[a / b / c / d / e / f / g / gif / h / hr / k / m / o / p / r / s / t / u / v / vg / w / wg] [i / ic] [r9k] [cm / hm / y] [3 / adv / an / cgl / ck / co / diy / fa / fit / hc / int / jp / lit / mlp / mu / n / po / pol / sci / soc / sp / tg / toy / trv / tv / vp / x] [rs] [status / ? / @] [Settings] [Home]
Board:  
Settings   Home
4chan
/qst/ - Quests


File: Marines Assemble.jpg (182 KB, 1024x640)
182 KB
182 KB JPG
Rolled 65 (1d100)

Previous session: https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/2021/4621024/
Discussion channel: https://client01.chat.mibbit.com/?channel=%23RisingSons&server=irc.rizon.net

+Date: 044.376.M41+
+Location: Battle Barge Aspera Dominus, Brohmidae System, Subsector Mortis, Sector Deus

The Styrian Defence Fleet lies in ruins around Brohmidae, leaving trails of burning debris in their wake as they drift through the void. Hails of celebration and commendation circulate around the Imperial vox network as the combined fleet of the Ghosts of Retribution and Imperial Navy approach the beleagured world of Brohmidae.

The industrial world of Brohmidae was left helpless in the wake of the Imperial retreat from Subsector Mortis over 200 years ago, and the renegade Styrian Triarchy took control with ease using their orbital supremacy to force the planet's complience. Brohmidae and its ruler, the Mechano-Lord Eckar Santron, have been vassals of the Styrian Triarchy ever since, their grinding manufactorums and mines producing materiel for the Styrian Triarchy in return for 'protection' from the Styrian Fleet - little more than a thinly veiled threat in Brohmidae's orbit to ensure their compliance.
>https://chapterquest.fandom.com/wiki/Brohmidae

But now the Imperium has returned to Subsector Mortis, spearheaded by the efforts of the Ghosts of Retribution chapter of the Adeptus Astartes. After years spent rallying Imperial Forces and replacing incompetent and corrupt Imperial leadership in Sector Deus, the Chapter Master of the Ghosts of Retribution has launched a new Crusade with the intention of reclaiming Subsector Mortis for the Imperium. The Imperial Navy, Imperial Guard, Adepta Sororitas and even the Adeptus Mechanicus have rallied behind the Ghosts of Retribution, and the Chapter Master leads a combined force to put the Styrian Triarchy down for good.
>https://chapterquest.fandom.com/wiki/Styrian_Crusade

The Crusade reclaimed the frontier world of Stranx with little difficulty, and from there launched an assault straight towards the centre of the Styrian Triarchy. Between the Crusade and the Triarchy's core worlds of Styria, Neveria, and Loxomod was Brohmidae.

In the wake of the battle in the void Brohmidae's orbital defence station is burning and crippled, its crew and defence platforms sending out garbled pleas of surrender as their weapons lose power. However on the far side of the planet is the lone survivor of the Styrian Defence Fleet that has not already fled, and it lies in wait as the Imperial Fleet approaches with overwhelming numbers.

I am rolling for the Cruisers actions.
>1-20: The Cruiser will attack
>21-74: The Cruiser attempts to disengage and flee
>75-100: The Cruiser surrenders

There is also another Styrian Cruiser, reduced to a drifting hulk in the space battle, that is being boarded by several squads of your Astartes. Please roll:
>1d100 for personnel
>1d100 for materiel
These are loot/discovery rolls, so higher is better.
>>
Rolled 14 (1d100)

>>5556904
Rolling for personnel.
>>
File: Brohmidae Battle Map.png (2.8 MB, 10000x6000)
2.8 MB
2.8 MB PNG
Rolled 98 (1d100)

The Lunar-class Cruiser powers its engines in an attempt to hurl itself out of Brohmidae's orbit and into the void where it can shut down all systems and fall off your scopes.

Rolling d100 for their success. Target: 52 or lower.
>>
Rolled 36 (1d100)

>>5556904
Rollan for mats.
>>
Claiming my ID
>>
>>5556906
>>5556912
A thorough investigation of the hulked cruiser and its remaining crew reveals little of value. Some of the crew have holed themselves up behind armoured bulkheads, spewing words of defiance, but melta charges and boltfire put a bloody end to any scraps of resistance and the survivors are rounded up.

However the crew - even the officers - are ignorant of the Triarchy's wider strategy. The local defence fleet was a garrison force and seems to have little knowledge of what the rest of the Styrian Fleet is up to.

Material finds are little better. Other than relatively worthless trinkets rounded up from the officers there's nothing of value kept aboard.

On the other hand the hulk itself remains mostly intact and is a valuable asset. Once the crew is transported onto a prison ship the Imperial Navy begins the process of towing the hull away for any possible re-use.

>Crusade Prize. +1 Hulked Lunar-class Cruiser.
At the end of the Crusade, the distribution of any Prizes will be determined between factions.
>>
>>5556937
Is the lunar cruiser a freshly built one by the styrians or one of their old ones from before the their independence?
>>
File: old santron.jpg (40 KB, 564x724)
40 KB
40 KB JPG
While the battle in space has been won, Brohmidae itself for the time being remains outside of your control. As expected, soon your communications officers notify you of an incoming transmission coming from the direction of the planet. The man who appears on your screen seems to be old and his voice is weak, yet eyes are steady and betray a deep intellect that allowed this man to rule this planet for the last few centuries.

>Honoured Lord Astartes, we welcome you to our humble system and congratulate you on your victory. I am the Mechano-Lord Eckar Santron of Brohmidae and I am contacting you in order so that I could negotiate with you terms of our transition into the Imperial sphere of control. First of all, let me assure you that we have no ill intent towards the Imperial forces and that my intention in this is to find a compromise that would suit everyone. As you know, I've been the rightful governor of Brohmidae before the rebellion and remained its caretaker even after Imperial forces withdrew from the Sector, preserving what independence we could retain here. I am ready to treat you as long awaited liberators and provide you with provisions and base of operations for your further crusade, as long as you agree to post sufficient ships (say 4 light cruisers or 2 cruisers) in our system to deter Triarchy from punishing us for the duration of your Crusade. If you come as liberators, you will find that we are Emperor-fearing, devout and loyal citizens of the Imperium. However if you come as marauders, just looking to take over where Styrians left, you'll find that Brohmidans are worth their value in steel when pressed against the wall. The decisions is yours, milord.

Soon after receiving this message, you also receive another, highly encrypted transmission. It's short and reads as follows:
>Santron is lying to you. He is hiding in the Rahria palace dungeons [coordinates attached]. Execute him and start the rebellion. Emperor protects!

The message also includes coordinates denoting some compound in the mountains on one of the bigger islands, but orbital scans and available maps are scarce, although your scribes are working hard to get more info.

Optional roll [Research: under 15/45]
>>
>>5556937
Inspect the lunar for possible tech alterations
>>
>>5556952
Skg here.
>>
This is a collaborative GMing effort so please consider all posts from myself and >>5556952 as QM posts.

>>5556947
All of Styria's capital ships are from the old Imperial era. They never developed sufficient facilities to produce their own capital ships until very recent and so far incomplete attempts.
>>5556956
Techpriests are sure to examine the ship but other than aesthetic alterations made to suit the Styrians' foul religion, the underlying technology of the Lunar Cruiser has not been altered, no doubt due to their lack of understanding and unwillingness to risk damaging one of their limited number of capital ships.

>>5556937
The Lunar-Cruiser has botched its attempt to disengage, opening itself up for attack as it flees for the systems' edge.
Please roll 1d100 if you want to fire a salvo at the fleeting cruiser.
You may also choose to let it go if you want news to spread of this victory.
>>
>>5556952
try to get more info about the triachy goals and religion out of him
>>
>>5556962
>Please roll 1d100 if you want to fire a salvo at the fleeting cruiser.
I'm in favour
>>
Rolled 94 (1d100)

>>5556952
>Optional roll [Research: under 15/45]
>>
>>5556952
Could we send in revenants to scout the place out and get more intel before deciding to execute or not?
>>
File: Styrian Crusade.png (773 KB, 681x629)
773 KB
773 KB PNG
>>5556952
Fortifying Brohmidae may be advisable as it is already deep within Subsector Mortis. However they are asking for a significant posting.
It may be best to remain neutral to Brohmidae for now so they can gain more confidence in the Imperial Crusade.
>>
Rolled 30 (1d100)

>>5556971
Let's aim to take it out. Rollan to fire.
>>
>>5556973
I agree.
>>5556982
We could tell them we'll consider it for now, send out boys down and depending on what they report either kill the old traitor or welcome him back in the imperial fold.
Depends on what he deserves, but we don't know and can't know for now.
>>
>>5556989
why dont we let him, or a delegation of his come to us instead
in a shuttle or something
>>
>>5556995
I don't see why we couldn't do both, simultaneously even, but he probably won't tell us what our boys can find out if he's lying to us already.
>>
>>5556988
The Styrian Cruiser's engines flare as they realise their attempt to disengage has failed and their only remaining hope is to try and make it to the system's edge.
However they remain in range of your fleet's most powerful guns long enough for a brutal salvo.

Lance, Bombardment Cannon, and Weapons Battery fire from a dozen vessels rakes across the Lunar-class Cruiser with trained accuracy, overwhelming their voidshields and shattering their hull from prow to stern.

The cruiser is utterly destroyed by the deluge of fire, breaking in half moments before its plasma drive erupts in an explosion that will no doubt light up the skies of Brohmidae.

>That's one more we won't have to face again.
Admiral Amos Hefin remarks drily over the command vox.
>>
>>5556996
it would put our boys at significant risk (unknown planet etc) and it takes a lot of time
>>
File: Scout operations.jpg (57 KB, 500x547)
57 KB
57 KB JPG
>>5556982
>Neutrality is indeed an option as well. But please note that until you commit to protect us, we will not be able to provide you with any support and we cannot allow you to land either.

>>5556973
In theory, yes, although if they would be caught or spotted in the middle of negotiations, it could be taken by the Brohmidae government as a breach of trust.

Scouting mission options:
a) Couple of scouts, deep insertion - low action potential, low probability of detection. (Target: 94)
b) Squad insertion - high execution potential, medium probability of detection (Target: 74)
c) Thunderhawk intel fly-by - high probability of detection. (Target: 18)

All options will provide decent info on the location. Two agreement are required to proceed, as it may have diplomatic consequences.

>>5556972
Unfortunately the only available maps of Brohmidae are pre-rebellion tourist brochure scans. Essentially, no actionable intel.
>>
>>5556999
We should find out how they communicate with other worlds. If it's similar to the Imperium maybe we can send fake info out or try to lure in parts of their fleet to take out.
>>
>>5557005
>a) Couple of scouts, deep insertion - low action potential, low probability of detection. (Target: 94)
My vote. However I'd suggest we investigate the source of the second message.
>>
>>5557005
>breach of trust.
Trust, but verify.
>b) Squad insertion - high execution potential, medium probability of detection (Target: 74)
>>
>>5557008
>However I'd suggest we investigate the source of the second message.
Oh yeah, obviously
>>
>>5557005
dont we have more expendable units than anything astartes?
>>
>>5557008
>My vote. However I'd suggest we investigate the source of the second message.
if its encrypted, can we send something back?
if yes ask for any sort of proof
>>
>>5557015
We have generic armsmen but I have a feeling their chance of success and non-detection are going to be quite low.
>>
Why don't we just talk directly to the guy and literally just ask him with a Squad of CQC specialists ready to start kicking doors in if we don't like what he says?
>>
>>5557037
He's super old so he might not care too much about getting killed himself, and Brohmidae could be willing to fight tooth and nail against us unless he says otherwise. If we open by killing him the locals might think we're just as bad as the Styrians were.
>>
>>5557043
>He's super old so he might not care too much about getting killed himself
I mean on the ground. We don't need a squad to break an old man's neck lel
>>
>>5556963
During a personal audience?
>>
>>5556963
>>5557053
You would have to be more precise with your questions. You could do it either via comms or during an audience.

>>5557009
>>5557008
We have two votes, but for different options, a and b. Can we get a tie-breaker?
>>
>>5557006
Unfortunately other, smaller Styrian ships did escape during the battle. So the news that Imperials have taken Brohmidae is likely already being transmitted.

You could task your embedded agent, Rogue Trader Tesalia D'Anger, with making a counter-claim to encourage the Styrians to send vessels into your trap. There are no guarantees that this would be successful however it could result in Styrian ships being sent.

However after doing so, successful or not, D'Anger would need to abandon her position before their duplicity has been discovered. Meaning they would no longer be able to provide any ongoing intelligence.
>>
>>5557053
just have a talk over vox, i mean he must know something
also, how muhc influence does this styrian religion have on his planet?
>>
>>5557060
>We have two votes, but for different options, a and b. Can we get a tie-breaker?
a) first maybe b later
>>
File: Scouts.jpg (18 KB, 250x369)
18 KB
18 KB JPG
>>5557078
>>5557060
Please make a roll of d100 under 94 for option A.
>>
Rolled 59 (1d100)

>>5557080
We rollan!
>>
>>5557064
Not worth blowing her cover for a chance to get part of their fleet. Especially when word is already spread.
>>
Speaking of your agent, after you arrive in the orbit of Brohmidae you receive a data packet from Rogue Trader Tesalia D'Anger.
>Rogue to Wing, Rogue to Wing. Massive increase in military chatter. Mass recall of military assets from outlying positions towards core worlds of the Triarchy. Intentions unknown.

D'Anger is not formally embedded within the Triarchy but is considered a neutral trader that they permit to travel freely throughout their space.
She can attempt to sway Styrian decision making at any time with intel such as suggesting bogus targets or giving false warnings, however each attempt presents a risk to her and is by no means guaranteed to be accepted as fact by the Styrians.

In her current position D'Anger is able to freely monitor the traffic and major communications surrounding the Styrians' core worlds.
>>
>>5557107
keep her in that position, dont compromise her
>>
>>5557089
On your command Solenos and Xonius, two of your Revenants, are deployed down into the planet. After scanning the area with from the orbit, you decide to insert them straight from the skies with a modified drop pod. It is too fast for any radars to notice and provides adequate protection to your men, landing them safely and close to the objective. At first you have no contact, but soon they reach out with good news:

>Chapter Master, we have managed to reach the objective safely and infiltrate the perimeter. The location appears to be an old summer palace with moderate, yet recently reinforced defences. After initial analysis we have a strong suspicion that the planetary Governor is indeed here, as we noticed many new arrivals including about a 100 servants, administrators and other staff that would most likely accompany VIP of his rank. He must have evacuated here during the space battle to lead the planetary defence. Apart from that the palace is guarded by around 1,000 elite guards roughly equivalent in training to the Imperial stormtroopers, however they would not pose too much of a threat if the Chapter would be deployed in force. We do not notice any signs of this being a trap and guards appear to be at low alert for the time being. While there are only two of us we believe that we would have about 50-50 chance of executing the governor if you would order it, even without any further reinforcements. Should we proceed?

Also, you can roll Xonius' intelligence [36] for possible additional info.
>>
Rolled 39 (1d100)

>>5557120
>Also, you can roll Xonius' intelligence [36] for possible additional info.
>>
>>5557120
>low alert
If Santron was a dedicated Styrian one would think his guards would be on high alert when Imperials are overhead?
>>
>>5557130
Distant thunder rocks the clouds, birds fly, wind blows, servants chatter, nothing of note.
>>
>>5557120
I reckon at this point our best bet is to invite Santron to a face-to-face meeting and pursue >>5556963 to see what he knows.

If he's eager to be useful to the Imperial cause and damaging against the Styrians, it may be worth securing Brohmidae.
>>
>>5557140
Yeah, I wanna see how he's like as a person and make the call based on that.
>>
>>5557142
>>5557140
>Thank you for reaching out, Chapter Master. My old age is unfortunately not too kind. One of the disasters of the Styrian occupation has been the lack of reliable access to rejuvenation drugs from the Imperium. However, I invite you and your delegation to my palace for discussions. I would appreciate it if you wouldn't bring an army with, neither will I.

[Santron provides you with coordinates that match those of the palace Xonius and Solenos have infiltrated]

Do you go to visit? If so, who you take with you? Most members of the Crusade council would most likely want to come with you, but it would not be a good idea to take all of them with you.
>>
>>5557144
>Do you go to visit?
Yes.
>If so, who you take with you?
A couple of revenants with sniper rifles around the complex would be a start, whom else do we have available aside from our standard boys and the council?
>>
>>5557144
With respect to Lord Santron I would prefer to meet in a neutral location. Or alternatively, if he could ensure his palace is without any guards or troops when we visit. Make sure to scan extensively to make sure.

>>5557149
Shadow Guard, Brethorius might want to come with us? Council is Drakkon Ursus, Adm. Hefin, and Canoness Engel.

I'd suggest bringing Engel since she represents the imperial faith and Santron's response to that might be telling.
>>
>>5557149
>>5557144
do we have some sort of emergency get-back teleportation stuff?
If so, i suggest bring it with us, and only a select few accompany us, no need to put all eggs in the basket
>>
>>5557156
Sounds good.
>>
>>5557160
Aspera Dominus has a teleportarium and we can take a teleport homer with us for sure.
>>
File: beach.jpg (53 KB, 480x640)
53 KB
53 KB JPG
>>5557156
>>5557149
>>5557161
Santron suggests to meet on the beach outside of his palace, it is a flat area with no cover that will allow both parties to meet without suspicion. Your orbital scanners confirm this and within hours your delegation is threading the wet sand of the Brohmidan beach.
> I am glad you made it, Chapter Master. And you must be Canoness Engel? Pleasure to meet you. So how may I help you?

///
Delegation: You, Brethorius, Shadow Guard, Engel, her two scribe-bodyguards. Revenants Turiel and Kurt cover the premises.

Xonius and Solenos remain at the palace, unless you order them otherwise.

Governor has arrived with 50 of his elite troops, he himself was driven to you in a Chimera transport. He is strong enough to walk up to you, but you see that it takes him effort and two medicae servitors are by his sides, supervising him.

///

You can roll:
- Intelligence test to examine Governor
- Awareness (PE) test to examine your surroundings
- Charm test to support your next question/demands

Pick only one.
>>
>>5557179
Hmm our stats are
>Perception + Awareness = 51
>Intelligence = 55
>Charisma + Charm = 60

So I'd vote for Charm and question him about the triarchy, its intentions and its religion, what they've done to Brohmidae etc.

Thoughts?

Our guards and revenants should be able to examine our surroundings.
>>
>>5557179
can we communicate via helmet(we do wear a helmet, right? RIGHT?) with engel to ask her her opinion?
also vote for intelligence test
>>
>>5557181
>>Charisma + Charm = 60
This + show concern for his failing health and offer a rejuvenat express delivery.
>>
>>5557187
>>5557184
>>5557181
All of that is taken into account, and yet our glorious protagonist and his personal attention is important here.

Please clarify your message to the governor (what do you ask of him? what's your tone, etc?) and make one of the 3 rolls. These cover very different things.
>>
>>5557179
>>5557199
>We are glad to see you too, Lord Santron. You know of Canoness Engel and her fine deeds? Excellent.
To see his reaction regarding SoB, if he is styrian adherent he would have to fake an appreciation.
>Our intent is to reclaim Subsector Mortis for the Imperium, and ensure the Styrian Triarchy will never again hold control over Brohmidae. We would be grateful if you could share with us what you know of the Styrians, their command, their culture, their religion. Indeed anything that may be of use in taking their foul empire down for good.
Make sure our tone carries disgust when speaking of the Styrians. See his reaction.
>As for further cooperation, two cruisers is a significant defensive pledge so I ask what Brohmidae would be willing to contribute to the Crusade if we were to pledge our defence to you at this early stage.

Thoughts?
>>
>>5557199
>Greetings, Lord Santron. I see that you haven't exaggerated the state of your constitution and, Emperor willing, I will ensure you get the treatment you need as soon as possible.
>I'll be frank, your message to me was accompanied by a second, coded message which informed us of your coordinates and included a warning that you were lying and a wish for your swift execution.
>I'm intrigued by who might have wanted us to send a kinetic torpedo into the dungeons of your palace and, as you may be able to tell by your continued survival, not convinced of executing men I haven't met face to face based on anonymous tips.
Add >>5557207
>>
>>5557213
>>5557207
>>5557179
Did somebody bring a fucking seat for the man?
>>
>>5557216
can we have seats for all but they have visibly imperial insignia to show all observers where the wind blows?
>>
You hear strange noises in the distance.

---

With that, I leave you in the capable hands of Luigi with instructions of what is about to go down, as I need to wake up early tomorrow. Have a good night guys and try to survive this! ;)
>>
Rolled 66 (1d100)

>>5557213
>>5557207
>>5557216
Please select Intelligence, Awareness, or Charm and roll 1d100
>>
File: y-tho-luigi.jpg (75 KB, 680x792)
75 KB
75 KB JPG
>>5557252
FUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCK
Bright side: I haven't been able to use this image for many, many years.
>>
File: Hull_Employs_Charm.png (516 KB, 960x672)
516 KB
516 KB PNG
>>5557262
>Please select Intelligence, Awareness, or Charm and roll 1d100
Charm because hi's internet connection died and he was the only one who wanted intelligence.
Now that skek posted that I'd want to pick awareness but Lyk is not a metagamer.
>>
>>5557262
Charm
>>
>>5557270
>>5557266
Please roll 1d100 for charm. Base Skill: 60 + 10 for favourable argument.
>>
Rolled 63 (1d100)

>>5557274
>Please roll 1d100 for charm. Base Skill: 60 + 10 for favourable argument.
>>
>>5557281
>Rolled 63 (1d100)
>+ 10 for favourable argument.
Thank god I'm such a charming guy
>>
Rolled 90 (1d100)

Rolling if needed?
>>
>>5557289
Welcome to the thread BS
And luckily for all of us that one wasn't needed lmao
>>
>>5557281
Lord Santron listens carefully to your words. He smiles as you mention Engel's deeds and nods in approval as you speak negatively of the Styrian Triarchy.

>Thank you Lord Chapter Master. I am most grateful for your offer of medical assistance and I can assure you that me and my people hold no love whatsoever for the Styrians. My concern is for the well-being of my rule and my people and will do whatever is necessary to ensure those things do not suffer. In return for protection, I am happy to pledge the support of my world to your efforts. Supplies, ammunition and fuel will be made available to you, along with docking space and an immediate tribute of materiel also.

Santron pledges an immediate contribution to the Crusade factions of which 100w would go to the Chapter.

However when you mention the coded message his brow furrows, looking deeply confused as well as alarmed.
>A message asking for my execution? Why I-....it must be one of my rivals. There are many families of nobility here that would love to see me removed from power but it would throw the planet into disarray!

Roll d100 (target 59)
>>
Rolled 49 (1d100)

>>5557292
Rollan
>>
>>5557292
>>A message asking for my execution? Why I-....it must be one of my rivals. There are many families of nobility here that would love to see me removed from power but it would throw the planet into disarray!
In that case:
>I am saddened to hear such traitorous scum would exist and try to use the situation to his advantage.
>But a change of fealty is always accompanied by troubled times and confusion, if you were to tell us who those rivals might be we could ensure they will not pose a threat to the stability of the planet any longer.
>I'm sure the population would understand that their attempted coup was met with the appropriate force purely in the spirit of self-defence and upholding the order.
>Indeed, I wouldn't hesitate to call you a hero who prevented a bloody war and millions of dead by preventing them from forcing us to strike the planet's population centers due to their fermenting rebellion and their attempt on your life.
>>
File: Luigi.png (6 KB, 632x70)
6 KB
6 KB PNG
>>5557299
Name reclaimed
>>
>>5557296
>>5557299
You're having a good discussion with Lord Santron and he seems very amicable, he wants to help but concerned with his planet first and foremost. And you suspect that it would be very hard to convince him to put his world and his rule at risk for the Crusade's benefit. Nonetheless, he treats you with respect and is agreeable to your negotiations.
Your offer of helping to cement his control is particularly intriguing.
>Official support of Santron rule? Hmm.

As you speak, a transmission comes in over your helmet's channel. Revenant Kurt, one of your two snipers overlooking the scene, gives you a very alarmed warning.
>Large walkers approaching through the jungle at your 11 o'clock! Count 4. One large, three smaller. Twenty to thirty on foot as well!
Over Lord Santron's shoulders you see the treetops in the distance move, swaying side to side as something rumbles through them.

You stand on a beach with the vast oceans to your back, the tide barely more than 10 metres behind you as your power-armoured boots sink deep into the sand.
Canoness Engel and her two bodyguards are with you, in their power armour. Your Shadow Guard stand at your bank. However, there is virtually nothing in the way of cover.
Turiel and Kurt are perched on distant sand dunes some 200m down the beach with commanding views of your position.

The jungle edge is about 200 metres behind Lord Santron. Between him and the jungle are his Chimera and 50 of his best men. They are facing you, utterly oblivious to what comes from behind them across the large flat expanse of sand. You have precious little time before whatever is approaching emerges from the tree line.

What do you do?

Possible actions:
>Flee with your group.
>Take defensive positions? (How?)
>Call for support
>Other
You can do more than one.
>>
>>5557313
>You stand on a beach with the vast oceans to your back, the tide barely more than 10 metres behind you as your power-armoured boots sink deep into the sand.
Bright side: We can literally just walk into the water and never stop walking if things go sideways.
But we won't.

>Call for support
Obviously.
>>Other
Ask Engels and her bodyguards to escort Santron the fuck out of here, carrying him with power-armour enhanced strength should be a lot faster than making the feeble old man walk there.
>>Take defensive positions? (How?)
Defensive positions?
We're fighting walkers, they are currently in the jungle.
If the jungle is dense enough we should move towards them and use the terrain as cover and concealment as we buy time there, the beach cannot be held.
They also won't expect us charging towards them, which might help.

So, how dense is the jungle?
>>
>>5557313
Can we teleport back with the governor and Cannoness
>>
>>5557330
Also a good idea.
>>
>>5557313
>>5557313
1. warn him/ask him if they are his?

2. dont these walker make a lot of noise and quakes, if they are sneaky they probably arent well armored. something to think about

can we emergency transport everyone?
>>
>>5557327
>So, how dense is the jungle?
>it's a very thick, tall, massive jungle
As per chat.
Therefore there are only twp reasonable courses of action I believe.
If we can teleport out and take Sanny with us that's one possibility.
Or we see how well ironhaunt cuts walker legs in dense jungles.
>>
>>5557327
>Call for support
>Obviously
Brother-Pilot Asteus is quick to respond.
>Thunderhawk Squadron moving out!
You know they will be at least a couple of minutes before arriving from orbit.

>Ask Engels and her bodyguards to escort Santron the fuck out of here
In which direction? Across the beach. To his chimera?

>So, how dense is the jungle?
The jungle is very dense, though the walkers will appear imminently. You don't know how close you could get before they emerge.

>>5557330
You could opt for Aspera Dominus to teleport your group out. However please be aware that this would be an arduous prospect for a frail man like Santron and may kill him outright.

>>5557333
Santron's eyes widen as he turns his head.
>Mine? They're not mine!
He sounds the alarm and his stormtroopers turn towards the jungle, spreading out and taking aim

>Dont these walker make a lot of noise and quakes, if they are sneaky they probably arent well armored. something to think about
The jungle is an enormous tropical affair with a high canopy. Only the lower treetops at the perimeter have revealed the walkers' presence. They are not massive enough to cause tremors. So they are not titans.
>>
>>5557343
can we or someone (SoB) get the gov into the chimera for (relative) safety?
>>
>>5557343
>In which direction? Across the beach. To his chimera?
Yes, pick him up and get running and then get driving.
>The jungle is very dense, though the walkers will appear imminently. You don't know how close you could get before they emerge.
We have to try, otherwise they can just shoot at the chimera.
Plus, we're raven guard, we should be good at surprises.
>He sounds the alarm and his stormtroopers turn towards the jungle, spreading out and taking aim
Nice of them to help, now get the old man out of there.
>>
>>5557347
>can we or someone (SoB) get the gov into the chimera for (relative) safety?
Sounds like a good excuse to get Engels away from her imminent death.
>>
>>5557343
how risky is teleporting terminators in?

how long willl it take?

if they are close use ironhaunts EMP on the walkers
https://chapterquest.fandom.com/wiki/Ironhaunt


How much delay between teleportations?
>>
>>5557343
Have the Aspera Teleport in a Terminator squad the ones with the heavy weapons first
>>
>>5557361
Teleporting a squad (5 terminators or 10 marines) can be done in a matter of seconds however there is 2-3 minutes for recharging before the teleportarium can be used again.

Ironhaunts EMP field will affect the walkers when in close proximity.

Please decide what you would like to teleport in, and when/where they should be on the beach.
>>
>>5557368
i vote for termies with cyclone
>>
File: HuLL_Helmetless.png (440 KB, 600x857)
440 KB
440 KB PNG
>>5557368
Chat says termis, so go termis and run the fuck towards the jungle already. If we're gonna go into melee against walkers I'd rather not do it on an open beach.
I wanted to do devastators and set up a killzone at the edge of the jungle but I'll trust hi.
>>
Actions summary:

Engel and her bodyguards will carry Santron into his Chimera and drive it down the beach, following the shoreline.

Chapter Master, Brethorius, and Shadow Guard run straight towards the jungle.

You teleport in five terminators, one with a cyclone launcher, as you are moving towards the jungle?

Any protests?
>>
>>5557375
>Any protests?
Do they just have powerfists and stormbolters or anything interesting aside from the cyclone launcher?
>>
>>5557377
A squad of five Terminators has one cyclone launcher and one assault cannon.
>>
>>5557377
traditionally the seargant has a powersword. not really interesting here but i kinda want to point that out
>>
File: Marines attack.jpg (212 KB, 1280x800)
212 KB
212 KB JPG
Rolled 86 (1d100)

Please roll
>1d100 for Chapter Master's charge
>1d100 for your teleport incursion
>>
Rolled 8 (1d100)

>>5557385
Chapter Masta
>>
Rolled 50 (1d100)

>>5557385
>>1d100 for your teleport incursion
>>
Rolled 61 (1d100)

>>5557385
>>5557386
>>5557388
Your superhuman mind does not hesitate to act as you draw your sword, Ironhaunt.

Engel draws her sword too but reluctantly obeys your request to secure Santron. She leads the way as her bodyguards carry him towards his chimera, the old man gasping with shock.

>Hahaha! Chaaarge!
Your most loyal brother Brethorius roars and holds Gatebreaker aloft as you spring straight towards the jungle ahead, your Shadow Guard and First Captain right behind you.

The approaching forces are slower than anticipated, pushing aside the densely packed trees as they struggle to get into the open. You hear the whirr of powerful chainblades and servos as you approach, and at around 100m from the jungle the sharp thundercrack of an incoming teleport explodes around you.
>To Arms! To the Chapter Master!
Sergeant Daveron roars as he leads his terminators to battle, their enormous thumping boots pounding into the sand as your force runs forward and spreads out.

Behind you the Chimera starts rumbling across the beach, the stormtroopers doing their best to follow and keep it covered. Fire and zeal carry your own force forwards like lightning and you're barely 50m from the jungle when the hidden enemy emerges.

Three large walkers push their way through the treeline, Armiger-pattern Knights with whirring chainswords and large autocannons. Twenty armoured servitors march along beside them, and just a few seconds later the enormous frame of a Questoris-pattern knight pushes down a tree standing in its way and marches out, a battle cannon in one arm and an enormous chainsword in the other - bearing unfamiliar livery.

The force stops in its tracks as you charge towards them, the lead Armiger letting out a roar over loudspeakers.
>Eckar Santron is false! Death to the traitor! Long live the Imperium! We are on your side!
The voice yells out at you, and the large knight fires its battle cannon at Santron's fleeing chimera over long range.
>>
File: Knight - Questoris.jpg (638 KB, 2048x1536)
638 KB
638 KB JPG
>>5557401
The long-range snapshots go wide, two shells exploding in the sand around the Chimera.

The armigers are in nonsensical livery, patched together and painted over. However the full knight bears an unfamiliar heraldry that does not belong to any local House.

What do you do?
>Attack
>Talk
>Other?
>>
>>5557401
"Halt in the name of the Emperor! We are the heralds of his divine will! To continue your action is Heresy!"
>>
>>5557407
This
>>5557402
>>Other?
>SECURE YOUR ARMS AND CEASE HOSTILITIES
If they don't and power up to shoot again, cyclone the motherfucker in question, repeat the yell and charge under the cover of the cyclone barrage.
If they continue, we shoot and engage.
>>
>>5557412
>>5557407
>>5557402
For the record I've got a feeling the Knights are good guys and either misguided or overly idealistic so let's try to give em a chance.
>>
>>5557402
how can we not hear a knight?
or see it? if trees block line of sight we would notice them bending and breaking trees left and right

not to mention any quakes in the area
>>
>>5557416
Maybe he walked slowly.
>>
>>5557412
If they don't power down we teleport out and nuke the area
>>
>>5557419
Can't teleport for about 2 minutes.
Let's wow them with our divine mission.
Kiiiiinda miss Engels right now.
>>
Good news:
Knights are fairly advanced, so getting among them with Ironhaunt might help a lot.
>>
>>5557407
>>5557412
>Meddling fools! Eckar must die!

The armigers turn their guns towards you and your marines as the questoris keeps tracking the chimera, the entire group marching forwards.

Attack orders for your men?
>>
>>5557425
How close together are the armigers?
Can we hit them all with a salvo of the cyclone launcher?
>>
>>5557429
No each Armiger would be a separate target.
The central Armiger is the one speaking, flanked by two others with the questoris behind them.
>>
>>5557425
meddling fools?

you claim to speak for the Imperium, yet you call HIS loyal astartes and HIS holy ecclesiarchy meddling fools?

If the govenor is judged and sentenced by the imperium it is our judgement and our sentence.


You are to stand down and allow us todo so
>>
>>5557432
"We'll give you him once you explain yourself to us. Heretics will die"
>>
>>5557434
>"We'll give you him once you explain yourself to us. Heretics will die"
*if he truly is a heretic
Never make promises you don't know you will keep.
>>
>>5557442
I'm trying to buy time for the thunderhawks to get here
>>
Rolled 84, 70, 4, 37 = 195 (4d100)

>>5557433
>>5557434
>>5557442
Your attempts to negotiate fall on deaf ears, and the Armigers open fire on you and your marines. (first 3d100).
>Leave none alive! Get Santron!
The lead Armiger grunts as the Questoris keeps moving after the chimera, loosing another salvo (last 1d100)
>>
Rolled 1 (1d8)

>>5557450
The ramshackle Armigers are clearly inexperienced, two of them blazing away and shooting only sand with their autocannons but the third strikes true.

1. Chapter Master
2. Brethorius
3-8. Other terminator

Meanwhile the Questoris is zeroing in but still at long range, explosions erupting around the chimera and just barely missing.
>>
File: SkavenDieDie.png (328 KB, 1200x900)
328 KB
328 KB PNG
>>5557447
NO LIES
>>5557450
>>5557453
Blast the cunts already.
Also
>1
pic related
>>
>>5557453
Please roll
>d100 for Chapter Master's Iron Halo (requires 51+)
>d100 for Chapter Master's dodge (Test 55 - 30 (enemy accuracy) = 25)
>>
Rolled 70 (1d100)

>>5557457
>>d100 for Chapter Master's Iron Halo (requires 51+)
>>
Rolled 57 (1d100)

>>5557457
Dodge
>>
File: Do not waste your tears.jpg (622 KB, 762x1244)
622 KB
622 KB JPG
>>5557458
>>5557460
Chapter Master's Iron Halo field blazes with light as heavy autocannon shells rupture and pop against it, bearing the brunt of the onslaught as he fails to avoid the incoming fire. One of the fusilade of heavy shells gets through, smashing against the chestplate of Chapter Master's artificer armour and rupturing ceramite place as his rib-shell cracks.
>Chapter Master health: 75%.

>Heretics!
Brethorius roars, the Armigers and servitors marching towards you as the questoris focuses on the fleeing Chimera. The loyal stormtroopers are firing at the questoris, their lasgun fire peppering its frame as they prepare special weapons. They might be able to slow it down by themselves, but that's all.

Post orders for your men.
>>
>>5557468
How far away are we from them?
>>
>>5557472
Thanks to your initial charge and delays on their advance you are only 30m from them. They might have time for one more salvo if you charge them now
>>
>>5557468
>Post orders for your men.
Brethy should be able to take one of the armigers with Gatebreaker as long as at least one terminator makes it difficult for it to come to bear on him by focusing his stormbolter at its center of mass and optics and trying to support Breth by getting behind it.

The second armiger gets a cyclone salvo with another termi shooting his stormbolter while attempting to close under the cover of the rockets flying over his head and impacting the armiger (if the rockets kill it already he can help us out.

The last terminator supports us the same way the other terminator supports Breth.

Krak grenades go out as we charge.
>>
>>5557474
>>5557478
seconded
>>
>>5557480
>>5557478
Since we have Revenants with sniper rifles having them try to take out the servitors would be neat.
>>
File: Guardsman shotgun.jpg (719 KB, 600x1000)
719 KB
719 KB JPG
Rolled 47, 47, 23, 99, 49 = 265 (5d100)

>>5557478
>>5557480
>>5557481
Please roll
>3d100 for covering fire while charging
And select who is charging the 'lead' armiger?
Please also roll
>1d100 for Turiel & Kurt.

I am rolling 3d100 for Armiger fire, then 1d100 for Questoris fire and 1d100 for troops against Questoris.
>>
File: AlreadyDead.jpg (31 KB, 640x432)
31 KB
31 KB JPG
Rolled 57 (1d100)

>>5557483
>shotgun
That's a warcrime.
>And select who is charging the 'lead' armiger?
Brethorius.
>>3d100 for covering fire while charging
Here's one.
>>
Rolled 53, 46 = 99 (2d100)

>>5557483
And here's two and three
>>
Rolled 35 (1d100)

>>5557483
>1d100 for Turiel & Kurt.
COME ON BOYS PICK THEM OFF
>>
Rolled 46 (1d100)

>>5557488
>>5557483
KURT
>>
Rolled 21, 81, 61, 44 = 207 (4d100)

>>5557483
>>5557484
>>5557487
>>5557488
>For the Chapter Master!
Brethorius leads the charge, storm shield aloft as one of the terminators rains bolts on the lead armiger.
The armiger is put off by the hail of bolts but manages to burst off several shells at your First Captain, splashing against his storm shield and chipping away at his Terminator Armour but failing to slow your hardy Brother.

The cyclone launcher is a powerful weapon, bombarding the second Armiger walker and tearing chunks from its frame. However it does not put the thing down and its fusilade of fire chews into the armour of the two Terminators charging at it. Sergeant Daveron and Brother Harkon suffer damage from the heavy autocannon shells but not enough to put them down.

Chapter Master charges at the last Armiger, Ironhaunt crackling in hand as bolts strike the whirring walker. Your venerable Gladius makes it harder for the Armiger to draw a bead, its gun firing wildly as bolts strike the targeting cameras and Ironhaunt makes its servos stutter and spasm. However a big charging target like Chapter Master is hard to miss completely and grazing hits reverberate through his armour.
(23+10 (ironhaunt) = 33 vs 46).
>Chapter Master health: 67%

The clumsy servitors fall one by one under the sharp shots of Turiel and Kurt, stalker bolt shells smashing them apart. Before you reach close combat range a dozen of them are down.

The Questoris pattern knight is having trouble. Its rapid fire cannon looses one wildly inaccurate shell before the weapon whines and clunks with bangs like explosions, jammed up.
The stormtroopers take the opportunity to press their attack, but the Questoris labours into them with its machine gun and stomps with its feet, crushing men underfoot as it tries to unjam its weapon.

Roll
>1d100 for Chapter Master WS (52)
>1d100 for Brethorius WS (77)
>2d100 for Daveron and Harkon's WS (45 and 40)
>1d100 for Kurt/Turiel

I am rolling for
>Armiger 1 (WS 40)
>Armiger 2 and 3 (WS 35)
>Servitors (WS 30)

While your men have the skill advantage over the Armigers, their enormous chainswords will do far more damage.
>>
Rolled 94 (1d100)

>>5557514
>>1d100 for Brethorius WS (77)
>>
Rolled 93 (1d100)

>>5557524
>1d100 for Kurt/Turiel
My rolls are garbage today holy fuck
>>
>>5557524
>>5557528
>>
File: Hull_worried.jpg (93 KB, 557x578)
93 KB
93 KB JPG
>>5557514
>>1d100 for Chapter Master WS (52)
>>
File: Heavy_Losses.jpg (84 KB, 558x744)
84 KB
84 KB JPG
>>5557546
>>5557546
>1d100 for Chapter Master WS (52)
>>
Rolled 57, 1, 46 = 104 (3d100)

>>5557546
>>5557552
>>5557514
Fuck it I'll do it.
>1d100 for Chapter Master WS (52)
>2d100 for Daveron and Harkon's WS (45 and 40)
>>
File: Terminator Charging.jpg (815 KB, 1200x850)
815 KB
815 KB JPG
Rolled 28 (1d100)

>>5557524
>>5557528
>>5557554
Brethorius:
>2 DoF versus 1 DoS
Chapter Master:
>Minor Failure vs 4 DoF (+ 1 DoF for Ironaunt)
Daveron/Harkon
>4 DoS + Minor Fail vs 2 DoF + Cyclone damage

The Armiger walkers are savage and dangerous in the hands of inexperienced but determined pilots, their enormous Chainblades swinging and slicing around and threatening to shred you and your men apart despite your thick armour.
Sparks fly as power swords and power fists clash against chainblades, and the remaining Servitors are gunned down by your supporting terminators and the Shadow Guard.

Sergeant Daveron is one of your most Veteran marines, serving since the original founding, and he proves why when he severs the chainblade from the Armiger walker before he and Harkon bring it down.

Chapter Master's foe fares no better, Ironhaunt worsening the already unsteady and inexperienced actions of the pilot as it flails and swipes with its deadly chainblade. After trading powerful blows back and forth, Chapter Master lets off a snapshot with the Star of Macragge that puts the large walker off-balance before a forceful strike with Ironhaunt to the core of the machine sending bolts of electricity through the chassis, frying the pilot within.

Brethorius it seems has encountered the most skilled and dangerous pilot, who lunges at the charging Terminator
>Fools! You've ruined everything!
The Armiger screams angrily, its chainblade battering against Brethorius' storm shield again and again, furiously battering your First Captain as he struggles to bring Gatebreaker to bear.

Roll d100 for Brethorius' toughness (110 - 30 = 80)

I am rolling 1d100 for the Questoris
>>
Rolled 70 (1d100)

>>5557568
>Roll d100 for Brethorius' toughness (110 - 30 = 80)
>>
I believe in Y's next roll.
>>
File: Chapter Symbol.jpg (205 KB, 1560x1504)
205 KB
205 KB JPG
>>5557573
>>5557568
As you and your Brothers take apart the other Armigers, the leader pummels Brethorius' storm shield ruthlessly, roaring in frustrated anger until finally your First Captain's shield shatters and a mighty swipe of the chainfist sends the terminator hurling across the sand.
>Argh!
Your Brother has taken a vicious wound, his armour torn open around the midriff. He's out of this fight but you know it's nothing that can keep Brethorius down for long - though it couild've torn a lesser marine in two.
The lead Armiger takes a moment to look at you and his fallen comrades before turning and running towards the treeline, servo legs whirring and pumping across the sand.

The Questoris unjams his gun as he continues to stride across the sandy beach, his enormous feet digging into the sand and hampering his movement as he continues to gun down valiant stormtroopers who attempt to clamp grenades to his legs and fire at his joints. The enormous Knight has the Chimera in range, but his leader has fled, and the approaching roar of Thunderhawks in the air is unmistakable.

+Session Over+

Thanks for playing guys, good to see old friends again. There may be some minor continuation tomorrow but the next proper session is planned for Saturday next week.
>>
>>5557583
AVE Luigi and Lyk. Good to be among friends again
>>
File: Knight.jpg (149 KB, 620x1000)
149 KB
149 KB JPG
The colossal knight ignores the troopers at his feet, training his battle cannon on the Chimera now that he is within a good range. The lethal gun tracks the Chimera, cogitators calculating target lead and arc. You know that at his current range and with time to aim, the Knight has a very good chance of striking his target and the Chimera transport will be torn open like a tin can if his shells strike true.

Nevertheless the Knight pauses, as the lead Armiger runs towards the jungle edge and Thunderhawks approach in the distance.

>Cease Fire! Let him go! We parlay or I will destroy the vehicle!
The Knight roars with loudhailers far more thunderous than the smaller Armiger
>You have five seconds!

Do you do as the Knight requests?
>>
>>5559329
The Knight roars with loudhailers far more thunderous than the smaller Armiger
>You have five seconds!

Do you do as the Knight requests?

yes and no...

yes as in cease fighting

while using the time to
a) get the chimera somewhere safer
and
b) use the time to ready more troops (man Droppods etc dont make it obvious to the knights what we do)
>>
>>5559347
The Knight will not hold fire if his bargaining chip continues to flee. However your imminent Thunderhawk arrival puts him in a position where if he opens fire he will certainly be destroyed shortly afterwards.
>>
>>5559329
We'll talk.
And demand and explanation for what the hell is going on and why we shouldn't glass his entire knight house from orbit.
Charming CM time is over.
>>
>>5559383
>>5559383
agreed
>>
File: knight firing.jpg (101 KB, 716x543)
101 KB
101 KB JPG
>>5559347
>>5559383
>>5559397
A suddenly as it began, the cacophany of gunfire and whirring servos dies down. The Chimera rumbles to a halt on the sand, the Knight's cannon trained threateningly upon and his colossal chainsword rumbling as the stormtroopers retreat and your marines spread out. The remaining Armiger flees into the thick jungle, disappearing from sight within seconds.

>Hold your fire!
The Knight demands as your Thunderhawk squadron circles overhead, their powerful weapons able to spell doom for him if he breaks the ceasefire.
You demand the Knight explain himself and after a long pause, the might machine's loudhailers start to speak in a calmer tone.

>I am Sir Arredan Khymere. Freeblade of ten years. I was hired to aid in the overthrow of this Styrian vassal in the name of the Imperium. Yet here I find the God-Emperor's Astartes aiding the enemy?

The Knight sounds perplexed and angry.

How do you respond?
>>
>>5559410
>>I am Sir Arredan Khymere. Freeblade of ten years. I was hired to aid in the overthrow of this Styrian vassal in the name of the Imperium. Yet here I find the God-Emperor's Astartes aiding the enemy?
>The Knight sounds perplexed and angry.

Run that name through our cogitators, see if anything comes up. Especially the family name.

Answer:
Aiding the enemy? Are you not aware we are at the helm of a crusade to reclaim the whole subsector? How excatly does that make us *aid* these heretics?

*Pause*
Oh, you mean this planet? I am sorry, i have multiple others to worry about aswell. Details on how to resolve internal struggles have to come later... or we might loose the overall goal
>>
>>5559421
Kek
>>5559410
Let's try a less cunty alternative:
The planet has already been freed, knight. You're talking to the man who leads the crusade which will not just liberate this planet but also this entire sector.
All you did here was interrupt the negotiations for Santron's terms of surrender.
>>
File: Knight pilot.jpg (116 KB, 1024x1024)
116 KB
116 KB JPG
>>5559421
>>5559434
Imperial records show that House Khymere is an esteemed Knightly House based on the world of Surtr's Wake in Segmentum Ultima.

There is a long silence from the enormous frame of the Knight after you say your piece.

>They have surrendered Brohmidae to the Imperium?
Arredan's chainsword slowly stops whirring though he keeps his cannon trained.
>A Crusade in the name of the God-Emperor? If you speak truly, I would join your Crusade for a fitting tribute.
The Knight's enormous chainsword revs menacingly.
>The only alternative is a duel of honour, and let the God-Emperor decide the truth of things! Make a decision, or I will destroy the traitor Governor and go to my ancestors in glory!
Flames burst from the Knight's exhausts.

What do you do?

>Fitting tribute (50W or a promise of a Fiefdom for him to rule on one of the planets reclaimed by the Crusade)
>Duel of honour between Sir Arredan and Chapter Master (or a nominated champion)
>Break the ceasefire and open fire with everything you have
>Other?
>>
>>5559464
Noone has surrendered anything to anyone, you disrupted the negotiations before they even started, but his terms for returning to the rightful rulers of this place were the reason for the meeting, yes.

(Can we send him some sort of proof of the crusade, maybe previous engagements, however nothing detailed about the tactical disposition or strength)

>i am for tribute, no reason to not grow our forces, ofc we should consult with the others like engels. They have attacked us, after all, even if in error.
>>
File: HuLL_Asking_Nicely.gif (864 KB, 520x330)
864 KB
864 KB GIF
>>5559464
>>A Crusade in the name of the God-Emperor? If you speak truly, I would join your Crusade for a fitting tribute.
A tribute? You attacked the leader of a Crusade consecrated in the Emperor's own name by the highest representatives of the Adeptus Ministorum and ask for tribute?
You have besmirched your own honour with behaviour that borders on heresy, behaviour that only serves the very heretics you claim to fight against. If you wish to reclaim your honour by washing away the stain of dishonour with the blood of the emperor's enemies I am willing to give you a chance to do so and maybe a chance to claim even more than just honour for yourself in the coming battles.
But if you continue to insist on attacking the man responsible for the liberation of this sector from the foul clutches of the triarchy you will sign the death warrant of not just yourself but all of your subordinates who follow your lead.
Honour duels are held between honorable men so that their kin can put a matter at rest knowing that the Emperor has made his choice.
Do you think attacking a grandson of the Emperor chosen by him to purge the filth from this sector left your honour intact enough to duel that very man?
>>
>>5559464
>Imperial records show that House Khymere is an esteemed Knightly House based on the world of Surtr's Wake in Segmentum Ultima.
forgot that:
does the heraldry match? or is he full freelance? Has he travelled to the triachy on his own, or was his great-grandfaather partf of this subsectors inhabitants back when there was an imperial presence?

And yes, i want to ask him
>>
>>5559479
>>5559470
The Knight's tensions are inflamed as you confront him directly.
>Do not spurn my honour, Astartes! I have encountered renegades of your brotherhood across the stars. Your armour and insignia is no guarantee that you serve Him on Terra!
Arredan's chainsword revs again but he takes some time to think.
>If your Crusade is truly in His Name then I will be earning my glory at the forefront whenever possible. My deeds will be worthy of claim, if I survive them.

>>5559490
He is in the colours of an independent Freeblade and House Khymere has no known history in Subsector Mortis.
>Since I took my oath I have travelled around the galactic rim aiding the Imperial cause wherever I can.
Arredan boasts.
>>
Hi everyone!
>>
>>5559495
Before I answer, what is the status of the 2 armigers we took out?
How fucked are they?
>>
>>5559506
Hi tigger!
>>
>>5559513
The two destroyed Armigers are severely damaged, possibly irreparably. However they look like they have been assembled from a variety of pieces with different colours and degrees of wear.
They do not match Arredan's livery, not did the one that escaped, who was the one speaking and giving orders when the walkers first emerged.
>>
>>5559495
>>If your Crusade is truly in His Name then I will be earning my glory at the forefront whenever possible. My deeds will be worthy of claim, if I survive them.
It is and whatever might have driven you to attack a servant of the God-emperor the one thing I cannot doubt is the bravery you and your men have shown in battle.
Let us end this needless conflict, your men may have fought bravely. They may have fallen but their knights can yet be saved to serve you and thus the Emperor again.
>>
>>5559529
>Let us end this needless conflict, your men have fought bravely and they may have fallen, but their knights can yet be saved to serve you and thus the Emperor again.
fixed
>>
File: Raven Guard armour.png (1.86 MB, 952x1566)
1.86 MB
1.86 MB PNG
>>5559529
There's a long silence as Sir Arredan contemplates your words, until finally his chainblade stops revving.
>The terms are acceptable. I will earn a claim of land in your Crusade and bring glory to the God-Emperor and my name. I have your word?
The Knight looks towards the fallen Armigers as you refer to them.
>They were not mine. They were henchmen of the man who hired me. The one who fled. Those scrap pieces were already in his possession.

Recruited for the Crusade: Sir Arredan Kymere, Freeblade Questoris Knight.

+ Mini-Session over. We plan to continue this Saturday at ~7pm GMT +
>>
>>5559556
>>The terms are acceptable. I will earn a claim of land in your Crusade and bring glory to the God-Emperor and my name. I have your word?
You do. I or my successor, should the Emperor see fit to end my service in death, will see you rewarded for your service according to your deeds in battle.
>>They were not mine. They were henchmen of the man who hired me. The one who fled. Those scrap pieces were already in his possession.
The man who hired you? Maybe the reason an honourable man such as you was driven to acts such as these is more complex than either of us believed.
Who is this man who dared to use you like that?
I'll make sure he won't breathe to boast about his deceit.
>>
>>5559521
>The two destroyed Armigers are severely damaged, possibly irreparably.
Make sure we recover them, if nothing else then for parts, if our new friend doesn't.
>>
File: victorious.jpg (122 KB, 753x1000)
122 KB
122 KB JPG
+++Restarting Session+++

Some hours later, Chapter Master, now bandaged and rested after the battle, meets Lord Santron again.
> Chapter Master, I must thank you greatly for your timely intervention to save my life. If not for you, Brohmidae would now be torn in a brutal civil war, yet your wise actions prevented this outcome. I can only express my gratitude and ask for your permission to officially rejoin the Imperium of Man at the soonest possible notice. Also, while I still fear for the safety of my planet, instead of two cruisers, we would be happy with one cruiser and some escorts as our protection for the duration of the Crusade. May the Emperor bless you!

Finally, it appears that Brohmidae is ready to rejoin the Imperium, another important victory for the Crusade. Do you accept the proposal? What are your further actions?
>>
>>5564614
That sounds like a fair offer to me. Logistics traffic is going to be coming through this system anyway and we need to keep our convoys defended so having ships posted here serves dual purpose.

>Thank you Lord Santron. Your gratitude should go to Canoness Engel.

Then what does Sir Arredan know about whoever employed him? As per >>5559574

Maybe not something that requires immediate intervention but Lord Santron needs to keep his position secure.
>>
>>5564614
>Do you accept the proposal?
Yes a forward base doesn't hurt, also does he have an heir?
>>
>>5564618
>>5564624

>Indeed, indeed, yet you were the ones who defeated the attackers and... made the deal with the Knight. I will make arrangements for the Crusaders to be greeted in a massive celebration. It will take a few weeks to organise, but it will be a spectacular affair!

Decision: Shall Crusaders (general troops) be allowed to disembark on Brohmidae for rest and celebration?
a) Yes, they are allowed to stay for the full festival period and recover from the gruelling warp travel [major morale boost, Crusade will stay in Brohmidae for 3 months]
b) Yes, but only for the festival [minor morale boost, Crusade is delayed by 1 month]
c) No, there are other worlds to liberate

Sir Arredan discloses that his former master, who has now fled was one of the children of the Lord Santron himself, eldest son and heir apparent, High-Prince Vixanden Santron.

Do you:
a) Leave a force of Astartes to guard Eckar Santron and hunt down his rogue son (minimum squad, maximum 5 squads), roll for success on an annual basis, every extra squad increases probability of success by +15% from baseline 35% for one squad.
b) Inform Eckar Santron, but leave the internal matter for him to handle
c) Don't inform him, let the strongest survive...
>>
>>5564624
>also does he have an heir?
>>5564643
>Sir Arredan discloses that his former master, who has now fled was one of the children of the Lord Santron himself, eldest son and heir apparent,
>eldest son and heir apparent,
I am very smart.
>>
>>5564643
>a) Yes, they are allowed to stay for the full festival period and recover from the gruelling warp travel [major morale boost, Crusade will stay in Brohmidae for 3 months]
Make sure to drill into their heads that we're here to win hearts and minds, be harsh idiots fucking with the local populace, liberators and not conquerors etc.
>a) Leave a force of Astartes to guard Eckar Santron and hunt down his rogue son (minimum squad, maximum 5 squads), roll for success on an annual basis, every extra squad increases probability of success by +15% from baseline 35% for one squad.
I'd say 2-3 squads + 2 revenants.
>>
File: Styrian Crusade.png (651 KB, 681x629)
651 KB
651 KB PNG
>>5564643
>c) No, there are other worlds to liberate
Our ground forces in Mortis haven't engaged in any combat yet and we don't want to give the Styrians more time to coordinate and plan a counteroffensive.

>b) Inform Eckar Santron, but leave the internal matter for him to handle
Can we leave Punisher Squad to help? imho they should be more useful for hunting that kind of dissident effort


See the map for our current status within Subsector Mortis.

We have an open route straight into the core of the Styrian Triarchy. However D'Anger says they are recalling units into the core.

The way I see it we have two main options

1. Head straight into the core worlds of the Subsector. Smash against the concentration of Triarchy forces. Likely to resolve the Crusade in the shortest amount of time but likely the highest potential losses.

2. Consolidate. Focus on securing our Subsector beachhead. Ensure the logistic trains from Arkbard -> Stranx -> Brohmidae are secure.
Send some Viper-class Sloops to scout out Serakis and Movrodia to see what the situation is like there. If we can pacify or at least control the void in those systems it would make it much much harder for the Styrian fleet to flank us right?
>>
>>5564655
If we go with Option 2 I can see some scope for giving troops time on Brohmidae, on a rotational basis, as per >>5564652 's reasoning.
>>
>>5564657
I'm fine with option C as well
>>5564655
>Can we leave Punisher Squad to help? imho they should be more useful for hunting that kind of dissident effort
Sounds good
>>
>>5564643
>>Do not spurn my honour, Astartes! I have encountered renegades of your brotherhood across the stars. Your armour and insignia is no guarantee that you serve Him on Terra!
Wait a second here
we should ask him where and when he found our wayward brothers.
And given how he talks about them, what they were actually doing
(or have we met him before?)
>>
>>5564661
>I'm fine with option C as well
If we go for
>1. Head straight into the core worlds of the Subsector. Smash against the concentration of Triarchy forces. Likely to resolve the Crusade in the shortest amount of time but likely the highest potential losses.
At least.
Do we have free reign on that or do we need to coordinate with other members of the crusade leadership?
>>
>>5564662
>we should ask him where and when he found our wayward brothers.
He may be generalizing and talking about our cousins
>>
>>5564643
Ask Santron about the Triachy religion.

If its Chaos-related, there is a good chance the triachy leaders see their chances and try to flee to the mini-eye into the warp

a>send a squad or 3
As i dont completly trust the governour i vote to send some marines and probably some higher ranking (either marines or normal) as advisors who help coordinating while latched into the power system so much they might see treason soon-ish or prevent it by simply being there


no delay
>>
>>5564643
>eldest son and heir apparent
Since he seems to have other sons, can we take the most promising of them with us on the crusade, attach him to a commander we trust and give him a chance to prove himself in battle?
Would bind him to us, mark him as an eternal enemy of the triarchy and its successors (should any rise up again) and ensure he seeks our protection in times of crisis.
I call it: Operation Groomer.
>>
>>5564643
furthermore ask the other crusade leaders (engel etc) what they think the fate of bromidae shoud be, how to handle the governorship.
I.e. IF they are ok with leaving the current governour who worked with the triachy in charge for now.
>>
>>5564676
>Since he seems to have other sons, can we take the most promising of them with us on the crusade, attach him to a commander we trust and give him a chance to prove himself in battle?

Not a bad idea, could also use that to give him (or her) valueable insights in imperial faith as well a basic understanding of whats required of an imperial governour. I bet they have gotten a more Styrian teaching so far.

(ofc if want to take the heir to a combat zone, we might aswell take 3-4 heirs with us.... just in case we need a spare)
>>
>>5564680
>(ofc if want to take the heir to a combat zone, we might aswell take 3-4 heirs with us.... just in case we need a spare)
Good idea.
>>
File: Subsector Mortis1.png (272 KB, 419x350)
272 KB
272 KB PNG
+Styrian Crusade+

Once the Imperial Navy has secured the system, materiel and personnel flood into the Brohmidae system as convoys of Naval transports funnel in. The reinforcements from Kruun are also shortly to arrive. Giving you the current forces at your disposal:

Available Naval Forces:
>GoR - Chapter Fleet
>Imperial Navy - 1 Orbital Assault Ship; 1 Battleship; 4 Cruisers; 4 Light Cruisers; 10 Escort Squadrons
>SoB - 2 Light Cruisers

Naval Forces committed to convoy defence:
>Imperial Navy - 1 Battlecruiser; 3 Cruisers; 4 Light Cruisers; 10 Escort Squadrons

Vanguard Ground Forces:
>GoR - Entire Chapter minus 2nd and 7th companies
>Raven Guard - 2 Companies
>SoB - 10,000 Battle Sisters
>Nestorum - 10 Legions (~50,000 Skitarii)

Imperial Guard:
Currently around 100 fighting regiments are within the Brohmidae system while another 100 are in transit and 200 are still within Arkbard. 25 more regiments arrive every two weeks. Each Regiment averages ~10,000 personnel.

The vangaurd forces are capable of smashing defences and claiming critical targets with speed and precision, and able to take on many times their own number in enemy forces. However any combat that gets bogged down into attrition or large scales (ie conflict across an entire planet or even just continent) will simply not be winnable without sufficient Imperial Guard support.
Any planet that has a large population willing to put up a fight will need substantial Imperial Guard forces to handle.

You currently have a few primary options
>1. Immediate push into the core worlds with current available strength
>2. Immediate assault towards Serakis or Movrodia, or both at the same time with split forces
>3. Consolidate forces in Brohmidae until more/all Imperial Guard forces can be transported in.

continued.
>>
File: Amelia Engel.jpg (120 KB, 800x728)
120 KB
120 KB JPG
You assemble your Crusade Council and they give you their thoughts

Admiral Amos Hefin
>We should secure our logistics convoys, devote more ships to keeping them safe until we have ensure the majority of the Crusade forces are within Brohmidae and available to take the fight to the next world. I would recommend we dispatch scouts and patrol groups to Serakis and Movrodia to assess the strength of the Styrian fleet and forces in those regions.
Hefin's response is cautious and focused on minimising losses.

Canoness Amelia Engel
>We need more troops before we can push towards the core however we should not sit on our laurels. Missionary convoys should be prioritised so we can preach the Imperial Faith to Brohmidae. If we can rally the population here to the Imperial faith that would be a tremendous source of troops for the Crusade. We should also consider launching offensives on Serakis or Movrodia with the vanguard forces and currently available Imperial Guard forces. Strike fast and bring them into the Crusade's fold as well.
Engel's plan is a gambit. Imperial Guard reinforcements will be reduced to 15 per week but there is a chance of raising troops from Brohmidae, perhaps in far greater numbers. Furthermore risking your vanguard forces on Serakis and/or Movrodia could deplete them prematurely, or may be successful in swiftly claiming more territory and helping keep your flanks secure.

Lord General Drakkon Ursus
>Now is the time to strike. Cut straight into the core of Styria and pressure their forces before they have a chance to further fortify. Bring the transport convoys straight into the battlezone to reinforce our soldiers. The Styrian's defences will falter and it is at those points of opportunity that our vanguard forces should strike, in the midst of the Imperial Guard offensive.
Drakkon's strategy is not unsound but it will maximise Imperial Guard and convoy casualties, and earn the Imperial Guard the most glory in the process as it undertakes the bulk of the offence.

What do you do?
>Luigi's thoughts: Generally agree with Hefin
>>
>>5564692
>25 more regiments arrive every two weeks
*every week
>>
>>5564692
What's the current role of Serakis and Movrodia in the Triarchy? How important are they as targets?
>>
>>5564697
Who and What?
>>
>>5564694
I think we could combine some of Engel's take with Hefin's.
Stick around for a while, celebrate, proselytize, fortify, maybe set up a schola progenium.
>>
>>5564655
>>5564652
Punisher Squad would work fine as a substitute for 2 normal Astartes squads due to their greater experience with investigative matters.

3 squads + Punisher Squad will have a 95% chance to track down the failed usurper within a year.

>>5564673
On Santron's orders, his secret police is already arresting and rounding up all Styrians who were stuck on Brohmidae at the time of your arrival. Among them are many priests.

Roll a d100
>>
>>5564718
>3 squads + Punisher Squad will have a 95% chance to track down the failed usurper within a year.
I would support leaving Punisher Squad and three squads from 8th Company.
>>
Rolled 69 (1d100)

>>5564718
AS PER DEMANDS OF SKARGAN. I BROTHER-SALT SHALL ROLLIOIO
>>
>>5564718
>Among them are many priests
Between them and Satharia
>https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/2021/4621024/#p4621122
We could get a good rundown on their society.
>>
File: unknown forces.jpg (56 KB, 385x650)
56 KB
56 KB JPG
>>5564724
[Partial success]
After questioning Santron and cooperative, yet fearful, court scholars knowledgeable about Bahal'din'Murr, you are able to ascertain that general teachings of their religion are heretical, yet not directly related to the Ruinous Powers.

However, there are many references to hidden theology, essentially a higher set of hidden beliefs that have on tangential relationship to what is taught in the temples to the common people.

Furthermore, it appears that the priests of Bahal'din'Murr are at least somewhat familiar with sorcery of some sort - your agents find many smashed intricate devices that might have been used for communication, divination or some other purpose. Some priests, under torture, speak of Cosmic Harmonies and how Bahaldin opens them for humans to use.

Canoness Engel expresses her opinion that in worst case, the twin faced man (the most common depiction of Bahal'din) might be a strange avatar of the Chaos God Tzeentch.

However, the link is not yet confirmed for sure.
>>
>>5564718
I think other queries for Santron were
>Does he have any promising children we give a minor command position within the crusade forces?
and
>Are the other crusade council members happy with him running Brohmidae

>>5564727
Ahhh Styrian Sorcery confirmed. Have we noticed any unusual levels of mutation in styrians found thus far?
>>
>>5564730
>>5564718
Yes and we should ask Santron about Movrodia and Serakis.

Planetary generation time?
>>
>>5564727
can we use the "hidden beliefs" to drive a wedge between the basic level and the higher ups in the religion
i.e. you practice what you pretend to condemn or something?
>>
>>5564730
>>5564680
>>5564682
Most likely other heir would be 'Duke of the Lower Mines' Davidius Santron (youngest son), who has direct oversight of the Santron Dynasty's vast moon-based mines. He strives to impress his distant, bitter father by increasing the output of the mines as much as possible. Though his efforts are held back by his weakness for the welfare of the abhuman population that perform the most menial and dangerous tasks in the mines. Old Santron himself didn't value him much throughout his life, but now that you reveal to him the extent of Vixanden's treachery, he is conflicted about letting Davidius go.

Roll d6:
1-3. Davidius Santron departs with you willingly
4. Davidius Santron is ordered by his father to accompany you
5. Davidius Santron, distressed by the situation, renounces his claim to being an heir
6. Eckar Santron refuses letting Davidius go, concerned about his welfare
>>5564677
Drakkon Ursus is the only one to express a strong opinion:
>I think we should keep the old man in power for the time being, but we cannot forget that he's a traitor at the core and betrayed Imperium once already. We should mark him and his heirs for eventual execution and installation of a loyal Imperial governor, to be decided by the Lord Governor Belisarius. Yet, this should remain a secret for the time being.
You also strongly suspect that any cleaning up action in the planet will be done by his own Imperial Guard troops, which will most likely give him a lot of leverage over the appointment of the next governor or at least informal power in the planet.
>>
>>5564694
can we have some more intel.
i.e. do some scouting to Serakis and Movrodia

if the claim by D'Artagan is true the Styrians mass their fleet in the core sectors, either to strike at a weakend scout fleet
(a scenario we could use to ambush them, send a smallish warparty have some big hitters in the backhand)

or they try to defend their core at the expense of the periphery in which case getting the periphery to gain a better understandig of their everything as well as weakening their power might be a good idea.
so scout and send a smallish force while holding a large unit on standby

IIRC the projected strength left to the triachy fleet is not too big, right
>>
Rolled 3 (1d6)

>>5564751
>Roll d6:
>1-3. Davidius Santron departs with you willingly
>4. Davidius Santron is ordered by his father to accompany you
>5. Davidius Santron, distressed by the situation, renounces his claim to being an heir
>6. Eckar Santron refuses letting Davidius go, concerned about his welfare
>>
>>5564755
He a good boy.
>>
>>5564730
>any unusual levels of mutation in styrians
No, that does not appear to be the case. Prisoner Styrians are generally well-fed, healthy, well-educated and otherwise proper humans, surpassing most native Brohmidans in quality. However, you must bear that most of Styrians living in Brohmidae were Triarchy's appointed civil servants and supervisors from the middle and upper classes.

>>5564736
>>5564739
>drive a wedge between the basic level and the higher ups
This could indeed be a good tactic to launch a psychological warfare campaign if you would have a spare decade. In the course of the Crusade it will most likely won't be useful, because you don't have any realistic access to the information channels of the Styrian society and spreading these news in Brohmidae itself would not have much purpose, as it doesn't seem to have been a highly devout world.

>>5564736
>>5564754
>Serakis and Movrodia

In archives of Brohmidae you collect a lot of information about these worlds, as it mostly used to be public knowledge.

Serrakis appears to be a frozen planet with unpredictable weather patterns, especially notable for its massive blizzards that cover the planet that cease for only a short period of a few months called the Calm which happens roughly every two years. Most of the planetary population is concentrated in three cities - Ardea, Dorog and Ranka, all of them are notable for being mostly underground or heavily covered to resist the extreme weather conditions. Serrakis is known for it's ancient power generators, gas and ore mining and industrial capacity. Serrakis was one of the few Triarchy's planets that joined through conversion, when series of Serrakian Miracles were performed by Prophet Murr herself there. It's one of the best integrated worlds in the Triarchy, with loyalty of around 88%.


Movrodia is notable for being an early-stage hive planet, where most of the industrial power and population is concentrated in Movrodia Prime - massive urban sprawl that cover entirety of a small north-western continent. The rest of the planet is mostly covered in sparsely populated jungles. Also has problems with Ork infestation which has been growing worse over the past few decades. Movrodia is an old Triarchy's vassal world, but it was brought into Triarchy by force and initially resisted it, but since then it has grown prosperous under Styrian management than it has even been under Imperium, making for a complicated relationship. Population is expected to be around 70% loyal to the Triarchy.
>>
>>5564778
Thanks for the information Skargan.

I'd say we need more up-to-date information on the military status of Serrakis and Movrodia.

>Population size
>Styrian/Naval defences in the system (high priority for scouting)
>Ground forces (lower priority for scouting)

Question Santron, the Styrian Priests, and Satharia for this information if possible.

Assuming they don't tell us everything we need. Then I would say Admiral Hefin arranges scouting misssions. Viper-class Sloops.

Based on current information. I think Serrakis would be a better target to focus on for its religious significance to the Triarchy and lack of orks. I fear that invading Movrodia at this point could inspire an ork waagh.
Furthermore, the way Serrakis is described at present indicates that it can't project much power from the surface. Therefore it's mostly a case of dealing with any fleet assets. Dealing with the Styrians on the ground can be solved much much later, after the crusade even.

Agreed? Yes/No?
>>
>>5564790
>>5564778
Oh and when was the last 'Calm' on Serrakis.
>>
>>5564790
>Agreed? Yes/No?
Yes

>massive blizzards that cover the planet that cease for only a short period of a few months called the Calm which happens roughly every two year

we wouldnt happen to get a prediction when the next "Calm" is approximately.
>>
>>5564778
>Serrakis appears to be a frozen planet
Arrakis but cold.
>>5564790
Make sure to check for strange substances in the snow once we got there.
>>
>>5564790
Population rolls:

Serrakis: 200 +1d100 million
Movrodia: 2 billion +1d10 (x100) million

>Styrian/Naval defences in the systems

Assign what assets you send to scout if it's recon in force (or just use Viper-class Sloops, if no special taskforce) and roll 2d100 for Serrakis and 2d100 for Movrodia. 1st roll is for Intel, 2nd roll is for their counter defences.

>Ground forces (lower priority for scouting)
Impossible to assess without approaching the planets up close.

>>5564809
Next Calm on Serrakis will start in 1d20 months.
>>
Rolled 100 (1d100)

>>5564834
>Serrakis: 200 +1d100 million
>>
Rolled 3 (1d10)

>>5564834
>Movrodia: 2 billion +1d10 (x100) million
>>
Rolled 2 (1d20)

>>5564834
>recon in force (or just use Viper-class Sloops, if no special taskforce)
I would say each 'recon force' is a light cruiser + escort squadron that loiters at the system edge while a pair of viper-class sloops go in and do the actual scouting.
The support group is there to react against any tail-chase attempts on our Sloops.
Agreed?

>Next Calm on Serrakis will start in 1d20 months.
>>
I'll be heading to sleep now, but I leave you in Luigi's strong, capable, hairy arms now.

>>5564839
Wow, next Calm is almost upon us! Just 2 months left.

Treat scouting rolls as follows:

Counter effects:
- 1-45 No effect
- 46 - 85 Clarity of information reduced
- 86+ Scouting force destroyed

Defence force roll:
1 - 30 No or minor fleet presence and defences
31 - 70 Medium fleet presence and defences
71 - 100 Major fleet presence and defences

+++

Have a good night guys!
>>
Rolled 20, 37 = 57 (2d100)

Serrakis 2d100.
>>
>>5564834
Movrodia 2d100
>>
File: Rolled 100 (1d100).png (678 KB, 778x661)
678 KB
678 KB PNG
Rolled 14 (1d100)

>>5564853
>>
Rolled 42 (1d100)

>>5564855
And the second one for Movrodia
>>
File: Transport Ship.jpg (69 KB, 700x525)
69 KB
69 KB JPG
>>5564835
>>5564838
Population:
Serrakis: 300 million
Movrodia: 2.3 billion

+Scouting Missions+

>>5564847
>Serrakis
Intel: 20 - No or minor fleet presence and defences
Counter: 37 - No effect

>>5564855
>>5564856
>Movrodia
Intel: 14 - No or minor fleet presence and defences
Counter: 42 - No effect

It looks like D'Anger's intelligence was solid and the Styrian Navy has practically abandoned the peripheries already. Neither Serrakis or Movrodia play host to serious Naval forces such as capital ships or escort flotillas.

Thanks to its high population and level of industrial development, Movrodia does play host to a large number of defence platforms and other orbital defences around the planet itself and dispersed through the system, as well as a number of defence monitors and system ship squadrons.

Serrakis meanwhile has even less in the way of Naval defence. A token armed station above the planet itself and a small group of defence monitors to police the system.

Admiral Hefin appraises the situation as both good and bad news.
>On the one hand, Warmaster, it does mean we could lay Naval claim to the systems with relative ease. Even both at the same time. Committing parts of our available fleet forces to the Movrodia and Serrakis systems would help secure our flanks and logistical lines. Say, one cruiser, one light cruiser, and two escort squadrons to each system. It would severely limit the speed with which the Styrian Navy could manoeuvre around us, and ensure that all four million guardsmen are brought into the system promptly and securely.
>On the other hand this means it is almost certain that the Styrians have amassed their entire remaining naval power within the core of their empire. And posting ships to Serrakis and Movrodia will make us less defended here on Brohmidae, should they attempt a mass counter-offensive with their Navy.

We'll call the session here tonight and I will be writing up full information for Serrakis and Movrodia tommorrow.

Thanks! And have a good night.
>>
>>5564697
Based schizo
>>
File: Cetaecus class ships.jpg (555 KB, 1721x1297)
555 KB
555 KB JPG
Full information:
>chapterquest.fandom.com/wiki/Serakis
>chapterquest.fandom.com/wiki/Movrodia

In light of the results of the scouting missions, your council has more thoughts.

Admiral Hefin
>This is excellent news Warmaster. We can dispatch two Naval task forces to the Serakis and Movrodia systems immediately, to secure the void and limit the Styrians' fleet movements. We need not worry about the planets themselves yet. Continue to hold primary position within Brohmidae until sufficiently reinforced to assault the Styrian core.
Hefin continues to prioritise limiting the Styrians' ability to flank you however this will deplete your available offensive fleet.

Canoness Engel
>The Styrians have abandoned their vassals. We should send Naval and Ground forces to Serakis, including most of our Vanguard forces. Claim the system and besiege the planet, take advantage of The Calm that will come soon to make planetfall and crush any resistance. Smash their bastion of heresy so the rest of the Subsector knows that their heretical faith will not save them. Meanwhile other forces should remain here in Brohmidae, and my missionaries and faithful will convert the populace to the cause.
Engel proposes targeting the Subsector's morale and faith, while still pushing her agenda of converting Brohmidae to gain more support from the planet.

Lord General Drakkon Ursus
>Hmmm. The results of the scouting missions suggest the Styrians have pulled their entire fleet back into the core already. Styria, Loxomod, and Neveron. But we have no knowledge of which ones have been reinforced and by how much. They may have committed their entire fleet to one of them, or split it equally between all three. I propose an assault of all three systems simultaneously with three forces. Applying full pressure evenly on every front will expose where they are weak, where we can crush them swiftly and then regroup those forces to focus on the better defended areas.
Despite owing much of his position to nepotism, Drakkon is a solid strategist and his proposal offers a very good chance of a swift victory over the Styrian Triarchy. However splitting your forces means that whichever component is unlucky enough to encounter the 'better defended' areas will take very heavy losses until the other components regroup with them.
>>
File: Subsector Mortis1.png (240 KB, 419x350)
240 KB
240 KB PNG
>>5566078
The scouting operations take about a week to complete, giving your forces the current status:
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Available Naval Forces:
>GoR - Chapter Fleet
>Imperial Navy - 1 Orbital Assault Ship; 1 Battleship; 4 Cruisers; 4 Light Cruisers; 10 Escort Squadrons
>SoB - 2 Light Cruisers

Naval Forces committed to convoy defence:
>Imperial Navy - 1 Battlecruiser; 3 Cruisers; 4 Light Cruisers; 10 Escort Squadrons

Vanguard Ground Forces:
>GoR - Entire Chapter minus 2nd and 7th companies
>Raven Guard - 2 Companies
>SoB - 10,000 Battle Sisters
>Nestorum - 1 Titan Legion; 10 Skitarii Legions (~50,000 Skitarii)

Imperial Guard:
>Brohmidae System: 125 regiments
>Arkbard System: 175 regiments
>In transit from Arkbard -> Stranx -> Brohmidae: 100 regiments
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Propose your strategy from here, including the relevant force deployments.
>>
cool to see this is back
>>
>>5566078
I'm with Engels on this one.
>>
>>5566588
Agreed. Hit their faith and we might spur them into recklessly attacking to get it back or for vengeance. Going for the neck will result in way too much damage, better to scout it out and see what they have prepared.
>>
Rolled 62 (1d100)

>>
Rolled 9 (1d10)

Please note that the next session of CMQ is now scheduled for FRIDAY 17th February.
>>
>>5568293
*Sunday
>>
>>5566078
>>Hmmm. The results of the scouting missions suggest the Styrians have pulled their entire fleet back into the core already. Styria, Loxomod, and Neveron. But we have no knowledge of which ones have been reinforced and by how much. They may have committed their entire fleet to one of them, or split it equally between all three. I propose an assault of all three systems simultaneously with three forces. Applying full pressure evenly on every front will expose where they are weak, where we can crush them swiftly and then regroup those forces to focus on the better defended areas.
agree
targeting the morale of the subsector will only work if the Triachy allows the news to spread. Which i doubt, consolidating on seconday systems only give the triachy time to prepare. (whatever they are preparing for)

maybe scout the main systems first to see what we are up against
>>
File: Imperial Fleet.jpg (74 KB, 911x669)
74 KB
74 KB JPG
>>5566588
>>5566652
>>5574499
Based on these please select:

>Assault Serakis immediately
>Scout the core worlds of Subsector Mortis

Please select
>>
>>5574528
>>Scout the core worlds of Subsector Mortis
Scout the core worlds of Subsector Mortis
>>
>>5574528
>>Scout the core worlds of Subsector Mortis
>>
File: 1342480244806.jpg (13 KB, 300x208)
13 KB
13 KB JPG
After your victory in Brohmidae, Crusade fleet scouts and your intelligence officers are reporting that there's been a change in the mode of operation of the Styrian forces. It is clear that we managed to hurt them bad and they are now reacting to it, however it is still not clear what exactly are they doing.

Make a roll for the naval intelligence [d100]:
[1 - 23] We manage crack the pattern of new Styrian behaviour.
[24 - 58] Some of the information indicates a possible hypothesis, but it is incomplete yet.
[58 - 88] Fog of war is too thick to say for sure yet.
[89+] We may have reached some mistaken conclusions... It could cost us dearly down the line.

You can also choose to send a launch a wide-scouting manoeuvre (it would lock 3 Escort Squadrons), but you would risk losing them (d10):
[1-5] No squadrons lost
[6-7] 1 squadron lost
[8-9] 2 squadrons lost
[10] All squadrons lost.
Either way, this manoeuvre would grant you +25 bonus to your roll.
>>
>>5574629
I would vote against sending escort squadrons out on far-reaching patrols unsupported. I think it's too risky, Our strength against the triarchy fleet is our capital ships and tonnage. Unsupported escorts are vulnerable.
>>
>>5574629
Can I make a roll?
>>
>>5574649
Yes.
>>
>>5574649
If we're agreed on not risking the escort squadrons on a scouting run then sure roll the d100 for intel
>>
Rolled 14 (1d100)

>>5574629
Then I roll for intel get
>>
File: Crusade.jpg (362 KB, 898x1200)
362 KB
362 KB JPG
>>5574629
Skg here.

+++
Furthermore, the first victories of your Crusade have gained attention in the Sector and the wider Imperium. While during the preparatory phase you needed to maintain stealth and keep a low profile, now you have a chance to begin an open public relations and propaganda campaign to bolster the Crusade and gather support.

If you choose to do it, what focus would you like to take?

a) Glory and Honour, Astartes Crusade - increase the standing and notoriety of the Chapter. This will also result in your name being echoed in the great halls of Holy Terra itself. This would also inspire brothers of your Chapter. This would also colour the Crusade as being waged by the Ghosts of Retribution with the help of the mortal allies. This would mean that the time comes to rename planets, streets and such, Brohmidae might become Brethoria, etc. as you would gain the rights to the laurels and also attract glory-seeking Space Marines from other Chapters [Expected rewards: Chapter morale, Favour, glory, new traditions, possibility of new Astartes alliances and crusading marines, also claiming of planets]

b) Bread and Butter, People's War - your Chapter is but playing a small part in the great war waged by the Sector Deus, its Imperial Guard and the Navy. You will call up additional reinforcements and suggests planetary governors that they could send you additional manpower as soon as possible so that their banners join the victory parade as well. [Expected rewards: massive amounts of troops (sector-wide mobilisation in the millions), war machines, logistical support, improvement of infantry morale]

c) For Profit and Adventure, An Aristocratic Affair - you can present your crusade as more suited for the nobility and the high-classes of the Imperium to make their names and earn a return on their investment. Guilds, economic conglomerates, such as the Merchant League, also Mechanicus, Rogue Traders and others would be incited to join and provide you with support and help you take control and manage the newly taken planets. [Expected rewards: Massive influx of funds (1000+ Wealth), possibility to attract major Imperial heroes, Reputation boost, unlocking of special economy/exploration options regarding the fate of conquered planets, improvement of naval officer morale and performance]

This is a one time choice and will require at least 2 votes.
>>
>>5574660
>Bread and Butter, People's War
In my humble opinion, the Crusade should be seen as the long-overdue reunification of Sector Deus and the end to its status as a tenuous and insecure region.
We want to present the impression that Mortis is being brought back into the fold of Sector Deus where it belongs rather than being 'conquered' by an Astartes Chapter or Nobles. I think this would be best for helping ensure long-term stability in the Subsector afterwards. If the reclamation is seen as an effort undertaken by the entire Sector.
>>
File: GoR.jpg (41 KB, 400x500)
41 KB
41 KB JPG
>>5574660
>a) Glory and Honour, Astartes Crusade
Option B is probably smarter, but we definitely earned option A.
>>
>>5574660

> Bread and Butter, People's War
I agree with >>5574667 better to have this campaign be for the imperium at large rather then a specific group of players, this way it will become difficult to use the optics of this crusade against us further down the line
>>
>>5574677
>this way it will become difficult to use the optics of this crusade against us further down the line
You think they'll pull a Cicero on us?
>>
>>5574660
>For Profit and Adventure, An Aristocratic Affair
Win the war in space and we win the war on the ground. For that we need more ships and better officers, and who has ships? Everyone this attracts.
>>
File: command deck.jpg (540 KB, 840x600)
540 KB
540 KB JPG
>>5574656
[Decisive success]
Fleet Master Copernicon puts down his helmet on your table and then activates a holo-display.
>Chapter Master, as we suspected, Brohmidae was a turning-point in the first phase of our Crusade. But this is not time to pat ourselves on the back. Our victory is a lesson to our enemy and the shifty bastards are already adapting. We must than the servoheads down in the naval intelligence department for cracking the numbers of the known Styrian vessel sightings and correlating that information with whatever Tesalia D'Anger was able to provide us with. It seems they trust her less and less, but she still remains useful for the time being. Long story short, the enemy is changing their footing from seeking to defeat us in battle to harassing our supply lines with hit-and-raid tactics. They understand that we have gained a foothold now and your clever diplomacy has managed to get Brohmidae on our side as a cooperative asset, rather than a festering wound, which makes it crucial for us in terms of assuring resupply, repairs and rear support staging ground. We can expect that Styrian navy will now splinter into a number of small tactical groups which will try to intercept our transportation vessels, bait our capital ships into breaking formation and also possibly even trying to raid Imperial worlds back in the Sector Deus itself. We suspect that they will still try to defend their core worlds, but unless we penetrate straight into the dark heart of this wretched rebel empire, they will keep out of our sights and mostly try to bleed us by hitting us in the back. They do have multiple advantages here - they know these warp lanes much better than we do, they also are using those strange warp-music harmonic sorceries to their advantage and they are going to hit our ever longer supply lines to the Imperium, as Brohmidae on its own won't supply us with everything we need.
Brethorius nods while listening to Copernicon.
>Aye. So what you are saying is, they will bleed us if we wait for too long?
>Indeed. We have the initiative, but our stronger fleet advantage has now been spent and we should not expect decisive battles anytime soon, unless we force them into one somewow.
>>
>>5574679
The political movers and shakers of the imperium are many and very devious. I am looking at this from the perspective of leaning too heavily toward one faction could be used as bait for someone savvy enough to pull in a powerful paranoid figure. An example being an Inquisitor looking for heresy anywhere they can. The odds for that example are low, but it is still within the realm of possibility we are dragged into the mud down the line
>>
>>5574685
Come, Neravar, come and explain it to us in IRC instead.
https://kiwiirc.com/nextclient/irc.rizon.net/#RisingSons
>>
>>5574683
Make sure to commend the intelligence officers for this breakthrough. D'Anger too once the crusade is over.

Consult Fleet Master Copernicon and Admiral Amos Hefin.

In their opinion how much more of the fleet should we devote to rear security to effectively combat the Styrian's new tactics?

Available Naval Forces:
>GoR - Chapter Fleet
>Raven Guard - 1 Escort Squadron
>Imperial Navy - 1 Orbital Assault Ship; 1 Battleship; 3 Cruisers; 3 Light Cruisers; 10 Escort Squadrons
>SoB - 2 Light Cruisers
Naval Forces currently committed to rear security:
>Imperial Navy - 1 Battlecruiser; 4 Cruisers; 5 Light Cruisers; 10 Escort Squadrons

From the sounds of it, we may be forced to engage in a direct and immediate assault into the Styrian core worlds to prevent them bleeding us bit by bit.
In which case, we could use the reinforcements of Option B, People's Crusade.
>>
>>5574683

can we use this intel to our advantage.

i.e. drop a few convoys that seem easy pickings but vital, however they are actually far better defended than it looks (heavily armed transports etc)
>>
File: scouting run.jpg (548 KB, 600x1039)
548 KB
548 KB JPG
>>5574541
>>5574537
Scouting of the Core Worlds of Styria will be more complicated, as they will have all approaches to them heavily monitored.

I assume that you will want to scout all three worlds:
>Neveron
>Loxomod
>Styria

This implies utilising at least 3 Escort Squadrons, which will break up into smaller groups and attempt to infiltrate Styrian defences and collect information. Each one of them would roll a d100 with only partially known odds:
[1-37] Data gathered and Escort returns safely
[38 - ???] - ???
[???] ???
[???] ???

You can decide how many squadrons you wish to send to each of these worlds (if more than one, the odds will improve, as they will support each other, but sending more than 3 to one planet would likely attract Styrian capital ships).
>>
>>5574704
In my opinion I think we should send the following scout force to each world
>1 dauntless-class light cruiser
>1 escort squadron
>2 viper-class scout sloops
The dauntless and escort squadron loiter around the warp-in point while the scout sloops recon the system.
Once the vipers have recon'd as much as reasonably possible, they makes for the system edge towards the escorting group. The escorting group should be sufficient to warn off any chasers that are small & fast enough to keep up with the scout sloops. Then the whole group can warp out.

The dauntless has the same speed and manoeuvrability of the escorts but has the firepower to scare off styrian escorts.
>>
>>5574707
Sounds fine.
>>
>>5574707
agreed
>>
>>5574707
As we don't count individual Viper-class scout sloops, because they are escorts. Deployment of an Escort Squadron assumes that it contains some Vipers for the scouting duties. You can attach Dauntless-class as well, which will improve their survivability in battle, however please note that they don't have same acceleration and manoeuvrability as Escorts, slightly increasing the chance of Styrian engaging them.

See here for the acceleration comparison:
https://warhammer40k.fandom.com/wiki/Viper-class_Scout_Sloop
https://warhammer40k.fandom.com/wiki/Dauntless-class_Light_Cruiser

If this is acceptable, I'll present roll tables.
>>
>>5574723
Thanks for the explanation skg, much appreciated.
Sorry, when I said escort squadron I meant a squadron of sword-class frigates or something.
So to summarise my idea
>1x Dauntless
>1x Sword-class frigate escort squadron
>1x Viper squadron
Dauntless and frigates keep system exit secure. Vipers do the scout run.

I think we're happy with this approach?
>>
File: space battle.jpg (458 KB, 1000x710)
458 KB
458 KB JPG
>>5574697
>>5574698
Your advisors have slightly different views on the matter.

Fleet Master Copernicon:
>As their forces are currently dispersing, pursuing a direct assault on the Core World would give us a a very high chance to punch through their defences and surprise them. However we would have limited time there, before they would regroup and strike back, most likely between 1 and 3 months. If we don't take one of the Core Worlds by then, we could be caught between a hammer and an anvil. On the other hand, as Space Marines, this is the kind of warfare we excel at, hitting hard and fast and our Chapter in particular is good a Deep Strike missions, so we could potentially take out one of the three nerve centres of the Triarchy in one strike. This way, we don't need to split out forces as well.

Admiral Amos Hefin:
>A strike at the Core Worlds might sound enticing, but it will put us in the middle of our enemies, without a clear line of supply. It will be a do-or-die proposition. True, we could win the greatest victory this Sector has seen in the last thousand years, or we could lose. I suggest that step-by-step approach, while possibly more protracted and bloodier, is more assured. As raiding force always has the initiative, we won't be able to prevent all losses, but allocating 4 light cruisers and 12 Escort Squadrons would keep Styrian Triarchy effectively unable to strike any of our critical lines of communication. Adding additional 2 light cruisers and 4 Squadrons would also prevent them from launching raids into Sector Deus. I know that if we allocate all of these ships to rear duty, it greatly diminishes our main fleet, however I believe it will still be enough for the main fighting, bombardment and planetary assault duties, although without sufficient escorts, our capital ships will be much more vulnerable than standard operating doctrine would suggest. Alternatively we can accept a certain attrition rate on our reinforcements, ammunition and other supplies and just play the numbers game, expecting that Imperial resources will outlast Styrian raider's zeal. If we would want to concentrate on hunting their fleet, this would require all of our current forces, apart from the Chapter Fleet and main Crusade force would need to stop advancing for the time being.

>>5574728
Understood.
Please make the following rolls then:

+Core World Scouting: Neveron/Loxomod/Styria+
Specify which world you are rolling for.
[1-42] Data gathered and scouting force returns safely
[43 -50] Scouting force flees a defender force, but without data
[51 - 64] - Force engaged, casualties inflicted on the Styrians, but data not gathered.
[65 - 75] Force engaged, battle with casualties, data gathered
[76 - 89] Force engaged, battle with casualties, no data gathered
[90 - 96] Force significantly damaged, no data gathered
[97+] Force lost or special outcome
>>
Rolled 46 (1d100)

>>5574743
>Loxomod
>>
Rolled 46 (1d100)

>>5574743
>styria
>>
Rolled 72 (1d100)

>>5574743
Neveron
>>
File: Battle barge.webm (2.93 MB, 853x480)
2.93 MB
2.93 MB WEBM
>>5574743
I am in agreement with our Naval specialists.

I would then propose the following reassignment of Naval Assets:

Available Naval Forces:
>GoR - Chapter Fleet
>Raven Guard - 1 Escort Squadron
>Imperial Navy - 1 Orbital Assault Ship; 1 Battleship; 2 Cruisers; 2 Light Cruisers; 6 Escort Squadrons
>SoB - 2 Light Cruisers
Naval Forces currently committed to rear security:
>Imperial Navy - 1 Battlecruiser; 5 Cruisers; 6 Light Cruisers; 14 Escort Squadrons

Would this reassignment of assets to rear security be sufficient?

I also suggest going with >>5574698 's idea regarding systematic bait & ambush strategy. As follows:
>Imperial Convoy appears to be escorted by only an escort squadron or perhaps a light cruiser
>Include heavy troop transports (that are actually empty) that are tempting targets
>Paused in a warp waypoint system on the way to Brohmidae, cooling warp engines for next jump
>'Hammer' force composed of full cruisers/battlecruiser and additional escorts lie in wait behind a celestial phenomenon like a planet or gas cloud near the convoy
>When Styrian force arrives in system, visible escorts deploy a standard defensive formation to draw attention while the convoy retreats, moving them past aforementioned phenomena
>Visible escorts peel away before engaging styrians properly, supposed to look like an 'intimidation' attempt that fails. Visible escorts retreat because 'they know they're outgunned'
>confident styrian raiders gun for the retreating convoy
>Hammer force strikes them as they close in with the convoy
>Cruisers launch torpedoes salvos that are positioned to force the stryrians to stop heading straight towards the convoy, forcing them to slow/stop/turn as the Hammer force hits them abeam
The overlord-class battlecruiser forthright intervention has long-range weaponry including lances that would be very dangerous to styrian escort ships too.
>>
>>5574754
>>5574759
>>5574765
Man, we still fucking suck at rolling.
>>5574772
Sounds good.
>>
File: mobilisation.jpg (119 KB, 720x505)
119 KB
119 KB JPG
>>5574667
>>5574672
>>5574677
>>5574679
>>5574681
It seems we have the votes in for Guns and Butter, People's War (corrected).

+++
Each Subsector will decide how many forces they are able to contribute. This will be one of the rare rolls, where more is better ;)

1. Governor himself joins the crusade on the front line (also roll again)
2-10: Symbolic or purely support force - bannermen, marching bands, cooks, medics, etc.
11-40: Single Brigade (200k)
41-80: Single Corps (1 million)
81-95: Single Field Army (5 million)
96+: Full Army Group (25 million)

1. Core Worlds: (apply a -10 modifer as some troops have already been committed)
2. Subsector Adamantis: (apply a -10 modifer as some troops have already been committed)
3. Subsector Cryptus (full roll)
4. Subsector Meridian: (Less likely to commit since they're fresh off the Triot Campaign: -20 modifier)
5. Subsector Tyranus (Most likely wouldn't pledge, always focused on the Grave, -75 modifier)
6. Subsectors Ionium, Aeternus and Dominus are unlikely since they have no major strongholds. (Single roll for all three, apply -30 modifier)
>>
File: Average CMQ session.gif (2.69 MB, 384x288)
2.69 MB
2.69 MB GIF
>>5574775
Could be worse.
>>
Rolled 71 (1d100)

>>5574778
>This will be one of the rare rolls, where more is better ;)
Luigi this is your time to shine.
>6. Subsectors Ionium, Aeternus and Dominus are unlikely since they have no major strongholds. (Single roll for all three, apply -30 modifier)
>>
Rolled 75 (1d100)

>>5574778
rollan contribution
>>
>>5574783
For whom?
>>
Rolled 84 (1d100)

>>5574778
>1. Core Worlds: (apply a -10 modifer as some troops have already been committed)
If the roll is particularly high (85+ or something) is there still scope for them to 'upgrade' their current contribution to a field army/army group rather than sending an entire new one for example.
>>
Rolled 77 - 10 (1d100 - 10)

>>5574778
For the Core Worlds
>>
>>5574785
apologies
>cryptus
>>
Rolled 59 (1d100)

>>5574778
>5. Subsector Tyranus (Most likely wouldn't pledge, always focused on the Grave, -75 modifier)
I'll do the bad ones nobody else wants I guess.
>>
Rolled 25 (1d100)

>>5574789
We could say this one is for Adamantis?

Which means only Meridian left.
>>
File: Neveron passes.jpg (545 KB, 750x1000)
545 KB
545 KB JPG
>>5574759
>>5574754
You will get these results some months in the future, but I'll post them now.
+++
Copernicon comes to you with results of your scouting missions:
>Milord, I have good news and bad news. Overall, all three scouting forces have managed to return home. However, our enemies know how to dance, in Styria and Loxomod we were almost engaged and had to depart. Your wise decision to bolster scouting forces with the light cruisers ensured that enemy was not too keen to pursue and no casualties were suffered, although no useful data was gathered either. Situation with Neveron is a bit more complicated. The infiltration was detected and our force was ambushed, we suffered losses, but we managed to gather some very useful information.

+ Scouting party casualties +
[1-30] Dauntless light cruiser damaged, repairs will take 1 year
[31 - 45] Dauntless light cruiser damaged, repairs will take many years, don't expect it to return to the Crusade
[46 - 60] Escort Squadron got lost in the warp translation. Roll d7, on 1,3,6 they will return in 1 years time.
[61 - 75] Escort Squadron was destroyed in battle
[76 - 90] The whole task force hit a warp time dilation event and will return to reality in d10 years
[91 - 98] Light Cruiser was captured by the enemy
[99 - 100] The taskforce brings a nasty surprise with them


+Neveron+
Neveron, famed religious capital of the Styrian Triarchy. Majority of the planet is covered by endless dunes of desert and most of human life is concentrated near the few rivers and coastlines of the planet. Rough estimates of the night-time luminosity of cities indicates a population of between 2-3 billion. Garak, the main one of the three moons of Neveron, is also inhabited, although estimated population is around 200 million. It is also heavily fortified and contains numerous anti-orbital defences and system-wide anti-ship weaponry. It will have to be priority target for the Crusade to take out if the fleet is to operate in the system freely. Notably, scouts warned of the very dangerous warp currents surrounding Neveron (note increased danger of warp accidents).

Notable cities:
Verdo Strazar - River delta city of around 50 million, contains the Enlightened Crystal Palace, the main priestly palace of the whole Styrian Triarchy. Orbital pictures do not indicate any significant defences.
Meja Strazar - Hive of the planet, containing possibly as much as 1 billion inhabitants, built on the ocean coast.
Arja Strazar - desert mountain city, quite decentralised and stretching across some some 20 kilometers of a mountain range. Notable a significant part of the city is just carved in the stone, likely that there are many tunnels and holes where defenders could hide. Expected to be the hardest to take.

At the time of the scouting there were 3 light cruisers and 2 Esctort squadrons in the system. There was also a warp wake of a capital ship that seemed to have recently departed.
>>
Rolled 59 (1d100)

>>5574811
>+ Scouting party casualties +
>>
Rolled 6 (1d7)

>>5574811
>[46 - 60] Escort Squadron got lost in the warp translation. Roll d7, on 1,3,6 they will return in 1 years time.
>>5574815
>>
File: wake gee up.jpg (158 KB, 486x788)
158 KB
158 KB JPG
The session is pausing here for tonight.

Some time during the coming week we will post further information on the reinforcements pledged by other parts of Sector Deus and consider our strategy now.

Archived here: https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/2023/5556904/

Also This Week in CMQ, 10 years ago:
>The Ghosts of Retribution dispatch Lt Cagirates and Sgt Lusmer to lead an Honour Guard for Sector Lord Larion Ursus.
https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/2013/23227575/
>>
File: Imperial Guard symbol.jpg (289 KB, 920x647)
289 KB
289 KB JPG
>>5574815
>>5574816
The Neveron patrol group arrives back in the Brohmiade system missing its squadron of scout sloops. There is some confusion and alarm on the Imperial channels until Admiral Hefin sends you a message from the bridge of his battleship.
>We have received astropathic confirmation from the Viper squadron that they have entered warp and are proceeding safely. But based on the distortion in the message they are experiencing time at least 50 times slower than us. They should be fine, likely only experience a few days themselves, but in Terran time they won't emerge for at about a year.

>>5574781
>>5574783
>>5574786
>>5574789
>>5574794
>>5574795
Subsector Tyranus offers you their wholehearted support in principle but Lord General Baratheus Kal of Malta cannot risk sacrificing more of his Subsector's forces, especially considering that Subsector Tyranus contributed the main core of the Naval Crusade fleet.

Subsector Meridian is still recovering from the Triot Campaign and the lengthy efforts to restore, secure, and bolster their defences on the Sector's edge. Lord General Torus Bane of Gradburg offers a few dozen support & logistics regiments from Gradburg and Doria IV but cannot expend any of their combat troops.

Subsectors Ionium, Dominus, and Aeternus (IDA) are quite sparsely populated with no major Imperial Guard strongholds. However they are also the Subsectors that directly border Subsector Mortis. Several planetary governors have worked together to pledge a combined force of one million combat troops (+ relevant support units)
Many of the Imperial worlds within the three Subsectors have contributed some number of regiments, mostly token tributes. The majority of IDA's contribution comes from Erba - a hot desert world - and Ujosla - a civilised world of multiple competitive nation-states. The IDA forces also include a substantial pledge from the Shrine World of Astrobel - whose regiments are strong devotees of the Iron Monks and full of Battle Preachers. All under the command of Lieutenant General Dasan Eferniti of Erba, an experienced officer from a proud military dynasty.

Subsector Cryptus has also answered the call. The Governess of Solstreim, and Subsector Governess, Karyana Miraslova is eager to cement her relatively young Dynasty's reputation. A force of one million fighting troops plus all necessary support units has been pledged from the Hive World of Solstreim and the Fortress World of Volitair. It is under the command of Lieutenant General Barden Miraslova, a noble of the dynasty from Solstreim who is aided by a large staff of hardened military veterans from Volitair.
>>
File: Imperial Guard.jpg (1.38 MB, 1920x1080)
1.38 MB
1.38 MB JPG
>>5575970
Subsector Deus, the Core Worlds of the Sector, have poured forth a huge support. Lord General Drakkon Ursus is not just the Styrian Crusade's High Strategist and most senior Imperial Guard officer, he is also the Governor of the mighty Fortress World of Athena Prime. Now that he is assured of your full support behind the Styrian Crusade, Drakkon orders his world to prepare the mobilisation of an additional four million combat troops plus necessary support elements, bringing their total Crusade contribution to five million. There are also pledges from the other Core Worlds, including a handful of glory-seeking Spireborn regiments from Tachion Primaris itself. But the overwhelming majority comes from Athena Prime.
The one million Athenian troops already involved in the Crusade are on Kruun, pacifying the remaining resistance under the command of Lieutenant General Ulias Kreen.
This new contribution arrives under the command of General Olfred Von Richter - one of Athena Prime's most well-regarded officers from a legendary military dynasty - who has been a trusted member of Drakkon's planetary command staff for decades.

Subsector Adamantis. Almost immediately upon hearing of Athena Prime's new voluntary contribution, Lord General Militant Lucas Xerant commands an additional million troops from his homeworld of Adamant Prime to join the four million already involved, to ensure their contribution is at least on par with any other. As Lord General Militant of Sector Deus, Lucas could theoretically order any world to send as many forces as he demanded. But such an act is sure to cause mass unrest so he sticks to ordering troops from Adamant Prime, a world his Dynasty have ruled for millennia. This extra million soldiers is added to the Adamantian force already being commanded in the Styrian Crusade by General Gwendoline Xerant, one of his eldest daughters.

+Imperial Guard Forces Gained+
Core Worlds: +4 million combat troops (~400 regiments)
Subsector Adamantis: +1 million combat troops (~100 regiments)
Subsector Cryptus: +1 million combat troops (~100 regiments)
Subsectors Ionium/Dominus/Aeternus: +1 million combat troops (~100 regiments)
--------------------------------------------
>>
>>5575992
Current Imperial Guard forces:
>Brohmidae System: 150 regiments
>In transit from Arkbard -> Stranx -> Brohmidae: 100 regiments
>Arkbard System: 150 regiments
>En Route to Arkbard: 700 regiments
---------------------------------------------
Note that it will take a number of months for all the pledged forces to actually reach the Styrian Crusade. Reinforcements will continue to move along the logistical train at a rough rate of 25 regiments per week - though this can be easily affected by enemy activity.
However you are now assured that the forces pledged are at your disposal and will be able to continuously reinforce your Crusade.

With eleven million combat troops at your disposal your Imperial Guard is still likely to be outnumbered by the planetary defence force of any world with a population in the hundreds of millions. However with orbital supremacy and superior war machines and equipment at their disposal the Imperial Guard can effectively combat a terrestrial human force many times their own size in pitched warfare.

This allows you to choose to engage in large-scale attrition warfare with your Imperial Guard forces that will place massive strain on any world's defensive network, making the operations of your Vanguard Forces far more likely to succeed and succeed well. An Imperial Guard invasion will force a large number of defensive forces to engage them instead of garrisoning critical strategic locations, opening them up for targeted strikes from Astartes, Sisters of Battle, or even Nestoriums' Titan Legion if the right situation presents itself.

In the wake of the scouting runs, intelligence packet, and the pledged reinforcements, your Council has more thoughts.

Admiral Hefin
>The enemy's Navy has already formed around their core. I think we should amass our reinforcements while focusing on securing our logistical lines with naval power. Take out the Styrian's forces piecemeal as they try to assault our supply lines. Post a task force in Movrodia to stop them sending any more materiel to the triarchy. Perhaps engage Serakis while The Calm presents the opportunity, as there may be valuable assets that have not been able to evacuate considering their storms.

Canoness Engel
>Neveron. The tainted rotten soul of the Triarchy. The Styrians' plans to raid our convoys and even Deus itself is also troubling. We could try a more offensive Naval strategy, countering their raids with raids of our own. Then once our forces are marshalled, crush Neveron and break their foul religion.

Lord General Drakkon Ursus
>Neveron is a tempting target but not as strategically important as Styria or Loxomod. Which are industrial and trading centres of the Triarchy. With more troops at our back, and Neveron confirmed to be lacking in logistical importance but strongly defended, we should focus on Styria and cripple their war machine.
>>
>>5576007
I am in favour of the option that brings the most glory to chapter.
>>
Do we think they could fall for a miss direction assault? Try and pull defenders away from one world then pounce on the forces that are left and disengage from the distraction
>>
>>5576007
>Canoness Engel
>>Neveron. The tainted rotten soul of the Triarchy. The Styrians' plans to raid our convoys and even Deus itself is also troubling. We could try a more offensive Naval strategy, countering their raids with raids of our own. Then once our forces are marshalled, crush Neveron and break their foul religion.
I like this.
>but why?
It's cool.
>>
>>5577421
i dont think the timing is with us on that.
if we attack their core world their forces would be back before we finish
>>
File: Subsector Mortis.jpg (42 KB, 496x500)
42 KB
42 KB JPG
Session resuming
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Available Naval Forces:
>GoR - Chapter Fleet
>Raven Guard - 1 Escort Squadron
>Imperial Navy - 1 Orbital Assault Ship; 1 Battleship; 3 Cruisers; 3 Light Cruisers; 10 Escort Squadrons
>SoB - 2 Light Cruisers

Naval Forces committed to rear defence:
>Imperial Navy - 1 Battlecruiser; 4 Cruisers; 5 Light Cruisers; 10 Escort Squadrons

Vanguard Ground Forces:
>GoR - Entire Chapter minus 2nd and 7th companies
>Raven Guard - 2 Companies
>Imperial Fists & Black Templars: - 30 Marines + 1 Champion
>SoB - 10,000 Battle Sisters
>Nestorium - 1 Titan Legion; 10 Skitarii Legions (~50,000 Skitarii)

Imperial Guard:
>Brohmidae System: 150 regiments
>In transit from Arkbard -> Stranx -> Brohmidae: 100 regiments
>Arkbard System: 150 regiments
>En Route to Arkbard: 700 regiments
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

At the moment you have a few choices to make.

=Countering the Styrian Naval Activities=
>Follow Hefin's suggestion and reassign 2 Cruisers, 2 Light Cruisers, and 6 Escort Squadrons from the available Fleet to the rear defence Fleet. This would offer a large defence against the Styrian raids. It would also disrupt any Styrian traffict to-and-from Serakis and Movrodia, and make it possible to conduct effective counter-operations like ambushes such as >>5574772
>Reassign 1 Cruiser, 1 Light Cruiser, and 3 Escort Squadrons. This would bolster rear defences and make it difficult for the Styrians to enter Imperial space proper but convoys would still be at risk.
>Do nothing. With the pledged reinforcements you can afford to lose some in transit and you need a big available fleet for offensives.

=Offensive strategy=
>Hold position in Brohmidae for X weeks to marshal more forces (25 regiments per week).
>Launch an offensive on Movrodia or Serrakis. Such an operation could be achieved with only a part of the Crusade forces, with the remainder stationed in Brohmidae. You could also assault both at the same time.
>Launch an offensive on Neveron, Styria, and/or Loxomod. The core of the triarchy. Such an action would require the majority of your available forces.
Note that you can choose to Hold position first then one of the other options.
>>
>>5582717
>>Follow Hefin's suggestion and reassign 2 Cruisers, 2 Light Cruisers, and 6 Escort Squadrons from the available Fleet to the rear defence Fleet. This would offer a large defence against the Styrian raids. It would also disrupt any Styrian traffict to-and-from Serakis and Movrodia, and make it possible to conduct effective counter-operations like ambushes such as
Sounds good.
>>Launch an offensive on Movrodia or Serrakis. Such an operation could be achieved with only a part of the Crusade forces, with the remainder stationed in Brohmidae. You could also assault both at the same time.
Could keep busy with this while we wait for more forces to arrive and once we've taken over both worlds and gathered our boys we can go for the core.
>>
>>5582719
Me
>>
>>5582719
I'd agree with that. Serrakis while The Calm is open?
>>
>>5582750
Sure, or both, might tempt them into coming to us.
>>
>>5582761
I think that Movrodia might be too big to attempt a ground invasion right now but we could try and harass it with periodic orbital intimidation since they have minimal naval defences.
>>
>>5582762
Those were more or less my thoughts as well.
Tender the meat a bit.
>>
>>5582762
>>5582763
Further to this, while we focus on a proper offensive on Serakis we should also have some of our patrol ships do periodic bombardments of Movrodia (ie a cruiser and an escort squadrons or something).

The system has minimal naval defences. Focus on economic infrastructure like their outlying mines rather than going straight for their population centres. Of course let them know it will stop if they turn back to the Imperium.

While we're at it, use some of our ork-killing experience to bombard likely orknoid concentrations too.

Movrodia isn't truly devout like Serakis. They are subservient to the triarchy out of economic prudence. We want to wear down their belief that Styrian loyalty is good for them.
>>
File: glory.jpg (256 KB, 1200x783)
256 KB
256 KB JPG
The way I understand it, you have decided to move on to Serrakis.

+++

Brethorius comes to you to discuss the particulars of the upcoming campaign:
>Chapter Master, your choice is wise, if we move now, we will make use of the Calm, period of good weather on the Serrakis. It is expected to begin in about two months, sidereal time. But before the Crusade moves ahead, we need to make a few key decisions - what part of our force proceeds to Serrakis, how do we plan to subdue the planet, what will be our tactics and strategy?

Your First Captain, is right. How should you proceed?

+Fleet Strategy+
a) Proceed with the bulk of the Crusade, apart from the ships assigned to guard Brohmidae and the rear guard duties
b) Split the fleet (specify)

+Opening Moves+
a) Hammer Blow - coordinated, but slow. Fleet awaits all elements to translate into the outskirts of Serrakis system and only then proceeds towards the planet, systematically eliminating any potential defences. We are guaranteed that their defences will be completely overwhelmed in this case.
b) Lightning Strike - announce that medals will be awarded to those first to engage the enemy and order all ships to fan out and start attacking enemies as soon as they enter the system. Goal is to minimise their time for mobilisation and maximise our use of the Calm, although likely we will suffer higher casualties due to hurried nature of the strategy.
c) Angel's of Death - ensure that Aspera Dominus leads the Crusade, taking the brunt of the defences and that Chapter is the first to land on the surface of Serrakis, inflicting maximum damage and softening the ground for the human troops. This will lead to greater losses for the Chapter, but will likely gain us more glory and win us time.

Roll d100 for Opening Moves.
>>
File: combat.jpg (207 KB, 1100x618)
207 KB
207 KB JPG
>>5582832
+Planetary Assault Strategy+
a) Hundred Fires - hundreds of LZs across the planet. Crusade should land everywhere at once, overwhelming the enemy, each landing party should take control of their immediate area and then spread outwards, making contact with the others. This strategy will likely allow us to take control of countryside and bottle our enemies up in their cities, where we would be able to squeeze as we please.
b) Strike the Heart - concentrate all of the Crusades forces on attacking Ardea, capital of the planet. This strategy relies on doing it quickly and efficiently, so that the rest of the planet is then shocked into submission.
c) Take the Cities - there's no use in controlling the frozen wastes, we should take the riskier strategy of assaulting the cities, landing close to them or when possible, even in them and taking control as soon as possible. This is likely to result in higher casualties.
d) Crusade City - we might be stuck in this world for years if we don't succeed during this Calm, so we should proceed safely and land all of our troops in the mountain range far from Serrakian cities. There, we will create a massive Crusade base of operations, start our own industry and as rapidly as possible, spread from there, taking control of enemy mines and building the tools of our victory with their resources.

Roll d100 for the execution of strategy once picked.

+Destruction Policy+
a) Put them to the blade - no orbital bombardment, take everything intact, maximum loot, maximum casualties. Also, wastes no time.
b) Soften them up - deploy orbital bombardment on major strategic resistance areas, fortifications and city centres. This will eliminate worst of the defences, but leave enough of the industry for us to utilise. To do this properly would require 1d2 weeks.
c) Brutal bombardment - systematically destroy ability of the major cities of the planet, Ardea, Dorog and Ranka, to offer any kind of resistance. Will take 1d4 weeks.
d) Exterminatus - this planet is more trouble than it is worth. Save our men's lives for the conquest of the more important worlds.

Roll d100 for the execution of the policy once picked.
>>
File: the calm.png (963 KB, 838x642)
963 KB
963 KB PNG
Also, as your fleet will be arriving to the Serrakis system, the Calm is going to begin. Usually it lasts a few months, but it is not predictable. Make a roll for expected Calm duration (might differ).

+The Calm [d100]+
1-5: 28 weeks
6-10: 24 weeks
12-16: 20 weeks
17 - 30: 16 weeks
31 - 70 12 weeks
71 - 80: 10 weeks
81 - 90: 6 weeks
91 - 95: 3 weeks
96 - 100: 1 week
>>
File: Planetstrike.jpg (119 KB, 900x636)
119 KB
119 KB JPG
Rolled 65 (1d100)

>>5582832
+Fleet Strategy+
>a) Proceed with the bulk of the Crusade, apart from the ships assigned to guard Brohmidae and the rear guard duties
Navy Battleship should stay behind in Brohmidae for extra security. Patrol groups from rear guard should periodically assault Movrodia as per >>5582768 . We should take the Vanguard Forces and ~2 million Guardsmen (200 regiments).

+Opening Moves+
>a) Hammer Blow - coordinated, but slow.
No reason to risk fleet assets at this point. We want our forces to marshal over Serakis together.

+Planetary Assault Strategy+
>b) Strike the Heart - concentrate all of the Crusades forces on attacking Ardea, capital of the planet.
Imperial Guard forces should make planetfall outside Ardea and apply pressure to their outer defences. I would recommend two million soldier deployment at this point. Draw the enemy to their perimeter defences.
Then Astartes and Sister of Battle strike forces should conduct attacks on strategic locations within Ardea. Control stations, command posts. Critical infrastructure. Decimate their ability to coordinate their defence so the Imperial Guard can crush their defences.

+Destruction Policy+
>c) Brutal bombardment - systematically destroy ability of the major cities of the planet, Ardea, Dorog and Ranka, to offer any kind of resistance. Will take 1d4 weeks.
The population is fanatical. I feel like we really need to cripple them. But still leave the basic infrastructure and the archeotech power systems intact for the future.

+The Calm [d100]+
Rolling

What do we think?
>>
>>5582846
The Calm will take 12 weeks. Beginning of the Calm will roughly coincide with the arrival of the Crusade fleet.
>>
>>5582846
Sounds fine, though if the planet would've been a bit smaller I'd have wanted our chapter to solo the operation.
>>
Rolled 30 (1d100)

>>5582833
>Roll d100 for the execution of strategy once picked.
>>
Rolled 51 (1d100)

>>5582832
>Roll d100 for Opening Moves.
dice+1d100
>>
Rolled 67 (1d100)

>>5582833
destruction first
>>
Rolled 4 (1d4)

>>5582833
and time
>>
File: dark magic.jpg (82 KB, 455x650)
82 KB
82 KB JPG
>>5582857
>>5582858
>>5582862
Wonderful.

Can you make me also a roll for the warp journey to Serrakis, a d12, you are trying not to roll 11 or 12.
>>
Rolled 3 (1d12)

>>5582876
>Can you make me also a roll for the warp journey to Serrakis, a d12, you are trying not to roll 11 or 12.
>>
File: de-warping.webm (607 KB, 1280x540)
607 KB
607 KB WEBM
>>5582877
gg
>>
>>5582877
With beating of the drums, chiming of the bells and litanies being read out loud, the Crusade moves out from Brohmidae system. The journey itself is mostly calm, the Warp does not offer any unexpected surprises apart from the few run of the mill disturbances, which are not pleasant but completely manageable. Crusade Navigators do their best to keep the ships together and when the time to translate to the real space comes, the Crusade does so as one body of metal and Emperor's Fury.

As ship after ship translates from the gaping jaws of the Warp, it becomes clear that the decision to strike at Sarrakis was correct from the strategical point of view. There are no capital enemy ships in the system and the few escorts immediately flee. While a less organized force might have tried to chase them down, your ships instead form an orderly formation and wait for all the other ships to arrive as well. Only then the Crusade proceeds to the planet itself.

The planet launches a few hundreds of long-range improvised missile-torpedoes, but your defensive formation allows to shoot down nearly all of them before they even reach your ships.

+Missile Attack+
Roll d100:
1-85: No hits, it was the right decision to arrive in force
86 -92: Minor damage, one light cruiser is hit, but damage is repairable
93 - 100: Dangerous hit detonates fuel supply ship in the middle of an Escort Squadron, taking out an entire unit
>>
File: roll d100 for combat.gif (720 KB, 512x377)
720 KB
720 KB GIF
Rolled 89 (1d100)

>>5582886
>>
File: Orbital bombardment.jpg (126 KB, 1280x960)
126 KB
126 KB JPG
The Assault on the planet itself proceeds by the book. Chapter master knows that despite his personal itch to see combat and win the glory for the Chapter, it is much wiser to let the big guns do the talking first and only then throw bodies at the problem.

First weeks of combat on Serrrakis are uneventful - ships approach the stratosphere of the planet and bombard designated enemy sites in shifts, trying to minimize the possible anti-orbital defense counter fires. Within first 2 weeks over 90% of the enemy guns are silenced. Only the deepest and most fortified defensive installations still continue firing an occasional shot. Then the bombardment proceeds to target other concentrations of enemy fortifications and also proceeds to wipe out most of the surface urban agglomerations. Estimated enemy death toll: 100 million.

In the meantime Chapter launches special operations to scout the landing zones, take prisoners and destroy some of the more resistant AO sites.

Out of 31 mission launched, 27 are a complete successes, while 2 fail due to external reasons (misidentified targets), while 2 others turn out to be more dangerous than expected.

+Recon in force of target site Oikon-Deiva-48+
Squad of 4th Company marines arrived to inspect strange objects identified via orbital scan, suspected to be hidden AO emplacement entrances. Instead, these turn out to be fakes, placed there to ambush your men.

1. No casualties
2. Light casualties - d3
3. Moderate casualties - d5
4. Serious resistance - d9
5. Squad ambushed and wiped out
>>
File: imperial fists.jpg (78 KB, 564x564)
78 KB
78 KB JPG
+Kiluna Ridge Defence+
Imperial Fists insist on assisting you in securing some of the valuable objects which will be of use during the fighting on the ground. Kiluna Ridge happens to have very advantageously positioned radar station, so 2 days before the landing of the Imperial Guard, decision is made to take it, as it will greatly reduce any potential dangers to the landing force. Imperial Fists under Leutenant Sternberg take it without any issue, wiping out the garrison. However, the enemy reacts rapidly and dispatches a serious force - slightly less than half of a mechanised regiment to retake the Kiluna Ridge. Imperial Fists assess their control of the fortifications and the higher ground and make a decision to stand their ground, although they request aerial support.

Make decisions:
>Do you provide aerial support?
>Do you send additional marines? This would disrupt your other operations as all marines have other assigned missions and has not been requested.

After specifying this, make rolls: d100 for success of the defence and d100 for the severity of the casualties.
>>
Rolled 2 (1d5)

>>5582900
Rollan casualties.
>>
Rolled 3 (1d3)

>>5582900
>>5582908
>d3 casualties

>>5582904
>>Do you provide aerial support?
Brother-Pilot Asteus and his Thunderhawk Veritas Imperatoria should lead a squadron of thunderhawk gunships to support.
>>
Rolled 3 (1d3)

>>5582908
Rolling how many died.
>>
Rolled 11 (1d100)

>>5582904
>>Do you provide aerial support?
Yes
>>
>>5582912
(for the first of the d100s, obviously)
>>
Rolled 86 (1d100)

>>5582904
>Do you send additional marines? This would disrupt your other operations as all marines have other assigned missions and has not been requested.
What about Sororitas or Skitarii? They are elite forces but I assume they also have their own assigned operations?

>d100 for the severity of the casualties
>>
File: GlassCaseOfEmotion.gif (2.96 MB, 300x264)
2.96 MB
2.96 MB GIF
>89
>86
>>
File: I_Knew_IT.jpg (115 KB, 702x496)
115 KB
115 KB JPG
>>5582921
>>5582918
>you think Luigi's a double agent?
>>
Decision to strike at the heart of the enemy cities was a calculated gambit. While in other circumstances it would be risky, extensive orbital bombardment has prepared the battlefield for a deep insertion of your troops with relatively light casualties. When first transporters land, Imperial Guard ground commanders request an additional 6 hour delay before proceeding into the ruins of the bombarded cities due to the fact that in some places the ground is still hot enough from the bombardment to melt the rubber off the guardsman's boots.

Within the first 2 days it becomes clear that at least one of the three cities has been completely subdued. Ranka, once a multimillion city, now is not much more than a charred husk of its former self. Apparently initial bombardment has managed to deactivate life support systems within the first week and because of that reason the lower levels of the city have been without a supply of oxygen and fresh water for the past 21 days. Estimated casualties are around 8 million. Resistance: none.

Meanwhile, the other two cities are nothing more than heaps of rubble on the surface, but subcities of Ardea and Dorog continue to resist as of current moment.

Initial combat successes:

+Dorog+
Control: 3/81 subcity levels
Morale: Fanatical / Terrified

+Ardea+
Control: 1/110 subcity levels
Morale: Fanatical / Shocked

Crusade losses so far: roll d100
>>
Rolled 84 (1d100)

>>5582929
>Crusade losses so far: roll d100
NOT SO FAST DOUBLE AGENT
>>
>>5582936
>>
>>5582908
>>5582910
+Recon in force of target site Oikon-Deiva-48+
While 4th Company 7th Squad were ambushed, they managed to break out of the Serrakian trap while inflicting heavy casualties on them. Unfortunately, two brothers, Osmar and Hogenus were caught in a melta mine explosion - dozens of them were placed in the area, but marines managed to notice most of them, while brother Mikeon was shot in the power armour's generator and had to partially strip to continue fighting. Unfortunately for him, he was then overwhelmed with light arms fire.

>>5582887
Dauntless-class Light Cruiser Blessed Grave of the Sister of Battle was damaged by the Serrakian missile. Explosion also resulted in the first Sister casualties in this crusade:
- 7d12 sisters died
- 1d3 Penitent engines

Blessed Grave will require to temporarily return to the Imperial space and will return to battle after repairs. This (with journey) will take 1d3 years.

>>5582912
>>5582918
Success: 11
Losses: 86
+Kiluna Ridge Defence+
Imperial Fists make their Chapter proud, doing what they are best at - defending a fortified position against overwhelming odds. Serrakians send against them around 120 tanks supported by 9800 infantry and a wing of Valkyries.

Enemy tried at first to use massed firepower to drive Sternberg and his men from the ridge and then to storm their positions, but to no avail. At one moment when it seemed that enemies will manage to take a foothold on the ridge, Thunderhawks of the Ghosts of Retribution swooped in from the west to provide relief.

The battle raged for almost 47 hours - close to two days before the landing of the Guard. In an unusual occurrence it is the guardsmen who relieve the Astartes and take over the positions, not the other way around.

However, by the time they arrive, enemy has lost most of the tanks (77 kills, 12 mobility-kills, 2 abandoned, 19 retreated) and more than half of the infantry - around 6200 dead.

But Imperial fists have also paid a heavy price...
[2d10] -5 (because of Asteus' Thunderhawk support)
>>
Rolled 4, 2, 8, 5, 9, 3, 6 = 37 (7d12)

>>5582964
>- 7d12 sisters died
:(
>>
File: seen some shit.jpg (179 KB, 900x1351)
179 KB
179 KB JPG
>>5582936
First days of fighting were the strangest - losses were heavy, but enemy inflicted casualties are only a part of the total losses.
- you lost 1 regiment due to the fact that they were deployed on top of a frozen lake, which orbital scanning servitors identified as a perfect LZ. Ice was just thick enough for most of the transporters to land, but their cooling engines emitted enough heat to weaken the ice and now nearly 12 000 guardsmen, their tanks and guns rest at the bottom of the lake
- 8 more regiments were deployed with incorrect instructions, sending them on wild goose chases in the ice wastes. Even during the Calm, this is not smart - most of the men ended up frostbitten and Hospitaller sisters will have a lot of work fitting prosthetics. Nonetheless, around quarter of them will never be bothered by cold again, resulting in 19 000 casualties + officers who were executed for the fatal mistake.
- Anti-Orbital defences shot down a few landing ships, causing around 25 000 casualties
- Subcity storming so far hasn't progressed much, but has caused some casualties - around 11 000 troops in Dorog and 7000 in Ardea

Total losses: 74 000 guardsmen (roughly 7.5 regiments)

+End of session+

I have to end here tonight, but feel free to consider/discuss the further strategy. Serrakis seems to be well on its way to be pacified - it is a good question of how/when you will dig through to the depths of the subcity levels, but you can choose to either leave some guard here to continue storming the cities or remain and help them.

Planetary countryside is also still not under your control, but there are no major population centres there.
>>
Rolled 2, 9 = 11 (2d10)

>>5582964
>[2d10] -5 (because of Asteus' Thunderhawk support)
>>
>>5582977
>I have to end here tonight, but feel free to consider/discuss the further strategy. Serrakis seems to be well on its way to be pacified - it is a good question of how/when you will dig through to the depths of the subcity levels, but you can choose to either leave some guard here to continue storming the cities or remain and help them.
Can the mechanicus set up an earthquake machine and have the subcities collapse?
>>
Rolled 2 (1d3)

>>5582977
Thanks Skargan!

>>5582964
Penitent Engine losses

>>5582982
I'm going to assume that would take a huge amount of time and be hugely expensive. We especially wouldn't have time considering the imminent storms.
>>
>>5582991
Okay alternative suggestion:
Kinetic torpedoes.
>>
>>5582972
>>5582978
>>5582991
Casualties:
37 Sisters of Battle and 2 Penitent Engines, along with hundreds of crewmen, are lost when Blessed Grave is stricken.

Lieutenant Sternberg loses 6 of his stalwart Imperial Fists in the valorous defence of Kiluna Ridge.



[Advertise on 4chan]

Delete Post: [File Only] Style:
[Disable Mobile View / Use Desktop Site]

[Enable Mobile View / Use Mobile Site]

All trademarks and copyrights on this page are owned by their respective parties. Images uploaded are the responsibility of the Poster. Comments are owned by the Poster.