Armageddon Battle Report by Clinton Wolf

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I can not take credit for the name. This site was named by Aaron Cains.

A "fluffy" battle report for my Sisters of the Order of the Valorous
Heart as they engage a force of enigmatic Eldar on the war-torn
surface of Armageddon. Yes, supposedly according to the army lists
only the OOOML and OOTAS are present, but OOTVH is what I painted up
and since the idea is to get everyone who wants to be involved
involved I say "screw it" and just whipped up a reason to be there.
Every Space Marine chapter in the freakin' galaxy seems to be
present, after all...

Forces: Sisters of Battle vs. Eldar
Random roll for mission: Patrol
Army Point Total: 1000 each
Battle Location: Hive Helsreach, Stygies Bridge
Result: Random game length resulted in end on turn 5 w/ SOB
victorious.

+++---------------------+++

Canoness Theresa fingered her Rosarius, closing her eyes with a
moment of murmured prayer. A jolt as the APC hit a patch of rubble
brought her back to grim reality, and a grim wish that the shock
absorbers had been maintained a little more effectively by the crew.
She rose and walked past her troops to the front, where the pilots
were doing their best to navigate the treacherous wreckage that
seemed to be everywhere.

"Anything?" she inquired of them.

"Negative, Canoness. Plenty of bodies, but nothing resembling an
intact Imperial force, or even an intact enemy."

Theresa drummed her armour clad fingers on the hatchway. She had
heard that the situation in the Armageddon sector was dire, but when
her expeditionary force had left their convent on Ophelia VII to
provide aid to the beleagured Imperials, she had never imagined it
would be like this. Yet, after an ambush by Ork Kroozers had forced
a crash landing, the surviving Battle Sisters had still failed to
establish contact with the defense forces. It was a possibility that
no one even knew they were here.

"Our current location?", she inquired.

The co-pilot tapped some buttons, bringing up a map display. "As
near as we can tell, some 30 klicks north of the Stygies Bridge. You
can see the river ahead of us. Morning fog is preventing any visual
on the bridge, however."

"Bear south. The Imperium fortified that bridge heavily. Unless
they have been overrun we should find troops there."

"Yes, Canoness."

Theresa returned to the troop compartment, smiling as she saw Sister
Lenore diligently going over the standard and making sure no tear or
smudge marred its surface. It would be tattered soon enough if they
saw battle, but somehow Lenore always managed to patch it back
together. And if skill in sewing was what some might deride
a "womanly" activity, they were soon enough silenced by Lenore's
equal skill in battle.

The rest of the Celestian bodyguard were mostly silent in prayer or
ritually cleaning their gear and weaponry. They and a force of other
troops had ventured forth from the main camp in order to try and make
contact with friendly forces, as well as roust any enemy that might
be lurking. So far though there had been nothing but death, and
ruins, and the infernal bouncing up and down of the Rhino.

That all changed as her comm suddenly crackled to life. The static
was heavy, but the background sounds of battle were unmistakable.

"*SHHH*...dar skimmer...iticus rhino destr...*SHHHH*...sisters
down..."

The Canoness adjusted her comm tuner as the Celestians around her
looked on intently. "Sisters squad, repeat your situation."

"*SHHH* Repeating... this is Squad Leviticus... our rhino has been
destroyed, with casualties-- we are returning fire on what looks to
be an Eldar skimmer..." The voice was momentarily overwhelmed by a
distant boom and the sounds of cheering. "Skimmer destroyed,
Canoness-- our Retributors have lived up to their Name."

"Stay alert, Leviticus." The Canoness did not pause to consider the
unexpectedness of meeting hostile Eldar on Armageddon. Such
questions could be saved for later, now was time for action. She
quickly plugged her armour feeds into the the rhino's command post,
concentrating on absorbing the tactical information as her HUD
snapped into place.

"Leviticus, hold position and provide covering fire. Deuteronomy, is
your Rhino intact?"

"Deuteronomy here, Genesis-- all systems nominal."

"Good. Detour around the destroyed rhino and head for the skimmer
wreck. I want any survivors for questioning."

"*SQUAWK* Genesis, this is Superior Valetia of Squad Exodus. My
Seraphim are picking up multiple signals just over the ridge from our
position, but we don't see anything..."

"Patch me into your signal, Exodus." The Canoness studied the new
blips appearing on the 3-D rendition of the battlefield before her
eyes. "I confirm enemy troops, Exodus, they must be using some type
of cloak. Use your armor sensors for targeting and engage, we will
reinforce you as soon as possible. Give them a taste of the
Emperor's Justice."

"We shall, Genesis. Seraphim! Prepare to strike, formation Gamma!"

Theresa removed the HUD and rushed to the front. "Bring us to a
heading of 97 degrees, and put this heap in overdrive!" The pilots
exchanged a single look before wheeling the rhino over to the left.

"Hang on!" one shouted, then she opened the throttle and the rhino
broke into a charge reminiscent of its namesake. Theresa hung on as
the floor bucked and weaved beneath her, her teeth coming together
harshly as the APC went airborne a scant second over a small rise
before crashing back to earth.

"Leviticus, Deuteronomy, what's your situation?" shouted the Canoness
as she struggled to keep her footing.

"Leviticus reporting Eldar troops atop the bunker!" the Sister
Superior had to scream above the sound of Heavy Bolters thundering
next to her. "The walls will *not* shield them from our Holy Wrath!"

"Deuteronomy to Genesis-- wreckage appears to be that of an Eldar
Vype-- SHIT!! TURN! TURN!!" A strange hollow roaring and static
erupted.

"Deuteronomy, report! Are you intact? Deuteronomy!"

"Deuteronomy here. The Eldar atop the bunker have fusion weapons--
one just gave us a very short haircut. Weapons systems are down, but
we're mobile."

"Prepare for multi-melta counterfire, Deuteronomy. Leviticus,
continue firing, and neither of you shall stop until *nothing* is
moving up there."

"Affirmative," crackled the Superiors in response.

"Exodus, report! Exodus? Damn!" The Canoness thumped the co-pilot
hard on the shoulder of her armour. "I can't get comm to Exodus,
give me an aux feed!"

"Obstruction ahead, Canoness," reported the pilot. "Several barrels
and other debris blocking our route."

Theresa ignored the pilot, grabbing the feed from the co-pilot and
jacking it into her armour. She swore as she saw that some of the
Seraphim had flatlined, although Superior Valetia was still active--
obviously a bit busy to answer her comm. Heavy casualties had been
inflicted on the Eldar, but a fresh squad of the aliens had just
joined the melee and had Exodus severely outnumbered.

"Canoness..." the pilot's voice had an edge to it now.

Theresa pulled the jack free and checked the viewslit. "Ram it."

"Ram? But--"

"Do it! Celestians, brace for impact! Prepare for immediate debark
and assault! We *will* deliver Squad Exodus from evil!" The
Celestians voiced assent and took up positions, as Theresa clung to
the hatchway and whispered a grim prayer. Suddenly her comm crackled
to life...

"Genesis, this is Proverbs. We just took long-range fire from a
Wraithlord! Repeat, a Wraithlord is on the--"

BOOM!!! The impact made nothingness of the bumpy ride Theresa had
endured so far, but the APC's hull held firm as the barricade
disentegrated before its charge. Barrels flung in every direction to
bounce and twirl crazily as the rhino and its occupants shuddered in
sympathy.

"Visual on Exodus!" shouted the pilot.

"Brakes!" answered Theresa. She unlimbered her holy mace, shaped in
the symbol of the Ecclesiarchy, and turned to her bodyguard, leaning
against the sudden, squealing deceleration. "Squad Genesis! Our
Sisters call and We Will ANSWER! Cycle the hatch, and follow me!"

The hatch swung open and Theresa was on the ground before the rhino
had stopped moving. "Forward, Sisters! In His Name!"

"IN HIS NAME!" cried the Celestians. The battle standard unfurled
and the full force of Squad Genesis' elite crashed into the surprised
Eldar lines. With a flip of a switch Theresa's mace crackled to
glowing life, and sent Eldar after Eldar to bloody death. The
remaining Seraphim gave a shout as the banner was spotted and relief
was had... they attacked with renewed ferocity. Superior Valetia
brought her massive Axe of Retribution down, splitting open the chest
of one of the foul Eldar Warlocks despite his rune armour.

The Eldar could not hold fast in the face of the onslaught. Despite
the cries of the remaining Warlock they broke and ran-- but it was
too late, as the furious Sisters caught up and decimated them.
Theresa's eyes gleamed with fanaticism as she looked upon yet another
squad of Eldar in firing positions across the clearing.

"Canoness, no!" cried Superior Valetia. "Eldar are in position all
around us! If we advance we will be exposed to their fire!"

Theresa spared her a glance, and then a glance at the rhino... just
in time to see an Eldar Warwalker round a corner and blow the tracks
off its chassis.

"You see!?" she shouted to the Sisters. "This is a sign from Him!
There is no retreat!"

"We shall be destroyed! Even if we make it, we are not meant for
this close-in fighting! The odds are against us!" Valetia was
adamant.

Theresa turned to her with an air of scorn that silenced the woman
instantly. "We *will* prevail," the Canoness spoke, unlinking a
fragmentation grenade from her bodice. "We are the Order of the
Valorous Heart, and the odds are *never* against us! Now Sisters!
Forwards once more, and wipe these scum from the planet!"

With that, they charged, sowing their grenades and chanting their
hymns, and though exposed to nearly the entire Eldar army the
Emperor's Armour held firm. Theresa felt the alien presence of the
Eldar Farseer as it tried to destroy her mind, but her conviction was
adamant and she charged onwards through the pain, striking home with
each swing of her mace and felling three Eldar all on her own. The
Eldar were wiped out almost instantly as the full force of the charge
crashed into them, only the Exarch surviving to turn tail and run.
Theresa leapt after him, but suddenly a huge shadow fell upon the
Sisters... a towering nightmare, a Wraithlord stood above them, and
with one blow of its huge fists it smote Celestine Germaine from its
path, knocking her to pieces that flew across the field.

The Wraithlord prepared to attack again. "Now truly are we doomed,"
whispered Valetia.

Theresa knew that of all present only Valetia's axe stood a chance of
harming the gigantic abomination, and a slim chance at
that. "Nevertheless, we fight on," she growled at Valetia. "Bring
forth your axe and smite at its joints... we will distract it as best
we are able."

"The odds are never against us..." smirked Valetia, hefting her
weapon. The insolence of her hive ganger past had never quite been
purged from her by the Schola Progenium or the Convent.

Theresa spared her a cutting glare as they moved to engage. The
Wraithlord crouched in readiness. "Ready?" the Canoness asked
Valetia.

All the sardonic humour had left Valetia's bearing, and she focused
on the Wraithlord determinedly. "Ready."

"SISTERS!! ATTACK!!" Theresa whispered a prayer for her soul and the
souls of those who followed her as they charged... and suddenly, the
Wraithlord straightened up, looking for all the world like a confused
dog behind its alien visage.

The unexpected change brought the Sisters up short. "Canoness?" one
inquired.

"Hold," answered the Canoness. She watched unbelievingly as the
machine (creature?) watched them a moment longer, then turned and
strode away.

Sister Lenore shielded her eyes with a hand. "I see other Eldar
leaving as well!"

Theresa scrambled for her comm. "Deuteronomy? Have you got an
intact HUD? What's going on?"

"Deuteronomy here... it looks like the Eldar are pulling back. You
and Exodus must have done a lot of damage."

Theresa turned to survey the dozens of broken Eldar bodies her squads
had left in their wake. "We did at that."

"Maybe they decided they'd had enough?" proposed Lenore, popping a
stick of synthegum into her mouth. Theresa considered reprimanding
her for the contraband, then decided against it. This was far from
the abbey.

"Perhaps." Theresa was still puzzled at the Eldar's presence. She
would have to get this news to the Imperial command-- but that meant
linking up with that command, and keeping her own troops intact until
she could do so.

"Gather our fallen, and find me an alien to question. We must return
to our Sisters near our crash site, and prepare a breakout to the
Bridge." She knelt suddenly, clutching her Rosarius "Thanks be to
the Emperor for this victory." The others followed suit.

"Thanks be to Him."