"Tech-3, Tech-3! Affirmative! You are cleared to land! Mission is GO! Repeat GO! GO Space Marines"

Mission: Tactical half-squads from Space Marine Chapters Blood Angels, Ultra Marines and The Imperial Fists to cause a diversionary raid on a flank (Grid Sector 55-2A) of Warp Ship Leviathan, prior to main assault going in. Event-21 (main assault) will trigger immediate evacuation to mother ship. Primary mission secure temporary perimeter without loss of assets until Event-21 signal received for immediate re-deployment to main assault formation.

And so the mission starts: Episode Four of The Space Crusade "A Quick in and Out!" What could go wrong?

Mission Transcript: Blood Angels Insertion Phase
[Sgt: Hammer] "Mission Control, confirm Blood Angels are down and bridgehead established. Preliminary scan complete .. residual alien traces detected behind bulkhead Z05, attack formation SPEAR OF DESTINY, Sergeant to the head .. door blown, I see it! Humanoid eliminated. Troopers form defensive perimeter to assess situation. Groc, Rookies! Don't cluster. I said no clustering, this Zone is still HOT! Spread out!  Movement detected in sector Red-2, multiple traces, high tech or mechanised trace signatures. Confirmed .. Enemy Chaos Marines. Iincoming round ... ...  Groc! Groc! Troopers Down!" pause  "All of them! Repeat "ALL OF THEM". It's a trap they came from the vents! Engaging Chaos forces, they won't take me so easy! Switching to head cam. FOR THE IMPERIUM, BLOOD ANGELS NEVER RETREAT!" [Transmission End]

The Blood Angels landing triggers an immediate counterattack by a half squad of Chaos Space Marines that (in fairness) manages to "get lucky" and target a cluster missile in the tight confines of a corridor. The damage effect of "three hits" exceeds the protective armour of two and takes out all the Blood Angel Troopers within the blast zone, "Gulp" (see below, Chaos never has it so good, thirty victory points to Chaos and it's still turn one!):

Seen from the killer's perspective, the Chaos Space Marine Heavy Weapon Drone (Note: Those of "keen sight" [GW modelling aficionados] may detect I am 'filling in' for the official figures (of Space Marines) with Tau ones, as I had the latter "close to hand and painted"). The Drone has "Line of Sight" (LOS) after moving out from its hidden position (see below, the Space Marine's mission already seems to be in jeopardy [ED: I can say with glee being the Chaos Commander]):

Mission Transcript: The Imperial Fist Insertion Phase
[Sgt Doom] "Fists down! All quiet. Repeat, All quiet. Scan reveals partial trace scan but all distant and receding. Troopers for m perimeter defence. Code: Epsilon. Caution, Accessing situation. Sounds of heavy incoming fire coming from Red-2. Repeat "bridgehead in sector Yellow-2 achieved! Praise to the Emperor" [Transmission End]

The Imperil Fist sector is strangely quiet (Sarge I don't like it [Ed: My eldest son was sitting in for the regular until he arrived so I wasn't trying to kill him fast]), most of the Chaos blips seem to be moving "away" from the incursion, regrouping? Then out of a concealed passageway a grotesque humanoid Chaos creature (a nominal orc) sprung out at a surprised Space Marine Trooper and engaged him in Hand-2-Hand combat (see below, middle right, [Ed: OK I wasn't going to be easy on him]):

Mission Transcript: The Imperial Fist Mission Post Insertion Update Data Burst
[Sgt Doom] "Trooper down! Trooper Down! Where did that THING come from? Form Perimeter defence. Mutual zones of fire, repeat no one gets isolated!" [Transmission Ends]

The Chaos "hit and run" tactics seem to be working better than could have been suspected (lucky dice [Ed: Slight pang of remorse, but no much as that is another 10 points]). The Imperial Fists hit back by dispatching a Gretchin/Necron (delete as applicable) servo droid but then all returns to "quiet" (see below):

Meanwhile in the Ultra Marine sector (Note: Nice decals) the Space Marines fan out and deploy. Again everything seems to be avoiding contact. The Space Marines are drawn forwards. All three half-tactical squads are separated from one another (giving no mutual support). The Ultra Marine Commander also forgot about his equipment card that could be used to reveal the identity of three random blips (Ed: To be fair so had I, but by now he should have been a veteran, it can be tough in the Corp). Then three of those random blips revealed themselves. Just a Dreadnought and two Kiler Androids.

Mission Transcript: The Ultra Marines Mission Post Insertion Update Data Burst#1
[Sgt Tosh] "Negate that. Landing Zone active, the big one is coming my way with two side-kicks in toe. Priming Mega Bomb, I'm gonna settle this thing Hand-2-Hand" [Transmission Ends]

Multiple things happen in quick succession. A Gretchin throws a fragmentation grenade that bounces off the two Space Marines playing "tail end Charlie" spooking them. The Hand-2-Hand combat goes very badly for Sgt Tosh and he disengages with a single  hit point left. A killer Android tries to follow up but is cut in two by the Ultra Marines infamous Power Chain Sword [Ed: Cannot have it all my own (Chaos) way].

Mission Transcript: The Ultra Marines Mission Post Insertion Update Data Burst#2
[Sgt Tosh] "Situation BLUE! Repeat situation BLUE. Initiating Medi-Pack Heal [Ed: Back to full hit points, damn]. No more Mega Bombs left but I'm going back in [Ed: Ooops Chaos may not get those good combat rolls a second time]" [Transmission Ends]

To the stunned horror of the gathered Space Marine Commanders (all Chapters) the Hand-2-Hand is almost an exact duplicate of the first one. Despite a "Double Attack" Order by the Ultra Marines the dice of Chaos laugh at the upstart Space Marines threat. The "Double Attack" becomes just a way of hurting Sgt Tosh twice. Grimacing Tosh again retires to the relatively safe bulkhead (with a single hit point again), only to then hear the piecing scream of two Ultra Marines dying with the sound of "Genestealer!" in his internal com unit. [Ed: Another fifteen points to Chaos, I have no fear of being turned into "chaotic primordial soup" for a bad performance now! In fact if I hold onto this lead I will be promoted and win the campaign. Careful, pride comes before a fall!]. The only "blot" on this turn is when I attempt to annihilate the last remaining Ultra Marine Troopers my "humanoids" are stopped in their tracks (see below, so are the unflattering whims of Chaos):

The Blood Angel Commander is surrounded and taking hits, though killing anything that dares to come within range of his sword arm. Still there are two Chaos Marines Heavy Weapons making his life hard, a hoard of green things in the distance and a Killer Android moving up close. Not looking good. Bad news comes from the Imperial Fists sector as they lose another trooper [Ed: Another five victory points]. There is no way out for the Space Marines. The tactical half-units are too battered to fight their way to give mutual support without being isolated from their docking claw exit points. The Blood Angel Commander will have to tough it out (see below):

Incoming Mother-Ship Transmission: 
[Commander Beal] Event-21 Recall [Transmission Ends]

"Event-21" is triggered (as the finite time duration of the game we set expires, people have things to do and families to go back home to). The Blood Angels and Ultra Marines have cannily kept "blind grenades" which mean a clean escape. The Imperial Fists briefly tinker with the concept of taking a few more Chaos with them but the thought of a Genestealer on the prowl, at least two androids and an undamaged Dreadnought soon change their minds.

So ends the "Space Crusade" in Sector "Olaf-Gamma-5" as Chaos begins its rightful place or rather reign in this small part of the mega-universe. The Space Marine Fleet hastily disengages (I am sure the Inquisition will have something to say about this debacle) in disgrace while the Chaos Commander is raised to the glory and status of being a Hero of Chaos, which on the downside means he gets assimilated with some strange Chaos creature that resembles a giant squid (but gets brilliant telepathic powers, that send him completely insane) .. his mother would definitely not recognise him now, she thought the tattoo was bad enough.

Next stop ... a few summer nights in the pub discussing tactics ... and then Frost Grave in the autumn when the nights draw in. Thanks for the memories gents!

Just Another Day in the Space Marine Corp (4)

With the primary objective completed and no further Chaos minions to despatch it was time to exit before the computer operated (via a simple countdown timer) attachment clamps disengaged the Docking Ports back to the mothership. The Imperial Fists were situated close to their exit but the Ultra Marines had to traverse the whole length of the Space Hulk's sector. This lead to an amusing series of random event rolls whereby the Chaos Overlord (aka me) was hoping to get a Genestealer into play to 'make my day'. As 'befit to the fickle whims of Chaos' the Genestealer appeared only 'after' the last Ultra Marine was safely behind the bulk head door. Aw shucks! No amount of 'creative' cajoling by myself and the other Space Marine players could entice the brave Ultra Marines back out (see below, "I'll huff and I'll puff"):

Counting the Cost: The Deadpool

The Blood Angels:

Despite suffering 100% casualties the official report showed that The Blood Angels showed "Good Heart & Soul" [The Chaos Commander glibly added "and  liver, spleen and brain matter all over the floor and walls of the Space Hulk"] in their combat, but they faced overwhelming odds and unlucky dice rolls in combat. Fate favours "lucky generals." Zero Points. The Blood Angels are currently in the process of recruiting a new batch of Space Marines heroes for their next mission, apply within (see below, some Chaos kills but horrific casualties):

The Imperial Fists:

Despite losing two Space Marines the Emperor's Elite Bodyguard brought in the goods with an impressive bounty of kills, including the primary objective (aka, the Dreadnought, see below). The Imperial Fists were declared the game winners and the Space Marine Commander was promoted from the ranks of a lowly Sergeant into the bottom rung of the Space Marine Officer Corp. How this 'Sharp-like' character takes to the formality of the Officers Mess is still another matter. Still as a reward The Imperial Fists get plenty of extra equipment cards to play with on the next mission as well as a second Command Card, "Oooh!" Well done (see below, a haul of dead Chaos minions both major and minor):

The Ultra Marines:

A very 'canny' (as in clever if not cautious) performance that preserved force integrity (no casualties, not quite the Space Marine Corp if you ask my humble opinion). Clipping their way through the Chaos minions and taking out the dangerous Recon Android showed tactical prowess. Some would say The Ultra Marines were a tad risk adverse but they are at least are ready to "go again," now tooled up with some extra equipment. Their mettle will be truly tested next time  methinks (see below, the kill total really needed that androd):

Chaos:

Yes, all his (or rather my) minions were dead or destroyed, but already the strange Forces of Chaos were twisting and threading their parts together, reconstituting or spawning a new army of minions. Aided with plenty of new Space Marine biological matter, diabolical horrors will await the Space Marines. The toll of Space Marines [seven all told including a precious Space Marine Commander] greatly pleases the warped Chaos entity. The Chaos Commander has earned the right to pick a "Random Event Card" of their choice as a backup 'trump' so the Genestealer is now a definite for the next game [evil laughter] so he eagerly awaits the next scenario in anticipation, especially as it promises him an additional three androids to play with (see below, these Space Marines did not make it back to their 'mothership'):

All said and done a really good night of fun, dice and beer. Fab, cannot wait for the next one!

Just Another Day in the Space Marine Corp (3)

The ferocious Dreadnought unceremoniously pushes the inert body of the Blood Angels Commander, supported by the last Chaos Space Marine Trooper they engage in a firefight with the last two surviving Blood Angel Space Marines. Bolters versus a Plasma Gun and Autocannon. The Bolter bounce harmlessly off the armoured hide of the Dreadnought (see below):

Predictably the Space Marines are gunned down by the superior heavy weaponry of the Dreadnought. The Blood Angels true to the spirit of their cadre have taken 100% casualties (see below):

Their work done on the Blood Angels the Dreadnought and surviving Chaos Space Marine (now nick named 'Bud') hunker back into the 'Alamo' and await the Imperial Fists and Ultra Marine teams "to have a go". Time is on the side of Chaos as for every turn the Space Marines delay an "interesting" Chaos event card is drawn. The Chaos Commander eagerly awaits an opportunity to play a Genestealer on teh reduced strength Space Marines (see below):

Showing tactical brilliance along with bravery of the highest order the Imperial Fist Commander goes headlong into the fray with a Dreadnought busting Megabomb equipment card in hand. A spectacular roll of double three (6 damage points) and an additional one and three (four damage points) from his power sword in hand-to-hand combat splits the Dreadnought down the middle, leaving is a fused bunch of spare electronic parts, radiating noxious fumes. All hail to the Imperial Fists (see below):

The last combat act was the execution of the remaining Chaos unit on the table, despatched by a tooled up Imperial Fist touting an Autocannon (see below):

In the last few rounds Chaos' fortunes had crashed from the high of wiping out an entire Space Marine squad to being smashed up by a no-nonsense 'Alamo' clear-out. The Ultra Marines emerged from their tactical positions (being somewhat gun-shie after rolling a lot of double zeroes all game they deduced that discretion was the better part of valour! All the Space Marines had to do now was survive a series of random event cards until they got back to their 'shuttle entry points'.

Next: Run, Run, Run Away ... I mean Mission Accomplished Tactical Withdrawal in Progress

Just Another Day in the Space Marine Corp (2)

Space Marine teams penetrate deeper into the "Space Hulk Abomination". The Blood Angel team gets caught up in a vicious fire-fight with a renegade Chaos Space Marine Commander sniping down a Blood Angel grunt (see below):

Incensed the Blood Angel Commander takes out his opposite number mano-on-mano style (see below, scratch one servant of Chaos):

All three Space Marine teams had made excellent progress room-clearing minor Chaos minions. The Imperial Fists commander had taken issue with the Chaos Space Marine Heavy Weapons gunner that had taken out two of his troopers (see below) while the Ultra Marines had taken out the potentially deadly recon android. All that was left was to find the Dreadnought, kill it and then get out of "Dodge".

The Blood Angels were the 'lucky' team to find their "Primary Mission Objective" hunkering down in its "Alamo" bolt-whole, a Space Marine Trooper paying the price for the "reconnaissance by contact" strategy (see below):  

The Blood Angels reacted the only way they know. The Commander takes on the Dreadnought hand-to-hand with his power-sword. Alas, the Chaos Force effect was strong with the dice (evil laughter) and he fell "a hero to the corp", but dead nevertheless (see below):

Two remaining Blood Angel Troopers faced off against the deadliest of alien killing machines, the final Chaos Space Marines and a dirty "reptilian" Orc Grunt. The Imperial Fists and Ultra Marines teams were heading as fast as they could to the critical battle-zone but will they be quick enough to save the beleaguered Blood Angels?

Next: Face-Off against the Dreadnought!

Just Another Day in the Space Marine Corp (1)

I have been a bit slow on the 'practical' side of wargaming as of late, but here is the long overdue saga of a Space Crusade game played before Xmas ...

Everyone (aka read 'geek' of Big Bang Theory description) dreams of joining a Space Marine Chapter, "Don't they?". In the case of the undecided I offered 'free beer'. Even better they brought their own so it was obviously going to be a "good gaming night". The Space Marines deploy finding a small [Getchin] moving metal thing to beat up (see below):

Anyway, to go off hunting bug-eyed monsters and killing deviant followers of Chaos, as per the Emperors' instructions (or rather the semi-lucid incantations from his throne/life-support system). So therefore we find Space Hulk "Abomination" welcoming three rookie squads on a 'Hunt the Dreadnought' mission. The boys all tooled up with heavy weapons 'pile in' and start wading into the minor minions of Chaos (see below, a Blood Angels Space Marine Commander trying to look "hard and cool"):

As the going gets slightly tougher (as in the second round of combat) a "rookie marine" reports 'equipment failure' as in "Sarge my dice aren't working they keep rolling noughts!" (See below, a discussion on the merits of the d20 fantasy dice rolling a number but missing being more satisfying that "a pair" of zeroes):

The (Yellow) Emperor's Bodyguard (aka The Imperials Fists) poked a solitary Space Marine out as point, to which Chaos reacted violently (albeit ineffectively). The 'ambushers' were in turn ambushed by Imperial Fist reinforcements (see below, both photos):  

However never underestimate a Chaos Space Marine armed with a Plasma Cannon, the straight beam cutting down two Imperial Fist grunts. The merits of spreading your figures and avoiding clustering became apparent! The fighting was getting 'down and dirty' (see below):  

So far the three units of Space Marines had covered a lot of territory but the bulk of the Chaos counters seemed to be bunched in protecting "Sector 4" where the priority objective of the mission (aka a 'Chaos Dreadnought') had to be!

Next: Into the Devils Den 

Space Marines go Forth : Episode 2 Part 3 "Has anybody seen Space Marine Spot?"

"Run Rabbit Run, Chaos has a GUN, GUN, GUN". So, so true of the Killer Dreadnought Robot chasing Commander White, but a new 'event-driven' trouble for came out of the pack for him, a "Gene Stealer". Yippee, I was happy. I had not managed to draw one in the first game, but at last my newly painted Gene Stealer figure could take the floor (see below, from out of the shadows, "Gotcha"):

Sadly like all nicely painted figures, he (or rather it) did not last very long. Commander White was putting up with no distractions to his personal new mission objective of "getting out of Dodge". Despite its (potential) ferocious hand-to-hand dice the Space Marine Sergeant whopped its sorry little ass! One ex-Gene Stealer (see below):

Meanwhile ... something strange had also happened to one of the surviving Ultra Marine Troopers. Chaos had already picked off one more Ultra Marine Space Trooper with a lucky "shot in the back" (sneaky does as sneaky Chaos is, it is the Chaos way) leaving two remaining Blue Team survivors. Then by pure luck, drawing a further event card, the "Lure of Chaos" warped "Trooper Blue" into "Deviant Chaos Spawn Red" (see below):

"It" then then entered the airlock and discharged its rocket launcher killing itself and the surviving Space Marine Trooper. Sadly (for Chaos that is) this turned out to be directly in contravention of the Space Crusade rules as once in the airlock you are safe, drats, drats, double damn, drats. So "Blue Trooper 5" survives, it was all 'just a dream' (see below, this never happened, just a nightmare caused from too much contact with Chaos):

The two Blood Angels Troopers make it off- tablle undramatically though notably without girl-magnet "Lt Wolfie". Commander White makes a less dignified but equally effective exit. His extraction is textbook bar the fact he left his whole team behind, dead (see below):

So this episode concludes with an unexpected Chaos win (evil laughter). Mentioned in despatches at Space Marine HQ are the brave Blue Team, that is, for dying hard and well, killing lots of Chaos creatures. Red and White teams are denigrated and despised for their lack lustre performance.

Commander White faced his superiors with his "After Action Report". It was accurate and to the point. He was commended for talking out the Android but castigated for not leading from the front. His decision to return while enemy units remained, namely the Dreadnought Killer Robot was though unworthy of the Best Tradition of the Corp. Looking at the unforgiving battle scared faces around him "White" felt rather more than a bit "Yellow". He had nothing more to lose, he sprang to his feet "Sir. Permission requested to Solo Assault Level 78". There was a deathly, icy silence in the room, the other officers turned to the highly decorated Major of Marines who had said nothing up to this point. Without returning their looks, he in turn looked Commabder White in the eye, nodded and said "Granted." White Team will start with a completely new crew for the next mission.

Space Marines go Forth : Episode 2 Part 2 "Equal and opposite reactions?"

While sitting on my Chaos laurels I had completely forgotten about the distinct advantage the Space Marine players have over the Spawn of Chaos. Chaos is unintelligent  malevolence, whereas the Imperium bestows leadership (Command Cards) and hi-tech weaponry (Equipment Cards). Commander "Kool Blue" orders his Space Marines to 'double time' and gets in a perfect enfilade on my Chaos Space Marine Commander (which happens to be the Primary Mission objective). Amidst a half-formed Chaos expletive he dissolves under the impact of an accurate salvo of Space Marine heavy weaponry (see below):

Worse was still to follow. A beautifully aimed Plasma Beam incinerated a line of Orc Grunts, waiting it seemed in parade ground fashion. Four fell. The higher beings of Chaos groaned at the incompetence of their underling, which turned into a double groan is the Blood Angels (going room-to-room in house clearing fashion) took out the Chaos Space Marine wielding a distinctively "chaotic looking" heavy weapon (who happened to be the target of the secondary mission objective). 

Game Over: Mission Objectives complete a Space Marine whitewash. 

Or was it? There was a dirty looking android staring at "Commander Kool", he decided to 'Honour the Corp' and take it out! Be it a simple case of weapons malfunction or higher level order Chaos trap we will never truly know, but Commander Kool fell bravely in battle a hero on the eyes of the Ultra Marines (see below, Koolsn uncool 0 hits, the Android 5 in close combat!):

Blue Team were stunned, "bullet proof" Kool was down, thankfully their training immediately kicked in. "Lock and load, target acquired, confirmed hostile Mech 25 meters, launch" ... kaboom ... "Hostile down." Chaos was again reeling as bits of Android 675-744BSC-1X bounced off the walls. Now pinned into a mere quarter of the Space Hulk level 78 with over nearly three quarters of its forces already "down" to the Space Marines. Although the Ultra Marines were down to just "three troopers" (see below):

While the Ultra Marines were showing their tactical prowess and the Blood Angels were going "room to room", what on earth (or Terra) were the Imperial Fists doing? They seemed to be chasing shadows or in particular one Chaos Space Marine sniper who was annoying their Sergeant. Eventually the 'Tom and Jerry' game of tag came to an end as one ex-Chaos Space Marine contemplated "eternity plus one". The White Commander had however opened up a rather large gap between himself and his troopers (see below):

Meanwhile the Blood Angels "Red Commander, "Red Star Wolfie" was caught between the horns of a internal dilemma. Although both the primary and secondary mission objectives had been achieved, unlike the White Commander he felt like he had not done enough. His reputation back at the Corp HQ depended upon a good kill count, but Chaos seemed to prefer to run away from the Blood Angels rather than stand and fight. Sensing there was not much left to mop up "Red Star Wolfie" got the shock of his life when behind cargo door 78-A33 a dirty great big Dreadnought Killer Robot waited. The first round of combat was inconclusive and "Wolfie" withdrew with a minor wound. Gasping for breath, Wolfie" weighed up the odds, at best 'evens', more than likely 'against'. Always a gambler as well as a ladies man to heart "Wolfie" went for it, screaming 'Angels Lead the Way!' his power sword ionising the air as per the recruitment ads. The space-time continuum seemed to be adversely affected by some form of  warp spasm. "Wolfie's" arm was fractionally slower than the robots and his power sword skittered harmlessly across the floor. The Dreadnought had pre-calculated the Blood Angel's exact move and punctured his power armour at a known weak spot. Another unsung "Hero of Imperium" droped lifeless to the floor (see below, urk):      

Stunned by this sudden turnaround the Space Marines were lost for words and actions. Two leaders down in the same turn, unheard of. A beaten foe was suddenly on its feet thrashing the hell out of the Space Marine assault. What once seemed to be a 'walk in the park' was now a 'nightmare of cataclysmic proportions'. The Dreadnought slipped effortlessly into a long corridor and lined up a plasma cannon attack catching three Space Marine grunts (sorry troopers [the last two surviving Imperial Fists and a hapless Blood Angel]) lined up in a line like rookies and down they went. The White Commander caught a nice dose of auto-cannon to wound him and spoil his nice paint job (see below):

Standard Space Marine training stipulates a specific tactical response (see below) to "gloating minions of Chaos" (aka 'me') who cannot believe their own undeserved, blind, pure, unplanned  luck when the dice fall so unkindly but honour the fiends of "The Warp". The Space Marine Commanders were well drilled in this respect, I believe it meant "give us a chance and we will cut all your tentacles off you despicable green thing" (see below):  

With The Imperial Fists running at 80% casualties, The Blood Angels 60% and the Ultra Marines 40%, most of the Space Marine equipment and order cards used, an unstoppable Dreadnought Killer Robot on the rampage and the last mech, Android 566-988HND-S1 (a zip-zip, kill-o-zap special) finally released on kill mode, enough was enough. The Space Marines turned and ran for it, sorry I mean beat a tactical retreat to "live to fight another day".

Will they make it away? 

Space Marines go Forth : Episode 2 Part 1 "What Could Possibly Go Wrong with the Plan?"

"Plan? Plan? We have a Plan? When did we make a Plan?"

So it came to pass that the Red, Blue and Yellow teams launched themselves at Level 78 of the Space Hulk "Damnation". With an air of confidence they geared up with as many heavy weapons as they could get their clammy little Space Marine hands on, to "take-it" to Chaos. They were revved up and a little "hung-ho" IMHO. "Entry" seemed a relatively straight forward operation with the Blue Ultra Marines chalking up some grunt kills. Then Chaos released a maniac android on The Imperial Fists taking out a Space Marine in hand to hand combat (see below, ah ha "Gotcha"):

The bunched up Space Marines failed to take out the mechanised monster, so its killing spree continued and another Imperial Fist trooper fell in battle. The Emperor's Bodyguard was, er thinning fast (see below):

As before in so many times of crisis, Sergeant Heinikan stepped up and Mano-on-Mano took Android 870-123PHD6-1A out. "All hail to the Sergeant, all hail to the Chapter, all hail to the Emperor" (see below): 

Chaos has many followers, so the Ultra marines discovered. Another android and another Space Marine casualty, strike two. The Chaos underling (me) was starting to feel quite pleased with "itself" as a mischievous imp can be that is (see below):

Another deadly android and another Space Marine hero steps forward, Sergeant Kool of the Blue Team takes out Andriod 871-563MSC2-7C, fizz, drat, dang! I don't have many of these powerful minions left (see below):

It goes quiet for the next few turns. The Space Marines report that the Chaos enemy seems to have withdrawn back into the depths of the Space Hulk, as if it can no longer face the fury of the Space Marine assault. As the Blood Angels advance a surprise attack is launched and an Orc takes out a Red trooper with a lucky hit, evil laughter (see below):

Four Space Marines down and we are only in the opening phases of the game, the casualty body count is already more for Chaos than the whole of the previous game. The Chaos Commander, although only of the lowliest status (me) is looking a trifle smug. "OK you lucky green fingered tentacle see how you like this!" I abruptly turn about as I feel the piercing, cold, hard, steely eyes of the Ultra Marines Commander burning into me. His troops are already in a perfect position for a flanking attack on a corridor packed with Chaos grunts and things.

... to be continued in a microwave or two ....

Sons of Chaos

At first there was 'one' and he got painted and I was quite happy at my first attempt at painting a Chaos Space Marine. All smiles. Then I looked in the box and saw two more and so I started painting them too. Before long the mark of Chaos was upon me , I thought them cool and want more [resist] (see below, WIP):

The three "Baddie" chaps are finished now but are feeling somewhat outgunned by the hoards of Space Marines waiting to invade their pretty little Space Hulk (see below, the final terrible trio):

After note: These Space Crusade figures have had a high distraction rating for me, so much for my little January AWI project and Matilda RTR. At least the Fairey Battle has its wings on ;)

Chaos Space Marine

Had a little play with an old GW figure from Space Crusade as a painting skill test starting with a Vallejo Burnt Umber wash then topped it with a Red wash. It certainly picks the detail out nicely (see below):

Then a Vallejo Gory Red and Anita's Acrylic Bronze to give a basic cover, that in turn gets a Vallejo Black wash to make it sinister. The figure is then reworked up with a simple highlight (see below):

The jet pack is given a bronze and Anita's Acrylic Gold treatment, highlighted with Anita's Acrylic Titanium Gold (see below):

The inner space suit casing was given the gold treatment too, for that crazy Chaos effect. The red was highlighted up to Vallejo Blood Red. I added my own "lurid green glowing power cell" look to the backpack by walking through Vallejo's shades of green (see below):

The end result: "Nasty Mean Man" looking for something soft, cute and furry to beat up or failing that a 'goodie' Space Marine ;)