Star Wars vs. Battlestar Galactica: Introduction and Army Lists
Every New Year’s Day, my friend Pat and I get together for some 40K brutality, a tradition that has spawned several memorable games (my favorite was the 2nd Edition-era Space Wolves-vs.-Fighting Tiger Tankfest). This year, we thought we’d try out our latest armies: Pat’s Star Wars-themed Imperial Guard/Daemonhunters against my Necrons. On a side note, the Necrons had belonged to Pat before he sold them to me, which meant that he had painted every figure used in the game. 

We played at my house, using the way-cool, spanking-new jungle board and river terrain that #1 Jungle Fanboy Luis Nunez built and sent to me. Pat and I agreed that only the “paths” and the “river” sections were clear terrain: everything else was covered in jungle trees (Level 2 height) that counted as difficult terrain and allowed only 6" of vision. The idol and the top of the waterfall were at Level 3 height: from the summits, a unit could fire down on the paths and clearings; conversely, figures on the paths could target anyone atop those heights.

Star Wars: Imperial Guard/Daemonhunters Army List
Because Pat wanted to practice for a tournament the next week, we played at 2150 points each. Pat is an unrepentant close-combat junkie, so even this “shooty” army has some punch up close in the form of Daemonhunter allies. He brought:

• Inquisitor Lord Vader w/ artificer armor, storm shield, power weapon, and Scourging
• Vader’s Retinue: Acolytes Darth Maul and Darth Sidious, each w/ artificer armor; Acolyte Skywalker w/ power weapon; Mystic Organa; Sage Palpatine; two Heirophants; two Stormtrooper Veterans w/ flamers; Chimera w/ multi-laser, heavy bolter; extra armor
• Command Platoon: Grand Moff Tarkin (heroic senior  officer) w/ power weapon, bolt pistol, and surveyor; Company Standard; Medic; missile launcher team
• Anti-Tank Support Squad: three teams w/ lascannons
• AT-ST Sentinel Squadron: two Sentinels w/ autocannons, armored crew compartment, extra armor
• Aurra Sing: Callidus Assassin
• Commissar (assigned to Conscripts Squad) w/ power fist and laspistol
• Infantry Platoon 1, Command Squad w/ Junior Officer, meltagun, missile launcher team
• Infantry Platoon 1, Squad 1 w/ grenade launcher and heavy bolter
• Infantry Platoon 1, Squad 2 w/ grenade launcher and heavy bolter
• Infantry Platoon 1, Squad 3 w/ plasma gun and autocannon
• Two squads of Conscripts: one w/ autocannon and grenade launcher; one w/ flamer and heavy bolter
• Inquisitorial Stormtroopers: Veteran w/ power weapon, hellpistol, and teleport homer; seven w/ hellguns; one w/ grenade launcher; one w/ plasma gun
• Grey Knights: Justicar; two w/ incinerators; rest w/ storm bolters and Nemesis force weapons
• Two Sentinels w/ multilasers, armored crew compartment, extra armor
• Leman Russ w/ hull-mounted lascannon, extra armor, smoke launchers, searchlight, camo netting
• Leman Russ w/ hull-mounted heavy bolter, side sponsons w/ heavy bolters, extra armor, smoke launchers, pintle-mounted heavy stubber

Above: Inquisitor Lord Vader leads the Imperial forces 

Battlestar Galactica: Necron Army List
I have a collection of about 3000 points worth of ‘bots. I usually bring a Lord, a mess of Warriors, some Scarabs (I LOVE those li’l bastards!), some Destroyers (I firmly believe in mobility, mobility, mobility), and fill out the army with units I want to try. This time out, my Flayed Ones made their debut.

• Centurion Lucifer: Necron Lord w/ Resurrection Orb and Veil of Darkness
• Squad of 10 Flayed Ones
• Three squads of 20 Necron Warriors each
• Swarm of nine Scarab bases
• Squadron of three Destroyers
• Squadron of three Heavy Destroyers
• Monolith

Above: Centurion Lucifer leads the Necrons known as Yblis' Marauders

The shuttlecraft Hyperion landed just outside the encampment in one of the few clearings among the trees of the dense jungle. Inquisitor Lord Vader stepped from the craft into the sweltering, oppressive heat and was promptly met by Commander Tarkin and a squad of Guardsmen.

“Welcome, Lord Vader,” Tarkin said bowing. “We have established a bivouac here and have begun exploring the surrounding jungle. At first, we found no sign of any xenos presence. Last night, however, we suffered an attack on a patrol. Several men were killed—seemingly disintegrated—but there were some survivors.”

Vader’s breathing was heavy and labored. “I will not suffer attacks from an unknown enemy. Take me to the survivors.”

As the group moved through the camp, Guardsmen stopped what they were doing and snapped to attention. Tarkin and Vader entered a Quonset hut labeled “Infirmary.” A Guardsman with graying hair was tending to a wounded man lying on a cot. As Vader approached, the medic stood and saluted, saying “Corporal Grissom, milord, at your service.”

Vader pointed to the man on the cot. “This man was in the patrol that was attacked last night?” 

“Yes, milord,” answered Grissom. 

“Show me his wounds.”

Grissom bent, pulled back the thin sheet covering the Guardsman, and removed some of the bandages around the sedated man’s abdomen. Something had vaporized a fist-sized chunk of his flesh.

“A glancing wound, sir, from—” began the medic.

“I have seen these type of wounds before,” Vader rumbled. “These are made by gauss weapons used by the mechanical constructs of the Necron race.” Vader turned as if responding to an unseen presence, his cloak billowing with the sudden motion. “Tarkin, prepare your men for attack. The enemy is approaching.”

“But how do you…” Tarkin started, confused.

“There is no time for me to explain to you my powers. Suffice it to say that I have sensed the enemy’s movements and you would do well to follow my counsel.”

Tarkin nodded and began barking orders to the retinue of Guardsmen that had been following them.

As the encampment erupted in a flurry of activity, the sun broke over the canopy of the jungle. 

Story by Patrick Eibel

© Copyright Kenton Kilgore, February 2005
 

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