Praetorians have no more love of an Ice World, than they do for a Deathworld - both are bloody dreadful. With all this bloody frozen ice and snow stuck all over ourselves, I nearly mistook the Sergeant-Major for a lumbering Green-Skin this morning! Anyhow, as we were proceeding to our next outpost, we had to cross an area of churned-up frozen sea, I believe, in order to reconnect with a trampled down snow trail that the locals here refer to as a 'road'. Damn barbaric not having tarmac travel ways spread across a world for easy transportation between places - travel ways lined with beautiful oak trees, providing shade for us to march beneath, that is; but I digress. As our convoy continued eastwards towards the North-South 'road', we were un-expectantly ambushed by some Skinnies on our right, southern flank. A few random pot shots hit us from their cowardly hiding places, hardly any casualties; however both of the Company's Hellhounds were horribly destroyed; so difficult to find volunteers to crew them, you know. Bloody good bonfires however. I immediately ordered all units to charge the ambushing forces, in order to break through their lines, and thereby eliminate the ambusher's inherent advantage. Captain Figgis and Lieutenant Fredericks (all the while struggling with his poor bionic legs in the cold), turn the main body to the right and began a long advance towards the enemy line. The main body returned fire with its support and heavy weapons, while the infantry slogged forward. Lieutenant Dawkins, with his Cavalry and Sentinels, immediately swung to his right, and charged forth, onwards to Glory! Hip-Hip! Avoiding a hidden, but well-placed minefield in front of an ice forest, on the way. When the Cavalry rounded the ice forest they encountered the Eldar Avatar. After a protracted and incredibly pitched struggle, the Cavalry surfaced Victorious over the Skinnies! Thanks mostly to the vicious close support of a Hellhound and a Demolisher; if I dare mention. They destroyed the Avatar and his bodyguard, and forced the adjoining unit of Warwalkers to retreat back over the ice hills. Our convoy's rear guard platoon manoeuvred with two detachments of Skinnies for superior position, under the command of Lieutenant Taylor, also was the ever dependable Commissar Katrina, who would survive the engagement despite the squad she was leading being shot out from underneath her twice. Both of the company's Griffon's hugged an ice hill for cover, and began to pour on the heat over there also. Whilst myself and my ever present Ogryn bodyguards, surveyed the situation closely. To our distant south-east, a patrol of Space Marines, Rhinos and Land Raiders advanced towards the retreating Skinnies. However one Rhino hit an Eldar booby-trap and was destroyed, along with some of its passengers. They reached some old ruined buildings, and prepared their imminent charge into the enemies line from there. Up ahead, Lt.Dawkins held his advance and regrouped, perhaps preparing his troops for another charge over the next hill, which hid the Skinnies pop up skimmers and retreating troops; or perhaps because he had lost control of his troops. This deserves investigation. On the right flank, fire from the Griffons and Commissar Katrina was heavily reinforced by the arrival of Captain Fitzpatrick and his 10 tank-strong armoured company; that had sped forward up the column to our assistance. The firepower from 7 Leman Russes, 2 Exterminators and a Vanquisher is truly staggering. Blessed are the Machine Gods! Commissar Katrina and Lt. Taylor held verses the remains of the Eldar force that had charged their position, and in return eliminated the entire Eldar force. Up the Guard, I say! The column's Artillery Battery, and Deathstrike, never pulled out of column formation, nor even had time to deploy, before our worthy foes fled the field of battle. Our Regimental museum shall have the finest collection of Spirit Stones after we finish digging them out of the snow. Good night, and Blessed is the Emperor. Lawrence - March 20, 2001