Warhammer 40,000 Battle Report #48 – Astra Militarum vs Tau Empire

The disintegration of Stulte Mors is complete, but the survivors are still evacuating. Today we peek in on the struggle at Stulte Secundus, where the Tau Empire and the traitors of Tzeentch’s IX Host make their escape!

Aun’ui Wan’i remained expressionless as he watched the enemy foot soldiers slogging toward his position. They were chanting in a dull monotone, but he couldn’t make sense of their words. He had learned enough by now to know that they were praising some deity from beyond the physical world. Once, the Ethereal might have scoffed, even when told of such things by his mentors. After a year in the human system, he knew better.

The Earth Caste had gained much knowledge of gravity singularities during the past few months, and their work here was now complete. They could not have timed their work any better, for the system was now coming apart. Wan’i sighed at the lost potential, knowing that such beautiful worlds would have made an enduring impact for the Tau’va. Now, they were scorched leavings on the altar of the perverse deity known as Total War.

“Your dropship is en route, honored Ethereal.” The Shas’ui bowed his helmeted head as he spoke.

“Very well. The rest are coming for your Hunter Cadre. Make sure these barbarians don’t take any more lives than necessary. Killing them is not your goal here, but you must not allow them to overrun our landing zones.”

The Shas’ui nodded, bringing his pulse carbine to readiness with a flick of his finger. As the weapon whined, the Ethereal could almost see the Fire Warrior’s smile beneath his helmet.

“As you say, Aun’ui.”

The Armies

The Ninth

Astra Militarum – 1,000

Combined Arms Detachment

HQ

Company Command Squad: WARLORD (Bellowing Voice); Chimera transport with Multi-        Laser and Heavy Bolter

TROOPS

Infantry Platoon

-          Platoon Command Squad

-          Infantry Squad: Autocannon

-          Infantry Squad: Autocannon

-          Infantry Squad: Autocannon

Infantry Platoon

-          Platoon Command Squad

-          Infantry Squad: Grenade Launcher, Melta Bombs

-          Infantry Squad: Grenade Launcher, Melta Bombs

-          Infantry Squad: Flamer, Melta Bombs

HEAVY SUPPORT

Leman Russ Demolisher

Leman Russ Battle Tank

Basilisk

Vior’la Tok’rhenna Shi

Tau Empire – 1,000

Combined Arms Detachment

HQ

Ethereal

TROOPS

Strike Team: five additional Fire Warriors; Devilfish transport with Twin Smart Missile     Systems, Disruption Pod, Sensor Spines

Strike Team: five additional Fire Warriors; Devilfish transport with Twin Smart Missile     Systems, Disruption Pod, Sensor Spines

ELITES

XV8 Crisis Team: two additional Crisis Shas’ui; 6x Missile Pod

FAST ATTACK

Tetras: one additional Tetra

Optimized Stealth Cadre

XV95 Ghostkeel: Cyclic Ion Raker, Twin Fusion Blasters, Early Warning Override

XV25 Stealth Team: Fusion Blaster/Target Lock, 2x Burst Cannon

XV25 Stealth Team: Fusion Blaster/Target Lock, 2x Burst Cannon

After Action Review

Apparently, the remaining elements of the Kor’vattra fleet were more organized and concerned for the welfare of their men that Tzeentch was for the lives of his cultists! Those poor Guardsmen just could not get their landers on target, and the Tau were able to slaughter them en masse before they could affect extraction.

I think both of us were playing lists with too much support, and I think that is the side effect of playing only larger games. The difference was that his support was largely out of position, and mine was able to make maximum impact on his poor grunts. We’ve discussed the idea of doing these smaller games in the future with only Infantry, and I think that might be a good idea. Some exceptions would be in order, such as Sentinels and the like, but it would be interesting to load up on broken ruins and simply fight through a Stalingrad-esque hell.

I’m looking forward to seeing Griff’s AM forces at 2,000 points, when they are backed up by heavier concentrations of tanks and even more Infantry. I think those additions will make the list much more difficult to contend with!