If Ghaz Tak had skulked in the woods and ignored the passing Razorback, he could have guaranteed himself a draw result. But his eyes are on daemonhood, so he risked all by leaving the woods and giving chase to the loyalist vehicle. Alas, that was the moment the Stormtalon returned for another strafing run.

“An Astartes is not designed for defeat. We can be killed, but we cannot be defeated.“—Roboute Guilliman, The Codex Astartes

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Continued from Part 3 . . .

End Game

As the sun sets, the battle wound down. Finally, Galba struck down the Obliterator, and the Razorback reached the enemy deployment zone and turned the Death Guard’s flank. The Knights had earned a victory point for the Linebreaker secondary objective—and the battle was won.

The Death Guard withdraw, bloodied but defiant. Although despising his warlord, Necrosius searches the battlefield for his fallen warlord. He finds Ghaz Tak, still breathing despite devastating wounds, and has him dragged to safety.

The battle’s end was a relief for the veteran Space Marine captain. Many of his warriors were wounded, and half a dozen were dead. He could claim victory. But it was not one he would savor. Enemy casualties were only equivalent; the enemy had not been destroyed.  They had simply been outmaneuvered and outfought—forced to withdraw to lick their wounds  but they remained a threat.

Most of all, Galba mourned the death of Ancient-Brother Mðestra. As he stood over the ruined wreck of the honored dreadnought, he looked down at the two melted holes in the armored chest  where a Lascannon beam had punched through the armor.

“Thank you, brother,” Galba whispered. “Your sacrifice is honored. Although you died early in the battle, you can go to the God-Emperor with the satisfaction that the city of Diaspar is safe . . . at least, for now.”

Scenario: The Emperor’s Will (two objectives)

Imperial Victory Points: 1 objective (3 v.p.), Slay the Warlord (1 v.p.), and Linebreaker (1 v.p.  )= 5 v.p.

Chaos Victory Points: 1 objective (3 v.p.), and First Blood (1 v.p.) = 4 v.p.

Minor Imperial Victory

TheGM: What a great game! This was another solo fight, but I did learn from the mistakes of my two previous battles. This time, I really thought hard about my battle plans—and never forgot that objectives win a game.

Having to deploy first, Ghaz Tak  knew the Imperium could set up to counter his plans. Still using the terrain to his advantage, he positioned his forces for a strong defense on the west flank, while threatening a single envelopment of the Knights’ east flank.

It was a single-envelopment plan, and it was sound. If not for the loss of the Death Guard’s Predator tank, it might well have succeeded.

Although the Knights deployed after the Death Guard, Captain Galba didn’t see a way to easy victory. The loyalists were a bit light on infantry—a purposeful decision given that the Toughness 5 for the Nurgle-tainted traitors required the Knights to focus on as many heavy weapons as possible.

The paucity of infantry, along with the less-than-favorable terrain, suggested that an assault on the Death Guard’s objective was not feasible. Given that it took Galba and his Command Squad four rounds of melee to kill a single Obliterator, that assessment proved pivotal to the battle’s conclusion.

No, Galba tested the Death Guard’s defenses to the west, but they proved too much. And he couldn’t push forward with his armor, as he needed it to deal with the flanking attack that, as it turned out, needed both loyalist tanks to stop.

In the end, I thought both sides made smart tactical decisions. Every turn, the original plan was reconsidered, possible attacks or withdrawals considered based on the tactical situation, and the correct countermeasures were put in place.

I will compliment Ghaz Tak for not being “gamey.” If he’d skulked in the woods instead of going after the Razorback, he was guaranteed a draw. But he bet it all on victory. His gamble didn’t pay off. The arriving Stormtalon did a bad number on him and cost him the game.

The Chaos warlord was more aggressive than his Imperial counterpart. Alas, the tactical finesse of Galba proved up to a very tough fight.

No major mistakes. Good response to threats. The game in the balance until the last turn, and it all came down to die rolls in the end.

I’m very happy with this battle.

Click here to return to the battle’s beginning.

Click here to return to Part 3.

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The Corvus Cluster is a Warhammer 40K blog documenting our gaming adventures in the fantastical universe of Games Workshop.