+++Battlefleet Tamahal+++Supporting Battlefleet Gothic+++
+++After Action Reports+++

(reports are coded from the most recent to the oldest)

These are the battles of Jay (32yrs), Ben (10yrs), Erik (8yrs), and Jacob (5yrs) Haygood. We are just loving the Battlefleet Gothic game system by Games Workshop. Below are our after action reports...

Imperial Date - 1999 Novmeebr13.1630
Location - Cyclops Cluster, spinward
Centrix Starbase
Sector - Gothic

The enemy obviously had spies throughout the Imperial complexes located at Centrix and when the Chaos dropped into normal space, the Blackstone Fortress located at Centrix went off-line. Because of previous encounters with attacks like these the personnel on the Fortress was rescued and sent to other Imperial Facilities in the area.

The main battle raged in the further reaches of the system and the enemy was kept at bay for a long while. Just when we had thought we had won the battle and defended the Centrix system, the Blackstone Fortress began moving outsystem toward the enemy battleline. The decision was made to either recapture the Fortress or destroy it before it made the enemy battleline.

The only force large enough to deal with the Fortress was the Reserve Formation 32.6.6 which consisted of the Retaliation, a Retribution class battleship, the Victory, a Gothic class cruiser, the new 478th Interceptor Squadron (3 Firestorms) , and the 201st Penal Torpedo Squadron (4 Cobras).

The Blackstone moved every so slowly outsystem. The Imperial forces attempted to board the Blackstone with shark assault boats from the nearby Pegasus but were repelled by a foul mark of Nurgle that appeared on the Fortress' hull when the boats got close. It was at that point it was determined that destruction of the Fortress would probably be necessary.

The 201st Penal Torpedo and the 478th Interceptor squadrons drove in to attack as the slower battleship and cruiser moved to intercept. The 201st unleashed a 2 volleys of 4 torpedoes each at the Fortress and the 478th was closer behind with lance fire. A hail of hellfire erupted from the Fortress and one wave of torpedoes exploded on its way to the target. Other shots ranged on the poor 201st and the DD-211, DD-212, and DD-209 died in multiple explosions. Their souls have been recovered to the Emperor's Light because of their bravery. Only the gallant crew of the Cobra Commissar Cassius was left alive to revenge their brothers.

Gamely the Commissar Cassius and the 478th bore into their attack. After reloading her forward torpedo bays, the Commissar Cassius let loose a final salve of missile. The 478th brought more lance fire to bear on the Fortress. Three torpedoes of the original salvo hit home as did one of the new shots so the Penal Squadron did not die in vain. Black holes appeared on the hull of the Fortress. Then the Victory and the Retaliation engaged.

Fire from the Fortress belched again and the brave Commissar Cassius died as did the Kricket and the Judge Wallace frigates. Only the blessed frigate Dasani survived the onslaught. But the Retaliation and the Victory was on station now and began to pummel the Blackstone Fortress.

Several hits from combined salvos of these two ships finally penetrated the shields of the Blackstone. Emperor Be Praised! as our scans revealed that a lance shot from the Victory had destroyed completely the shield generator deck of the Fortress and its shields collapsed into nothingness. Now the pounding began in earnest...

The Fortress had suffered many hits but not enough to take her out. Fire reached out to the Retaliation and after multiple blows she suffered damage to many decks and had severe personnel losses. Only the Victory remained fully in the fight and undamaged.

But the enemy's capture of this Blackstone was not to be. The next salvo from the Victory destroyed the command bridge of the Blackstone and all there must have died. Fire from the Fortress slackened considerably and the Marks of Nurgle began to fade off the hull. Centrix command was notified and a boarding party was dispatched again from the nearby carrier Pegasus.

Fire from the Retaliation, Victory, and Dasani, pummeled the Fortress again and again. Before long the Blackstone lost control and began to drift with no apparent return fire. The boarding parties from the Pegasus arrived and within hours the Blackstone was brought back under Imperial control. Once the Blackstone was lost, the Chaos fleet disengaged and left the Centrix system in force.

A great Imperial victory for us all!

Special commendations to all those involved in this battle, especially the brave crews of the 201st Penal Torpedo Squadron and the 478th Interceptor Squadron. Their sacrifice allowed the Victory and the Retaliation to successfully engage the Blackstone and recover this valuable station.

+++Reported by+++
+++Admiral R Kirkland+++
+++commanding, DSF Retaliation+++

(This battle was fought by Ben, Erik, Jake, and myself. Ben had the Fortress of course and the others had the Imperial ships. I took the frigates and the destroyers, Erik took the Retaliation, and Jake took Victory. My ships were wiped pretty quick by Ben's fire but they got their lumps in. Torpedoes again was his bane. Jacob could not miss tonight. His Victory's fire was nothing short of inspiring and he hit shot after shot. Once the Fortress lost its shields it was downhill for Ben from there. Erik's Retaliation was Ben's target after I died and he crippled it but all the while Jacob pounded and pounded. Eventually the Blackstone was reduced to a drifting hulk. Great fun by all...)

Engaged:
Imperials - Retribution class battleship (Retaliation, (crippled), Gothic class cruiser (Victory), 3 Firestorm frigates (Dasani, Judge Wallace (destroyed), Kricket (destroyed), 4 Cobra destroyers (Commissar Cassius (destroyed), Penal DD-209 (destroyed), Penal DD-211(destroyed), Penal DD-212 (destroyed))
Chaos - Activated Blackstone Fortress (recaptured by Imperials after turned into a drifting hulk by fire)

Imperial Date - 1999 Novmeebr07.2010
Location - Cyclops Cluster, spinward
Sector - Gothic

After the Imperial defeat of the Bright Light and her escorts in the area by Chaos forces, Battlefleet Tamahal dispatched the Rapid Deployment Task Force 32.5.2 which consisted of two Gothic class cruisers, the Invincible and Sword of Anger.

Upon reaching the last known location of the enemy forces, scout drones were deployed. After a short search, a chaos repair/recovery vessel was found recovering hulks in the area. The Invincible and Sword of Anger went to attack formation and called up full battlestations. Enemy vessel signatures appeared on the scopes of the cruisers and they were identified as the hated Dark Fury and the Primal Rage, both Murder class cruisers. The enemy repair vessel was ignored as the Invincible and Sword of Anger engaged the enemy.

Both the Imperial ships closed to use their torpedoes before swinging to engage with their main lances. The enemy was content to sit back and wait. Initial broadsides from both sides caused little damage. Torpedoes screamed into the enemy vessels with hits concentrated on the Primal Rage. The Dark Fury again evaded everything sent at her.

The distance closed and the action became intense. The Primal Rage, fighting hard now caused several hits on the Invincible. She was in turn impaled with lance fire from the Invincible. She began to suffer from the damage. Meanwhile the Sword of Anger and the Dark Fury tangled full on. Broadside met broadside with the Sword of Anger getting the worst of it. The Dark Fury was hit but not crippling.

The ships past each other and they turned to re-engage. Both sides for some reason split and each ship took off on its own. The action stayed at long range until each ship turned enough to pass each other again. The Sword of Anger was crippled by fire as was the Primal Rage.

At this point, both sides sensed it was useless to continue the battle and both sides accelerated to full speed and disengaged. The battle was a draw.

+++Reported by+++
+++Commodore R Conoway+++
+++commanding, DSF Invincible+++

(This battle was fought between my three sons with me being the rules-keeper. Ben was the Chaos commander again with Erik and Jacob taking the Sword of Anger and the Invincible respectively. Both sides rolled well and both sides caused damage. Erik's Sword of Anger was crippled at endgame as was Ben's Primal Rage. It was bedtime and I called the game a draw to both sides displeasure...<grin>)

Engaged:
Imperials - 2 Gothic class cruisers (Sword of Anger (crippled) and the Invincible)
Chaos - 2 Murder class cruisers (Dark Fury and the Primal Rage (crippled))

Imperial Date - 1999 Octbore24.1922
Location - Cyclops Cluster, spinward
Sector - Gothic

On a routine patrol of the wastes of the Cyclops Cluster, spinward, Task force 32.9 under the command of Battle Captain K. Edwards encountered a marauding pair of Murder Class Chaos cruisers identified as the Steel Fang and the Dark Fury. Task force 32.9 consisted of three Swords, four Cobras, and the DSF (deep space fleetship) Bright Light (Tyrant class cruiser).

The Chaos cruisers took up a solid line astern position and prepared to use their superior range to destroy the Imperial ships from afar. The Imperial task force was split into a Cobra squadron, a Sword squadron, and the Bright Light in support.

The Cobras dutifully formed line ahead and went for the enemy. They fired a full spread of all torpedoes against the enemy line in hopes of breaking them into two separate groups. They accomplished their mission as the enemy had to maneuver hard to dodge the warheads. The enemy formed line ahead and went right at the Cobras. The Swords and the Bright Light went off the Cobra's starboard beam in hopes of closing the distance to the enemy as well as to use the Cobras as a screen.

The enemies fire was incredible. Two Cobras died in a hail of fire. They fired back with all they had, hitting the closest enemy vessel, the Steel Fang. Bravely those that were left rushed on in hopes of getting another torpedo shot at the enemy at close range. The Swords swung into action to support their smaller brethren. The enemy's course did not deviate at all and the Steel Fang was hit again after a torpedo found its mark.

As the enemy and the rushing Cobras flashed by each other, another Cobra died but not before the Steel Fang was hit again.

Before the Swords engaged the enemy's Steel Fang had suffered three telling hits to its hull. The enemy's Dark Fury must have been blessed by the evil gods as all attempts at hitting her were for naught.

The remaining Cobra went long in hopes of rearming her torpedo bays and returning to the fight. The Swords engaged as did the Bright Light from longer range. The Chaos ships turned hard to port to keep their guns bearing on the Imperials.

The first Swords' fire was on target and the Steel Fang was again hit with multiple stabs of weapon fire. The Steel Fang was hit at least three more times and her speed and firepower noticeably slacked off. She was quickly becoming less of a threat to the Imperial Fleet.

But the cursed Dark Fury was truly a blessed ship, Emperor damn them all! When her gun ports swung open and engaged us fully, the damage she inflicted was horrific! Two Swords died instantly. Moments later the crippled Steel Fang and the Dark Fury unleashed a torrent of fire on the Bright Light. Almost every ungodly shot hit. Bracing for impact was of no help and the Bright Light was awash in death and destruction. Fully 75% of the hull of the  Bright Light was breached to some extent. Damage reports flooded the command bridge.

There was nothing Battle Captain Edwards could do but order his Task Force to disengage and flee if possible. The last remaining Cobra just laid another successful torpedo salvo into the Steel Fang and she was repaid for the damage she had inflicted on the Imperials.

The Bright Light attempted to disengage but the evil Dark Fury tailed her relentlessly. Her fire pounded the Bright Light and in an instant, she was no more. An unholy round found her reactor and she exploded. But in her death throes, a large portion of the hull spun off and impacted the Dark Fury. Emperor be praised, the Dark Fury had taken damage at last.

While the Bright Light was dying, so was the enemy's Steel Fang. The last remaining Sword, the DSF Dasani, pumped her battered hull with fire.  Finally her defenses were overcome and she died. The gallant remaining Cobra, the DSF Gromikon, knowing now the Dark Fury would turn on her, sped out of the area at top speed. The Dasani easily outran the Dark Fury as well.

The battle was a Chaos victory. Five Imperial escorts, one cruiser, and their crews died at the hands of the enemy for the loss of one cruiser. The loss of the Bright Light will be felt as well in this area for some time to come.

+++Reported by+++
+++Captain W Garrett+++
+++commanding, DSF Dasani+++

(This battle was fought between myself and my 10 year old son, Ben. Ben had the Chaos and I the Imperials. It sucks getting beat by your boy!! Both sides had a good plan. Both sides executed it well. But Ben's dice rolling was nothing short of incredible. I don't think he missed any shot with the Dark Fury the whole game. I concentrated my fire on the Steel Fang and it finally gave up the ghost and died but not before his ships put 6 hits on the Bright Light in one fire phase! I was bracing for impact and missed every roll. CRAP! The game was pretty much over then. He now hates those little escort guys as they did well against him. They don't have much staying power but in groups they are deadly. He ignored those torpedoes much to his discomfort. The game will continue bigger next time as my other two younger sons wanted some of the action on their poor Dad!...bring it on boyz!! <grin>)

Engaged:
Imperials - 1 Tyrant class cruiser (Bright Light (destroyed)), 4 Cobras (Mongoose (destroyed), Gromikon, Badger (destroyed), Duty (destroyed)), 3 Swords (Dasani, Diamond (destroyed), Fireball Express (destroyed))
Chaos - 2 Murder class cruisers (Dark Fury, Steel Fang (destroyed))