On a lonely exo-planet in the far fringe of the system, the insidious insurrection of a genestealer cult turns the Mining Workers Union against Rebel Alliance control. The garrison of 122nd Highlanders falls under attack by the overwhelming forces of miners turned brainwashed soldiers, and prepare to hold their emplacement to the very last man until reinforcements arrive.
The objectives are simple in this last stand match, the three buildings in the central bunker complex must be held or sacrificed at the end of the game, with no other objectives in play. The Highlanders will deploy entirely within the complex, while the MWU will deploy and arrive from either of the short table edges. The MWU have overwhelming numbers in their insurrection, and will be able to bring on one previously destroyed unit every turn. Coupled with their strike from the shadows ability, it will be a deadly slog for the brave rebels.
The 122nd Celentine Highlanders force, led by Captain Grimm and his command with a Ministorium Priest. The main bulk of the force comprises of two Infantry Platoons, one set up for fire support and the other for close assault, and backed by a Lascannon and Mortar squad. Three Leman Russes will bolster the defence, one Battle Tank, one Demolisher and one Eradicator. Finally, help will come from the skies in the form of the ace Lightning Fighter Hornet.
The insurrection force of the Mining Workers Union, led by a Primus and Magus. A large bulk of infantry consisting of a hefty Genestealer squad, Aberrants, Acolytes and the Neophyte squad known as the Night Shift. Holding the flanks will be a Scout Sentinel and Jackal squad, and backed by the armour of a Battle Tank, Vanquisher, Rockgrinder and Chimera. The newest edition to the force is a Vulture Gunship, kitted out for maximum brrt with punisher cannons.
The Leman Russ Vanquisher known as The Juggernaught camps out of LOS behind a building.
The Sentinel lines up the Highlander deployment from above.
The Rockgrinder, aka The Punisher, and the Jackals rev their engines by the railway cache.
The Immortal and the Chimera deploy guarding the Primus and Aberrants in the manufactorum, ready to assault the bunker complex.
Half of the Highlander infantry deploy on one side of the complex, backed by the Demolisher ‘Bulldog’. The Eradictor ‘Duke’ tanks the flank, and the Heavy Weapons Squads take the landing pad.
The other half of the infantry take the other side, backed by the Battle Tank ‘Judge’. Captain Grimm’s command hold the centre of the complex, while the platoon commanders deploy in the bunkers.
The Genestealers outflank in front of Duke.
The MWU steal the initiative!
The Jackals, Aberrants and Genestealers return to the shadows.
The Juggernaut rolls into firing line, but fails to land a hit on Highlander armour.
The MWU armour pushes forward, laying fire on the line of guardsmen.
The Highlander firing line readies to fire on The Juggernaut.
Bulldog and the guardsmen line up The Punisher.
The Highlander gunline erupts on The Juggernaut, stripping two hull points and shaking it.
Bulldog levels The Punisher, and the Acolytes spill out.
The mortars land a direct hit on the acolytes and wipe them out, leaving the Magus stranded in the open.
The Vulture Gunship makes the field, lining up the Heavy Weapons Squads with its miniguns.
The destroyed Acolytes are brought back, and move on from the table edge.
The Genestealers outflank back onto the table, running full pelt towards the Platoon Command in the bunker.
The Jackals burst from a tunnel in front of the gunline, engines roaring.
The Primus and Aberrants get unlucky, and walk on from the table edge.
The Immortal pulls out of demolisher range and The Night Shift speed towards enemy lines in their Chimera.
The Vulture unloads into the lascannon squad, completely wiping them.
The Jackals unleash a heavy flamer on an infantry squad, all but clearing them out.
The Immortal fires on another Infantry Squad, sending them running for cover.
The Chimera destroys Duke from behind, while the Night Shift chip away at the remaining infantry.
Captain Grimm’s command rush to plug the gap in the Highlander lines.
Hornet zooms onto the field, and promptly downs the Vulture with a round of missiles.
Judge opens up on The Juggernaut, and gets another notch on his club.
The platoon command fire on the Genestealers, felling two but losing Lt Jackson to a plasma pistol overheat.
Captain Grimm’s command assaults and slays all of the Jackals with their heroics, securing the line once more.
The Genestealers close in on the leaderless command squad in the bunker, while the Magus sneaks onto the table from behind.
The Vulture is brought back onto the table, tailing Hornet.
The MWU armour rolls forward, pushing the advantage.
The Magus fails spectacularly at manifesting his powers, and loses a wound in the process.
Heavy fire damages both remaining tanks, and reduces the infantry to scraps.
The Vulture unloads on Hornet, but deft jinking leaves the fighter with only a scratch.
The remaining guardsmen of the Platoon Command make a valiant stand, but are wiped out by the skulking monsters.
Grimm’s Command pull back into the centre, and the remains of the infantry unleash their flamer on the Genestealers, felling two.
The Highlanders armour fire on their Cult counterparts, but fail to make a mark.
The Jackals are brought back to the field, riding on from the table edge.
The Acolytes burst from the ground to throw a demolition charge at Bulldog, but scatter wildly.
The Chimera busts its tracks on the sandbags.
The Aberrants walk back onto the table in the same location yet again. Must be smoko.
A shot from the Immortal pings off Bulldog’s armour and hits the bunker, collapsing it and crushing the Platoon Command inside.
The Genestealers Charge the last of the Infantry Squad, losing two to the beleaguered guardsman, but unsurprisingly tearing them to shreds. Judge is shredded by the Vultures punisher cannons.
Captain Grimm pushes for the safety of the bunker, with the Magus hiding inside.
Hornet hits the field again, lining up the Vulture.
The last remains of the Infantry Platoons hold the Landing Pad.
Bulldog opens up on the Acolytes, and wipes them clean from the table, again.
Grimm runs to the top of the bunker, while more fire is poured into the Genestealers.
Hornet knocks off two hull points from the Vulture, but fails to knock it out of the sky.
The Genestealers and Jackals close in on Grimm’s command.
The Vulture strafes the landing pad.
The MWU charge forward at the immobilised Bulldog.
The Sentinel, which has been consistently missing with its missile launcher all game, misses with its missile launcher.
The Night Shift pour from their Chimera under the landing pad. The Acolytes are brought on for a third time and infiltrate under the objective.
The Jackals unload on Grimm’s command, leaving only the Ministorium Priest alive.
The Immortal plugs Bulldog for a hull point.
The Vulture shreds the last of the Infantry Squad.
The Genestealers crawl over the bunker and devour the Ministorium Priest.
Bulldog, with nothing left to turn to, fires a demolisher shell into the overrun bunker, collapsing it onto the Magus and crushing him.
The game ends. Both bunkers have been destroyed, and the lines overrun, but the brave Highlanders still manage to contest the landing pad and scrape a draw out of the jaws of defeat!
A brutal and thoroughly enjoyable game. I’m very happy getting a draw with the odds stacked against me. Well done to my opponent, our longstanding rivalry continues to be tit for tat. Thanks for reading!
Rebels and Pirates 