TortugaMarches

Normandus Prime - Imperial Agri-World

2010-05-31T11:17:00.000-07:00

++++Sniffer Sentinal patrol, GeoMarker Epsilon 3++++
'keep moving, try to get out of the valley to get a warning to base!' Sergeant Fretis screamed down the vox.

He turned his sentinel towards the xenos skimmer that had shredded his corporals sentinal like paper. 'Feel the light of the Emperors wrath xenos scum!', and thumbed both triggers on his control yoke. The hellstrike missile shot over the skimmer. However, the lascannon shot was true to the mark and struck the green vehicle squarely in the side of the hull. Fretis moaned as the kilojoules of energy from the beam of light was simply dissipated by the alien vehicles wave shield.

The skimmers turret rotated towards Sergeant Fretis's direction. 'Oh, throne' was the last words that came out of his mouth before the turret fired.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Normandus Prime was one of the key agri-worlds supplying much needed food to the forces and citizens of the imperium during the Damacles recovery. Due to the vast amounts of food that was required, extensive de-forestation was commenced across the planet. It was during the clearing of GeoMarker Theta 12 that one of the MegaCarver vehicles struck the half buried webway gate.

A week later the Ordos Xenos arrived, and a cordon was erected around GeoMarker Theta 12.
Two weeks later a message arrived from the depths of space for the inhabitants of Normandus Prime.

'Monkeigh, you have three days to leave this planet, or your ashes will be swept away by the wind'

Four days later, the Orion class battle cruiser 'Emperors Retribution' illuminated the night sky of Normandus when its engines went critical. The Endeavor class cruiser 'Indomitable Wrath' slammed into the city of 'Calvarados', killing everything within 8 miles of the impact site. Some say that the people there were the lucky ones.

A day later the Sword wind of Autarch Tirithon struck the major capital cities 'Cherbourgania' and 'Bayeux Prime'.

Friday Night Gaming

2010-02-20T03:06:00.000-08:00

Game XII: The Shadam AgriComplex 0827-Epsilon
Tau vs Imperial Guard 1500pts

Another Friday Night game and another attempt at real time blogging uisng the iPhone and email functions. I'm having to edit this again because once again the post has lost most of the text. It seems that it chops off any text posted after the first attached photo. Oh well, next time it'll work....

High above Praxedes IV things had just begun to heat up in Port Franxs, while on the planets surface, the war for Praxedes IV continued to rage unabated. Imperial forces launched a sudden offensive to recapture the ruined Agricombine complex above the river Shadaut. Cavalry elements of the 291st Death Korps, supported by attached Navy Vendetta's, struck at midday. The assault was timed to strike just as Old Father Praxedes reached his zenith in the sky. Three Vendetta's carrying 20 Grenadiers from 16th Company, deployed by wire line jump into the ruined Administratum building and took up positions on the first and second floors. The Vendetta's having delivered their cargo shot back from the building in order to give long range fire support.

With the arrival of the Necrons, this sector had been quiet for months. The arrival of the 291st in the sector, in their newly issued praxedes summer uniforms, had gone completely un noticed by the Tau. Tau command were caught completely off guard by the sudden stroke. There was little time for planning, they simply had to scramble any available units into the field. The first to respond were a group of Kroot on a patrol through the area.
The Xenos approached from the south directly into the ambush zone outside the by now heavily fortified Administratum building. They fought bravely and even managed a volley of fire before they were obliterated by fire directed by the Forward observer attached to Captain Fustus, and a hail of lasfire from the Grenadiers.

Tau commander squad on ready reaction duty shot over the battle field on a high arc, comming down just behind the Banewolves moving up the right flank to support the Grenadiers. Tau technomagic allowed them to target a Vendetta with a hail of high energy beams and missiles as they came down. In the cockpit of the Vendetta, , alarms screamed and the consoles of the weapons officer lit up like a Emperor Day tree warning of a target lock. The pilot reacted immediatly, jinking just in time to avid the worst of the fire, but it left the ship badly placed to return fire.

The Banewolves however, were left with a perfect opportunity. They slewed around on their treads, and circled the Tau battle suits. Corrosive molecular acids spewed from the turrets of the vehicles, splashing over drones burning through seals and electronics alike, drones and suits alike sparked and burst apart as the acids reduced them. The Tau commander was soon left standing alone and dragging a lump of mettal where his foot actuators used to be.

The Tau commander jumped from the ring of the Banewolves and fired directly up into the rear of the sill jinking Vendetta. One ion bolt flew true a penetrarted the thin armour of the rear loading door, and continued up through the roof of the vehicle into the Jet engines shatetring the turbines within. The Turbine came appart in an angry burst of parts and smoke, slamming the vehicle into the ground.
but the vicory was short lived and the Banewolves sun again and hosed the commander with fire. His suit was speared by Fusion beams and stubbers, finally comming appart and melting into the rapidly deepening pool of molecular acit.

Outside the back quarter of the Administratum ruins, Tau stealth suits struck from the skies, loosing rapid fire energy beams at the squad sheltering in the rubble. Caught completely off guard, the veterans of 2nd Squad bolted, back towards their own lines, firing as they went. Four stealth suits went down, caught in the hail of fire from the retreating guard. 1st SQuad, still in the rafters turned to pour more fire into them and another was killed, it was enough and the stealth suits broke for their own lines. Then Marbiov emerged from the ruins, and charged the stealth suits. Firing into their backs as he came, they were cut down.

The Tau counter attack had failed, smashed by artillery and demo charges, the Tau fell back in dissarray. The Tau tanks only just arriving, had no-one left to support. Turning back for their own lines, one Tau tank took a pot shot at Marbiov frying him before dissapearing out of view.

The Death of Marbiov

Reprise
The old Agricombine complex sat on a hill overlooking a bow in the the river Shadaut. Below it, spread out for miles lay the Tau positions. Within hours of the stuggle to capture it, the Imperium had moved in in force. The artillery opened up all along the line following instructions directed from the combine. Further Tau counterattacks were broken up by precision atillery before they could even get started. Soon the Tau position in the wole sector became untenable, forcing a more general withdrawl.

Imperial Victory!

Breach on Port Franxs

2010-01-15T12:40:00.000-08:00

Port Franxes

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Class: Behemoth Space Port
Constructed: 239.M38
Location: Orbiting Praxedes IV
Displacement: 915,500,000 Metric Tons
Crew number: 120,000
Scanned life signs: 238,367,904

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

+++Time Stamp 748.M41++++++++++++++++++++++

+++Location:Port Franxes-level 471-sub sector Theta+++

+++Fault:Power failure - segments 12-29, 53-67,89-91++

+++Maintenance crew 223 have not reported on time+++

+++Send Port Security to recover crew 223+++++++++

Those on Praxedes IV looking up, Port Franxs looks like a small distant mis-shapen moon. However, not much time is dwelt on Port Franxs, as the fighting between the Imperial forces and the Tau Empire intensifies after the arrival of new leadership for both armies.

The new High General and his retainers see Port Franxs as a vital tool in hindering and destroying the Tau forces.

Plans are made, and soon fleets of cargo ships laden with munitions, mechanicum staff, servitors and boxes marked 'confidential' are flying to Port Franxs, and the cargo ships are returning empty.

This however does not go un-missed by the H'Rus commander. Using some of his new human auxiliaries to infiltrate the command base they discover the High Generals plans and decide to send a Enforced cadre to breach the space station and intervene where they can. The Orca transport 'Heavenly Star' is retro-fitted with breaching tubes and short term Stealth shielding.

Fortune follows the Heavenly star when a unpredicted solar flare disrupts all electronics on Port Franxs allowing the Tau's approach to be undetected. However, the solar flare also disrupts the Heavenly stars nav systems causing them to veer off the targeted breaching zone by 18 kilometres, as well as disrupting or wiping all battle suit and stealth suit system software.

The Tau are forced to use the Fire Warriors and Kroot mercenaries until the tech cast could upload sofware and reboot systems.

******** TO BE FINISHED ****************

The Tau have boarded the ship and 1 Blip is

Guard player roles reserves at beginning of game to see what is already on the board on 3+. Random deployment from door section.

Doors are treated like vehicles, if move up to one and open door, movement stops. If at a door can open door and move.

Each squad has one grenade, roll scatter 1D6 as normal (range of 6"). If hits wall, stop there. Models completely under template str 4, partial str3.

Guard move random until alert by squad contacted.

Int test for squad surprised by meeting enemy. If fail test then can't move, but shoot on the spot with rifles only.
Each square is 2" move.
EVENT:

Port Franx - PorSect = investigate where tau came from.

2 Traitor Guard = lost in Franx...to be continued.
2 Main breach points for Tau.Can PortSec.

Dawn breaks... Battle XI

2009-11-10T06:51:00.000-08:00

Shas'O Tyrnax had been warned that Necrons were in the area - as a result, he took the precaution of deploying heavier combat units in partols around key sensor and defence assets.

Thus it was that in the dark gloom of pre-dawn, the BlackSun filtered view of a combat patrol detected the dreaded metallic glint of ancient, slow moving and menacingly purposeful bodies of a Necron force.

Wilkinson: H'Rus Expeditionary Force (Tau)
Nandoo: Necron
Result: Tau victory

Game X: Jail Break part 2

2009-10-26T23:05:00.000-07:00

Game Type: Breakthrough
Factions:
- Wilkinson H'Russ Sept Codex: Tau Empire 1750pts
- Nandoo, Codex: Imperial Guard: CCCLIIVostroyan First born 1750pts

Result: Draw.

Game IX Jailbreak : Part 1, breaking in...

2009-10-17T03:47:00.000-07:00

The Vostroian gate guard were sheltering behind their Aegis shields for whatever comfort they could get. The picket forces that were patrolling the crater-pocked fire lanes were not even allowed the shelter of their transports. The senior officers were, of course, snug inside the gate bastion.

The howling wind and sheets of rain hid the first signs of the attack - the troops new nothing was amiss until two massive eruptions decimated the picket patrols. A third detonation boomed, hurting no-one, but being a far more effective alarm than the claxons that started to wail along the line. Even as Guardsmen were hurriedly donning kit and preparing themselves, Tau units appeared right in front of the line.

Crisis suits, a Broadside, Devilfish transport and two Piranha's announced their presence with fusion blasters, missile, plasma rifles, railguns and burst cannons. A unit of Kroot mercenaries even materialised in a crater, whilst an unfortunate Stealth team were trapped in the slick mud and slid off the battlefield.

Thus started the Tau's attempt to disrupt the plans of the Vostroian Lord Commissar and his puppet Governor - execution of the Cadian bodyguard of the incumbent, rival, Planetary Governor. If the Tau could break in to the prison and effect a rescue, the hardy troops would make valuable allies...

Game V:Rise of the Necrons

2009-10-10T08:36:00.000-07:00

Malvairn heights - Praxedes IV 109.747.M41

'The mound of cold eyes. This monument had existed before humanity had even got out of the trees on Terra. When the expeditionary forces had reoccupied this world the imperial archeologist's sent too investigate the site had never come back. In the years to go by, children where told too be good or the cold eyes would get them....how true that would eventually be.'

Situation:

The landing of the siege rounds had awoken the Necrons. The sudden emanation of power was detected by both the Imperial Guard and Tau. Armoured patrols were sent out too investigate. Upon sighting the emergence of Necrons from the mound of cold eyes, both patrols agreed a temporary truce in order to join forces and repel this greater threat.

Game Type: Annihilation
Factions:
- Wilkinson H'Russ Sept Codex: Tau Empire 750pts
- Nandoo, Codex: Necrons, 1500pts
- Harris 291st Death Korps of Krieg; Codex: Imperial Guard 750pts
Result: Necron Victory.

Deployment: IG and Tau were deployed in the the corners of the table, the the kroot infiltrating into the wood line ahead. Necrons would deepstrike within 12" of the mound of cold eyes which was centered on the opposite side.

THE FIGHT BEGINS

IG and Tau push forward in order to close distance with the Necrons.

The first to emerge from dormancy are the Destroyers who take a couple of shots at the visible IG. Unfortunately the shots are stopped by the cover of the trees. The Tau and IG push forward and disembark troops. The Tau on the left of the Necrons create a gun line ready for anymore Necrons to appear from the mound.

The Tau on the left of the Necrons create a gun line ready for anymore Necrons to appear from the mound.

Meanwhile the IG Krieg forces push forward into the treeline in order to get some cover and setup the heavy weapons.

The Tau watch as the IG fire, as their own weapons are out of range to help. The troops find that they are out of range to be effective, but the master of ordnance finds his mark and wipes out the destroyers. There is a roar of elation from both the guard and Tau see the Necron destroyers blown apart from the ordnance shell. This is quickly changed to screams of orders to take cover, as a not one, but two Necron Lords appear with twenty Necron warriors from the ground just meters from the Tau gunline.

A stream of Gauss flux arcs sweep across Tau gunline from both units of Necron warriors, shredding firewarriors from both units. The Kroot hidden in the woods watch closely and line up their rifles against the metal skeletons. A burst of fire from the woods knocks over two of the Necron warriors, but many shots just bounce off their metal skin.

The Tau commander pushes forward and rallies his troops who also fire on both squads of Necrons, dropping a few more. The IG who have been slowly pushing forward, add multi-laser and heavy stubber to the Tau fire which just bounces off the Necrons as well. The master of ordnance's shot misses the mark, and lands between the two squads of Necrons.

A guardsmen points at the sand and shouts to his sergeant as two Necron heavy destroyers emerge amongst the IG.

Both Necron Lords push forward towards the Tau line and this time rapid-fire at the Tau Fire warriors. Flaying armour and flesh from bone.

In the face of the approaching Necrons, the Tau fired everything they had at them. Many Necrons fell from the fussilade of fire. The Necron Lord raised his resurrection orb which radiated an errie green glow. The fallen Necron warriors rose again, reattaching broken limbs and picking up their weapons.

The Necron Lord with the destroyer body detached from his warriors and headed towards the Imperial Guard. The other Lord headed towards the Tau line that was no faltering, even with the Tau commanders presence.

Both Necron warriors squads crashed into the Tau warriors on their left and right flanks. The outcome was as expected with the Tau warriors having no chance. Fire warriors were ripped to pieces or scattered into the wilderness, screaming.

The IG on the left flank did not notice the slaughter of the Tau Fire Warriors as they had their own problems to deal with, as the the two necron detroyers and the Lord started to advance.

Campain Progress: After Game 8

2009-10-10T02:29:00.000-07:00

No Game last night, Two of the old men who do this campaign were ill or recovering from surgery, so we did somthing slighly lower impact. During the course of this lower impact activity, we go to talking about the results so far and someone made the point that the Tau were winning ands down. So I thought it was time I brought the campaign results up to scratch. So here they are:
The Game Table:

Summary Chart:

So the Tau Empire have gained the upper hand on Praxedes IV, championed mainly by Blizzard Wolf and his H'rus Sept faction.

Its a long way to go until the planet is finally liberated however, and with the Rise of the Necrons and the roumours of Eldar intervention against their Ancient foe, anything is possible!

Game VIII - Assault on Outpost Theta 220 from the Death Korps

2009-10-03T03:55:00.000-07:00

I lost the toss and was given the attackers role. Looking at the secenario, I decided to change up my usual list:

5 Man Grenadier teams would use Storm Trooper rules
All Chimeras were dropped from the list
Leman Russ (Jagd Russ) would be replaced by a Vendetta
Bane wolves would be un-squadroned

HQ:
As everything could deep strike I was not going to need Creed - (Kurtz), who is usually there to get the Banewolves outflanking. So out he went to make way for Iron Hand Stracken (Colonel Stahlin). This was going to be a short range assault, making him the obvious choice to lead the 5th Company assault.The was teamed up with a Lascannon (Hind sight - Bad choice); Astropath; Master of the Fleet and Forward Observer (Master of Ordinance); and a body gaurd (I had 15 pts spare).

Elites:
Anything that could Deep Strike Normally was allowed to Assault out of deep strike, so out went the ususal Veteran Grenadiers, in came the Storm trooper Grenadiers. In hindsight I probably should have kept the Veteran Grenadiers, less points per man for basically the same load out, and I didn't end up using the assault option anyway.

Also keeping with the deep strike -Assault, I used Marbo (Watchmaster Steiner). Again being un used to the combo, he deployed by deep strike, too far away to affect anything. Then ran about the board only getting into a combat in turn 4 whereuppon he killed 4 kroot and promptly died in the counter attacks. Bit of a disapointment. My bad though not the rules.

Troops:
Two units of Grenadiers Veterans remauined in the lis, they lost their ususal chimera rides and deployed by deep strike instead. They got to keep their lascannons and in addition were given Demo charges, with woked a treat late game, murdering a Squad of fire warriors who had just tumbled out of a wrecked transport, and half a dozen kroot.

Fast Attack:

Three single unit squadrons of Bane Wolves - These could be deployed by deep strike so I didnt need Creed (Kurtz) to out flank them. The roster aloowed up to 6 fast attack so out went the hated squadroning and they were deployed as individual units. Unfortunately for me two were imobilised in the inevidable face off with the broadsides (who died! muahhahahaha!) and one threw a track on a crater as it entered the board! They were ignored the rest of the game, even though the Multimeltas kept up a punisjhing fire on the Tau vehicles.

Vendetta: I forsee many more of these things in my fututre. They rock pure and simple. One soaked up most of the Taus anti tank fire for te game while destroying two tanks and purging a unit of firewarriors! Fear the Vendetta!

Heavy Support:
None!

Game Play:
The Game was great fun, it see-sawed back and forth on almost a turn by turn basis. First turn saw the Bastion's void shield poped, then The Bastion itself was destroyed, followed by most of the Tau vehicles deployed., surely leaving rhe Imperium ascendant Then the Bane wolves were immoblised, leaving the Tau looking in a good position.

Guardsmen started dying in droves, then Tau, then more Tau vehicles poped by Meltas and Multimeltas.
Colonel Stahlin and his HQ made it into the crater and took a charge from the Kroot. It looked all over for the Tau with an Imperial win, but in an impressive (and throughly Wilkinson like) set of dice rolls a single Kroot was left in the crater and a dice roll ended the Game. One more turn and theTau troop choices and HQ,s would have been exterminated or at least held out of the crated by Assaults. Overall a Very fun game! and a Win for tyhe Tau, Leaving Billzard Wolf (Tau) in the lead on 3 VPs for the campaign with one each for Death Jester (Necrons) and CommissarHarris (291st Death Korps of Krieg.

Game VIII - Assault on Outpost Theta 220

2009-10-01T08:12:00.001-07:00

With the emergence of the Necrons and forces being mobilised to push them back, opportunities for both sides to use this to their advantage have arisen.

MISSION
Seize and Destroy:

Attacker Overview:

A comms outpost has been left almost defenceless due to the threat of the Necrons. Your surprise attack may have bought you enough time to destroy the outpost and sever the comms lines below.

Defender Overview:

If the invading force destroy the underground comms cables, it could spell disaster for this sector of the line! You must engage the enemy with everything you have. Reinforcements are on there way to help.

Points: 1750

Special Rules:

DEFENDER

Outpost is situated in middle of the board. Defender sets up terrain too their liking.

Garrison:

Half the force is deployed anywhere on table. The rest is in reserve and will appears on defender long table edge apart from units that can usually outflank or deep strike. The reserve roll for deployment is (Turn 1: 4+, Turn 2: 3+, Turn 3: 2+, Turn 4: Automatic).

Fortified:

The outpost has Armour 14 all round, one infantry unit of any size.

The outpost has a single void shield (treated as Armour:12, destroyed on first glancing or penetrating hit).

It is protected by four automated heavy bolter bastions which will fire at the beginning of each defenders shooting phase at the nearest target in sight (BS 2). If held by attacker, the bastions guns will not work as they have been switched off.

In addition the outpost is protected by either:
Quad Gun (Range:48", Str:7, AP:4, Heavy 4 Twin-Linked Interceptor) or a Icarus Lascannon (Range:96, Str:9, AP:2, Heavy 1 Interceptor)

Interceptor: Treated as artillery piece with armour 10 (destroyed on first glancing or penetrating hit). Automated weapon system, may fire in the beginning of the defenders shooting phase. May fire at the end the attackers movement phase (If so, then can not shoot next turn).

Defence Lines:

Shield sections that provide 4+ cover to the front, +2 cover if unit goes to ground.

ATTACKER

All models are in reserve and can deep strike (units which already have the deepstrike rule, can also assault in the turn they arrive). The reserve roll for deployment is (Turn 1: 3+, Turn 2: 2+, Turn 3: Automatic).

Before beginning of game roll D3, and receive that number of preliminary bombardments (Str 9, AP 3). These fall before turn one and can scatter upto 2D6" if not a hit on scatter dice. No morale checks are taken for defender casualties. If the round hits open ground the attacker may place a crater if they want too (4+ cover save; area terrain). Void shield are immune to the preliminary bombardment.

Game Length:

As per standard games.

Victory Conditions:

Attacker wins if they have the the only non-vehicle model in base contact with the outpost (or crater if outpost destroyed) by end of game. They have positioned enough explosives to sever the line.

Any other result is a defender win.

Force Composition
Attacker

Compulsory 1 HQ

Optional 2 HQ, 6 Troops, 6 Elites, 6 Fast Attack, 3 Heavy Support

Defender

Compulsory 1 HQ, 2 Troops

Optional 2 HQ, 6 Troops, 3 Elites, 3 Fast Attack, 6 Heavy Support

Game IV:Retreat to the Malvairn heights

2009-08-15T04:50:00.000-07:00

Malvairn heights - Praxedes IV 109.747.M41

Game: Anihilation
Result: Imperial Guard Major Victory.
Factions:
- Nandoo Codex: Tau Empire 1500pts
- Harris 291st Death Korps of Krieg; Codex: Imperial Guard 1500pts

8 Praxedes IV days had gone past since the fall of Vidighese, 8 Days to retreat 40 odd Clicks to the next practicable defence line at the ridge known as the Malvairn heights. Locals with the regiment knew the place from their legends. It had an evil reputation as a place of monsters, where the dead walked at night and picked off the unwary. Then military expediency had never taken much account of local tall tales.
For 8 Days the Regiment had executed a text book withdrawal from the town, leap-frogging the 40 miles back to the Massifs, each Kompanie taking turns forming a rearguard while the regiment passed through the line. In the van of the column, Regimental and divisional artillery had kept up a harassing fire on their pursuers. Shoot and scoot fire missions of mixed smoke, nerve agent and White Phosphorus rained on the pursuit in order to break them up and blind their night vision. It had been a textbook withdrawal.
Now the Regiment had reached the Heights, it was time to turn, stand and face the pursuers. When time came to stand, the 17th Kompanie was in the line as blocking force.
They had stopped just outside ruins of a bombed out refinery and begun fortifying it.

Wind whipped up dust devils around Major Kurtz where he crouched in the crater just beyond the walls of the ruins. Kurtz had come down to the forward positions of 17th Company to personally supervise the destruction of their pursuers. And that destruction would take place very soon, already wired auspex units, carefully laid beyond the screen of Willie Pete and smoke, had reported the Tau approach to the factory. At any moment they would clear the screen and the Auspexes would light up with targets. But Major Kurtz had not come down here to passively sit on the defence, waiting for the Tau to attack, no that was not Kurtz. When the Tau breached the smoke screen they would be met head on, the 17th Company would advance from their bunkers and destroy the Tau Vanguard.
Sensing the Moment was approaching, Kurtz Raised his hand; to his right, Kompanie commander Lande of the 17th, noted the gesture; to his left Platoon Commander Leutnant Shutze readied his men for the assault; Watchmaster Zung, Commanding the Jagd-Russ shouted into his boom mike and the great engines of the heavy tank roared in response.
With impeccable timing Kurtz dropped his hand just before the first Tau infantry broke through the smoke screen, and all hell broke loose.
Fire streaked out from the Imperial lines, bright beams briefly connecting with the dim shapes of the individual Tau fire warriors. The great vanquisher cannon of the Jagd-Russ boomed, its shell smashed into the front glacis of a Tau Tank, skipping of the sloped surface and sending the vehicle skittering of course on its grav cushion.
All along the line Firewarriors scattered, making for cover, some headed up into the ruins of the Refinery, others scattered into the dubious shelter of a rock formation just in front of the Imperial lines. For many this would be a fatal mistake. Kurtz had had his Ordinance Master pre-register the rock. Just as the scattering Firewarriors reached the safety of the rock, the first salvo slammed into their shelter. Bodies and parts of bodies flew skyward, riding the expanding globe of the shock waves. Artillery shells screamed in a stream of High Explosive pounding to rock formation and the survivors of the first rush, All the survivors could do was crawl further into the cracks in between the rock and hope for survival.

Off on the right flank Firewarriors had scattered into the ruined buildings of the refinery, taking up positions in the ruined galleries of the first and second floor. Behind the refinery, Chmeras of the Grenadiers revved their engines and leapt forwards, dashing across the open ground in between them and the ruins, turning at the last minute to flanking positions at the rear of the building. The Back wall of the building had been demolished in an earlier unknown conflict, leaving the building open to the sky. One of the Chmeras slid to a halt and popped smoke to cover the dismounting Grenadiers. The other continued on racing towards the waiting Broadside suits.
Hypersonic slugs from the waiting Tau broadsides streaked on rods of ionised air aimed towards the Chimeras. One smashed into the turret of the still moving Chimera, penetrating the armour of the turret, spraying the narrow compartment inside, killing the turret gunner outright. More importantly it passed through the auto loader mechanism as it it were cardboard, shattering it irreparably.
The Watchmasters signalled back to Leutnant Shutze they were in position as arranged. Shutze confirmed this and ordered the Grenadiers to open fire with maximum fury. The Fire warriors, who were slow to react to this new threat, were cut down by a hail of Las Rifle fire.
Survivors of the Firewarriors returned a spattering of fire at the Grenadiers wounding two and Killing one. But the damage had already been done and the Tau scattered down out of the ruins and back the way they had come.
Tau return fire began to take its toll, 1st platoon was forced to take shelter from Tau small arms fire, while hypervelocity crowbars from Rail guns streaked passed the JagdRuss.
Three battle suits arrived of the port quarter of the Jagd Russ, decending from the sky on a column of fire. Their leg shocks had barely finished recovering from the impact before they had opened up with a co-ordnated ballet of fire at point blank into the side of the Jagd Russ,Paint chips and armour fragments flew from the flanks of the great metal beast. One Fusion beam struck the barrel of the Vanquisher cannon, super heating the metal in an instant, shearing off the barrel at the base and exploding the shell in the breach. The veteran crew, reacted quickly, slewing the tank around and opening up with the hull mounted heavy bolter, point blank into the battle suits. They could hardly miss. Mass reactive bolt rounds hosed down the suits cascasing off the Tau suit armour in a great arc into the sky. One suit staggered under the weight of fire, explosive bolts findinging, then enlarging gaps in the plates before detonating in amongst the delicate machinery behind the plates. The suit poped and fizzed before toppling to one side inert and unresponsive.
From behind the suits landing site, Leutnant Shutze led his command squad in an assault on the remaining suit. Firing as they came the two melta gunners turned the ravening beams of their weapons on the cluster of suits One struck the already falling suit, the other smashed a second Tau suit onto its face as the powerplant on the back of the suit came apart under the lethal carress of the meltas beam.
Thumbing the control on his Power sword he leapt across the gap between the rocks and the tau suit. He landed hard on the remaining suits shoulder, scrabbling for purchase with his freehand, he drove the tip of the powersword down into the neck joint of the sensor array, cutting through armour, electronics and and flesh alike.
By now, all along th line the men of Krieg were advancing. The Tau Hammerhead lay burning in a heap where Grenadier meltas had cut away a nacelle and caused it to crash. The remaining firewarriors sheltering in the in the rocks had been winkled out of their refuge with the baonette, and even the Broadsides had died under the guns of a Banewolf, Hidden on the flank of the Tau advance.
With the Deaths of the Broadsides, the Tau vanguard had been smashed. Major Kurtz and the 17th Kompanie had stopped them cold, and bought the time needed by the regiment to solidify their new defensive line.

Photos By James

Game III: The Fall of Vidighese

2009-08-10T22:44:00.000-07:00

The Town of Vidighese - Praxedes IV 093.747.M41

'Move! move! move! Sunray, this is One One Charlie. Enemy contacts four hundred meters. Vestro, Heng, get your arses into that building!'

Vox transmission: Sgt Mendels, 1st Platoon, one section, CCCLII Vostroyan First born.

The second game in the campaign was a 1000 pt capture and control mission between the Imperial Guard and Tau planetary force. The deployment was spearhead and the Tau deployed first.

The first number of turns resulted in minimal damage to both the IG and Tau. Orbital bombardments from the master of ordnance had little effect due to atmospheric disturbance effecting the targeting arrays.

Once Tau reinforcements arrived in the form of deep striking crisis suits the advantage moved. A well placed Fusion blast found a poorly welded section of the Leman Russ, causing the vehicle to explode.

A heroic charge by Sgt Bastonne and his unit of Veterans, as well as Las cannon fire from a heavy support team resulted in a number of suits being vapourised. Unfortunately, this was not enough to turn the tide and the remaining suits cut down the Command HQ.

By the end of game the Tau had a firm hold of two objectives , whilst the IG had only the single objective.

Victory to the Tau.

'Battalion command this is One One Charlie. One One Alpha is gone, situation is critical. We are retreating over. Vestro, Heng, get your arses out of this building!'

Vox transmission: Sgt Mendels, 1st Platoon, one section, CCCLII Vostroyan First born.

Game II: Downtown Vidighese

2009-07-31T12:36:00.000-07:00

The Town of Vidighese - Praxedes IV 071.747.M41

Game: 1000pt Capture and Control
Result: Draw (Imperials and Tau contest one victory point and the other is uncontrolled)
Factions:
- H'Russ Sept 1000Pts
- 291st Death Korps of Krieg 1000pts

For those who don't know, our group plays every Friday night (GMT). Last Friday was a painting day, where we all got together to help each other paint armies and work on terrain and modelling projects(keep an eye out for the Kroot with pink Hair!). So no game. This Friday there wasn't going to be a game either as a few of us had evening commitment in the real world. But rather unexpectedly we did manage to get a game in doing the day instead!

Four Imperial standard days later, the Tau made a move to push the Imperials further out of Vidighese. Tau H'Russ sept met 291st Krieg Patrols in the center of town.
A squad of Fire warriors had occupied the upper floors of an Imperial shrine, establishing a forward observation post overlooking an intersection close to the center of town, not far from the Imperial Front line.
The OP allowed Tau forces a clear view of an imperial strong point. It was not long before harassing fire from Tau artillery and Fire warriors became intolerable, and an Imperial response became imperative.
The forward line was reinforced with equipment and troops quietly, then on the morning of 071.747.M41, Men and machines all along the sector moved up the jump off tape awaiting the whistle to commence the attack. Unfortunately on the right flank a unit of dismounted Grenadiers were spotted by a Tau Piranha team supported by Kroot. All along the line Tau forces opened fire into the Imperial positions.
The Imperial response didn't take long to kick off. Pre-designated artillery called in by the Master of ordinance smashed into the building opposite. LasCannons added to the devastation carving chunks out of the masonry with bright flares of energy. then the Bane wolf opened up. The scream of superheated air could be heard across town as the multi-melta in its hull scored a hit on the Tau observation post vaporising the corner of the shine. Even the stone built shrine of the Emperor couldn't take that kind of punishment and the whole building fell in on itself carrying all of the Tau down to the ground with it.
The Tau preempting fire had not come without consequences, on the right flank, Tau Piranha's accounted for two of the Veteran Grenadiers.

Over on the Left flank a Kroot kindred that had been infiltrating into the Imperial lines looking for weak points, took the opportunity to rush the men of Krieg, hoping to destroy the heavy weapons teams wreaking such havoc on their Tau allies. They burst through the doors of the ruined hab-block as the Mortar teams finished a fire mission, smashing the Kroot kindred supporting the Piranha's. Mortar men and LasCannon crews looked up as the aliens burst through the doors behind them wielding their deadly double headed rifles.

Crewmen dropped their heavy equipment and rushed to engage the Kroot pouring through the door. Within moments, 4 Kroot bodies lay dead surrounded by 10 dead Kriegers Leutnant Kluge-G7772-9 could see the slaughter from across the ruins. Making a quick decision he lept from his position shouting for his staff to follow him. Commissar Lord Nero had also seen the threat on the left and lept up from where the company command had been directing artillery on the Tau OP and sprinted into the melee.
The Leutnant's squad together with the Commissar Nero struck like a lightning bolt,laying about themselves to great effect. They were too late to save the last of the heavy weapons teams , instead the wreaked bloody revenge on the Kroot kindred felling over half of them and driving them back towards the doorway of the hab.

Over on the right flank of the Krieg line, the veterans of the Death Korps Grenadiers fought out their duel with the Tau Pirannas. The nippy Tau vehicles sped around the corner of the Imperial chappel as the Imperials tumbled into the cover of the same building. Two men carrying Melta guns were left ouside the lintel their squad mates had clambored through. They turned as one and sent screaming beams of energy into the side of the passing skimmer gutting it from stem to stern. The stricken machine smashed into the ground spilling parts and blood as it went. Angry drones from the Piranha's spat at the grenadiers trying in vain to exact revenge for the destruction of their ride.
Its twin sped on, cutting open the rear of the grenadiers parked chimera with plasma beams, smashing through the track guards and splintering the tracks. The shattered tracks un-spooled behind the chimera immobilising it as it continued to hose down the survivors of the Tau Fire warriors in the collapsed shrine.

The Commissar Lord cut down the last of the Kroot Kindred on the on the Left flank and took a quick survey of the battle field though an up-link into his ocular implant. The Tau on the left had collapsed. on the right, they had been stalled and the Imperials retained controls of the field. In the In the Center the Tau OP had been smashed into ruins and a squad of Korpsmen had launched an assault across the road, into the ruins seeking to dominate the ground. Nero could feel the crisis of the battle was approaching. Across the piles of shattered plascrete and flak board, Hauptmann Alder remained hunched over the map board directing the progress of the battle. If the battle was to be won it would be done in the center. Nero flicked his power sword clean of Kroot blood and turned to each of his surviving colleagues holding their gaze for a moment he shouted:
"For your Emperor" and charged out of the building into the street.

Rules for Dark Angel Games

2009-07-28T12:13:00.000-07:00

Victory and Campaign Points
Dark Angels score Victory points and campaign points differently to other forces

Win : 1VP and 1CP on a roll of 6+ per Fallen slain
Draw : -1 VP (cannot take below 0) and -1 CP + 1CP on a roll of 6+ per Fallen slain
Loss : -1 VP (cannot take below 0) and -2 CP + 1CP on a roll of 6+ per Fallen slain

After a game that the dark angels were present roll a D6 for each member of the Fallen that was slain. The Dark Angels gain 1 additional CP for every roll of 6

Win Conditions
Dark Angels are always playing annihilation against the Fallen. If 8 or more Fallen are killed, the Dark Angels gain a win, 4 or less they have lost. This may mean that both players can achieve a victory point.

The Fallen
In any game against the dark angels there will be Fallen Angels, the Fallen will be represented by a full strength (170 pts) tactical squad with any options that do not increase the squads points cost. The exception to this is the Sergeant who can select any war gear he is normally allowed (any amount).

The Fallen can be split up into sub squads as the opposing player feels is appropriate (e.g. 1 squad of 10, 2 squads of 4 and 6 using the rules of Shaefers Last Chancers (Codex: Imperial Guard 4th Ed.)
If split and a sub squad of 1 is made that marine is treated as having the Independent character Universal Special Rule.

Due to the nature of the relationship between the Dark Angels and members of the Fallen
both are subject to the Preferred Enemy Universal Special Rule against one another.

Hunt the Fallen
At the start of the Dark Angels shooting phase, if any member of the fallen is within 12" of a Dark Angels unit that unit must direct all its firepower at the fallen and any squad they may be with and then assault in the following assault phase.

Leave no Witnesses
The Dark Angels will not allow their secret to become public knowledge and thus will fire upon Imperial allies as well as enemies to keep their secret safe.

Any allied or enemy unit which has line of sight and is within 6" inches of a fallen becomes a target for the Dark Angels.

If all witness squads are killed then one extra CP dice can be rolled, if any are left alive then - 1 CP rolls.

Game I: Counter attack at Vidighese

2009-07-24T04:36:00.000-07:00

Game: 200opt Capture and Control
Result: Tau Victory (Tau control one victory point and contest the other. )
H'Russ Sept 2000Pts
Vostroyan CCCLII Firstborn 1000pts
291st Death Korps of Krieg 1000pts

The Town of Vidighese - Praxedes IV 058.747.M41

The Town of Vidighese was silent now. For the last few days it had been a scene from hell. For two days Artillery from LCXI Division down to regimental level had pounded the town with every calibre they had, smashing buildings, parks, manufactories alike in an effort to break up the Tau defenders in the Town. The barrage lifted as suddenly as it had arrived. Dazed Fire warriors scrambled from basements to the ruined town above, clutching pulse rifles ready for inevitable assault. On the outskirts of town men of the 291st Death Korps of Krieg had assaulted the ruins and soon swept them from the town.

That was two days ago. Korpsman Drusus Keppler-A5031-7 stood squinting into the growing light, in what remained of the second floor of an Imperial Hab-block, in the very same ruins where two days before, Tau Fire warriors had struggled him and his squad mates in a nightmare of close combat.
Now he stood waiting. The counter attack would be soon. Tau always counter attacked at dusk or dawn. He had overheard one of the officers commenting that it was because the Tau had superior technomancy in their helmets and tanks. Korpsman Keppler didn't know what to make of that, but then he didn't really care either. The Keppler gene-coda that made up his sibco batch had not been selected for its curiosity trait.
Keppler raised the optic visor to his eye pieces and took in the outskirts of the town in which he stood. Increasing the magnification he zoomed in on a LasCannon emplacement manned by guardsmen from the Vostroyan CCCLLII Firstborn. They had moved up during the night and taken over the right wing of this sector of the line, allowing the men of Krieg to consolidate into a smaller section of the line.
He zoomed the magnification back out and swept the optic visor across the hills overlooking the town. Without light intensifiers there was not much he could see, but the Watch master had told him to stand here and watch the hills and the watch master was his older brother, so he must obey.
When the first salvo lanced out from a Tau rail gun , Keppler was still standing looking out over the darkened hills. The shot struck a three story building down the street, causing Keppler to flinch back behind the lintel of the door he was sheltering in. The Vostroyan LasCannon teams responded almost immediately, quickly followed by the Death Corps own LasCannons emplaced in the highest ruin.
Tau tanks sped through the gloaming, men of the CCLII Vostroyan and Death Korps rose to meet them head on. In the center of the line, conscript replacements receiving a lecture on discipline from Commissar Khutuzov surged up full of zeal. Throwing themselves out of the building with abandon, they ran directly into the guns of a Kroot pack who had infiltrated a wood land copse just out of town. Young Kriegers fresh from the sibling companies ran into a wall of fire.

Behind them the Captain of the recruit platoon urged on the recruits, the Young men of Kreig, conditioned from childhood required little urging from the Commissar or Captain to throw themselves out of the building. The first wave out of the ruins paid a heavy price, as Tau built Kroot rifles and air burst fragmentation rounds cut them down before they could take more than a few paces.

In the ruins further to the right of the Imperial Line, Korpsman Keppler slithered down from the first floor of the ruins to join the rest of his squad on the ground below. Over at a hole in the rock-crete wall, Watch-master Leor was peaking out at the advancing Tau tanks. One had made the mistake of nosing into the street between him and the Building housing the recruits. Looking Back at Keppler and the others he communicated his orders with a few quick hand gestures. The squad would assault the tank with grenades as it passed.
Keppler scrambled over the blocks of fallen masonary to a shattered and empty window. As the tank passed the squad rose as one and rushed into the dust cloud raised by the passing antigrav wave. Men scambled up over the tank , some went to the back hatch looking for weak spots there. Keppler had barely had time to toss his own grenade into the left hand impeller pods of the Tau tank when he was blinded by the actinic glare of the Watchmasters melta bomb detonating on the hull. The whole tank lurched violently to one side. then seemed to bulge from the inside as secondary explosions ripped through the hull. the tank nosed down and slashed into the street, shedding composite armour fragments in all directions. The Tank slid for a few few yards before comming to a halt.
Keppler opened his eyes and levered himself up from where the explosion had tossed him against the building he had just recently vacated. He blinked in a daze at the ruin of the Tank before him. Great steaming fissures had opened in its hull, leaving torn bundles of fibre hanging from the great rents in its flanks. He watched as a long thin box was pushed through one of these gaps from the inside of the tank. He was still trying to determine what it might mean when the first burst from the Tau pulse rifle shattered the rock-crete above his head. Instinct and gene-bred reflexes took over, Kepplers body bucked and threw itself up and spun around in an attempt to get over the wall back into cover. The second burst from the Tau rifle was better aimed, corrected by its machine spirit. It followed his movement, strafing the walls and catching him a glancing blow on the meat of his thigh as he tumbled back over the lintel of the window he had assaulted through. While not enough to kill him, the wound was enough to stop him moving much faster than a crawl. For Keppler the Battle was over.
Later when he woke up in the Medicae tent he would learn that the Tau counter attack had succeeded in throwing the Imperium back into the outskirts of Vidigese. 80 Guardsmen had been wounded killed or gone on the missing roles including almost all of the replacement sibco.

An angelic shadow

2009-07-23T15:44:00.000-07:00

During the Damocles campaign the major confrontations were between the Forces of the Imperium and the fledgling tau empire. It is reported that the Dark angels were dispatched to counter Traitor legion activities in the surrounding systems.

The dark angles were recorded as having accomplished their mission in the latter part of 742.M41 and withdrawing to muster at the FAZE system, but 5 years on rumours persist of a fleet of ships bearing the badge of the 1^st legion floating around the Praxedes system on the edge of the Damocles gulf as if searching for something, whether these stories hold truth to them only the dark angels know.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

+++++++DATE: 058747/M41

++++++++REF: 009822/PT

+++++++++TO: Scion Lucrecia Du-Vayne

+++++++From: Inquisitor Thelis

++++SUBJECT: SAFETY OF PRAXEDES

My lord

I shall waste no time with pleasantries and formalities as the matter of which I write to you is of the utmost impotance.

The picts I have sent with this communiqué show a vessel which appears to be of imperial design under the command of the 1^st legion astartes heading on a course to the praxedes system, these picts were recovered amongst others from a drifting hulk of a cruiser reportedly transporting a portion of the CCCLII Vostroyan regiment to praxedes quintus.

These picts were the last taken and the trajectory my navigators have plotted put the vessel on a course to praxedes.

According to imperial records the Dark Angels were involved in a few skirmishes on the outskirts of the Damocles gulf after which they were withdrawn, if this was not the case imperial records have been deliberately altered for purposes unknown.

Yours sincerely

The Emperor’s loyal servant

Inquisitor Jaela Thelis

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Praxedes IV (Praxedes Quintus)

2009-07-12T03:00:00.000-07:00

Population: 10 Billion
Tithe Grade: Exactus Civilised
Geography: Two Continents separated by a thin channel. A large world spanning ocean containing small island chains, High concentrations of Sulphur turn the sea yellow.
Mountainous Agricultural Plains , Temperate to desert climate, Low Albedo with a dry atmosphere. Two moons one inhabited.
Government Type: Oligarchy
Planetary Governor: Scion Lucrecia Du-Vayne
Adept Presence: High, Adeptus Administratum, Imperial Guard, Some Adeptus Ministorum clergy, Adeptus Arbites fortress.
Military: Imperial Guard, High Quality; Corporate Armies, Noble Private Armies, Poor/medium quality.
Trade: Praxedes principal export is sulphur, taken from the extensive sulphur reclamation plants around the coasts of the world. These plants serve a dual purpose, removing sulphur from the planets oceans while creating fresh water for the population to drink. there is little free standing fresh water on Praxedes IV with most waterways ranging from brackish to acidic. Some grains also thrive in the highly acidic soil, allowing bumper harvests, and accounting for Praxedes IV other main export, foodstuffs. The Praxedes systems principal trading partners remain the other systems of the Tortuga Marches and the Tau empire. Lying as it does in a spur of worlds off
of the transit corridor across the Damoclese Gulf this is unlikely to ever change.

Background: Founded in M22 in the explosion of colonisation after the creation of the Navigator gene allowed Humanity to travel further and faster than ever before.
Praxedes IV was chosen for colonisation because of its relative fecundity and possibility of exploiting its Sulphur oceans.
Conquered during the Great Crusade, Praxedes IV were brought to compliance by the Blood Angels chapter of Space marines. The population resisted fiercely and was reduced to almost nothing by the chapter. The population was again reduced to almost nothing during the Plauge of
Unbelief in M36 when the planet joined the wrong side in the Imperium wide civil war. Saint Frankel of the Wounded Heart is remembered for helping to bring the remnants of the population back into compliance.
By 704.M41 the Praxedes system had become a major trading partner of the Tau Empire, along with much of the rest of the Tortuga Marches sub sector. Whilst it was never officially annexed by the Tau, the level of infiltration of the ruling elite was such that more of the planets wealth was heading out to the Tau Empire than to the Imperium. Soon even the tithe was not being met, but by this time the Imperium had plans afoot for the Damoclese Crusade, so rather than launching a punitive expedition against one system, Praxedes would be added to the target list of a Crusade.
Praxedes IV was reached in 742.M41 and invested by the LCXI Division of the III Damoclese Crusade army. Fighting was intense at first and the Imperial armies quickly established dominance over the weaker PDF forces. The Tau responded quickly throwing several septs at the world to 'protect their commercial interests' in the system. Control of the system see-sawed back and forth before settling into a front line across both continents of the world of Praxedes IV, where the line stalemated.
During the withdrawal and aftermath of the Damoclese Crusade the Command staff successfully lobbied the Crusade command for the right to stay and complete the re-conquest of the Praxedes system. However they were granted no other assistance and the world has remained in contention ever since.

++++ Awakening ++++

2009-07-11T09:39:00.000-07:00

The yellow sea, a vast mass of land slowly becoming desert. Located near the equator of the main continent of Praxedes IV. Little life exist in the area, and what does live is concentrated in small Oasis's. Life is harsh for all in the area. But this will shortly change. Not because of environmental or technological change to make life easier. No, the change will be that all life in the yellow sea will be extinguished.

Deep below the yellow desert reside vast catacombs. A shift in the tectonic plates caused by the fighting between the Imperials and Tau empires causes a localised quake. Shards of stone fall from the ceiling of the catacomb. It takes almost a minute for these shards to impact below. A few of the shards create dull thuds as they hit the ground, but many impact with a metallic ping.

Millenia dormant circuits start to activate and the catacombs start to pulse with an eerie green glow.

Battle For Praxedes IV Campaign Rules

2009-07-11T03:08:00.000-07:00

Introduction

The goal of the campaign for Praxedes IV is basically the same as the previous campaign for H'Russ:

To keep the book keeping to a minimum;
to have a definitive end in a reasonable space of time;
provide a framework to tie games into a narrative whole.

As such we are broadly keeping the same rules as that campaign.

Victory Conditions

the first player to Reach a total of 8 victory points.

Factions
This campaign contains the following factions:

Necrons (Codex: Necrons)
Biel Tan (Codex: Eldar)
291st Death Korps Panzer Grenadiers (Codex: Imperial Imperial Guard)
CCCLII Vostroyan First Born (Codex: Imperial Imperial Guard)
H'Russ Sept (Codex: Tau Empire)

All factions except Necrons may form alliances. All alliance members gain the VP' s and Cp's for a game played where they had figures on the field.

Victory Points
Gain One victory point per game where the player was on the winning side.

Campaign Points
For each game played a player may accumulate CP's based on the result of the game. CP's can be redeemed for Veteran Skills or points bonuses in a single game.

Win = 2 CP's

Draw =1 CP's

Loss = 0 CP's

Redeeming Campaign Points
CP's can be used to buy a roll on the Veteran Skills table at the following rate:

1CP = Preliminary Bombardment
4CP = 1 Random Veteran Skill (Roll once on the veteran skills table E5:p263 and add it to the army list)
6CP = 15 % points bonus for one game

Army lists
Games must be played with a valid army list and you must have it available for inspection by your opponent at time of play.

An army list may be changed at any time during the course of the campaign with no detrimental effects.

Using veteran skills
Veteran Skills are gained by a player for their faction by spending CP's. Roll once on the veteran skills table E5:p263 and add it to the army list.

The veteran skill can be applied to any legal unit in the army for a game.

The unit carrying the Veteran Skill must be declared to the opposition at the begining of the game or it cannot be used for that game.

If a unit carrying a veteran skill is completely destroyed (or the vehicle explodes) during a game then the Veteran Skill is permanently lost and is removed from the players faction.

Timeline

2009-06-29T14:18:00.000-07:00

742.M41 Damocles Crusade Begins and Ends in the same year. Imperial Forces withdraw to face Hive Fleet Behemoth.

746.M41 the Tau Sept world of H'Rrus is consumed by Hive Splinter Geiger, but not be fore a heroic defence allows the H'Rus Sept to pull out many of its citizens to a rescue fleet.

747.M41 Tau H'Rus Sept arrives on the planet of Praxedes IV, and joins the front line against the Imperial Guard forces.

058.747.M41 Inquisitor Thelis recovers picts of a Space Marines Battle Barge from the wreckage of a troop transport carrying a company of the Vostroyan CCCLII first born to Praxedes Quintus. An Analysis of the Pict recordings show the Barge to be be that of the Dark Angels Chapter of Space Marines. Navigators on board report the Battle Barge changing course for Praxedes Qunitus.

058.747.M41 Tau H'Rus Sept launch a counter offensive, recapturing the outer suburbs of the town of Vidighese on Praxedes Qunitus.

071.747.M41 Inconclusive Fighting continues in and around down town Vidighese on Praxedes Quintus between the 291st Death Korps of Krieg regiment and the H'Rus Sept.

093.747.M41 Tau finally break the Imperial line in the town of Vidighese. A Company of the CCCLLI Vostroyan broke under sustained Tau assault. With the Tau in positions overlooking the main highway into the city from the south, the Imperial position became untenable and the withdrawal began, with the 291st Death Korps of Krieg regiment covering the retreat.

109.747.M41 Imperial forces around Vedighese fell back to wards the next defense line based around the defensible feature known as the Malvairn heights. At the foot hills the 291st Death Korps of Krieg regiment turned at bay and utterly smashed the Tau vanguard in hot pursuit. Imperial forces had lost 15 km of line and the town of Vedighese had fallen, but the line was re-established

The Tortuga Marches Sub sector

2009-06-29T12:59:00.000-07:00

The Fall
The Tortuga Marches Subsector is a distant and forgotten back water of the Imperium of Man, lying on the outer edge of the Damocles Gulf in the Ultima Segmentum.

Conquered during the Imperial crusade, as a possible transit corridor for between spiral arms, the sub sector was discovered to be only a branch and soon became a sleepy backwater.
By 730.M41 many of its worlds had fallen to the Tau or succumbed to the greater good through trade and peaceful annexation. When the Bauxite and Tungsten mines of St Dolan were annexed by the Water-caste in 739.M41, the slow decay of the sub sector finally came to the attention of the Administratum. The Damocles Crusade had by this time been in planning for years and the Tortuga Marches were added to the target lists almost as an afterthought.
In 742.M41 the Damocles Gulf Crusade slammed into Tau space, at first things went well for the Imperials, capturing world after world, destroying many outlying settlements. but eventually the crusade ground to a halt. The Imperium had been attacked elsewhere and desperately needed the forces of the Crusade elsewhere. Primarily to slow the approach of Hive Fleet Behemoth. By the end of 742.M41, not even a year after the crusade had started, it was finished. Imperial commanders agreed to a withdrawal and a truce.

The Withdrawal
As the Segmentum Command began to realise the full extent and nature of the onslaught of Hive Fleet Behemoth, the cries for re-enforcement from the Damolces Crusade armies became more strident. What was planned as an organised withdrawal rapidly descended into a disorganised scramble: Armies were airlifted out leaving all of their equipment behind, to be re-equipped on the way to confront the Tyranids; Troops were abandoned when their Navy transport pulled out with all of their supplies, such as happened to the 17th Brimlock Dragoons; entire regiments were left behind because they couldn't get to the troopships on time.

The Aftermath
In the ensuing Chaos, fighting continued sporadically despite the peace treaty in some cases Tau sept's moved in to the vacuum left by departing Imperials only to run into die-hards and troops who had failed to reach the extraction point in time, in other cases such as the Tortuga Marches sector, local nobles conspired to keep the war going in order to retain that which the Imperium had so far managed to recover before the truce. The high tide mark of the Imperial advance was the star system Praxedes, and the Jewell in the crown: the civilised world of Praxedes IV. Five years after the peace treaty was signed ending the Damocles Gulf Crusade, the war in the Praxedes system continues unabated, neither side seems able to bring enough force to bear on the world resolve the issue, until in 747.M41 a collection of Tau Sept fleeing the destruction of their world by a splinter of Hive Fleet Behemoth come to settle on Praxedes IV.