'Some have called us the Damned because of the strength of our swords, but we stand in the Emperors Light and can do no wrong'
Lieutenant-Commander Thrace at the Desolation of Eden IV
Somehow I have made it to the final month and completed my First Old World Army Challenge!
The Annals of the 9th Squad mark them as the last to leave the Fire Hawks first homeworld of Cousteau XI and thus lead the honour guard that is stationed on the planets memorial shrine.
March to the Stars. An account of the Fire Hawks.
The Hammer had fallen, Dreadnought drop pods smashing into the beleaguered Mantis Warrior defences.
The Munitions depot had been a strong point and the defenders had dug in well, but it was not enough and as the pods burst open with a falling panels and hails of twin-linked Bolter fire the air was filled still further with the screams of incoming jump packs.
Within the command complex the Mantis Warriors prepared for the their last stand as casualty reports and sector losses poured in. Captain Azteem and his surviving command squad faced the blast door in grim preparation for the end, their fingers set against the triggers they would never press.
Light filled the room and from it stepped Squad Kempler, the teleporter light fading to be replaced by the Fire Hawks bright armour and fire of storm bolter and heavy flamer.
Captain Azteem was the last to fall, small comfort as his cold weapon fell from his hand and hit the floor moments before the blast doors gave way before them.
Chapter Vs Legion. Anonymous memoirs of the Badab War
March saw some planned changes on what I was painting, partly due to losing time to other painting projects (mainly Doctor Who!) and also ill-health but made it in time and also took the plunge and settled on adding the Chapter badge freehand
The Mantis Warriors had halted their retreat and dug in around a munitions depot. In desperation they had abandoned movement and flexibility that played to their Chapters skills in exchange for safety and a chance to survive.They had chosen well, It’s wall were thick and has been built to endure fire from without or an explosion from within. It would need more firepower than the Fire Hawks that harried them carried.
But the Fire Hawks were not alone and as their forward units encircled the position, armoured drop pods were already burning their way down from low orbit deployment. A hammer was needed to break the Mantis Legion and Warden Tyrak would be that bright strike and lay open the way.
Chapter Vs Legion. Anonymous memoirs of the Badab War
February started as a short month, but with various commitments I knew that I had even less time for painting so it ended up a quite a mismash but ended up enough.
The Badab War saw a visible resurgence In the Astartes Discipline Corps and their Field Police Units. Supporting Chaplains and active in recently liberated battle zones, the increased presence of the Field Police had been in response to concerns around facing fellow Astartes but also to try and halt the increasing numbers of civilian casualties.
Complying with the directive, the Fire Hawks saw little need to Police their own, and the capture of the Red Harbringer had quelled any hesitancy at holding back from the Separatists
The Chapters august history was replete with proof that they would do their duty and punish those that strayed from the Emperors Light and those within the Badab Zone would be treated no differently.
Accounts from Iblis Suppression during the early campaign against Mantis Warrior holdings indicate that the Fire Hawks Field Police were utilised in repression strikes against PDF and high profile civilian targets
- Notes on the Astartes. Badab War. Inquisitior Iranq Da Veryt
2021 has been a odd year for my hobby, and although I have managed to complete some long overdue pieces It has not felt a particularly productive or focused one. Lots of project have moved a step forward and other new projects have appeared despite my best efforts, though the addition of a 3D Printer to my room has to take part of the blame!
I have high hope for 2022 (without wanting to tempt fate) and hope my inclusion in the next Old World Army Challenge wil help that.
The Old World Army Challenge to quote its founder and Overlord is :
The Goal? An Oldhammer army
The Challenge? 6 months to achieve it
The Old World Challenge was set-up by Iannick Martin as an initiative to motivate fellow Oldhammer painters and gamers to create an Oldhammer army in 6 months. Every month for 6 months, the Challengers have to submit a number of Oldhammer figures, using their favourite army lists. It is not a competition, as there are no winners, but rather we encourage one another to reach our goal.
We are 40ish challengers, from Japan to Canada, and most factions of Warhammer and Rogue Trader are represented, from Dwarfs to Elves, from Space Marines to Orks, from Goblins to the Empire.
With an invitation to join the competition in 2022, though preparation can start this year, I had a host of Army's to pick from and initially narrowed it down to:
1. Slann - Expansion of my Slann Army with Cavalry, additional Bull and Elite Slann units and the second Slave Unit. A possible future entry
2. BB@OD - use it to help focus on my ongoing Bloodbath at Orcs Drift Project to complete the Orc contingent. Felt like I would be cheating and decided to make sure I add more to this next year and also giving myself a new challenge.
3. Imperial Guard - Rogue Trader Imperial Guard. Unfortunately on a quick survey I have not yet got enough to field a full force so this one will continue to slow burn and grow for now.
4. Space Marines. - I had attempted to start this one before as Dusk Raiders but lost steam but have recently been going though the Rogue Trader rulebook and also reading up on the Badab War...
