Part 12: Days 12 & 13, Pavonis, Attack (Victory), Day 12, The Demes Northlands, Defense (Victory)

We are agreed on Pavonis. The Necron stronghold will be difficult to assail without a forward base. Ready my Honour Guard, I expect I won't be needing anyone else to complete this mission. We are going up against Davian Thule, after all.



As you may have realized, Shas'o, this mission works a bit different from others. It's basically a game of capture the flag. Except the flags aren't in either base. There's just a bunch of flags scattered about the area. They aren't really flags, either, they're Servitors, so they're basically alive. Not, like, sentient, though. They're like--
You need to stop.
--uh, yeah, of course. Just find them and input the coordinates of our Cadre Headquarters. They can find their own way back. Just make sure the Space Marines don't find them first, or they'll send them to their HQs. First team to find six will have enough tech to make use of the spaceport.
It'll be a boon for our Air Caste.

We did some scouting, Shas'o, so we know where the Servitors are. Thule will be flying blind--we can take advantage of that. We've marked on the map the approximate location of all Servitors in red. The blue marks are where Thule has set up Space Marine bases:




Split up. Fire Warriors capture strategic points in case we need to defend ourselves. Stealthsuits, Vespids, with me. Use your jetpacks and wings to split up and cross the battlefield quickly.
Shas'o!
For the Greater Good.


That's one.


We have found another.


Stealthsuit Squad V2, here. We've found a Servitor!


This is too easy.


FOUR SERVITORS HAVE BEEN LOCATED. THEY ARE RETURNING TO THE CADRE HEADQUARTERS.


Make that five. This one is sitting just outside of Thule's northern base. He'll be pissed he missed this one.


Hey, we found the last Servitor. We're escorting it back to the HQ.


Hahaha, fuck you, Thule, you incompetent! Eat rockets!


Shas'o, Thule finally found a Servitor.


A waste of time. We have all the Servitors we need. Like Tau, we have prospered. The spaceport is ours!




Excellent work, Shas'o.
As I always say, "a fast strike, in and out!"
We now have a significant tactical advantage over our enemies. The Air Caste have radioed in expressing their gratitude.
Reports say Gorgutz has left the Green Coast again. Our recon suggests he's concerned about Chaos's approach.


The Imperial Guard are trying to retake their territory from the Necron!
Again.
They failed.
Again.


The Necron no longer seem concerned with protecting that province from the Imperial Guard. They've pulled back and are attempting an attack on the Chaos forces. It didn't go so well for them.


Taldeer is attempting another attack. My Broadside teams will take care of this.
The briefest of reports, please, I know how this one ends.


Well, Taldeer tried taking on our new fully upgraded Listening Post.
And how did that go? Did she like the railgun?


It went as well as you'd expect.


Northern Drone swarms took down the first base in a matter of minutes.


Oh, but you should've seen my Broadsides! They were beautiful.


Bolts of plasma seared their base.


It was over in a matter of moments
Good riddance.


As I have said, Shas'o, our options are now boundless.
So this spaceport means we can get Air Caste to fly us anywhere, right?
Not quite, O'Kais. Enemy strongholds still have far too much anti-air weaponry to allow for aerial insertions. We would have to land next to a stronghold first, then approach on foot.
And the Air Caste can handle that?
Yes.
So if I do this--
No, what--
Shas'o--


*sigh*
Oh, come on!
Jeez.
Way to go.
Sorry! I'm sorry!
Waste of a day, that was.
Keep your hands to yourself, Shas'o, war movements are the decision of the War Council!
M-my finger slipped, it was an accident! (I had forgotten to save after Pavonis and hit the wrong button while trying to get screenshots)!
Alright, well, while our glorious leader wasted a turn for us--
It was an accident!
--what have our enemies been up to?


Another failed Necron attack on Chaos territory.
Oh, and Taldeer made another go at us.
Really?


Nothing to speak of, really. Drone swarms took care of one base.


Broadsides beat the other.


That's five defenses, though, so you get a Wargear out of it. Guess you didn't totally waste our turn.


Hey, I got us the Plasma Rifle! Pretty good, huh?


Chaos are beginning their assault on the Orkz. It's not going well. Looks like Gorgutz is moving in the right direction if he wants to halt their advance.
Please, O'Kais, sit down and don't touch anything. I shall review our options for the War Council.


Your foul up moved us next to the Ork Stronghold in the Green Coast. If we want to eliminate Gorgutz, now is our opportunity.


The Ariel Highlands are open to us again. Our last incursion was a defeat. We can fix that.


If we took the Vandean Coast from Thule, we would have access to the mineral deposits and industrial factories established there. It would grant us improved planetary requisitions, making it easier to reinforce our provinces or prepare forwards bases.


The Orestan Plains would likely be an easy victory over the Imperial Guard.


The Necron have controlled the Pavonian Heartlands for a while, now. You mock the Necron, but they have reinforced it well. Furthermore, the Pavonian Heartlands are a sprawling plain. Even with a forward base, it could prove difficult to defeat the Necron, as the wide open space allows them many opportunities to outflank our forces.


I mentioned this before, but the Eres Badlands contains a relic of the Chaos god Khorne. We don't fully understand the technology involved, but it grants armies the spirit to attack twice in a day. Taking it would grant us that ability and deprive the Necron of it.


The Morriah Coast looks to be an easy victory over Chaos.


Likewise, we could stomp them in the Murad Swamplands.


If we wished to challenge the Chaos leader, they are currently camped in the Aceria Forests. If we could capture the food resources there, we would be able to field more squads and vehicle teams on the battlefield.


The Janus Savannah remains an easy victory over the Orkz.


You could also reattempt the Hyperion Peaks. You honour guard is larger, and your own Battlesuits weapons far exceed what they were during the last assault. As you've gloated, you may be able to destroy it on your own. With the peaks, we could establish forward bases.


The Rhean Jungle is an option, but compared to the other options available, I see no reason for it. Other options either are more easily taken or offer us greater benefits.


Lastly, the Rhean Floodlands are a possibility, but are also dubious. It's a small bit of territory, cut off from most of Kronus (not that we need be concerned with that now that we own Pavonis), and the Orkz are heavily entrenched in their positions. Not to mention, Gorgutz is personally overseeing the defenses.
Well, I leave it to the War Council. With so many options, I feel this may be a long vote. I'm gonna take a nap.

Pathfinders, here. We have some recon for the War Council. We've scouted out the strength of each enemy commander's Honour Guards. Knowing this might make your decision on who to attack easier: