A Morning Of Kill team
Quite randomly we decided it would be good fun to have a few games of Kill Team. There are two versions in common knowledge: the first was published in the 4th edition Warhammer 40,000 rulebook which pitted a hand-picked squad against units of grunts and sentries called Brute squads, in a daring, nearly suicidal raid mission. The second is published in the Battle Missions supplement and is more of a simple method of playing really small skirmish games, featuring small forces in a straight up fight.
Being more narrative minded kind of folks, we chose to play the first type. First of all a Cadian Kill Team would see how it fared against the forces of the Sisters of Battle. Then we'd swap sides and see if a Battle Sisters' Kill team could do better against the Imperial Guard.
As the Sisters of Battle aren't included in the Brute squad chart, we decided to give them 5 Brute squads, like Space Marines.
Being more narrative minded kind of folks, we chose to play the first type. First of all a Cadian Kill Team would see how it fared against the forces of the Sisters of Battle. Then we'd swap sides and see if a Battle Sisters' Kill team could do better against the Imperial Guard.
As the Sisters of Battle aren't included in the Brute squad chart, we decided to give them 5 Brute squads, like Space Marines.
Ready YOUR BEST MEN...
Before embarking on their deadly missions, the Kill Team had to be chosen. The Cadian squad was formed mostly of veteran guardsmen clad in carapace armour, two with plasma guns, one with a flamer and another with a meltagun. A further couple of veterans were armed with their standard lasguns. They were led into battle by a grizzled sergeant with a power sword, and were accompanied by a headstrong commissar.
For their special equipment, they chose Distraction - meaning prior to their assault they had prepared a massive explosion to take place on the far side of the battlefield, which would confuse the sentries for a turn and cause them to wander off in the wrong direction.
For their special equipment, they chose Distraction - meaning prior to their assault they had prepared a massive explosion to take place on the far side of the battlefield, which would confuse the sentries for a turn and cause them to wander off in the wrong direction.
Mission 1 - Assassinate
We rolled for the first mission and discovered that an influential Preacher had landed on-planet and was in conference with the leader of the local Sororitas forces. His arrival was a powerful boost to the Battle Sisters' morale - morale that would suffer a catastrophic blow were he to be killed. The Kill Team was ordered to take him out...
After choosing the Cadian Kill team, the Sisters of Battle had enough points to equip their leader with a plasma pistol and power sword, and upgrade one of the Brute squads to a 'Doom squad' making them better fighters (we used Celestian models to represent this). The leader (a sister superior) also had the 'Still Not Dead' ability meaning if she was 'killed' she would have one extra final turn to cause damage until her ultimate demise. If all didn't go well, they also had a Doomsday device which, as a last desperate plan, could destroy the whole area if too many Brutes were killed. Yes the preacher would be killed too but at least the Kill Team would go down with him!
After choosing the Cadian Kill team, the Sisters of Battle had enough points to equip their leader with a plasma pistol and power sword, and upgrade one of the Brute squads to a 'Doom squad' making them better fighters (we used Celestian models to represent this). The leader (a sister superior) also had the 'Still Not Dead' ability meaning if she was 'killed' she would have one extra final turn to cause damage until her ultimate demise. If all didn't go well, they also had a Doomsday device which, as a last desperate plan, could destroy the whole area if too many Brutes were killed. Yes the preacher would be killed too but at least the Kill Team would go down with him!
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Stealthily entering the area, the Kill Team spy their target in the building ahead.
The Kill Team advanced towards their objective, choosing not to shoot until they got as close as they could. However, this was not too long as the Sisters Brutes started to move towards them. As the shooting started it was clear the Kill Team packed some serious firepower as three Brute squads were taken out in three turns, one of the Sisters tried to halt the Kill team's advance by charging into combat but was overwhelmed by their numbers. With few Brutes remaining, and now fully aware of the Kill Team's presence, the Doom squad and sister superior both advanced to shoot at the Kill Team, managing to kill two of them in a shooting phase, and the sister superior killed a further two in combat. However the sister superior had suffered a mortal wound in the previous shooting and at the end of the turn she finally died of her wounds.
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The plasma gunner finds his mark.
This left the final two members of the Kill Team pressed, and so in a last gamble they drew back to draw a bead on the preacher, still sheltering in the central building. Two plasma shots were on target; either of them would inflict an instant (and spectacular) death. Only the cover provided by the building could save him. Holding our breath the dice came down - one shot saved, but the other blasted the preacher to atoms and the mission was achieved! Quickly retreating the Kill Team rushed clear of the area seconds before the Doomsday bomb reached the end of its countdown and blasted a huge crater in the earth.
MISSION LOG
Result: Objective Met, Kill Team victory
Number of kills: 12
Special equipment issued: Silencers
Result: Objective Met, Kill Team victory
Number of kills: 12
Special equipment issued: Silencers
Mission 2 - SABOTAGE
For their next mission the Kill Team was tasked with destroying the filtration intake of a Promethium refinery building, which would result in the failure of fuel supplies to the Sisters' forces, and if not rectified quickly, could cause the facility to explode! Unfortunately for the Kill Team the filtration intake was made of reinforced adamantium so only the melta-charges they carried could destroy it. Furthermore it was located on the roof of the refinery so they would have to fight their way through to reach it.
The Sisters had received word of the approaching danger thanks to an 'All Points Bulletin', and were commanded once again by a veteran sister superior who would prove tough to kill. The refinery was further protected on two sides by las-trap alarm systems, while a third side was patrolled by a Celestian 'Doom squad'. This was not going to be easy...
The Kill Team approached from what they judged top be the least heavily defended direction, avoiding the las-traps and staying clear of the Doom squad. They wasted no time in opening up on the nearest Brutes, relying on their newly acquired silencers to keep the rest of the sentries from being alerted. Minutes later the pre-set explosion distracted the guarding Sisters, leaving a route to the central objective. The Kill Team advanced quickly, but realising the infiltrators in their midst the Battle Sisters reacted swiftly. The Kill Team took out another Brute squad as it approached, but the remaining Battle Sisters had spotted their enemies. Rushing to bring their bolters to bear, they formed a power-armoured blockade around the refinery. The combined weight of bolter fire put down the Kill Team and ended their career for good.
The Sisters had received word of the approaching danger thanks to an 'All Points Bulletin', and were commanded once again by a veteran sister superior who would prove tough to kill. The refinery was further protected on two sides by las-trap alarm systems, while a third side was patrolled by a Celestian 'Doom squad'. This was not going to be easy...
The Kill Team approached from what they judged top be the least heavily defended direction, avoiding the las-traps and staying clear of the Doom squad. They wasted no time in opening up on the nearest Brutes, relying on their newly acquired silencers to keep the rest of the sentries from being alerted. Minutes later the pre-set explosion distracted the guarding Sisters, leaving a route to the central objective. The Kill Team advanced quickly, but realising the infiltrators in their midst the Battle Sisters reacted swiftly. The Kill Team took out another Brute squad as it approached, but the remaining Battle Sisters had spotted their enemies. Rushing to bring their bolters to bear, they formed a power-armoured blockade around the refinery. The combined weight of bolter fire put down the Kill Team and ended their career for good.
MISSION LOG
Result: Objective Failed, Kill Team eliminated
Number of kills: 8
Result: Objective Failed, Kill Team eliminated
Number of kills: 8
PREPARinG FOR HOLy BATTLE
It was time to swap roles, and so the Sister of Battle Kill Team was selected. Preparing to face superior numbers of Imperial Guard Brutes, three sisters were armed with flamers. Another sister was equipped with a storm bolter. The Kill Team was led by a sister superior with a plasma pistol. To complete the team were four Celestians with bolters. Instead of being issued special equipment the team was also tasked with ensuring the safety of a 'Redshirt' preacher! If he survived the mission then the Kill Team would be rewarded with extra equipment for their next mission.
Mission 1 - Sabotage
The Battle Sisters meet heavy resistance.
The first mission we rolled for the Sisters to attempt was another Sabotage. The Imperial Guard had built secure weapon shops and hab-zones underground to shelter them from bombardment. These factories had to be neutralised another way, and so the Kill Team was formed to destroy the primary air-circulation vents of the underground facility. To do so they would have to reach the vent on top of the Mechanicus Tower and cripple it with a well placed melta-bomb.
The Imperial Guard had protected it well however, surrounding the tower with a dizzying number of las-traps and guards. The soldier in charge of overseeing its defence was a fearless commissar, who surveyed the area from the towers gantry. The Guard forces had been warned of the potential for an attack by an 'All Points Bulletin' so they stood waiting, ever watchful.
The Sisters emerged from the east, stopping short of a las-trap and taking up a firing position. As they slowly advanced, picking their route carefully to avoid the las-traps, they paused every couple of minutes to fire a deadly volley of bolter rounds at the nearest group of sentries, staying far enough away to avoid detection they took out three Brute squads before greater numbers of guardsmen started to fall back to the Mechanicus Tower to better coordinate a defence. Seeing that decisive action would be required to break through, the Sisters advanced confidently, bringing up flamers to take a heavy toll on the defending guardsmen. Now fully aware of the threat, the guardsmens' great number of returning lasgun shots took a heavy toll on the advancing Battle Sisters, most tellingly taking out all of the flamer-armed women early on. After several minutes of intense firefight, just the sister superior and Redshirt preacher remained, and of the defenders 5 Brutes were left standing - two of which were rapidly falling back to the top of the tower!
The Imperial Guard had protected it well however, surrounding the tower with a dizzying number of las-traps and guards. The soldier in charge of overseeing its defence was a fearless commissar, who surveyed the area from the towers gantry. The Guard forces had been warned of the potential for an attack by an 'All Points Bulletin' so they stood waiting, ever watchful.
The Sisters emerged from the east, stopping short of a las-trap and taking up a firing position. As they slowly advanced, picking their route carefully to avoid the las-traps, they paused every couple of minutes to fire a deadly volley of bolter rounds at the nearest group of sentries, staying far enough away to avoid detection they took out three Brute squads before greater numbers of guardsmen started to fall back to the Mechanicus Tower to better coordinate a defence. Seeing that decisive action would be required to break through, the Sisters advanced confidently, bringing up flamers to take a heavy toll on the defending guardsmen. Now fully aware of the threat, the guardsmens' great number of returning lasgun shots took a heavy toll on the advancing Battle Sisters, most tellingly taking out all of the flamer-armed women early on. After several minutes of intense firefight, just the sister superior and Redshirt preacher remained, and of the defenders 5 Brutes were left standing - two of which were rapidly falling back to the top of the tower!
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One last chance...!
To stand still was to be shot to death, and so the two remaining members of the Kill Team charged up the tower to engage the retreating Brutes. Blows were exchanged; the superior's armour saving her, and one Brute was slain, the other retreating further to reach the very top of the tower. Unable to catch him the sister superior and preacher clambered up to the highest gantry to try and seek cover from the Brutes below.
The lasgun fire came snapping up at them from the ground, but again the sister superior's armour protected her. The preacher was not quite so lucky, as the guardsman atop the tower fired down at him and killed him with a las-round to the head! The sister superior stood alone, knowing she had just one chance to complete the mission. Rushing around the tower she hauled herself up to the vent and slammed her melta-bomb to its side. Punching the activation stud she hurled herself off the tower top to the safety of the gantry below, just as the charged detonated reducing the vent and uppermost portion of the Mechanicus Tower to a molten ruin.
The lasgun fire came snapping up at them from the ground, but again the sister superior's armour protected her. The preacher was not quite so lucky, as the guardsman atop the tower fired down at him and killed him with a las-round to the head! The sister superior stood alone, knowing she had just one chance to complete the mission. Rushing around the tower she hauled herself up to the vent and slammed her melta-bomb to its side. Punching the activation stud she hurled herself off the tower top to the safety of the gantry below, just as the charged detonated reducing the vent and uppermost portion of the Mechanicus Tower to a molten ruin.
MISSION LOG
Result: Objective Met, Kill Team victory
Number of kills: 27
Special equipment issued: Scrambler
Status of preacher asset: K.I.A.
Result: Objective Met, Kill Team victory
Number of kills: 27
Special equipment issued: Scrambler
Status of preacher asset: K.I.A.
Mission 2 - Escape
The Guard advance in force, but are picked off quickly.
The Kill Team had been tracked down and a force of guardsmen was tasked with finding and destroying them. The Sisters had to fight clear of the closing hunters (by killing all of them!).
The Imperial Guard Brutes deployed in strength to one side of the Sisters' position, hoping to bring their full strength to bear. However, this allowed the Sisters to move away from the Brutes, targeting the nearest squad each turn while keeping the Guard at a comfortably safe distance. After several turns half the Brute squads were dead and the rest were no closer to detecting the Kill Team's position. As this was not a very dramatic turn of events, we decided to restart the game, allowing the Brutes to deploy again in a more tactical position.
The Imperial Guard Brutes deployed in strength to one side of the Sisters' position, hoping to bring their full strength to bear. However, this allowed the Sisters to move away from the Brutes, targeting the nearest squad each turn while keeping the Guard at a comfortably safe distance. After several turns half the Brute squads were dead and the rest were no closer to detecting the Kill Team's position. As this was not a very dramatic turn of events, we decided to restart the game, allowing the Brutes to deploy again in a more tactical position.
Mission 2a - Escape
The Sisters attempt to break out of the closing net of Brute squads
Once again the Sisters took up their starting position, in a tactically defensive formation atop a loading platform. The Brute squads were on all sides, leaving the Sisters little choice but to get stuck in as soon as possible. Moving towards the flank they perceived to be the least threat, they dismounted the platform, guns blazing to take out the nearest Brute squad. As they were so close, several Brute squads spotted them quickly and the lasgun fire started. The Kill Team moved and fired efficiently, taking out a Brute squad every turn, but slowly they started to take casualties. As the net closed in, the Sisters turned to take the fight to the now nearing Brutes, using their last remaining flamer to take out as many of their foes as possible. It could only end one way, however, as the sheer number of lasgun volleys fired each turn took down the Kill Team.
The final member of the Kill Team stood defiantly as dozens of las-rounds streaked out towards her. In the Brute shooting phase she took a mighty seven wounds. Failing three saves, she was blasted to death, and the Sisters of Battle Kill Team had fared just as well as the Imperial Guard's - not very well!
The final member of the Kill Team stood defiantly as dozens of las-rounds streaked out towards her. In the Brute shooting phase she took a mighty seven wounds. Failing three saves, she was blasted to death, and the Sisters of Battle Kill Team had fared just as well as the Imperial Guard's - not very well!
MISSION LOG
Result: Objective Failed, Kill Team eliminated
Number of kills: 17
Result: Objective Failed, Kill Team eliminated
Number of kills: 17
Summary
Well with just one successful mission each, our Kill Teams didn't really perform as well as we'd hoped! In friendly spirits we have to call it a draw. Perhaps we could have selected different options to equip our teams, or played them more effectively, but it doesn't really matter! We had some really tense and exciting games with a strong narrative element. It was great to do something a bit out of the ordinary, and it was a very enjoyable morning. Maybe we'll do a bit better next time...