The Fate of the Abhorrence

A Scenario from the Gothic War

The Abhorrence, a little known Chaos battleship, suddenly tow it safely to the surface, preventing it from burning up in
found herself the centre of a decisive battle between the the atmosphere.
Imperial Navy and a small group of Eldar pirates. After an
The detachment went around the planet and soon
unsuccessful raid in the Bhein Morr Sub-Sector, the traitors'
approached the enemy vessel. Upon arrival, the radar screen
flagship, Abhorrence, was left helpless. She drifted through
aboard the Crown of Steel suddenly lit up with multiple
space; her crew all but massacred, and quickly became a
contacts. Her captain took a brief look at the readings and
point of interest to the Imperial defenses. But there were
turned pale. An Eldar force was approaching rapidly, and
others who valued the prize as well…
without the rest of the Imperial fleet, they were a serious
threat. The captain immediately ordered that a message be
sent to Admiral Durke. Now he knew how the trade convoy
had been destroyed.
Aboard the Shadow class cruiser, Shrouded, farseer Ithrail
grinned again. With only a small enemy force, the Eldar
would have their work cut out for them. Not only could they
destroy the Imperials, but the Abhorrence could prove to be
a prize on its own.
AN OPPORTUNITY PRESENTS ITSELF
Throughout the vast expanses of space, when Abaddon's fleet The Imperial escorts moved in the tow the Chaos ship, two
constantly contested for systems with the beleaguered cruisers moving alongside to protect them. A group of
defenses of the Imperium, a small Chaos fleet had led an Hellbores loosed a torpedo salvo and swooped past them to
attack on the Stranivar system. Fortunately, a defensive force tear the primitive escorts to shreds. Then, a squadron of
led by admiral Ivan Durke was positioned in the vicinity. Nightshades darted past the clumsy cruisers as they were
Under Durke's command were three cruiser squadrons avoiding the torpedoes. The Nightshades then proceeded to
including the Vengeance class grand cruiser Undeniable. He tow the ship in the opposite direction. As a wave of Eldar
was also responsible for escorting a group of trade vessels attack craft bombarded the two cruisers nearest the
through Bhein Morr, which was taken care of by his escort Abhorrence, the Crown of Steel let her weapons batteries fly,
squadrons. Admiral Durke had learned of the oncoming punching through the Hellbores with ease. She moved in the
attack and was well prepared. The cruisers were positioned to pummel the Nightshades in the same manner, but to less
around the central planet, with a few scattered escorts, but effectiveness.
the bulk of the escorts were with the approaching convoy. Farseer Ithrail took advantage of this and his ship, Shrouded
During the battle, Durke's fleet annihilated the Chaos moved in to attack. It swept past the Crown of Steel, firing its
invaders, although the trade convoy had been mysteriously weapon batteries rapidly before unloading a barrage of
wiped out before arrival. The Abhorrence was crippled and torpedoes at point blank range. The torpedoes hit home and
left drifting towards the planet's surface. Durke's remaining took out her starboard weapons.
ships consisted of only two cruiser squadrons and three More and more Eldar ships slashed at the Imperials, followed
escort squadrons. It wasn't much to go on. The drifting Chaos by the destruction of the Crown of Steel. By now, the Eldar
vessel was quickly picked up on the scanners. The admiral thought they had won, but there was one thing they hadn't
recognized it as a valuable prize and ordered it be recovered. counted on: Admiral Ivan Durke.
A small number of ships broke off from the rest of the fleet to
TUG OF WAR are worth pointing out first. The Abhorrence can only be
The admiral and his ships entered the battle as fast as they towed by ships in base contact with it. A battleship or grand
could, taking the Eldar by surprise. The Undeniable's long- cruiser can tow it at half speed. One cruiser may tow it at a
range weapons crippled an Eclipse class cruiser, knocking quarter speed. Two cruisers may to it at full speed, presuming
down its holofields. Later, it was picked off by a few they both have the same speed. Two escorts of the same type
remaining escorts, with cobras punching a hole in its hull may tow it at half speed, or three may tow it at full speed.
with a single torpedo salvo. The Undeniable used her used Four escorts may tow it at full speed as well. This never
her weapon batteries to full effect, beating down the reduces the distance a ship must move before turning.
overtaking ships and evening the odds. Thus began a tug of
FORCES
war. An Imperial ship would tow the Abhorrence and an Eldar
On the Imperial side is the Undeniable, the Crown of Steel, a
ship would beat it down and begin towing the crippled Chaos
Gothic class cruiser, a Lunar class cruiser a Dictator class
vessel itself. Then, the Eldar ship would be chased away by an
cruiser, a Dauntless light cruiser, four cobras, three swords,
Imperial vessel and it would start over.
and three firestorms. Undeniable is a vengeance class grand
Now there was a slight problem: Some of the Abhorrence cruiser with LD9, and the Crown of Steel is a tyrant class
ship's systems had become active. It began firing at minimal cruiser with LD8.
effect at anything that came close. It wasn't too big a threat,
The Eldar have Shrouded (A shadow class cruiser with LD9),
but it was a concern nonetheless. In one attempted attack,
and Eclipse class cruiser, six Hellbores, three Acconites, six
the Eldar lost the remainder of their Nightshades to the
Nightshades, and three Hemlocks.
Abhorrence's fire alone.
The prolonged fighting was not good for the Eldar and the SET UP
bad circumstances soon led them to realize that all hope was The battle takes place completely in low orbit. For the
lost. Their remaining fleet included only Shrouded and a few Imperials, the Crown of Steel, Gothic cruiser, Lunar cruiser,
escorts. Ithrail knew at this point that the Eldar could not and Swords set up on the battlefield. The rest enter from any
win. No matter what they did now, there were too few of of the three table edges on turn five. The Eldar get the first
them to carry on fighting after the battle. Ithrail issued one turn.
final order and three Hellbores rushed straight into the battle SPECIAL RULES
and unloaded all of their torpedoes directly at the The Abhorrence sets up opposite the planet edge. It is a
Abhorrence. Its warp drive imploded, completely annihilating desolator class battleship and suffers the following critical
everything in the immediate vicinity, and causing two hits: port and starboard armaments damaged, prow
Imperial cruisers to be destroyed. They each exploded as armament damaged, shields collapse, engine room damaged,
well, causing one ore cruiser and the Undeniable to be and thrusters damaged. She had four damage points and may
crippled. not repair critical hits, except those received during the
Admiral Durke and Ithrail lived through the battle, and the battle. Starting on the sixth turn, the Abhorrence fires at the
Undeniable was repaired at a nearby spaceport. What had closest ship within range after both Imperial and Eldar had
started as a harmless looking salvage attempt had become an their turns. If the Abhorrence drifts into the planet's surface,
awful disaster. the game ends immediately. If you tow the Abhorrence off
your table edge it's worth 500 VPs.
REPLAYING THE BATTLE
This is the scenario fir replaying the second part of the battle, You can also play a points match, but you must include the
namely the attempted recovery of the Abhorrence. There are Abhorrence. The game ends when the Abhorrence drifts into
some important rules that involve towing the Abhorrence that the planet or is towed away, or if either side is destroyed.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR