Maelstrom Mission: Spoils of War
1000 points
Loyalist Forces: Imperial Swords Space Marines (Me)
Secessionist Forces: Astral Claws Space Marines (Chaos Lord SJ)
BACKGROUND
The Imperial Swords landing craft
has successfully evaded detection and landed on the surface of the planet to
set-up a forward operating base for coming Badab campaign. Unknown
to them, the Astral Claws were actually aware of their presence and dispatched
a mobile task force to put an end to trespassers.
But before they can spring their
surprise attack, they were noticed by Imperial Sword Scouts operating ahead of
the task force. Knowing the enemy is
fast approaching, the Imperial Swords quickly deployed to counter the enemy
forces.
DEPLOYMENT
Imperial Swords Predators “Shen Dao”
& “Seratus” is deployed in the primary cargo bay by the southside. To their left, Dreadnought Raxus is position
amongst the buildings to cover their flank.
To the far right, the half of the 1st tactical squad is
deployed on the roof tops to provide covering fire. Just right below them, the other half
accompanied by the Chaplain is deployed within the Razorback hugging the wall
of the building.
On the northside, the Astral Claws
were deployed with Bike Squads and Attack Bike to support. All were hidden behind the buildings offering
no Line of Sight to the Imperial Swords.
With the mainstay of the bike army behind a large warehouse to the
center field. Another smaller force to
the left flank to punch a hole in the Imperial Swords armored forces. The Astral Claws Stormtalon and Landspeeders are held in reserve, arriving when needed.
Just then, an Imperial Agent – an
Assassin from the house Vindicare is set-up on far right on top of a building
overlooking an area where the Astral Claws must cross to dislodge the Imperial
Sword trepassers.
BATTLE BEGINS
The Astral Claws thought themselves
concealed but their rear was exposed to the Vindicare Assassin camped at a
vantage point. Taking aim, the Vindicare
dispatched the Astral Claw Apocthecary in an instant. With nothing else in sight of the Imperial
Sword task force they remained in position.
The mainstay of the Astral Claws
spun their bikes around and advanced, in retaliation they unloaded their
boltguns at the Vindicare who killed their Apocthecary. Try as he might, the Vindicare could not
evade every shot and succumb to the withering fire of the Astral Claws. On the left flank, under the cover of the
buildings – a small group of Astral Claw bikes raced into the alleyways and
sped towards Imperial Swords armored force.
The roar of the engine attracted the
attention of the Imperial Swords Dreadnought.
It spun around and advanced towards the bikes, boltgun and assault
cannon blasting away before charging into them.
The Astral Claw riders tried to react but it was too late, the
Dreadnought grabbed one of the riders and crushed him with its powerfist before
dispatching the other rider.
 |
| Astral Claws hurtle towards the enemy position. |
At the right flank, the 1st tactical squads unload their fire at the Astral Claws but did little. Razorback rolled in blasting away with its lascannon. The passengers, disembarked and unloading plasma shots and boltgun rounds into the bikers. Behind the Astral Claws, Imperial Sword Scouts appeared to secure Nav Point 1, taking the opportunity to wear down the Astral Claws.
 |
| Imperial Swords closing in on the Astral Claws |
This presented an opportunity for
the Imperial Swords, the 1st Tacticals opened up at the exposed
Astral Claws. A superheated plasma ball
detonated amidst the Astral Claw ranks.
Fusing one rider together with his bike and wounding their Captain.
 |
| Astral Claws taking a gamble. |
At the left flank, Astral Claw bikes
took a gamble and moved onto Nav Point 6 and unleashing its weapons at the
Imperial Sword Predator tanks. The
superheated melta lanced into the exhaust pipe of the tank rupturing the
internal coolant system. The explosion
rocked the tank, as the crew struggled to regain control of the tank.
The armored core of the Imperial
Swords all turn their attention to the Astral Claw Bikers. Caught in a deadly crossfire, the Astral Claw
bikes were utterly annihilated as beams of lasers punched through their power
armor while their left side was riddled by boltgun and assault cannon shells.
Back at the right flank. An Astral
Claw Stormtalon previously held up by bad weather, finally descended from the skies joining their ground forces. Together they advanced upon the Imperial
Swords. Grav guns charged up and streams
of graviton particles pulse across the battlefield, the Imperial Swords
tactical marines were crushed within their power armor. Boltguns roared and
finished off the last of the marines.
Only the Imperial Sword Chaplain was left, wounded and defiant he stood
his ground as the Astral Claws charged in.
Bellowing out in rage, he issued a challenge to the Captain of the
Astral Claws.
The Astral Claw Captain smirked, he
raised his sword as it burst into flames.
Try as the Chaplain might he could not withstand the Astral Claw’s
flurry of attacks. Blows upon blows he
finally succumbed to his injury and perished at the hands of the Astral Claw
Captain.
 |
| Tension can be felt by the Razorback crew as they find themselves cornered |
Above the sky Stormtalon spat death
filling the Imperial Swords Razorback with heavy boltgun rounds and assault
cannon shells. Inside the tank, sparks
flew all over the electronics and the gunner struggle to put the fire out. Just then a message came through the
comm-link, “Head to Nav Point 1”. With
nothing to lose, the driver hit the pedal and raced towards the objective.
On top of the roof the remaining
Imperial Swords 1st tactical witnessed the Astral Claws slaying
their compatriots. Angered, they
unleashed their weapons on the Astral Claws.
Superheated plasma once again took down several Astral Claws.
As the Stormtalon swung around, its
assault cannon tracking the moving Razorback.
But before it could fire, thick beams of laser filled the sky. One clipping the tail while two beams punch
straight into the engine of the talon.
Sustaining too much damage, the Stormtalon spun out of control before
exploding in midair.
The Astral Claw Captain sped into a
safer position while bellowing into his comm-link. “I just lost the air support, Landspeeder
crew, where are you?! End these upstart Space Marines!”.
The Landspeeder responded, arriving
from the left of the north-side. The
Landspeeder joined another attack bike showered the Imperial Sword Tacticals
camped at the roof with missles and heavy boltgun rounds. From the right flank, a lone surviving rider
swooped in, firing his Gravgun above him dispatching the last of the Imperial
Sword Tactical Marine.
 |
| Biding his time, a lone Astral Claw Biker moves into position to strike |
With the Imperial Sword infantry was
wiped out and with none left to claim objectives, the remaining armored core of
the Imperial Swords finally advanced forward.
As they moved forwarded, they spotted the Astral Claws Captain hidden in
a building ahead of them.
Predator tanks
and Dreadnoughts unleash all their weapons into the Astral Claw captain and
wounding him further. Deprived of
medical aid, the Astral Claw Captain finally succumbs to his injury and falls
in battle.
Having sustained too much
casualties, the Astral Claws decided to withdraw. Although the Imperial Swords was victorious,
they too suffered tremendous losses.
They will need to regroup quickly and hope reinforcements can arrive
soon while they repair their damaged tanks.
