Davtov scanned the Promethium Swamp. His infobanks of oracular and tactico-predictive engrams collected information about the region but the data was filled with blind spots, glitches and static. He interpreted the incomplete data as best he could and transmitted a noospheric map to his team, marked with glowing runes and icons depicting predicted routes through the tar pits and attack vectors. The map's green grid shimmered and twisted slightly, pixelated blocks of the wrong colours flickered on and off and the runes seemed to shift as it was internally viewed by each recipient.
The Para-Skitarii moved to their assigned positions, took cover and awaited the Purebred.
Decima and Ruddle watched the Purebred race by from the shelter of the shanty - their augmetics ticked and whirred and streams of data passed back and forth between them. Ruddle studied the scope of his Omnispex and selected a target for Decima's next shot.
Decima tracked Dev as he hunched down among the obsidian shards around the promethium tar pit. His Galvanic Rifle fired with a crack and a mist of blood erupted from Dev's arm.
Daktov and tybar ranged ahead on the left flank and tried to cut off the Purebred's route.
Gudget covered them.
Unbeknownst to either wardand, the Disciples of the Black objected to the interlopers in their territory. The promethium worshipers lined up in a tight formation, then suddenly scattered into desert around the ruins at a word from their leader; Lady Meth.
The Purebred charged headlong into the killzone between the Disciples of the Black and Anomaly Protocol. The Disciples fired on Dev as well and the Purebred's Flamer was pinned down.
Eshelon the Rider spurred his mutated mount on and they sailed over the barricade of promethium drums and scrap metal, and landed behind Daktov.
As usual Tybar was never still, glorying in the perpetual motive force of the Omnissiah. But he made good use of this predisposition and impetuously rushed ahead of the battleline, dodging round the Disciples of the Black as they tried to block his way.
He saw a single opening in the Disciples' line and ran at it, hard.
Gudget unleashed a storm of hellfire at Eshelon's back and brought his beast down, and it's rider with it.
Decima and Ruddle scuttled forward, they kept low and tracked multiple targets. Ruddle selected their next victim and Decima fired again - he wounded Keros.
Snapper the dusthound growled as it charged into the ruins and savaged Oxide and Ferrus of the Disciples.
Daktov blasted Keros with his Arc Pistol.
Tybar ran and ran and ran...
Mahela triggered her stimm injector and her ragged frame burst into life: She charged Gudget. The Mutant Skitarii was shocked at her ferocity.
Diam, one of the Disciples, escaped.
Keros went down, he fell into the tar...
Decima and Ruddle methodically selected targets and fired.
Lady Meth charged Tybar, screaming her battlecry in the Yaike Yaike Low Gothic dialect.
The dusthound was thrown back and the Disciples held on to the ruins.
The Purebred (Yash and Arun) cleared the ruins of the Disciples.
Lady Metha and Tybar exchanged blows but Tybar was only just able to defend himself against the superior skill of his opponent.
Snapper came under intense crossfire from the Disciples...
... and Anomaly Protocol's sniper team.
An Arc Rifle shot from Thane eventually brought the beast down.
Even though Daktov nearly escaped, when Lady Meth finally impaled Tybar...
... and Mahela overwhelmed Gudget, Anomaly Protocol were broken and fell back from the Promethium Swamp.
The Disciples of the Black held their territory against incursion by the Purebred, who would have to find another route to Ferrugo Pass.
+++
This mission was BRUTAL. We could each score one VP for each enemy model taken out and two VP for getting a friendly model off the table edge opposite our deployment zone.
Anomaly Protocol 2VP
The Disciples of the Black 4VP
The Purebred 2VP
The Disciples scored a solid victory.
Viktor's side of this tale is here.
