Tuesday 24 July 2018

Wurrshuv's Revenge - Week 12

Wurrshuv's Revenge - An ATT Campaign 

Week 12 



The titanic struggle between the Tau and Orks on M-88 has now reached its apocalyptic climax. The Ork tellyporta arrays are almost operational, and the Tau have thrown every available force they have at the Orks in a desperate bid to destroy them before they are activated. Many arrays have been lost, but more still remain intact, and even one holds the capacity to infest a region with Greenskins to the point where it will never be free. The Orks in turn have fought back with unbridled ferocity, defending their homes from Tau attacks and assaulting Tau forces with fanatical drive, sensing that their victory is now within grasp. Wurrshuv himself has taken to the field of battle aboard his personal battlefortress intent on hunting down his hated enemy. The fate of M-88 now hangs in the balance. 

In space the Tau fleet has found itself stretched thin once again. The Orks continue to press further into the system, using the Ork-infested outer reaches to resupply and repair their ships where the Tau cannot retaliate. Losses have been high on both sides, but the Orks have managed to close another of the Enclave reinforcement corridors to M-88, taking advantage of Tau efforts to reopen the lost Empire reinforcement corridor compromised in the previous week. The Tau can at least take solace in their fleet's successes with reopening the Empire reinforcement corridor and shielding M-88 from further Ork Rok impacts, but the numbers of Greenskin spacecraft pouring into the inner biosphere of the system seem endless. 

Situation Updates - All Sectors 

He'Sho Seas - ORK CONTROLLED 

The raids performed by the Tau landing forces in the He'Sho Seas have weakened the local Intacepta Rokkit network enough that the Tau, with their bolstered air power, have become confident enough to launch airstrikes into the region once again. The aircraft flying these missions have been the first Tau aircraft below Manta class to return to the He'Sho Seas in some time. The Tau still lack numbers in the air, and so these missions remain limited to operations in the poorer weather of the Lake Season when the Orks cannot bring to bear their overwhelming numerical superiority. Nonetheless, the Tau air raids have been a welcome boon to a Tau force in dire need of support, and the Air Caste assistance has allowed the Tau to fully reclaim the foothold they managed to carve around FFG355Y. 

This success is likely to be short lived. Endless Ork reinforcements are pouring into the He'Sho Seas, including multiple Gargant mobs and Mega-Gargants. The Ork defensive bombing campaign, Linebakka, has been expanded to include the He'Sho Seas region and swarms of Ork fighta-bommers relentlessly pummel Tau positions around FFG355Y during periods of fair weather. Bounty Hunters and Pirates under the employ of Wurrshuv continue to lurk throughout the region. With their options quickly running out, the Tau commanders in the He'Sho Seas and at Enclave Command are now debating what to do with the remaining Tau air-landing troops: leave them to inflict as much damage as possible on the Orks, or withdraw them from the region so they can live to fight another day. 

Ork Points: 83 
Tau Points: 17 

Mo'Hav Plains - ORK CONTROLLED 

The forces of Operation MONSOON have broken through the Ork counteroffensive, striking out at the weaker mechanised warbands in the east and breaking them decisively in a number of engagements on the Mo'Hav Plains. The second echelon reserves of Operation MONSOON have also been committed, reinforcing the Southern quadrant of the Tau salient against the Ork armoured counterattacks from that direction. These actions have stabilised Tau positions and allowed Operation MONSOON to continue advancing further into the Mo'Hav Plains, storming all Ork settlements encountered to destroy the tellyporta arrays under construction. The forces of Operation MONSOON are growing increasingly experienced in fighting within the confines of Ork towns and fortresses, and their tempo of combat operations is increasing. 

Leaving Shas'el Kiv'ra'ka'nan to handle the Tau defence against Ork counterattacks, Shas'O'Tash'var Len'li has spearheaded the drive to clear out Ork settlements, and has personally led his cadre to victory in a number of stronghold assaults, with Len'li receiving a number of commendations for his efforts and courage in the face of extremely hard and brutal combat. The Tau assaults are frequently supported by Lake Scorpion elements raiding Ork supply lines and drawing Ork reinforcements away prior to attacks. 

Nonetheless, fighting through the Ork counterattacks has cost Operation MONSOON valuable time. Tau intelligence indicates that the remaining tellyporta arrays are within days of being activated, and the Orks have constructed dummy tellyporta arrays at a number of decoy sites to fool Tau reconnaissance. Ork airstrikes under Linebakka continue to bombard Operation MONSOON's rear echelons during fair weather periods, and the northern Ork counterattack of Gargant mobs has resumed its course towards the Tau salient, the Sa'cea cadres no longer able to divert it further. Orbital and aerial surveillance indicates that Mega-Gargants have now joined this extremely powerful force, further adding to its firepower. It is now a race against time for Operation MONSOON as the Tau seek out the Ork tellyporta arrays and prepare to weather the coming storm. 

Ork Points: 74 
Tau Points: 26 



"It'z dem, blast 'em!" 

- Nob Skarrgog, chief watchman during the Tau assault on Gork's Gate 


Wurrshuv's Krunch - ORK CONTROLLED 


Wurrshuv's finest warriors and personal warbands now surround the Guards Cadres of Operation IO. The Orks have adapted to the Tau deception measures and adopted new methods to counter them. Chief amongst these is the employment of the large contingent of Gretchin Revolutionary Komittee forces fighting as part of the larger Greenskin war effort. Lured to M-88 by Wurrshuv's promises of new armaments and the chance to seize advanced Tau technology for their cause, the rebel Grots have fought in all fronts of the Campaign and are now being used to picket against operation IO. Screens of GRK forces, especially the more heavily-armed Republikan Guardz formations, are deployed ahead of each of the roving clusters of sensa contacts, engaging the unidentified returns when encountered and sending word on which groups are decoys. Inevitably the Guards Cadres are able to swiftly overpower the Gretchin Revolutionary Komittee units, but the sacrifice of the GRK has slowed them down enough for more Ork forces to be massed around Operation IO. 

The result has been a massive increase in the amount of resistance Operation IO is facing. The Guards Cadres now find themselves forced into open battles more often than assaults on Ork defence sites, while the power of the Orks' first-rate warbands combined with their overwhelming numbers has left the Tau facing an increasingly uphill struggle. Wurrshuv's personal Stormboy Korps, the Scream'n Squighawkz and Da Green Devulz, have been recalled to the Krunch region and have proven an effective rapid-reaction force, swiftly deploying in support of the GRK formations to counterattack the Tau, and both armies have gained a formidable reputation amongst the Tau. Wurrshuv's own warbands have also engaged the Guards Cadres on numerous occasions, with the Tau only narrowly managing to escape the attacks of Wurrshuv himself. 

In light of climbing casualty rates and exponentially growing Ork resistance, Guards Cadre commander Shas'O'T'au Kais'ka'Eoro'Da'Anuk has determined that his forces have achieved all they can, and has initiated the final stage of Operation IO. The Guards Cadres and their supporting elements are now making their way back towards Tau territory, where they plan to break through the Ork artillery positions from the rear where they cannot be targeted by the Ork guns and run the pursuing Ork forces directly into Tau reinforcements in a large-scale Kau'yon action. Many of the Tau forces regret not being able to rescue the Tau prisoners still held within the strongholds around Wurrshuv's Krunch, but without further support there is little they can do. 

Ork Points: 100
Tau Points: 0


"I'z got ya now, hurr hurr hurr. Get ready Dannik, now I'z coming for ya!" 

- Attr. Wurrshuv


Saal'vesa Training Grounds - TAU CONTROLLED 

With their production sites around Wurrshuv's Krunch left largely unmolested, the Orks have managed to construct enough Gargants to begin sending them on offensive missions outside of counter-attacks. The first of these has been a renewed Ork offensive into the Saal'vesa Training Grounds. Spearheading the attack, the Gargant Mobs have devastated the unprepared Tau forces, scattering Tau cadres before them and enabling the following Ork forces to secure territory and spread into Tau rear echelons with little resistance. The local Tau forces have not been expecting to face such large numbers of the Ork titans, and are now struggling to form a counterattack to stall the Ork advance. 

While their conventional defence is in crisis, Tau forces in the Saal'vesa region have seen much more success on a smaller scale. Tau special operations forces deployed to counter Ork Spekta activities have engaged and destroyed numerous Spekta mobs operating in the Empire Sector, and have managed to recover a significant amount of stolen Tau technology. The Enclave Gue'vesa operatives of Covert Ops Team 24-C have proven instrumental to these efforts after being redeployed to the Saal'vesa training grounds, The Gue'vesa operatives managed to make a key breakthrough in combating the Spektas by discovering the default spectra configuration of their looted cloaking fields, and have managed to eliminate a number of Spekta mobs by picking their members off one by one. Their efforts have not gone unnoticed however, and rumours have started to spread that Da Predata, Wurrshuv's top assassin, is now hunting them...

Ork Points: 26
Tau Points: 74

Training Centre Or'vesa - TAU CONTROLLED

The Farsight Enclave forces active around Training Centre Or'vesa have ralied and are now counterattacking against the Orks. Inspired by the early successes of the He'Sho Seas offensive, Enclave Command has assumed command over the remaining auxiliary forces in the north and reformed the shattered auxiliary elements into a number of new 'composite contingents' with the manpower needed to form a stable battle line the mobile Enclave cadres can pivot around. Progress remains difficult for the Tau due to surprisingly well-coordinated Ork actions. Over the course of the campaign the disparate warbands of the Northern Raiders have grown close together, and each Ork force now fights alongside others in ways that cover their respective weaknesses with a level of synergy all but unheard of amongst the Greenskins. 

This development has not gone unnoticed by Wurrshuv, who has rightfully come to view the Northern Raiders as a serious threat to his power. Enormous numbers of Wurrshuv-loyalist 'reinforcements' have now been massed along the border between Wurrshuv's Krunch and Da Fang, while Tech-Nob enforcers have begun to crack down on dissident chieftans with increasing brutality, instituting 'Marteeul Law' in more and more settlements. It would appear that the simmering tensions between the Ork factions are beginning to reach boiling point...

Ork Points: 35
Tau Points: 65

Fio Starport - TAU CONTROLLED

The Spekta mobs operating around Fio Starport are becoming increasingly bold with their attacks, and have now begun mounting raids on Fio Starport itself. These raids are limited and low-level in nature, largely based around ambushing fresh Tau troops departing to other regions, destroying supply concentrations and assassinating Tau leadership figures. Perhaps most notable among these attacks are a number of Spekta mobs making use of looted Tau air-defence missiles to shoot down Tau transports and dropships as they prepare to land at the starport. Analysis indicates that the IFF systems on the missiles and targeting equipment is tampered with to enable their use against Tau targets, and that the captured missiles are fired from static positions using a variety of simple and often improvised tripod mounts. The launch sites are used only for the duration of a given attack, after which the Spektas abandon them. 

These raids have inflicted no serious damage on the starport, but have begun to disrupt Tau logistics. Their chief effect, however, has been psychological. The Spekta mobs performing the raids see them as an enormous source of pride, taking great honour in being the first Orks to start attacking the main Tau stronghold from the ground. The images of Tau dropships crashing down in flames after being hit by missile fire has become a potent reminder that nowhere on M-88 is safe from Wurrshuv's wrath, and that even in the heart of their greatest fortress the Tau remain vulnerable. A number of the shoot-downs have been recorded by the Orks, and footage has been shown in all major settlements and on the front-lines via audio-visual propadanga wagons. The footage has also been leaked onto Tau frequencies where it has again disturbed many in the wider Tau populace. 

The latest wave of Tau reinforcements to reach M-88 has included a full complement of combat-engineering units and minesweeping equipment, in order to counter the massive number of landmines, improvised explosive devices and roadside bombs employed by the Orks. In an attempt to expand Tau airpower all reconstruction efforts have been directed to establishing more Tau airbases. The Tau airfield network around Fio Starport has now been largely restored, enabling the Tau to secure the airspace over the region, and the Earth Caste is now beginning to build new airbases in the neighbouring Saal'vesa and Or'vesa regions to expand the range of Tau air operations and accommodate more air cadres. 

Ork Points: 0
Tau Points: 100



Ork Campaign Points: 4 
Tau Campaign Points: 4


+++INCOMMING TRANSMISSION+++ 
+++TRANSMISSION RECEIVED+++ 

TO: ATT Shas'ar'tol 
AUTHOR: Por'vre'Tau'n Doran'ro'Elro 
SUBJECT: Wurrshuv 

Tau'fann, 

With the recent combat operations near the Ores'la landing site, we have now managed to gain a glimpse of the Ores'la warlord leading this invasion, known as 'Dregmek Wurrshuv' or more commonly simply 'Wurrshuv'. In an attempt to help better combat this menace, I have compiled this report from data gained during our recent offensive into what has been named 'Wurrshuv's Krunch' and several other sources for verification. I feel a heavy burden in compiling this report, as I understand that many good souls and valiant heroes died to bring this insight. I pray that I might be able to honour their sacrifice. 

Previous intelligence reports have focused on Ores'la technology or tactics. In contrast, this report is to focus on one of the Ores'la themselves. It has been my assignment for the last two kai'rotaa to profile Wurrshuv so that the Tau Empire might better understand how to fight against him, and over this time I feel I have learnt much about what makes this creature tick. I am deeply disturbed by my findings to say the least. My other work in profiling this warlord have been submitted to a higher level of the overall Coalition Command, and may be accessed via appropriate channels, and instead this report will focus specifically on Wurrshuv's performance in battle, as this information is most immediately relevant to military contexts. 

The report will be divided into two sections, one covering the wargear and practices of Wurrshuv himself, the other covering what appears to be his preferred form of transportation in the field. I must admit that such military matters are largely outside of my area of expertise, and so I have drawn on the counsel of a number of respected analysts from among the Shas to lend assistance. Much of the following content has been shaped from their words, not mine, and so I give credit to them here. 

Wurrshuv 

There has in recent Kai'rotaa been some confusion in regards to how Wurrshuv himself appears on the battlefield. The Ores'la warlord was reported as being present during an Ores'la assault on the remnants of the ORBIT forces as they attempted to recover following a disastrous Ores'la ambush near the border of the Saal'vesa training grounds. Later analysis indicates that this Ores'la was indeed almost certainly Wurrshuv, yet the Ores'la in question was seen employing wargear that has not been attributed to Wurrshuv in any previous recorded instance I or my team could access. There are several possible explanations to this discrepancy. It is possible that Wurrshuv was travelling in disguise to avoid drawing unwanted attention from our troops or rival Ores'la chieftans. Alternatively Wurrshuv may have been taking the opportunity to field-test newly developed equipment. Perhaps both are accurate, or the truth lies somewhere in between. 

Regardless of what the case may be, it would appear from the latest reports and image-captures from Operation IO, our military offensive into the Ores'la-held Wurrshuv's Krunch region, that Wurrshuv has since returned to employing his preferred selection of wargear, which is consistent with several dozen accounts from a variety of sources across the Eastern Fringe, primarily of Tau and Gue'la origin. Much of this equipment is unique to Wurrshuv, or at least has not been encountered in use by other Ores'la thus far, and it is believed that Wurrshuv jealously guards the design details of each item to prevent their proliferation among his potential rivals. Such behaviour is typical of the Ores'la scientist/engineer caste known as 'Meks', to which Wurrshuv belongs, the members of which frequently keep their best creations for themselves, putting their own self-interests ahead of the common good of the whole. 

For personal protection Wurrshuv most commonly sports body armour of his own design, which is apparently referred to as 'Kustom 'Eavy Armour' by Wurrshuv and other Ores'la. The armour is segmented in design, being vaguely reminiscent of Fire Warrior combat armour, though it lacks the enlarged pauldron common to combat armour and is of a far cruder make. The most notable feature of this Kustom 'Eavy Armour is the material from which it is constructed. Wurrshuv himself appears to refer to the material as 'Miffrull', and considers it a 'mireekul elumant', but it will be far better known to Tau as Iridium armour plating, salvaged from advanced examples of our battlesuits. The use of Iridium plating in the armours construction gives it an enormous level of protection, allowing Wurrshuv to shrug off all but the heaviest weapon strikes with contemptuous ease, but unlike Ores'la 'Mega Armour' powered exoskeletons the Kustom 'Eavy Armour has no additional penalty in weight and allows its wearer a full range of movement. It is for these reasons that Wurrshuv appears to consider his Kustom 'Eavy Armour a superior design to Mega Armour, and will typically prioritise its use accordingly. It is likely however that he is aware of its close association to himself, and this is a possible reason why he has been observed without it on previous occasions during the conflict. 

The protection of Wurrshuv's Kustom 'Eavy Armour is further supplemented by a personal energy shield generator of Wurrshuv's own design, belonging to the class of Ores'la energy shields known as 'Kustom Force Fields'. The device is back-mounted, and shares a number of characteristics with other examples of these Kustom Force Fields, but a key difference is the incorporation of a number of scavenged shield generators of Tau manufacture. The most notable feature of this device is that it appears to be capable of two modes of operation. The standard setting functions in much the same way as other Kustom Force Field devices, projecting a hemispherical bubble-type energy shield over a wide area to provide moderate-level protection for nearby allies in addition to the bearer. The second mode, however, acts more like a conventional personal shield, projecting a more concentrated energy shield purely around the user themselves. Combined with the aforementioned Kustom 'Eavy Armour, this would make any attack on Wurrshuv himself an extremely difficult proposition. 

For offence, Wurrshuv's weapon of choice is a firearm of his own design, belonging to the broad class of Ores'la personal energy weapons known as 'Kustom Mega-blastas'. Wurrshuv's example shares much overall architecture in common with many other examples of Kustom Mega-blastas, but is exceptional in that it incorporates a large number of Tau weapon components in its construction. These components appear to primarily originate from battlesuit weapon systems, and when analysing image captures my team was able to identify components from plasma rifles, fusion blasters and flamers in the weapon's design. Wurrshuv's Kustom Mega-blasta appears to have similar performance characteristics to other examples of the weapon type, featuring excellent stopping power and armour penetration characteristics at a cost in rate of fire. The use of Tau components appears to afford the weapon greater reliability, but battlefield scans indicate that much like other examples the weapon remains dangerously unstable. 

The most notable feature of Wurrshuv's Kustom Mega-blasta, besides its construction, is that it incorporates a retractable close-combat attachment. As you will undoubtedly already be aware, in stark contrast to our civilisation the Ores'la relish hand to hand combat, so it would seem only natural that Wurrshuv would design a weapon with the capability to be used in close quarters as well as at range, and the ability to both shoot and fight in hand-to-hand combat is undoubtedly seen as a source of much convenience for Wurrshuv and his peers. The close-combat attachment itself is mounted towards the muzzle of the weapon, similar to a primitive bayonet, and takes the form of a large axe head with a motorised cutting blade. Examples of similar weapons have been encountered in frequent use by Mont'Gue'la raiders and more limited use with the Ores'la themselves, though it is unknown if either of these were the original source of inspiration for the feature. It appears that the motorised cutting blade includes cutting teeth formed from sharpened Iridium Armour shards, possibly leftovers from Wurrshuv's Kustom 'Eavy Armour, to enhance its cutting performance. It is theorised that the weapon may also include a disruptive energy field, but my team has thus far been unable to confirm this. 

In addition to these items of equipment, Wurrshuv appears to always carry the usual assortment of items common to Ores'la Meks, including an extensive array of tools for manipulating and repairing mechanical devices. Doubtless such tools could also be used to inflict considerable havoc on opposing machinery if allowed the chance. Wurrshuv has also been seen displaying an excellent grasp of hand-to-hand combat, as well as surprisingly advanced knowledge of mechanical and engineering concepts, and appears to have adopted a form of the Scientific Method. Naturally, all these factors make Wurrshuv an extremely deadly adversary on the battlefield. 

Wurrshuv's Battlefortress

In addition to his own wargear Whurrshuv has been observed in all recent encounters commanding a large vehicle that appears to be his own personal transportation, belonging to the superheavy Ores'la vehicle class known as 'Battlefortresses'. Like many examples of its kind, Wurrshuv's Battlefortress is of immense size, easily matching our Manta missile destroyers in mass. Indeed, analysis has indicated that Wurrshuv's Battlefortress incorporates a significant number of salvaged Manta components in its design. The most notable of these is a battery of four salvaged Manta engines at the rear of the vehicle, which it uses for propulsion. Close analysis of scans and image captures indicate that the vehicle also incorporates two salvaged Manta powerplant reactors for an energy supply. 

The vehicle itself is extremely large and rectangular in shape, with it's hull being somewhat reminiscent of the hull design used in Gue'la superheavy tank designs, albeit shorter and wider when viewed from above. Unlike many other Battlefortresses, Wurrshuv's example is unique in that it eschews the use of wheels or continuous treads and instead uses an anti-grav skimmer drive for movement. Despite using multiple scavenged Manta engines, the immense weight of the vehicle makes it incapable of true flight (in much the same manner as our own Scorpionfish weapons platforms), so it instead hovers a few tor'lek above the ground like one of the gunships used by the Fire Caste. The skimmer drive itself is located on the underside of the vehicle, and consists of  a large number of grav-repulsor assemblies salvaged from Tau vehicles built on the TX-6-7 universal combat platform such as Devilfish, Hammerheads and Skyrays. The method in which these components has been salvaged is, typical of the Ores'la, extremely unsophisticated - it appears that the Ores'la have simply ripped out the underside of the targeted vehicles (or possibly ripped off the upper structure) and used the whole bottom assembly as it is, minus the standard chin-turret common to the TX-6-7 universal combat platform. Each of these vehicle undersides serves as a grav-repulsor plate, which crackles with a vivid corona of energy when active, and each is mounted on its own independent hydraulic articulator assembly. This in turn means that each grav-repulsor array is capable of independent 3-D vectoring, giving the vehicle a surprising amount of manoeuvrability, while the enormous number of such assemblies provides a high level of system redundancy - it is estimated by my team that Wurrshuv's Battlefortress could have up to 75% of its grav-repulsors disabled or rendered non-functional and suffer no significant loss in mobility. 

The primary armament of Wurrshuv's Battlefortress is a battery of three large mass-drivers mounted in a massive turret located on a slightly raised superstructure in the centre of the vehicle's top deck. The vehicle's engine intakes are located on the underside at the rear, giving the weapons turret a full 360 degree field of fire. The mass-drivers themselves are clearly constructed from components used in our own railguns and heavy railguns, but are of considerably larger size than either. They are of a 'tuning fork' design, with no connective structure between the electromagnetic rail assemblies past the base of the weapon, and crackling streams of energy run between the rail assemblies when powered up. This in turn suggests a rather unstable energy modulation scheme. Regardless, the mass drivers are employed as an electromagnetic launch system for different payloads, which are stored in a large bustle structure to the rear of the turret. 

The main payload typically launched by these mass-drivers is the Ores'la single-seat rotary wing attack craft known as 'Deffkoptas'. The Ores'la piloting these machines appear to find travelling at extremely high speeds utterly exhilarating, so Wurrshuv is never short on volunteers for this dangerous method of attack. The Ores'la wishing to be launched have their machines retrofitted with a pair of ferromagnetic connector pieces to enable them to complete the firing circuit, after which they are then loaded into one of the mass-driver assemblies and fired directly towards the enemy target. 

The immense energy discharge of the mass-drivers combined with the Deffkopta's own organic propulsion means that Deffkoptas launched in this way reach truly fantastic velocities, even when carrying a heavier than normal weapons load, and so these Deffkoptas are typically also fitted with a pair of large high-powered bombs or external rockets which they use to attack the designated target they have been fired at. Some Deffkoptas even feature an integrated motorised chain or rotary blade assembly on their prow which they can use to slash at the enemy target in high-speed passes. Such a tactic is nigh-suicidal at such speeds, but the Ores'la appear unhinged enough to relish the prospect. It is a testament to their latent piloting skills that a surprising number of Deffkopta pilots even manage to survive more than one of these passes. 

The Deffkoptas employed in this way continue to attack the target after their initial pass, swarming and strafing it in a manner reminiscent of a naval carrier's attack craft squadrons. The rear turret bustle of Wurrshuv's battlefortress contains a small open-topped hangar deck in which Deffkoptas may be prepared for launch, and the machines may land there vertically. 

Should a more direct attack be desired, the mass-drivers are also capable of firing the Ores'la rocket-propelled suicide vehicles known as 'Grot-bombs'. A supply of these crude manned missiles is also stored in the battlefortress's turret bustle. These too are modified with ferromagnetic connectors to enable them to be fired from the mass-drivers, but otherwise differ little from the typical models of Grot-bomb. The immense velocity they are fired at combined with their own explosive warhead gives them tremendous hitting power, with a volley of Grot-bombs fired from the battlefortress's mass-drivers being easily able to cripple another superheavy target. It is theorised that these Grot-bombs may feature an additional armour-piercing cap in their nose to aid in attacking hardened targets, but my team cannot confirm this. 

In addition to its turret-mounted armament, Wurrshuv's battlefortress features a number of secondary weapon systems mounted in or on its prow. the first of these is an array of energy weapons integrated into the prow itself. These weapon systems are all of Wurrshuv's own design, and include one enlarged version of the 'pulla-aparta' and one enlarged 'traktor-grappla'. I understand the nature of these weapon systems has been covered in a previous report, so I will not repeat it here, suffice to say that they have a long range and pose a considerable hazard to larger targets. The traktor-grappla is sandwiched between the two pulla-aparta assemblies, an innovative feature that saves on space. 

Perhaps of more note is the other weapon system mounted on the battlefortress's front. In keeping with the Ores'la obsession with hand-to-hand combat, Wurrshuv's Battlefortress sports an array of large powerful mechanical close combat weapons on its front. These weapons are mounted on large articulated mechanical arms attached to the underside of the vehicle's prow, and include large rotary blades, chainblade assemblies, enormous mechanical claws and pincers, industrial shears and other cutting tools. Each is controlled by an Ores'la operator, and enables the battlefortress to engage other targets in close combat. The array is particularly effective against large targets, especially enemy superheavy units, and is capable of dismantling even superheavy vehicles in very short order (the process of which is gruesome to say the least). Many of these weapons are too large and slow to effectively engage Tau-sized targets, but their numbers make contact likely, and it should not need mentioning that even one such weapon is more than capable of killing a Tau with a single blow. The effectiveness of these close-combat weapons is further enhanced by the vehicle's integrated traktor-grappla, which enables it to drag suitable targets within striking range of the close combat array. The Gue'vesa attaches of my team have nicknamed the vehicle's traktor-grappla 'The Scorpion' for this reason, though the exact reasoning behind the reference eludes me. 

Finally, Wurrshuv's battlefortress sports a large and wide variety of tertiary armaments located across its hull, top and undersides placed in overlapping fire arcs close defence against multiple threat types. The most notable of these is a number of multiple-barreled anti-aircraft artillery systems known to the Ores'la as 'Flakka-dakka guns' located at strategic positions which are effective against infantry and light vehicles as well as low-flying aircraft. The battlefortress also mounts an enormous number of other Ores'la heavy weapons typically encountered including 'big shoota' automatic guns, 'rokkit launcha' anti-tank weapons and 'skorcha' flamethrowers, as well as the primitive Ores'la grenade launchers known as 'stikkbomb chukkas'. Most of these heavy weapons are placed on pintle mounts on the vehicle's top decking, and are served by Ores'la gunners. Only the Flakka-dakka guns are mounted on full motorised turrets. 

Wurrshuv's battlefortress is extremely well protected. In addition to the immense bulk and considerable multiple system redundancies common to Ores'la vehicles of its size, the battlefortress sports armour plating of immense thickness as well as internal armoured 'bathtubs' around key internal subsystems and reinforced internal structures, making it extremely durable. It is believed that a large amount of this armour is composed of scavenged Fio'tak composites in addition to Gue'la materials such as adamantium and ceramite. We have also noticed a number of armour appliques composed of Iridium plating featured on the hull and turret of the battlefortress, further enhancing its protection level. In addition to conventional armour protection, Wurrshuv's battlefortress features a number of the Ores'la superheavy deflector shields known as 'power fields', the same technology used on the Ores'la 'Gargant' superheavy walkers. It is believed that these power fields have been constructed from scavenged Manta shield generators, but unlike our own energy shields these power fields are 2-D shields that protect the vehicle only from attacks originating at medium and long ranges - units can attack at short range within the shield perimeter to strike at the vehicle directly. The power fields also appear to have a maximum limit to the amount of energy they can absorb from incoming attacks, after which they will collapse and it appears the Ores'la are unable to raise collapsed power fields during combat conditions. It should be noted however that should Wurrshuv be aboard his battlefortress then his own Kustom Force-field will cover the battlefortress itself, providing the vehicle with energy shield protection at every possible engagement range. 

In addition to its weaponry, mobility and protection, Wurrshuv's battlefortress sports a number of other notable features. The battlefortress is able to transport a considerable number of Ores'la troops, and is a rare example of an Ores'la vehicle able to transport its passengers entirely under armour. A number of cunningly-designed access hatches located across the vehicle's front and sides allow the Ores'la passengers to disembark with ease, and they can also fight from the vehicle's top decking to fight off close-assaults or assist against short-range targets. It is for this reason that my team has chosen to classify this vehicle as a battlefortress rather than the 'gunfortress' class of Ores'la superheavy vehicle. 

The battlefortress also mounts its own sensa array, integrated into the main weapons turret, which has an extremely long range (well past the horizon) and covers virtually every spectrum frequency. It also appears to be able to detect units using cloaking fields. The sensa array appears to perform both battlefield surveillance and fire-control functions, and enables the battlefortress to engage targets beyond visual range with its main weapon systems in addition to enhancing the crew's situational awareness. 

Finally, the battlefortress contains full living quarters for its crew and passengers, as well as enough supply stores for extended operations over at least a Kai'rotaa. Needless to say, Wurrshuv's battlefortress is an impressive feat of engineering and a formidable battlefield weapon. It is fortunate then that it appears to be entirely unique to Wurrshuv. We have been unable to find any record of any other examples of such a vehicle existing at any point in time, and it would seem that Wurrshuv jealously guards its design secrets from others. 


This concludes my report. Given the information gleaned I feel that Wurrshuv is an extremely dangerous force on the battlefield, and any military forces should use extreme caution when facing his forces. 

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