Turn 2 and Turn 3. The death toll climbs...

Previously on Bolt Catchers...





Turn 2 Imperial Guard

BOOM! Goes the boom stick! The turn started with little movement from my end, the majority of the objectives still in my grasp, going nearly straight to the shooting phase without the problems from night fight I began with the big guns.


See those space marines? They used to be driving around in a Razorback. Yeah, penetrated and exploded with ordenance. Not even cover remained and yet the super men stood unscathed from the crater wondering what to do next...

Move shooting saw the odd marine being picked off by overkilling lascannons. Forgetting the new Imperial Guard order rules meant that I wasnt going to get the full effect of the points I paid for. Lasguns were still well out of effective range, and the other ordenance did very little but stretch the scatter rules realistic quality to its extremes. How far??

Even the Storm Troopers hadnt arrived yet, which I was quite happy about. I knew those assualt marines in the centre would make their move soon and I intended to trap them amid crossfire, hopefully framed with hotshot AP3 killers.


Turn 2 Space Marines

Across my opponents side the Space Marines exploded into motion, the whole line rushing forward to beat back my lines.

On my left flank, the two Predator Destructors opened up their autocannons at the visable Basalisk, only managing to dent the paintword. Thank christ he didnt choose Annihilators! Those Rough Riders would be moving next turn!
On my right, sporradic fire did very little as the bulk of Rorys marines pushed forward around the front of the fire base. The Devestators fired a full volly of krak missiles at the Tank, missing or making scratches but little else.


In the centre, the assualt squad made its move, led by their armies commander, Smiley, they tore into the guard squad in the Aquilas ruins, using their frag grenades to even the score.

The men hidden on the left flank in the grey ruins could only watch as the Space Marines began their war work. They would get theirs!!

The assualt phase over, the remains of the IG squad ran away, successfully withdrawing behind friendly lines. Consolodating best he could, Rory was happy. Hed just taken an objective from me. But I had a plan.

Turn 3 Imperial Guard. Attack!

The Storm troopers arrived, landing far left of their original target, landing them smack down right near the Predators. Instead of trying to run in the shoot phase, the brave *stupid* sergeant had his men open fire on the bailed out Marines in the Razorback, slaying them all in an effective volley. Slowly the Predator turrets turned and the Storm Troopers shared a distinct "oh crap" moment.


On the ground floor of the grey ruins on the left flank, the commader of blue cog platoon waited with machine patience with his unit of Plasma Troopers, secure that the objective behind them would not be under threat any time soon.
On the right, the Demolisher fired, killing one random Marine as his shot missed again. The Stratagos logged a note to have the crews eyes completly removed and replaced with better synthetics.

In the centre the Cavalry lined up for the charge, forgetting at the crucial moment, to use frag grenades to level the initiative order. As it was, the Space Marines would be striking first. This was going to get messy.


Before...
After.
Like I said, messy. Losing the combat and hopelessy unlikely of remaining thanks to the new leadership rules, they bolted and ran, straight off the board. Still, damage had been done and most importantly, Smiley, got killeded!

Turn 3 Space Marines. Rorys revenge...


On the right flank, the Marines finally bailed out and opened up in practiced bolter drill, slaughtering the squad taking shelter their despite the cover. The Devestators opened up again.
And Immobalised my Tank! Also scoring a shaken result making it a very soon to be dead tank!

Elsewhere on the board, more Space Marines were moving forward. In the centre, the remains of the Assualt squad hunkered down, hoping to ride the battle out until reinforcements arrived. Though as the Plasma Troopers to his left readied their weapons, and the other Basalisk lined up its barrel, they knew this was going to REALLY get messy.