Chapter 1: Rude Awakening
Imperial Guard, Catachan Jungle Fighters (The Eye Pokers) vs Chaos Cultists (Nurgle)

Captain Wilford Lance had deployed with some of the men under his command two days ago deep on the Green Sea's jungle. Nothing like a light stroll on the garden to stretch the legs and help improve his health. He needed to program some activities to further connect with his men, but this was not going to be easy on this environment. Suddenly his daydreaming was interrupted.

- Sir, vid-map shows that there should be an abandoned encampment just ahead. It was composed of one mining facility and five other support structures. Records indicated that the place was abandoned 47 years ago. My guess, is that the Green has swallowed the place. What are we to do?

This was the opportunity that Lance was waiting; a simple land survey exercise would work wonders on team-building skills. Also it would give the men something else to do, breaking the monotony that the Green Sea offered them. He looked at Lieutenant Marsellas; he was a rather tall fellow. Skinny as a twig, but fast on his feet. Like almost everyone on the now disbanded Emperor's Strokers, he was just promoted to his rank. Untested in battle and unknown to everyone under the Captain's command, it was critical that he could stretch his seniority muscles.

- Very well Lieutenant. Since we are already here, let's do the egg-heads a favor. Gather the twins and the rest of the raw meat. I want a complete survey of the area, including a full perimeter analysis and holo-pictures. I will take Lieutenant Barrent and Private First Class George Dush and survey the main building. Once you are finished, meet us there.

After a quick salute, Marsellas barked for attention. The twins stopped at unison, perfectly synchronized. Just like Lt. Marsellas, both of the twins had just been promoted to Sergeants. Unlike him, both men were part of The Eye Pokers since their recruitment to the Imperial Guard and practically everyone know about them. Not only they were solid fighters, but almost identical and very much inseparable. They were both typical Catachans; not too tall but built to last. Physically, both men had features that were carbon copies of the other, with the exception of their skin. Sergeant Pepper has skin as dark as pure ebony, while Sergeant Salt was a Hermansky-Pudlak albino. Young and eager to please, they put the rest of the men on attention. After a short debriefing, the men spread out for the survey.

Captain Lance, Lieutenant Barrent and Private First Class Dush headed to the abandoned town. George had been with The Eye Pokers for some time now. He was big, even for other Ogryns, and while considered by the Imperial Guard High Command a 'genius' among brutes of his kin... everyone though he was dumb as a rock. But the giant was not there to think, but to fight. His trusted Ripper Gun was loud enough to make him grin when fired, and few things made the brute as happy as blowing heretics up.

- Sir, objective building ahead.

- Thanks Barrel. What is wrong with this picture?

Barrent looked puzzled.

- What do you mean, Sir?

- Stop 'siring' me, fatso. It rained two hours ago... here the trees are without leaves and the grass is almost dead dry. Granted we were not here two hours back, but we have been moving at Administratum speed. Something is odd.

The Captain was right; everywhere they looked near the abandoned town seemed dry. The flora was not dead, but it seemed uncharacteristically yellowish, especially when it was considered that just 10 meters back where they stood it was a luscious jungle. With some trepidation, Captain Lance entered the abandoned central warehouse. Part of the roof had collapsed after decades of neglect, and evidence that the jungle had overgrown the place until not too long ago. Barrent moved to the east side of the building, while George stayed on the west.



Out of thin air, the familiar mini-thunder of autogun fire cracked on the air. The shots ricocheted from a nearby wall. They were under attack! The Captain ran outside the building, near the south end, taking cover behind a short wall.

- WE ARE TAKING FIRE! SARGE, USE THE MINI-VOX TO GET EVERYONE HERE! ON THE DOUBLE!

Lt Barrent ran towards the location of his Captain and screamed at the Ogryn to met them there. While behind a wall, he pointed at his rank bars.

- Told you it was stupid to promote me. Under regulation Omega-5821, I have been demoted!

- Unless I get shot... and that will never happen.
Lanced tried to move to get a better view of the new enemy, just to be shot on the upper chest. He dropped like a rock. Barrent knew that he just got re-promoted. Pressing on his neck-phone, he communicated with urgency.

- MAGGOTS! The Captain is down... someone has just shot at him. Probably an assassin... and unless Speckles gets his ass over here, they may have succeeded. Everyone, stop pussy-footing, get your pea-shooters and provide cover fire. We MUST take the Captain out. Unknown make and number of assailants, currently on the norther end of the main building. GEORGE, COVER THE CAPTAIN!

Barrent tried to get a pulse on the Captain. He was bleeding profusely, already turning white. He was in charge now. George moved in closer and with a blank expression.

- Dammit you Ox! Attack with that gun of yours!

Hearing that, George snapped off and threw the gun at the approaching enemy. A loud crack clearly resonated on the Lieutenant's ears.

- Remind me to kill you once we get out of here. Go in and crack some skulls... I DON'T CARE IF IT IS A DEMON PRINCE. STOP 'EM! GO!

Barrent peeked to see the enemy. Humans, in ragged uniforms bearing no markings of allegiance. Then he smelled him... then he saw him. Behind everyone else, he stood as big as an Astartes, but his armor fancied the Mark of Nurgle. Chaos! He needed the reinforcements now.

- Where the hell are you! We need cover fire NOW! Speckles, I swear that if you don't get here now I will make you eat your cigar lighter.

George screamed a war cry and moved forward to assault an unsuspecting man. With a body tackle the man was knocked down on his ass. He quickly stood up and engaged the Ogryn in battle, as if possessed by Khorn himself. His actions were not missed by his allies; the Champion of the Lord of Decayed ordered his men to fire at will at the two combatants. No good deed goes unpunished. The first Officer shot his own man down; that would teach him to hesitate. The other Officer shot George, seriously injuring him. The Lieutenant could see the reinforcements arriving south of their position, so he ventured to shot at the enemy. He rapid fired his autogun, missing his mark. The enemy was indeed luckier, shooting Barrent making him fall unconscious behind a wall, close to the Captain's body. From the north, Private Burnt Wood attempted to sneaked up with his trusted Flame Thrower. He was shot on the head directly on the head, his Flamer bursting in flames that consumed the body. The aroma of burned flesh mixed with the stench of the Heretical Marine. To him, it smelled like victory.

The enemy moved closer; two men were to assault George. A three to one ratio... even the Ogryn understood the odds. He was infuriated and remembered why he was there; to crack skulls. As the two men got closer, George picked one from his face. Lifting him up several feet of the floor, he made his face meet the rockrette ground in great haste. Only the man's legs twitched. He followed with a kick to the other man's torso, which broke several ribs dropping the man to the floor. A single Bolter shot cracked the air; it sound seemed to stop time. George just could see the Plague Marine on a second floor balcony, pointing the smoking weapon at him, before his eyes closed.


The situation was desperate; The Eye Pokers were out manned and outgunned. Reinforcements managed to arrive to the building, taking entrenching positions and started firing at the enemy. The exchange of fire was brutal. The Eye Pokers though they had contained the enemy at bay, when they saw one of them pull a Flame Thrower. Unceremoniously he pointed the weapon at the Captain location and pulled the trigger. A conglomerate of volatile napalm paste flew on the direction of his primary target, first burning George and two Infantrymen. Lt Barrent just recovered consciousness, and in a desperate attempt to save Captain Lance, he threw his body over his commanding Officer. While the secondary target managed to miraculously escape major damage from the infernal attack, the primary target was not so lucky... it received the attack full force. The heroics of the Lieutenant saved the Captain's life, but it came at a horrendous price. Part of his right leg was exposed outside the cover of the collapsed wall, and his foot was severely burned.


Lieutenant Marsellas appeared from the north, and started to press fire to the exposed enemy flank. It was a small diversion, but it allowed plenty of time for George to crawl out behind the intense firewall, pick up Captain Lance and moved him out of the area. The Decomposing Heretical Champion saw as the Guardsmen fled the scene. He ordered his men to stand their ground. His objective was achieved; no point on terminating the game so early. There was much Chaos to spread.

After some time, Jack "Speckles" Kevorkian could tend to the injured Officers. After brave attempts of the Field Medic to control his mouth-to-mouth rhythms, Captain Lance went flat-line. His dead was clear to everyone around him. Continuous use of the portal defibrillator as an enema jolted the Captain back from the dead. Lieutenant Barrent was not so lucky; his right foot was incredibly damaged. No amount of field medical assistance can help. They needed to return to base, so a Apothecary-Servitors tend to the injury and save the foot. It was clear that Old Barrel was not going to sprint any longer.



Defeat for The Eye Pokers!

Awesome first game! Continuing with a time honored tradition, we rolled everything randomly! The Scenario was Surprise Attack, and besides minor wording adjustments it was a GREAT challenge! Starting with 3 models was scary, but I had only to 'stay alive' until reinforcements arrived. Having Dozer shot my Captain (the only model he could see) on Turn 2 and get him OOA was inspiring... for him! HA! The best part was seeing his face of 'I feel so bad I killed your Leader!' No prob Bro! All in war!

The bulk of my reinforcements came in Turn 2, but I deployed them in the wrong place... I should had put them behind the Chaos Cultists and sandwiched them in! Idiot! DaBank just rolled his eyes at me. Sorry! George was the MVP of the game... even when I 'cheated' with the 4 attacks thing. Sorry guys! I copied the info wrong. I will make sure not to cheat until Game 3 for the next campaign.

Dozer's Chaos Cultists have the Mark of Nurgle... OUCH! That T4 and T5 versus autoguns is a pain in the butt! Definitely I have to get some better weapons... and Hot Packs! Defeating this guys is a challenge indeed!

Even with a loss, it was a great game! We both were on rout, so it could had gone either way. I'm glad I loss, because I made bad tactical decisions. I blame the lack of playing on the last 6 months... but I have never been the best tactician! Looking forward to fight again!

Before that... I should get painting the models.

Great Story and Great pics.

Nice one! I especially love the flame thrower pic. I will most definitly not forget my camera next week. And since you and dabank are playing there will be an abundance of pictures for you guys!

You might have a hard time taking pics of the KFC as they move so fast they are almost unseen.

Did you hear what the Kroot Shaper said to the Imperial Priest?
Be careful what you "PREY" for.

Ah well I can tell you have no tactical skill. Geting the Cap in to the fray is not some thing I would do untill I have some armour on him, my Caps have power swords but still. Anyway well done! It could have been bader than it was

Oh and two pukes to you DoZer

dwi

I'll see your two pukes and raise you a rotten half burned foot!

dwi: Tactical Skills? What are those?

To be honest... you are 90% right. My tactics are ALWAYS lacking. I did NOT put the Captain to fight on purpose, thou. The Scenario (Surprise Attack) is brutal. It was designed to challenge players on a middle-end level campaign, not as the first game. The Defender has a higher probability of getting hit HARD the first Turns; the challenge is to either move or entrench until reinforcements arrive. The reinforcements arrive randomly from random table edges, so running can pose problems too (you may run away from your reinforcements!)

In this game, I was (randomly determined) the defender and I started with 3 out of 8 possible 'groups'... almost 50% of my 'groups'. Not bad or terribly unfair... until you figure that those are only 3 models; Captain Lance, Lieutenant Barrent and George Dush (Ogryn). For placement, I put the Captain on the center of the table (so he be at the same distance from the enemy regardless their random deployment) and the other two (here is my 1st Tactical Error) closer to where I was standing. I should had put one on the opposite side.

Tim's stinky Cultists arrived randomly on the 'undefended' and 'unobstructed' edge. The attacker had the 1st Turn, so they were running towards the Captain. I managed to moved him 'behind a wall' for complete safety. Tactical Error #2... I pay absolutely NO attention (I'm a moron like that!) and did not even considered that the Cultists would MOVE! So, after they moved... I was exposed! He had no other target... he even asked me if he could shot my Captain. My response? I said "Shot me here your filthy heretical turd!" and opened my mouth WIDE open. He rolled... one shot, one wound, one failed 5+ Cover Save and one 6 on the Injury roll. Just like that... Lance eat the bullet! I deserved that one... Tim was just following orders! So while I did NOT put the Captain in harms way on purpose, my lack of any sense of tactics allowed Tim's loaded dice (CHEATER! ) to do their job.

Ohhh... and those were not the end of the Tactical Horrors Errors! On Turn TWO I had 5 'groups' come in (very lucky!) and rolled randomly that I could choose where to locate them. How about behind the enemy and sandwich them? Make sense? Yes. Is that what I did? No. Why? I'm a Tactical Moron. I put them behind MY forces... so they took 3 Turns to be in position to be effective. I made other errors... like triple-dog-daring him (see the video below for explanation on the dare...) to put his Flamer guy vs. mine. I forgot he is full of Chaos... and like all them bastards, he can't be trusted. Instead, he sent TWO Officers and blew my dude up! BTW... my dude died!



There were OTHER instances in which my brilliant tactical mind made even Tim ask me "Are you SURE you don't want to do this better?" While helping and abiding the enemy is strictly frown upon, he just felt too sorry for me. Of course, I learned the lessons of the past, and I thought he was trying to screw me over... so I stuck to my moves... which resulted in a 4 man BBQ.

Regardless, no matter what, I don't think there were more than 5 minutes that we were laughing (mostly at my Tactical prowess!)... which makes loosing OK in my book. I don't play competitively... I'm one of those guys that will be happy to loose as long as I'm allowed to make jokes and silly voices. I do have to learn how to play Catachans as Catachans... soon!

As usual man, great story and awesome pics!

Haha, I am the same way (more tactical minded though) I play for fun not to win

dwi

hehe... jd3 is VERY tactically sound player. When we play each other is a love-hate event! He takes time (not too much, but for me more than 2 seconds is an eternity!) to think consequences and I celebrate all good rolls (even his!) with song & dance. We have the record of the longest single Death Squads game... five and half hours! Stupid dice... we keep playing patty-cake (as DaBank put it) instead of beating each other!

Stupid dice? DON"T SAY THAT! Fear the dice gods!

dwi