Deathwatch – HOUSE OF GECKO

The Reclamation of Installation 2905/19GammaZulu

July 4, 2019July 3, 2019 Posted in Battle ReportLeave a comment

It has been a while since the last report – the Geckos have been busy wargaming and hobbying! Today Matty is sharing with us his battle report from a facedown between the rotting horde of Death Guard and the heroic Deathwatch!

Graemond (Black Templars) Charges heroically at a Plague Drone

The air was thick with the smell of the warp, almost so thick one could taste it. There was no sound aside from the wail of the wind, like a banshee it howled; almost as if the air itself was dying from the plague. Beatriz knew the enemy would not be far away, and the objective seemed close. Kill Teams Graemond and Darius readied Frag Cannons, checked suit ventilation systems and boarded the Blackstar. They were the recon team, sent in to scout the area; Auspex scans had identified a small rigging platform, with fuel reserves and thermal output still showing as active.

As soon as the corvus entered the area of operation (AO) the pilots screen howled in warning as the auspex screen lit up with a horde of contacts. “Initiate Assault Drop and secure the LZ” voxed Beatriz. The machine spirit within the blackstar surged as the pilot urged it onwards, perhaps feeling the thrill of an oncoming battle. The Kill Teams were silent, they were already prepared for war, nothing left to do now but pray the combat would be substantial. The Watch Captain dropped the teams into the middle of the semi ruined installation in a daring flyby maneuver and then proceeded to engage the enemy, a sweeping gun run with autocannons booming and bolters shaking as they emptied their drum magazines. From his position, he could see the putrid and diseased forms, the shambling undead huddled around a foul monstrosity that once was a machine. However the auspex relayed a more sinister force behind this, “Master, immediate forces are small, Graemond and Darius will dispatch easily, however the Emperor demands more of us this day, sizable enemy contact will be in the installation within minutes”.

Kill Team Graemond Pours bolter shells into the Horde

The Disciples of Nurgle were if nothing, resilient. Graemond and Darius unleashed volley after volley of bolter shots with air superiority thinning the herd, but wounds that would put down mortal men, even Astartes, simply slowed the horde down. They needed to hold out until reinforcements could arrive. Then they would show these traitors what the price of straying from the Emperor’s light would be. The Shambling mass had no end, the more they killed, the more strode over their pus ridden, decaying corpses towards them. Giant demon machines that spewed filth and fired explosive rounds were detected entering the AO.

“We, We are here soldiers. The might of the Emperor. Stand firm”, the sombre voice of vetern Warrior and elite Librarian M’Batu could be heard over the vox channels. And arrive he did, along with him a sizable chunk of the deathwatch forces. M’batu appeared on a rooftop, alone, unaided and began firing his bolt pistol down into the hordes, drawing their attention away from the kill teams. The undead saw an easy kill, a single marine, no matter how skilled, that was a dead marine. “Come Forth and face judgement, be put down in the holy light of the Emperor’s wrath!” his battle cry revealed his trap. The hum in the air rose to a fever pitch and then with a flash, Mbatu was surrounded by Kill Team Thracymachus, their bolters raised and spewing death. The horde was thinned, the battle cried loud.

However, the Plague Father also sent reinforcements the poxwalkers used their own dead as steps. Clawing and moaning, they rose the building until they surrounded the Warriors, forcing them to fight off clammy hands ridden with disease, the slime beginning to corrode the ceramite of their armour.

It was late in the day, the bodies of Nurgle coating the installation in a green ooze, the smell rancid, even the super human organs of the Astartes were now no match for the infection seeping into reality. The Deathwatch held, but it was costing them dearly, and Papa Nurgle had not yet thrown his most powerful tool into the fray. With lightning bolts of green and joyous singing from the plague warriors, the warp spewed two warriors forth. Typhus, lord of contagion and bringer of despair. And Putrificus, Demon Prince of Nurgle, 749th favoured of the grandfather. The strike was co ordinated, Putrificus struck for the throat, seeking the head of the Watch Master, whilst Typhus rallied the horde and sought to dismantle the front line. Neither were prepared for the wrath to come.

With Kill Team Darius being besieged by a demonic Plague Burst Crawler, along with the Horder of Poxwalkers, the Deathwatch surged with new confidence, inspired the Watch Captain, whose battle howl could be heard even among the roar of engines, and the banging of boltguns. He charged the Crawler, wielding his thunder hammer with precision swings. Then, his greatest challenge, Typhus.

All the while, Purtificus was busy with Watch Master Beatriz. The stoic leader showed no emotion through his death mask. His eyes simply stared the foul beast back, his spear coming into guard position, with no fuss or glory, no warriors to witness the deed, He charged the creature. The Guardian Spear wielded with the grace of centuries of service, limbs moving in a ballet of cuts and thrusts. Trusting in his ancient ceramite to protect against the cursed and diseased talons that struck out to wound him, and they tried. But the 749th favoured of Nurgle would not be favoured this day, Beatriz struck truly and sent the demon back to the warp.

The Man Reaper cut the reality of fabric as it was, but the Light of the Emperor gave the old wolf Captain courage, and the pair duelled. The thunder hammer cracking as it surged with power striking the warp cursed terminator plate that Typhus wore. Again and again the pair fought, when finally and heroically, the captain struck home, a concussive strike with the Thunder hammer threw Typhus back 15 feet and knocked him on his back, looking up and seeing the wolf charge toward him, the 2nd favoured of Nurgle called the warp, and slunk away, letting the warp feed him and regain his strength. But it was enough, just.

The raging battle had seen the medivac of a number of soldiers, the few still fighting, Graemond of the Templars, Kill Team Tzuka were making headway. And the retreat of the General and the ‘slaying’ of the Demon Prince was enough. Beatriz rallied the remaining forces and sought to put down the reaming plague marines. Crucially however, they controlled enough of the facility to warrant the damned and diseased to withdraw, as traitorous and plagued as they were, tactically lacking they were not. If only for a moment on the besieged planet, The Deathwatch had won a narrow victory.

Excellent report Matty – A close victory for the Emperors servants today!

Vox for Assistance!

May 27, 2019May 27, 2019 Posted in Battle ReportLeave a comment

Watch Master Beatriz and the Deathwatch faced oblivion on Migale. The hordes of Khorne worshipping warriors held them at the precipice of annihilation. The bravery of a few saved them from that. Like the Spartans of old Terra, it was a numberless horde against the few. But salvation, as for the heroes of the Imperium, was short lived. Aboard their battle barge, on their way to Komodious Prime, Auspex scans identified a number of Chaos shipped in orbital dock around a small, agri world.. Designation…. Draco Minus. Some ships belonged to the traitor, the Despoiler, The Black Legion. Others were more easily identified; their mechanicul, now, organic form was sickly. The God of Disease, Nurgle, had sent his Warriors to this planet.

Beatriz’s thought was interrupted by a short burst of Vox traffic hitting the command deck. Somehow penetrating the required authorisations codes for acceptance:

01010011 01110100 01110010 01101111 01101110 01100111 00100000 01010000 01101111 01101001 01101110 01110100 00100000 01101100 01101111 01110011 01110100 00101110 00100000 01010001 01110101 01100101 01110011 01110100 01101111 01110010 01101001 01101111 01110101 01110011 00100000 01000001 01110011 01110011 01100101 01110100 01110011 00100000 01100001 01110100 00100000 01110010 01101001 01110011 01101011 00101110 00100000 01010100 01101000 01100101 00100000 01110000 01101100 01100001 01100111 01110101 01100101 00100000 01110011 01110000 01110010 01100101 01100001 01100100 01110011 00101110 00100000 01001001 01101101 01101101 01100101 01100100 01101001 01100001 01110100 01100101 00100000 01110010 01100101 01101001 01101110 01100110 01101111 01110010 01100011 01100101 01101101 01100101 01101110 01110100 00100000 01101001 01110011 00100000 01100100 01100101 01101101 01100001 01101110 01100100 01100101 01100100 00101110 00100000 01010000 01110010 01100001 01101001 01110011 01100101 00100000 01110100 01101000 01100101 00100000 01001111 01101101 01101101 01101110 01101001 01110011 01110011 01100001 01101000 00100000 00100000

The coded message, translated by the small mechanicus priest aboard:

Strong Point lost. Questorious Assets at risk. The plague spreads. Immediate reinforcement is demanded. Praise the Ommnissah.

The Emperor Protects, and Watch Master Beatriz serves. Knight assets would not fall to the Plague god or to The Black Legion. Not long had the Deathwatch been out of battle. The furious assault against the Eightscarred of Khorne had taken its toll. But the Watch Master would not sit idly by, he was made for War. His battle brothers were made for War. Whether it was Xenos, Chaos, or Traitors, they were an affront to the Emperor. Kill Teams were readied. Bolters cleansed and machine spirits soothed. The fury of battle awaits those who are worthy

Battle Report: The Evacuation of Migale Prime

March 25, 2019March 24, 2019 Posted in Battle ReportLeave a comment

Today we have the pleasure of another battle report from Matty! Matty battles it out with fellow Gecko Josephs handsome Deathwatch using the gruesome Eightscarred of Khorne – an army borrowed from another Team Geckoer – Jake. Enjoy!

In the ashes that remain of Migale Prime there is little left of value to either invaders or defenders. The staunch imperials that remain exist only to survive, striking ambushes when they can. Slowly bleeding themselves dry of ammunition and blood, and hoping to take an equal toll on their enemies.

But there are those who strive to achieve more in the Emperors name. The holy warriors of the Emperor, the best of the best, The Deathwatch; they march in an effort to escape, and to warn whoever is listening of what happened here. Led by Watch Master Beatriz, they slowly fought for months through the savagery of Chaos and Tyranid invaders until finally, they reached their objective. It was nothing special to look at, the remains of an imperial fortification and generator station. However it was special in the fact that it was the tallest building left, relatively, untouched. This meant that the Astropath could call to the heavens hopefully bringing salvation and sending out a warning.

The ruined sub-sector the Deathwatch have chosen for the Emperor Praised last stand.

The advance deployment of Deathwatch, two heavily armoured Kill Teams (Kill Team Thracymachus and Kill Team Graemond) deploy in the key structure, escorting the Astropath to the very tallest floor of the Imperial ruin. The rest of their vanguard force was moments away – fortunately too. Only minutes after moving into the ruins they all heard the harrowing howls and bone shaking bestial roars that echoed across the abandoned ruins. Carrying across the chilling winds, these terrifying sounds signified the approach of the enemy.

Kill Team Graemond (front) and Kill Team Thracymachus (rear) prepare their positions for assault

The Eightscarred of Khorne, filled with violent aggression and a burning desire to spill blood for their god came running through the debris. Their furious howling gusted like a breeze, impacting every Astartes that stood defiant. There is no time to give praise to the Emperor, or to ask for his strength and protection as the Eightscarred do not stop to gloat about their superior numbers, they simply charge. In moments, both kill teams in the ruins begin firing bolters, the dull thud now competing against feral screams. A massive Heldrake swoops in from the skies, firing torrents of baleful flame and attacking with its huge predatory claws.

The Heldrake, known in Imperial circles as a ‘Hell Turkey’, swoops in amongst the ruins

A daemon prince makes a charge at Kill Team Graemond, clawing through a balcony window. Its massive talons and claws reach in and slice marines to death – but not Graemond of the Black Templars. Graemond is a warrior unrivalled in swordsmanship and he parry’s all attempted blows and strikes back, severing many of the reaching talons.

Kill Team Graemond is charged by one of Khornes most ascendant.

The Black Templar’s finest, Sword Brother Graemond, fights in solo combat against a Daemon Prince of Khorne.

In its fury, the Daemon prince does not notice the reinforcements dropping down around him. Even a deafening crash does not draw him away from Graemond. This ended up being the monsters downfall. A mighty Venerable Dreadnought slams into the earth and charges the prince. With Graemond continuing to draw attention, the Dreadnought unleashes its epic strength, ripping the daemon apart from its hind legs.

Freed from the daemons hunger, Brother Graemond rendezvoused with Watch Captain Fëanor of the Space Wolves and legendary Deathwatch Librarian, M’Batu of the Salamanders. Whilst they descend from the heavens and regrouped, a single marine goes unnoticed, his body adorned in skulls and its ceramite pasted with red blood. Kharn. His violence unrivalled. His fury unleashed. What would have been a difficult target, in a venerable dreadnought, Kharn threw aside with his endless destruction. A toy caught in the gale of Kharn’s elemental wrath.

M’batu. Fëanor. Graemond. These three names go etched into the walls of the Watch Fortress, Master Beatriz ensuring that stories would be told of their bravery. Their commitment and their Emperor-given strength. They mounted a counter charge to Kharn. Throwing themselves towards him, led by the Black Templar, the Emperor gave them strength that day. The fight was brutal – swords and axes parried, maces crunched into ceramite and bounced off chaos infused armour. In the end, Graemond and Fëanor stand tall, bloodied, but victorious.

Sword Brother Graemond leads a heroic charge with Captain Fëanor and Librarian M’Batu against Kharn

A deadly Combat ensues. The Emperors finest searching for a weakness in Kharns armour.

Back from the badlands, in the fortification, Kill Team Thracymachus had been staunchly defending the Astropath, killing the Heldrake with bolter fire and personal combat. But looking from where the Heldrake once perched, the courtyard is now teeming with Bezerkers – yet they have no fear. From the flank Kill Team Darius explode from a rhino, unleashing a hail of bolter fire. But surrounded by ruins and geothermal piping, the Bezerkers remain unfazed. Kill Team Darius eats the aggression from Khorne warriors and the Kill Team is eradicated in a tempest of chainaxes. The distraction had worked however. In righteous vengeance, Thracymachus orders his squad to reign the emperor’s justice down upon the heretics. Owing to their superior firing position, the threat is eliminated and the fallen warriors avenged.

Kill Team Darius flanks the bezerkers, to their own demise.

With the battle drawing to its close, Watch Master Beatriz moves in to clear the courtyard and ensure with certainty that the Astropath and the valiant warriors of kill team Thracymachus can secure evac. This decision turns out to be fatal, as one of khorns most feverish worshippers, The Bloody Bishop, cries a call to arms and the enormous Khorne Contemptor Dreadnought, Tar’agon the Ancient Fury, smashes its way into the area. With this glorious combat, Beatriz sacrifices himself, allowing the Imperial warriors to get a message out, calling for reinforcements to land at Draco Minus – a staging planet for Imperial survivors.

Tar’agon the Ancient Fury moves in for the kill against Watch Master Beatriz.

On this day, the Deathwatch held. Against all odds and at the end of months of fighting, the message is sent, the Astropath saved. Perhaps the Imperium has a chance at saving the Migale Dominus system yet.

Brother-Techmarine Durdeg of the Iron Ravens chapter skilfully pilots the Corvus Blackstar into position. Evacuating those who can be.

A staunch victory for the imperium – good job Joseph. Thanks for the awesome Battle report Matty – if you want to see more of the miniatures from todays BR, please check out the team profiles!

Battle Report: Defence of Hive City H/90319

March 15, 2019March 15, 2019 Posted in Battle ReportLeave a comment

Today, Matt brings us a Battle Report on the recent defence of Hive City by the Imperium forces stationed there…

The cold wind sweeps across the battlements. Cpt. Ajax Norbreth of the Tempestus Scions looks out over the dreary world as rain lashed his armour. Down to his left, ranks of Imperial Guard soldiers of the Aluesian 110th Infantry stand ready in defensive positions, on his right, more ranks of weathered soldiers. Behind them were the Leman Russ tanks, like hungry predators they wait. The low grumble of engines can be heard across the ramparts. Across his vox, “Ajax, where are the seething mass?” a low voice grumbled, coming from the Command Tank ‘Aluesian Fury’. “No Idea Ironhead, usually the beasts are on time” he jested back at the senior commander. Without giving time for reply from the General came the reply that would signify the end to any joy or happiness. The feral screams and roars sounded like a hurricane approaching, and then suddenly the ground breaks open and in pours the Xenos filth. Thousands of tyranids, swarming, massing, writhing to get to their next meal. In that split second it was almost calm, and then the thunder of guns destroyed the afternoon.

Hive Fleet Kraken crashes against the Imperials like a wave into the rocks of a cove. There is no end to them, but the city needs time to evacuate key personnel. So the Imperial defence has to hold. It would have been a lot more difficult had Inquisitor Lok not sent a call to requisition the specialist Emperor’s Chosen warriors of the Deathwatch. This reinforcement increased the chances of victory… in a minuscule increment. Nonetheless, Kraken will be repelled. Like an immovable object the Imperium will hold. Must hold.

Deathwatch Veterans engages with vicious Genestealers. They fight to take the attention away from the guardsmen.

As the Battle wears on, the feral beasts of Hive Kraken pushes into Imperial lines. Sustained bombardment from hive guard tyranid beasts destroys a mighty Deathwatch Corvus. The immediate assault is swift and brutal. But now within effective weapons range, and close enough for Astartes to utilise their hulking aggression and fighting prowess, the Imperium gets to swing its mighty hammer. A valiant squad of deathwatch Veterans, led by a Black Templar begin a suicidal March into Xenos lines. Librarian M’Batu from the Salamanders chapter follows to provide much needed psychic power, known by all Aleusians for the deeds performed only weeks earlier against the foul forces of the Arch Enemy.

Librarian M’Batu gives support to the heroic Deathwatch Veterans charging into the mouth of destruction

One of the foul beasts swoops and dives into imperials lines, plucking soldiers from the ramparts.

The advance continues, it never ends. It’s almost monotonous, the constant thud of guns and the screech of alien death. But shaking from the battle, an enormous beast, identified via short range auspex scans, known as ‘Old One Eye’ comes screeching across the battlefield. The Deathwatch know no fear and stand firm in the face of an enormous tide. Their stormbolters and chainswords barking and growling as they tear aliens piece from piece.

‘Old One Eye’ crashes through the battlefield. The Veterans hold firm, relishing the challenge that is to come.

As afternoon slinks away and night takes hold. The battlefield is illuminated by fire and flash. It is clear now that the situation is increasingly perilous. The never ending wave of monstrous creatures and horde of mindless creatures shows no hope. But the Emperor’s champions need no hope. They relish the horde. A glorious death in combat awaits. For the Emperor they continue to slay and fight. Their fury unending – the death toll mounts.

Two armoured sentinels dash forward in an attempt to flame out the beasts. The Swarmlord roars and shreds them in half, leaving a mess of metal and dead guardsmen

Ratling Raus sneaks through the enemy advance and manages to launch 6 satchel charges at the beast, wounding it severely. This actions saved many lives… but alas, was not enough

The guns of the Imperium roared continuously. The thud of armour silences the skies. Shrieks and roars of alien beasts competed for their moment… and overpowered the forces of Man. In the dying stages of battle, tanks, guns, even satchel charges thrown from brave ratlings was not enough. The Hive consumes all. It leaves nothing in its wake. It just digests and then moves to the next source of biomass. The Imperium is lost in this battle. But the war, the war rages on. The Deathwatch and the Aluesians will have their chance for glory soon enough.