Prelude
We met at Norman's place and played Mission Four from the core game's campaign The Return, titled Cleanse and Burn. As his Stealers didn't get the colour treatment yet, I brought mine (painted in the 90's) along.
The objective for the Marines is to place a heavy flamer shot in each of the two target "gene bank" rooms, the Genestealer player has to prevent this.
Marine Lieutenant
Matthias
Hive Mind Nexus
Norman
+ + 20:27:18 The Emperor has dictated your squad's weaponry.
Prepare thyselves.
Turn 1
+ + 20:27:18 The two Marines squads advanced, Brother Sergeant Dominicus' squad
down corridor 123-Lambda, Brother Sergeant's Thaddeus' squad down
corridor 123-Xi. Both sergeants lead the way, and blasted several
doors in front of them while advancing.
Victory will redeem our forebears.
Finally, the Lieutenant ordered Brother Urbaan to turn 90° as a
preparation to enter corridor 028 next turn.
Success is imperative!
+ + 20:28:22 New movement detected by the sensoriums in sector 123-Gamma-022 and
123-Chi-022, both advancing towards the corridors occupied by the
Marines.
Life forms have been detected.
Turn 2
+ + 20:31:19 Both Sergeants continued to lead their squads down the corridors,
again blasting at the doors in front of them.
Prayers of vengeance steel our souls.
One Brother from each Squad, Brother Brutus from Squad Dominicus
and Brother Urbaan from Squad Thaddeus, took up positions in
123-My-028 and 123-My-028, back to back, covering the Squads'
flanks on over watch.
Our duty, to kill. We serve it well.
+ + 20:34:05 More xenos entered from 123-Gamma-022 and 123-Chi-022, following
the steps of the previously entered contacts.
Our enemy face humanity's axe.
These first detected contacts advanced towards the Marine Squads,
keeping just out of sight.
Purge our honour. Cleanse and burn.
Turn 3
+ + 20:36:13 Brother Sergeant Thaddeus advanced to 123-Xi-019. This allowed him
to identify the blip behind the corner, which turned out to be one
Genestealer. Brother Sergeant Thaddeus' shot at him from the hip
but missed.
Our moment of retribution approaches.
Unfazed, the Brother Sergeant continued with executing the plan and
advanced to 123-Xi-15. While crossing corridor 018, he identified
the blip in 123-Kappa-018 to be three Stealers with his peripheral
vision.
Beholden to our honour, prepare for death.
+ + 20:36:53 Brother Cadmus advanced to 123-Xi-021 and covered his Sergeant's
back with over watch.
Fear not your enemies. Loathe them instead.
Brother Sergeant Dominicus moved parallel to him to 123-My-021, and
also went on overwatch.
Glory to the Emperor.
+ + 20:37:03 Brother Cyprian advanced to 123-Lamda-022 and fired his storm
bolter twice at the Stealer down the corridor. He went into over
watch, thus covering 123-Lamda, and creating an overlapping
coverage of 123-Lamda-020 with his Sergeant's over watch.
We must not fail.
Except for Brothers Brutus and Urbaan, who kept over watch in
corridor 029, all other Brothers advanced towards the objective
rooms.
We shall avenge.
+ + 20:38:16 More reinforcements poured into the area from the same entry points
as previously.
Our foes await our cleansing fury. Our people's soul scream for vengeance.
The Genestealer in 123-Lambda-217 moved through corridor 018 into
123-Xi, to get into Brother Sergeant Thaddeus' back. Brother Cadmus'
over watch fire proofed to be ineffective, his weapon even jammed
on the second shot!
Our enemy is at hand. We shall continue. We shall succeed.
The ensuing attack Brother Sergeant Thaddeus survived, though,
thanks to his +1 bonus. He turned around to face his assailant.
We pray these creatures feel pain.
We shall laugh at death together.
+ + 20:40:05 The Stealer attacked Brother Sergeant Thaddeus again, this time
killing him.
We mourn our dead Brothers. Theirs is no disgrace.
The Stealer in 123-Omikron-018 turned the corner, and raced towards
Brother Cadmus, who watched haplessly, as his jammed bolter
prevented him from stopping the xeno. He did not fare much better
with his power glove, being ripped apart by his opponent's claws.
They are blessed who die for humanity.
+ + 20:40:29 The Stealer jumped over the crumbling Brother Cadmus, straight into
Brother Tarquin. His heavy flamer was no help in a close assault,
and he, too, was ripped apart.
Defeat will not be tolerated. The Emperor watches over us.
+ + The Stealer then advanced one more square and leered into Brother
Justus' face.
And they shall know no fear.
20:47:46 The blip in 123-Rho-019 revealed itself to be one Stealer, which
moved through the corridors to attack Brother Sergeant Dominicus'
flank, surprising him, and easily killing him.
For the Emperor and our people - we shall succeed.
+ + 20:41:11 The Stealer in 123-Kappa-018 started an assault down corridor
123-Lamda, towards Brother Cyprian; he was shredded by the second
bolter salvoe fired on over watch.
Vindication approaches.
+ + 20:41:23 The next Stealer, in 123-Iota-018, also tried to get into close
assault with Brother Cyprian, and managed to dodge the over watch
fire. Once in close assault, Brother Cyprian did not stand a
chance...
And let us join Him there, for Duty ends not in Death.
+ + The Stealer then advanced onto the body of Brother Cyprian,
threatening Brother Cato carrying the last heavy flamer.
Victory is at hand. Redemption.
20:41:44 The blip in 123-Theta-019 revealed itself to be two Genestealers,
which advanced to positions on both intersections.
You'll be in the very midst of the enemy.
+ + 20:42:13 Finally the reinforcements moved onto the board, following the
steps of the Stealers before them.
Blips approaching from all directions. First Stealer sighted and killed.
Turn 4
+ + 20:42:21 Brother Justus needed to shots to blast the Stealer in front of
him.
I am His Sword, as He is my Shield. I am His Wrath, as He is my Zeal.
+ + He then moved to 123-Xi-022, and blasted the Stealer around the
corner at 123-Ny-021 from the hip.
The hour of victory is at hand. We must cleanse this ship. We will prevail.
With two more shots he mowed down the Stealer at 123-Xi-019.
The Emperor is the light against which no darkness can stand.
The next shot at the Stealer occupying 123-Xi-016 missed.
Expect heavy resistance. The Emperor demands success, and we shall not fail.
Finally, he went into over watch.
In Vengeance be True, in Valor be Strong.
+ + 20:43:44 Brother Cadmus set the T-junction at 123-Lamda-021 ablaze, killing
the Stealer in it.
Let the purifying flame cleanse this area.
+ + 20:44:18 Brothers Urbaan and Brutus kept up their over watch on corridor
028, while Brother Sirius took a break this turn.
We shall be victorious. We shall overcome.
+ + 20:44:34 This time, both Genestealer reinforcements entered from
123-Gamma-022.
We can but strive to succeed, even when, in striving, we shall die.
The blip in 123-Rho-019 revealed itself to be three Stealers. They
immediately started to assault Brother Justu, except one who stayed
in place. They were joined by the Stealers from 123-Lambda-019 and
123-Xi-016, but Brother Justus cut them all down, allowing none to
come near him.
Others shall carry on, and we shall not be shamed.
+ + 20:44:34 Two Stealers emerged from the blip in 123-Theta-019, and moved to
take up positions in the two 4-way-intersections below them.
Death to the Genestealers. Glory to the Emperor. Vengeance shall be ours.
The two reinforcement blips moved into room 123-Eta-018.
Enemy concentrations are high. Go with the Emperor's blessings.
Turn 5
+ + 20:46:45 Brother Cato advanced two squares and fired his heavy flamer into
section 123-Lambda-018. The Stealer in it was grilled.
The enemy faces death unknowing.
Brother Justus advanced down 123-Xi. He needed two shots to kill
the Stealer in 123-Ny-018, then continued to storm down 123-Xi,
being urged on by the Lieutenant.
Fight not for Glory, but for Duty alone. It is only in Death that
Duty ends.
+ + 20:47:15 Brother Urbaan gave up his watch of one half of corridor 028, moved
around the corner into 123-Xi, and took up over watch fire there to
cover Brother Justus' back.
Let us speak His word, as He fuels the Fire of Devotion.
Brother Sirius closed the gap to Brother Cato.
Pain is transitory, yet Honour is eternal.
+ + 20:48:24 Two new blips arrived at 123-Chi-022.
Let us fight His Battles, as He fights the Battle at the End of Time.
The blip in 123-Eta-020 moved down corridor 123-Eta, towards one of
the Marine's objective rooms.
Loyalty is its own reward.
+ + 21:08:02 The blip in 123-Theta-019 revealed itself to be three Genestealers.
One remained in room 123-Eat-018 to tempt Brother Cato using up one
of his precious four remaining heavy flamer shots, the other two
moved just outside the room on either side to be spared from being
burned.
Foe closing in rapidly on several vectors. Speed is essential if we
are to succeed.
+ + 20:50:00 The Stealer in 123-Rho-019 started to chase Brother Justus, but as
soon as entered 123-Xi he was shot down by Brother Urbaan's over
watch fire.
To cleanse the soul; prayer. To cleanse the body; pain.
The reinforcements moved into room 123-Tau-018.
By fire, blade, and bolt alone are corruption and sins burned away.
Turn 6
+ + 20:51:52 Brother Cadmus ran down corridor 123-Lambda as fast as he could, in
addition being urged on by the Lieutenant.
Forward, Brothers. Forward to honour.
Brother Justus moved parallel to him in corridor 123-Xi.
The Emperor watches our every move.
Brother Brutus turned 90°, so that he had LOS of the whole corridor
028, thus preventing any blips from entering and moving along it.
We are blessed.
The two ramaining Marines kept their positions and went on over
watch.
Humanity's protector is at hand.
+ + 20:54:23 One blip arrived at 123-Zeta-004 and one at 123-Tau-004. Both were
directly converted outside the map, and the resulting Stealers
moved onto the board, frantically trying to counter the Marines
bold dash.
We are the leading edge of one thousand marines.
The blip in 123-Eta-014 moved into the objective room, opening both
doors.
Prayer and striving, Brothers.
+ + 20:56:44 The Stealer in 123-Eta-015 used the newly opened route and advanced
into the intersection at 123-Lamda-010.
Avengement approaches.
+ + 20:57:02 The two blips in room 123-Sigma-018 were converted, both
representing one Genestealer only.
Time does not heal our wounds.
Turn 7
+ + 20:57:38 Brother Justus stepped around the corner, and blasted the Stealer
blocking the target room with a precision shot.
Operation proceeding as planned.
This created LOS to the blip in the target room, which turned out
to represent three more Stealers.
Our sensoriums have failed us.
Brother Justus then turned 180°, blasting the door to the second
target room, but missing it.
By the throne, Brother, save your ammunition!
+ + 20:58:44 Brother Cadmus moved into corridor 010, back to back with Brother
Justus, and set the target room ablaze, killing all three
Genestealers in it.
We bring death.
+ + 20:59:26 Brother Urbaan advanced two squares down corridor 123-Xi, and sent
a hail of bolter fire towards, the Stealers, killing two.
We are the vanguard of honor.
Brother Sirius killed the Stealer threatening Brother Cadmus, and
went on over watch.
Begin the litanies of hatred.
Finally, the Lieutenant ordered Brother Sirius to fire one more
at the door to the target room, but the bolter shells were not able
to destroy it.
Brothers, the enemy are at hand. Summon all your resolve.
+ + 21:01:23 Two new blips appeared on the sensoriums at 123-Tau-004.
A day to purge our conscience.
The Stealers advanced towards Brother Sirius, one to block his LOS
the target room, the others to threaten him. But none was able to
reach and attack him.
Let us seize our honour's reprieve.
Turn 8
+ + 21:02:25 It took Brother Justus two shots to kill the Stealer blocking the
door to the second objective room. With his third shot, he finally
destroyed the door to it, and moved out of the way to allow Brother
Cadmus LOS to the objective.
We seek vindication.
+ + 21:02:53 Brother Cadmus turned around and set the second objective room
ablaze.
This is vendetta, none must flinch.
Marine Victory.
After Action Reports
Our Brothers shall be vindicated. Their sacrifice shall not be in vain.
Marines (Matthias)
Wow, what a great game! After turn three, I was pretty sure I had lost. Half my heavy flamer shots had been killed, the second heavy flamer Marine being in dire straits…
But then I somehow managed to clear enough Stealers to put my initial plan into effect, which I had started already in turn three when I charged with Sergeant Thaddeus towards the objective room.
In turn five I did the exact same manoeuvre with Brother Justus (only this time being able to cover his back with over watch fire instead of jamming), and then a turn later in the parallel corridor with Brother Cato, the surviving heavy flamer Marine.
These two (more or less on their own) then won me the game. As mentioned, this kind of tactic had been my plan from the start, luckily I was able to see it through after the initial setback of turn three.
With a couple dice rolls gone differently, or a few blips with more Genestealers at the right point in time, I could also easily have lost the game.
But the game was great fun, especially winning it when we both had been sure I was not able to any more.
Genestealers (Norman)
What a game indeed! I felt really sorry Matthias on turn three. It's always bad if a game's balance tips so soon … And then he won! How was that even possible? Henry Cavill protects! He must be even sicker than our four-armed Emperor!