Xenos Threat End Game Part 1 – The Invasion of the Damned.
The town nearest the Webway and the pass across the mountains had been shattered, not only by the
activation of the Webway, but also by the orbital bombardment. Into its ruins the taciturn men of Detachment Daedalus rapidly
assumed their positions. Their Thunderhawk had been forced down by the maelstrom of energy from the Webway and by the bombardment,
and the heavier elements had disembarked so that the infantry could be carried as far forward as possible. Veteran Sergeant
Malgar hoped that Daedalus and the remainder of the Detachment would not be too long in arriving, as the prospect of facing
off an entire Eldar taskforce was not something he relished. In the distance, his optical enhancers could begin to make out
the Eldar vanguard, slowly filtering towards the abandoned settlement through the woods…
Force Dispositions:
Detachment Daedalus: Epistolary Librarian Daedalus, Reclusiarch
Maddon, Venerable Dreadnought Isiah, 1st Tactical Combat Squad, 2nd Tactical Combat Squad, 3rd
Tactical Squad “Misha”, 4th Tactical Squad “Malgar”, 8th Assault Squad, Predator
Destructor.
Ulthwé Invasion Host: Farseer General Corr’el’s Seer
Council, Banshee Squad, 14 strong Guardian Squad w. Warlock & Starcannon Platform and Fallen Advisor, 10 strong Guardian
Squad w. Warlock, 5 Swooping Hawks, Falcon, Waveserpent carrying Banshees, Wraithlord, 3 Dark Reapers.
Turn 1:
Dark Angels:
The forces under Daedalus had readied their weapons in anticipation of the Ulthwé advance, and
their preparations were not in vain. As they had prepared their positions with care, there was no need for them to advance.
Barely had the Eldar entered their effective range before they opened fire.
Under the initial fire, the Dark Reaper squad were decimated, and their sole remaining member promptly
retreated towards the Webway Portal. The Seer Council were not left unmolested either, and a single warlock was blasted apart
by the tactical squad hidden in the ruins on the Angel’s far right flank. Also, Ambassador Mallorcan was wounded, though
not severely, and under General Corr’el’s leadership they held firm.
Ulthwé Eldar:
In response to the Dark Angel’s fusillade of fire, the Guardian Squad on the Eldar right
flank advanced forward, towards Squad “Misha” who were entrenched in the ruin building on the Angel’s far
left flank. The Seer Council moved forward towards 2nd Combat Squad who had fired at them the previous turn.
As soon as they had finished, Corr’el unleashed a mind war on the marine carrying the squad’s
heavy weapon, but his will proved strong, and he was unhurt. The largest Guardian Squad fired at Squad “Malgar”,
who protected the left flank 2nd Squad. Much to Veteran Sergeant Malgar’s distress, two of his brave marines
were incinerated by the tremendously effective Starcannon battery. The Guardian Squad which had moved forward fleeted a bit
more towards Squad “Misha”.
Turn 2:
Dark Angels:
Having rushed as quickly as he could, Daedalus now entered the field of battle, speeding across
it, whilst Maddon and his Assault Squad took cover in the centre of the Dark Angel’s line. Also, the heavy support in
the form of the Predator also made a showing on the Dark Angel’s right flank, supporting 2nd Squad. The rest
of the force remained in position.
All weapons flared simultaneously, and in a hail of fire, the Guardian Squad which had advanced
towards the line was torn apart. On the right flank Squad Malgar, 2nd Squad and the Destructor fired at the Seer
Council, killing another Warlock and injuring Farseer Master Thelon.
Ulthwé Eldar:
Realising that their force was under heavy fire, the Swooping Hawks swept across the field and
dropped their grenade packs on the 8th Assault Squad. Unprepared for this, three marines were killed by the explosives.
In the centre of the line the Waveserpent appeared and sped forward at half its possible speed. Also, the dreaded Wraithlord
entered the field behind the Seer Council.
As they had prepared, Corr’el once again unleashed a mind war at the hapless Lascannon Marine,
but this time the eldritch energies were countered by the psychic hood on Daedalus’ head. The sole remaining Guardian
Squad fired once more at squad “Malgar” and another two marines were killed. Obviously they were not using the
reinforced wall in front of them as cover.
Turn 3:
Dark Angels:
Unperturbed by the Eldar reinforcements, Daedalus drove forward, whilst he was followed by Maddon
and the Assault Squad. On the right flank the Destructor drove forward a bit, threatening the Eldar flank with its cannon’s.
Firing everything at the Waveserpent, the machine came crashing down from the sky, killing two
of the Banshees within on impact. The Wraithlord as well as the Seer Council proved to be impossible to wound, even by high
calibre ammunition such as heavy bolters.
Ulthwé Eldar:
The Swooping Hawks could now see that desperate measures were needed if the Banshees were to survive
the next few minutes. Activating their wings, they leapt over the intervening wood towards Daedalus, Maddon and the Assault
Squad. Similarly the Seer Council advanced towards the Predator, seemingly accepting its challenge.
Firing their weapons at the Assault Squad, the Swooping Hawks felled two of the brave marines,
their blasters penetrating the powered armoured with difficulty. The Starcannon Platform fired at the Assault Marines as well,
but failed to hit any, their luck gone for the moment. The psychic attack unleashed by the Seer Council was again nullified
by the potent cerebral powers possessed by Daedalus.
Having landed, the Hawks gave a leaping bound and crashed into the reeling Assault Marines. In
a flurry of blows, the Exarch swung his web of skulls, and hit the three remaining marines and Maddon 21 times. The evil weapon
was stopped neither by the powered armour worn by the Emperor’s finest, nor by the power field projected by Maddon’s
rosarius, and all of them were instantly slain…
Turn 4
Dark Angels:
With thunderous motion, Venerable Brother Isiah moved onto the field with surprising grace. Their
flank protected, Squad Misha advanced out of the ruined building which had been sheltering them, and towards their leader
who was suddenly unsupported due to the terrible attack of the Swooping Hawks. Gunning his bike, Daedalus moved towards the
three surviving Banshees.
As one, Squad Malgar and Misha, as well as Isiah opened fire at the Swooping Hawks, and saw them
all perish in a spray of blood, their Exarch gunned down by the Assault Cannon mounted on Isiah’s sarcophagus. The Predator
as well as 1st and 2nd Squad fired at the Wraithlord, but their combined fire only managed to wound
the construct once.
Sufficiently close, Daedalus sped the last remaining way towards the Banshees and engaged them.
Shadowfast as their exarch was, she stuck the mighty librarian before he had even drawn his sword, and wounded him three times,
yet the last blow was averted by the iron halo he carried. In retaliation, Daedalus slew the three Banshees, their blood spraying
and lubricating his bike.
Ulthwé Eldar:
With a graceful curve, the Eldar Falcon finally arrived on the field, and it moved up along the
Eldar left flank, threatening the side of the Predator. The Wraithlord moved more towards the centre of the field, its Brightlance
eagerly seeking a worthwhile target.
Having spotted the newly arrived Dreadnought, it aimed and fired at Isiah. The blow struck the
Venerable Brother like a hammer, and shook him thoroughly. The Falcon, the Guardian squad and the Starcannon Platform all
aimed and fired at Daedalus who looked set to crash into the Squad accompanied by the Fallen advisor within the next few seconds.
As they opened fire, Daedalus was enveloped in a flurry of shuriken munitions and the fire of the Starcannons. When it cleared
his bike was a shattered wreck, but the librarian was nowhere to be seen…
Turn 5:
Dark Angels:
Disheartened by the disappearance of their leaders, command fell to Venerable Isiah. Having been
almost destroyed the last turn, the Dreadnought moved into cover of the ruined building. Squad Misha advanced as far as they
could towards the downed Waveserpent and the cover it afforded, but it was still away off, and they were in the open.
1st and 2nd Squad fired everything they had at that Falcon, crippling its
Starcannon and Pulse Laser, whilst the Predator fired its Autocannon and Heavy Bolters at the Wraithlord. Unfortunately it
failed to do any damage.
Ulthwé Eldar:
Seeing that the battle was starting to swing in their favour, the Eldar pushed forward. The Wraithlord
advanced towards the Predator, hoping to bring it within charge distance, and the Seer Council advanced a bit more towards
the centre of the field.
Finally, the mental powers of Corr’el shredded the mind of the Lascannon trooper in 2nd
squad, whilst the Starcannon and the Falcon together killed 4 marines in Squad Misha. The Wraithlord fired at the Predator,
but its shot failed to hit.
Turn 6:
Dark Angels:
Hoping to capture the Fallen who accompanied the Guardian Squad, Misha ordered his surviving marines
forward, whilst Isiah marched back out of cover towards the Falcon and Wraithlord.
Yet, despite their best efforts, Misha and his men were still too far away to bring home and assault,
and instead they fired all their weapons at full effect at the Guardian Squad. The result was that four of the heathen Eldar
were killed by the mass reactive bolts. Isiah fired at the Falcon, but his assault cannon and tank hunting skills availed
him not, and it failed to do anything but shake the vehicle. 1st and 2nd Squad fired at the Wraithlord,
but again their Lascannon and Plasma Guns failed to do any damage.
Ulthwé Eldar:
Seeing that this was their last chance to secure a breakout, Corr’el and his Council swept
forward, bringing every single Dark Angel unit with range of their fearsome psychic powers. The Falcon sped forwards and placed
itself behind Isiah.
The Guardian Squad fired all weapons at Squad Misha, wiping them out to the marine. Corr’el
singled out the mind of the Lascannon trooper in 1st Squad and shredded it with contemptuous ease.
The Wraithlord fired its Brightlance at Isiah, and the blast tore off the Assault Cannon mounted
on him.
And with that final shot, darkness descended on the scene of the battle…
Epilogue:
As Isiah moved back towards cover, smoke billowing from his right side, he gave the order to all
remaining units to withdraw to the line prepared by the PDF to their rear. The Ulthwé had been stalled and their breakout
from the pocket had been prevented. The Dark Angels had not achieved their objective either, though, and the thought pained
Isiah more than the wound his Dreadnought had sustained. The Webway still stood,
despite being bombarded by the Pride of Caliban which lay in low geo-synchronous
orbit. Worst of all, however, was that the Fallen Angel had not been captured, still free to roam as he saw fit. Both sides
had checked the other, nearly bleed dry, and neither could exploit the outcome of this battle. The fate of Demaron Secundus
now lay with Master Ciaphas and whether or not he could stop the resurgent forces of Craftworld Rhiadan and prevent their
linkup with those from Ulthwé…
