Asteroid Blues

Captain Hauser was sweating profusely as he forced the ammo feed mechanism back into place. Jenkins, the Dozer began to lock it in as two Irmanhindos provided some less than helpful commentary.

'Captain, our scouts have detected enemy movement in the area.' It was Lt. Yahontov, a new addition to Hauser's command.

'Can you handle it Yahontov?' Yahontov had not been tested in battle at this point. Most of Hauser's command were veterans of fighting all across the Human Sphere, but the Kazaks were a new addition. Yahontov nods. 'Yes sir.'

'Grab your team and go. Keep me updated.' The Irmanhindos grab their gear and eagerly follow the young Lieutenant. They were neither asked nor told, but they do what they want and it seems to work out. Jenkins looks up from his work. 'Cap'n... I'd sure like to get my Mul's out...' The work really needed to be done, merc's aren't known for routine maintenance, but Hauser knew Jenkins' mind wouldn't be on the task at hand. 'Fine, but hurry back, and no R&R till this is back online.'

Yahontov gathered the cream of the Tartary forces. A grizzled Vet hefted his AP HMG and lead his team out. Vassily gave Yahontov an encouraging nod. The Dog Warriors boasted and joked. Confidence grew in Yahontov. It was time to show what the Tartary Army Korp can do.

This was my first time my opponent had played his Haggislam, and my first time playing against the Hassassin Bahram. It was an interesting game, but I have to admit dice were more friendly to me.

Haqqislam wins the roll off and chooses first turn. I choose the side with better cover and shelter most of my troops since I don't know exactly what to expect.

His deployment is spread fairly even across the board. An Asawira/Muyib Haris on his right. Mutts on the left. Ghulams and Daylami across the middle, maybe another Muyib. One Daylami infiltrates onto my side of the board. Annoying but not too scary. A 'friendly trooper' is his reserve deployment on the right, near the infiltrated Daylami.

I counter deploy fairly conservatively. Link team in good cover opposite the Mutts. Camo tokens, Dog Warriors, and Irmanhindos to counter his Fiday and Daylami, and then push up. Only the Uragan is deployed to react to his advance.

Haqqislam turn one is a little lackluster. The Fiday, I mean, unknown friend, attempts to move into attack position but loses one level of impersonation immediately. Fearing losing it before it can act he plays conservatively.
The Mutts advance unopposed but don't get close enough to do anything. Much to Jenkins' dismay, the Asawira Haris knocks out the Uragan without taking a hit. An Ayyar moves into the armory and grabs a MSV from the panoply.

TAK responds in force. The Dog Warriors and Irmanhindos advance impetuously. This forces a reaction from the Daylami who triggers a mine and dies. Under smoke cover Jenkins repairs the Uragan.
Then Yahontov moves forward with the link team. A Kazak launches a missile at the Ayyar breaking the holo state, but failing to kill him. The Vet Kazak takes over blasting the Ayyar and advancing.
Frontovik and Line Kazak Paramedic make it into the armory. The Frontovik fires a rocket at the Haris while the Mutts jammer. The Frontovik is isolated, a Muyib dies.

The battle happens in round two. Mutts advance into the armory. Laying down chain rifles on the Frontovik and the paramedic. Unfortunately for them, they are walking straight into the Uragan. The Russians survive and the first two Mutts do not.
The Mutts that can't make it in fair slightly better in that they aren't blown to pieces. Moving forward with smoke cover they survive. Attempts are made at jamming, but they all fail.
The Fiday reveals himself to cut down a Irmanhindo. A Farzan moves into the armory dispatching the Frontovik and the paramedic.

TAK round 2 opens with a Dog Warrior murdering a Fiday. Second up was reforming the link, although it is down to 3 members at this point. Vassily reveals himself to drop T2 rounds on the Mutts.
This lets the link move a little more. The Vet drops the Farzan with sustained HMG fire, and the link enters the armory.
Irmanhindo grabs ODD from the panoply and a Dog Warrior charges the enemies grouped for an assault on the armory. He only manages to kill one enemy, but he takes no damage in return.

At this point the store has closed so my pictures fall off as we hurry through the round.

The Dog Warrior presents a huge problem for Haqqislam. First up is the Daylami, who is beaten by smoke. Chain rifles deal with everyone closer to him. He manages to inflict one wound on the dog warrior in exchange for two other models, a Muyib and a ghulam maybe.
The Asawira is the only one in position to make a push against the armory. He charges past the Dog warrior spraying fire. The chain rifles bounce off his armor and the Dog Warrior is wounded. Unfortunately, his maneuver brought him face to face with the linked missile launcher. Both missiles hit and the Asawira is reduced to a fine red mist. Not even Haqq doctors can bring him back.

The Haqqislam player doesn't have the orders left to get anyone to the armory and the store is closed so he concedes. Ariadna is triumphant.

Honestly I got some lucky rolls which really swung the game in my favor. The Mutts only successfully isolated or wounded one model the entire time. I made some insane saves. All in all a great game though.

Hauser watched Yahontov strut back from the front. A few men and women battered and bruised but most upright. The Irmanhindo checks on his wounded friend. The Dog Warriors went back to drinking and howling and whatever they do. Most soldiers went and got a well earned rest. All of them except Jenkins.

Hauser was pleased with the outcome. His job was all the easier with effective leaders in his command. The fighting is picking up on this space rock, Yahontov will get bloodied again soon.