Cion Prime Crusade Battle 2

Strike Force Arastos is exploring the ruins of one of the major cities on Cion Prime, when they discover a Tau outpost amidst the rubble. Chapter Master Arastos orders an immediate attack. The Xenos must be purged!

Strike Force Arastos

Farsight Enclaves - Strike Force Dark Tide

Coldstar Commander Shan'Yu - 3 Fusion Blasters, Shield Generator, 2 Shield Drones

Riptide Stormtide - Prototype Ion Accelerator, SMS, ATS

Strike Team Puresight - Pulse rifles, markerlight, 2 Shield Drones

Strike Team Darkstalker - Pulse rifles, markerlight, 2 Shield Drones

Crisis Suit Team Swift Tide - Prototype Gatling Burst Cannons, ATS, 6 Drones

Pathfinders Mako Strike - 5 Markerlights/Pulse Carbines

12 Shield Drones

Agendas

Arastos Agendas: Reaper, Priority Target

Sark Tide Agendas: First Strike, Priority Target

Deployment

Strike Force Arastos won the roll of and chose to be the Attacker. Strike Force Dark Tide placed the 4 objectives they would be defending. Again, the small map size really limits things like this, meaning the Fists started the game literally standing on one of the objectives they were to destroy. Nothing like a free 20 points. The Attacker gets to choose who goes first in this mission. Also handy.

Yep, that's my entire army hiding behind an Obscuring ruin. After a recent game against Tau, my new
philosophy when playing them is "play terrified".

Right side of the Tau line.

Left side of the Tau line.

Pathfinders find themselves a perfect vantage point.

Turn 1 - Strike Force Arastos

So I forgot to take any pictures during turn 1. 

Quick recap is the termie blob walked forward, and killed one squad of Fire Warriors and 10 of 12 Shield Drones guarding the Riptide, while also killing 5 of 6 Shield Drones guarding the Crisis Team. 

One squad of termies tried a long bomb assault through a wall that denied Overwatch due to line of sight issues, but it failed. 

Squad Hektor performed the Sabotage action, destroying one objective and earning 20 VP.

No command points were used.

Turn 1 - Strike Force Dark Tide

Crisis team Swift Tide, supported by Cmdr Shan'Yu advanced up the left side, popped the Master of War ability to advance and shoot as if not moving. Shan'Yu lit up Brother Nikephoros (Contemptor), but only managed to take 4 wounds off him after some nice saves 5++), and Armour of Contempt. 

Crisis Team Swift Tide poured their AP -1 Gatling Burst Cannons into Squad Drakon (CML), using Markerlights from the Strike Teams, Aerial Targeting and Uplinked Markerlight. Squad Drakon only lost 2 brothers.

Riptide Storm Tide unloaded on Squad Thanatos (TH&SS), who responded with Transhuman Physiology and Pain is a Lesson (6+ FNP), and after some good 3+ saves also only lost 2 brothers.

Strike Force Arastos scored No Prisoners, for killing more this turn, earning 10 VP.

Score

Strike Force Arastos: 30

Strike Force Dark Tide: 0

Turn 2 - Strike Force Arastos

After the Movement phase, and before Squad Thanatos earns another 20 VP for destroying the objective they are standing on.

Brother Nikephoros and Squad Drakon move into position...

...shooting clears away the Shield Drones and 2 Crisis Suits and Nikephoros smashes the last one with his Dread fist, but Cmdr Shan'Yu lives with one wound remaining.

Turn 2 - Strike Force Dark

Cmdr Shan'Yu flees to the back corner of the field, while Riptide Storm Tide prepares to exact some vengeance.

The Riptide popped Coordinated Engagement, Aerial Targeting Uplinked Markerlight and needed a Command Reroll to get to 5 ML hits on Nikephoros, trying to score Priority Target, but again some good saves meant he only lost 3 wounds, leaving him on 2.

And with that failure, the remnants of Strike Force Dark Tide withdrew, ceding their outpost to Strike Force Arastos. With the terminators in a position to surround and hurt the Riptide, and without CP for markerlight support next round when it would be hitting on 5+, and the Cmdr on one wound remaining, things were looking grim for the Tau.

Strike Force Arastos scores No Prisoners for killing more, earning 10 VP, and Battle Ready for 10 VP.

Score

Strike Force Arastos: 70

Strike Force Dark Tide: 0

Post-game

Cmdr Shan'Yu was marked for greatness and leveled up to Blooded. He gained Accelerator on one of his Fusion Blasters for +6" range.

Also of note, Srike Team Puresight failed their Out of Action roll, but with no experience, there was no detrimental effect.

Squad Isokrates was marked for greatness and earned some Reaper experience, leveling them to Blooded. They earned Cool Headed (Reroll Morale, free Overwatch on hitting 5+). Also, as a reward for winning the game, I was able to select a Battle Honour: Battle Trait for a unit. I chose Squad Isokrates to gain Battle-tested. It seemed pretty good.

Unit cards were adjusted appropriately.

One thing I realized as I was writing up this report, is that by the Tau tapping early I was denied the opportunity to earn Reaper tallies for my unit against the three units the Tau had left, but it doesn't seem fair to just claim the kills for them. Also, when someone is clearly having a bad game it is unseemly to force them to continue to the bitter end just so you can earn your tallies in what is supposed to be a fun narrative system. I am not sure how to resolve this.

Anyway, until next time, happy gaming!