Warzone Octarius: Pankallis Assault - Stage 1 Phase 2: Battle 10

 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.

Warzone Octarius: Pankallis Assault - Stage 1 Phase 2: Battle 9

 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.

Warzone Octarius: Pankallis Assault - Stage 1 Phase 2: Battle 8

 Moving onto Phase 2 of the Assault on the Pankallis Sector in the Octarius Warzone, we have the two forces of the Imperial Fists as the Defenders, Strike Force Darsway and Strike Force Arastos. Darsway will be in the next battle report.

Strike Force Arastos is led by Terminator Captain Lexandro Arastos, and is finally joined by the rest of his command team, Chaplain Dravyn Aximov and Apothecary Iatros Travma. As usual, Arastos is accompanied by Terminator Squad Hektor, who are almost acting as his personal bodyguard at this point. Also making their first appearance is Terminator Squad Drakon, whose main objective is to protect Chaplain Aximov.

On the Attackers side of things, we have Hunter Cadre Sul'an and Waaagh! Bonekleava. Sul'an will lead his mechanized Hunter Cadre in the next battle report.

Waaagh! Bonekleava has a new Warboss that has appeared on the scene, and he has plans on challenging Bonekleava for the leadership of the Waaagh!. But first, he has to earn enough XP to deserve that challenge. Mega-armoured Warboss Garhak Ugul Bludshredda Ghenga plans to smash any force that dares to stand before him, since he is bringing with him his Rukkboyz, who enter the Crusade as Blooded, and get the Battle Trait Ded Choppy so they hit on 2+ right out of the gate as befits a veteran unit.

In this battle of 51 PL, the veterans of Strike Force Arastos are determined to hold the line against the new Warboss Ghenga.

**NOTE**

Rather than play the rather restricting Crusade missions over and over, we've changed things up a bit. We are going to try playing Tempest of War missions to determine the winner of the game, but each player will also select Agendas to accomplish for the Crusade, and we will randomly determine the Crusade reward for victory. So rather than staying at 25 PL, we are stepping up to 51 PL so we can play full board battles.

Warzone Octarius: Pankallis Assault - Phase 1 Stage 1: Battle 7

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)

Warzone Octarius: Pankallis Assault - Phase 1 Stage 1: Battle 6

 Captain Arastos had been expecting to ambush a T'au force known to be operating in this area. But now, Aeldari. Brazen as only Xenos could be. Zipping along with their foul technology and speed. He did not have time to reposition Squad Hektor. They would have to make do with their current location. He knew they would hold the line. Or die trying.

Battle Size: Combat Patrol

Mission: Supply Drop

Mission Victor Bonus: +2 RP

Strike Force Arastos: Know No Fear (+2 XP per passed Morale test)

Aeldari Saim-Hann Agenda: Survivor (+ 4 XP to survive battle, 2 XP if 1/2 wounds or less)

Warzone Octarius: Pankallis Assault - Phase 1 Stage 1: Battle 5

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)

Warzone Octarius: Pankallis Assault - Phase 1 Stage 1: Battle 4

 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.