Assault on Korinthion V: The XIIIth Legion begins a full planetary assault
It is 008.M31, and the galaxy is in flames: the forces loyal to the Warmaster are in open rebellion, their treachery no longer a secret. In the Veridian System, the Word Bearers' have torched Calth and decimated the main body of the Ultramarines' fleet and ground forces with their brutal deception. Delayed in its journey to join the muster at Calth by the fierce storms raving the Warp, the Ultramarines' 27th Chapter travelling with the flagship Spear of Konor, a Gloriana-class battleship, and her accompanying fleet are ignorant of the devastation wreaked by Lorgar Aurelian's sons on their Legion. Seeking refuge in the Korinthion system, an important hub controlled by the Iron Warriors but used extensively throughout the Great Crusade by all Imperial forces, the Spear of Konor was ambushed by the IVth Legion's 31st Grand Company. Having outmaneuvered the Iron Warriors' planned ambush and repelled the subsequent boarding assault, it is time for the Spear of Konor and her fleet to take the battle to the Traitors.
The XIIIth Legion wastes no time in seizing on the IVth Legion's retreat. The Ultramarines' fleet initiates a full orbital bombardment on Korinthion V, the most important planet in the Hellianic system and seat of power and base of operations for the 31st Grand Company of the Iron Warriors. An important armoury for the IVth Legion, the subjugation of Korinthion V is crucial if the Ultramarines are to cripple the system defences and have any chance of punishing the Traitors. The 27th Chapter attempts to shock the defenders of the IVth Legion, still in disarray from their retreat from their failed void strike, by attacking several cities across Korinthion V simultaneously. By chance the first battle takes place in the morning of a day celbrated as "Boxing Day" in old Terran days.
The XIIIth Legion quickly deploys:
Facing them, the Iron Warriors deploy:
The Iron Warriors' tactics are simple: place the heavy support at the back in cover and shell anything that comes towards them, whilst at the same time use the Terrax Pattern Termites to deep strike behind the Ultramarines' lines and tie up units that could otherwise be used to tackle the big guns. For the Ultramarines, the mission is simple: get the terminators and Suzerain right into the faces of the Traitors, with covering fire from the predators.
The battle was a close one, fought true to form. The Ultramarines quickly lost their predators, and a little later their Deredeo while the Iron Warriors lost one of their basilisks while the Siege Tyrant Terminators suffered constant attrition. The deep-striking termites successfully harangued the Ultramarines' back line and kept the Contemptors away from the front line where they were badly needed. The IVth Legion were successful in slowing the Ultramarines' advance and their elites were not able to get sufficiently close to to the quad mortars and Siege Tyrants, their transports successfully destroyed while still too far away.
The Iron Warriors' "Iron Circle" Domitar Ferrum Battle Automaton single-handedly wrecked the 27th Chapter's Land Raider and killed half of the Suzerain that subsequently burst from the wreckage, before falling to the blows of their Legatine axes. The other Suzerain squad successfully killed one of the Iron Warriors' Contemptors before charging the IVth Legion's unit of terminators, but elsewhere the Ultramarines' units were being torn apart by heavy artillery barrages from several directions. In the end it all proved too much for the Ultramarines and the survivors staged a quick withdrawal.
The surprise was the Iron Warriors' "Iron Circle" Domitar Ferrum Battle Automaton. Although it was known his graviton maul could be dangerous, he survived the charge by the Suzerain remarkably well and was able to inflict heavy casualties on the Ultramarines' danger unit. It became obvious that the Ultramarines needed a Spartan to get the Terminators in close with the Iron Warriors, and some more heavy support.
The XIIIth Legion wastes no time in seizing on the IVth Legion's retreat. The Ultramarines' fleet initiates a full orbital bombardment on Korinthion V, the most important planet in the Hellianic system and seat of power and base of operations for the 31st Grand Company of the Iron Warriors. An important armoury for the IVth Legion, the subjugation of Korinthion V is crucial if the Ultramarines are to cripple the system defences and have any chance of punishing the Traitors. The 27th Chapter attempts to shock the defenders of the IVth Legion, still in disarray from their retreat from their failed void strike, by attacking several cities across Korinthion V simultaneously. By chance the first battle takes place in the morning of a day celbrated as "Boxing Day" in old Terran days.
The XIIIth Legion quickly deploys:
- Praetor in Cataphractii armour with combi-melta and chain fist
- 2 6-strong units of Suzerain: 5 Legatine axes, 1 thunder hammer
- 1 unit of Cataphractii Terminators: heavy falmer, 2 power mauls, 2 chain fists and 2 power fists
- 1 Land Raider, dual twin-linked lascannons
- 1 Damocles Command Rhino
- 2 10-strong tactical squads
- 1 10-strong unit of Breachers, 2 melta guns
- Contemptor dreadnought talon: 2 dreadnoughts with Kheres Pattern assault cannon, close combat weapon with heavy flamer
- Predator strike squadron: 2 predators with autocannon and lascannon sponsons
- Deredeo Pattern Dreadnought with Anvillus autocannon battery and Aiolos missile launcher
- 2 Rhino APCs
Facing them, the Iron Warriors deploy:
- Praetor in Cataphractii armour with combi-melta and thunder hammer
- 1 8-strong unit of Siege Tyrant Terminators
- 2 Legion Basilisks
- 3 Quad Mortars with krak shells
- 1 unit of Cataphractii Terminators: heavy falmer, 2 power mauls, 2 chain fists and 2 power fists
- 2 10-strong tactical squads
- 1 10-strong unit of Breachers, 2 melta guns
- Contemptor dreadnought talon: 2 dreadnoughts with Kheres Pattern assault cannon, close combat weapon with heavy flamer
- 1 Domitar Ferrum Battle Automaton
- 2 terrax Pattern Terminators
- 1 Rhino APC
The Iron Warriors' tactics are simple: place the heavy support at the back in cover and shell anything that comes towards them, whilst at the same time use the Terrax Pattern Termites to deep strike behind the Ultramarines' lines and tie up units that could otherwise be used to tackle the big guns. For the Ultramarines, the mission is simple: get the terminators and Suzerain right into the faces of the Traitors, with covering fire from the predators.
The battle was a close one, fought true to form. The Ultramarines quickly lost their predators, and a little later their Deredeo while the Iron Warriors lost one of their basilisks while the Siege Tyrant Terminators suffered constant attrition. The deep-striking termites successfully harangued the Ultramarines' back line and kept the Contemptors away from the front line where they were badly needed. The IVth Legion were successful in slowing the Ultramarines' advance and their elites were not able to get sufficiently close to to the quad mortars and Siege Tyrants, their transports successfully destroyed while still too far away.
The Iron Warriors' "Iron Circle" Domitar Ferrum Battle Automaton single-handedly wrecked the 27th Chapter's Land Raider and killed half of the Suzerain that subsequently burst from the wreckage, before falling to the blows of their Legatine axes. The other Suzerain squad successfully killed one of the Iron Warriors' Contemptors before charging the IVth Legion's unit of terminators, but elsewhere the Ultramarines' units were being torn apart by heavy artillery barrages from several directions. In the end it all proved too much for the Ultramarines and the survivors staged a quick withdrawal.
The surprise was the Iron Warriors' "Iron Circle" Domitar Ferrum Battle Automaton. Although it was known his graviton maul could be dangerous, he survived the charge by the Suzerain remarkably well and was able to inflict heavy casualties on the Ultramarines' danger unit. It became obvious that the Ultramarines needed a Spartan to get the Terminators in close with the Iron Warriors, and some more heavy support.
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