Aeronautica Imperialis- Battle Report: It's a Trap!

This battle took place as part of the Cleansing of Grex Silex campaign in 2015.  It uses custom aircraft, factions and rules from the campaign that can be found in my Aeronautica Imperialis review here.

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Kel-Menoth the Bitter was no longer content to marshal his forces and let the mercenaries of Galahand Geld do all the work. Instead, he decided it was time to unleash his corsairs onto the lesser races of Grex Silex. However, he wanted his initial attack to be a decisive blow against the forces of his enemies. His primary concern was the dwindling Tau presence that had dared try to counter-attack in Silex Minoris. It was clear to him that they were attempting to pull out of the system, but they were caught between his forces and that of the Imperium and Orks.

Therefore, he sent his experienced corsair pilots out to launch a series of ambushes against the remaining Tau presence in the system. The asteroids and debris fields proved all to easy to set such traps to the less experienced Tau pilots. With this strike, he hoped to clear the path between himself and the Mon'keigh who dared raid into his realms. 

Since I won the last battle, my wife let me pick the scenario. I choose to try out one of the new ones I made called, “It's a Trap”. Essentially, one bomber type aircraft acts as bait to draw in enemy fighters out. Once they engage, the allies of the bomber swoop in from a long board edge on the attackers. The defenders are the ones being ambushed and have fewer points than the attackers. Let's see how it plays out. 

It's a Trap!

Ironbound Frjal & Kel-Menoth's Corsairs

1 Overlord Airship- 

2 Phoenix
with Star Cannons and Star Engines

The Graceful Hunters

3 Tau Barracudas

1 Barracuda Interceptor 
Ace – Going Ballistic
+Escape Pod

Set-up

Per the rules, the overlord Airship was set-up 36 inches from the short board edge facing the opposite short board edge at max speed and altitude 5. The Tau were set-up closing in on its rear. They were at max speed and various altitudes to prevent dives and climbs getting the Overlord to safety. However, they are relatively close together. 

The Eldar Phoenix are off the board, waiting in the sensor shadow of a nearby large asteroid. 

Turn 1
Initiative: Eldar

Reserves: No

Movement:
The Overlord begins a slow turn while the Tau come straight on at full speed. 

Shooting: 
No range.

Turn 2
Initiative: Eldar

Movement: 
The Overlord uses its Zeppelin ability to gain height as it continues its turn. Barracuda 2 was at the right altitude, so side slips and keeps pourin git on. The others are forced to try and gain height and are slowed. 

Shooting:
None.

Turn 3
Initiative: Tau

Reserves: None

Movement:
The Overlord Power Dives down to alt 4. The Tau stay together, but Barravuda 1 angles towards the target. 

Shooting: 
Barracuda 1 takes a long range shot with his Ion cannon. It goes wide across the Overlord's bow as a warning shot. The Tau begin to broadcast tot eh Varingyr airship to surrender. The Overlord replies with a broadside or Fusion Lances that snags Barracuda 1 and causes it to blow smoke. 

Turn 4
Initiative: Tau

Reserves: None

Movement: 
The Overlord is getting perilously close to the edge of the board! The Tau give chase. The Tau ace fails to do another maneuver to try and drop lower. 

Shooting: 
No shooting as the Airship has managed to drop too low and evaded pursuit, but may disengage if it is not careful! 

Turn 5
Initiative: Tau

Reserves: None

Movement: 
The Overlord skirts the edge of a huge asteroid as it stays in play. Barracuda 2 and 3 are forced to break off attack runs and pull up to avoid potentially disengaging themselves. However, Barracuda 1 and the Tau Ace close in.

Shooting: 
Smoking from his last pass at the Overlord, Barracuda 1 opens fire with everything it has. His shots fail to find their mark, perhaps still a bit glitchy from the damage he took earlier. 

The Overlord desperately calls for aid from his Eldar friends and then opens fire on Barracuda 1. A barrage of Mag-cannon shells reach out, and Barracuda 1 is swatted from the sky! The pilot fails to eject in time, and goes down with his plane. 

The Ace opens fire with her weapons, and the Ion cannon grazes the top of the airship, but causes no damage. 

Turn 6
Initiative: Eldar

Reserves: None

Movement: 
The Overlord turns back ontot he board. Meanwhile, the Tau Ace uses its Ace ability to rapidly climb to Alt 4, and then passes a pilot test to do a High G turn to track along high above the Overlord. The other Barracuda scramble to disengage and get better attack angles on the Varingyr ship. None of them want to follow Barracuda 1's lead. 

Shooting: 
The Overlord takes some long range Fusion Lance shots at Barracuda 3 as it tries to scoot away, but misses due to altitude differences. 

Turn 7
Initiative: Eldar

Reserves: None 

Movement: 
The Overlord uses its zeppelin ability to gain some height. Barracuda 2 and 3 try to fly around and get in front of the blimp. The Ace has done so, but tries to loose height as it gets ahead. 

Shooting: 
The Overlord uses the last of its Fusion Lance ammo and tags Barracuda 3 as it circles back to attack. This causes the Tau aircraft to blow smoke. 

Turn 8
Initiative: Eldar

Reserves: None- What is taking those blasted corsairs so long!

Movement: 
Angered at being hit, Barracuda 3 pulls a High-G turn and is going head-to-head with the Overlord. The Tau Ace does a Wing-over and is also going head-to-head. Meanwhile, Barracuda 2 angles in from the side. 

Shooting: 
The Overlord desperately opens fire on barracuda 3 who is going right down his throat! The forward mag-cannons open fire, but the Tau aircraft splits through the fire unharmed. A broadside of Mag-cannon fire also fails to stop the approaching Barracuda 2. 

Tau fighter 3 unloads on the airship. A smart missile and an Ion blasts buckle the front armor and cause the airship to leak fumes and spark. 3 hits left! The Tau Ace seems to land a Ion shot, but it is deflected off the armored belt of the blimp. A smart missile from Barracuda 2 also hits the side of the Overlord and causes it lose another hit. 

2 hits left, those pointy ears better show up now!

Turn 9
Initiative: Eldar

Reserves: The Eldar Phoenix finally arrive! 

Movement: 

The Overlord rumbles along and goes up altitude. However, barracuda 2 sticks with him. However, the Eldar Corsairs both zero in on him. The remianing Tau try to get behind the Eldar, but are slightly out of position. 

Shooting: 
Phoenix 1 opens fire on Barracuda 2 at close range with its Shuriken and Star-cannons. The poor Tau never saw it coming as his plane is disintegrated by Eldar fire! 

The tau ace reacts quickly and one of its Drone missiles manages to snag the trailing Phoenix 2 and damage the corsair! 

Turn 10
Initiative: Tau

Movement: 
The Overlord scoots away behind a screen of Phoenix fighters. Phoenix 1 and 2 end up going head-to-head with Barracuda 2, while the Ace manages to sneak out wide and angle back in one the Eldar. 

Shooting:
Barracuda 2 fires on Phoenix 1 at medium range, but misses. Phoenix 2 returns the favor and causes Barracuda 2 to blow smoke. 

The Tau Ace fires on Phoenix 2 with her weapons. It looks like a clean hit with her Ion cannon, but somehow the shot passes through the Eldar craft! 

Phoenix 1 fires on barracuda 2, but fails to find a weak spot. 

Turn 11
Initiative: Tau

Movement:
The Overlord keeps try to evade, but stays at the same altitude to act as bait. The Tau Ace misses the angle and goes behind. However, the Phoenix does the same. Barracuda 3 manages to stick with his target, but Phoenix 2 gets in a tailing position. 

Shooting: 
Barracuda 3 fires on the Overlord. A smart missile detonates near the zeppelin, and an Ion cannon bolt strikes home. However,t eh smart missile detonated early, and the Airship still has 1 hit left! 

Phoenix 2 manages to splash Barracuda 3 with a close range barrage of fire. The Tau pilot again fails to eject. 3 dead air caste so far! 

The Tau Ace uses the last of the Interceptors Drone missiles, and manages to snag the fleeing Airship. The missile locks on and finds its mark, blasting the Airship from the sky! 

Turn 12- Disengagement Turn
Initiative: Tau

Movement: 
With her primary mission complete, the Tau Ace goes Ballistic to get out of range, and heads for home. The Phoenix give chase but are unable to match her climb. 

Shooting:
None

Conclusion
Another close battle! The Tau get double VP for downing the bait ship, in this case the Overlord. Let's go to the Victory points. 

Varingyr/Eldar- 3 Barracuda= 54 points
Tau- Overlord Airship X2= 40 points

It looks like another close win for the Varingyr/Eldar!