Birthday Spankings--Monsters vs. the Machine: Part 2  by Kenton Kilgore
So far, the Necrons had eluded the claws of the Tyranids, but one can't run forever....

Turn 4
The ‘nids kept on coming, of course, as they always do. Two Zoats combined their fire to stun, immobilize, and damage the flux arc projectors of the Monolith. The sole Winged Warrior from the brood with deathspitters fired at Destroyer Unit 3.2, missed, then charged and dropped a Destroyer (which failed its “WBB” roll at the start of my turn). Hormagaunt Brood #1 assaulted Necron Warrior Unit 2.2, but no Bugs or ‘bots were killed and the melee continued. Genestealer Brood #2 charged Lucifer 2.0, the Immortals, and Necron Warrior Unit 2.3: only one Warrior fell (and failed “WBB”) and Lucifer killed one Genestealer: not bad, when you consider how ferocious Genestealers are in close combat!

On my turn, Lucifer 1.0 used his Veil to pull himself and the two remaining Destroyers from Unit 3.2. They fired on the wounded Zoat, killing it. Destroyer Squad 3.1 fired on HQ Warrior brood, killing two and wounding one. Close combat continued, with two Stealers, two Hormagaunts, and five Necron Warriors falling.

Turn 5
Pat’s two remaining Zoats fired again on the Monolith, with one missing and the other out of range. The HQ Warriors fired at Destroyer Unit 3.1, hitting three times and inflicting two wounds, but I saved. 

In Pat’s Assault Phase, Hormagaunt Brood #1 continued to trade blows with Necron Warriors, killing one Toaster but losing six of their own. Hormagaunt Brood #2 charged Lucifer 1.0 and the other Destroyers: the Necrons killed three Hormies but temporarily lost one of their own (fortunately, he made his “WBB” roll on my turn). Stealer Brood #2 kakked one Immortal (who made his “WBB” roll) but whiffed against Lucifer 2.0 and lost the two Stealers fighting Necron Warrior Unit 2.3. The Winged Warriors with rending claws and scything talons failed a charge through difficult terrain. 

While unable to move or teleport out troops (because Hormagaunt Brood #1 was blocking the portal), the Monolith could still fire, zapping two of Genestealer Brood #3 with its particle whip. Lucifer 1.0 again ‘ported out the two Destroyers using his Veil, and they combined their fire with the other Destroyer unit to kill a whole mess (that means, I forgot to count) of Hormagaunt Brood #2. Necron Warriors who weren’t in hand-to-hand stood still and shot, killing three Winged Warriors (the ones who had just failed a charge).

In the Assault Phase, Genestealer Brood #2 finally hit paydirt, dragging down Lucifer 2.0 and two Immortals. Hormagaunt Brood #1 killed four Necron Warriors and lost only one of their fellows.

Turn 6
HQ Warriors and the two Zoanthropes fired on the Destroyers but didn’t drop any of them. Hormagaunt Brood #1 lost three fighting Necron Warrior Unit 2.2; Hormagaunt Brood #2 charged Lucifer 1.0 and Destroyer Unit 3.2, wiping them out and sweeping into Destroyer Unit 3.1. Genestealer Brood #3 crashed into the Immortals, wiping them out: because no more where left, that unit would stay down. The last Winged Warriors bounced off a Necron Warrior Unit, killing one ‘bot but losing a Wound.

The situation was very grim for Yblis’ Bzrkx: both Necron Lords were down, and if they stayed down, defeat was very likely. Lucifer 2.0 did not make his “We’ll Be Back” roll and remained inert battlefield junk. Lucifer 1.0 did make his “We’ll Be Back” roll (courtesy of his Resurrection Orb), as did one of the Destroyers that had gone down with him. Lucifer then used his Veil (again) to pull all the remaining Destroyers out of close combat with the Hormagaunts and ‘ported them directly in front of the HQ Warriors. A torrent of Necron gauss fire reduced the HQ Warriors to below half strength. In the Assault Phase, Necron Warriors held on, hacking down two Winged Warriors and reducing that unit to below half strength as well. 

At the end of the game, the Necrons had four scoring units (three Warrior squads and one Destroyer squadron) and the Tyranids had one (Genestealer Brood #3). A tense win for Yblis’ Bzrkx!

Posted May 2007
 

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