Warhammer 40,000 Battle Report #10 – Endgame Agora

With most of the middle Tennessee tournament circuit out of the way, Shane brought us another mission for the Battle for Agora. This time it is Planetstrike; things are falling apart for the Imperials, and they are going to their bunkers to defend their final strongpoints as the forces of disorder pour in from all sides, content to see the system destroyed in nuclear fire.

We played 2,000 points, with the Space Marines setting up the table and the objectives to defend against the Tyranid onslaught. What followed was one of the most brutal games we’ve played in a while.

Etmek surveyed the last of his warriors on Agora. The Relictors had been under strength since their Excommunication, but as he counted his men he knew they were closer to extinction than ever. Snarling in frustration, the Chapter Master pushed his helm into place. It sealed with a click, and his visor came to life.

Screams rang into his ears, yells for aid against the Tyranid menace below. The Chapter Master looked around at the Assault Squad that had joined him, nodding in respect to each warrior in turn. Space Marine blood would fertilize the grounds of Agora again this day, but with any luck it would be drowned in a tide of xenos gore.

“They’re coming up from under us!” came a cry, and the pict feed showed two massive creatures ripping through the earth in the center of the Relictors formation on the planet below.

Three Captains, four Chaplains and a Librarian had given their last breath in this fruitless campaign already. Etmek was determined to avenge them.

“Launch the Pods. Now.”

The Armies

Relictors 2^nd Company Remnants

Space Marines – 2,000

The Fortifications listed below are free, per the Planetstrike mission we played.

Chapter Tactics: Imperial Fists

FORTIFICATIONS

Firestorm Redoubt

Imperial Bastion

Imperial Bastion

Imperial Bunker

HQ

Chapter Master Etmek: WARLORD; Thunder Hammer, Storm Shield, Artificer Armor, Shield    Eternal

ELITES

Sternguard Veteran Squad: five additional Veterans, 2x Heavy Flamer, Drop Pod transport

TROOPS

Tactical Squad: five additional Space Marines, Plasma Cannon, Plasma Gun, Combi-Plasma,        Rhino transport

Tactical Squad: five additional Space Marines, Plasma Cannon, Plasma Gun, Combi-Plasma,        Rhino transport

Tactical Squad: five additional Space Marines, Plasma Cannon, Plasma Gun, Combi-Plasma,        Rhino transport

FAST ATTACK

Assault Squad: four additional Space Marines, 2x Flamer, Drop Pod transport

Land Speeder: 2x Heavy Bolter

Land Speeder: 2x Heavy Bolter

HEAVY SUPPORT

Devastator Centurion Squad: Twin Lascannons, Missile Launchers, Sergeant has Omniscope

Devastator Squad: 4x Lascannon

Devastator Squad: 4x Heavy Bolter

Hive Fleet Nug Invasion Swarm

Tyranids – 2,000

HQ

Hive Tyrant: WARLORD; Wings, 2x Twin Devourers with Brainleech Worms, Thorax Swarm     with Dessicator Larvae; Dominion, Onslaught, Warp Blast

Tyranid Prime: Lash Whip & Bonesword, Deathspitter

ELITES

Hive Guard Brood: two additional Hive Guard, Impaler Cannons

Zoanthrope Brood: two additional Zoanthropes; Dominion, Catalyst, Warp Blast

TROOPS

Genestealer Brood: four additional Genestealers, Broodlord with Dominion, The Horror

Tervigon: Cluster Spines, Thorax Swarm with Dessicator Larvae; Dominion, Paroxysm

Termagant Brood: twenty additional Termagants, Devourers

FAST ATTACK

Hive Crone: Cluster Spines

Hive Crone: Cluster Spines

HEAVY SUPPORT

Mawloc: Adrenal Glands

Mawloc: Adrenal Glands

After Action Review

Ouch! The damage started pouring in early, and by the end of my second turn it looked like the Space Marines had completely collapsed. Their poor Reserve rolls didn’t help anything, and by then it just felt that the job of consumption was mostly over.

In hindsight, I think he would have been better served by splitting his defenses. By pushing them all together in the center of the table, it allowed me to focus my attentions and deal him a crippling blow early. Add in the fact that the firestorm barrages almost couldn’t miss, and it was a recipe for disaster.

The Mawlocs were absolute murder in this mission. On the first turn they picked up a total of thirteen Marines between them, in addition to tying up the Devastator Centurions and preventing them from shooting. Once the firestorm left all those Marines huddled through the center of the defenses, it was a buffet line for the burrowing monsters.

Stay tuned for more in the future, as the Battle for Agora winds down to its conclusion!