Day 1 – Game 2

Annihilation, Spearhead

Opponent: Crimson Fist Space Marines and Aztec Space Wolves

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Past experience screams in my head “AHHHH! THUNDERWOLVES!” Ghazghkull may eat these guys like candy, but he’s not here to help and these guys just rip apart Ork mobs.

They get first turn and deploy. They have a pair of 10 man tactical squads setting up on the perimeter (one lead by a chapter master) with a devastator squad dead centre in some ruins. A vindicator is hiding behind them. The thunderbirds (Thunderwolves modelled as Marines surfing Giant eagles, unit champ on a griffon and Wolf Lord on a carnasaur) and Cold ones (Fen. Wolves) deploy just behind the gunline.
Blood claws with Lukas and wolf scouts in reserve, Scouts infiltrating.

My team mate and I conspire – these guys expect us to play like Orks and rush into the gunfire only to get counter charged. Ho ho ho, this will be fun! Lets turn some tables.
We set up our own gun line of Lootas and Obliterators and pull the Orks back beyond bolter range. If they want a fight they will have to deliver it to us.
Their Scouts set up in a distant forest, and we Seize the initiative!

Now, Obliterators getting out performed by Lootas really stings, so this was their chance to shine, and shine they did. Vindicator: Wrecked. Devastator squad, bunched up in those ruins are vaporised by plasma cannon blasts. We have just neutered their ranged support in two shots. Mwahahaha!
The lootas gun down the Cold One unit from 10 models to 2. They go to ground to get a save.

The look on the opponent’s faces is priceless as they scramble to get the thunderbirds and tactical marines in range of being effective.
Now, the Daemon prince may have convinced may have convinced the Orks to hide in the woods, but Warboss Gut Grinda isn’t having any of it, and roars forward. Yggdrasil face palms then flies over to help, flicking out the Lash.
Inspiration strikes us, the Lash allows us to move each model up to 8”… “Hey Spess Mareens, it’s conga line time!” The front ones are shunted within assault range of the warboss while the chapter master is sent to the back of the line. It will take him a few pile in moves to actually get to attack!

The Thunderbirds rush forward to attack the warboss and Lukas And Friends walk on beside the Orks, but too far out to assault. Shooting is pretty weak at this point. The Thunderbirds charge in, but shelter the Wolf Lord so he doesn’t get insta-killed. The warboss actually survives the attacks and prepares to reap a terrible insta-killing vengeance… only for all 4 storm shield saves to be passed. Dang it!

Our turn, send in Da Orks! Yggdrasil Lashs the Blood Claws, allowing the Orks to bounce in. It’s a great fight, the 2 most enthusiastic units in the game scrapping it out, but the Claws are killed to a man. Lukas starts to laugh, but the Nobs yells “Oi, dere’s sum kind of stasis field bein’ aktavated. Everyone take 3 steps back!” Lukas stops laughing as no Orks get trapped in his bubble. It’s going to be a lonely eternity.

The Thunderbirds kill the warboss and split up – the Lord goes off the kill Yggdrasil (and succeeds) while the Thunderbirds charge the Orks… only to get swarmed and torn apart! This unit then gets charged by the chapter master, his tactical squad and the surviving Cold Ones. The Orks kill the Cold Ones and most of the tactical marines as the game ends.

Result: Victory, 6-4