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404.995.M41
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Curiosity Kills - Part 1
Captain Draco handed
the tactical overlay back to the robed Veteran Sergeant and gazed across the valley. He could see the Ultramarines starting
to spread into a battle formation beyond the woods in the distance. Tactical Squads in the middle taking up firing positions
behind the ruined farmhouse walls and in the woods, and the Ancient Dreadnaught and Razorback rumbling out around the trees
to the left.
His instructions from the Master hand been very clear. The Deathwing was in operation
in the area, and no outside interference would be tolerated. Imperial or not. Draco was a member of the Deathwing himself,
and though he was not privy to the details of this operation, he immediately understood its importance. Nothing would get
past his blocking position.
In typical Ultramarine arrogance, their Captain had demanded the Dark Angel forces
withdraw immediately, and had even scorned the direct warnings Draco had delivered. Very well, he mused, we will
show them the price of curiosity. Their armor lumbers forward, seeking to intimidate us into obediance. They
will learn better.
He opened the Vox. "Ravenwing left flank, destroy their armor. Kill the Razorback
first to eliminate their mobility. 2nd Squad and Angels of Vengeance take up overwatch positions in cover. 5th Squad
with me. We will hold the woodline and let them break themselves against our stubborn might. Once the are committed in the
center, both flanking squads advance and destroy them in the open."
Setup
At the Ultramarine request,
the setup was longways on the table. The Ultramarines set up two tactical squads and their Captain in the ruined building
in the middle of their line. On the right end a third tactical squad set up in the woods, on the left end, a Venerable Dreadnaught
and another Tactical Squad in a Razorback prepared to move forward.
On the right end of the Dark Angel line,
the 2nd Tactical Squad set up overwatch behind a farm wall. The center of the line was taken up by the 5th Tactical Squad
with Captain Draco attached. They were flanked by the Ravenwing Bike Squad and two Ravenwing Landspeeders. The left end of
the line was the Angels of Vengeance's 3rd Squad.
Turn 1 – Advance
to Contact
Dark Angel Move
The Ravenwing elements advanced
to the forest line and drifted left. 2nd squad stayed in overwatch, but both other Tactical Squads advanced.
Utlramarine Move
The Razorback and Dreadnaught
advanced on the left. The central Tactical Squad with Captain attached moved up to the walls for cover. The other two Tactical
Squads sat tight.
Turn 2 – Melta
Madness
Dark Angel Move
The Angels of Vengeance Squad
takes up a firing position in the ruined building. The bikes stay behind the woods, while both Speeders advance into Multi-Melta
range. The 5th Squad and Draco move up closer to the woods in the center while the 2nd Squad stays in overwatch.
Dark Angel Shooting
One Speeder destroys the
Razorback, killing three of the marines inside. The other Melta shot fails to penetrate the Dreadnaught. The 2nd squad fires
a missile into the central Tactical Squad in cover behind the farm walls, but can't do any damage.
Ultramarine Move
The dreadnaught continues
to move, while the Ultramarines take cover in the wreckage of the Razorback.
Ultramarine Shooting
The Dreadnaught is able to
destroy the lead Land Speeder.
Turn 3 – Dreadnaught
Assault!
Dark Angel Move
The 5th Squad sets up a firing
position in the woods. The Angels of Vengeance Squad moves forward to take position behind a wall. The Ravenwing bikes charge
forward to attack the Dreadnaught.
Dark Angels Shooting
None of the close range Melta
blasts are able to do more than shake the Dreadnaught. Another missile from the 2nd Squad fails to kill any of the Tactical
Squads in cover.
Ultramarine Move
The 3 surviving Razorback
marines join the Dreadnaught in charging at the Ravenwing. The central Tactical Squad clambers over the wall and starts to
move forward. The rear Squad takes their position.
Ultramarine Shooting
Snap fired bolters stun the
Land Speeder. The advancing Tactical Squad is able to kill two marines from the 5th Squad in the woods.
Ultramarine Close
Combat
The Dreadnaught reaches the
drifting Land Speeder and grounds it permanently. It and the tactical marines consolidate into the Bikers.
Turn 4 – Plasma
goodness
Dark Angel Move
The Angels of Vengeance and
the 5th Squad hold fast. The 2nd squad moves forward.
Dark Angel Shooting
The 5th Squad opens fire,
bolters cutting down 2 Ultramarines, the Plasma Cannon dropping 5 of them.
Dark Angel Close
Combat
Two bikes are destroyed,
and the third retreats back towards the ruins.
Ultramarine Move
The Dreadnaught and Tactical
Squad stand fast. The central Tactical Squad holds firm. The second Tactical Squad moves forward towards the woods.
Ultramarine Shooting
All three Tactical Squads combine
fire into the 5th Squad in the woods, killing 6 more Dark Angels, but they hold firm, Stubborn to the end.
Turn 5 –
More Plasma Fun
Dark Angel Moves
The Ravenwing Biker returns
to face the Dreadnaught. All three Squads hold fast.
Dark Angel Shooting
The Biker executes the Dreadnaught with
a close in Melta Gun Blast. The Angels of Vengeance and missile from the 2nd Squad kill the remaining Ultramarines from the
Razorback Tactical Squad. The Plasma Cannon and Gun kill 7 marines from the second approaching Tactical Squad, forcing them
to retreat back to the wall.
Ultramarine Moves
The Captain and 3 remaining
Ultramarines from the 1st Tactical Squad advance towards the woods. The reargurad Tactical Squad starts to move forward. The
other tactical squad regorups and holds fast at the wall.
Ultramarine Shooting
All squads fire at the remainder
of the 5th Squad and the Captain but cannot kill them.
Turn 6 –
Endgame
Dark Angel Moves
The Ravenwing Biker and Angels
of Vengeance move forward, skirting the wods, to bring their fire to bear on the Ultramarines in the killing ground. The 2nd
Squad advances up to the woods, while the 5th Squad holds fast.
Dark Angel Shooting
The last three marines supporting
the Ultramarine Captain are killed, but the Plasma Cannon overheats and kills the gunner.
Ultramarine Moves
The Captain charges forward,
as the other Tactical Squads hold firm.
Ultramarine Shooting
The Ultramarines are unable
to kill anything.
Ultramarine Close Combat
The Ultramarine Captain charges into the
woods and defeats Captain Draco in combat. The Plasma Gunner hits the Ultramarine for one wound.
Battle Brother Vincenis shouldered the Plasma Gun and aimed squarely at the chest of the Ultramarine Captain. All
around were scorched trees, small fires, and the bodies of his Brothers. The Ultramarine was on one knee, glaring up at him,
after Vincenis had smashed him across the head with the same Plasma Gun. Behind the wounded officer, Captain Draco was bleeding
on the ground.
Despite his desire for vengeance, the Captain's orders had been clear. "Drive the Ultramarines off, if at all
possible, rather than kill them all."
As the throaty roar of the Space Marine bike roared up behind him, meaning back up had arrived, Vincenis knew he had
the chance to do just that. The Ultramarine would know his position was hopeless, and that any more fighting would not only
throw away his own life, but also doom the rest of his command.
"Go back Captain," he said. "Gather
your wounded and your dead and leave this field. You will only accomplish your own ignominious death, and doom your men to
theirs." He gestured to the Ultramarines starting to cross the blasted ground, littered with blue armored corpses, and
to the two full squads of Unforgiven taking up covered firing positions in the woods around them.
The Ultramarine Captain rose slowly
to his feet, looking around, taking the situation in. He turned back to Vincenis. A sneer crossed his proud face and he leaned
in close to the Dark Angel.
"We will be back," he spat, then turned
on his heel and strode out of the woods, quickly covering the ground toward his own troops.
"And we will be waiting," said
Vincenis, as he powered down the Plasma Gun and turned to watch the Apothecary treating his own Captain.
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