Outpost 64

The Adeptus Sororitas have taken an outpost on the edge of Phalona Prine as a start of the operation into Phalona Prime, the planet capital.

The outpost fell quickly, the Lion Warriors saw an opportunity for a counter attack to help the beleagured Phalonians. 

The mission was unexploded ordinance so we had to drag the objective markers into the opponents deploynent zone. 

The forces clashed quickly, the Sororitas melee units and armoured vehicles closed quickly with the on coming space marines. 

What followed can only be described as the worst dice rolling ever. 

Initially the space marines had success virtually wiping out a squad  of battle sisters.  After that  their aim was off  for the rest of the game. 

The Sororitas paragon warsuits laid waste to many space marines . In the centre the my captain in gracis armour and his aggressor squad was killed before they even got to do anything meaningful. 

Then the death watch made an appearance!! Who knows what they are looking for!

Absolute show of power by the Sisters of Battle, I had more units to use but time was running out and the mission went I wasn't going to score anything to win so the space marines retreated. 

Phalona Reach VP total for Victory: 1000

Phalona Reach Defence Forces: 387

Ultramarines : 372

The Lion Warriors boarded their transports. Heads hung in shame. Cpt Krenal watched the last of his brothers board the craft. The Chapter master would not be impressed. This world was becoming a curse on their chapter. 

 Battle Barge Vigilant Nemesis 

A Shadow cast over a giant of a man, he sat in his throne grim faced. The hall of the Battle Barge was largely empty. After the latest contact from Phalona Reach Chapter Master K'narn had retreated to his throne. Only his personal guard and a few servitors running routine maintenance were present. 

The chapter master stared into the emptiness . After an hour he suddenly moved and made for the bridge. His personal guard snapped to attention and followed. 

The bridge was the opposite of the hall, full and bustling with activity. Everyone stopped when K'narn entered. 

“Back to work!. Bring me the reports from Phalona Reach” he barked. 

A bridge officer handed him several data slates. K'narn studied them closely. 

Officers and space marines on the deck waited . They hadn't seen the chapter master like this before. After what seemed like an eternity K'narn laid the data slates down.  

“Put me through to Cpt Krenal. “ 

After a brief pause Cpt Krenal voice echoed across the Vox  

“Chapter Master. I have failed you”

“Cpt Krenal we will discuss that later. What is your assessment of Phalona Reach at this time? I have read the data slates and I have my own opinion but you are on the ground. “

A moment of silence followed silence filled the bridge

“Our losses have been catastrophic. The Ultramarines arriving and backing up the Adeptus Sororitas was an unforeseen complication. Reports are that the returning son Gullimann is also in the System now”

The chapter master nodded,

“Yes it does appear Phalona Reach has garnered more attention than we had accounted for. It is time, we will start the withdrawal. It is a shame Phalona Reach could not have been kept as a recruiting world but we must take what stock we have and leave. “

The vox crackled…

“Captain?” Chapter Master K'narn snapped impatiently 

“Master, I am uneasy about leaving the Phalonians.”

A power armoured fist slammed on to the bridge throne, the human serfs jumped at the sudden sound.

“This world is doomed! Would you doom our chapter? You may offer assistance while we withdraw but Captain you will be on those transports leaving. You have failed me enough times “

“it will be done”.

The chapter master took one look at Phalona Reach and cursed under his breath. 

Phalona Reach Command

Governor Snarpe saw the vox light up,  

“Captain Krenal to Governer Snarpe. I have some.bad news”

The Governor smiled, currently all news was bad news. 

The smoke over the Phalonan outpost did not rise; it drifted in heavy, greasy ribbons, hugging the shattered remains of the bastion walls. The air was a thick slurry of ozone and the coppery tang of high-velocity impact.

Canoness Angelica moved through the carnage with the slow, deliberate gait of a predator that had already feasted. Her power armor, once a pristine ivory, was now a tapestry of soot and the bright, spray-patterned yellow of the Lion Warriors’ heraldry. She didn't holster her plasma pistol; the coils still throbbed with a fading turquoise heat, a rhythmic heartbeat of contained miniature suns.

Around her, the field was a morbid hive of activity. Sister Initiates, their robes tucked into their belts to avoid the gore, moved like ghosts through the wreckage. They worked in silence, a sharp contrast to the ecstatic, melodic chanting of the Living Saint. High above, the Saint drifted on wings of pure, blinding light, a golden icon of the Emperor’s wrath made manifest. Her presence turned the battlefield into a cathedral; where her shadow passed, the Sisters of the Order fell into a rhythmic praise-song, their voices rising in a soaring polyphony that celebrated both the Master of Mankind and the cold genius of the Primarch’s strategy.

"His blood for our life," an Initiate whispered nearby.

Angelica stopped as she reached a cluster of fallen Astartes. These were the Lion Warriors—traitors who had traded their loyalty to the Throne for the hollow promises of the rebels. Their yellow plate was cracked, scorched by melta-fire and bolter rounds. A Sister Hospitaller knelt over a wounded Loyalist, her Narthecium whirring as she performed the grim alchemy of battlefield medicine. Beside her, another Sister performed a different rite. She stood over a Lion Warrior whose chest cavity had been hollowed out by a krak grenade. With a prayer that sounded more like a sentence, she delivered the Emperor’s Peace with a sharp, vertical strike of a combat blade, ensuring the traitor’s soul was sent to the Judgement he deserved.

"Record him," Angelica commanded, her voice raspy from shouting orders through a vox-grille.

The second Initiate stepped forward, the Tome of the Lost cradled in her arms. The heavy vellum pages flipped in the wind of a passing gunship. With a quill made from the feather of a cyber-eagle, she scratched a name into the margin—not of the traitor, but of the Sister who had fallen taking him down.

"Canoness," a voice grated, cutting through the Saint’s holy chorus.

Angelica turned. Standing near a matte-black Inquisitorial Rhino—its engines humming a low, predatory growl—was a figure of shadow and silver. A Deathwatch Lieutenant. His armor was a patchwork of ancient marks, the silver left arm gleaming with the etched icons of the Ordo Xenos.

He reached up, the magnetic seals of his helmet popping with a sharp, pressurized hiss. As the helm came away, a face of rugged, scarred granite was revealed. He looked less like a soldier and more like a cliffside worn down by centuries of salt and storm. One corner of his mouth hitched upward, pulling at a jagged scar that ran from his jaw to his temple.

"Congratulations on your victory, Canoness," the Lieutenant said, his voice a low rumble that seemed to come from his boots. "A fine display of purging. Though, I must admit, I’d hoped our quarry would have been found among this particular pile of scrap."

Angelica reached up and disengaged her own seals. She pulled her helmet free, and a cascade of shock-white hair spilled over her pauldrons, framing a face that was youthful in features but ancient in the eyes. She took a deep breath of the acrid air, her sharp gaze immediately locking onto the silver crux on his shoulder and the specific, notched insignia of his rank.

"Lieutenant," she said, her voice steady and demanding. "The air is still thick with the ashes of my Sisters. If the Deathwatch has seen fit to shadow our advance, I would know the price of your presence. Who, precisely, is your target?"

The Lieutenant’s smile widened, though it remained a fearsome mask of old wounds. He leaned back against the warm hull of the Rhino, the Inquisitorial "I" glowing a faint, menacing red behind him.

"A shadow, Canoness. A ghost in the machine who has been feeding the Lion Warriors more than just tactical data. We tracked a signal—a high-level heretic cipher—to this outpost. Someone was coordinating the retreat before your Saint turned the sky into a furnace."

"And who is he?"

The Lieutenant didn't answer he just turned his head in the direction of the retreating Lion Warriors, his eyes narrowed

Angelica nodded at the silent marine "Then we shall hunt him, ghost or not"

Phalona Reach the Push for the City

 

The battle for Phalona Reach continues! Though I forgot to take pictures again!!

The Ultramarines tried an armoured punch to break through into Phalona Prime. They were met by Phalonas own armoured might. 

The battle started with a fast thrust from the  Ultramarines down the centre of the board. Magneus Calgar lead a charge of  blade guard into a squad of guardsman, predictably they were cut down but crucially they held up the marines.  My ogryns swept in and uneashed a hail of fire before charging in. Ultramarines fell to the Ogryns leaving only Calgar and one other left but Calgar isnt the chapter master of the Ultramarines for nothing. He slaughtered the ogryns leaving just the Commisar leading them alive. Meanwhile the Cerastus knight Lancer that pushed forward alongside Calgar was my no 1 target. 3 Rogal Dorns targeted the knight and brought it down in one turn! Then it exploded! Causing 8 mortal wounds to the 2 Land Raiders . 

This loss hit the Ultramarines hard, terminators teleported in and got out of the surviving Lamd Raider. My Gaunts ghosts aka Phalona team 1 were destroyed  by the terminators after they took my opponents objective in deployment zone. 

My infantry pushed forward along with reserves coming on . The one Rogal Dorn came face to face with the chapter master of the Ultramarines.  Everything it had went Into Calgar and took him out (I love the oppressor camera). The 2 land raiders were took out as well cutting off the Ultramarines from using the transport for rapid changes of location. 

After this my opponent conceded the game. His remaining forces would struggle to take objectives off me and I still had 3 Rogal Dorns that could pound him from range. 

.it was a fun game, when I saw the knight and 2 Land Raiders being set up i had a deep sense of foreboding but the knight blowing up and stripping 8 wounds of each land raider was a huge stroke of luck! 

Phalona Reach VP total for Victory: 1000

Phalona Reach Defence Forces: 372

Ultramarines :353

The hololithic display flickered as new data-streams bled into the projection, the ghostly blue light warping and reforming into a fresh vision of the battlefield. Icons shifted, some dimming, others vanishing entirely—extinguished like candles in a storm. The aftermath of the recent engagement was laid bare in cold, clinical detail. Roboute Guilliman stood unmoving for a long moment, one gauntleted hand hovering over the display. Then, with a slow, deliberate motion, he began to adjust the formations. Entire companies slid across the map at his command, their new positions forming a lattice of containment rather than conquest.

“The fault is mine.”

The words were quiet, but they carried the weight of a thunderclap. Canoness Angelica did not immediately respond. She watched as a cluster of icons—representing the armoured spearhead—flickered uncertainly.

“The engagement was lost the moment I permitted overextension,” Guilliman continued, his voice measured, but edged with iron. “I anticipated a faltering line. Instead, the enemy committed fully. I did not account for the resolve of the Phalonan regiments.”

His hand passed through the projection. A towering sigil—once denoting the proud engine of a Cerastus Knight—glitched, fractured, and then vanished entirely.

“The destruction of the Knight Lancer broke the cohesion of the advance. Its demise was… spectacular.”

For a fraction of a second, something almost human crossed his features—regret, sharpened into frustration.

“Chain-reaction damage crippled both Land Raiders. A single point of failure cascaded into systemic collapse. It is a flaw I should have foreseen.”

Angelica stepped forward slightly, her armour whispering against itself.

“My Lord, the Sisters who witnessed the detonation described it as apocalyptic. No mortal commander—”

“I am not a mortal commander.”

The interruption was not harsh—but absolute. Silence settled between them, filled only by the low hum of the ship and the distant echo of the Chant. Guilliman exhaled slowly, the sound controlled, deliberate.

“That is precisely why the error is unacceptable.”

He resumed his work, more quickly now. Surviving Ultramarine elements—proud warriors of the Ultramarines—were redrawn into tighter formations, forming interlocking fields of fire. Retreat vectors became defensive bastions. What had been a failed thrust was reshaped into a shield.

“The Phalonan Astra Militarum have overextended in their success,” Guilliman said, his tone cooling into pure strategy. “Victory breeds carelessness as often as defeat breeds hesitation.”

He isolated a region of the map. A small outpost pulsed faintly at the edge of the contested zone, its defensive perimeter thin, supply lines stretched and poorly supported.

“Their advance has created a void.”

His massive finger descended, enlarging the projection. The outpost expanded into sharp relief—bastion walls, ammunition depots, vox arrays—all suddenly vulnerable in their isolation. Angelica followed his gaze, her eyes narrowing as she assessed the target. She could already see it—the approach vectors, the angles of assault, the hymns that would be sung as her Sisters advanced through fire. Guilliman’s eyes lifted from the hololith and met hers across the table. For a moment, the vast chamber seemed to contract around that single point of focus—Primarch and Canoness, reason and faith, united in purpose.

“Here,” he said, his voice once more that of the Lord Commander, absolute and unyielding. “Is your next target, Canoness.”

The image of the outpost hovered between them, bathed in cold blue light—waiting. Angelica stepped forward, the glow reflecting in the polished surfaces of her armour. The names within the Tome of the Lost seemed to weigh heavier at her side, as if the fallen themselves bore witness to the moment. She brought her fist to her chest in a crisp, reverent salute.

“It shall be done, my Lord.”

The words rang with conviction—unyielding, unquestioning. And in the shifting light of the hololith, the next battle had already begun.

Phalona Reach

The static metallic tang held in the air, unreal energies from the Knights reactor explosion still lingered on the breeze. Commander Cowley stood in his Rogal Dorns turret surviving the battlefield through his amplivisor. Even in defeat the Ultramarines were dangerous. The stroke of luck was the knight exploding, shattering the main assault of the ultramarines. 

They had surged forward like a tidal wave. The knight strode with purpose, a wicked looking spear held ready to impale any armour it got close to. A land raider accompanied the knight. 

Commander Cowley remembered the frantic orders over the Vox and the disbelief when the knight exploded. The zealous requests to pursue the Ultramarines but he knew better than to try and run down space marines. He held the forces in check. Only Phalona team 1 disobeyed that order and they paid the price……

In the command centre several officers were slapping each other on the back at the victory they watched on their holo table. General Laricon stood off to one side, 

“Fools…..” He muttered to himself. The officers were plotting a grand strategy to take to the governor. Laricon noticed a weak spot in the lines caused by the advance. A position left exposed. He scratched his beard, he took out a data slate and wrote orders to try and reinforce the post but it was a matter of timing. Would they get there to help or clear the bodies?

He left the officers to their grand schemes. He dealt with reality and she was a harsh mistress  

.

Both sides take a breath on Phalona Reach

 

Been a bit of a gap between our Phalona Reach Campaign. Don't worry we haven't forgot and the fate of Phalona Reach all be decided.  We have played a couple of 40k games using the mission deck (don't ask me which one ha ha ha I'm pretty sure it's the basic one) and seem to have got the hang of it. So we will use these for a good chunk of the games. I really enjoyed my missions and ideas for the victory points but they need more testing and ideas. There definitely still will be some home made missions but might chuck the GW secondary missions as another way of scoring VP. If each game can net us between 50 to 70 pts that should keep the overall total  ticking along nicely.    

To this end Matt has written a short story as a certain character of his just recently got a promotion and his own campaign.  I have added a short story from the Phalonians perspective.  I have the Matts story in this post but I would urge you to visit his page and have a look at the plethora  of stories he has written! Check it out here. 

The Weight of the War

The ramp of the Ecclesiastical lander hissed open, releasing a cloud of pressurized steam that swirled into the cavernous hangar of the Ultramarines' Battle Barge. Canoness Angelica stepped onto the deck plating, her every footfall ringing with the weight of her power armour. Behind her, two initiate attendants followed in a rhythmic, practiced cadence. The first carried her golden battle helm, a scarred relic recovered from the smouldering ruins of her Order’s Monastery. The second bore The Sacred Tome of the Lost, an immense, gold-chased volume whose vellum pages held the names of every Sister of the Adepta Sororitas martyred in the gruelling war on Phalona

The air aboard the vessel was a suffocating, holy miasma, a "soup" of cloying incense, melting candle wax, acrid promethium exhaust, and the sharp, metallic tang of sacred machine oils. It was the scent of a crusade. The soundscape was equally overwhelming, the Roar. Sub-orbital craft and heavy ground transports thundered across the deck, their engines vibrating in Angelica’s chest. The Chant, the rhythmic, binary-heavy canticles of a hundred Tech-Priests rose in a constant drone, attempting to soothe the machine spirits of the war-engines. Angelica felt a flicker of unease. The war on the surface had ground into a bloody stalemate, with both the Imperial forces and the Rebel insurgents pulling back to lick their wounds. With Lieutenant Titus, the stalwart bridge between their forces, unexpectedly recalled to Macragge by the Primarch’s decree, she found herself navigating a political and tactical vacuum.

The Resilient Heart

A chapter serf, clad in the pristine white and cobalt robes of the Sons of Guilliman, bowed low and began to lead them into the ship's guts. They moved past the bustling Stratagium, where she had once seen Titus hunched over tactical displays, and ascended into the command tiers. Here, the industrial roar faded into a heavy, oppressive silence. The architecture shifted from military utility to Gothic splendour—vaulted ceilings draped in tattered battle standards and marble pillars inscribed with the Codex Astartes. They finally reached a set of towering golden doors, guarded by the Victrix Guard. These elite warriors, statuesque in their ornate plate, offered a silent, respectful nod to the Canoness as the massive locks released with a series of rhythmic, hydraulic clacks.

The doors swung wide to reveal a grand observation chamber dominated by a massive hololithic projection of the Phalona system. In the centre stood a figure that defied the natural order. Roboute Guilliman, the Lord Commander of the Imperium, stood over the table. His towering form, encased in the Armour of Fate, made the Primaris Marines nearby look like children. As the doors closed, the Primarch turned. His movements were a paradoxical blend of ancient authority and cultured refinement, carrying across the room with effortless power. The heavy boots of the Victrix Guard remained motionless as Angelica passed, their presence like statues carved from cobalt and gold. As the massive doors hissed shut behind her the low, rhythmic thrum of the Battle Barge’s warp drive and the frantic clicking of data-slates were replaced by low muttering voices of strategy and logistics.

The chamber was vast, a cathedral of logic and logistics. Shafts of pale light filtered through stained-glass viewports, casting long, multi-coloured shadows across the marble floor. In the centre of the room, the hololithic projection cast a ghostly blue glow upward, illuminating the face of the Avenging Son. Roboute Guilliman did not look up immediately. He moved a massive, armoured hand through the flickering light of the hololith, shifting troop icons with the grace of a musician. Even without his helm, he radiated an aura of such sheer, crushing authority that Angelica felt the breath hitch in her throat.

"Canoness, welcome, you find the air of my ship a bit thick?" Guilliman asked, his voice a deep baritone that seemed to vibrate in the very marrow of her bones. He finally turned, his eyes, ancient and weary, yet burning with an intellect that moved faster than any mortal mind, settling on her.

"It is the scent of duty, Lord Commander," Angelica replied, her voice steadying as she found her resolve. "It is not unlike the incense of the Cloister, merely... more industrial."

Now I had to make a short story from my side, just be warned my writing skills are much less than Matts.

“Are these confirmed” Governor Xavier Snarpe waved his hand over 2 data slates he had just read.

“Not 100 % Governor, Vox intercepts can be unreliable but the tech priests say the degree of certainty is within acceptable limits. “ his aide said as he picked up the data slates clearing the holo map projector. 

Snarpe lost in thought noticed the movement and snapped back to reality, he activated the holo map. The reds and blues showing enemy forces and friendly forces looked the most stable they had been in a long time. Both sides had stopped and pulled back from fighting to reorganise and re-arm. He smirked, they had not expected this from just one planet. Phalona Reach had given the Imperium a bloody nose at the very least. 

“Gather the commanders please” 

The room was filled with generals and other officers all scanning copies of the data slates he had been reading minutes before . Their faces expressionless as they digested the new information. Some carried injuries sustained in Phalona Reach's struggle for independence but all knew what they had signed onto before this whole thing had started. Not much would surprise them. 

“Governor, this is not ideal, “ General Laricon said. His grim features showed a young man aged by what he had seen not by any natural process. 

Snarpe snorted a laugh down at the General's dry response,

“No General, it's far from ideal. I feel we should take it as a compliment. Our little planet has caused such a nuisance that the Commander of the Imperium has stopped by to put us in our place. “

That drew a laugh from the assembled officers. The slates contained intercepted vox traffic saying Roboute Gulliman Primarch of the Ultramarines and Commander of the Imperium had arrived in System. 

“I believe the end game is closing. It seems we have made to much of a nuisance of ourselves. I was hoping for a defence against an imperial General and after a bloody nose they leave us alone to avoid anyone knowing their shame. Rotten luck to have Astartes in the area at the start. The Adeptus Sororitas have been a constant needle and Marshall Drevals obsession did nothing to help our

cause. 

I will try and draw the battle to here Phalona Prime . I believe that is what Roboute will ask of the Adeptus Sororitas and Ultramarines. Cut the head and the snake will die. “ Snarpe looked round the room and swelled with pride. Non of his commanders looked frightened just determined. 

“The defence of Phalona Prime will be priority. Start to move your forces into the city. They want the head of the snake well they will have to work for it” 

murmurs of ascent rumbled through the assembled officers.  

“Right get to it. Send Dutch and Lt Dimitriv in please as you go out”

Snarpe sat down in his chair as the generals filed out talking strategy. Barging through the last few officers leaving a burly man in combat gear and smoking a cigar .

“You requested my presence . “ Dutch said a permanent look of boredom on his face.

“You have a prisoner from a skirmish on the city limits. “ Snarpe enquired

“Yes she was awaiting meeting your esteemed self. “ Dutch followed this with a small fake bow

“Quite. I need you to take her to the edge of our lines and release her. “

Dutch looked shocked

Snarpe pleased he had managed to break the soldiers wall of indifference.

“Yes, I am not full of vengeance like Marshall Dreval was and I have no need of her. There will be no negotiations for which a hostage would be useful. “

Dutch saluted, “Your wish is my command” he walked out the door as loudly as possible it seemed. 

In comparison a smaller man marched in and stood at attention.

“Lt Dimitriv reporting for duty!”

“Ah Lieutenant, I was reading a report about how you held your ground against the enemy with honour and skill.”

The Lieutenant looked shocked that a commander had actually read a report of bis. 

“I have a special mission for you. In sector 23 there is a column of vehicles assembling. They will need you and your unit to lead them to these coordinates.” Snarpe slid a data slate over the Lt Dimitriv. “Where you will hand over the cargo to our mysterious allies the Lion Warriors. After the cargo has been transferred you're free to return here and aid the defence or form a guerilla unit and disappear somewhere to strike at the enemies rear.” 

Lt Dimitriv started to stammer out words before visibly taking a large breath to calm him self. 

“Yes cpmmander . I will do as you ask” he saluted and took the data slate . He marched out the room.

Snarpe leaned back, he could feel the command level start to pulse with activity, he had been distance from the fighting for to long. Now he would lead his people.

 Already blue dots on the holo map started to move back towards Phalona Prime. Snarpe nodded with satisfaction. 

A few hours later, 

2 figures marched through a wooded area. One a tall male smoking a cigar the other a woman of smaller statue but burning with a defence that could not be tamed. Ropes held her wrists securely as they walked. She scowled at the man as he lead her . 

“Why didn't you just shoot me here or back in the city in front of the rest of the heretics?” the prisoner asked her words dripped with hate.

A deep chuckle came from Dutch

“Oh we have a special surprise planned for you.” 

After ten more minutes Dutch stopped, the prisoner looked around, a hint of nervousness passed over her face. She was clearly struggling to read Dutch and his intentions. 

Dutch unsheathed his combat blade and approached the sister of battle. She did not shy back, her eyes burned with hatred. 

“I am not afraid to die, I go to the emperor with a song in my heart knowing you heretics will burn .”

Dutch brandished the blade in front of the sisters face, a flicker of fear sparked inside her, before he moved inhumanly fast and slicing her bindings. 

“Well you won't be meeting the Emperor just yet. You wanna be heading that way” he pointed out into the woods away from the city they had walked from. 

“Now shoo “ he gave her a gentle push in the direction he had pointed and then walked away disappearing into the woods without a trace.  

The Adeptus Sororitas stood for a few minutes unsure of what to do before starting to walk the way she had been shown. 

Phalona Reach Campaign Update.

 

So we are quite a few games into the Phalona Reach campaign. I hope you have enjoyed it?

 Its been great fun to play even though I lose a lot. The addition of the Sisters of battle was mainly as my friend Matt wanted to give his Sisters a proper go as he plays Ultramarines a lot ( and I mean a lot! ha ha ha). The Lion Warriors made an appearance as I was bored of getting killed all the time and it was lovely to roll saving throws that I actually survive.

After one of our recent games we had a brief chat about how it was going and we think the way I chose how we earn VP is really costing me as a Guard player. 3 VP for character elimination and 2 VP for destroying a unit but the Guard rely on sacrificing units so puts me at a disadvantage ( Space Marines I think is just me being terrible at 40K) We could use the standard 40k missions and secondaries but we haven't really got the hang of them and keeping track of the scores. So maybe we will try in the future, for now we were going to look at super simple missions. e.g. One player defends a base the other is the attacker, simple job is to take the base. 

We also have the missions I wrote before the campaign started, I think maybe we got a bit carried away with our narrative ha ha ha and need to pull it back to sorting the details of the mission a bit more before we play while keeping the narrative at the fore front of the games as that is  the thing we love most about wargaming. We do have a habit of discussing the inside and outs of the rules when we sit down at the table.  Probably better that we get those all sorted  before we sit down to play then we can just crack on.  

I know if I had a xenos army (Tau are cool but they require way to much thougjt to play) as well as my guard Phalona Reach would have succumbed to the influence of the xeno's but I just have imperium forces. 

Lessons learned 

Don't go to big straight away. 1000VP may have been to ambitious.  If we used GW missions maybe it would be ok as people tend to end games with 50 to 60 VPs. 

 I'm thinking maybe in the new year we give the GW missions and secondary missions a game to see how we cope.  We could try a thing called Colosseum. It's from Play on Tabletop and is a 500pt  battle designed to be small and quicker. 

Don't just assume missions in your head.will always work . That's why people play test! 

So there we are. We are having fun which is the main thing and I hope.everyone is enjoying the fate of Phalona Reach being decided. 

If you have any suggestions or ideas feel free to drop a comment and let me know.

Probing Defences

 

The last game of the year was played on Monday. The Sisters were probing the defences of Phalona Prime and got a bit more than they bargained for!

Dutch prowled the wooded area on the capitols very edges. He was looking for signs of those meddlesome Ultramarines. Orders came down that there was a possibility the shift of the war would fall on Phalona Prime, Capitol of Phalona Reach. Try to cut the head off the snake and assume the planet will fall back in line. Dutch had serious reservations about that and thought the inquisition might pay the planet a visit .  

He struck off the dark thoughts as he heard a clanking of tank tracks and a hiss of something hydraulic. He silently moved forward and in a clearing saw a force of Adeptus Sororitas forming. A quick check of his map and he worked out they were going to march into Outpost 5 Beta. A forward listening post on the edge of the city. He best get there and warn them. 

Lt Dimitriv sat on his Vanquisher tanks turret enjoying a brief respite from the war. If he laid back and looked at the Phalona sky it almost felt like a summer training camp. “LT ! Friendlies coming in from the south “ a voice shouted up to him from the infantry command squad. With a stretch he stood up and climbed off the tank, a figure emerged from the woods. Lt Dimitriv recognised the figure as Dutch. He had seen the news pics of the legendary hero. With a confident swagger Dutch walked up to him. 

“Lieutenant. You got a force of those angry sisters coming towards you. I can't stay, orders and that but good luck”.

With that Dutch walked off towards the Capitol.

Lt Dimitriv took a second and then started ordering his small forces. “Get on the vox and call up the rest of the units. I want the full command here”.

Half an hour later, Lt Dimitriv stood watching the soldiers preparing positions and weapons. He noticed a civilian walking through the lines and heading towards the woods. He ran over and tried to stop the man. The strange man turned, he was dressed in a suit and looked like he was going to work in an admin block. 

“Where are you going sir ? You can't be here” Dimitriv said.

The man looked at the Dimitriv. His eyes held a coldness he hadn't seen before. 

“Daisy wasn't a part of this…..someone is going to pay”. The man pulled out an ornate but ancient pistol and walked away .

A soldier who Dimitriv recognised as being always a bit shady, anything you wanted he could get was staring at the man in awe. 

“Helsin, who was that?”

“Baba Yaga sir. I've only heard rumours he was supposed to be retired."

Tonight's battle was a simple take and hold. The Sisters have discovered a listening post and have to take it. Again not many pictures sorry, I really need to get better at this.

The battlefield for our game

I took a more infantry heavy force today (2 squads of 20 guardsmen, a squad of 10 Krieg and a squad of Kasrkin) and only 1 tank with 2 armoured Sentinels! Can you believe it.  

The Sisters started the battle by advancing forward. Sisters of Battle coming at my left flank and a Castigator tank with Penitant Engines in support coming at my right.  My infantry came under fire as my armoured vehicles were safely tucked away (I'm learning), my turn came and I unleashed my surprise for Matt. An Eversor assassin but this was no ordinary Eversor assassin.

They call him Baba Yaga a retired Bounty hunter

He sprinted up the left flank while my one 20 man squad held the ruins on that side. The right flank I pushed a 20 man squad forward going for the objective while keeping a squad behind for back up. One Sentinel stayed still on the left and fired a frag missile into the advancing Battle sisters squad. On the right the Castigator was a serious threat which my sentinel managed  to slap it with a hunter killer missile (A rare feat for the Guard!). My one tank, a Leman Russ Vanquisher tank (Really wanted to try out the Vanquisher battle cannon.....Spoiler alert as with any new model syndrome it did nothing!) was out of sight of the Castigator so shot at the Penitant engines.

The Sisters next turn brought the Penitent Engines right up to my squad and flamed it. They then charged in and carved up a good chunk of the squad. The Castigator pounded my infantry on the left along with the Sisters squad. Then as Matt loves to do a Canoness and Zerapyhm squad along with  a living Saint dropped in front of my lines! They truly butchered  the 20 man squad and wiped it out. This allowed me to use the Reinforcement strat and put a new 20 man squad into reserves. Exciting for me, infuriating for Matt. 

My turn cam and with the help of orders and a solid advance roll my back up squad on the right flank took the objective. The squad engaged with the Penitent engines fell back but screened the squad that had taken the objective hoping to buy them some time. The Sentinel on the right took a few wounds off one of the Penitant engines. My Kasrikin moved out of the base they were holding and hit the Castigator with a melta mine and hot shot las guns. My Vanquisher moved out of cover and hit the Castigator with everything it had (As mentioned except the main gun that missed entirely!), the Castigator still stood but was very hurt.  One the left flank the newly arrived 20 man squad exacted a bloody revenge on the Zerapyhm squad. A huge volley of las gun fire felled  most of the squad leaving the Canoness alone. Baba Yaga  fell upon the Sisters of battle from the rear. After his shooting and charge there were 3 of 10 Sisters left. 

The Sisters hit back, the Penitent engines flamed the squad they had charged out of existence and then charged the squad on the objective killing all but 1. The Canoness retreated back to the sisters of Battle and the Saint. There they shot and brought down my Eversor Assassin. The Eversor has deadly demise which wiped the sister of battle squad out and left the Canoness and saint quite exposed with very few body guards. 

My turn all my fire was aimed at surviving Canoness and saint and tank. I managed to kill  the tank,  all the body guards and the Canoness (I think, that one detail evades me) The Penitant engines killed the remaining guardsmen and then Matt called it. He had no infantry to hold the objectives and his Castigator being gone meant my tank had a significant advantage with its weapon being able to one shot anything he had. 

Was a fun game and I tried hard to use stuff I had read about with Guard and not just charge forward.

Phalona Reach VP total for Victory: 1000

Phalona Reach Defence Forces: 341

Ultramarines :339

The gunfire finally died down. Lt Dimitriv opened the hatch of his Vanquisher letting the cordite smoke out and fresh air in. They had held the line, seen off the enemy but it had not been earned freely. Officio Medicae staff now moved amongst the broken and dead searching for casualties. A stream of stretchers went one way and bodies the other. A squad of Phalona PDF were maneuvering through the Adeptus Sororitas bodies. Every now and then a soldier would stop and pull a trophy  

off a body. Dimitriv went to find the Vox operator to send his report. A commotion caught his eye. Several soldiers were dragging a prisoner towards him. Her white armour was stained with blood and mud. Rent open in several places. The soldiers forced her onto her knees before Dimitriv, she was barely conscious but stared at him eyes burning with pain and hatred. 

“Secure the prisoner and get a medicae to stabilise her for transport” Dimitriv said. No one moved , one of the soldiers pulled out a las pistol and pointed it at the Sister

“For Marshall Dreval “ 

“I wouldn't do that if I were you” a new voice said. Dimitriv blinked as Dutch appeared from nowhere, knife to the soldier's throat. 

“There is enough out there for revenge. She goes to the Governor.” Dutch pointed angrily out into the woods. The soldier white with terror, lowered his pistol. 

“She needs to die “ he mumbled as he stalked off. Dutch and 3 soldiers took the sister away in a transport. Dimitriv was glad that problem was out of his hands. Fighting a war appealed more to him than politics. 

The Martyr’s Toll

​Sister Superior Cassian entered the requisitioned administrative office, the servo-motors in her armour whining softly with the movement. She stopped before the heavy oak desk and snapped a sharp salute, the sign of the Aquila formed perfectly across her chest. Canoness Superior Angelica did not look up immediately from the maps spread before her, but her presence filled the room. "Report, Sister."

​Cassian lowered her hands, her expression grim. "The scout force dispatched to assess the outer defences of the planetary capital has been silenced, Canoness. They encountered a concealed strongpoint. It was an ambush."

​She stepped forward and placed a cracked data-slate on the desk. "Telemetry indicates total loss of the force. They died fighting."

​Angelica stared at the data-slate for a long moment, her face an unreadable mask of cold marble. She did not shout, nor did she strike the table. She simply nodded, accepting the weight of the dead.

​"They sit at the right hand of the Golden Throne now," Angelica said quietly. "Dismissed, Cassian."

​Penance and Prayer

​As the door closed behind the Sister Superior, Angelica rose. She crossed the ferro-crete hallway to the small, makeshift chapel established in the building's east wing. The air inside was thick with the scent of sacred incense and beeswax. Angelica knelt before the small shrine of the God-Emperor, bowing her head until her forehead touched the cold floor. She did not move for hours. She offered prayers for the fallen, reciting the Litany of the Martyred and the Catechism of Hate, letting her grief harden into a diamond-sharp resolve.

​The Call to War

​Several hours later, the heavy doors of the chapel opened. Angelica emerged, her face composed, her eyes dry and burning with renewed purpose. She returned to her office and sat heavily at her desk. Her fingers danced across the runic keys of the comms-console, dialling in a secure frequency. The static hissed for a moment before the connection stabilized. She leaned into the vox-caster.

​"This is Canoness Angelica hailing the Battle Barge Resilient. Patch me through to Lieutenant Titus. Immediately."

Sisters Revenge

 

After the "successful" rescue of Marshall Dreval.  It seems as the space marine forces retreated the Sisters wanted revenge and charged straight after them. 

2 small forces meet in battle!

The sisters advanced first  posing hard to hold the centre ground. The Space marine outriders and Stern Guard  were the targets of choice. Both units fell eventually to focused fire and charges. My Infernus marines held an objective but were killed trying to defend the objective. Sister of Battle tanks pushed the centre of the board and the Sisters took the middle objective.

With my left flank being overwhelmed I shifted to my right flank. A squad of 10 Intercessors pushed for the right objective. Against them was a squad of 10 battle sisters. Bolter fire was exchanged and the marines slayed 5 sisters in one volley. They charged in and spent  a turn or 2 wiping the unit out (Bleeding Imaginifier  giving them a 2+ armour save!)

Intercessors pile in!

My blade guard charged the Seraphim and Canoness to get revenge for the fallen Stern Guard. A whirling  melee over 2 turns occurred and due to some shocking rolls on my space marine captain  part he was killed easily by the Canoness

Started off so well.

I was left with one unit left! I pushed to get revenge on the Canoness. She had flew to the top of the building in the centre . My Intercessors levelled their bolt rifles and thanks to Target Elimination and Oath of Moment the Canoness and the last Seraphim had 36 saves to make!!! The fusillade was to much and she fell! that was the end of the battle. On VP points another victory for the Sisters.

Phalona Reach VP total for Victory: 1000

Phalona Reach Defence Forces: 326

Ultramarines :334

The apothecary and another marine brother dragged Captain Krenal away into the trees and the rest of the intercessors provided covering fire. The apothecary wasn't worried about imminent danger. The intercessors had managed to swat the enemy's leader out of the sky in a hail of bolter fire but this mission had failed, not even that victory could save it. The Phalonian Marshall was dead. Crushed beneath the tracks of the Adeptus Sororitas tank. The captain would not be happy when he recovered. 

Aboard the Lion Warrior Strike Cruiser Vigilant Wrath Captain Krenal winced at his injuries …..no he corrected himself more so the shame of failure. He had lost battle brothers and the mission objective. The chapter master would not be pleased. Krenal started to wonder if this world was worth the effort the chapter master was expending?

Governor Snarpe read the message showing no emotion. The Space marines confirmed Marshall Dreval has been killed in action. Run over by a frakking tank . Well he mused her hatred for the Sisters of Battle set a course that would lead to her death eventually.  

He realised his staff were waiting. 

“Toll the Bell of the Reach. Marshall Dreval has perished battling the enemy. Let it be known she stood and cut down many enemies of Phalona Reach before she was struck cowardly from behind! Her sacrifice will not be in vein ” 

Several members of staff noted things down on data slates and left the room.  

Xavier Snarpe  went back to the holo table. There was an awful lot of enemy signifiers all over the planet.. His world was burning in its fight for freedom. Phalona Reach must stay strong he thought.

​Canoness Angelica stood over the body, firmly waving away the Medicae Sister who approached her for the second time. The wound was unimportant; she had stopped the bleeding for now and she would deal with it properly when they returned to base. Right now, it was infinitely more important to ensure the escaped witch was truly dead.

​She gazed down at the shattered corpse. The recognizable features confirmed it beyond any doubt: it was her.

​Angelica dropped to one knee amidst the rubble and offered a silent, fervent prayer to the Divine Emperor for the deliverance of the wicked soul she had just dispatched. Reaching out, she detached the distinctive, identifying emblem from the foe's splintered breastplate, securing the trophy in her own pouch.

​Rising slowly, she turned to Sister Superior Cassian, who was organizing the final sweeps. Angelica simply nodded.

​"Ensure nothing is left. Burn everything," she commanded, her voice raw with fatigue.

​As the heavy wumph of a flamer began to sound in the background, consuming the evidence of the heretic’s hideout, Angelica walked toward the waiting transport. She climbed inside and sat down, resting properly for the first time in eighteen hours. Outside, the murmuring rhythm of the Sisters reciting the Litany of Purification rose to meet the roar of the cleansing flames.

The Rescue Attempt

With Marshall Dreval captured, the Phalonians find help from a most unexpected ally. A loyal but renegade space Marine Chapter. The Lion Warriors offer to attempt a rescue. 

The Lion Warriors mass on the edge of the base

My soace marines faced off against a mix of Ultramarines and Sisters of battle.  The plan was to draw the defenders o I t as much as possible then deep strike a squad of terminators in to effect the rescue!

It started off well, offering up tempting targets pulled the defending units away from.the target building . My Brutalis dreadnought suffered the fates of 99% of new models it died but it took out some  paragon warsuits before it died. The Repulser suffered the same fate but also killed a tank before it died so at least they didn't get wiped out without doing anything. 

The defenders hold the line

Unfortunately my friend Matt cottoned on to my brilliant plan when I deep strike my terminators behind his lines.  He left minimal defences at the front and turned to face the new foe. My terminators held firm for 3 turns under withering fire they eventually forced a tank to fallback and were slowly. Brought down under the weight of fire. 

Enemy forces swamp my terminators 

My Repulser pushed forward  and unloaded my blade guard and assault intercessors in a last ditch push for the base but they were stalled and repluser destroyed.  My rescue mission failed.  

Lessons learned space marines are not guard. I need to push forward and be aggressive with my attacks. More terminators deep striking in would have helped . 5 terminators and  a Chaplain  held for ages but couldn't really push forward. More numbers would have helped me there. 

Phalona Reach VP total for Victory: 1000

Phalona Reach Defence Forces: 311

Ultramarines :313

The sounds of battle were overwhelming. Space Marine vs space marine, it was a blur of combat . The defenders rushed to the outposts' barricades in defence. In the chaos of battle no-one noticed a single man slip through the lines . 

Like a Shadow he moved through the facility. He located the room he was looking for. An explosion rocked the walls, the sister guarding the door, touched her com bead and then walked away from the room. Seemingly called away, “ what luck” Dutch thought as he sheathed his knife . He quickly entered the room, a figure tied to a chair was slumped over and covered in grime and dried blood. 

“Fancy meeting you here Marshall” he whispered . The slumped figure raised their head.”Dutch?” A confused look on her face. 

Dutch worked fast freeing the shackles, 

“The governor isn't finished with you yet Dreval and we have new friends. Space marines in fact”

Dutch's utter calmness really made Dreval nervous . They walked out of the cell . Huge amounts of gunfire erupted very close by. Dutch indicated for Drevall to wait. He went around the corner but quickly came back. “Our escorts had been spotted and …..well that way isnt safe “ Dutch and Drevall headed back the way Dutch had entered the facility. Dreval's eyes hurt as they adjusted to the light. Dutch led her from cover to cover. They were spotted by 5 space marines in yellow. Dutch waved and pointed at a menacing tank that was maneuvering and would spot them soon. The yellow armoured space marines nodded and opened fire on the tank drawing its attention. 

The 2 made it to the relative safety of a thick patch of trees. Dutch lit a cigar and indicated that Dreval should.follow him. They emerged in a clearing where several space marines clad in yellow power armour. Except one, who was glad in white. They walked over,

“Marshall Dreval. I am pleased to see you are alive. We have taken the liberty of acquiring equipment similar to what you had before your capture. If you would get ready, we need to move, and I fear the battle is not going our way. Operative Dutch will you be joining us? “ The voice through the helmet gave it a robot tinny sound. 

Dutch shook his head 

“Negative Apothecary Ryden. I have other matters to attend to. “ Dutch headed off into the woods. 

Apothecary Ryden followed him until he was out of visual range. The Phalonian then disappeared altogether. Nothing on any scan the Apothecary ran. “Hmm I need to see a tech marine “

Canoness Angelica stood before the empty detention cell, her left hand resting on her hip. She ran her right hand through her damp hair, her eyes blazing with a quiet, barely restrained rage that sent an immediate hush over the room. The nearby Sisters and Initiates—even those tending to the injured—refused to meet her gaze as she turned and stalked out.

​Her heels rang sharply against the bare plasteel of the stairs. Reaching the top, she shoved the hatch open, and her senses were immediately assaulted by the smells of burning vehicles, spent promethium, and spilled blood.

​Her eyes searched the milling figures of the Ultramarines and Sisters of Battle outside, eventually finding the one she was looking for: Lieutenant Titus.

​A clear path seemed to magically open before Angelica and close behind her as she advanced. Titus nodded in acknowledgment as she approached, but before he could speak, she spat out the words:

​“She is gone. Escaped.”

​Titus frowned. He glanced toward the smoke rising from a burning tank and the slumped, collapsed frame of a Dreadnought before settling his eyes back on the Canoness. He spoke two words.

​“A distraction.”

​Angelica frowned, turning her gaze eastward across the devastated zone. “An expensive one, but perhaps they could afford it. I will put together a force and go after her myself. I will bring the Emperor’s purifying flame to these heretics.”

​With those words, she spun on her heel and walked away, her earlier rage now channeled into cold determination.

​Titus followed her retreating form with his eyes until she was out of sight. Then, he let out a single, low word.

​“Good.”

​

Gathering the Purifying Flame

Angelica did not return to the command centre. Instead, she strode through the makeshift field hospital—a repurposed hangar bay smelling of antiseptic, ozone, and fear—and headed directly toward the armoury station nestled in the southwest corner. The guards snapped to attention as she approached, their bolt-pistols held rigid.

​She ignored them, marching straight to the station's main console where a Tech-Priest, Magos Zeta-8, was running diagnostics on a heavily damaged Exorcist tank chassis. The Canoness slammed her gauntleted hand on the metal workbench.

​"Magos. I require immediate requisitioning," her voice was low, yet sharp enough to cut through the whine of the diagnostic tools.

​Zeta-8 paused, its optic sensors swiveling up to meet her blazing eyes. "Canoness Angelica. Specify needs. All resources are currently optimized for defense and triage."

​"Optimization is irrelevant," she retorted, leaning closer. "The heretic, the witch we captured, has been freed. This changes the tactical priority. I require a fast, mobile pursuit unit. Three squads. Full combat load."

​She began dictating the specifications without waiting for confirmation:

• ​Squad I: Sisters Repentia. "The ones who are still whole and eager for atonement. They will form the spear tip."

• ​Squad II: Battle Sisters. "The veterans. Bolters and flamers. We need immediate, overwhelming firepower to breach whatever hidden bolt-hole they've secured."

• ​Squad III: Retributors. "Two heavy bolters, two multi-meltas. For the vehicles they used in the escape, and any heavy defense they might mount."

​Zeta-8's mechanical manipulators clattered across the console, registering the demands. "Requisitioning approved. Logistics will be notified. Estimated deployment readiness: twenty minutes."

​Angelica nodded curtly. That was acceptable. She turned her attention to a nearby Initiate, kneeling beside a Sister who was having a wound bandaged.

​"Initiate. Go to the barracks block. Find Sister Superior Cassian. Tell her I am forming a mobile Retribution Force and she is to command the Battle Sisters. Tell her to be ready for deployment in twenty minutes. Go!"

​The Initiate scrambled to her feet and raced away. Angelica watched her go, then glanced back at the field hospital, her gaze sweeping over the Sisters being treated. The cost of the heretic’s escape had been high.

​They will pay a thousandfold for this momentary victory, she vowed, her hand instinctively resting on the hilt of her Angelic Blade. No distraction is too costly to avenge.

​

Fields of Death

 

6 Km Outside the city limits

The morning sun rose gently over rolling fields of emerald grass, each blade tipped with silver from the lingering dew. A lazy breeze drifted across the meadows, carrying with it the scent of wildflowers and freshly tilled earth. Birds chattered softly from the hedgerows, their songs harmonizing with the distant murmur of a slow-moving stream. For a moment, the world seemed content to linger in quiet stillness. Far beyond the patchwork of fields and grazing pastures, a city shimmered on the horizon—its spires and rooftops catching the first golden light of day. Though distant, its silhouette stood in quiet contrast to the countryside serenity, like a promise of stories yet untold. Between here and there lay only peace, stretched wide beneath an open sky.
     From the expansive blue sky a quiet rumble grew in volume and intensity untill the roar encompassed everything, animals scattered for there hiding places, greenery whipped into a frenzy of movement by the growing fury of the wind. A huge shadow settled across a meadow as the giant lander settled to the earth as the engines wound down the fury of sound and wind died away, with a hiss of equalizing pressure the main hatch opened and the ramp extended.
Sister Superior Khalan shielded her eyes momentarily as the hatch opened and the bright sunlight flooded the lander, once her eyes adjusted she raised her hand and signalled her squad to disembark before walking down the ramp and stepping onto the scorched grass, she turned looking as the second lander set down alongside hers, it's hatch opening she and her squad saluted with fist to there hearts as escorted by Sister Liliana's Paragon unit Canoness Angelica, piloting her new paragon warsuit set foot again upon Phalona

Inside the City Limits

Marshall Dreval studied a data slate in her quarters. A warehouse served as her base of operations. The industrial sector gave her troops more room and was on the edge of the city so they could move out quickly if needed.  

 She was concerned that the last of her force from the battle at the Sisters cathedral had not reported in. A commotion  from outside drew her attention from the data slate.. She crossed to the window and moved the flak padding aside. Daylight streamed in, she shielded her eyes as they adjusted to the sudden change in light from the bright Phalona sun.

In the yard below a group of bedraggled soldiers were walking into the warehouse yard. At the front was a large man smoking a cigar, his arm clearly badly burnt. 

Dutch led the surviving soldiers into the warehouse yard. He spotted a supply officer , he pulled his cigar out of his mouth, wincing at the pain in his arm. The burn looked quite bad Dutch had to admit .  

“ Hey you!! Get some water and rations. These boys have been through hell”

The supply officer blinked a few times then recognised Dutch. He shouted orders and some other soldiers started grabbing supplies and water.  The soldiers with Dutch visibly relaxed, the tension from the escape leaving their drained bodies. Dutch noticed an imposing figure stride out of the warehouse.  Her silver  power armour with gold trim glinting in the sun. 

“ The hero of Phalona Reach as I live and breathe” Marshall Dreval said. Looking Dutch up and down.  

Dutch looked at her indifferently, put the cigar back in his mouth, 

“Just Dutch. I found these boys and their friends a ways back” 

“Do you happen to know where their friends are?” Marshall Dreval asked impatiently. 

“Gone. We got ambushed by some Adeptus Sororitas and boy were they unhappy. I took a melta blast which nearly killed me.  These guys were the only ones that made it out. Your man Davrio held the line allowing us to get away. Just know they virtually destroyed the ambushers“  Dutch  said seriously, his eyes conveying the respect due to Davrio and his fellow soldiers. 

Marshall Dreval  cursed to herself, how were there  still Adeptus  Sororitas out there? They had crushed their Cathedral. Seen them flee ? 

Before she could answer her own thoughts, her suits vox clicked,

“Marshall Dreval! Landers spotted 8 clicks out. Scouts report Adeptus Sororitas forming up.” 

Marshall Dreval  cursed.  

“Acknowledged. Seems they want revenge.  Sound the alert and gather our forces. We will meet the enemy head on! 

Get me Enginseer Kravlos. “ A click of acknowledgement  then a few seconds later a shrill, robotic  voice cut through on Vox

“Marshall, you requested me?”

“Yes Engineseer. Is she ready?” Dreval asked,

“Yes Marshall systems at 100%”

A huge whine of an engine starting, louder than the other engines. Dutch smiled, brushing off the medical fussing with his arm

“This is got to see “

Take and Hold

2pt - Unit Destroyed

3pts - Character Destroyed

5 pts - Epic Hero destroyed

5pts  - Per objective a turn.

Strategic VPs (These are a new thing I am trying , will see how they go)

VP = Points Cost - Warlord Assassination

This battle was the Sisters of Battle out for revenge against Marshall Dreval for the destruction she wrought on their cathedral. Old rivalries would be brought up and scores settled. The Phalonians have brought out the big guns to help defeat the oncoming sisters. Phalona's Rage enters the battle space.

Which was a very good idea as the sisters had brought a Knight for assistance!

The battle started cautiously with the sisters taking what shots they can and seeing the Baneblade as the main threat.

Phalona's Rage holds the line tracking the incoming knight

The Guard armour in the centre pushed out

Warsuits come charging at the tanks

Tank commander pops shots off from cover

Thankfully (For me anyway) my armour pounded the Knight and took it down in one turn! This was a strong blow to the Sisters

The Living saint and Seraphim descend from the sky's

Marshall Dreval holds in the ruins 

The sisters push in on the centre

White Feather looks for his mortal enemy Dutch

 

A Castogator and an Immolator advance

The Baneblade destroys the sisters tanks

The battle was brutally close now,  the Saint and her squad wiped Marshall Derval's bodyguards out and then took the Marshall down.

Canoness Superior Angelica Swiftwind in her super paragon war suit (Morgan Vail stats wise) charged down a Rogal Dorn. Which after a few rounds of combat withdrew so the tank commander could get a shot at her. This damaged but didn't kill the Canoness, she went to swing past the Rogal Dorn and it overwatched and thankfully caught her finally with 2 multi-meltas and took her down!

With not many forces left on the field it was a scramble for objectives. The Baneblade did great work clearing objectives but even that fell to the last dice roll of the game. It blew up taking out the warsuit that had so rudely killed it.

The battle ended with a bloody Phalona Reach victory. they held objectives and managed to kill enough units and took the battle by 2 VP. Then both warlords were taken out so we add strategic VPs as well to the overall VP totals.

Phalona Reach VP total for Victory: 1000

Phalona Reach Defence Forces: 307

Ultramarines :291

Firebase K-12 Sector 134

The smell of promethium and burnt metal lingered in the air around firebase K-12, an continuous reminder of when the cleared land was burned out of the edge of the southern great forest. Vik stood by the railing of the south east watchtower, it was currently unmanned it's construction only completed this morning his hands crossed atop the ion stream unit as he looked north across the dual landing pads atop the roof, he tilted his head as a trio of Adepta Sororitas troopers rose up on the cargo lift two of them carrying bolters emblazoned with Sororitas iconography
The third was wielding one of there brutal heavy flamers, bejewelled with oath papers and prayer scrolls, he spoke as the trio halted near the far landing pad "Hey Bo, come look at this" Bo, a hulking black man with a thick moustache and dark blue coveralls rose from the panel he was working in and stepped up next to Vik brushing his hands on a rag hanging on his belt "What's going on?" Vik pointed at the three Sisters standing motionless by the landing pad "What you make of this?" Bo shook his head "You got me, nothing was posted on the arrival boards this morning" he paused looked again at the three motionless figures and shuddered "Anyway those gals creep me out always so serious, I try to keep my distance"
He turned back to get back to work, but before he could Vik spoke again "I think some of them look hot, I mean you never thought about it?" He turned and gave Bo a suggestive half grin
Bo shot him an incredulous look "You ever seen one of those women out of there armour? They look as if they would twist off your head if you tried" Vik looked a bit disappointed he hadn't got Bo going he turned back around to look at the landing deck and the three armoured women "I still think they look hot" Bo let out a grunt as the panel sputtered to life and began cycling through diagnostics "Done" he said closing the panel with a satisfying click "Now we can get lunch" he said as he turned around Vik spoke again "Hey Bo what does this thing do?" He said indicating the silent Ion Stream unit Bo looked at him confused "What you mean what's it do?" He picked it up and ran it along the floor it hummed quietly "You run it along the floor like this" Vik huffed "I know that but what does it actually do? The floor isn't any cleaner?" They both looked down at the offending device "I don't know" he said looking back at Vik, Vik looked at Bo then the device then Bo again before shrugging "So lunch?" Bo nodded, but before the could descend from the watchtower a screaming blast of heat and sound struck blasting the base as a massive Sororitas lander slammed to a stop right above the pad and gently descended to settle on its landing struts as the ramp descended the three sisters snapped to sharp attention, Bo gasped as he watched a figure walk gracefully down the ramp her gold and silver armour shone in the sunlight her white hair flows loose in the breeze as she looked around her piercing blue momentarily settled on Vik and Bo watching from the tower before her gaze moved on.
When her graceful stride reached the bottom of the ramp the three sisters saluted which she returned then turned back to watch as a full battle squad of sisters exited the lander, Vik nudged Bo "looks like they have a prisoner"
Bo gasped "Is that an Inquisitor?" Vik squinted "Looks like it" Vik and Bo looked at each other and said in unison "We are so screwed"
Canoness Angelica, a satisfied look on her face watched as the traitor Inquisitor who had led the assault on her home was roughly shoved down the steps to the interrogation rooms, now she will learn all she needs to know 

Phalona Reach Main Command

Xavier Snarpe studied the holo table. There had just been a major engagement and reports were flooding in.  Marshall Dreval had engaged an Adeptus Sororitas force that had forced a landing. Why the Sororitas had attacked there seemed illogical.  Then Snarpe remembered Marshall Dreval had destroyed their Cathedral.  Revenge, a tale as old as time itself. Reports of a knight stalking the battlefield were worrying he thought to himself. A report flashed up that the knight had been eradicated. The casualties were mounting up as each report came in.

The door to the command bunker opened and an aide came walking in.

“Governor, we are receiving an encrypted signal. Requesting to speak to the Governor”

Governor Snarpe looked up from the holo table,

“And where is the signal coming from?” he snapped,

“Low orbit from the asteroid fields. It's not the ultramarines but has similar identity properties” the aide said quickly,

“Intriguing, put them through,” Snarpe said. 

“As you wish”

Snarpe turned to a Vox machine,

“Governor Snarpe here, who is this?”

“Governor this is Cpt Krenal of the Lion warriors 2nd Company.”

“More space marines? Should you not be with your brothers out there crushing us under the imperial heel?” Snarpe remarked. 

“I can understand your attitude but no, the soldiers of the betrayer Gulliman are no brothers of ours. The emperor brought humanity so far and then the moment he was gone the people reverted back to worshipping idols. We are here to aid you in your search for freedom. Our sensors monitored a battle recently where one of your leaders has been captured. In the interests of diplomacy we will attempt a rescue and bring your leader back to you where we can discuss other matters. Captain Krenal out” the Vox clicked off abruptly

Snarpe stood in silence for a second taking in what had just happened. Phalona Reach was getting help whether it wanted it or not. An interesting development ahead.