployed my Sternguard and priest in a ruined building, two floors up. The Heavy Dread was just next to them, bottom floor. Effectively everything else squared off against him, spread out a bit behind barbed wire. Didn't Seize, and Nids go first.

 

 

 

Karlean had brought up the tactical display and watched the timer tick. The Planet would burn to ash under the purging fires of Exterminatus in less than thirty minutes, or so he was told around twenty minutes ago. At the news Bloodcaller had reacted instantly moving from interdiction status to low orbit, literally plowing its way through smaller hive-vessels and performing a roll (that he did not think Battle Barges were capable of) in order to launch its entire hanger of 20 Stormravens and 5 Thunderhawks at cruising speed directly into atmosphere to evac the remainder of the First company from the planet. The Imperial Navy, commandeered by Inquisitorial power could not move capital ships out of interdiction. The Admiral found a loophole by raising an open comm channel and ordering fighter command to "Patrol the the edge of the planetary sphere enforce...".

 

So it seemed that help was on the way, with an ETA of 6 minutes. Looking around the corner at the tide of chittering horrors approaching, he knew they would have to earn each minute.

 

He heard rather than saw Ancient Iraal succumb to the call of blood, a roar blaring from his vox-speakers. Yes, he thought... but they would earn each minute.

Turn one:

 

Top:

The beasts stampeded forward, directed by the enormous Tyrant in their midst. Advancing over open ground at first, and then just as fast through the outskirts of the city. Epistolary Leto felt an intensity from the the Monster that he had never felt before, but channeled his power into his dampening psychic hood and won out in the end, letting out a grunt of exertion as he battled wills with the beast. The rest of the swarm ran on regardless, and the Death company found themselves charged by a swarm of Gaunts'. Talons scythed trough the air and, despite the skill with a blade each member of the Death Company possessed, many bit home.

Karlean watched helplessly as the armor of every member was shredded under the onslaught... but swelled with pride and not a little awe as every member fought on heedless of grievous wounds. Lemartes fought at the speed of the beasts, death incarnate, and each swing of the Blood Crozius ended a life. The Death company reacted moments slower, but carved up a number of the fiends in a frenzy none the less.

 

Bottom:

The Death Company stood alone against the horde, but not for long. Karlean gave short orders over the command channel, "Squad Trucido, stay in the tower and be ready. There is something else afoot here. Pick your shots and be ready to support. Raphael, stick with them. Ancient Iraal, would you support the Lost One?"

 

The response was not said over vox, but still drowned out the sounds of combat "I WILL WATCH OVER BROTHER KAIN."

"Good...", Karlean looked over his shoulder at his honor guard. He made eye-contact with each in turn, and then with Kerros and Leto and with no further comment, he ignited his jump pack and flew on wings of fire to the aid of the death company. He knew his honor guard followed him, and trusted him implicitly with their lives. They landed just feet before both swarms of gaunts, and heard from his curses that Ancient Kain was close behind them. Raphael and the Sternguard shot into the Venemthropes, Kraken rounds and Bolter rounds tore one of them apart and left another wounded. Ancient Iraal's Assault Cannon tore it and the third to shreds.

 

With a look back, Karlean judged that Kain was heading for the second swarm of gaunts. He would need no help. The First Captain and his Honor Guard made a wedge and speared into the gaunt's in combat with the Death company. The Lost one took a more direct approach, and simply crashed his bulk into the other swarm, knocking many of them aside even as they futility attempted to slice through his Adamantium casket. Kain tore 18 of them to pieces before he became bogged down by corpses. So close to a synapse creature, the gaunts threw themselves fearlessly at Kain and he crushed them. The Death Company finally lost a member to glorious combat, but the combined might of the First Company and the Death Company snuffed out the remaining gaunts. Adrenaline pumping, both squads closed with the Swarmlord and his Guard. Kain lumbered the same direction.

 

Turn two

 

Top:

Blood singing in his veins, Karlean looked with grim satisfaction at the scene around him. Now there was only this last set of beasts. Yet even as he said that, Two towering monsters erupted from the ground around the battle. One of them immobilized Ancient Iraal, the gears in his legs bent asunder by the force of the impact. The other killed two of the death company and sent Lemartes flying. Lemartes regained his balance, but lost himself in the process. His fury had become unbound, rage and hate radiated off the Chaplain in waves Karlean swore he could feel. The Swarmlord crushed its way closer but moved slower, finding the city harder to navigate.

 

Bottom:

Kain continued toward the Swarmlord, oblivious to everything else. This time, Karlean knew, he would need help. He and his Guard launched themselves into the air and landed near Kain, offering him warriors salutes as he he caught up with them. The Death Company edged towards the Mawloc who had killed their members, like wolves they moved to encircle it. Lemartes moved the smallest distance closer, and Karlean could not help but feel sorry for the Mawloc as he saw the tension in the movement. Lemartes was a coiled snake before a strike. Ancient Iraal strained, but could not move... so he faced the monstrosity in front of him and spoke "SUFFER NOT THE ALIEN." while revving his assault cannon.

 

Squad Trucido saw the Ancient's plight, and at the speed only veteran Astartes are capable of, doubled timed it down a floor while unlatching the safeties from their combi weapons. The distintive hum of Plasma and thrum of Melta cut the air as they made it to the first floor, and saw that they would not have time to use the stairs again. Veteran Sergeant Mikael made the distinction clear in an instant, deciding to forgo the stairs. Hunching his shoulders he broke the window and jumped the remaining 20 feet, landing odd but rolling back to his feet. His squad and Rafael thudded down behind him, and they took aim. Iraal shot first, and his assault cannon blew holes in the beast... but it was Squad Trucido's torrent of Combi-Plasma, Hellfire, and particularly a Combi-Melta shot to the brain, that felled the creature.

 

The Death Company Locked their Bolters and let a hail of rapid fire to wound the Mawloc they faced.

Kain furiously charged the Swarmlord, who moved into contact and who's guard surrounded him. Karlean and Honor Guard quickly moved to support him. Karlean, Kerros and Leto squared of against a Tyrant Guard a piece. The Honor Guard surrounded the Swarmlord. Kerros chanted the Litany of blood, while Leto's blade grew a deep crimson. Kain did not even get a chance to attack, lash whips bogging him and everyone else down. In horror, the Blood Angels watched as the Swarmlord tore apart the armor and destroyed the honored brother within, wreaking the dreadnought many times over. Karlean and Leto even took wounds from Tyrant guard before they regained themselves. Karlean could not believe his eyes... he had known of Kain since he was an initiate, and now Kain was torn asunder, a smoldering wreak of metal. Iron resolve and cold fury set itself in his bones, "Ancient Kain will be recovered at all costs, his deeds know to the chapter. I swear this by the blood of our Father, and on the honor of the First Company.", he vowed through gritted teeth.

 

A ripple through his command squad told him that they would see his vow completed or die trying. Karlean, Leto and Kerros each killed a Tyrant Guard on their own. The Honor Guard made good on his vow, dealing 4 serious wounds to the creature and (with the help of the deaths of the Tyrant Guard) driving it into a fearless frenzy that saw it butchered by the Blood Angels.

 

Karlean turned around to find that, to no ones surprise but the Mawloc's, Lemartes had beat its skull into an ichor-stained pulpy mass. The Guardian of the Lost was a force of nature when enraged, he knew.

Called game:

Karlean stood in the cabin aboard his Stormraven, "Arch Angel". While his Honor Guard and the remains of Honored Kain remained safe aboard this ship, the Thunderhawk ahead of them carried the rest of those he had just fought with. He was receiving data from Bloodcaller that all ships had recovered the remaining First Company, with minimum casualties and were also making their way back to the Barge at full speed.

He looked back to the planet, a jewel in space. Ruby red as it burned to ash.

[Warprat]

Great battle! I enjoyed reading your story. Nice to read the emotions and background.

[Mudpuppet]

Man i was devastated when Honoured Kain was destroyed! Your a really good writer. You really got across Karlean's shock and horror.

 

Nice victory too :)

 

Mudpuppet