Warzone Octarius: Pankallis Assault - Phase 1 Stage 1: Battle 2

 In the second battle, the Broodlord (do Tyranids give names to their heroes?) who has been hiding for decades as he (it?) slowly turns the population of Pankallis against the Emperor, finally leads his Genestealer shock troops in overt action against the citizens of the Imperium. Unfortunately for them, they run straight into a patrol of Imperial Fists, who, having extensive experience dealing with Xenos, were aware of some kind of nefarious power turning the people against the Imperium and searching for it, for eradication. 

Battle Size: Combat Patrol

Mission: Sweep and Clear

Mission Victor Bonus: 2 units can be Marked for Greatness

Kraken Agenda: Consume Biomass (+3 XP for each unit alive if the enemy is wiped out)

Fists Agenda: Angels of Death (+3 XP for each unit alive if the enemy is wiped out)

Deployment

With both forces seeking to completely wipe out the other, the start of a blood feud is in the making.

Wary of the speed at which Genestealers can get to grips,
Squad Hektor deploys cautiously.

The Tyranids deploy in the shattered basilica.

With Strike Force Arastos not able to field a Battle Forged army (by virtue of being comprised of full strength Terminator squads of differing types), they lose access to their Stratagems and Command Points.

Strike Force Arastos wins the roll off and takes the first turn,

Turn 1 Imperial Fists

Squad Hektor prepares for the inevitable assault.

No points are scored on Turn 1.

Turn 1 Kraken

Leaving the Rippers to hold the basilica, the Broodlord sends his Genestealers forward.

Genestealers move up into assault position.

No points are scored in the first turn.

Turn 2 Imperial Fists

Not being able to fire Overwatch is a fairly big loss when facing a pure assault army. Also, losing access to the Close Range Bolter Fire Strat, which lets the Terminators fire 2 shots in melee, is painful. Trusting in the Emperor to protect, and their holy Dreadnaught Tactical Armour, Squad Hektor takes up position to defend the ruined sepulchre.

Ready to Set to Defend, the Fists await the onslaught.

Fists score 10 points for holding one or more objectives.

Turn 2 Kraken

The Tyranids hurl themselves at the Fists, utter annihilation their only goal. The Broodlord takes no chances, using his Warlord Trait One Step ahead to make sure the Genestealers fight first, and also manifesting the Paroxysm psychic power to ensure Squad Hektor cannot fight until all other eligible units have done so.

The Genestealers come scrabbling through the ruins in their silent fury...

...to slam into the heavily defended walls of the sepulchre.

Three members of the first company succumb to their wounds, but kill 6 'Stealers in return.

The 'stealers auto-pass Morale being within range of SYNAPSE.

Squad Hektor rolls a 1 to auto-pass Morale.

The Tyranids score 10 points (holding one or more objectives).

Turn 3 Imperial Fists

Without access to their Stratagems, all Squad Hektor can do is gamely fight on, trying to tag the swift and deadly 'stealers with their powerful yet cumbersome powerfists.

Captain Arastos flanks and counter-attacks the 'stealers but only kills one.

Captain Arastos only killed 1 'stealer, in return they killed three more members of Squad Hektor, and Squad Hektor only dropped two more 'stealers.

Again the 'stealers auto-pass Morale thanks to SYNAPSE, while also again, Squad Hektor rolls a 1 auto-pass Morale.

Fists score 10 points for holding one or more objectives.

Fists: 20

Kraken: 10

Turn 3 Kraken

Undeterred by his heroic but lonely charge, the 'stealers continue their single-minded focus on Squad Hektor as the Broodlord bellows a sinuous challenge and emerges from the ruins to engage Captain Arastos.

Fighting fills the street, no quarter nor expected.

Again, the Broodlord uses his WL Trait to ensure the 'stealers fight first, and manifests Paroxysm to ensure that Squad Hektor fights last.

This time, the 'stealers only manage to inflict a single wound on Squad Hektor. Arastos only manages one solid strike on the Broodlord, inflicting 3 wounds. The Broodlord, while swift and deadly, has all his strikes turned aside by expert use of the storm shield by the captain. Finally able to swing, Squad Hektor pulps two more 'stealers.

The 'stealers auto-pass their Morale, and Squad Hektor doesn't need to take one.

'Stealers score 20 points (hold one or more objective, hold more obj than opp).

Fists: 20

Kraken: 30

Turn 4 Imperial Fists

With only 4 members left to Squad Hektor, things are looking grim.

Due to the Captains positioning, the 'stealers cannot bring their full numbers to bear on Hektor.

The 'stealers fight first and kill 2 more terminators in the blink of an eye.

Arastos and the Broodlord continue their deadly dance, but neither can land a telling blow this round.

Sqaud Hektor smash three more 'stealers, leaving only 9 remaining.

Hektor pass their Morale.

Fists score 10 points (hold one or more).

Fists: 30

Kraken: 30

Turn 4 Kraken

With his numbers dwindling, the Broodlord pushes for more carnage.

Death fills the street and gore spatters the wall of the sepulchre.

Tyranids score 10 points (Rippers holding one or more objectives).

Again, the Broodlord uses his WL Trait to ensure the 'stealers fight first, and manifests Paroxysm to ensure Squad Hektor fight last.

The 'stealers only manage to inflict 2 wounds this time. More critically they finally managed to get within range of the Fists home objective.

Arastos finally lands a second solid hit on the Broodlord, dropping him to the street.

The Broodlord uses the Death Frenzy Stratagem to attack when slain, and inflicts a final 3 wounds on Arastos, leaving him mortally stricken on 1 wound remaining. (And was out of CP so couldn't use Implant Attack.)

Squad Hektor only manage to drop one 'stealer.

Fists: 30

Kraken: 40

Turn 5 Imperial Fists

Seeing the tide turning against them, the Fists vow to fight on, as is their way. For the Emperor!

More time! If we just had more time! And Command Points!

The Fists score no points this turn.

The 'stealers manage to drag down one more member from Hektor, leaving just Sergeant Hektor himself to fight on, which he does by killing two more Genestealers.

The Captain, drained from his duel with the Broodlord, failed to inflict any damage.

Fists: 30

Kraken: 40

Turn 5 Kraken

Realizing the likelihood of dropping both terminators, the 'stealers focus on Sgt. Hektor, but can only put a single wound on him.

In return, Hektor drops two more 'stealers, which pulls Captain Arastos out of combat, meaning he can't attack this turn.

And that's the end!

Kraken score 30 points (hold one or more, hold opp home obj, hold more)!

Fists: 30

Kraken: 70

Results

Tyranids win. +3 Pankallis Assault points for Attackers. (+1 for Battle, +2 for winning Combat Patrol)

Tyranids win Mission Victor Bonus: 2 units can be Marked for Greatness

                    (Broodlord, 1st Genestealer Brood)

The Broodlord passed his Out of Action test.

+1 Pankallis Assault point for Defenders. (+1 for Battle)

Captain Arastos Marked for Greatness (+3 XP).

Summary

The attackers have jumped out to a commanding lead early with a 6-2 lead in points so far. Both the Orks and Tyranids have secured a beachhead on the planets' surface. Stage 1 Phase 1 carries on!

Until next time, happy gaming!