The 15th Siege Company, 501st Siege Battalion, 14th Siege Brigade, 2nd Krieg Siege Division (Reconstituted) has been ordered to recover yet another supply drop that has been lost in city in their area of operations.
Kriegmeister Keist leads 1st Platoon into the city, aware of reports that a Tau Farsight Enclaves force have been submitted.
Mission: Crusade - Combat Patrol - Supply Drop
Power: 25 PL
Mission Victor Bonus: Gain 2 RP instead of 1.
Warboss Garhak Ugul Bloodshredda Ghenga, on his way to assault an Imperial Fists patrol, finds himself confronted instead by a force of Farsight Enclaves Tau. Figuring this will be a good scrap, even if the weedy Tau don't like to get krumpin', he leads his boyz straight into the fight, since he still plans on smashing the beakies after this.
Mission: Crusade - Incursion - Behind Enemy Lines
Deployment: Dawn of War
Mission Victor Bonus: One unit may select a Battle Trait of your choice.
The two mechanized forces clash this time, with Strike Force Darsway meeting Hunter Cadre Sul'an head on to determine who has bragging rights.
Mission: Tempest of War: Priority Targets
Deployment: Spearhead Assault
Mission Rule: Maelstrom of Battle
Vox Static: CP Re-roll costs 2 CP.
Hidden Supplies: +1 Objective this game (6 total)
Mission Victor Bonus: Can nominate 1 additional unit to be Marked for Greatness.
This was a pick-up Crusade game, but since I used my Goffs Crusade army, I figured I'd count it as Battle 9. These two armies have a fairly lengthy rivalry going at this point, close on 5 years now. I took less notes and pictures than normal, so this report will be a bit shorter. With the Crusade rules, it will add even more depth to the history. Anyway, on to the battle!
Battle Size: Incursion - 50 PL
Deployment: Dawn of War
Mission: Behind Enemy Lines
Mission Victor Bonus: The Victor can give a unit a free Battle Trait of choice.
Strike Force Arastos has finally tracked down Hunter Cadre Sul'an. The final match-up for Warzone Octarius Phase 1 Stage 1 to determine which Alliance takes the first step on their path to ultimate victory. Can the firepower of the Tau overcome the added resilience of Armour of Contempt? Let's find out.
Battle Size: Combat Patrol - 25 PL
Mission: Sweep and Clear
Mission Victor Bonus: 2 units can be Marked for Greatness.
Strike Force Arastos: Know No Fear (+2 XP per passed Morale test)
Hunter Cadre Sul'an: Hit Their Supply Lines (+1 XP per objective damaged, + Military Points)
Cadre Fireblade Sul'an scanned the incoming data feed as the info flashed up on the heads up display inside his helmet. A new force had been discovered, and it was moving on an intercept vector with his Hunter Cadre. Aeldari. What were they doing in this system? Where had they come from so suddenly, as if they could spring out of the very ether wherever they chose. Regardless, this system would be the initial stronghold of the T'au in this sub-sector. The Ethereals had declared that the Lok'tok system would be taken. For the Greater Good.
Battle Size: Combat Patrol
Mission: Sweep and Clear
Mission Victor Bonus: 2 units can be Marked for Greatness
T'au Sept Agenda: Outflank and Encircle (+1 XP per unit in opponent deployment zone, max 3)
Aeldari Saim-Hann Agenda: Priority Target (+2 XP per vehicle killed)
A sudden withdrawl of Hive Fleet Kraken lessened the pressure momentarily on the Imperial Fists 1st and 3rd Company detachements defending the Pankallis System. But a new threat emerged shortly after the Tyranid withdrawl, a T'au Exploratory and Colonization Fleet entered the system.
Thanks to the T'au Crusade rules, we now know a lot more about the Pankallis System, which the T'au call the Lok'tok System. It is ruled by a Dictatorship (The Imperium of Man). It is comprised of 5 planets. Lok, the core planet, is an Agri-World. Mak is a Civilian World. Kam is a Militarized World. Alat is another Civilian World. And finally Alath'yaras is orbited by a Fleet Installation.
There might be some difficulty reconciling the T'au Crusade rules with the overall Warzone Octarius Pankallis Assault rules, but we'll see how things play out and deal with problems as they arise.
As a first probing move, the leader of this leading element, Shas'vre T'au Sul'an Zol Resk, leads a small detachment to clear out a suitable landing zone and establish an initial beach head.
Battle Size: Combat Patrol
Mission: Sweep and Clear
Mission Victor Bonus: 2 units can be Marked for Greatness
T'au Sept Agenda: Protect the Leadership - +D3 Diplomat points if 1 Leader survives, +3 if both.
Imperial Fists Agenda: Know No Fear - +2 XP for each tally the unit passes Morale tests.
**Note** The Armour of Contempt, and all other rules from the April 2022 Balance Dataslate are in effect.
Detailed below are the four lists, in alphabetical order.
Fair warning, some of these armies are not totally painted, just so you are prepared for it.
Crusade Mission - Combat Patrol - Supply Drop
Warboss Bonekleava is back in action, this time leading his boyz against a new foe, the Tau. Not a full battle report this time, but there were two great events that made me grab my camera, and I figured I might as well post them, and keep track of the Crusade happenings as well.
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!
