Play-by-Email Imperials vs Genestealer Cult - Part 2

The Battle

Turn 1

Imperial Agents Sitrep - Your lander was shot down by rebel forces, and you have continued on foot to the Orbital Landing Station at Durno’s Pit. Your forces are currently organized in the remains of an administration office that was no doubt the target of initial riots. Entrances to the mine complex are to the South. Orders?

+++Deathwatch moves forward as far as they can. Their intention is to form a line to screen those behind them. They'd also like to man the weapon on the truck if operable.

The others advance taking cover behind the Deathwatch.

“Gunnar Krakentooth looked up into the sky of this pitiful little planet and let the deluge of  rain fall into his face and open mouth. This was a light drizzle compared to the storms of the Space Wolf’s home world of Fenris. His heightened senses could taste the heavy metals and acids in the rain - possibly dangerous for a normal human being but insignificant to his augmented biology. 

“Brother Gunnar, pay attention!” Hissed Zariel, sergeant of the Kill Team and scion of the dourness associated with the Dark Angels chapter. Gunnar rolled his eyes and then sprinted forward with his squad mates, fanning out in a defensive formation. 

Behind the black armored Astartes, Inquisitor Serevina Humiliata and her retinue struggled to keep up with the trans-human warriors. The Inquisitor checked her Omnispex as she took cover behind a ruined wall. The device’s machine spirit was made temperamental by the damnable rain, showing only faint hints of life forms to her West. With grim certainty, Serevina knew that eventually the blips on the scope would become clearer and she took no solace from it.”

Your entire force advanced this turn. Deathwatch rolled a 5 and moved 11” but is still short of the Grumbler. Serevina and Neyam each rolled a 2. Aradia rolled a 3. Gotfret rolled a 4. 

Adeptus Mechanicus Sitrep - You have led your missionaries through the labyrinthian mine system and are nearing the exit areas. The STC system residing in Terminal Epsilon Gamma must be retrieved. It lies somewhere to the North West. Orders?

+++Mission objective downloaded and assimilated. 

Father Erasmus accesses and opens the door and moves in with haste.

Followed by the Skitarii taking the lead. Behind Father is Skullroid-13, with the Tech Acolytes in support and at the end and almost surrounded by the acolytes is the sample. Each unit is aiming to aid the other unit with its special ability, they are staying together in a tight supporting cluster and moving as fast as possible towards the triple intersection.

“Rubbing his forehead. Pinching the bridge of his nose. Rolling his eyes. If Father Erasmus hadn’t been contained to a bio-tank for nearly six standard centuries, he would very likely be doing all of those things now. While he had out-grown such mannerisms of the flesh, he still never fully shed the human emotion of frustration. That the pathetic beings of this world could not accept their place in the prison of flesh and sought to change their position in the Great Machine of Life was tedious. Instead, they rebelled against the logic of Order and were now in open revolt against those who sought to enlighten them. 

No matter, this world was of no purpose to the Adeptus Mechanicus any longer. At least, once the valuable Standard Template Construct fragment was recovered. The Tech-Priest sent a quick data-squirt to the nearest blast door, its machine spirit bending to his whim. As he strode through the great underground warren, his loyal retinue scrambled to keep up with him. Time to go. Time to leave this useless place.”

The entire force advanced. You now have more of the tunnel system open to you to explore. 

Cult Magus Sitrep - You have led your forces deep within the mine complex and are about to link up with a Neophyte squad that was responsible for guarding the mine head at Durno’s Pit. Current intelligence has members of the Adeptus Mechanicus making their way through the shaft complex as well. Orders?

++++++ High Magus Cywyn Stor has already been on the vox, reprimanding Primus Gnorr for his sloppy handling of the situation.  He switches frequencies and radios the Hybrid Neophytes-

"Our Glorious Patriarch has entrusted us with silencing the humans who have discovered our presence.  They mean to leave this facility with one of our Pure Brethren.  They must be stopped at all costs!"I am en route to your position.  Take up position at the Eastern door and prepare to hold the center of the mine."

Cywyn then chattered in his alien tongue, issuing commands to his followers.  As they moved through the corridor, The High Magus' eyes glowed red as he summoned power from the Warp in an attempt to imbue the Purestrain with inhuman might.+++

Acolyte Hybrids: Run toward the Northern (left) door.  Position one model to open it, and have the rest near the wall, ready in case the enemy comes through the East door.

Cywyn and his familiars: Run up to the same door, also positioned to open it if he can reach.

Pure Genestealers: Run up behind the rest of us.  (keep everyone within 3" of each other so they can take advantage of the Loyalty rules.)

Neophyte Hybrids: Move as close as possible to the East door leading to the center room, and take up position, ready to open it next turn or unload on anyone who comes through.

In the psychic phase, use "Might From Beyond" on the Purestrain Genestealers.  I can manifest a second power, but there's no target for "Smite."

“The children of the Patriarch all moved with fluid unity, taking Cywyn’s commands as if by instinct. The creatures scuttled forward with a speed and silence that would have shocked human eyes. As the Magus mustered his forces, he stopped to focus his mind. Clear it. Tap into the Beyond. But the connection was weak and distant. Its power hovered on the edge of his thoughts. 

“Damn. Damn that curr Gnorr! He must have known his ineptitude would distract me!” the Magus hissed to himself. “That or this mine is laced with quartz crystals that are weakening my connection with the spirits! Bah!” 

Cywyn calmed himself as best as he could. This was all inconsequential. He must crush the Imperial mongrels here. Then his place beside the Brood Lord was assured!”

The entire crew got some decent advance rolls and are set up as I understood your instructions. The Magus failed to manifest Might From Beyond by only rolling a 5. 

Cult Primus Sitrep - You have arrived at Orbital Landing Station Theta in force. It appears that one last aerospace hopper remains on station. You have no idea where the fool Cywyn is, but orbital augers indicate a force of Imperial scum due East. Orders?

I'll send the acolytes up to the landing pad to sabotage the hopper. The rest will move to the east and hug cover. With my leader and big guys acting as a reserve/counter charge hugging harder cover LOS blocker as possible.

My core squad looks to get LOS and take opportunity shots as they can. Probably getting cover by the barrels.

“Forward, my brothers! Power to the workers! Let us grind these fascists beneath our heels!” snarled Primus Kyruss Gnorr as the neophytes and Aberrants he had been entrusted with surged forward. The Hybrid Acolytes who attended the Primus paused, as he passed instructions to them wordlessly. They nodded with silent understanding and made towards the landing pad, exploring how best to cut off the Imperials’ means of escape. 

Gnorr then hurried after his comrades, sloshing through the sleeting rain and mud. Visibility was terrible. Only if that moronic Magus, Cywyn Stor, had listened to the weather auguries they might be doing this under clearer skies. 

“DEATH TO THE OPPRESSORS!” Kyruss’ head snapped up at the battle cry. It was then followed by the chattering of autoguns and the tell-tale whine of the discharging of a heavy mining laser. Nothing could survive that kind of firepower short of Imperial Astartes. And surely none of humanity’s super soldiers were on this barren, back-water planet?”

The neophytes, Aberrants and Primus advanced East. The Hybrid Acolytes began scurrying up the landing pad but were short of the hopper. A portion of the neophyte squad made visual contact with enemy forces to the East - a squad of black armored Space Marines. They had a superb round of shooting - all 4 who could see hit, along with a moving shot from the heavy mining laser. Unfortunately, the Space Marines made every armor save!

Turn 2

Imperial Agents Sitrep - Enemy contact, due West! The Deathwatch took distressingly accurate fire from a handful of autoguns AND some kind of high energy laser weapon - probably a mining tool converted for combat. The marines shrugged off the autogun shot easily and SOMEHOW the armor of Brother Zariel held against the laser blast. Orders?

+++Deathwatch moves forward towards the truck. The Vet Sgt jumps in the back to return fire to the scum they can see. The Frag Cannon (shell), Boltguns, and Combi-Boltgun also fire. 

The other agents move forward keeping cover behind the ladders and pipes, but allowing Humiliata a shot with her rifle. Madellan casts "Psychic Augment" upon the Deathwatch allowing them to add 1 for hit rolls with the truck's gun.

“Multiple xeno-forms sighted. Targets acquired. His hand guides our retribution” came the voice of Sergeant Zariel’s vox cast in Inquisitor Humiliata’s earbud. The Inquisitor silently cursed as she tried to keep up with the superhuman Deathwatch team. There were multiple targets now firming up on her Omnispex, and she took a moment to steady herself and aim her rifle at one skulking by a nearby pump station. She focused herself and squeezed the trigger, sending a hyper velocity round screaming into her target’s skull. The foul revolutionary dropped like a sack of Grox dung. 

As the insurrectionist’s fellow paused to watch their comrade fall, the air about them erupted in a stew of bolter, frag launcher and stubber rounds. The marines had closed to range with their bolters, and Sergeant Zariel had jumped aboard a local vehicle and began operating the heavy stubber mounted on it. Watching several of the rebels blown into bloody chunks gave the Inquisitor a rare smile of satisfaction. 

“The Emperor’s Will Be Done”, Severina whispered.”

The Deathwatch moved forward towards the Grumbler 4x4 with the Veteran Sergeant manning its heavy stubber (Range 30” Heavy3 S4 AP0 D1). Between their fire and the Inquisitor, they killed 4 Neophytes. They passed their morale test. Madellan failed to manifest “Psychic Augment” by only rolling a 5. 

Adeptus Mechanicus Sitrep - Current mine chamber appears clear of hostile organisms. The STC system STILL resides in Terminal Epsilon Gamma. It lies somewhere to the North West. Orders?

+++Everyone keeps moving up as fast as possible. I would like the Tech-Priest to open the door again. I think I should have had the Vanguard try to get the truck and move up the table edge (splitting the force). This will be my next couple moves. Vanguard getting the truck to pick up the sample since it's moving slow, while the Tech-Priest get the STC files.

“Father Erasmus’ heavy mechanical steps reverberated in the confines of the mine as he advanced towards the northern blast door. The door to the west concerned him, but the shortest path between two points was a straight line and he doubted the aerospace hopper would wait for him indefinitely. The massive door retracted with a “thunk” and the Skitarii assigned to protect the Tech-Priest’s esteemed personage advanced with precision. Thankfully, the Biologis Deacon floated close behind them - understanding the need for haste even as he poked and prodded the xenos sample on his table for more data. 

The newest cavern seemed intact. A quick scan with his sensorium revealed to Erasmus that even the Ragnarok Detonation device seemed operational. The mechanical priest attempted to interrogate the machine remotely, but was flooded with “ACCESS DENIED” messages across his data matrix. Given time, he might be able to penetrate the Inquisition’s encryptions on the bomb but time was something that was in very short supply now.”

Orders executed to your precise instructions. The force rolled pretty well for advances - including the Biologis Deacon (he doesn't “just” move 6” per turn - we’ll let him advance). No enemy contact as of yet. Gulp!

Cult Magus Sitrep - You have not yet made contact with the enemy. Surely your caution is borne of some complex plan resulting from your status as a Magus and not from base cowardice or politicking. Orders?

+++"Move into position" High Magus Stor hissed over the vox to his loyal Neophytes.  He activated the door controls at his position and motioned for his brethren to move through, following close behind them. 

"Hurry! The Imperial scum is in the vicinity, I can sense them."  Again, the Magus focused his will and attempted to summon the dark energies from the void...+++

* * *

Neophyte Hybrids: Open their door. If anyone is in the room, fire at them, otherwise use their Advance roll to move in and take cover behind those crates.

Cywyn Stor: Open his door and Advance to run inside the room.

Acolyte Hybrids: Move and Advance into the room as far as they can, aiming for the door the Neophytes went through.

Purestrain Genestealers: Move and Advance into the room as far as they can.  They'll probably get somewhere around the middle.  If either unit rolls high enough to reach the far door north of the terminal, then move to it so it can be opened next turn.

If there are any enemies in the central room when the Neophites open it, then my troops will aim toward them.

Keep the Magus & Genestealers within 3" of the Acolytes, please.

“As the massive blast door in front of him retracted, Magus Stor took a moment to close his eyes and focus inward to touch the beyond. Hungry voices howled at the edge of his mind and he felt the power he sought surge through him. His eyes snapped open, glowing carmine with raw energy, and he bent his will to suffuse his Neophytes with strength. 

Despite sweat rolling down his bald pate in fear, Neophyte Scabbs felt his limbs strengthen and reflexes sharpen. Surely this was a sign of the Four Armed Emperor’s favor! 

“For the collective! We strike!” Scabbs murmured to his squad brothers as he punched in the code to open the door in front of him. The squad bound into the new cavern even as the Acolytes and Pure Brethren filed into the old grotto behind them. The new cavity was wide and strewn with crates and some kind of device in the - THERE! A flash of red robes in around the corner!

There was a dull “thunk” sound as Neophyte Drebb fired his grenade launcher from his hip. The round arced over some crates and landed with a thunderous sound. The whole room became a mass of dust and smoke. Surely, something had to be dead from such an attack!”

Got some decent Advance rolls. Magus Stor rolled high enough to take him to the northern door, so I positioned him there in case you want to open it. He manifested Might From Beyond and cast it on the Neophytes (I figured if they are assaulted in the next Imperial turn, it couldn’t hurt) who have encountered lead elements of Skitarii. The Neophytes launched a frag round, which managed to kill 1 of the mechanical warriors. 

Cult Primus Sitrep - The impudence of your neophytes’ sudden fire was rewarded with a hail of fire from the Imperial lapdogs advancing towards your forces. 2 neophytes were slain by weapons fire from the black armored marines, another by the heavy stubber on the Grumbler 4x4 that the marine leader is now manning, and yet another by some unseen sniper! The squad’s morale held, but even that seems suspicious - are they working for Stor? Are they not committed to the cause of freedom? You should be cautious trusting them. Your Acolyte Hybrids are very near the hopper and have reported that it appears that its pilot servitor is currently dormant. Orders?

+++I'll have the acolyte hybrids attempt to destroy the pilot servitor or somehow disable the vehicle as a means of escape.

After seeing what I'm up against the rest of the crew will attempt to slink away through the western gate into the mining complex to meet up with our allies and combine forces.

Let’s have the Neophytes move up to the hazardous waste barrels in cover and booby trap those, they can catch up with the others after.

“The last of the cultist Acolytes swarmed up the superstructure of the landing platform, their extra limbs making pulling themselves up easily. Their leader, a squat horrible thing named Jenex, motioned to them for caution. A small aerospace craft dominated the landing pad, and it seemed quietly inert. Thinking the rain would cover the noise, Jenex leveled his autopistol and cracked off a round. The shot pinged off the vehicle’s windshield doing nothing, but the rest of his brothers seemed to take this as a sign to add their own firepower to his. Hissing for them to cease, he led them close to the aircraft where they began to work their knives and claws into seams and vents. The armored carapace of the craft wouldn't budge. As Jenex crossed in front of the canopy, his eye caught the glimmer of the servitor pilot’s eye glowing red as it booted up. 

Primus Gnorr sloshed through the deluge towards the nearest entrance to the mine complex. He could hear the Aberrants struggling to keep up with him but didn’t care. Whether those hideous freaks lived or died was of little consequence to him. Better to link up with Stor and try to bury the hatchet. 

At the same time, Gnorr’s Neophyte brethren advanced forward. They hoped that it seemed to the incoming Astartes that they were taking cover. They let loose with a few timid shots as one of their members removed his blasting charges and set about making a surprise for the incoming marines.”

The Acolytes shot at the Hopper and then assaulted it. Despite 16 attacks, they didn't damage it at all. 

The Neophytes moved forward to rig the hazardous materials drums. You can now command detonate the trap at any time you see fit. It will have a range of 6” and attack with GrenadeD6 S5 AP-1 D1 attacks. If the marines charge the neophytes before they can move away, they can use it in overwatch (by rolling the barrels at them). Or they can hold it. Up to you, just let me know. 

The Primus and Aberrants ran, the Primus almost making it to the door and the Aberrants pretty far behind him.  

Part 3