Well, with the comfirmed release of Codex: Dark Angels in February, I've pulled out my Unforgiven once more. Apparently, I haven't lost the touch.

Scenario: Custom (Modified Escalation for Marines, Standard for L&tD)
Battle Size: 1850
My Army: Dark Angels 6th Company
Enemy: Lost & the Damned

Compiled for the Centaurus Crusade, which can be found here:
http://z13.invisionfree.com/Black_Templars...hp?showforum=27

Captain Urban VI looked out over the bleakness of a deserted city. Below him lay the ruins of what had once been a quaint and peaceful city on the southern continent of Novus I. It had been peaceful until the citizens had decided to resist the guiding light of the Emperor. The Templar had come to claim the sector as their own, and the Dark Angels had come to aide their most faithful of brothers. Urban knew that the 3rd and 8th Templar Crusades fought just to the east of his position, and the proximity of such fervent allies gave his warrior-monks even more faith. The Captain turned away from the massive vidscreen, his mind returning again to the bridge of the strike cruiser Consilium Pius. Chaplain Callistus stood beside him, near-silent prayers continually emminating from his lips. Urban spoke, directing his words to the Astropath standing beside the helmsman.

"Inform the Tower than Sixth Company has reported contact with the heretics."

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(Turn 1 - Lost & the Damned)

Two hundred kilometers below the Captain, the marines of 6th Company, 3rd Squad crept through the ruins. To their left was 2nd Squad, also moving through the ruin. Revered Brother Fabian, one of the Company Dreadnoughts, advanced beside them. Without warning, the street in front of 3rd Squad erupted in flame, sending chunks of pavement flying off the armor of the warrior-monks.

(Trun 1 - Dark Angels 6th Company)

"Take Cover, Brothers." Sergeant Cornelius ordered his marines over the vox link. Third Squad moved into an adjacent two-story hab-block. From their new position, they could see Second Squad likewise fortifying a small office block across the street. Looking at his tactical hud, Cornelius noticed that Devastator Squad Alpha had taken posistion at the end of the street, in a four-story barracks thirty meters behind his line. Brother Fabian had moved around the corner. Fourth and Fifth Squads had likewise taken cover to the right, forming a sturdy line across from the city's central square.

Cornelius keyed the command frequency on his vox-link.

"Squad Cornelius to Command, enemy mortar fire incoming. All units have taken position in acceptable structures. Awaiting orders."

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Aboard the Consilium Pius Brother Urban heard the Sergeant's report over the speakers. He glanced at the tactical holographs before turning to Sergeant Viligius.

"How long until your armor reaches the city?"

"Twenty-five minutes sir. They are entering the outskirts now."

"Very well."

Captain Urban VI keyed the interplanetary vox-link.

"Aknowledged Cornelius. Hold your line and await the arrival of Company Armor."

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On the surface, Cornelius aknowledged his Captain's orders. Keying the inter-squad frequency, he relayed the order to the other units in the city.

"We stand here. Let the heretics repent now.."

The aknowledgement came immediately. Each and every marine replied as one.

"For tomorrow they die."

Cornelius smiled within his helm.

"Nay, Brothers. Today."

(Turn 2 - Lost & the Damned)

Cornelius surveyed the open square before his squad's position. A slight change in the light pattern of an opposite window caught his eye.

"Enhance." He order his vid-sights. Without order, his marines double-checked their bolters. Brother Sabian powered up his plasmacannon, but wisely did not raise it above the window just yet. At the opposite end of the room, Brother Severnius activated the pressure chambers on his plasma rife. A trio of mortar shells fell harmlessly in the street again. Suddendly, a figure appeared in the window Cornelius was watching.

"Cover, Brothers." He ordered, just as a torrent of lasfire erupted from across the square. A grenade bounced harmlessly off the building's front, exploding in the square below. Two lasbolts bounced off the armor of Brother Sabian as he raised his plasmacannon. Cornelius glanced east and west. The other squads were similarly engaged.

(Turn 2 - Dark Angels 6th Company)

The squad sergeants did not need to issue any order. At the first break in the heretic's volley, the Angels pivoted out of their cover to return fire. Brother Sabian put a jet of cleansing plasma into the window where the heretic's grenade had come from, setting the building alight in the process. Brother Severnius' plasma rifle took down a heretic which had appeared on the roof, while 3rd Squad's bolters accounted for at least two others. Kill reports were coming in from the other units now as well.

A roar swept through the intersquad link as Brother Fabian stepped out from his cover, assault cannon blazing. The shells ripped through the same building 3rd Squad had been firing upon, it's report drowning out the screams of the dying heretics within. Several missiles and lasblasts from Devastator Squad Alpha lanced across the open square as well.

Cornelius could see the figures within the building turining to flee.

Turn 3 - Lost & the Damned

The fleeing heretics across from 3rd Squad managed to halt their flight, their mutant leader beating the cowards across the temples with his tentacle, screaming curses to the Emperor all the time. Another volley of lasfire drowned out his shouts, but the Dark Angels again took cover. A grenade landed at the feet of Brother Severnius, but the veteran warrior-monk kicked it away from the squad before it could explode. Hot shards laced through the air, scratching the armor of the squad, but doing no appraisable damage.

Suddendly, a trio of lasbolts lanced across the squar towards Revered Brother Fabian. One swung wide, vaporizing a streetlight. The other two hit the Dreadnought in the chest. One was deflected entirely, while the other melted a portion of the Brother's armor. His circuits overloaded, the Veteran of countless battles slumped to the ground amid the sounds of groaning joints and whirling motors. Another trio of lasbolts lanced towards him, but all three either missed or glanced off the Dreadnought's armor. A collective sigh of relief echoed through the link.

Looking up, Cornelius saw a terrible sight. A horde of mutants had appeared at the far end of the square. They began to move towards his position. Behind them, the dark outline of a Leman Russ battle tank could be see through the gloom. It's massive battle cannon roared out, sending a shell towards Devastator Squad Alpha's location. Fortunately, it flew wide.

(Turn 3 - Dark Angels 6th Company)

As his units returned fire, Cornelius led 3rd Squad down the stairs and re-opened the vox-link to Consilium Pius.

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Again, Brother Urban VI heard the voice of his senior sergant come over the speakers. The tactical holographs were favorable, the heretics were breaking from their main line. But that battle tank could be trouble, and radar seemed to show another moving up behind it.

"Squad Cornelius reporting Command. Brother Fabian is down, I repeat, Brother Fabian is down! We are moving to cover him now. All squads report routing heretic infantry, but mutants and battle tanks have emerged from the south of the city. I do not believe that Devastator Squad Alpha will be sufficient to deal with the vehicles."

Urban nodded and glanced at Chaplain Callistus. The warrior-monk among warrior-monks had already donned his Tactical Dreadnought Armor, and stood battle-ready, save for his characteristic helm. The snapping of his Crozius' power field filled the silent air.

"Very well Cornelius. Hold the line. Armor is fifteen minutes out. I am coming down myself.

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On the surface, Cornelius again relayed the Captain's words to his men. Brother Adrian whispered a prayer of glorious thanks to the Emperor when he heard that Captain Urban was descending to the surface.

In short time, 3rd Squad arrived beside the frame of Brother Fabian. While the marines covered him, Sergeant Cornelius approached the Dreadnought.

"How do you fare, Revered One?" He asked over the vox-link.

"Well enough, Brother Cornelius. I must merely reset my targeting systems. Give me a moment more."

Cornelius glanced across the square as Brother Severnius' plasma rilfe spat out molten matter on rapid-fire. Those mutants were coming far too close.

"Fire at will!" Cornelius ordered, causing the squad's bolters to open up on the advancing mutant horde. The Sergeant himself raised his boltpistol, snapping off several shots. Many of the horrid creatures fell, but far more remained.

With a deafening roar, two missiles from Devastator Squad Alpha flew into the battle tank across the square. One glance harmlessly off the armor, exploding against a nearly wall. The other found it's mark, blasting the treads from their mounts. The vehicle's wheels spun, but it went nowhere. Two additional lasbolts lanced into it, one of which overloaded the targeting systems just enough to disable the cannons for a turn.

Above their position, 2nd Squad's bolters could be heard firing on the advancing mutants. A blast of plasma eradicated two more, but at least twenty still advanced.

(Turn 4 - Lost & the Damned)

The horde of mutants smashed into the lines of 3rd Squad. The Angels kept up their fire until the last moment, when they then drew their chainswords and leapt from behind the rubble. Racing full speed towards the horde, they roared as one:

"REPENT! FOR TOMORROW YOU DIE!"

Cornelius' sword passed through two bodies without resistance, severing heads from chests. He roared with fury as the press of mutants began to overwhelm his men. Two brothers fell under the press of bodies. And Cornelius began to fight harder. Suddendly, a bolt of pure white light crossed his vision. Turning to the left, he saw Brother Sabian. he had managed to take down a mutant, and now stood alone, his plasma cannon blasting away at the trailing mutants. Nevertheless, the horde pressed on, the combat drowning out the sounds of bolter and lasfire elsewhere in the city.

(Turn 4 - Dark Angels 6th Company)

The tide was beginning to turn. The Angel's initial counter-charge had made a massive dent in the mutant horde, and Brother Sabian's quick thinking and trusty aim had made another, but the press of bodies was beginning to take it's toll. Two Angels had fallen beneath the horde.

The Brother Fabian's systems came back online. With another roar, he charged into the melee, assault cannon roaring. Two, then three, then four heretics fell before his mighty fist. One he lifted high into the air, breaking the creature's back before hurling it across the square.

Above the combat, two more missile and lasbolts flew into the damaged tank, this time destroying the battle cannon, and rendering it useless. Second Squad was moving down to help 3rd Squad and Brother Fabin in the combat.

(Turn 5 - Lost & the Damned)

Sergeant Marnius of 4th Squad looked to his left, having dispatched the last of the heretics in his sector. His blood ran cold. Another heretic tank was moving up behind the destroyed one, pushing it's frame out of the way. He watched helplessly as the massive cannon came to bear on the advancing Second Squad and sent a shell into their ranks. The Squad was immersed in a cloud of smoke.

Cornelius whirled about at the sound, only to witness the demise of Second Squad. Five Angels had been utterly destroyed, with little trace left of them. Two more were dying slowly, their lifeblood spilling out upon the ground. As the mutant horde broke, Cornelius and 3rd Squad raced for cover, scooping up the wounded and dazed living of Second Squad. They reached the shelter of 2nd Squad's former haven, and Cornelius cradled the limp frame of Sergeant Innocent IV in his arms. His lifelong friend was slipping away as he sat here, and the veteran warrior began to weep. A sturdy hand fell upon his shoulder, and a calm voice came over the intersquad.

"Have faith, Brother Cornelius. Your friend will live on to see another day."

Cornelius looked up into the vengeful eyes of Apocethary Boniface, and nodded.

"Thank you, Brother."

"Now lead your men to the victory the Emperor demands!"

Cornelius stood and moved over to his squad, and what was left of Second. Outside was the tank which had taken out Second, and another had appeared at the end of the square. Things looked bleak. Then another horde of mutants appeared.

(Turn 5 - Dark Angels 6th Company)

3rd Squad moved again to the windows, and opened up on the mutant horde. Through the smoke, Cornelius realized something terrible. Behind the mutants, a squad of Night Lords Space Marines had appeared.

"TRAITORS!" He roared, causing the fire rates of his squads to drastically increase. Fifth Squad reported in, announcing their intent to move towards 3rd Squad's position, that their sector had been cleared. Cornleius aknowledged, warily eyeing the battle tanks which were slowly advancing.

A brilliant blast of light burst forth from the right, lancing into the lead battle tank and sending it's turret into the dark sky. Cornelius turned, his eyes coming to rest upon two Predators advancing through the street. The second tank fired as well, knocking the remaining heretic tank about significantly. Things were looking up.

Speaking of which, a loud roar caused Cornelius to look up. The voice of Brother Fabian came over the global net.

"Death rides upon glorious wings."

One of the younger brothers looked at Cornelius questioningly.

"Our Captain arrives," the Sergeant told him.

Brother Urban's drop pod smashed into square, crushing the heavy paving stones beneath it. The Captain emerged, Chaplain and Terminators at his side. Seeing the Traitors across the square, he roared out;

"REPENT, TRAITORS, FOR TOMORROW YOU DIE!" Chaplain Callistus let loose with a slew of Litanies and curses to bolster his Captain's cry.

The Command Squad raised their storm bolters, letting a hail of death fly into the traitors. Four fell, but the Chaos Lord leading them charged onward.

Captain Urban VI calmly raised his personal weapon. Sighting down the length, the let off a quick shot. The mass-reactive bolt exited the weapon with tremendous speed, lancing out towards the enemy. It impacted with the armor of the charging Chaos Lord, exploding in the traitor's chest. He fell to the ground, clutching the fatal wound. Urban lowered the weapon and smiled.

"Nay, not tomorrow, traitors. Today."

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The game pretty much ended from there, with my mopping up his decimated Night Lords squad. The scenario worked out to perfection, I was not allowed to bring in tanks or HQs until turn 3, then I had to begin rolling. We were supposed to simulate a small force encountering the enemy, in a sort of one-sided escalation. Fortunately, I was able to decimate his infantry before his tanks showed up, and my armor showed up promptly afterwards.

The moral of the story? Never put your command models at the front. Because when there's only one model within range of my Chapter Master...

Result: Major Victor to the Dark Angels