Returning to my Zenith Superhero's in a gap between other projects, I have finshed off Thunderbolt Jaxon.
The sculpt is from Attica Games and their Champion superhero figure
’Its not going to be enough, did you even read our message?!’
Sergent Darin looked on with incredulity as the mud streaked Red Adder sped into the clearing and pulled up into the small encampment Darin commanded.
The mission had been simple enough, Darin and his ExSec detachment would establish a listening station that would eventually form part of a network for the whole planet, the first step for mapping and then colonisation by the Lithic Assumptions ColSec. Two weeks in and the biggest threat had been boredom but then long range parameter sensors had gone dark and a patrol had not returned. Darin had put his reduced command on alert and sent a data burst back to Land Command, flagging for possible DefSec support. He knew the flag would trigger reproach, Section pride and ExSecs desire to stand on its own, but his security forces were only rated at Militia level and out on the frontier mistakes could hand out far worse things than a black mark on his service record.
Close sensors finally picked up movement and gave him the justification for his caution, he just hoped he lived long enough to be smug about it. Across the river movement was sighted, Malig raiders appeared and opened fire. Malig Heavy weapons targeted buildings, shattering Hab domes and turning the new Fabrication Spire into a torch as a cover while ground units started to move forward, probing for gaps in the Militias defensive fire and trying to cross the bridge.
The hatch of the Red Adder opened and the plumed helm of a Muster Centaris appeared, his face marked and dirt covered as Darins own.
‘Who is ranking officer here? the officer asked, his eyes surveying the hasty defences and the increasing weight of enemy fire
“I am.Sergeant Eyer Darin. 32nd ExSec Preparatory Group. Is this it? Its not going to be enough, Did you even read our message!?”
The Officer returned his gaze to Darin as he dismounted the Adder and then unclipped his MPI, swiftly bringing it up for a burst at the bridge as another Malig attempted to rush it.
“I am sorry, but that never got got back to the Castle. The Khanate have been advancing under a CounterNet and nothing is reaching Land Command. Whatever you were hoping for we are not it. I was the closest to this location and came to pull you out, everything is pulling back to Command”
Darin moved next to the officer and raised his own Tumbler MPI, both of them sending fire towards the bridge again.
“ We can use the Adder to block the bridge and buy us some time. It cannot dish out too much, but its Moth cannon is more than enough to shred Malig’s and make them think twice about trying to rush the bridge any time soon”
The officer hammered the side of the Adder and the driver inside gunned the engine and moved it forward to reposition closer to the bridge, the turret turning to face the body strewn pathway as the Moth started to spin.
Darin turned to the officer, his face moving between relief and worry
“Who are you with?”
“ Centaris Tobias Beare, 2nd Garnet Dragoons. DefSec Response"
Now the pleasantries are out out of the way I suggest we make a start getting out of here. This planets Preparatory has been cancelled.
Following my Malig Infernus Ball recreated for 28mm I wanted to add some armour to my Ion Age forces and went for the Red Adder Combat Car
Alternative Armies Red Adder Combat Car
The Malig forces of Hades Legion were the first to move out, tasked with securing the area and moving on in a Trident formation, the deployed Ordos split with Tesserans forming each of the prongs with heavy support forming the shaft behind, ready to move up to whichever point met resistance.
The Maligs moved quickly over the broken ground before them and within the hour the left most prong had made contact, trading fire with equal sized force of Prydian Muster that was establishing an outpost. The Malig officer, Hurteg Tar, ordered the unit to hold and called in support.
A wall of sound and fire broke the tree line before the Infernus came into sight like a vision of hell itself. A tide of churned earth created with shattered wood, fire and smoke. A great ball of tarnished Iron charged forward, its two halves spinning and chewing all before it as gouts of fire shot from guns held at each side. Great plumes of black smoke cut into the sky from dirty stacks on its back, pushed out from screaming engines that spun and drove it into the enemy
‘Hades Demands’ Hurteg shouted in its wake and the Malig Charged
Within the 15mm universe of the Ion Age Malig Forces can deploy the fearsome Infernus Tank
Alternative Armies Malig Infernus Tank
...INQUIRY
...Exploration Section military asset review/DEFSEC 234/782
...ACCESS CODE
...******
...GRANTED
...INTERNAL REPORT.RESTRICTED ACCESS.NOT FOR GENERAL SECTION RELEASE.
...ACCESS DIRECTORY
...resume brief 01.23
...within structural limitations ExSec has increased recruitment to support its expansion with increased deployment on planetary, system and exploration vessels, final calculations also include oversight of Minor Sections now brought into is command structure. Operational limitations for non DEFSEC platoon strength - COMMAND/FIRETEAM/FIRETEAM have been surpassed by ExSec deployments by inclusion of Base or Flight Crew who have also received training to PM level. Calculating operational strength and potential threat level must assume full DefSec level Platoon strength COMMAND/FIRETEAM/FIRETEAM/FIRETEAM.
Completed my first Ion Age Platoon. Platoons are made up of 16 miniatures in four man teams, one command, a support and two Rifle elements. To fit in with the narrative of this being a governmental force rather than a full military, one of the rifle elements has been made up with the Cold Climes militia figures and the Captain from AA's Alternate Stars Range to represent a base commander/ Exploration Ship Captain.
With the end of the OWAC approaching I have decided on setting myself another challenge for the rest of the year, I have found the focus a nice way to structure my painting beyond whatever I am playing/catches my eye
The second half of 2023 will be a drive to paint my Alternative Armies Ion Age forces. Just like the OWAC I will post my progress each month, here and on the Alternative Armies group on Facebook as well as actually getting teh forces onto a table and putting together some battle reports ( and maybe even a video!)
The completed terrain for my 28mm has been a inspiring start and will
The Ion Age by Alternative Armies, has figures for both 28mm
Alternative Armies Ion Age 28mm
and 15mm
Alternative Armies Ion Age 15mm
The game can be run using several different rulebooks that reflect the sizes of the figures and battle size. Patrol Angis for 15mm and multiple platoon and vehicle conflict, Moth for 28mm for smaller skirmish level conflict.
