Mustering for Vigilus: James' Officio Assassinorum, End of Month 3

//Initiate Vox Transmission

+++ Date: 21.128.VCM

+++ Ref:VGS/0016749/AsKT

+++ Initiator: REDACTED

+++ Re: Mission Parameters - Vigilus/Update

+++ Kill Team Talonbreaker Status: Standby
_ Warzone Designation:Vigilus continues to deteriorate
_ Total Imperial losses [42%]
_ Likelihood of victory [51%]

_ Actions required to destabilize ASTARTES, HERETICUS warbands. Removal of supplementary command elements required

_ Priority targets designated

_ Details following:

<Abaddon, Ezekyle>
    - Heretic Astartes Grade Alpha-Alpha-Onus
    - Target Level: Omega
    - Combat designation: 
    - Avoid engagement - likelihood of mission completion [<2%]

<Kibre, Falkus>
    - Heretic Astartes Grade Alpha-Alpha-Quintus
    - Target Level: Alpha-Primus
    - Combat Designation:
    - Avoid engagement without Astartes support, distraction required to open targeting window

<Soulflayer, Vorash>
    - Heretic Astartes, Designation: Master of Possession
    - Target Level: Alpha-Primus
    - Combat Designation: Psykana Daemonica 
    - Culexus Agent required to destabilise Daemonkin bodyguard. Swift removal recommended, target likely to summon aid in prolonged engagement 

<Mechanitor, Vex>
    - Heretic Astartes, Designation: Lord Discordant
    - Target Level: Alpha-Secundus
    - Combat Designation: Anathema Mechanica
    - Removal from extreme range recommended, loss of numerous agents due to failed machine spirit in close proximity

_15 Supplementary Targets for initial removal uploaded to neural matrix. Remove to begin destabilisation of ASTARTES, HERETICUS warbands

+++

_ Active Agents Present in Warzone: Callidus, Culexus, Vindicare. Eversor in transit. Cryothaw to initiate once contact made with agents

_ Target Report Completed

_ Joint Operation Sanctioned

_ Kill Team Talonbreaker Status: 

_

_

_ ACTIVE

So March is at an end and that means I need to provide an update on what I managed to get through. Hopefully from the little blurb above you've gotten a hint at what I've been busy painting, which took the form of an Officio Assassinorum Kill Team. These deadly individuals are something I've always wanted to own since the plastic models came out several years ago in the Assassinorum Execution Force and I have to say they're a real treat to paint.

I'd already had plans to paint up the assassins eventually because I liked the models and lore behind them, the idea of the absolute best of humanity removing targets that no other force could get to really appealed to me. However with the release of March's copy of white dwarf and a fully updated Index and rules I couldn't resist immediately getting around to painting some up.

I elected to paint the Callidus, Culexus and Vindicare initially. The Eversor has always been my least favourite of the Temples (something I sorely regret having a read over of the new rules) so I decided to skip him initially. So how do they look?

I've kept the models very similar to the Eavy Metal paint jobs that show them in the classic black SynSkin with small spots of colour dotted around the model. I felt that as assassins aren't tied to any one Imperial force there's no reason for them to have any unifying colour or heraldry with the rest of my army. I have however tried to keep the basing style as similar as possible to make it seem as though they are still present on Vigilus, battling to keep the resurgent traitor forces at bay.

I've tried to paint a few points on the models with a glow effect to give the equipment that extra sinister feel. The idea of a target seeing the dull light of a phase sword in the dark and realising what's coming for them is such a cool idea so I tried my best to recreate it on the table.

I started off with the Callidus first as she seemed by far the easiest to work through. That of course didn't stop the SynSkin from being a real pain to paint. I'm happy with how the Phase sword and Neural Shredder came out and I knew the model was going to look great once I got the lovely trail of red hair finished off.

The Culexus was up next and I had a few small issues with him working out how to paint the Animus Speculum. It's a really odd piece of kit and I didn't want it standing out too much. After all he's supposed to be an assassin. Having a gigantic gold headdress doesn't scream stealthy. However once I got on and completed the model it doesn't look so bad, the black and silver really helps to break up the brighter gold.

Last up was the Vindicare, whom many consider to be the crown jewel of the new book. He's absolutely deadly on the table and is the absolute bane of any character. For him I wanted to make sure all of the stone work around him tied into the rest of the buildings on my Custodes bases.

Overall I'm pretty darn happy with how my Assassinorum agents have come out and I look forward to getting some games in with them.

So what's up for next month then? Well it's back to the glorious golden boys as I need to turn my painting up to 11 and get ready for a doubles tournament. I've managed to work out a Custodes list I'm happy with so now I just need to get the models done. With that in mind for this coming month I'm going to be painting my Shield Captain Valerian Ulyssus (the lovely FW Ixion Hale model), 3 Allarus Custodians and finally a Contemptor Achillus Dreadnought. This should give me a nice base for the rest of the list I'm planning and allow me to finish everything off next month for the final part of the Tale.

Until next time,

James