One major difference to set up is that because the Ork Kommander, Galez, sent his force into battle on Charge orders against a prepared Squat army led by Commander Kili on First Fire orders, the Squats automatically gain Initiative on Turns 1 and 2, can deploy a further 25cm forward than usual and can set up forces after the Ork player has placed all of his army!
Here we see an overview of the battlefield and the forces being deployed. The Squats are set up at the top of the picture, the Orks at the bottom.
A side view of the table. Ork Copters are once again being proxied with Land Speeders.
The view from the other side of the battlefield. Note the how far into the board the Squat forces deploy.
Commander Kili loads the bulk of his force down his right hand flank, seeking to maximise the advantage he gained. The plan is to decimate one half of the Ork force before dealing with the other.
The centre ground is where the Ork forces are most concentrated and boast an impressive fleet of vehicles which will surely be tested by the Squat airships!
A Kult of Speed rev up their Warbuggies and Warbikes and take off!
Immediately engaging with two squads of Squat Bikes!
The green-skinned warriors scream insanely as they slam into the bearded bikers!
But against determined and highly organized Squat biker units there can be no victory!
The Warbuggies are utterly decimated by the superior skills of the Squat bikers!
End of Turn 1 Squat Casualties - just a few Squat bikes.
End of Turn 1 Ork Casualties - as well as hammering the Kult of Speed, the Overlord Armoured Airships destroyed a Bowelburna and three Spleenrippas!
But at the end of Turn 1, it's the Orks who lead having captured 4 objectives to the Squats' 1. Two objectives have yet to be captured, while another is disputed. No units have been broken.
End of Turn 1:
Squats 5VPs
Orks 20VPs
A final view of the battlefield at the end of Turn One.
Drawing howls of derision from the Orks, one squad of Gyrocopters "cower" (or sensibly take cover) behind buildings.
Initiative automatically with them for the second turn, Squat Trikes activate with their Guildmaster Commander Kili in attendance, multi-meltas reducing an Ork Gibletgrinda to molten slag!
The Evil Sunz close in on an Overlord Airship but they cannot land any hits upon the floating behemoth!
The Overlord Airship has no such problems and reins a deadly hail upon reckless Battlewagons!
The Copters see a chance to jump Squat Rhinos holding an objective at the Marakith Monument.
While the Squat bikes counter Ork Bonecrushas!
Annihilating them in Close Combat! Nearby can be seen the destruction wreaked by Airships and Gyrocopters! Dangerous Braincrushas who were unfortunate not to take down a single Airship are targeted with maximum prejdice and obliterated!
The Copters overcome two Rhinos and take an objective!
Just left of centre on the board, you can see the results of bitter exchanges between the Ork Warboss and his entourage against more Gyrocopters. They bring down two Copters but several Nobz find themselves on the wrong side of brutal Squat retaliation!
End of Turn 2:
Squats 34VPs
Orks 16VPs
The Squats are tantalisingly close to victory but one point short! The Orks are still in this, but only just!
The Kult of Speed was finally broken this turn! Ork losses are heaping up, and their firepower severely reduced.
Only a Squad of Rhinos have been broken by the Orks but Gyrocopter and Bike casualties are beginning to mount!
A Gyrocopter squadron pops up and fires at more Evil Sunz before dropping back out of sight. Bowelburnas spray lethal flames through the cover of the building, destroying all three Gyrocopters! There is no hiding from the fiery hell spewed by their lethal scorchers!
Warboss and army Commander Galez picks off two more Gyrocopters...but dies in returning fire! Distraught, the crew of his Battlewagon peel away to steal an objective!
And the taking of that objective prevents the Squats from sealing victory again this turn!
End of Turn 3:
Squats 32VPs
Orks 21VPs
Overlord Armoured Airships continue to lay down fire upon the Evil Sunz, taking the whole clan to the brink of breaking!
And destroys the Gyrocopter, taking the whole wing to the brink of breaking!
An Overlord Airship picks off several more Boyz and the Evil Sunz are finally broken!
The other remaining Gyrocopters steal another objective but the battleweary Evil Sunz embark on a desperate advance through the woods to make a critical series of kills! A Gyrocopter and a Squat biker are picked off by the Boyz and both Companies break!
With the Squats able to mop up all but one objective, the Orks are finally defeated! It has been a brutal battle however, and the Squats paid a heavy price for their victory literally with the Orks last throw of the dice! Losing two Companies at the death is a particularly bitter pill to swallow!
Another final look at the battlefield, both forces have been decimated!
End of Turn 4:
Squats 56VPs
Orks 22VPs
The Squats win the day and, after the defeat in the Forest of Shadows, secure what they hope is the first of several victories!
Squat Casualties:
Ork Casualties:
Only a handful of survivors including Commander Kili (Guildmaster) see out the battle. He is relieved that the Airships rode their luck throughout the battle to remain intact.
Come back next week for Part IV of the Midnight Campaign!
