Battle Report 2.1 – New Wargames with Imperial Guards
Lord Calgar:
I, Librarian Liceneus, write to inform you of the Ultramarine performance in today’s war games with our mortal Imperial Guard allies.
I selected a new squadron of marines, as per your instructions. Your punishment on Xion, Cato, Lexicus, and Crassus was carried out. The new squadron consisted of the following troops:
· Sternguard Veteran squad with lascannon and plasmagun, led by a Sergeant with bolt pistol and bolter
· Dreadnought Ancient Maximus, with his twin linked lascannon
· Tactical squad with meltagun, missile launcher, and Rhino
· Tactical squad with plasmagun and missile launcher, led by a Sergeant with combi-plasmagun and bolt pistol
· Scout squad with sniper rifles (5), camo cloaks (5), and a heavy bolter with hellfire shells
· Devastator squad with 3 heavy bolters
The Imperial Guard squadron, led by Commissar Klaumaulch, consisted of the following troops:
· The Lord Commissar
· Company command squad with two body guards, a Chimera, an astropath, frag grenades, a lasgun, krak grenades, two meltaguns, and a plasmagun
· Platoon command squad
· One Leman Russ Demolisher
· One Leman Russ Battle Tank
· Two Infantry Heavy Weapons squads with lasguns and missile launchers, heavy bolters, and autocannons
· One Veteran Infantry squad with lasguns, a meltagun, and two plasmaguns
· Three Infantry squads, each with one heavy weapon
As per your instructions, we proceeded with an Annihilation war game, using Spearhead deployment. The Ultramarines deployed first, choosing the southeastern quadrant.
Round 1
After deploying my scouts to the highest position on the battlefield, I ordered our Elite Sternguard Veteran lascannon to fire at the Leman Russ. He missed entirely.
Perhaps this stems from a deeper problem in our chapter. I knew I should not have allowed the Tech Marines to outsource lascannon production to Gathalamor.
I then ordered the Rhino, carrying our Tactical Marine Beta squad to fire into the Imperial Guard Alpha Infantry squad. The Rhino hit and killed one mortal. Since the Leman Russ Demolisher was within range of most of my troops, I ordered the missile launcher in my squad as well as Dreadnought Ancient Maximus to fire upon it. I had expected at least one penetrating hit, but both failed to inflict any discernable damage. I fear Warp taint.
I fear bad marksmanship.
Finally, I ordered the Devastator squad to fire upon the Lord Commissar’s Beta squad. They were successful in mortally wounding five guardsmen. They might have fled the battle, but the Commissar’s aura of discipline kept the remaining men in formation.
Perhaps augmentic surgery might be in the Lord Commissar’s future.
The Imperial Guardsmen then began their first tactical moves. Lt. Campo, of the Command Squad, attempted to order “Move, move, move,” on the Alpha infantry squad, but the cigar he was chewing made his orders incomprehensible, and so his orders were not carried out. I used my psychic abilities to garble Captain Maximillian’s instructions to the Veteran squad as well. At this point, however, Brother Julian broke my concentration by accidentally discharging his weapon, and the Captain’s second order, to the Charlie Squad, was successful.
Unfortunate Julian did not have his weapon aimed at himself. Would save me the trouble of punishing him.
Commissar Klaumaulch then ordered the shooting phase to begin. My Lord Calgar, this phase was a devastating one for my marines. First, the Heavy Infantry squad missile launchers hit Dreadnought Maximus and left him badly shaken. At first we feared his bolter might have been destroyed, but thankfully the ruins provided him with some cover and he was only shaken.
Maximus was shaken? That is a bad omen.
Secondly, the Leman Russ Demolisher fired upon Tactical Squad Beta’s Rhino. The Rhino had, thankfully, utilized its smoke launchers, and the shot was a glancing one. But it stunned the entire crew, rendering the Rhino immobile for a time.
Two war games and the Rhino virtually useless in both? The workhorse of the Ultramarines – what a joke.
The second Heavy Weapons squad fired its autocannon at the Sternguard Veterans, and were able to kill one of our elite soldiers. Finally, the Leman Russ Battle Tank fired at the Sternguard as well, but it seems that the gunner miscalculated the distance to our brethren and managed only to create a massive crater halfway between the two armies.
It seems that is good that geometry is no longer taught at Imperial Guard training due to the High Lords’ recent budget cuts.
Round 2:
Our second round of fighting was, honestly, a mixture of great success and abysmal failures. Once again, the Rocket Launcher in Tactical Alpha Squad fired upon the Demolisher, but could not get manage a penetrating hit.
I would know the name of this marine. He is obviously unworthy to remain in Alpha Squad. Perhaps working as a lobotomized servitor would suit his talents better.
The snipers, from their high ground, fired into the Imperial Guard Alpha squad, causing one rending wound. I ordered the Tactical Marine Beta squad to also fire into the I.G. Alpha squad, hoping to devastate the company. They managed to fire only one shot that hit a target, and then it merely bounced off the package of rations the soldier had attached to his back.
Rations? If your performance does not improve, perhaps you will not need these comforts.
In our one magnificent success, I ordered the Devastator squad to fire from their high position in the ruins into the Imperial Guard Platoon Command squad. The Devastators were perhaps the only marines worthy of our order today – they wiped out the command squad in one quick volley.
Indeed. Finally, one group worthy of the name “Ultramarine”.
When the Imperial Guard began their second round of attacks, they focused almost entirely on our Beta Tactical squad. First, the Heavy Infantry rocket launchers took out three Beta brethren, and then the Leman Russ Demolisher killed another 4 marines. Finally, the Beta Infantry squad attacked again, causing no wounds, but leading Brother Aurelius to flee the field of battle, running behind the Rhino.
Again? I’ve seen girly Eldar brave incoming fire better than this brother. Another candidate for the servitor units.
The Leman Russ then attempted to attack the Sternguard Veterans, but was unsuccessful.
Finally.
Round 3:
The third round of Ultramarine attacks was, I fear, quite unworthy of any associated with your legion. The Alpha and Beta tactical squads, as well as Dreadnought Maximus, all failed in their attempts to use heavy weapons against the Demolisher. The Sternguard similarly failed to damage the Leman Russ battle tank. And in three separate attacks, the Snipers, Rhino, and the Heavy bolter-carrying Scout together managed to kill only one mortal in the Imperial Guard Alpha squad.
If this trend continues, I may have to hire some girly Eldar to fight in my legion.
Our one success came, once again, from the dependable Devastator squad, killing 8 members of the Charlie infantry squad.
Maybe the Devastators should have been in command. At least they can hit their targets.
The third round of Imperial Guard attacks was, thankfully, less devastating to our brethren.
Less devastating? Oh, good. I can be happy now.
The Alpha Infantry squad fired a plasmagun, lasguns, and heavy bolters into our remaining Beta Tactical Marine squadron, killing only one brother. Commissar Klaumaulch and his Beta infantry squad also fired into our Beta Tactical squad, but, thankfully, they inflicted no serious wounds.
I’m supposed to be happy about that?
The Commissar then ordered his heavy infantry missile launchers to shoot at Dreadnought Maximus and they were able to destroy his lascannon.
A fouler omen, indeed. Maximus is rarely beaten in battle…
The Chimera killed another two Sternguard Veterans with its multi-laser, and the Veteran infantry squad killed two of our scouts as well. Thankfully, the Demolisher missed Dreadnought Maximus – apparently the targeting array had malfunctioned after one crewman spilled a bottle of ale on it. It seems he was prematurely celebrating the demise of our brother Maximus.
At least I have the comfort of knowing the idiots are not only in my legion.
Finally, the Leman Russ fired into the Beta Tactical squad, killing yet another brother.
Round 4:
Our fourth round of attacks achieved mixed results.
Let me guess – the missile launchers missed again?
First, I ordered the remaining Sternguard Veterans to fire upon the Veteran Infantry squad, and they killed one man. The Devastators also fired into the Veteran Infantrymen, and killed 2 more men. My Alpha Tactical squad killed one man in the Imperial Alpha Infantry squad as well.
A squadron of elite Sternguard Veterans, heavy Devastators, and a Librarian-led tactical squad and together they kill 4 mortals? Pitiful.
I ordered the rocket launcher from Beta Tactical to fire at the Demolisher, but it was, once again, ineffective. The same was true for the Snipers and the Rhino, both firing against the Imperial Alpha squad.
I may have to send the Inquisitors to the heavy weapons training facility to seek out any doubts that may be infiltrating our brethren. I can think of no other reason for their repeated failures.
The Imperial’s fourth round of fighting did less damage than we expected, based on the number of men who initially hit their targets.
Yay.
First, the Heavy Weapon missile launchers and the Beta Infantry squad killed two of the remaining three marines in the Beta Tactical squadron. The Lord Commissar’s heavy weapons squad also fired at the last remaining marine in Beta squad, but other than causing gauges in his breast plate, did no lasting damage. Brother Pompeus, Beta’s missile launcher, stood firm despite the annihilation of his squad and refused to leave the field of battle or take cover.
So at least he is not a coward, even if he cannot shoot a wall from 5 yards away.
The Demolisher attempted to fire upon Pompeus, but instead strayed over to the Rhino, doing no lasting damage. The Leman Russ battle tank fired its lascannon at Dreadnought Maximus, but also missed. Finally, the Imperial Guard’s Chimera and Veterans fired upon the remaining Sternguard Veterans, killing one but merely grazing two others’ biceps.
Emperor be praised for faulty targeting mechanisms.
Round 5:
In the fifth and, ultimately, final round of attacks, our Snipers gave us perhaps the most important tactical advantage. They fired upon the Alpha Infantry squad, who had stationed themselves on the second level of a ruin. While the Snipers killed only two men, they successfully pinned the remaining infantrymen, rendering them ineffective for the final attacks.
If they had done their job earlier, perhaps we would have had more success.
Brother Pompeus attempted to destroy the Demolisher one last time, but was, once again, unsuccessful. He claimed to have been startled by a noise behind him, and the resulting missile landed far beyond the tank.
Astartes do not get startled.
The Rhino and my Alpha Tactical squad both fired upon the Alpha infantry squad, killing only one man and lightly wounding two others. Both the Scouts and Sternguard were completely ineffective in their attacks against the Imperial Veterans and the Chimera, respectively.
I sincerely hope Dante doesn’t hear of these results. I’ll never live it down.
The Devastator squadron once again provided the only legitimate success, annihilating the Charlie Infantry squad in 8 shots, and giving the Ultramarines a 2-0 advantage in the war game. Finally, Dreadnought Maximus assaulted the Leman Russ and successfully immobilized it.
Well done, Devastators. You might be the only members of this spearhead to avoid long hours with the inquisitors.
In the final Imperial Guard assault, the Heavy Weapons missile launchers finally killed Brother Pompeus, earning the Guard’s first point in the war game. The Beta infantry squadron’s autocannon killed two more members of the Sternguard Veterans.
Thankfully, both the Chimera and the Veteran infantry attacks had no effects on the remaining Sternguard Veterans. The Imperial Guard plasma gunner unfortunately killed himself in the attempt.
Once again, the plasma gunners do more damage to themselves than my marines do to them. Unacceptable.
The final two moments of the battle belonged to the Imperial Guard Leman Russ tanks. The Leman Russ battle tank’s lascannon immobilized Dreadnought Maximus, but did not destroy him or his remaining weapon. Finally, the Demolisher wreaked havoc on my own squadron, killing five members of the squad before the war game officially ended.
The final result of the war game, based on the number of total units each army had completely destroyed, was: Ultramarines, 2; Imperial Guard, 1.
It was a victory, my Lord Calgar, but I would hardly recommend any but the Devastators for honors. I sincerely fear that some of our brethren marines might be tempted by the glory found in the warp. I strongly urge you to investigate before this army is placed into a real battle against our enemies.
Your Servant,
Librarian Liceneus.
The lure of the warp, or the lure of the bottle? Less alcohol, more training is the answer. For now. But perhaps I will send an Inquisitor in to seek out any hidden doubts. Or maybe I just need to stop surrounding myself with idiots.
Lord M. Calgar, Chaptermaster of the Ultramarines
Lord Calgar:
I, Librarian Liceneus, write to inform you of the Ultramarine performance in today’s war games with our mortal Imperial Guard allies.
I selected a new squadron of marines, as per your instructions. Your punishment on Xion, Cato, Lexicus, and Crassus was carried out. The new squadron consisted of the following troops:
· Sternguard Veteran squad with lascannon and plasmagun, led by a Sergeant with bolt pistol and bolter
· Dreadnought Ancient Maximus, with his twin linked lascannon
· Tactical squad with meltagun, missile launcher, and Rhino
· Tactical squad with plasmagun and missile launcher, led by a Sergeant with combi-plasmagun and bolt pistol
· Scout squad with sniper rifles (5), camo cloaks (5), and a heavy bolter with hellfire shells
· Devastator squad with 3 heavy bolters
The Imperial Guard squadron, led by Commissar Klaumaulch, consisted of the following troops:
· The Lord Commissar
· Company command squad with two body guards, a Chimera, an astropath, frag grenades, a lasgun, krak grenades, two meltaguns, and a plasmagun
· Platoon command squad
· One Leman Russ Demolisher
· One Leman Russ Battle Tank
· Two Infantry Heavy Weapons squads with lasguns and missile launchers, heavy bolters, and autocannons
· One Veteran Infantry squad with lasguns, a meltagun, and two plasmaguns
· Three Infantry squads, each with one heavy weapon
As per your instructions, we proceeded with an Annihilation war game, using Spearhead deployment. The Ultramarines deployed first, choosing the southeastern quadrant.
Round 1
After deploying my scouts to the highest position on the battlefield, I ordered our Elite Sternguard Veteran lascannon to fire at the Leman Russ. He missed entirely.
Perhaps this stems from a deeper problem in our chapter. I knew I should not have allowed the Tech Marines to outsource lascannon production to Gathalamor.
I then ordered the Rhino, carrying our Tactical Marine Beta squad to fire into the Imperial Guard Alpha Infantry squad. The Rhino hit and killed one mortal. Since the Leman Russ Demolisher was within range of most of my troops, I ordered the missile launcher in my squad as well as Dreadnought Ancient Maximus to fire upon it. I had expected at least one penetrating hit, but both failed to inflict any discernable damage. I fear Warp taint.
I fear bad marksmanship.
Finally, I ordered the Devastator squad to fire upon the Lord Commissar’s Beta squad. They were successful in mortally wounding five guardsmen. They might have fled the battle, but the Commissar’s aura of discipline kept the remaining men in formation.
Perhaps augmentic surgery might be in the Lord Commissar’s future.
The Imperial Guardsmen then began their first tactical moves. Lt. Campo, of the Command Squad, attempted to order “Move, move, move,” on the Alpha infantry squad, but the cigar he was chewing made his orders incomprehensible, and so his orders were not carried out. I used my psychic abilities to garble Captain Maximillian’s instructions to the Veteran squad as well. At this point, however, Brother Julian broke my concentration by accidentally discharging his weapon, and the Captain’s second order, to the Charlie Squad, was successful.
Unfortunate Julian did not have his weapon aimed at himself. Would save me the trouble of punishing him.
Commissar Klaumaulch then ordered the shooting phase to begin. My Lord Calgar, this phase was a devastating one for my marines. First, the Heavy Infantry squad missile launchers hit Dreadnought Maximus and left him badly shaken. At first we feared his bolter might have been destroyed, but thankfully the ruins provided him with some cover and he was only shaken.
Maximus was shaken? That is a bad omen.
Secondly, the Leman Russ Demolisher fired upon Tactical Squad Beta’s Rhino. The Rhino had, thankfully, utilized its smoke launchers, and the shot was a glancing one. But it stunned the entire crew, rendering the Rhino immobile for a time.
Two war games and the Rhino virtually useless in both? The workhorse of the Ultramarines – what a joke.
The second Heavy Weapons squad fired its autocannon at the Sternguard Veterans, and were able to kill one of our elite soldiers. Finally, the Leman Russ Battle Tank fired at the Sternguard as well, but it seems that the gunner miscalculated the distance to our brethren and managed only to create a massive crater halfway between the two armies.
It seems that is good that geometry is no longer taught at Imperial Guard training due to the High Lords’ recent budget cuts.
Round 2:
Our second round of fighting was, honestly, a mixture of great success and abysmal failures. Once again, the Rocket Launcher in Tactical Alpha Squad fired upon the Demolisher, but could not get manage a penetrating hit.
I would know the name of this marine. He is obviously unworthy to remain in Alpha Squad. Perhaps working as a lobotomized servitor would suit his talents better.
The snipers, from their high ground, fired into the Imperial Guard Alpha squad, causing one rending wound. I ordered the Tactical Marine Beta squad to also fire into the I.G. Alpha squad, hoping to devastate the company. They managed to fire only one shot that hit a target, and then it merely bounced off the package of rations the soldier had attached to his back.
Rations? If your performance does not improve, perhaps you will not need these comforts.
In our one magnificent success, I ordered the Devastator squad to fire from their high position in the ruins into the Imperial Guard Platoon Command squad. The Devastators were perhaps the only marines worthy of our order today – they wiped out the command squad in one quick volley.
Indeed. Finally, one group worthy of the name “Ultramarine”.
When the Imperial Guard began their second round of attacks, they focused almost entirely on our Beta Tactical squad. First, the Heavy Infantry rocket launchers took out three Beta brethren, and then the Leman Russ Demolisher killed another 4 marines. Finally, the Beta Infantry squad attacked again, causing no wounds, but leading Brother Aurelius to flee the field of battle, running behind the Rhino.
Again? I’ve seen girly Eldar brave incoming fire better than this brother. Another candidate for the servitor units.
The Leman Russ then attempted to attack the Sternguard Veterans, but was unsuccessful.
Finally.
Round 3:
The third round of Ultramarine attacks was, I fear, quite unworthy of any associated with your legion. The Alpha and Beta tactical squads, as well as Dreadnought Maximus, all failed in their attempts to use heavy weapons against the Demolisher. The Sternguard similarly failed to damage the Leman Russ battle tank. And in three separate attacks, the Snipers, Rhino, and the Heavy bolter-carrying Scout together managed to kill only one mortal in the Imperial Guard Alpha squad.
If this trend continues, I may have to hire some girly Eldar to fight in my legion.
Our one success came, once again, from the dependable Devastator squad, killing 8 members of the Charlie infantry squad.
Maybe the Devastators should have been in command. At least they can hit their targets.
The third round of Imperial Guard attacks was, thankfully, less devastating to our brethren.
Less devastating? Oh, good. I can be happy now.
The Alpha Infantry squad fired a plasmagun, lasguns, and heavy bolters into our remaining Beta Tactical Marine squadron, killing only one brother. Commissar Klaumaulch and his Beta infantry squad also fired into our Beta Tactical squad, but, thankfully, they inflicted no serious wounds.
I’m supposed to be happy about that?
The Commissar then ordered his heavy infantry missile launchers to shoot at Dreadnought Maximus and they were able to destroy his lascannon.
A fouler omen, indeed. Maximus is rarely beaten in battle…
The Chimera killed another two Sternguard Veterans with its multi-laser, and the Veteran infantry squad killed two of our scouts as well. Thankfully, the Demolisher missed Dreadnought Maximus – apparently the targeting array had malfunctioned after one crewman spilled a bottle of ale on it. It seems he was prematurely celebrating the demise of our brother Maximus.
At least I have the comfort of knowing the idiots are not only in my legion.
Finally, the Leman Russ fired into the Beta Tactical squad, killing yet another brother.
Round 4:
Our fourth round of attacks achieved mixed results.
Let me guess – the missile launchers missed again?
First, I ordered the remaining Sternguard Veterans to fire upon the Veteran Infantry squad, and they killed one man. The Devastators also fired into the Veteran Infantrymen, and killed 2 more men. My Alpha Tactical squad killed one man in the Imperial Alpha Infantry squad as well.
A squadron of elite Sternguard Veterans, heavy Devastators, and a Librarian-led tactical squad and together they kill 4 mortals? Pitiful.
I ordered the rocket launcher from Beta Tactical to fire at the Demolisher, but it was, once again, ineffective. The same was true for the Snipers and the Rhino, both firing against the Imperial Alpha squad.
I may have to send the Inquisitors to the heavy weapons training facility to seek out any doubts that may be infiltrating our brethren. I can think of no other reason for their repeated failures.
The Imperial’s fourth round of fighting did less damage than we expected, based on the number of men who initially hit their targets.
Yay.
First, the Heavy Weapon missile launchers and the Beta Infantry squad killed two of the remaining three marines in the Beta Tactical squadron. The Lord Commissar’s heavy weapons squad also fired at the last remaining marine in Beta squad, but other than causing gauges in his breast plate, did no lasting damage. Brother Pompeus, Beta’s missile launcher, stood firm despite the annihilation of his squad and refused to leave the field of battle or take cover.
So at least he is not a coward, even if he cannot shoot a wall from 5 yards away.
The Demolisher attempted to fire upon Pompeus, but instead strayed over to the Rhino, doing no lasting damage. The Leman Russ battle tank fired its lascannon at Dreadnought Maximus, but also missed. Finally, the Imperial Guard’s Chimera and Veterans fired upon the remaining Sternguard Veterans, killing one but merely grazing two others’ biceps.
Emperor be praised for faulty targeting mechanisms.
Round 5:
In the fifth and, ultimately, final round of attacks, our Snipers gave us perhaps the most important tactical advantage. They fired upon the Alpha Infantry squad, who had stationed themselves on the second level of a ruin. While the Snipers killed only two men, they successfully pinned the remaining infantrymen, rendering them ineffective for the final attacks.
If they had done their job earlier, perhaps we would have had more success.
Brother Pompeus attempted to destroy the Demolisher one last time, but was, once again, unsuccessful. He claimed to have been startled by a noise behind him, and the resulting missile landed far beyond the tank.
Astartes do not get startled.
The Rhino and my Alpha Tactical squad both fired upon the Alpha infantry squad, killing only one man and lightly wounding two others. Both the Scouts and Sternguard were completely ineffective in their attacks against the Imperial Veterans and the Chimera, respectively.
I sincerely hope Dante doesn’t hear of these results. I’ll never live it down.
The Devastator squadron once again provided the only legitimate success, annihilating the Charlie Infantry squad in 8 shots, and giving the Ultramarines a 2-0 advantage in the war game. Finally, Dreadnought Maximus assaulted the Leman Russ and successfully immobilized it.
Well done, Devastators. You might be the only members of this spearhead to avoid long hours with the inquisitors.
In the final Imperial Guard assault, the Heavy Weapons missile launchers finally killed Brother Pompeus, earning the Guard’s first point in the war game. The Beta infantry squadron’s autocannon killed two more members of the Sternguard Veterans.
Thankfully, both the Chimera and the Veteran infantry attacks had no effects on the remaining Sternguard Veterans. The Imperial Guard plasma gunner unfortunately killed himself in the attempt.
Once again, the plasma gunners do more damage to themselves than my marines do to them. Unacceptable.
The final two moments of the battle belonged to the Imperial Guard Leman Russ tanks. The Leman Russ battle tank’s lascannon immobilized Dreadnought Maximus, but did not destroy him or his remaining weapon. Finally, the Demolisher wreaked havoc on my own squadron, killing five members of the squad before the war game officially ended.
The final result of the war game, based on the number of total units each army had completely destroyed, was: Ultramarines, 2; Imperial Guard, 1.
It was a victory, my Lord Calgar, but I would hardly recommend any but the Devastators for honors. I sincerely fear that some of our brethren marines might be tempted by the glory found in the warp. I strongly urge you to investigate before this army is placed into a real battle against our enemies.
Your Servant,
Librarian Liceneus.
The lure of the warp, or the lure of the bottle? Less alcohol, more training is the answer. For now. But perhaps I will send an Inquisitor in to seek out any hidden doubts. Or maybe I just need to stop surrounding myself with idiots.
Lord M. Calgar, Chaptermaster of the Ultramarines
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