Mutants Stage Unsuccessful Raid on Sentinel Factory

[Citizen Kabuto]

Today at the Mystikal Keep in Hagerstown, MD, a large group of mutants staged a daring raid on a Sentinel Factory hidden deep in the swamp. The 4 bands of mutants and their allies staged a wide frontal assault on the factory, encountering stiff resistance from the Sentinel forces and some visiting guests...

The battle was on 4 maps with 4 teams of 600 points per side, Golden Age. Up to 12 points overbuild allowed per team as long as they shared a keyword, 6 points otherwise. However, no feats are allowed if you overbuild. The mutant forces consisted of:

Squad A - Not sure of the theme...
Vulcan
MuMo Colossus
GSX Sabretooth
GSX Pyro

Squad B - 'X-Force'
WoS Wolverine
WoS Warpath
WoS X-23
GSX Domino
GSX LE Archangel
GSX LE Psylocke
Caliban
Dazzler - the decision to use Dazzler instead of the ATA would cost X-Force dearly...

Squad C - 'The Brotherhood'
GSX Magneto
GSX Juggernaut
Unus the Untouchable
Black Tom Cassidy
AV Scarlet Witch
Vet Destiny

Squad D - 'Excalibur'
WoS Nightcrawler
WoS Wolfsbane
Cap Kitty Pryde
Lockheed
GSX UC Psylocke
Vet Sage
Ult U Phoenix
R Meggan

The Sentinel Forces, as they initially opposed the mutants:

Squad A
Vet Sentinel Mark V (400 point dial)
TRU Mark II (100 point dial) x2

Squad B
William Stryker
Predator X x3
Purifier x2
TRU Mark II (100 point dial) - this was intended to be 4 extra Purifiers, but someone forgot to bring extra.

Squad C
Nimrod
TRU Mark II (100 point dial)
Omega Prime Sentinel x4

Squad D
TRU Mark V (150 point dial) x2
TRU Mark II (100 point dial) x3

[Citizen Kabuto]

The battle started poorly for the mutants... On the flank, Vulcan and Colossus were slowed early by the Mark V's frig-beams, while the Mark IIs took Pyro apart. On the other flank a TK-bombed double-Perplexed Phoenix took out a Sentinel, but not before Kitty Pryde fell in the fighting. In the center, X-Force found themselves stuck in the swampy terrain without their ATA while the pack of Predator X's closed in, and the Brotherhood was swarmed by Omega Prime Sentinels, allowing Juggernaut to be isolated for a devastating single target Pulse Wave from Nimrod. Destiny fell to an early hit from a Mark II.

A missed opportunity by the Sentinels allowed Vulcan to strike back on the flank, using the missed ranged attacks and his special ability to launch a massive hit on the Mark V. Colossus was crippled by ranged fire but stayed on his feet, while Sabretooth closed with a Mark II and took it out over several rounds (with an assist from Vulcan). On the other flank Excalibur suffered heavy losses, but took out another Mark II, and then a Mark V fell between Wolfsbane's claws and Nightcrawler's fists.

The center however, was a disaster. X-Force was outpositioned by Stryker's Purifiers, and was badly mauled up close by the trio of Predator X while the Purifiers and Sentinel hung back and peppered them with ranged fire. Juggernaut missed his Charge opportunity on Nimrod and ate another Pulse Wave, while the Mark II and Omega Primes tied up Magento, Unus, Black Tom, and Scarlet Witch. The Witch fell shortly after Juggernaut, and an enraged Magneto finally broke away, blasting the Mark II and then pushing to finish it off with a nearby Generator. The second TK- attempt saw the Generator launched at Nimrod... and a miss.

After Magneto's miss, Nimrod and the Omega Primes easily defeated him and Black Tom, before turning their attentions to Unus, who proved to be very touchable after all. Three Omega Primes remained, and Nimrod was unhurt. All of X-Force lay unconscious, with only a single Predator X defeated to show for it. On the far flank only Wolfsbane and Nightcrawler remained standing, though another Mark II had been defeated and between them only Nightcrawler had suffered a slight scratch. Meanwhile, on the other flank Sabretooth had fallen, though Colossus soldiered on and Vulcan was proving troublesome, having finished the other Mark II and knocking the big Mark V deep into its dial. The second starting line came and went, and then SMASH! Vulcan left himself within Charge range, just as the Mark V landed on Charge, Super Strength, and Exploit Weakness. Needing a 10, the Sentinel went for the hail mary, rolling an 11 and effectively ending the mutant hope. The Mark V used its frigi-beams to keep Vulcan and Colossus frozen in place until the remaining Predator Xs could run over and finish them off.

Meanwhile, Wolfsbane and Nightcrawler fought on, and a second Mark V had fallen. Only a single Mark II remained, vainly attempting to squash the wolf-girl in the bushes, when Nimrod and the Omega Primes arrived. The Omega Primes began to pursue Nightcrawler, while Nimrod ordered the Mark II out of his way.

The Mark II refused. "Threat detected," it intoned, vainly battering the bushes. Nimrod shrugged and started to Pulse Wave through it, until both the Mark II and Wolfsbane were atomized.

The Omega Primes finally cornered Nightcrawler against a wall with a token on him and had fun Force Blasting him into it several times after he cleared. With a defiant cry, the elf cut one robot in half with his Blades, but then the first Predator X reached him...

In the end, this massive 2400 point battle took a little over 4 hours to play... I hope a good time was had by all - I know I enjoyed exterminating those mutant scum! Gudda has hinted that this may turn into a campaign, with the next battle representing a rescue attempt by the mutants who remain uncaptured (so none of the captured mutant clix would be allowed), and then a final climactic battle based upon the results. I hope so; sounds like it could be fun! I'll post about it here if it happens.