Retaking Hive Gaia

Today was stage 2 of phase 1 of the Octarius Campaign! The second mission, which was Wrack and Ruin. Basically, after their victory over the Imperial Guard last week, the Tyranids continue to devour the remains of Hive Gaia. Several surviving regiments of Imperial Guard have rallied to attempt to salvage the situation and drive the Tyranids out, but they encounter new enemies in the form of World Eaters and Khorne Daemons. Apparently the Thousand Sons have summoned Khorne Daemons in Gydisk Sigma, tearing a rift open in reality, and the World Eaters have been drawn to the planet by the scent of blood.

Hive Fleet Leviathan continued to rampage across Hive Gaia, wiping out a traitor regiment (the Blood Pact) who had landed in support of the World Eaters. Unfortunately, the Blood Pact found themselves in the path of the ravenous hordes and were completely annihilated before they could reach the World Eaters.

Bereft of their infantry support, the World Eaters found themselves outmatched and outgunned by a Cadian armor regiment. The stalwart Cadians, having sought alliance from Draconian Leman Russ Executioner tanks that formed the last remnants of the devastated Draconian regiment who were routed by Hive Fleet Leviathan last week, repelled the fury of the World Eaters through sheer firepower. A tank commander in a Leman Russ main battle tank, along with two Draconian Leman Russ Executioner tanks bristling with plasma weaponry, destroyed the World Eaters. The Chaos Lord in Terminator Armor, Ryan, was forced to retreat and lick his wounds after seeing his warband utterly ravaged by plasma. And this was after he summoned three hordes of 30 Bloodletters throughout the battle. The Cadian infantry was decimated, with only a single squad remaining, but all three tanks survived, with a single Draconian Leman Russ Executioner tank severely damaged. Fortunately, Tech-priest Enginseers are on hand to repair them and put them back in action, for Hive Fleet Leviathan remains unstoppable and continue to swarm throughout the ruins of the hive city.

The Thousand Sons' schemes did not go unnoticed. A tiny strike force of Black Templars, having detected a daemonic incursion, flew in to close the rift. They were able to massacre the Khorne Daemons who manifested within the depths of Hive Gaia and retake the city alongside the Cadians and surviving Draconians.

Despite the Imperium's victory at this stage, the attackers continue to lead with 14 points to the defenders' 10. We'll see if the defenders are able to turn the tables next week!