The days of Captain Sicarius (II)

  "While our former captain was every bit the hero that the legends say, he was also impetuous and had to taste defeat, just like everyone else.  That impetuousness, often a consequence of arrogance, can lead to some... opportunities to learn.  And Captain Sicarius was a quick learner.

  That fuel station that Sicarius' force had taken was vital to the heretics' plans, so a counter-attack should have been expected.  The felling of the Daemon Prince and the dominance of the theatre should have meant certain victory, but the Death Guard were not so easily deterred.  Unfortunately, Sicarius was so sure of his victory that he didn't properly plan a defense.  So he would have to fight this battle again...

  One day after the last battle, my son and I played another game using the same forces and battlefield.  The Ultramarines were victorious last time, but my son felt confident in his army list and wanted to go again.  To keep with the storyline-

  The fuel station was extremely important to the Death Guard positions in the upcoming invasion.  This was not a location that could be so easily lost if the efforts were to be successful.  So the leaders of the Death Guard planned a cunning counter-attack, meant to pressure the loyalists and force them into a posture they weren't ready for.  After all, their leader was known for his lightning strikes and overwhelming speed.  The key fuel station could be retaken by removing the defenders' strength... 

Forces and Battlefield
  As noted before, we are using the exact same battlefield and forces as the previous battle. 


The scenario for this battle is taken from the Chapter Approved 2019, called "Front-Line Warfare".  In this scenario, players gain victory points at the end of the battle round for each objective they control.  The important part here is that both players score the points at the same time, so they can react and prevent their opponent from scoring points as well as play for their own.  Just like last battle, this scenario fits the narrative perfectly!

Deployment
  This time, the Death Guard were the attackers.  The Ultramarines chose the deepest deployment type in order to give themselves a smaller front to defend.  The Death Guard were more than happy with that and deployed very aggressively.  With the artillery set up in the back corner and the infantry hordes filling the center, there were very few places for the Ultramarines to attack in force.  The Chaos forces even bracketed the line with the Helbrute, so there was nowhere safe for the Land Raider to deploy!

  The Ultramarines responded by lining everything up in a 'spearhead' right in the middle of their area.  The idea was to rush two transports full of marines to each side of the battlefield and 'divide and conquer'.  The snipers were set up in the woods just to claim the objective points and possibly threaten some characters, while the rest of the army huddled behind them.  It was certainly a defensive posture.

Battle Round 1

  The Death Guard immediately charged forward, moving every infantry model up as fast as they could.  The Helbrute and artillery battery all stayed stationary.  Chaos wasn't about to give up their advantage of initiative and the supporting shelling was intense.  

  The artillery battery opened up with the three mortars wiping out the combat squad in the ruins, entropy cannons putting some damage on the Rhino and Land Raider in sight, and the stubbers nearly annihilating the Scouts.  The Helbrute, on the other side of the battlefield, opened up and took out half the wounds of the Razorback on its own.  With a smattering of bolter fire from the rest of the army, the Death Guard were finished with their shooting and advance.  They had achieved First Strike and put some serious damage on the rest of the enemy.  

Death Guard, Turn 1

   The Ultramarines, taken aback by the damage fromt he Death Guard, had no time to hesitate.  The lone surviving Scout retreated behind the advancing Land Raider, now trying to take the rearward objective that the now destroyed combat squad was supposed to hold.  The Librarian that accompanied that squad retreated to the objective, holding it until the Scout arrived.  The Rhino that was hidden in the trees behind the Scout leapt out and immediately claimed the objective point while screening the Land Raider a bit.  This was going to be the Ultramarines left flank attack...

  The other flank saw the Rhino rush up to take another objective point and give a wall of protection to the advancing Assault Squad and Chaplain.  Meanwhile, the Razorback remained behind to provide fire support.  When the assault cannons began their howl of fire, the rest of the loyalists also opened fire on the renegades.  When the smoke had cleared, one Plague Marine had fallen.  One!  But Sicarius was not one to underestimate his enemies and was sure to get his forces onto as many objective points as possible. 

Ultrarmines, Turn 1

  The end of the Battle Round saw the Ultramarines holding five objectives and the Death Guard only holding one.  The tactics of Sicarius were certainly paying off so far. 

Battle Round 1- Death Guard 2, Ultramarines 5

Battle Round 2
   The Death Guard were more than ready for Sicarius' predictable tactics of rushing everything forward.  The disadvantage of the 'divide and conquer' tactic becomes apparent when the defender is tougher and built for attrition.  Death Guard are definitely tougher and built for attrition. 

  The renegades started by blowing up the Rhino and exposing the Tactical Squad on the hill to a massive charge.  The Deathshroud Terminators, trailed by the Daemon Prince, joined the Plague Marine squad on the charge and easily carved up the Ultramarines.  After blades were resheathed, only a single marine with a heavy bolter survived and was nearly surrounded.  The situation didn't look good, except for the trailing support of Assault marines and the Chaplain.  Unfortunately, the Death Guard charge distracted from the plague mortar barrage that wiped out the Assault Squad!

  The other flank saw entropy cannon severely wounding the Land Raider.  Luckily, the ancient tank's resilience kept it alive and allowed for the leading Rhino to soak up a charge by Plague Marines.  Slowly, those two units of Plague Marines tried to surround the transport.  Again, miraculously, the transport survived.  The Death Guard were unable to crack this flank. 

Death Guard, Turn 2

   Sicarius started to realize the folly of his strategy and ordered his surviving flank to disembark and destroy the Death Guard.  The battle had moved from tactics to desperate hatred.  His Tactical Marines disembarked from the heavily damaged Rhino and surrounded the shocked renegades exposed by the retreating vehicle, while Sicarius and his Veteran bodyguard unassed from the limping Land Raider and surrounded the other squad of Death Guard.  Unleashing bolters and charging with a fury uncommon to the Ultramarines, the two enemy units were easily dispatched and the forces consolidated as far into the Chaos lines as they could.  The Malignant Plaguecaster was not in a strong position. 

  The other flank fared less well, but showed the unswerving bravery known to the loyalists.  The heavy bolter marine fell back and added his firepower to the Razorback's, killing most of the Death Guard and stranding the Deathshroud Terminators.  The Chaplain, taking advantage of the distraction, leapt over the line and charged the Plaguecaster protecting the Daemon Prince.  With a Litany of Hatred on his lips, he smashed the sorcerer into the ground and shuffled towards the Helbrute, locking that beast down.  Even without his support, the Chaplain has proven to be the hero of this battlefield. 

Ultramarines, Turn 2

   While the Ultramarines are suffering mightily at the hands of the Death Guard, they are still exhibiting their tactical acumen and claiming objectives all over the battlefield.  Unfortunately, the Death Guard are starting to spread like a virus.  At the end of the round, the Ultramarines hold three objectives and the Death Guard hold three as well. 

Battle Round 2- Death Guard 5, Ultramarines 8

 Battle Round 3
  The Daemon Prince could sense the presence of his enemy, Sicarius, and turned to stalk the prey.  With that, the Deathshroud Terminators casually strolled forward and readied to engaged the Razorback.  The remaining Plague Marines on that flank finally finished off the Tactical Marines and finally claimed that objective while the Helbrute now fought for its unlife against an angry Chaplain. 

  With little else to do, the artillery continued to rain daemonic shell on everything they could, aiming to kill off the surviving Rhino and finish off the Land Raider.  Again, the ancient armor kept it alive even as the transport was blown up nearby.  The plaguecaster worked to finish off the threatening Tactical Marines, which he confidently did using the powers of the warp and a mighty stick!  But Sicarius soon engaged...
 

Death Guard, Turn 3

   While the Ultramarines Chaplain continued to pound on the Helbrute, the Razorback and accompanying Librarian unleashed onto the advancing Terminators and killed two of them.  The sniper finally arrived and took the Librarians' spot so he could finally contribute to the force's power.  Unfortunately, the surviving Death Guard Terminator was going to be too much to handle already...

  Sicarius, watching his entire army be demolished by the Death Guard, furiously charged into the Plaguecaster and cut him down, consolidated into the Plague Surgeon, and growled as he saw the Daemon Prince coming.  The distraction was enough for the Plague Surgeon to slice through Sicarius' armor and evoke a giggle from the Daemon Prince.  The Land Raider couldn't find a weakness for the lascannons against the mortars.  The Veteran Squad understood what they had to do and valiantly charged, with the survivors of the Tactical squad slipping in, across the battlefield and into the artillery, locking it up for a moment and giving the rest of the Ultramarines a moment of freedom. 

Ultramarines, Turn 3

  The situation was certainly desperate for the Ultramarines by now.  The Death Guard had complete control of the battlefield, had weakened or destroyed all the weapons of the loyalists, and controlled the initiative.  The only thing they didn't control yet was the objective points on the battlefield, even giving some up to the boyz in blue.  Slaughter was the approach of Chaos, and the Death Guard were following that to a fault!

Battle Round 3, Death Guard 5, Ultramarines 15

Battle Round 4
  The Death Guard could feel their prey dying and it gave them joy.  The Daemon Prince was so confident with the flow of the battle that he retreated from Sicarius and retook the objective that his Terminators had abandoned.  The Helbrute only caught a glance from the commander as his battle with the Chaplain ended with the skull-faced leader finishing it off and glaring at him.  The prince turned his attention to his surviving Terminator and watched as he charged past assault cannon fire and almost chopped down the Librarian and locked up the vehicle.  It made him proud. 

  The Plague Surgeon continued to hold Sicarius' attention while the unengaged mortars finally destroyed the Land Raider nearby.  The other artillery were locked down, until the Chaos Lord finally emerged from the shadows and slayed the attackers.  Only the Ultramarine Veterans survived to harass the artillery, and it wasn't going to be enough. 
 

Death Guard Turn 4

   The Ultramarines counterattacked with everything they could.  The Chaplain charged the Daemon Prince and prayed with all the fervor in the galaxy.  But the prince was not to be denied his victory and crushed the Chaplain.  With a howl of celebration, the Daemon Prince announced that the Ultramarines had lost a hero. 

  The Librarian, threatened by the Terminator, powered up his force staff and charged back into him, only to find the rusted, ancient armor too thick to penetrate.  With a smile not allowed on bad guys, the Terminator turned his scythe and sliced the Imperial psyker right through, ending that threat.  Nonchalantly, he turned his attention back to the Razorback. 

  With that, the Ultramarines had lost the ability to claim objectives or put up a real fight.  Only Captain Sicarius remained among all the loyal heroes that day, and he knew it.  But he couldn't stop now and advanced toward to the artillery battery.  His Veterans needed him...

Ultramarines, Turn 4

Battle Round 5
  The Death Guard now held almost every objective and had almost completely eliminated the opponent.  But there were still some loose ends to tie up.  First, the unengaged mortars killed off the remaining Scout and took away the loyalists' claim on any objectives.  The Deathshroud Terminator crept his way around the dying Razorback and claimed that point, looking back at the Daemon Prince in the distance and sharing a smile.  This victory was theirs to lose...

  Meanwhile, the Chaos Lord normally guiding the mortars chose to earn some glory for himself.  Seeking only a moment's permission from the prince, the Lord moved up and gave Sicarius the call for a duel.  Sicarius eagerly accepted and brought out his vaunted Talassarian Blade.  Little did he realize that the Chaos Lord also carried an artifact of equal power.  After surviving Sicarius' furious attack, he cut the commander down easily.  Mortal wounds aren't unique to Sicarius, after all. With that, the Death Guard earned Slay the Warlord.

Death Guard, Turn 5

   The Ultramarines spent their turn helpless.  Once Sicarius had died, the Razorback soon followed and the Veterans were the last survivors of this battle.  Every objective point was claimed and there was no resistance left against the forces of Chaos. 

Ultramarines Turn 5

Battle Round 5- Death Guard 16, Ultramarines 16

   The game wasn't quite over at that point.  Since the Ultramarines had gotten Behind Enemy Lines while the Death Guard had claimed all the objectives for two turns in a row (basically) and Slay the Warlord, the game was actually tied.  The battle wasn't yet decided! 

  Random Game Length roll

  Nooooooo!  The game continued, so the Death Guard automatically score five more points and there was nothing the Ultramarines could do about it.  The Death Guard won.  In this case, they won not only by the scenario but also the butt-kicking part and the psychological part.  The Ultramarines were defeated completely this battle.  

  "Sicarius and his tactical genius were the only things that kept this battle winnable.  But his strategy was all wrong and it was based on an assumption of arrogance.  A single firefight is not a battle, and a war is never won until your enemy is completely destroyed.  The captain was reminded of this lesson during this battle.