Game 4 - Tank Park
The prison break had not succeeded in giving the cult the numbers needed to assault the sector's Administratum building. A new plan was needed. How else to destroy the Imperial control?
If they could not assault the building and destroy the people and archives inside, maybe they could desrtroy the whole building instead! to do this they would need explosives, but they were difficult to come by, especially in the amount needed. However, there was one source of the destructive power required in the local area; the pride of the PDF, the Hellhammer tank 'Imperious' had just finished being repaired at the nearby Arctrakus Garrison just a mile outside the western cordon. With the right timing it might be possible to break in, then it would just be a case of working out how to operate the thing...
If they could not assault the building and destroy the people and archives inside, maybe they could desrtroy the whole building instead! to do this they would need explosives, but they were difficult to come by, especially in the amount needed. However, there was one source of the destructive power required in the local area; the pride of the PDF, the Hellhammer tank 'Imperious' had just finished being repaired at the nearby Arctrakus Garrison just a mile outside the western cordon. With the right timing it might be possible to break in, then it would just be a case of working out how to operate the thing...
In the quiet before the dawn...
The tank park awaits the cultists, the Hellhammer prize sitting in the centre.
The PDF slumbered in their barracks blocks, while outside in the tank park the tanks sat in the darkness. The sentries up on the watchtower idly chatted to keep their minds off the chill in the air, and the piercing light of the garrison searchlight moved across the area, detecting nothing of alarm.
A Stealthy Approach
For several tense minutes the cultists advanced warily, staying a safe distance from the prying eyes of the watchtower's occupants, and waiting for an opening. As the searchlight's disc of illumination drifted ever further from them towards the barrack buildings they ran to quickly close with the waiting tanks. The group in the south reached the vehicles first, eagerly jumping into the Hellhound and Chimera, and a few seconds later, a sizeable group boarded the Hellhammer! Awaiting a pre-determined signal, they were content to sit and wait.
Finally seeing no alternative, the group from the north split into two groups. The first group leapt into the nearby Chimera, the excess numbers happily taking up position in the tank's passenger compartment, while the second group dashed for the Leman Russ. This left them exposed for potentially being sighted by troopers in the watchtower, but at the critical moment they were both looking out into the darkness beyond the fence, and so remained unaware of the infiltration taking place behind them. Making it safely inside the Leman Russ, this left every every tank full of cult forces, and the Imperial forces totally unaware! It was time to get the show on the road!
Finally seeing no alternative, the group from the north split into two groups. The first group leapt into the nearby Chimera, the excess numbers happily taking up position in the tank's passenger compartment, while the second group dashed for the Leman Russ. This left them exposed for potentially being sighted by troopers in the watchtower, but at the critical moment they were both looking out into the darkness beyond the fence, and so remained unaware of the infiltration taking place behind them. Making it safely inside the Leman Russ, this left every every tank full of cult forces, and the Imperial forces totally unaware! It was time to get the show on the road!
Start Your Engines!
As the signal was given, all the tanks' engines were gunned into life, immediately alerting the garrisons forces that something was seriously amiss! Luckily enough, nearly all of the tanks' systems were beyond the simple ken of the cultists, and only the Leman Russ got moving, lurching ponderously forwards towards the fence.
With no time to waste, the troopers leapt down the ladder from the watchtower, determined to make up for their lack of vigilance. The quickest of the PDF troopers being rudely awoken sprang from the barracks, rushing towards the tanks. Krak grenades were thrown to try and damage the tanks so they could not be taken, but with little affect.
As time wore on, the cultists desperately tried to get their tanks moving, but were confounded by their lack of know-how, allowing more PDF forces to run from the barracks and in to plant krak grenades on the vehicles. A plucky PDF trooper leapt up onto the top of the Hellhound, and proceeded to lay krak charges upon it, until it finallly lurched off towards the fence and caused him to fall off. Several troopers surrounded the Chimera to the south, while several more charged to the rear of the Hellhammer, and knowing it would be next to impossible to destroy the mighty tank, proceeded to lay krak grenades all acros its armoured engine attempting to cause as much damage to their newly repaired tank as they could! The Chimera to the north sped off towards the north-east perimeter, the pursuing PDF troopers unable to catch it but chasing it all the same, hurling grenades at it as it drove away. The Leman Russ advanced steadily forwards, but as it neared the watchtower the driver lost control ad it slewed heavily into the watchtower. Regaining control once more, the driver guided it away from the tower and towards the fence, marking a route clear of the tank traps across the gateway. The cultist in the turret decided it was time to start making holes in the world, but couldn't fathom the controls of the mighty cannon turret and his first shot flew several hundred metres over the fence! His second shot was much more accurate, but he misjudged the elevation and the shell shot over the barracks and into the camp beyond!
Elsewhere, the other cultists were letting rip with their vehicles' weapons at the surrounding PDF. For the most part they were inaccurate, and a few cultists caused themselves serious injuries as they naively attempted to use the unfamiliar equipment effectively.
Finally, the Hellhammer got moving, at first lurching suddenly backwards before making its way forwards. As it reversed, two of the troopers dived clear, but another couple were not quick enough and were crushed utterly under the tank's gargantuan bulk.
As it moved forward, the crew got to work with the mighty vehicle's weapons, saving the few ordnance shells, the autocannon on the turret chattered into live, pumping heavy shells at the following troopers. The heavy flamer in the front sponson spouted fire at the nearest troopers, until the gunner released a fuel valve and gave took himself down with some horrible burns!
With no time to waste, the troopers leapt down the ladder from the watchtower, determined to make up for their lack of vigilance. The quickest of the PDF troopers being rudely awoken sprang from the barracks, rushing towards the tanks. Krak grenades were thrown to try and damage the tanks so they could not be taken, but with little affect.
As time wore on, the cultists desperately tried to get their tanks moving, but were confounded by their lack of know-how, allowing more PDF forces to run from the barracks and in to plant krak grenades on the vehicles. A plucky PDF trooper leapt up onto the top of the Hellhound, and proceeded to lay krak charges upon it, until it finallly lurched off towards the fence and caused him to fall off. Several troopers surrounded the Chimera to the south, while several more charged to the rear of the Hellhammer, and knowing it would be next to impossible to destroy the mighty tank, proceeded to lay krak grenades all acros its armoured engine attempting to cause as much damage to their newly repaired tank as they could! The Chimera to the north sped off towards the north-east perimeter, the pursuing PDF troopers unable to catch it but chasing it all the same, hurling grenades at it as it drove away. The Leman Russ advanced steadily forwards, but as it neared the watchtower the driver lost control ad it slewed heavily into the watchtower. Regaining control once more, the driver guided it away from the tower and towards the fence, marking a route clear of the tank traps across the gateway. The cultist in the turret decided it was time to start making holes in the world, but couldn't fathom the controls of the mighty cannon turret and his first shot flew several hundred metres over the fence! His second shot was much more accurate, but he misjudged the elevation and the shell shot over the barracks and into the camp beyond!
Elsewhere, the other cultists were letting rip with their vehicles' weapons at the surrounding PDF. For the most part they were inaccurate, and a few cultists caused themselves serious injuries as they naively attempted to use the unfamiliar equipment effectively.
Finally, the Hellhammer got moving, at first lurching suddenly backwards before making its way forwards. As it reversed, two of the troopers dived clear, but another couple were not quick enough and were crushed utterly under the tank's gargantuan bulk.
As it moved forward, the crew got to work with the mighty vehicle's weapons, saving the few ordnance shells, the autocannon on the turret chattered into live, pumping heavy shells at the following troopers. The heavy flamer in the front sponson spouted fire at the nearest troopers, until the gunner released a fuel valve and gave took himself down with some horrible burns!
Desperate Measures
As the Hellhammer rumbles past, the Chimera is wrecked resulting in a desperate firefight!
The Chimera in the north stuttered to a standstill as the driver lost control allowing the pursuing troopers to close the distance and hurl more grenades at it. Having never got moving, the Chimera to the south was wrecked by large quantities of krak grenade implosions, and the surviving crew prepared to engage the PDF in a close-range firefight. As their shooting was woefully ineffective, they dived from the wreck and combat was joined.
RElieved of Heavy Duty
The Hellhound is immobile at the edge of freedom!
As the Hellhound crashed through the fence, mere metres from freedom, it immobilsed itself! This allowed the PDF to catch up, and before the driver could get it moving again, a critical krak grenade hit caused it to be destroyed in a huge explosion!
The Chimera in the north ran out of the control again but the controls locked straight forwards, and it careened clear through the fence and off the board to safety, the smoking ruin of its destroyed turret a testament to the attempts to stop it. The Leman Russ also lumbered clear of the fight, followed a while later by the hulking form of the Hellhammer! (The PDF had hounded the mighty tank all game, causing krak grenade hits every turn but its mighty armour had shrugged off most of it and it left the board having lost just 3 hull points!).
The Chimera in the north ran out of the control again but the controls locked straight forwards, and it careened clear through the fence and off the board to safety, the smoking ruin of its destroyed turret a testament to the attempts to stop it. The Leman Russ also lumbered clear of the fight, followed a while later by the hulking form of the Hellhammer! (The PDF had hounded the mighty tank all game, causing krak grenade hits every turn but its mighty armour had shrugged off most of it and it left the board having lost just 3 hull points!).
With all the tanks either wrecked of stolen, the rest of the cult forces withdrew - they had taken some casualties (nearly all of whom fully recovered by the way!) but they had won their prize. The Hellhammer was theirs, along with an all but unscratched Leman Russ and a damaged but drivable Chimera.
With their new behemoths of battle the would bring ruin to Imperial rule!
With their new behemoths of battle the would bring ruin to Imperial rule!