Loyalty is its own Reward (A Traitor Legion Chapter Master Quest)

[X] Plan: Three Targets, Three Victories
-[X] The Orbital Ring
--[X] 2 Five Marine Squads of Deathwing Terminators, 4th Company Captain Danai Kraiputra + Command Squad + Notables, Blazing Wardens 4th Company (All of them), Revenant Rajanon (Castaferrum-Pattern Dreadnought), 10 Blazing Warden Thunder Hawks and 8 BW Storm Ravens, 4 BW Rhinos, 2 BW Predator Tanks, Master of the Skitarii Samuel Omicron-Epsilon 529, 4 Fulgurite Electro-Priests, 1 Sydonian Skatros, 6 Squads of Skitarii Hyspaspists, 1 Maniple of Skitarii Vanguards, 3 Squads of Skitarii Rangers, 2 Squads of Skitarii Sagitarii, 15 Onager Dune Crawlers, 50 Krios Battle Tanks, 50 Skorpius Dune Crawlers, 25 Archaopters. Angels Revenent 2nd Company + Captain & Notables. 101st Yamanunan Gravekeepers + Notables and Vehicles detachments. Master of Sancity Prasong Kraiputra
---[X] Angels Revenent 2nd Company Captain Olin Defer has command.
-[X] The Temple of the Ninety-Nine Altars
--[X] 8 Five Marine Squads of Deathwing Terminators, Master of the Deathwing Gerard de Lusignan + Angel Crusaders (AC) Notables + Command Squad, Codicier Canali, Venerable Brother Gerard De Martigues (Castaferrum-Pattern), Land Raider Holy Xenocider, AC 10 Thunderhawks and Storm Ravens, Angels Revenent 7th Company Captain Irrin Defer + Command Squad + Notables, Angels Revenent 7th Company, AR Epistolary Mersaz, Epistolary Kirlan, Angels Revenent (AR) 10 Thunderhawks, AR 10 Land Speeders, AR 5 Rhinos, AR 2 Whirlwinds, AR 3 Razorbacks, AR 20 Scout Bikes, Palatine Ciara Lynch, 2 Dogmatas, 2 Imagifiers, 6 Sister Hospitalliers, 7 Battle Sister Squads, 3 Retributors Squads, 6 Dominion Squads, 3 Seraphim Squads, 2 Repentia Squads, 3 Penitent Engines, 1 Mortifier, 5 Immolators, 3 Exorcist Tanks, 9 Sororitas Thunderhawks, 4 Onager Dune Crawler, 47 Krios Battle Tanks, Inquisitor Durante Clerici + Inquisitorial Retinue, 2 Squads of Arco-Flagellants, 4 Crusader Squads of House Inim-Shara, 2 Retributor Squads from the Order of the Hallowed Chalice, Inquisitor Seble Bereket + Inquisitorial Retinue, Stormtrooper Platoon, Squad of Azerii Warriors, 19 Inquisitorial Valkyries, Mist Shrikes 10th Company Captain Secutor + Command Squad & Notables, 10-1, 10-2, 10-6, Tomb-Master Domitian, 143rd Yamunan Gravekeepers + Notables & Vehicles, 94th Zatloczony Rifles + Notables & Vehicles, 95th Seibourc Royals + Notables & Vehicles, 25 Imperial Guard Valkyries, Master of Sancity Falce
-[X] Naguang
--[X] 4 Five Marine Squads of Deathwing Terminators, Acting Canoness Riona, 1 Dogmata, 1 Imagifier, 5 Sister Hospitalliers, 6 Sister Battle Squads, 2 Retributors Squads, 5 Dominion Squads, 3 Penitent Engines, 4 Castigor Tanks, 9 Sororitas Thunderhawks, Mist Shrikes 2nd Company + Notables, Mist Shrikes 3rd Company + Notables, Mist Shrikes 10-3, 10-7, Squad of Inquisitorial Mist Shrikes acting as Scouts with 10th Company, 10th Company Lieutenant Iosephus. Chapter Master Severus + Honor Guard + Chapter Champion Bertrand Dupont, Land Raider Dark Horizon, 4 MS Rhinos, 3 MS Whirlwinds, 1 MS Razorback, 1 MS Predator Tank, Tomb-Champion Claudius Spatha, 4 MS Thunderhawks, 10 MS Storm Ravens, Brotherhood Champion Yeretai, Codicier Ivan Polikhat, 540th Yamunan Gravekeepers + Notables + Vehicles, 23rd Carolean Guard, 41st Durrutian Volunteers, 87th Spartos Artillery, 465th Mučedník Guard, 220th Boshinese Rikoguns, Remaining Imperial Guard Valkyries.
-[X] Scouting Elements and Saboteurs first

Alright, here is my plan. Like I stated before, I believe consolidation on Yerma Primus will win us the day due to enemy advantage of terrain and the presence of enemy elites. Why these three locations? Well, this is the best way (in my opinion) to satisfy everyones demands/requests for deployments. The Orbital Ring is being attacked because the Mechanicus wishes to see it destroyed but they only said that they would like if no one else was, so the Blazing Wardens and Angels Revenent are joining them, along with scouts in the form of the 101st Yamunan Gravekeepers. Angels Revenent wanted command of one of the assaults, so the Ring is in the hands of the 2nd Company Captain Olin Defer

The Temple is a given, if we want to eliminate any more rituals being enacted against us. Angels Crusaders are seeing a big deployment there since they demanded being there, however, it only said the Lusignan was demanding to be in charge of the assault on the Shifting Fortress, not the Temple. The lion's share of forces are going there due to my estimation of major forces and by Yeretai's words, a really strong melee fighter of the EotM. Scouts are being deployed led by Secutor for hopeful assassinations of enemy notables and sabotage.

And finally, Naguang. Why this city? Because the Temple is in Naguang. We don't need to deploy a force to destroy the Temple only to leave them surrounded by enemy forces and in an urban enviroment to fight their way out off. Odds are that there is also overlapping AA fields in the city and Temple, so we should deal with the city too. Majority of our chapter is going here, with Severus coming too. Not only that but the Guard is coming as well as Riona and the remainder of the Thorned Spear forces since they wanted forces in cities and the Sisters wanted Naguang specifically.

And of course, Scouting and Saboteurs first because that is simply a reasonable tactic in war, plus we've seen our scouts make later landings easier for our combined forces. So I'm sticking with Scouting and Sabotage.

[X] Plan: Three Targets, Three Victories

ThunderOwl said:

But the ones that would be truly beneficial to cozy up to are the Mist Shrikes. For what she understood on the subject most Space Marine Chapters held themselves aloof when it came to Imperial politics, but the most recent arrivals to the Aetelian Sector had proven to be extremely involved in the Sector. Her network of informants had reported multiple meetings with the key players of the Sector during the decades, and she was reasonably sure that the downfall of her Gadiran rival had begun with a message from Luctus given to the Lord Sector, although she couldn't glean more about it before receiving the head of that particular informant alongside of a note politely telling her to keep her nose out of the Lord Sector affairs. Anyhow, it is clear that Chapter Master Severus is going to be a key player in the next centuries, and one that could prove quite useful.

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The funny part is that Severus probably wouldn't have been doing this as much if it wasn't obviously necessary. The past 50 years can best be summed up as the Mist Shrikes repeatedly shouting "Work, damn you!" at the local political machine and kicking it when it stalled. Which was all the time.

ThunderOwl said:

For a moment the Admiral fears that the Space Marine is going to throw caution to the wind and kill her with his bare hands, so fearsome is the thunderous cast of his visage. Then the reality of their situation asserts itself. The Lex Imperialis is on her side, and with the intimidation attempt rebuffed De Lusignan has no way to press the issue without incurring in the wrath of the rest of the forces gathered in the system. And so he stalks away to the secondary vox-console, glaring hatefully at one of his bodyguards when something akin to a restrained chuckle comes out of his helmet.

Niwa herself feels the tension drain away from her body as she does the utmost to take a seat in her command throne without falling limply onto it. The battle carries on, the remaining stations of the Eyes of the Mutator fighting fiercely to the last despite the relentless hammering they are receiving from the Imperial arms. The woman's sense of self-preservation is the only thing that prevents her from laughing aloud as the Master of the Deathwing's expression sours further and further as more of his ships are blown to pieces, with only the damaged wreck of one of his escorts remaining operational. Her own ships, by contrast, do wonderfully, taking advantage of overlapping fields of fire and the presence of allied elements to inflict the damage needed to destroy the stations once and for all.

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Oh my God, I can't believe I missed that bit when I first skimmed the update. Holy shit, one of Gerard's own bodyguards not being able to contain his mirth is damning. The rest of his fleet being blown to bits just seals the deal here, this man is in for a rough time when this campaign is over.

CanYouMeme said:

[X] Plan No (Warp)Soup for You
-[X] The Orbital Ring: The megastructure where the Eyes of the Mutator ships are built. While the possibility of them having functional ships that they haven't used against you is nil, the area is undoubtedly heavily automated.
--[X] 10th Squad Captain Secutor and Full Command Squad, 1/4th the Yamunan Gravekeepers, Half of the Smilnay Forces,
1/2 the Seibourc Royals, 1/2 the Durrutian Volunteers, 1/2 the Angels Revenant, 1/2 the Angels Crusaders, 1/2 of Shrikes 2nd Company, Tomb Champion Spatha
---[X] The Angels Crusader representative will be in command due to their experience and specialty, but make it very clear that the previously demonstrated frivolous willingness (be more diplomatic than that) to spend Imperial blood will not be tolerated, and formal action will be taken if losses are unnecessarily high.
-[X] The Temple of the Ninety-Nine Altars: A temple the treacherous sons of the Vth had built in honour to their foul god. With the Sorcerer's Tower destroyed, it is also the only place remaining from where the Heretics can enact their rituals with a modicum of success.
--[X] Mist Shrikes Squad 10-3 & Lt Iosephus + Shrikes Inquisitorial Escort, Chapter Master Severus and Honor Guard, All of Shrikes 3rd Company, 1/2 of Shrikes 2nd Company, Tomb Master Domitian, 2 Thunderhawks, 3 Rhinos, 2 Whirlwinds, 1/4th the Yamunan Gravekeepers, Inquisitor Durante Clerici and Retinue, Entire Order of the Thorned Spear, 1/2 the Spartos Artillery, 1/2 the Seibourc Royals, 1/2 the Durrutian Volunteers, 1/2 the Angels Crusaders
---[X] Unless there is significant objection, Chapter Master Severus will command this segment.
-[X] The Ninefold Forge: Contrary to initial observations, further reconnaissance has revealed that the industrial complex on site is not manned by the Chaos Marine, but by a detachment of Dark Mechanicum from…somewhere. Attackers on these locations can expect both daemon engines and other kinds of heavy armor.
--[X] Mist Shrikes Squad 10-2 + 10-7 and Lt Lanista, 2 Storm Ravens, Land Raider, 1 Whirlwind, 1 Razorback, 1 Predator; 1/4th the Yamunan Gravekeepers, Half of the Smilnay Forces, All the Carolean Guard, 1/2 the Spartos Artillery, 1/2 the Mucednik Guard, 1/2 the Boshinese Rikoguns, All the Blazing Wardens, 1/2 the Angels Revenant
---[X] General Morner is in command here, with Astartes and Smilnay serving as independent detachments but politely requested to cooperate.
-[X] Zenwhei: The southern city, and a location that is far more out of the way than the other urban centers on the planet. It is a tertiary target, but a daring recon flight from one of the Navy's Valkyries has revealed that a force of Eyes of the Mutator and Dark Mechanicum are moving towards it.
--[X] Mist Shrikes Squad 10-1 + 10-6, 1/4th the Yamunan Gravekeepers, All the Inquisitor Seble Bereket and Retinue, All the Zatloczony Rifles,
1/2 the Mucednik Guard, 1/2 the Boshinese Rikoguns, 1/2 of Shrikes 2nd Company, 2 Thunderhawks, 2 Storm Ravens
---[X] The Yamunan Gravekeepers are in command of this action.
-[X] Scouting Elements and Saboteurs first: Assets such as Veteran Scouts and Light Infantry land first, followed by the rest of forces.
-[X] All unlisted elements such as Tanks, Artillery, Valkyries, and so forth will be discussed and politely debated in this council, but otherwise left to the discretion of their commanding officers.
-[X] Champion Yeretai is free to choose his own deployment, so long as he is willing to accept an honor guard. It would be an ironic shame for him to be freed and prepared for war once more, only to die here. Assign Apothecary Sarjanovic, the Shrike Inquisitorial Escort, and a Shrike Storm Raven to him.
-[X] Unlisted Shrikes assets will be assigned where Severus thinks they can do the most good.

Okay, here's the basic plan;
---This plan is devoted to focusing our efforts on preventing any sorcerous Warp bullshit and crippling their armor assets, hopefully crippling their ability to do shenanigans in one go. It also attempts to strike a balance between what everyone wants and what everyone gets.

---I also tried to take into account various voter feedbacks and comments, some fairly good ideas going around.

---I don't want the Angels Crusader to throw a complete fit, so I'm going to assign them to command the Orbital Ring with enough forces to both fully support them and enough Astartes to significantly outnumber them. Force them to actually act like the armored spearhead they want to be, and confine them to space to limit their ability to indulge in fuckery. 1/2 of Smilnay comes here as requested.
---The Temple goes to our elites, and the rest of the Crusaders are kept under our watchful eye..
---The Forge goes to our anti-armor forces, and the highest-ranking Imperial Guardsman gets command. Salamanders get to do their thing, and artillery is spread between this and the Temple.
---I want to know what the fuck is hidden at that secondary city, so a force of Shrikes, Inquisitorials, and fast movers gets assigned there.
---I ain't gonna tell a White Scars Champion what to do, for the most part. So long as he takes precautions, he can go where he's needed.

---As with previous plans, let professionals allocate their own assets.

---I want to attempt to spare lives with good sabotage, so choosing that option.

EDIT: Also, splitting up certain Imperial Guard units to either exploit inter-regimental rivalries build friendships (Royals and Volunteers) or hopefully avoid a complete wipe (the Rebuilding Regiments ones)

@Noroboro and @Nicholas Brooks In particular, your feedback and/or iterations on the plan would be welcome. All are invited to criticize as well.

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I suppose my biggest critique is that I believe we are spreading forces too thin in this plan, and needlessly dividing forces in half for deployments. I also notice that there is hardly any psyker support for the assault on the Temple of 99 Altars where psyker support will no doubt be critical in dispelling at rituals and act as a counter to EotM Sorcerors. Not only that but you aren't committing any forces to Naguang, which is noted to be right next to the Temple of 99 Altars meaning that enemy reinforcements can reach the Temple very easily.

[X] Plan: Three Targets, Three Victories

@CanYouMeme we should not do the nine forges if we do the temple then we should do the city attached to it at the same time we can only really do a few major options at a time because we have to focus our strength on target

So the temple with its city while the other far off city that is empty and the Orbital that should take less forces to do should be our priority

Noroboro said:

I suppose my biggest critique is that I believe we are spreading forces too thin in this plan, and needlessly dividing forces in half for deployments. I also notice that there is hardly any psyker support for the assault on the Temple of 99 Altars where psyker support will no doubt be critical in dispelling at rituals and act as a counter to EotM Sorcerors. Not only that but you aren't committing any forces to Naguang, which is noted to be right next to the Temple of 99 Altars meaning that enemy reinforcements can reach the Temple very easily.

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There is Psyker support, because I told everyone involved to choose their own assets. Unless for some reason ThunderOwl decides the people assigned won't attach psykers to it. That's kind of the point of "everybody chooses their own stuff" attached at the bottom.

It's not "needlessly dividing them in half" - it's spreading out assets so one bad loss/pyhrric victory doesn't cripple/kill an entire allied detachment, aside from a couple options that either MUST go in force for maximum effect or I don't trust to go piecemeal. I dislike "most or all eggs in one basket".

Frankly, I hope they do send reinforcements - attacking the temple without the city means they must choose between either abandoning it or abandoning the city. And since the plan is to blitz the temple with an assload of Terminators and elites, I think it'll work.

Blitz the temple, secure a perimeter, breach and clear. And if the supporting city sends reinforcements, then we fight those reinforcements out in the open instead of a prepared defensive city.

As for spreading it too thin - unless you're going to suggest alternative assignments for the four locations, I don't think so.

Fenrir44 said:

@CanYouMeme we should not do the nine forges if do the temple then we should do the city attached to at same time we only a few major options at a time

So the temple with its city while the other far off city and the Orbital should take less forces

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Clean this up a bit please, I'm having trouble parsing what you're trying to say.

[X] Plan: Three Targets, Three Victories

CanYouMeme said:

There is Psyker support, because I told everyone involved to choose their own assets. Unless for some reason ThunderOwl decides the people assigned won't attach psykers to it. That's kind of the point of "everybody chooses their own stuff" attached at the bottom.

It's not "needlessly dividing them in half" - it's spreading out assets so one bad loss/pyhrric victory doesn't cripple/kill an entire allied detachment, aside from a couple options that either MUST go in force or I don't trust to go piecemeal. I dislike "most or all eggs in one basket".

Frankly, I hope they do send reinforcements - attacking the temple means they must choose between either abandoning it or abandoning the city.


Clean this up a bit please, I'm having trouble parsing what you're trying to say.

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Ah, sorry then, I've been up awfully early and on flights to get back home, my brain didn't connect the words together lol

I understand that mindset but I still believe that its needlessly dividing. Also, if you are worried about a bad loss or a pyrrhic victory, why don't you consolidate allied forces more to ensure a victory? Not only that but I doubt a loss will result in the total annihilation of an allied force, there will be rolls involved for retreating forces, like Gallienus or when we were in Lezo and got trapped in the Governors Palace. Barring bad rolls, our forces will retreat in good order.

They aren't going to completely abandon the city or the temple. The garrison for the city is likely large enough to comfortably sent reinforcements to the Temple. It's noted that the Temple is the last place to enact rituals, and if we know that, then so do the EotM. So the defending forces in both the Temple and Naguang are going to be large enough for a strong defense. I'd rather not have our forces that are landing at the Temple suddenly be surrounded thanks to the free forces from Naguang.

As for an alternate assignment of forces, I suggest cutting out one of the deployment options and put the forces to other deployments.

[X] Plan: Three Targets, Three Victories

[X] Plan: Three Targets, Three Victories

Noroboro said:

Ah, sorry then, I've been up awfully early and on flights to get back home, my brain didn't connect the words together lol

I understand that mindset but I still believe that its needlessly dividing. Also, if you are worried about a bad loss or a pyrrhic victory, why don't you consolidate allied forces more to ensure a victory? Not only that but I doubt a loss will result in the total annihilation of an allied force, there will be rolls involved for retreating forces, like Gallienus or when we were in Lezo and got trapped in the Governors Palace. Barring bad rolls, our forces will retreat in good order.

They aren't going to completely abandon the city or the temple. The garrison for the city is likely large enough to comfortably sent reinforcements to the Temple. It's noted that the Temple is the last place to enact rituals, and if we know that, then so do the EotM. So the defending forces in both the Temple and Naguang are going to be large enough for a strong defense. I'd rather not have our forces that are landing at the Temple suddenly be surrounded thanks to the free forces from Naguang.

As for an alternate assignment of forces, I suggest cutting out one of the deployment options and put the forces to other deployments.

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I would prefer if you assigned someone to at least harass the Astartes-Mechanicus force wandering off into the lonely tertiary city at the end of the list. I don't know why they're going there, and I'd prefer to not get caught off guard by some shit they did since we last got intel on them.

The orbital ring and the temple must be taken or destroyed this turn. I'm not interested in leaving their most important daemon engine manufacturing center untouched this round. I'll shift some forces away from the thing in the city.

I said, "cripple/kill" not "total annihilation" as loss conditions. I'm not focusing them as you are because while I'm not interested in shotgunning, there's the problem that we're up against an entire planet's worth of ground forces with no orbital fire support. I have no interest in presenting what is effectively a single target for them to concentrate and swarm over us. In and out, as quick as possible. If we had the option I'd be giving both the Temple and the Forge backpack nukes. As is, I must make do.

EDIT: @ThunderOwl Actually, that's a good question. Can we do backpack nukes?

I don't need them to completely abandon the city. I want them to come out of their rat hole and fight us away from their defenses. Whether in full or in part, it still benefits us either way.

[X] Plan No (Warp)Soup for You

CanYouMeme said:

I would prefer if you assigned someone to at least harass the Astartes-Mechanicus force wandering off into the lonely tertiary city at the end of the list. I don't know why they're going there, and I'd prefer to not get caught off guard by some shit they did since we last got intel on them.

The orbital ring and the temple must be taken or destroyed this turn. I'm not interested in leaving their most important daemon engine manufacturing center untouched this round. I'll shift some forces away from the thing in the city.

I said, "cripple/kill" not "total annihilation" as loss conditions. I'm not focusing them as you are because while I'm not interested in shotgunning, there's the problem that we're up against an entire planet's worth of ground forces with no orbital fire support. I have no interest in presenting what is effectively a single target for them to concentrate and swarm over us. In and out, as quick as possible. If we had the option I'd be giving both the Temple and the Forge backpack nukes. As is, I must make do.

EDIT: @ThunderOwl Actually, that's a good question. Can we do backpack nukes?

I don't need them to completely abandon the city. I want them to come out of their rat hole and fight us away from their defenses. Whether in full or in part, it still benefits us either way.

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Hmm, that is a good point, with the Dark Mechanicus going to Zenwei... However, in my opinion, I believe that the Temple is more important. I reckon that whatever they are attempting to retrieve isn't so powerful that it can shift the tides of battle, where as a massive ritual from the temple can completely change things for us.

That's fair, cripple/kill it is. However, I think that this planet will have our forces be more 'boots on the ground' rather than in and out. We take one city, that means its a safe and clear landing zone for our forces to start marching on other locations. It wouldn't really make sense doing air insertions to other locations and suffer from AA fire and attrition when we can clear up a zone and march towards another area. If the EotM want to try and retake a city, then I'd welcome the opportunity as it means they'd weakening themselves elsewhere. Of course, we might deal with hit and run tactics from the EotM if we do march to other locations but I reckon we have air superiority outside of cities and locations.

Very nice Torroar

[X] Plan: Three Targets, Three Victories

[X] Plan: Three Targets, Three Victories

[X] Plan: Three Targets, Three Victories

[X] Plan: Three Targets, Three Victories

CanYouMeme said:

EDIT: @ThunderOwl Actually, that's a good question. Can we do backpack nukes?

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You can, although it will be rolled as an Intelligence roll between someone in your force and someone in the enemy force. Also, it won't be a true nuke.

torroar said:

House Valevoli 'The House of the Slivered Shards

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First of all, thank you so much for writing for my quest, I truly appreciate it seeing as it is inspired by your own work. As for the House of Valevoli, it is a cool concept, and I really like how it addresses both the consequences of the Navigator Houses politicking and how the various pirates and renegades get to move their own ships. It is also a nice detail how disdainful the Inquisitor writting it is of Abhumans. Canonized as a Potential foe.

[X] Plan: Three Targets, Three Victories

@ThunderOwl I have a question would there happen to be any captured Night Lords in Trazyn's "collection" that would be worth saving. Or be possible to save

RedWake said:

@ThunderOwl I have a question would there happen to be any captured Night Lords in Trazyn's "collection" that would be worth saving. Or be possible to save

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Well Trazyn could have Great-Crusade Era Night Lords, although how "worth" they would be is debatable. Also, if you ever meet Trazyn there is a greater chance of you ending as an exhibit that there is of you pulling something out of them.

ThunderOwl said:

Well Trazyn could have Great-Crusade Era Night Lords, although how "worth" they would be is debatable. Also, if you ever meet Trazyn there is a greater chance of you ending as an exhibit that there is of you pulling something out of them.

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How about some of the night lords in his collection escaping and ending up with us?