Ask brothers, & you will receive...
ThunderHawk down…Jagged lightning ripped the sky asunder, as Brother Captain Jarek led his company of Terminators aboard the ThunderHawk – Emperor’s Blessing, which had arrived to transport them back to an orbiting Strike Cruiser for re-deployment.
As the group secured themselves for flight, the lightning grew in intensity until a massive boom of thunder rocked the ThunderHawk as it lifted away from the LZ. The pilot’s voice echoed in the vast space of the interior; “Looks as though you’re getting a rough ride out of Armageddon Captain - we’ll hopefully be clear of this soon.” “The Emperor protects.” Was Jarek’s reply, which was echoed by the Battle Brothers.
No sooner had those words been spoken – when the whole craft was enveloped by a writhing mass of electricity that lasted for several minutes. Warning sirens & claxons screamed their alarm as the ThunderHawk slewed violently, sending all unsecured items flying through the interior. Several slammed into the ranks of the Terminators, but ricocheted harmlessly of their layered ceramite armour.
“MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY! This is Lt Mikeal, piloting the Emperor’s Blessing; we’ve lost all guidance & power systems. We’re going down. Co-ordinates unknown. Emergency beacon activated…BRACE! ” A tremendous impact shock the craft, sending it into a sideway spin – just before its momentum was stopped suddenly, sending all the Terminators skidding from their seating.
After all the intense noise, suddenly the interior was deathly quiet. Captain Jarek quickly regained his footing, as he asked his Battle Brothers to report in. Not one of his men had been injured during the impact. Offering a silent prayer of thanks to the Emperor, he started making his way towards the pilot’s thingypit when the access hatch opened. Lt Mikeal was supporting his co-pilot, who was obviously unconscious, but otherwise unhurt. Lt Mikeal had a serious head wound above his right eye, with blood covering his face & jumpsuit. As Captain Jarek ordered his men to aid Lt Mikeal & his co-pilot, he heard the Lt whimper that the hull was intact & the distress call had been acknowledged by nearby Space Marine forces – which were sending in aid. He then collapsed too.
After making the pilots comfortable & tending to the Lt’s wounds, Captain Jarek turned to address his fellow Terminators. “Battle Brothers – we owe these pilots’ our lives. Set up a defensive perimeter around the ThunderHawk, we await assistance from other nearby Chapters. Although I do not doubt that others may have intercepted the same transmission. It seems we will have one last battle on Armageddon after all – fight well my Battle Brothers. The Emperor protects.”
The echo of his last words from his Terminator Battle Brothers filled him with pride. Striding down the access ramp, they took up positions amongst the buildings & waited…
Table setup: This scenario must be played on a board no smaller than 6’ x 4’. The ThunderHawk gunship – Emperor’s Blessing, has crash landed in a small mining township, on the outskirts of an industrial city. The centre of the board is where the ThunderHawk is to be placed. Use intact buildings to represent the township, with a ruin surrounding the gunship; having been destroyed by the impact of the downed craft. The township should extend no more than 50cms (radius). After scenery has been placed alternately by the players, the SM defenders setup their force & then the attacking player may place his 1,500 point starting force.
Special rules: This township has been abandoned due to the severity of the freakish lightning storms that are all too common in the area, as a result of the exposed mining sites. Any units that move have a chance of being struck by the lightning due to the static build up. Units that Advance/Engage/Marshal must roll a d6, on a result of 1 add a BM. Units that Double must roll a d6, on a result of 1-3 add a BM. Units that March take 2 BM.
The ThunderHawk’s weapon systems are intact, but are unable to function due to the damaged electrical system. All of the Terminator units must start the game within 10cms of the gunship & are not able to move outside a range of 30cms, as they need to make a fast get away should the ThunderHawk be repaired.
The Space Marine player has 3,000 points & is designated as the defender for the scenario. The opponent (attacker) has 5,000 points, but will only be able to field 1,500 points in the 1st turn. A further 1,500 points will arrive 2nd turn on either table edge, not used for deployment – roll a d6, 1-3 left hand side, 4-6 right hand side. The remaining 2,000 points will arrive 3rd turn on the remaining table edge. The main deployment areas may not extend more than 15cms onto the gaming table. The other attacker forces that will arrive turn 2 & 3 may deploy no more than 15cms onto the gaming table & no closer than 60cms to the SM deployment area.
Objective: To repair the ThunderHawk, any SM infantry base must spend 2 uncontested turns in ZOC with the gunship - these do not have to be consecutive. The first turn will repair any damaged systems, the second to upload any necessary information lost in the crash. If a SM force can achieve this objective, the ThunderHawk will recall the Terminator squads & depart the table for its rendezvous with its Strike Cruiser. The turn after the ThunderHawk gunship leaves the table, the repairing SM force can call in an Orbital Bombardment as per the rules – point of origin is taken from the ThunderHawk gunship crash site. Any non SM force has to try to deny this objective for the SM player(s), whether it is to destroy the Terminator units, destroy the ThunderHawk or eliminate the SM defender force. The game length is random; it will last for 6+d3 turns.
Drew was stressing about me having a few tac squads in the ThunderHawk's ZOC come 2nd turn - so I dutifully reminded him of the victory conditions...
That being the ThunderHawk is also a valid target. So after rumbling up a unit of LandRaiders & letting rip with their lascannons - there wasn't much left for the Terminator squads to escape to the awaiting Strike Cruiser. Swiss cheese anyone... ;D
Learnt a few more interesting tidbits - that being a Commander can call in up to 3 units to help in assault. So after the Ultramarine force commander & 2 units of Terminators exacted their revenge for the ThunderHawk crew.
As Drew mentioned - the Ultramarine relief force was going to be pushing the jungle curry up the perverbial slope to drag anything but a draw...so lucky the dice called it!
Always a pleasure to have a game with the brother Gump - just doesn't happen often enough. Thanks for letting me ruin the neighbourhood for the day...
Kudos on the Black Legion too - they are awesome.
