After-Action report

Submitted for your approval;

The Volistad 1st Scratch Regiment was notified that unknown hostiles would make a move to take and hold a cluster of buildings in the Fatimus sector. A task force was dispatched to secure the objectives and deflect any attacks.

The task force consisted of Colonel Cesarius headquarters staff and command vehicle, along with two platoons of guardsmen (three squads each), a squad of veteran guardsmen in a Chimera APC, a squad of Stormtroopers in a Chimera APC, an armoured Sentinel walker, and the Emperor's most blessed Leman Russ MBT's, "Avenger" and "Zerstorer".

(Note: Commissars, Engineseers, Psychers, assassins and other specialized staff were deemed non-essential for the mission. The Basilisk "Crossbow" was held back due to the dangerous close-combat nature of the battlefield, and the two regimental snipers are currently under investigation for incompetence, after three engagements without a single kill, even in such target-rich environments as when facing Tyranid hordes)

Upon arrival, forces were deployed. Platoon A and Colonel Cesarius' HQ secured building 1 on the left flank, platoon B secured building 2 on the right flank with support from the Stormtroopers. The remaining forces deployed close enough to counter-attack into building 3, in the center of the battlefield.

The engagement commmenced with a massive firestorm. Orbital barrages (14 were counted) fell among our forces, but casualties fell short of their killing potential, due to the excelent network of trenches prepared by our troops. The only notable casualty was the revered Leman Russ "Zerstorer", which was regretfuly lost to the barrage. 15 guardsmen were also killed or incapacitated, including all of B platoon's 1st squad.

Soon afterwards, drop pods filled the skies. To our astonishment, our foes were Adeptus Astartes from the Black Templars chapter. What purpose could've driven them against us, I cannot imagine.

Two Predator tanks and a Dreadnought deployed on our right flank, near building 2. Drop pods containing Space Marines deployed in the center, between buildings 1 and 2. A loud scream was heard as the warp tore itself open. We saw the shapes of several Terminator-armoured marines, but without explanation, the hole faded into itself, and the elite Astartes were lost.

The opening salvo of the Templars was mostly inefective. The HQ Chimera was immobilized, and the Stormtroopers' Chimera was destroyed, but the troopers exited the vehicle without incident. A few guardsmen from platoon 2 were also lost to fire from the marines' tactical squads.

Our counter-attack was quite effective. Using volley-fire orders, a full tactical squad of Astartes was killed, and another squad was reduced to a single element. Likewise, the Stormtroopers managed to destroy one of the Predator tanks that were threatening our right flank, but lost some of their number in the ensuing fireball.

As the battle progressed, two more squads of space marines deployed in the center, near building 3. The astartes HQ staff appeared in battle next to building 2, and engaged platoon 2 in combat.

After some time, platoon 1 and the MBT "Avenger" had destroyed one further marine squad, and reduced another to three members, who took refuge in building 3. With that, building 1 was made safe from enemy action, without a single loss to platoon 1 or the command staff.

In the center of the battlefield, the Chimera that carried the veteran squad was lost to a lascannon shot, as well as the sentinel walker, who, before exploding, managed to immobilize the enemy's dreadnought. The veteran squad itself moved to reinforce building 2 and its beleaguered defenders. By this time, platoon 2 had taken serious loses, including its command squad, killed by the marine commanders.

The stormtrooper squad snuck up on the immobilized enemy walker and deployed meltabombs, making short work of the centennial war machine. However, again, the blast killed all but one of the brave troopers.

In the meantime, the enemy command staff destroyed building 2 with a meltablast, the building collapsing and taking a heavy toll on the guardsmen stationed inside. On that, the veteran squad assaulted the surviving astartes commanders and, Emperor protects, killed them to a man. Thus the remnants of building 2 were secured. By this stage, platoon 2 had a single survivor left from its original 35-man team!

In the final stages of the battle, the last surviving stormtrooper flanked the last remaining Predator tank and destroyed it utterly. Again, the ensuing blast engulfed the man, but his carapace armour saved him the a fiery end! This man, who took out two tanks and a walker, and who survived three massive explosions, is to be commended and put up for promotion.

At this, the enemy commander had a mere three soldiers on the field, hiding inside building 2. With an electrical crack and the smell of phosphorous, they were gone, and victory was ours.

Casualty reports:

Leman Russ "Zerstorer" lost in the field, crew lost.
2 Chimeras lost in the field, crew safe.
1 Sentinel walker lost in the field, crew lost.
Platoon 1, zero casualties.
Platoon 2, overwhelming casualties (90% plus).
Veteran squad, casualties negligible.
Stormtrooper squad, overwhelming casualties.
Command staff, zero casualties.

Kill count:

2 Predator tanks (one Annihilator pattern, one Destructor pattern).
1 Dreadnought walker.
30 plus Astartes.
10 Terminator astartes (lost to the warp. The Emperor's justice is infallible).

The Emperor protects.