SMC Fjord

Reports from panicked workers in the main Tunguska refinery of alien invaders raiding the fuel supplies received.  Fortunately, while there were no Imperial Guards within response range, the Frozen Wasters Strike Cruiser Fjord was on patrol insystem, and responded to the distress signal. 

Commander Artos personally led the only two squads not yet already deployed on the planet, and landed outside the refinery before the marauding aliens could return to their craft.

The aliens, tentatively identified as two squads of Dark Eldar led by a Haemunculus, outnumbered the marines by two to one, but Artos fearlessly commanded his men to scourge the alien menace from the world.

The battle was joined in a ruined section of the refinery - repairs had been ongoing for centuries, but the unreliable machinery broke down as frequently as it was fixed, so the Tunguskan fuel was never in high demand in neighboring systems.

The Marines arrived from the south, expecting to intercept the aliens moving from the north toward their waiting craft.

As the marines prepared to take up position in the ruins of the vehicle shop, the aliens rounded some old feeder pipes - they were faster than expected, and the marines had no time to set up prepared positions.

Commander Arkos ordered squad Heimdall to provide cover, and rushed forward, accompanied by squad Tyr.

Squad Heimdall proceeded upstairs to set up a firebase, while squad Tyr led by Commander Artos would move around the building and engage the enemy at close range.

Squad Heimdall had the only long-range weapon in the squad, and should be able to hit the aliens even if they veered away from the building.

Tragically, the aliens stood their ground, and a curtain of Splinter rifle and cannon fire cut down most of squad Heimdall before it could get into position - only the missile gunner survived unscathed.  But against the concentrated fire of two squads, he had little chance of surviving another fusillade.

Grimly, PFC Werther hunkered down, clicked the launch rig to load a frag missile, and prepared to sell his life dearly.

By now, squad Tyr was within charge distance of the nearest of the loathsome aliens, and with a fearsome yell, they attacked, bolt pistols and flamers blazing.

A missile from the across the road took down one alien, two more were fried in flamer fire, and then the Marines were upon the aliens like wolves on sheep.

The Dark Eldar were no match for Marines, and only three were left standing of the nearer squad.

The other squad, yodeling some alien warcry, rushed to their brethrens aid, and did inflict casualties on the Marines - mostly through speed and numbers, for their combat prowess was, warcry notwithstanding, not very impressive.

Still, the remaining Marines were outnumbered three to thirteen.

The Marines stood strong, though, and with the aid of PFC Werther from Squad Heimdall, succeeding in beating the aliens off - they fell back, some of them fleeing for dear life.  The majority kept their composure, and withdrew in an orderly manner.

But instead of sensibly fleeing, the aliens - no doubt suffused with a profound deathwish - rushed back into the fray, to test their melee mettle against Commander Artos and the grizzled Sergeant Tyr.

For the final battle, only the Haemonculus and his two Companion Sybarites (armed with Power Weapons, no less) were left standing, against Commander Artos, Sergeant Tyr, and the heroic missile gunner, PFC Werther from Squad Heimdall.

Fortune favored the righteous, and after Tyr wounded the alien Torturer, Artos proceeded to crush all three aliens, one after the other, with his mighty Power Fist.

After the battle, the wounded were tended too, and those aliens that still lived were taken away for interrogation.  If they were the vanguard of a larger incursion, the Empire must be prepared!  Of the stricken battle-brothers, three were beyond help, and the Emperor's Peace was administered before their geneseed were removed.

It is regrettable that three of the piratical vermin lived to escape, but they may send the warning to their kin that the world of Tunguska is under the protection of the Empire of Man!

Blessed be the Emperor, for on this day his foes were vanquished.

Thought for the Day: Let No Alien Live.


Combat results: Draw (Seek And Destroy Alpha level, no scoring units left). 

Victory point score:
Dark Eldar: Squad Tyr < 50%: 43 points, Squad Heimdall < 50%: 43 points, no Objective points, total 86 points.
Marines: All enemy squads and characters destroyed or off table, no Objective points, total 293 points.
Difference 70% of 300 points - Crushing Marine (Moral) Victory...