459995.M41 Battle for The Longsight Facility (Images!)

The Longsight Facility

The Black Templars deployed to the south of Longsight, the Swords of St Clair tactical squad on the left flank, embarked on a razorback, a skimmer armed with typhoon missiles to the right. The centre was held by the Fists of Dorn, a tac squad equipped with assault and heavy ranged weapons. As this formation approached the facility tyranids emerged on mass from the ruins, gaunts charging the skimmer, and genestealers charging the razorback. At this point a broodlord emerged from the broken doors of the main structure with his retinue of gene stealers, and it became apparent that Longsight had become the home to a small hive of tyranids.

 Tank attack!

A skimmer approaches the facility

The Fists of Dorn established a solid position under cover in front of the main bunker, whilst the skimmer engaged the gaunts. On the right, the razorback 'tank shocked' the genestealers, breaking through and driving on towards the facility. The broodlord and all genestealers, including those from the right, converged on the Fists. At this point fire from all across the battle field was concentrated by the Black Templars on the Broodlord, bringing down the creature, though even as it fell the genestealers swamped the Fist's position, resulting in vicious hand to hand fighting.

The Fists of Dorn hold a position against the tyranids.

The gaunts, disengaging from the skimmer, raced back towards the facility as the razor back swung round behind the buildings, and the Swords of St Clair squad disembarked. The gaunts attacked the fresh tactical squad, trying to prevent them entering the main bunker, but several fell to bolter fire and the tyranids were then attacked from behind by the skimmer. Without the influence of the broodlord to hold them, the gaunts broke, and the Templars entered the bunker. As the gaunts fled, the genestealers, although about to overwhelm the Fists of Dorn, disengaged, retreating into distant rocks. Even as the Templar tactical squads established control over the facility, the skimmer and the razorback completed the annihilation of the hive.

The Black Templars gain the main bunker of the Longsight Facility

The battle left four Black Templars dead, all amongst the Fists of Dorn, their names transmitted to the Eternal Crusader for commemoration across the aeons, but the machine minds of the facility are now divulging all that they have have seen in deep space.