Lewis got to field a Typhon for the first time and I managed to try out a few new things, including a dedicated anti-tank Commander, fitted with Fusion Blasters, using Shadowun and Aun'shi for the first time as well as getting to field the Stormsurge once more! Aun'shi was great; a dedicated close combat unit, as well as being able to provide Invocation of the Elements, was absolutely brilliant and managed to lay waste to a fair few Seekers and Daemonettes!
Some fluff from the battle follows the photos. Beware, this one is an essay!
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| Just before the destruction... |
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| Crisis Suits fighting off a Plague Crawler |
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| Breachers fight off Plaguebearers while the Riptide holds out |
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| "Target acquired. Lighting it up." |
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| Ghostkeel coming out of Stealth |
Abandoning Ash'hon
Steadstrike knew the impending battle wasn't a scenario he could win. The Death Guard are too powerful, especially now. Scouts reported an ancient war machine had been dug up several days ago and was being put to use, scorching the earth wherever it went. The time had come to abandon this moon, but not without putting up a fight.
All of the Earth and Water Caste had been evacuated, leaving only a skeleton crew of Earth Caste Engineers and the Firestorm Cadre, ready to lay down their lives. Steadstrike addressed them sincerely, telling them that the battle was not one they could win. However, the Death Guard were going to have to go through Hell and back before laying claim to the land here.
Farshot and Twinsun, Pax'nera Sept's own Hammerhead and Stealth Suit aces, were to finally take part as well as unleashing the might of the KV128, the Stormsurge. With everyone in position and raring to fight, they waited with bated breath, fingers on triggers, hearts in mouths.
The stench hit first, then the greenish brown miasma that seems to follow them everywhere. Several large war machines crested the hill, somehow their rotten and rusted shells still holding together. Steadstrike frowned, looking through his binoculars.
"Ka'mais. Look to the left hand side just outside the city."
The Fireblade raised his own eye piece and sighed heavily.
"Canis Aureus. Looks like they're piloting that ancient machine too.. Looks like a.. Typhon."
The Commander took one last look and swore under his breath.
"They always have to put a spanner in the works.
With a concerned look on his face, he immediately began barking orders over the comms. The Surge was to target the Typhon, with Farshot and the Riptide punching a hole through the centre. Twinsun was to lead her Stealth team around to the right, hoping to catch a few of the larger targets off guard.
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The fight did not go in Steadstrike's favour, but alas he knew that was to be the case. The Stormsurge barely managed to glance the Typhon, even though the ancient machine itself didn't manage to put more than a dent in the titanic battlesuit. Rog, the large demonic entity they had fought, and killed, before, charged through the ranks, smashing the Riptide to pieces while a hulking mess of a demon, oozing guts and viscera, lumbered across the field of battle, destroying near everything in it's path. A team of Breachers put up a good fight, their Pulseblasters putting several holes in the beast, but they were soon beaten down by the entity as well.
Steadstrike launched himself headfirst into the fray, cutting down Plaguebearers. A lucky shot from an Aureus cultist punched a hole through one of the systems in his Coldstar suit and it began to malfunction. In those few precious seconds, the remaining Plaguebearers and Cultists rushed forwards, slashing and bludgeoning the battlesuit. Ordering a retreat, Steadstrike immediately pulled the ejector switch and was launched in to the air, barely seconds before the suit was torn apart and overrun by the hungry Chaos below.
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When Steadstrike and the other members of his command arrived back on board their Manta ship, a vigil was held for those fallen.
"They died with honor and with dignity. They fought bravely in the face of extreme odds and we will remember their sacrifice. For the Greater Good."
"For the Greater Good!", the rest of the Cadre shouted back, saluting their Commander.
"Now, we will press on with our efforts in the Charadon sector. Our allies in the Bay'be Sept have requested assistance dealing with a certain greenskinned threat that has invaded their foothold planet. How about we hunt us some Ork?"
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