First, players will need to muster armies based on the battle size they have selected. This mission is designed for Incursion, Strike Force and Onslaught battle sizes.

Starting from the second battle round, at the end of each player’s Command phase, the player whose turn it is scores 1 Victory point (VP) for each objective marker they control (to a maximum of 3VP per turn). Details of how to control objective markers can be found in the Objective Markers section.

Players now create the battlefield and set up terrain features using the guidelines in the Example Battlefields section. The minimum size of your battlefield depends on the battle size you have selected, as shown in the table below.

Players must then alternate setting up objective markers on the battlefield, starting with whichever player wins a roll-off, until a total of four have been placed. Objective markers cannot be placed within 6" of any battlefield edge, or within 9" of any other objective markers.

Players roll off and the winner is the Attacker – their opponent is the Defender.

In the order stated below, both players now secretly note down:

■ Which of their Leader units will start the battle attached (they must specify which Leader unit is attached to which Bodyguard unit). ■ Which of their units will start the battle embarked within TRANSPORT models (they must specify which units are embarked within which models). ■ Which of their units will start the battle in Reserves (including Strategic Reserves).

When both players have done so, they declare their selections to their opponent.

Players then alternate deploying their units, one at a time, starting with the Attacker. Models must be set up wholly within their controlling player’s deployment zone. Continue setting up units until both players have set up all the units from their armies, or you have run out of room to set up more units. If one player has finished setting up their army, their opponent continues to set up the remaining units from their army.

If both players have units with abilities that allow them to be set up after both armies have deployed, the players must roll off after all other units have been set up and alternate setting up those units, starting with the winner.

Players should roll off again, and the winner takes the first turn.

Players now resolve any pre-battle rules their armies have.

The first battle round begins. Players continue to resolve battle rounds until the battle ends.

The battle ends when all of the models in one player’s army have been destroyed, or once the fifth battle round has ended (whichever comes first).

If, at the end of the battle, one army has been destroyed, the player commanding the opposing army is the victor. Otherwise, the player with the most Victory points is the victor (in the case of a tie, the battle is a draw).