Skypehammer Round 2: Routine Patrol

The campaign is already warming up - Imperial Guard hold the line against The Purge!

The streets may be empty, but the war never ends.

As explained previously, this is our eight-player narrative campaign played over Skype, to decide which of the heroic Alliance or the evil Cabal will prevail.

I, Stylus, will be running the show from headquarters at WoffBoot West Coast, and tonight's contenders will be Monkey (usually seen in command of Space Wolves) leading the Imperial Guard, and WoffBoot's Pootle, once again in command of The Purge.

Thanks to Pootle for the battle maps for this one. And also: forgive the Imperial Guard units for not being 100% finished - when we planned this battle a fortnight ago, I didn't have an Imperial Guard army, so you can still smell the paint on these guys.

Imperial Guard, Valhallan - The 34th Outpost

Attention Guardsman! We have an exciting and non-optional opportunity for martyrdom! One of the listening posts in the Searem Sector has gone quiet. Your regiment is geographically nearest and, according to our last update [dated three years previously], has a paper strength of 52 armoured vehicles and 3,487 fighting souls. Make all haste to this sector and await further instructions. We have received some intelligence that a band of Renegade Astartes have been seen in the area, but this is unverified. If proven true, permission is granted to kill the heretics and proceed with your mission. Reinforcements have been requested and should be authorised for departure within three standard solar cycles.

• Commander Q. Eernheart III - Company Commander (HQ) (Warlord)
  Bolt pistol, Chainsword, Frag grenades
  Warlord Trait: Master of Command
  Relic: The Laurels of Command
• Tank Commander  (HQ)
  Battle Cannon, 3 x Heavy Bolters, Heavy Stubber, Hunter-Killer Missile
  Tank Ace: Up-Armoured
• A Squad - 10 x Infantry Squad (Troops)
  Sgt with chainsword and laspistol, 6 x lasguns, plasma gun, missile launcher
• B Squad - 10 x Infantry Squad (Troops)
  Sgt with chainsword and boltgun, 6 x lasguns, grenade launcher, missile launcher
• C Squad - 10 x Infantry Squad (Troops)
  Sgt with chainsword and laspistol, 6 x lasguns, plasma gun, autocannon
• Tech-Priest Enginseer (Elite)
  Laspistol, Omnissan Axe, Servo-arm
• Chimera (Transport)
  Heavy Bolter, Heavy Stubber, 2x Lasgun Arrays, Multi-laser

Points: 500 | Level: 31 |

Surge ‘n’ Purge - Chaos Space Marines

The Black Legion have betrayed us once more. Or more likely, their pet sorcerers. The first incursion comes from the creatures of Tzeentch, not Nurgle, as we were promised. Get over there and secure the installation. There will be only a handful of mortals to stand in your way, their hands trembling too much to aim their lasguns. Once under our control, Abbadon’s dogs will have to reckon with us as equals.

• Gormenghastly the Garrotter - Sorcerer in Terminator Armour (HQ) (Warlord)
  Combi-melta, Force Axe, Frag & Krak Grenades, Mark of Nurgle
  Warlord trait: Blessed Mission
  Miasma of Pestilence, Warptime
• Greater Possessed (Elite)
  Daemonic Mutations, Mark of Nurgle
  Relic: Orb of Unlife
• 5 x Chaos Chosen (Elite)
  4 x Combi-bolter, 4 x chainswords, Power Fist, Reaper Chaincannon, Mark of Nurgle
• 5 x Plague Marines (Elite)
  Boltgun, Power Fist & Plaguesword, 2 x Flails of Contagion, 2 x 2nd Plague Knife, Blight & Krak Grenades
• Helbrute (Elite)
  Helbrute fist (combi-bolter), Power Scourge, Mark of Nurgle

Points: 499 | Level: 28 |

Mission and Deployment

Same deal as the previous battle: Eternal War - Crusade mission from Chapter Approved 2019. From the start of the second turn, Victory Points are scored by securing objectives, plus the usual First Strike, Linebreaker and Slay the Warlord points.

Having learned from his Mechanicus ally, Monkey chooses exactly the same deployment zone for his gunline and plants his forces on the objectives.

'A Squad' is tucked up in the Chimera, ready to race up the right flank. 'B Squad' is strung out to hold on objective and make a play for another by the plasma generator.

'C Squad' occupies the roof of the flat top building, while Commander Eernheart stands in the centre, ready to issue orders to everyone. The Tank Commander parks by the building, with the Tech-Priest hanging off the sponsons.

The Purge have a bit more of a sweat on, realising there's a lot of open ground to cover and someone lost the keys to the Rhino.

Accordingly, they grab every scrap of cover and line-of-sight blocking terrain they can. The Plague Marines duck behind the central cantina, the Chosen and Greater Possessed hide around the other side.

The Helbrute opts to hide behind the building on the right flank, which fortunately has a cupola large enough to screen even his spiky decorations.

The Terminator Sorcerer jumps into the teleportarium, because he's no dummy.

Turn 1 - The Purge

You couldn't see much of them, but you knew they were coming. The low sun cast their armoured shadows racing ahead of them along the sun-baked alleys of the abandoned Generatorium compound. It was somehow worse that you couldn't see them. 

Trooper Blakely blinked sweat out of his eyes and checked his lasgun safety hadn't slipped on again. The quartermaster said their weapons passed muster, but everyone knew the real story. The Imperium had forgotten this outpost even existed. Their equipment was decades old, their drill was stale and they were at less than two thirds company strength, mostly because the oldest troopers had died of old age waiting to be relieved of this tour of duty. Blakely himself was 68. He felt every day of it and a few more, watching the enemy's shadows slide relentlessly closer. 

"There, you see, lads?" bellowed Commander Eernheart. His clipped, parade ground tones echoed across the empty yard. Somehow, he always sounded as if he was right behind you, even from thirty metres away. "They're scared of their own war machine. Can't wait to introduce them to ours!" 

Blakely winced. So much for ambushing. 

The Purge begin their turn with some classic urban manoeuvring - dashing across the open spaces to hug cover, like downtown Mogadishu.

The Chosen go from one screening building to another. The Helbrute realises he's left the parking brake on and stays hidden.

The Plague Marines run up along the other side of the building, followed by the Greater Possessed. And with no shooting or psychic, that's it.

The Purge 0 : 0 Imperial Guard

Turn 1 - Imperial Guard

Blakely winced, his dentures creaking, as the Leman Russ opened up. A shell blew out the side of the relay building ahead of them, sending plasteel chunks skittling across the entrance to the alley. And there! Their first glance of the enemy. 

Three armoured forms were flung with the explosion to sprawl in the dust. A fourth tottered forward from the blast, broken arms hanging limply at its sides, weapon firing on auto. It stumbled a few metres before shooting itself in the leg, then collapsed. 

Black and green armour, dull and matted. Big as Space Marines. Blakely had seen a Marine once, impassive and magnificent as a statue. He'd been a boy. This one sent the same chill down his spine. How could he fight something like that?

"C squad! Forward!" screeched their Commander. Blakely hauled himself up and moved to the edge of the building.

Cautious opening moves for the Imperial Guard. B Squad edges forward to grab an objective and line up the Plague Marines. The Leman Russ also trundles forward to open up a firing angle on the squad of Chosen.

A lucky member from C Squad is volunteered to jump off the roof and secure the bottom objective.

And then the shooting starts: B Squad manage to pick off a Plague Marine, and the Leman Russ guns down four of the Chosen (although the Chaincannon-totting marine passes his morale).

So no first strike for the Imperial Guard either. On the bright side, they have reduced the heretics' numbers by over a third.

The Purge 0 : 0 Imperial Guard

Turn 2 - The Purge

There were lasguns firing over to the right. Blakeley tried not to look. He had to concentrate on what was ahead of him. 

"Open fire!" Eernheart was screaming. "Let the traitors have it, all barrels! An extra ratpack to each man who downs a foe!"

Something was climbing out of the crater in the building. Another of the heretics. It crawled up, reached back and hauled a huge cannon on to the edge of the roof next to it. It slammed one foot on the cover of the gun, grabbed a toggle and pulled hard. Smoke belched out of the gun as the barrels started spinning. Mouth dry, Blakely sighted down his lasgun at the fiend, taking careful aim. 

Something burst from cover out of the next alley down, screaming even louder than Eernheart. Terrified, Blakely's shot went wide. "What is that?" he gasped. 

"Hell..." Trooper Davies started to say, then the side of his head was torn away in a hail of bullets from the heretic with the cannon. 

Shaking off the debris, and claiming two VP for their backline objectives, what remains of The Purge make their play for the imperial lines.

The Helbrute breaks cover and advances upfield. The Plague Marines scramble over the plasma pipes, followed by the Greater Possessed, and the Terminator Sorcerer teleports in behind them.

The Chaincannon Chosen scrambles up to the building's roof, so he can draw sight, hold an objective and look cool all at the same time.

"Old Painless is waiting."

In the Psychic phase, the Sorcerer casts Miasma of Pestilence on the Plague Marines and - crucially - follows it up with Warptime to push them within an easy charge

In Shooting, small arms fire fails to scratch B Squad, but Chaincannon Tommy manages to plink off one of the guardsmen from C Squad on the roof. The Sorcerer also melts a couple of armour plates off the Chimera.

And then the charges: both Plague Marines and Greater Possessed make their charges into B Squad, who are effortlessly torn to pieces.

No further action, but the heretics have breached the imperial lines.

The Purge 2 : 0 Imperial Guard

Turn 2 - Imperial Guard

"Fire fire fire!" Eernheart was shouting the word faster than Blakely could shoot. Over and over, occasionally drowned out by the roar of the Leman Russ's cannon. 

Blakely's first shot missed. His second sparked off the heretic's armour. His third pull of the trigger gave him nothing - the safety had slipped on again. To his left, spattered with Davies' blood, Tomlinson was swearing furiously as he tried to eject a burned-out laspack from his rifle. The damned gun was actually on fire. 

"Come on, boys, we're winning!" Royston, their sergeant, yelled. He was a rheumatic old codger with watery eyes, youngest man in the squad at 63. "There's only a few of them left!"

Only picking up a single VP for C Squad's objective, most of the Guard's line holds fast. The exception is the Chimera, who makes a bee-line for the Terminator Sorcerer.

In Shooting, the squad on the roof fail to shoot the last Chosen, and the full firepower of the Chimera fails against the Sorcerer's terminator armour.

On the other flank, the Leman Russ takes aim at the quartet of Plague Marines, using the Hail of Fire and the Vengeance for Cadia stratagem to be absolutely sure. The poxed heretics are reduced to an evil-smelling paste on the ground.

In a fit of aggression worthy of a Space Wolf, the Chimera charges into the Terminator Sorcerer. He fails to run him over, and loses a few wounds in the punchback (but at least shuts down his melta gun).

The Purge 2 : 1 Imperial Guard

Turn 3 - The Purge

There was a huge explosion over on the right flank, somewhere out of sight. Smoke billowed into the air. 

The cannon-wielding heretic stopped firing. Another second, and the relentless stream of shot he'd been training across the yard, for all the world like a firefighter with a hose, would have reached Blakely. Scoured him away like Davies. 

He hadn't managed to get his gun firing again. With death this imminent, it hadn't seemed worth it. Instead, he watched, numb and silent, as the armoured walker thundered across the yard. A couple metres from the edge of the building, it leaped, swinging one arm round. Lengths of barbed chain sprouted from a mount at the end of the arm. 

The chain slapped into Trooper Best with a wet crunch, spinning him round. He was still firing. His final volley punched a burnt red hole in Trooper Wiley, who toppled over the edge of the building. 

Holy Emperor, Blakely prayed. Get me out of this. 

With four models left in the army, The Purge still manage to claim two objectives before moving forwards - and backwards.

The Terminator Sorcerer stays in combat, calling the Greater Possessed off his objective to assist him.

The Helbrute moves menacingly towards C Squad and the Leman Russ, overseen by the Chaincannon Chosen.

In the Psychic Phase, the Terminator Sorcerer Smites the Chimera and then, with the outside chance of cracking it open, uses Chaos Familiar to switch Warptime for Infernal Gaze, but falls a few mortal wounds short.

In Shooting, the Chaincannon has to hold fire, suspecting that a couple of casualties in C Squad would lengthen the Helbrute's charge.

His temperance is rewarded, and the Helbrute just manages to charge into C Squad (tagging the Leman Russ, naturally). Although it must have been pretty puffed making the run, because its flail only drags down a handful of Guardsmen. Crucially, the main firepower of the Guard is locked up.

What remains of the Chimera is torn apart in the Combat Phase, and no less than three Guardsman from A Squad are killed as they come spilling out.

However, they do come spilling out in the right direction - and manage to get close enough to The Purge's back objective to claim it!

The Purge 4 : 1 Imperial Guard

Turn 3 - Imperial Guard

They were running. Hobbling, at least, none of them could exactly sprint these days. If they got off the building, that armoured monstrosity would scythe them down. If they stayed, the gunner on the opposite roof would have them. Best to get out of here. 

"Where do you horrible lot think you're going?" It was Eernheart, crimson-faced with fury and brandishing a bolt pistol at them. "Form up! Any man not fixing a bayonet gets fixed on mine!"

Some swift redeploying from the Guard as they claim 2 VP for objectives on the opposite ends of the field.

'A Squad' back away from the Chaos HQs as much as possible, while still keeping a toehold on the objective.

'C Squad' back away from the Helbrute, while the Commander seeks the safety of the rooftop with them. The Leman Russ also races away from the Helbrute, heading for the centre objective, with the Enginseer running behind him.

Ordered to Get Back Into the Fight!, 'C Squad' opens fire on the Chaincannon Chosen, who continues his charmed life and survives every shot.

'A Squad' are bereft of orders, and have to do their best to gun down the Terminator Sorcerer, to sadly no avail.

The Purge 4 : 3 Imperial Guard

Turn 4 - The Purge

Blakely considered it for a moment. To his left, the Leman Russ was reversing in a cloud of dust, the chain-wielding walker flailing away at its armoured front with a spray of sparks. I could just run for it anyway, he thought. His heart was hammering madly in his chest, he could hardly breathe. 

A shrill whine heralded the fact that the enemy gunner was about to start firing again. 

Some instinct, impossibly fast, threw Blakely to the ground. He could taste blood. Mine? he wondered, as he watched bullets mow through the rest of C squad. The gunner washed his comrades away like sand off an old boot. 

Having survived the counterattack unscathed, The Purge pick up another 2VP and move in for the kill.

The Helbrute catches up with the Enginseer, looking to charge him and tie up the Leman Russ without facing its guns for a second time.

The Greater Possessed sneaks around the radar tower, so he can charge 'A Squad' with no overwatch, while the Terminator Sorcerer closes up from the front.

The Chaincannon Chosen just stands his ground and picks off a couple more Guardsman.

With the aid of a Command Point, the Greater Possessed makes his charge, followed by the Terminator Sorcerer, and 'A Squad' are torn apart between them.

The Helbrute similarly stomps on the Enginseer to leapfrog into the Leman Russ and shut down its guns again.

The Purge 6 : 3 Imperial Guard

Turn 4 - Imperial Guard

"Get up, guardsman!" Blakely heard. Someone grabbed him by the arm. 

Eernheart. Even through the deafening onslaught of cannon shells tearing across the roof, you couldn't miss that voice. 

The Commander had two of them with him, one under each arm. Blakely and their specialist, Tolder. Tolder looked unconscious. His catalepsy often triggered under battlefield stress. 

Eernheart jumped off the side of the building. The landing rattled every bone in Blakely's body, it was agony. Then Eernheart thrust him bodily into a doorway, grabbed Tolder's plasma gun and twisted the fire control so hard it snapped off. The gun started shuddering and emitting an ominous whine. 

"Not! One! Step! Back!" Eernheart screamed, and fired the gun one-handed at the chaingunner. 

With no VPs this turn, the Imperial Guard may be playing for pride now, but they remain undaunted.

The Commander leads the survivors of C Squad off the roof to claim an objective. They have one more chance at nailing the Chaincannon Chosen with the charmed life - and he finally falls to a plasma shot!

The Leman Russ breaks combat from the Helbrute and moves upfield.

The Purge 6 : 3 Imperial Guard

Turn 5 - summary

Eernheart was still screaming, but Blakely couldn't hear him any more. 

He didn't see the flash as the Plasma gun went critical. Eernheart had flung it at something out of sight. Nor he did he sense the shaking of the ground as the Hellbrute careened round the edge of the building, piledriving the Commander into the side of the building with an armoured fist. 

Blakely was dead, his aged heart not remotely up to this kind of strain. 

Final turn and The Purge pick up another couple of points as they move to clean up.

The Helbrute moves towards C Squad, mowing down its last members with combi-bolter fire, before moving in to punch the Commander into the wall.

The Terminator Sorcerer and Greater Possessed charge into the Leman Russ, not managing to dent its hull, but silencing its guns for the final time.

With that, the Tank Commander throws on the reverse gear, and concedes the field. The one bright note is that, to Slay the Warlord, the Helbrute had to leave the enemy deployment zone, so no Linebreaker is claimed.

The Purge 9 : 3 Imperial Guard


"It's Blakely, C squad," the medic said. 

"Now that, men, is a hero! Look at him!" Commander Eernheart said. The nearest men flinched at his empowering diction. He'd survived the blow the Hellbrute gave him, although it had ruined his finest breastplate and taken the relief force thirty minutes with a welding tool to cut him off the side of the building. 

"See the hate in his jaw? See how he's facing the foe, even after death? Upright at his post! At his age! He's an exemplar of military conduct! Pray that each and every one of you can give as much to the Emperor as Trooper Blakely! 

"Now finish your sweep! These heretics were here for something, and I want to know what it was!"

As soon as the reinforcements dispersed, Eernheart approached the corpse of the elderly guardsman. "Good work, trooper," he muttered, pulling his combat knife out of the dead man's armpit and letting the pinned corpse finally slump to the ground. "You really showed them how it's done."

Campaign Map

With two wins under their belt, The Cabal are taking an early lead in the territory. Perhaps an Alliance push across the Eastern icefields can relieve the pressure.

Locker Room

Wow, that did not go down as I was expecting. Pootle’s tactic of hugging every scrap of cover paid dividends, although a couple of short charges might have ended things in Turn 2.

The small scale of this game made this interesting too - things can swing wildly with just a couple of causalities, but a run of luck (like a trigger-happy Chosen on an objective) can really show up.

As with most Guard armies, the knack is to screen the tanks sufficiently for them to keep shooting. It's a lot harder than it seems (look to Mordian John's battles for a masterclass in it) and, as someone more used to charging gunlines, you need to make use of every inch to lock them up.

And so ends the first evening's Skypehammer - an early lead for The Cabal! Will The Alliance be able to retake the ground next week?