For those wanting to listen to an audio version, click here!
The ruins of the city district loomed eerily in the dawn light. Cut off from their support, the Dark Angels crept up on their objectives under the cover of darkness. Ahead they could see two swarms of Hormagaunts and two swarms of Termagaunts from the Tyranid invasion that also got themselves isolated from their command structure. Several Imperial Guard veteran squads accidently dug in next to the Tyranids and Necrons as well. They were most likely traitors. Per their codex, the Dark Angels initiated Attack Protocol 23; Purge the Heretic, the Mutant, and the Witch. A full squad of Primaris Intercessors armed with Stalker Bolt Rifles split fire into all four groups of Tyranids, pinning them into place with their fast firing sniper rifles. The First Born squad held a screening position for the snipers on the cargo containers and opened fire as well, knocking over several Necron Warriors. In the center line a small five man squad of Primaris Intercessors armed with Bolt Rifles poured fire into an exposed flank of the Necron Warriors as well but struggled with bad fire discipline despite being some of the most elite soldiers in the galaxy. On the left flank a five man squad of Primaris Intercessors pushed forwards for cover and opened fire with their Auto Bolt Rifles on some guardsman, poised to strike into the heart of the flank if needed to. The night vision capabilities of the Space Marines proved their superiority, and the darkness did not protect those that would hide from the light of the Emperor.
The unholy alliance was thrown into disarray but struggled to get their confused forces together. Most of the Tyranid units stayed pinned, their primitive intelligence unable to comprehend the intense sniper fire coming out of the darkness. Instead, they feasted on their dead, heedless of the consequences. The Necron Warriors pushed up and fired Gauss Flayers into the Primaris with some effect, supported by the Guardsman who realized they had sealed their fate and that there was no going back. Their Lascannon struck true, but it was shrugged off by the durability of the Primaris with the Stalker Bolt Rifle. Several Krak Grenades from their Grenade Launchers failed to do anything as well, much like the spattering of las fire. Further down the left side Guardsman poured 6 various Flamers into the advanced Primaris along with las fire. The five man Necron Immortal unit advanced and fired as well with no effect.
The Dark Angels took some initiative. The First Born advanced to the objective in from of them and continued to pour bolter rounds into the Necrons with some success. Most of the snipers remained and continued to hammer the Tyranids into submission, then started picking off some more Necron Warriors. The center Primaris picked off some more gaunts and holding the line. The Primaris in enemy territory fired a spray of rounds into a Guard squad before charging the adjacent one. The first squad survived fairly well, their Carapace Armour shrugging the majority of the rounds. The second squad did not fair nearly as well. The Primaris Sergeant bellowed a Challenge as he came crashing in, met by the Guardsman Sergeant. Before the Guardsman could use his Powersword, the Primaris shouldered him into the air and smashed him with his Thunder Hammer. What was left of him sailed off behind the building ruins. The rest of the Primaris drew their Astartes Combat Knives and began stabbing furiously as they shoulder bashed their way into the traitors. Only the Heavy Flamer and two Flamers remained. They failed to inflict any damage and fled before the vengeful Dark Angels. Their fear lent them the gift of flight and they outpaced the pursuing marines.
Caught in the open, the unit of Primaris was in trouble. The surrounding Guardsman open fired. A squad of Veterans carrying three Meltaguns fired on one marine, but both rounds failed to connect properly with him at the last second. Despite this, six flamers, Snap Shots from the pinned gaunts, and tons of various small arms cut down the over extended squad. Further down the field more gaunts had rallied and began to move up the field and the Necrons Warriors took cover to exchange fire with the snipers. The combined fire was beginning to take its toll on the Primaris snipers and multiple fell. The center line was charged by Hormagaunts but was repulsed by the superiority of the Angels of Death.
The Dark Angels continued to press the initiative despite their losses. The first born squad was down to six marines but broke into three two man squads. The Flamer took a battle brother to the edge of the ruins and poured flame into the gaunts pouring heavy fire into the Primaris snipers. Many were burned. He followed up with a charge, killing some and chasing the others down to continue the fight though he lost his battle brother. The Missile Launcher took a battle brother to hold the objective and fired on the Necron Warriors, who seemed to be unable to reanimate at all this battle. The Sergeant took a battle brother and pushed into enemy lines, firing pistols at the guardsmen. They sat on the objective they wanted, and the Sergeant took it by charging into their lines headfirst, popping a grenade over the wall to make them duck. The First Born Sergeant offered a Challenge, to see if these men were truly traitors. It was accepted. Both ended up staring each other down, waiting for the right moment to strike, which was long past. The battle brother bashed one guardsman in, but their line held. The center Primaris continued to fire at whatever approached them.
The Imperial Guard Veteran squad continued to dual with the sergeant and his battle brother with no change except the heavy weapons squad getting its loader killed by a knife the size of his leg. The remaining Necron warriors shifted fire to the Missile Launcher and his battle brother but was thwarted by their Power Armour. Another Veteran Guard unit approached the Primaris in the center. Several had exposed themselves from their ruins for better shots, and the Meltaguns cut straight through them with devastating effects. The additional las fire ensured that two of the five were slain. The Immortals continued to fire with no success. More Gaunts were slain or remained pinned without their leadership.
The Dark Angels Sergeant finally decided that the Veteran Guard Sergeant was actually a traitor and dispatched him with his bolt pistol. The duo then proceeded to pulverize the guard unit as well as the gaunts that joined them, but both units held their ground despite their losses. The Primaris in the center proceeded to fire in the melta squad with good success, and the Primaris snipers continued to lend their support. A Frag Missile was spoiled by a poor payload and took out only one of the gaunts that had been hunkering in cover since the beginning of the game. They were still trying to figure out where those sniper rounds had come from.
By this time, the unholy alliance was feeling the losses acutely. There were few of anything left and many of them were strung out in small, isolated units with little to no weapons fire to bring to bear. They continued to press the assault on their various fronts but for the most part had little effect. The First Born Sergeant and his battle brother continued to fight and hold the objective despite being outnumbered and incapable of using the Powersword he had been issued for the fight. A note was made by the Inquisitor doing the debriefing that he should never be allowed to take one from the armoury again until he performs one thousand hours of Powersword drill.
The Dark Angels won with a small victory of 5 Victory Points to 3 Victory Points. It is important to note that the test was to confirm and demonstrate that Space Marine Troop Slots are more self sufficient than any other Troop Slot and are the most elite infantry in the game. Their Codex continues to be worked on, and more Space Marine demonstrations and testing will show in the near future.
Alternate 40k Rules 