3-Way Battle: Secure the Orbital Relays

Background:
In the 41st millennium, the Xhorik System is engulfed by war. An ork raiding party known as the Blitzdreg Boyz has attacked Xhorik Prime, in an apparent attempt to acquire the ultra-rare ore known as kleinhaurker, required for the manufacture of the lightest grades of ceramite. Due to the kleinhaurker's criticality to the Imperial military-industrial might, the planetary defense forces (PDF) were bolstered by a small garrison of the Red Brotherhood space marine chapter. As the war ground on and casaulties mounted for both sides, the Imperials called for reinforcements. Luckily the Dauntless-class light cruiser Purifying Flame of the Hydra Legion chapter was in the vicinity and able to come to the aid of their beleaguered brethren. Captain Draco's first objective was to lead a strike force to secure a beachhead in order to establish and fortify his supply lines with orbit. 

Meanwhile, the industrial south of the planet ceased sending their tithe of war machines and men requested by the planetary overlord for the defense of the northern mining regions against the orks. After several weeks of no communications, the PDF and space marines could only assume the south had been attacked and cut off by orks. The reality was far worse. The strain of the war effort combined with all PDF and Adeptus Arbiter forces being called to the front lines left the local populace ripe for the manipulations of Chaos. The kindling was laid and dried and all that remained was to add a spark. 



Scenario: Secure the Orbital Comm Relays

The three forces found themselves converging on the abandoned Imperial outpost at the same time. The orbital comms equipment there was highly valuable and coveted by all sides. 

The traitor militia needed to silence any word of their treachery for as long as possible as they continued to build up forces and use the element of surprise against the surprised planetary defense forces.

The Hydra Legion needed to control one of the rare sites on Xhorik Prime's northern hemisphere where reliable communication with orbiting ships could be continually maintained. 

The Blitzdreg Boyz needed to maintain control of their newly conquered territory and ensure Filgakk could give orders to his widely dispersed forces.

Primary Objective
Each comm relay objective controlled at the end of the game: 3 VP

Secondary Objectives
Slay the Warlord: 1 VP

Army Selection:

The Hydra Legion Planetary Strike Force - Logan

Captain Draco: Power Sword, Storm Shield, Artificer Armor - 140
Dreadnought: twin-linked lascannon, twin-linked autocannon - 130
Terminator Squad: assault cannon, chainfist - 200
Tactical Squad Alpha (7): veteran sergeant, flamer - 99
Tactical Squad Beta (6): missile launcher - 99
Tactical Squad Gamma (6): plasma gun - 113
Razorback: twin-linked lascannon, storm bolter - 80
Devastator Squad (5): two heavy bolters, two lascannons - 130
Land Raider Crusader: multi-melta - 260

Basilisk Wolves (5) - 125

Total: 1376

Traitor Militia - Pete

Force Commander: power sword, plasma pistol, refractor field, Alchem-Jackers, Warrior Elite: 155
Ogryn Squad / Ork mercenaries (5): carapace, power axes - 315
Grenadiers (15): melta gun, flamer - 105
Grenadiers (15): plasma gun, flamer - 105
Militia fire support (10): 3 missile launchers, 2 lascannons - 135
Leman Russ Battle Tank with lascannon - 150
Leman Russ Vanquisher with heavy bolter - 155
Leman Russ Demolisher with heavy bolter - 160

Medicae (3) - 40

Total: 1320

The Blitzdreg Boyz - Phil

Warboss Filgakk Skullsplitta: 'Eavy armor, shoota, power klaw - 99

2 Meks with kustom mega blastas - 30
3 x Meganobz with killsaw and bosspole - 135
19 x Boyz with nob with klaw and boss pole - 154
14 x Boyz with shootas, 1 x rokkit launcha, and nob with boss pole - 118
17 x Grotz with Runtherd with squighound - 61
10 x Kommandos with burna, nob with klaw and boss pole - 145
11 x 'Ard Boyz with nob with klaw and boss pole - 150
Trukk with rokkit launcha - 30
7 x Tankbustas with nob with boss pole - 106
Trukk with rokkit launcha - 30
7 x Warbikes with nob with klaw and boss pole - 148
Warbuggy with twin-linked rokkit launcha - 25
Skorcha Trakk - 35
Killa Kan with rokkit launcha - 50
Total: 1316


Battle:

The battlefield was split into six equal wedges, designated as Zones 1 - 6 in the picture below. Deployment zones would be any three non-adjacent wedges. Once deployment zones were picked, an orbital comms relay objective would be placed equidistant between the deployment zones. The center circle would be no-man's land.

Logan won the roll to select his deployment zone first and he selected Zone 2 for the elevated cover for his Devastator Squad. Pete's traitor militia was next. Now that a zone had been selected, his only options were Zone 4 or Zone 6 and he chose the latter in order to keep the bulk of his infantry out of line of sight of enemy guns early. Phil's orks were left to deploy in Zone 4. The deployment and turn order followed the same sequence.

Battlefield and Deployment

Finishing the Fighting 501st

 After a long hiatus, I picked up the rest of the Stormtroopers and finished the second squad. I painted the six last year and the last three riflemen and the sergeant to finish. 

The sergeant is made by a non-GW company to fit the aesthetics of the now-defunct model range. I found it on eBay and I love that my two sergeants are not identical. I also love that this one is resin so I would not have to cut off another metal head and hip-slung helmet because modifying those old metal models is rough.

This now gives me:
Sergeant with power sword and hotshot laspistol
Sergeant with power sword and plasma pistol
Two troopers with flamers
One trooper with meltagun
One trooper with plasma gun
14 troopers with hotshot lasguns

In all, enough for two full 10-man units of the Fighting 501st to join the Xhorik 87th Drop Troopers in their most critical missions.

Hobby 2021 Recap

I looked back at my hobby output in 2021 to see how I compared to 2020.

In 2020 the final output was: 54 infantry, three vehicles/artillery, and two terrain pieces. 

2021 Tally

Built and Painted Models

• 10 drop trooper recon bikers (counts as 20 models)
• Antenna tower terrain piece
• Armorium terrain piece
• 10 storm troopers
• 3 Tarantulas with heavy bolters
• Bridge terrain piece
• 3 drop trooper missile launcher teams (6 models)
• 6 Sons of Horus heavy weapons marines with lascannons
• 6 storm troopers
• 19 Steel Legion infantry 
• Sons of Horus Praetor 
• 10 Sons of Horus tactical veterans
• Sons of Horus rhino 

Grand total of 81 infantry, 1 vehicle, and 3 terrain pieces.

Games Played: 7

Orks vs World Eaters using alternate unit activation

Night Drop: Drop Troopers vs Traitor Militia

Battle for Alteron Bridge: Drop Troopers vs Traitor Militia and Death Guard
Point of Desperation: World Eaters vs Traitor Militia vs White Scars (three-way battle)

A massive tank battle

War Train Raid: Drop Troopers vs Traitor Militia

Take and Hold: Sons of Horus vs Blood Angels

Battle Reports Generated: 6

Battle for Berat Part 5: The Decisive Moment

Operation Downfall Part 1: Night Drop

Point of Desperation

Operation Downfall Part 2: Battle for Alteron Bridge

Operation Downfall Part 3: War Train Raid (my first slideshow battle report with music)

Xhorik Secundus Part 1: Take and Hold

Other

Commissioned art for my Xhorik 87th

Got new paint racks

Had my painted models and background featured in the new Drop Troops fan codex for 9th edition

Bought an Avenger and touched it up and re-based it
Generated a total of 52 blog posts compared to 18 posts in 2020 (including posts by Pete and Bill)

Result

That equates to either 10 infantry, a terrain piece or a vehicle built and painted each month. Plus, either playing a game or writing a battle report. Plus, one blog post per week on average. Overall, a slight increase in output compared to 2020. At times, it felt very slow but then a few big projects like the ten bikers and 19 Steel Legion infantry boosted the overall numbers. 

It was a great year that saw us reach new levels of awesome in our hobby with cool new models, factions, battle reports and background story. I am looking forward to keeping up the pace in 2022 rather than trying to exceed this year's output. Unless I start a new faction I ca

n paint with speed, I don't think I can get much more done in a year than I did in 2021.

Last Model of 2021 - Veterans Get a Ride

 After a very slow stretch of painting, I buckled down over Christmas and painted this Rhino for my veteran tactical squad. It could use a bit more weathering on the metal areas, but I wanted to get it posted and inlcued in my 2021 model count since my output in the second half of the year was so low. 

Sons of Horus Veteran Tactical Squad

I finished the first model for this unit back in Septmber and finally finished the other nine last week. Painting time has been hard to come by with the kids being more active in sports again after the Covid disruptions. Although this unit really killed my hobby momentum and progress for the year, I am very happy with how they turned out.  

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This unit is part of a compnay of Terran veterans, part of the XVI Legion before it was known as the Luna Wolves or the Sons of Horus. They have served the Empire of Man with honor and distinction throughout the entire Great Crusade, eventually becoming an elite company made up of the remnants of over a dozen companies depleted by attrition over centuries of war. Their shared origins and long history together has left them a close-knit and insular group, able to easily reorganize into new units as needed, but aloof from the younger members of the legion, mostly of Cthonian stock. But, like all members of the XVI, they glorified and worshipped Horus as being above all men, second only to the Emporer Himself. He had earned their undying admiration and respect after leading them across the galaxy through countless dangers and always bringing honor to their legion. 

When the Horus Heresy began, they believed their revered leader that it was the Emporer who had betryaed them and that only the legions could lead humanity to its ultimate purpose of domination of the galaxy. Throughout the Heresy, they maintained their discipline and focus on tactical objectives, even as others gave in to the temptation to kill and destroy for its own sake. As the discipline of many of the younger companies eroded over the years, their veterans became less orderly and their units became known as Reavers, allowing the destruction of their enemies to become their overriding priority. These Terran veterans continued to conduct war in their Legion's old ways, with precisely timed and coordinated attacks on tactical objectives.

It was not until the final Siege of Terra that they realized that Horus had sided with the dark gods of Chaos over humanity itself. There had been clues of the dark path their leaders strode, but the men's loyalty was absolute and they refused to believe that the men who personally led them to the conquest of the galaxy could be wrong.  When the realizaiton finally came, too obvious to deny, their psyches  cracked under the strain of reconciling this reality with their all-powerful indoctrination of loyalty to the legion and Horus. The purpose of their existence had been not only destroyed, but twisted into the antithesis of everything they believed in and had spent many lifetimes fighting for. For them, all that was left in the universe was betryal, hatred, dishonor and death. The company gathered together outside the gate of the Imperial palace and made a suicidal attack into the teeth of the defenses. Their minds blackened beyond despair, their only hope for salvation lay in death in battle with a worthy foe.

I wanted them to really stand out from the rest of the army and to look like older, Terran veterans. They have a mix of MkII and MKIII (mostly III), where the rest of the Legion will have MkIV - VI. I also added the Spartan crests to the helmets to have a bit more of the Roman Legion look of the original legions, but it also works with the mohawk motif of the Cthonian ganger influence so it still fits with the Sons of Horus style, in my mind. I tried to convey their elite status with their equipment as well. Obviously they are loaded with power weapons and special weapons and a vexilla. I also made sure to include the extra melee weapons, multiple grenades, pouches and even a pistol holster (some of these details are not too easy to see in the photos due to the angle of the shots and the shadows). I also wanted their poses to stand out, with multiple guys either crouching or running. I wanted to give the idea of a unit where some men are stopping to provide covering fire while others rush forward. And the sergeant has a bionic leg to show he has survived some serious fighting. 

The next step is to build and paint their rhino so they can play the role in the game that I have in my head of a fast moving, hard hitting unit that is versatile enough to be used in different capacities as the mission dictates. 

Sons of Horus vs Blood Angels and Allies: Take and Hold

I will just do a quick recap of this battle since there is not much to write about.  

Background:
The Warmaster Horus and his legion have finally arrived in the Xhorik System as part of their long march to Terra. Thanks to Praetor Wolfgang's armu of Deathguard and World Eaters, the main planet, Xhorik Prime, is firmly in the hands of the Traitors. Meanwhile, Xhorik Secundus remains loyal and is launching a planetary invasion of Xhorik Prime. Horus orders his advance forces to take the moon bases surrounding Xhorik Secundus to enable the capture of the last major Loyalist planet in the system while they are preoccupied with the war for Xhorik Prime. As part of the invasion of the first moon, a small band of Sons of Horus plan to take a comms relay station vita to the defender's communication network. Forward recon units have reported the relay to be only lightly guarded by a small detachment of Planetary Defense Forces (PDF). However, when the Traitor strike force arrives, they unexpectedly find the area reinforced by Loyalist marines of the Imperial Fists and Blood Angels legions, the latter having not been seen in the system previously. Although surprised by the stronger enemy arrayed against them, the Sons of Horus leader, Praetor Ezmen Vyke, has little choice but to press ahead with the attack. 

Scenario: Take and Hold
Primary Objective
Control the comms relay at the end of the game: 3 VP

Secondary Objectives

Slay the Warlord: 1 VP
Attrition (destroy the most enemy units): 1 VP

Battle:

Deployment

Blood Angels

The Blood Angels have arrived in the Xhorik System!

HQ
Garo Arteo - Bloody Executioner of the Crimson Gate: Praetor w/ artificer armor, iron halo, digital
lasers, jump pack, blade of perdition, bolt pistol

Troops
The Golden Shields of Baal: 10 breacher marines, void-hardened armor, 8 bolters, 2 melta guns,
breacher shields, sergeant with thunder hammer & artificer armor

The Sanguine Berzerkers:14 assault marines w/ jump packs, bolt pistols, 2 power axes, sergeant with
power fist, plasma pistol, artificer armor

Heavy Support
The Angel’s Judgement: Vindicator Tank w/ demolisher cannon, armored ceramite and twin-linked
bolter

Veteran Sergeant

Next up is the sergeant with artificer armor and a power fist. I had to paint him next so I could field him in the upcoming game Pete and I plan to play. He has a bionic leg to reiterate his veteran status, much like my White Scars veteran sergeant. Unfortunately, I realized when building the squad that I was short one MKIII power pack due to using one on the sergeant for my tactical squad, so I had to improvise with something from the bits box. It is a bit primitive and clunky looking so I have to assume it was either leftover from some primitive early suit of power armor or it is a custom repair job from a distant forge world supporting Horus. Either way, it adds to his unique look within the squad. He also has a taller head crest from the command squad sprue instead of the added crests that I stuck on the regular MKIII heads for the rest of the squad. I went for a pose of a charging punch. I wanted something dynamic, which can be difficult with the Heresy models. It is not perfect, but he certainly looks like he is about to knock your block off, which is what I was going for.

Power Weapon Veterans

I decided to paint the veterans with close combat weapons next. A power axe and power sword will give this unit some versatility in melee. 

These two make seven in total. Just the sergeant and two more to go for the full squad. 

Melta Gun Veterans

 Finished the next two veterans. That makes five - halfway there!

These dudes bring the heat.

I love mixing in the kneeling legs for some variety. I like to imagine power armor allows a reasonable level of flexibility - more than terminator armor.

MKIII has a lot of highlighting and shading.