Letters from the Front - SchultzChaos' Battle Reports

[SchultzChaos]

Greetings, fellow Heresites!

 

This thread will focus on my and my friends' battles set during the Horus Heresy. Maybe I'll edit this post when inspiration hits or if this thread lives longer than a few moments of internet life. 

[SchultzChaos]

Battle of Beta-Garmon, Second Phase 012.M31

Promethium Plant Vexis Octa

In the later stages of the second phase of the Battle of Beta-Garmon, a resource race developed between the embattled sides. As more and more warmachines of the Legios and the Knight Houses were committed to the battle, so too was their hunger for promethium and plasma cells for their reactors. Horus used his Astartes elements as rapid strike teams, that ventured forth in armoured columns, to swiftly conquer weakly protected promethium plants and plasma reservoirs. The most daring of his Astartes elements went far behind enemy lines to not only capture precious fuel, but also to spread terror and disorder within Loyalist communication lines. Primarch Sanguinius answered Horus' raiding parties by strengthening the fuel depots and plants within the Loyalist controlled battle zones, using his own Astartes forces to collect the fuel and moving it behind the battle lines. This only provoked more vicious raids by the Warmaster's more ruthless servants, wishing to steal the promethium right from the Loyalists' hands - and at the promethium plant Vexis Octa one such raiding party met an armoured defense force as both sides tried to capture as much fuel as possible.

(3000pts battle, Night Lords vs Salamanders)

Talonmaster Joldabar, commander of the Night Lords 9th Chapter Bonehunters 1st Battalion, ordered his Talons to sweep deep into enemy territory, each Talon led by a Contekar Claw from the Talonmaster's own personal bodyguard. One such strike force, led by the Contekar Dissident Negassi, made their way towards Vexis Octa.

Herald Katesh Um'Shora of the Salamanders 6th Chapter had before the battle gathered his forces around the central promethium pumps and started to collect fuel when the Night Lords struck. The veteran legionary drew his vehicles into a tight half circle and promised his Sergeants to buy them as much time as they needed. Mounting his Land Raider transport he ordered his tank drivers to make for an armoured assault to drive back the raiders from the plant itself.

It was clear that the bridge between the outskirts and the inner circle of the plant would see the most brutal fighting during the battle. Land Raiders in midnight blue and emerald green banked towards each other as rockets, mortar shells and lascannon fire streamed down firing lanes. The first to die was the Dreadnoughts on both sides, while Legion Champion Chi'bolt of the Nostraman Jadhek Clan sped over the poisonous fields of promethium with his Attack Bikers.

[SchultzChaos]

Venerable Brother Octarian, embedded within his sarcophagus, charged into the Attack Bikers, his brothers' chassis burning around him. His mighty bulk and flailing claw killed three biker teams in the first moments of the combat, before melta bombs detonated his reactor and the Dreadnought reached his final rest. Chi'bolt led his surviving Bikers into the Salamanders' right flank, driving hard to stop the Tactical Marines from continuing collecting fuel from the pumps.

On the bridge a giant explosion could be heard as the Fire Drakes' Spartan Assault Carrier was destroyed. Both forces had requested for air support, and it was a Lightning Primaris of the Tenescowri Servitor Cadre, bearing the lightning strikes of the VIII, that responded first. Its kraken missiles blew the Spartan tank to pieces, as Herald Katesh' own transport was killed by lascannon fire. The Herald, together with Legion Champion Mombasu, gathered their squads for an assault, moving in to the Traitors' lines.

A Fire Raptor, from the nearest Loyalist Air Base, entered the battle with engines screaming, firing at tanks, Javelins and forcing the Battle Servitor within the Lightning to break from the battlefield.

Through missile fire from a midnight blue Arcus, Herald Katesh led his brothers towards the growling Land Raiders at the other end of the bridge. The Fire Drakes under Mombasu's command fared grimly, with flanking Javelins and heavy weapon fire striking the squad. Legion Champion Mombasu himself fell as three well-placed heavy bolter shells blew his softer armour parts apart, killing him as he charged forward.

Katesh and his Pyroclasts rushed into the Contekar Land Raider, placing half a dozen melta bombs over it. The combined detonations blew the tank dead in its tracks, smoke and steam belching from the disembarkation decks as the Contekar fled the dead transport.

Negassi, one of Joldabar's younger warriors, thundered into Herald Katesh and his Pyroclasts, surrounded by his Contekar brethren. From the Spartan Assault Carrier, Headsman Jadiz led his murderous Claw of Tacticals, joining Negassi's assault. Midnight and emerald thronged, hacking, cleaving. Bodies were wrenched from their feet and drowned beneath the armoured boots of their brothers.

Negassi spotted the standard of the 6th Chapter and roared a challenge, making his way through the dying Pyroclasts. Katesh steadied himself, planting his Chapter's pride into the metal plates of the bridge, standing his ground. He knew this was the end, but he would die standing, never to lose his grip on his charge.

Negassi clenched his power claw, his stare never leaving the Salamander cloth, when Sergeant Radiam stepped between the Contekar and his Herald. He took the claw right through his chest plate, his rib cage exploding inwards, destroying his organs. Negassi just stared in surprise as his claw was stuck within the Pyroclast Sergeant's chest.

"VULKAN LIVES!" the Sergeant roared and punched his power fist with full force into the Contekar's faceplate, crushing his head and killing him instantly.

Katesh watched in quiet horror as Sergeant Radiam fell over, taking the Contekar with him.

The remaining Pyroclasts gathered around their Herald, parrying and blocking every attempt on the Standard Bearers life. The sons of Nocturne proved that day, on the bridge between the outer and inner promethium plant, why their mettle and constitution is legendary. Each legionary that barred the way between the Night Lords and the Herald took dozens of wounds that would have felled a lesser man, forming an unwavering wall with their own bodies. And for a second it very much looked as if the green cliffs among the midnight tides would keep the sea at bay.

And then they fell.

A murderous rage swept through Headsman Jadiz' Claw, the Night Lords throwing themselves at the unbuckling Salamanders, hands grabbing for pauldrons and helmets, their hatred for the proud Nocturne warriors overwhelming their senses. When the first of the remaining Pyroclast fell the Night Lords struck like a shoal of sharks, each one trying to get in a stab, a punch, a cut. They gathered around the downed Salamander and hacked him to pieces, leaving nothing for their own vulture like Apothecaries to scavenge after the battle.

A lone Fire Drake stood among his dead kin, their bodies broken by high reactor shells and armour piercing rounds. He knew their names, one by one, all brothers he had fought with through the insanity of the civil war, brothers he would have gladly died for. His gaze fell on the standard, still held high in Herald Katesh' hand, as Headsman Jadiz engaged the Herald in a duel. Behind the Herald the Fire Drake glimpsed giant warriors, the remaining Contekar, mobbing up to cut down his Herald from behind.

He rushed forward, his hammer swinging in a cracked gauntlet.

[SchultzChaos]

On the other side of the battlefield, Chi'bolt and his Bikers finished off the Tacticals gathering promethium at the central pump, the Legion Champion himself claiming the life of Sergeant Vespin.

He kicked his bike into gear and barked the command for his warriors to follow him. Only a warehouse at the far end of the inner plant stood unplucked. Chi'bolt pointed his blood drenched paragon blade at the doorway to the warehouse and jolted forwards.

Sergeant Onrack and his Support Squad, who had lost contact only seconds ago with Sergeant Vespin, aimed their volkite chargers down the staircase, waiting for the inevitable. As the bikers entered the warehouse they started to fire.

The Salamander Fire Raptor went into hover mode as it strafed the Night Lords trying to gather fuel by the promethium jetty. Its gatling cannon destroyed the Tactical Claw's Rhino, but Clawleader Nagato promised swift death to any of his brothers who would try to flee. They continued with their gathering of promethium.

The Contekar saw their chance. With Negassi dead there was a vacant spot needing to be filled. Talonmaster Joldabar would reward the Contekar who would place a Chapter Standard at his feet, quickly forgetting Negassi's shameful death. They lifted their chainblades to strike down the Salamander Herald from behind when something crashed into them. A green mass, covered in cataphracti plate and swinging a monstrous thunder hammer, felled the first Contekar without any of them having time to react. He was too fast. One of the Contekar had time to give a warning as the hammer smashed into his face plate, obliterating his skull in a massive discharge. The last two Contekars abandoned any hopes of killing the Herald and flung themselves at the still moving Fire Drake. They parried, hacked and circled each other, like some prehistoric predators fighting for the kill out on the ancient steppes.

Katesh and Jadiz were locked in deadly combat, as the duelists pushed for the killing blow. Katesh had the strength to overpower the Headsman, but he had locked one of his hands onto the pole of his standard, never letting go of his grip. Jadiz was a dirty fighter, dancing between feints, blocks and cuts, more a dancer than a brawler. Katesh never uttered a word, giving the Night Lord nothing but his steel. They cut, parried, stabbed, their moves getting quicker and quicker. And then Jadiz slipped, his feet catching a body beneath him and he stumbled. Katesh saw his chance and put all his strength into one last blow, aiming for the Night Lord's head.

Katesh saw his axe blow land, before Jadiz pirouetted out of harms way. A feint! The headsman landed behind the Herald, and cut down with his sword and axe. Katesh felt his armour part and the Headsman's weapons biting deep. Something ruptured within him and he lost control of his legs. It had all happened so quick, his own axe blow still swinging down for that killing strike it would never land. Katesh was dead before he reached the ground.

The Fire Drake was fury and willpower in one. Ignoring the chainblades as they landed all over his armoured shell. The Contekar hacked at him a dozen times, and he stood, unflinching, unyielding. He could feel their desperation as they saw their own doom. He shield pommeled the right Contekar square in the face, breaking the unhelmeted Night Lords lower jaw and shattering his teeth. His hammer took the the left Contekar in the groin, crushing his armour and pulverizing his lower body. With a last swing he punched the right Contekar off his feet and down into the lake of promethium around the bridge.

For a second all was quiet on the bridge as the Fire Drake hefted his hammer and stared down Headsman Jadiz and his Claw.

"Who's next?" the Fire Drake growled.

No one of the Night Lords moved.

The Fire Drake pointed his hammer at Jadiz.

"You?"

Jadiz gazed upon the Fire Drake, his thoughts hidden behind his helmeted face.

The roar of a Laser Destroyer boomed over the battlefield, as a Night Lord Rapier Team took aim at the unprotected back of the Fire Drake. Terminator armour melted in an instant, the laser beam killing the Fire Drake where he stood. The remains of the dead warrior fell into pieces onto the bridge and down into the promethium lake.

Jadiz turned his head and led his Claw over the bridge.

Chi'bolt and his Bikers finished the Support Squad within the warehouse, Sergeant Onrack the last Salamander to fall. The Legion Champion gave a crooked smile as he gave permission for his warriors to skin the faces of the dead, himself collecting the hands of the dead Sergeant. The Bikers' trophy hunt came with a price though.

The Achilles tank Steadfast, the remaining Salamander unit within the promethium plant - after the Lightning Primaris returned on a new attack vector and blew the Fire Raptor from the sky - broke off from the battle on the bridge and sped through the inner plant, escaping to the south. What could have been a total Night Lord victory ended not as perfect as it could have been, as the Salamander tank sped towards nearby Loyalist Air Base to report the traitor success.

Neither Jadiz nor Chi'bolt cared for it. It would be easy to blame the dead Negassi and his Contekar, the punishment already dealt to the shamed Contekar Claw. The Headsman and the Legion Champion gathered the promethium from the plant and returned to traitor lines, the 6th Chapter's standard amongst the precious plunder within the Spartan Assault Tank.

And the war went on.

(NIGHT LORDS VICTORY)

[Gorgoff]

Man, I'm hooked.

Keep going!

[Ripper.McGuirl]

A: Everything about this rules.

B: I need that acid mat! Where'd you find it? 

[nusphigor]

keep them coming!
it was a really nice read with a cup of coffee in this horrible cold and rainy day!

[Marshal Vespasian]

Super cool mate keep churning em out

[Pearson73]

A great report and a great looking table and armies. Really enjoyed reading this, especially the last stand of the Pyroclasts guarding the banner against the horde of traitors. Sounds like each legion was played to their characters.

[GodEmperorOfMankind]

Mate that was absolutely fantastic! Make sure to write up the next one please!

[SchultzChaos]

Thanks for all the kind words! 

Me and my mate who played this battle will continue as soon as work dwindle down! 

 

Would it be preferable to see the army lists to the battle reports and army shots - or would you rather see the battles from a narrative perspective? 

 

Ripper.McGuirl - I'll ask my mate as soon as we meet up again! The mat is from his gaming club! 

[nusphigor]

i'd rather see things in a narrative perspective. But that's just me.

Just keep'em coming, no matter the format!

[Gorgoff]

Thanks for all the kind words! 

Me and my mate who played this battle will continue as soon as work dwindle down! 

 

Would it be preferable to see the army lists to the battle reports and army shots - or would you rather see the battles from a narrative perspective? 

 

I'd prefer the reports as is, but would also like to get information about your lists afterwards.

[LameBeard]

Yeah I like them as is, maybe just add the rite of war near the points, but listing out 3000 not necessary.

[Cactus]

I loved the format of this battle report, and the gaming table. Without sight of the army lists I sometimes found it hard to tell which force a unit belongs to but I generally worked it out by the end of the paragraph. Headings like "Night Lords - turn 2" would help with this but might break the flow of the narrative.

[SchultzChaos]

Thanks for the answers! I'll reflect upon it for the next battle report. 

Unfortunately we've not been able to get a Heresy game in yet. Last time we met we went for a Fantasy 6th Edition game instead.

But we both promised that the next game we'd play should be Heresy, and a continuation of the 6th Chapter's fate from the previous game.

 

BUT

 

As you await the next rep, I hope I can satisfy your curiosity with this battle report I wrote years ago: http://www.bolterandchainsword.com/topic/341242-battles-in-the-age-of-darkness-a-battle-report-blog/

 

It's old, and I don't know if it have aged well, but at least it is something!