The Ion Age - New Shia Khan Vehicles

The Ion Age makes all of its releases for the month with the first two 15mm scale Shia Khan Empire armoured vehicles for you to use with IAB03 The Khanate Return in your games of Patrol Angis. Place your order and get your Pugnus Light Tank and or your Manus APC both alien and superbly different styled resin and white metal wheeled vehicles. Every order gets Reward Points on your account and you get IMP46 Female Retained Knight Errant (worth 1.00GBP) free included and remember we have 25% off the IAF057 Knight Errants of Prydia character pack this month. Read on for more or head for the website HERE now.

“The last town in the Glover Agri Zone was taken by four lances of the 23rd Regiment who came up against something not yet seen. Armoured vehicles designated Pugnus type light tanks. One of these alien creations was blown apart by rounds from a Bodkin Type 6 rifle, its 28mm explosive penetrator shells punching through the deep red armour of the tank. Another killed half a lance of Knights with its triple Jupiter 46mm plasma mounts before it was stopped. With a Pugnus destroyed, the only other aliens to be found were three short and stout power armoured Legionaries who appeared to be engineers of some kind. Despite best efforts none of the three were taken alive instead they chose to open fire with Maia 9.6mm Mpi. It took only a day for the agriculture zone to be back in the hands of Humanity. It was a fine beginning. Food and more would now flow from the zone to the army and civilians had been saved and a new chapter for the Sigil was begun. Glover would be a place from which to meet the aliens and drive on further. The 23rd Regiment of Prydia was joined by the 207th Muster Regiment and armoured platoons from the 96th Regiment. A combined arms force of nearly ten thousand troops which was going to set out from Glover to meet the Shia Khan Legion which was advancing north from the Chivers Zone."

The enemy force had been designated the Styx Legion in the established manner of fighting the oldest foe of mankind. With purpose in their hearts the Knights and their Muster of the Prydian Army boarded their transport vehicles and their repulsar platforms and struck forth into the next battle.” - From The Khanate Return.

There are many images from all angles along with comparison scale shots and parts pictures all on the web page for each vehicle and they are too many to show here. Please continue through to see them all.

IAF136 Pugnus Light Tank

The primary armoured vehicle of the Camarthen system in service of the Legions is a modular wheeled hull which is adapted to different uses. The most common of these the Pugnus is a light tank which has two side pods, each mounting twin Juno Lasers or Jupiter Plasma Cannons giving it the ability to support infantry and to take on enemy vehicles of light to medium types. It is deployed in threes alongside Legion Tesserans which lack mobility and heavier firepower. The Pugnus is about 50mm tall and 50mm wide when it is assembled. This pack contains the following 15mm scale resin and white metal parts which can be seen in the mono image on the page: A centre hull, a right hull, a left hull, two Wheels and two Triple Jupiter Plasma Weapon mounts. This kit is easy to assemble. 7.00GBP Go HERE.

IAF137 Manus Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC)

The primary armoured vehicle of the Camarthen system in service of the Legions is a modular wheeled hull which is adapted to different uses. Adapted for use as a personnel carrier the Manus variant can take two entire Tesserans of Legionaries to where they wish to go and support them while there. Carrying them within its central wheels in stabilised comfort. The Manus is about 50mm tall and 65mm wide when it is assembled. This pack contains the following 15mm scale resin and white metal parts which can be seen in the mono image on the page: A centre hull, a right hull, a left hull, two Wheels, a 'rear end' personnel carrier assembly of four pieces and two Twin Juno Laser Weapon mounts. This kit is easy to assemble. 10.00GBP Go HERE.

Later this month the scenario for Patrol Angis set in the second Camarthen campaign called 'Once more to Grapple' will be published for free on The Ion Age Blog. This scenario makes use of all three titles in the series and sees the Prydian Army take on the Khanate including Pugnus and Manus vehicles as well as this month's free miniature as a character called Briona Sullivan of the Barony of Messena. It is a large scenario and is being play tested now. You can see a picture (one of many which will be included) above. The scenario picks up where the story in The Khanate Return left off in the Glover Agri Zone where Baron Heraldus Falkner has been given the task of taking the zone back from the aliens. A veteran of two campaign including against the Gryre the Baron is aided by nobles and errants who have pledged themselves to the quest of Camarthen. 

For more on the free miniature for the month and for our offer this month and our Reward Points system please refer to this post on our blog HERE.

Enjoy these fantastic new alien vehicles and there are more to follow along with a big expansion of the Shia Khan Empire's troops as well. All in 2017.

Thanks for Reading,

GBS

The Ion Age - IAF134 Psycoborgs of the Shia Khan Empire released!

“The Shia Khan Empire is, despite its ancient age and mighty power, not a sophisticated enemy on most battlefields. It is surmised that this and their apparent lack of interest in the value of life is down simply to having such endless resources at their disposal. Able to throw the lives of their soldiers away without care they can just send more to the flesh grinder of war. So the presence of robots in the ranks of the Legions was a surprise to Prydian commanders. A most unwelcome surprise as it became clear that the purpose of the robots was to inspire terror in and then exterminate Humans. 

Dubbed Psycoborgs due to their appearance, some two to three times the height of a Human and man-like in construction. Their heads being like a skull and one arm mounting a support grade weapon they also could quite literally inspire terror. An unknown technology radiates from each robot and makes concentration and bravery exceptionally hard for regular troops and challenging even for Retained Knights. Psycoborgs operate either as single hunters in low intensity combat zones also aiding the conversion of Human Betrayers or as small groups typically of three robots within a platoon. Betrayers never act alongside these robots and Maligs rarely to do so. Legionaries and others seem unconcerned by their terror inspiring abilities. They are incapable of command and are given their programme by their commander in the field. These are the Psycoborg Robots and they are a fearsome foe!”

Taken from – IAB03 The Khanate Return Army Book

The Ion Age makes its last release for the month of May 2017 with the arrival of six variants of the long awaited robotic terror machine of the Shia Khan Empire; the Psycoborg! You can go straight to the new pack HERE or read on for more information about these robots as well as how they fit into the new Khanate Army Book as well as some lovely pictures including a line of of all Khanate figure types and our monthly deal and free figure for May...all Khanate!

IAF134 Psycoborgs

This pack contains the parts to make up six variants of the terror robots in the service of the Shia Khan Empire the loathed Psycoborgs. Each white metal kit is composed of a body, a head (which can be posed) plus a fist arm (which can be posed) and a gun arm (which can be posed). Assembled the 15mm scale robot stands approx 30mm tall putting it into the same region as a Khanate Warlord. As well as the pack option plus an option for three packs saving ten percent you can also choose to purchase a single random Psycoborg kit (contact us with your order number if you would like a specific weapon arm included). Supplied unpainted and unassembled and without bases (shown on 30mm round bases as per Patrol Angis rules). 

For further reference refer to the image of all six variants labelled A to F each weapon is featured in IAB03 The Khanate Return as follows: Juno 18kw Laser Cannon (A), Mars 20mm Chain Cannon (B), Hydra 14Mw Laser Swarm Cannon (C), Helios 80kw Atomic Destabliser (D), Triple Jupiter Plasma 46mm (E) and Maia 12.7mm Scatter Cannon (F). Go HERE. Pack Price 21.00GBP. 

Psycoborgs typically act alone or in threes in larger battles. Behind the lines and in urban areas they stalk the darkness seeking out weakness. Small strike teams are sent out to find and destroy the robots before they can do more damage.

We thought it would be nice to show you a scaling line up of all the 15mm troop types currently in the Khanate army. From left to right they are: Malig, Legionary, Pioneer, Nox, Warlord and Psycoborg.

We have a month long special offer...to go with your super heavy lads for the Shia Khan we have 25% off IAF039 Khanate Warlords both the pack and the single miniatures from it. The discount is online and all you need do is add to cart, reward points are as normal and can be used on this offer too. Offer ends 1st June. 

You can assemble a whole Legion's worth of infantry for the Shia Khan Empire using the 15mm range now from Legionaries to Pioneers as well as Nox and Maligs as well as portable weapons and Warlords; now Psycoborgs. While almost all Legionaries have their helmets on there are both male and female aliens in the Legion so this month we give you a useful miniature to add to any Tesseran or Ordos. IMP45 Female Khanate Legionary. Free in every order every time all month before being retired. This miniature is automatically put into every order at the rate of one per order regardless of order value. It can also be bought in any amount on the monthly IMP page of the website for this month only too before being withdrawn on the first of next month. Standing 17mm to the eye line our female Legionary is tall like all elvish Legionaries. Bare headed, helmet under her arm and sporting a Maia Mpi she is useful in any Khanate force. This miniature is worth 0.60GBP.

Thanks for Reading!

GBS

The Ion Age - Six Different 15mm Khanate Weapon Platforms, Gun Crew and Anti-Gravity lifter released!

The Ion Age makes all of its releases for the month of February today with a lot of new 15mm Shia Khan Empire codes all focused around portable weapon systems. Check out the Shia Khan Empire on our website HERE or read on for more information about these new codes. All of these releases and next months too are working towards the release of the next Patrol Angis book which is scheduled for April 2017. Giving you a full infantry force for the client races of the alien Khanate.

There is a lot to show you and these releases add portable weapon platforms of two types and six variants as well as legionary gunners and an anti-gravity motive unit for use with the platforms. Now you have firepower to take on the Espaten Portable Weapon Platforms and the Havelocks of the Muster and Retained. Here are the details of each new pack:

The first encounters with infantry support grade weapon platforms came with the initial break out from the Belkus Depression by those Shia Khan forces which had followed the digging machines. Though a watch was kept on the edges of the crater, which has once been the famed passages of the labyrinth, by planetary defence platoons they were rapidly overwhelmed by the aliens which poured out into the sunlight. The digging machines had no more than cleared their drive sections of the soft dirt and Legionaries as well as accursed Maligs followed them. Being some distance off due to the background radiation left over by the detonation of the fusion core the defence troopers had time to made transmissions back to Pelacan city to inform and then call for reinforcements. What was not expected from vids and audio from the gateway chamber was the immediate reach the enemy had. It was the first encounter with code name Selene and code name Hypnus portable weapon platforms.

Floating forwards at a steady pace with two alien operators running alongside each of them the Selene platforms opened fire first upon elements of the 3rd Pelacan Regiment at a range beyond their ability to strike back. A barrage of 20mm cannon shells and laser beams were followed by the shrieking rage of 12.7mm rounds by the thousand and it killed many of the troopers who were unable to find thick enough cover. It was however once the aliens drew closer and the troopers loosed off anvil rounds and bursts of grenades from their Moth type 12's that the other Khanate platforms entered the fray. The Hypnus have a single operator who seems to be bonded to the weapon platform by a chair behind a thick gun shield. The weapons carried by the Hypnus are dangerous in their own right giving off in many cases a degree of radiation or gene potential damage. Atomic Destabilisers and Triple Plasma mounts tore through Aketon armour and the hulls of a half dozen Steornede Battlesuits at close range with ease. This led to the loss of the craters edge and marked the start of the remorseless advance of the aliens. Portable weapon platforms have proven tough to deal with without armoured support and the Khanate makes great use of them especially in urban areas to hold taken junctions and structures.

Academy Auto-Trainer Series 66, New Glastonbury, 4337 IC

IAF131 Selene Portable Weapon Platform – Three Variants

The Selene is a portable weapon platform which acts as support for Khanate infantry. The pieces are the four legged stand and a chosen top mounted weapon. These parts make one complete platform. The options for the Selene are the Mars 20mm Chain Cannon (A), Maia 12.7mm Scatter Cannon (B) and the Juno 18kw Laser Cannon (C). These go with IAF133 Legion Gun Platform Crew. You can get an idea of the size of the finished portable weapon by noting that each of them is standing on a 30mm round base (their basing size for Patrol Angis) and again they are labelled with the letter corresponding to their variant weapon. Each pack contains ONE kit. You have the option of purchasing a pack or three packs with a saving. Price 2.00GBP per pack. Go HERE.

Kalidaral reclined in the last chair in which he would ever sit. When first he had lowered himself into the chair it had been comfortable; its padding molding itself to his contours. Later it had become uncomfortable and then painful to him and then even the pain had dimmed away to nothing. Now he felt nothing from his body and time was hard to grasp for him too. Had it been hours? Days? Weeks or perhaps months since he had been given the honour of the Hypnus acclamation and been fitted with the collar and the circlet. Since then he had been carried upon the honoured set and fitted to a frame carrying the mighty atomic destabiliser cannon. Then taken through the sparkling curtain of the gateway and brought to this strange new world. Now his vision was of red and of death; his nerve impulses not his own any more. Aliens came within his view and thoughtless he would bring death to them with a blast of screaming energy. So it had been, so it would be evermore. So far from Jalania and her loving embrace....

IAF132 Hypnus Portable Weapon Platform – Three Variants

The Hypnus is a slaved portable weapon platform which acts as support for Khanate infantry. The pieces are the four legged stand, legionary crew piece, gun shield and a chosen top mounted weapon. These parts make one complete platform. The options for the Hypnus are the Hydra 14Mw Laser Swarm Cannon (A), Helios 80kw Atomic Destabliser (B) and the Triple Jupiter Plasma 46mm Mount (C). You can get an idea of the size of the finished portable weapon by noting that each of them is standing on a 30mm round base (their basing size for Patrol Angis) and again they are labelled with the letter corresponding to their variant weapon. Each pack contains ONE kit. You have the option of purchasing a pack or three packs with a saving. Price 2.00GBP per pack. Go HERE.

IAF130 Khanate Anti-Gravity Propulsion Unit 

While it is perfectly fitting to have your Selene or Hypnos Portable Weapons static on the battlefield giving fire support or acting in a defensive and dug in formation you might want some pace to them and a way to get them around during the heat of battle. To that end we have a motive system suitable for them. For use by the Legionaries of the Khanate. This pack contains four identical 15mm scale white metal miniatures. These fit with the IAF131 Selene and IAF132 Hypnus platforms. Price 4.00GBP per pack. Go HERE.

IAF133 Legion Gun Platform Crew

This pack contains two 15mm scale white metal miniatures in different poses. Two Legionaries in glimmer suits with the first holding the remote control interface for a portable weapon and the second with interface range finder. Combine these portable weapon crew miniatures with IAF131 Selene Portable Weapon Platforms or use them for other purposes in your forces. Choose from a pack, three packs with saving or single poses. Price 1.00GBP per pack. Go HERE.

Information Burst

With all of our releases made for the month of February 2017 we want to remind you that you get IMP43 Female Muster Banner Bearer who fits right in with your Muster or Patrol or even Planetary Militia platoons in play free in every order. Until the end of February she is included at one per order (you can order more of her this month by going to the Year Collection page) and you get your Reward Points on your account too. 

We have two more things to show you later this month. An example page from the coming Khanate Return book the third in the Patrol Angis series and an article about an Afara Strider in the service of the League of Canlaster taken from our own gaming collection. The Afara is generic enough for many settings and it is designed for tabletop gaming being easy to assemble from few parts and durable to use in play too. I am also told it can be easily converted and altered with parts from our other codes such as IAF065 Vehicle Conversion Kit. Lastly we have a new month long special offer...it is a bloody good one....25% off all three variants of the IAF128 Afara Strider our resin light mecha which is 55mm tall. Click on the links.

Thanks for Reading

GBS

The Ion Age - Two 15mm Shia Khan Pioneer packs and platoon pack with free extra miniature released!

“Legion are bad enough. Let me beat on Maligs all year along instead of Legion. But those Pioneers they are way worse. They might not have those rigs the Nox have but those plates can still deflect a burst of Moth Rifle fire with no problems. I remember one time with the 658th a few months back. We were in this place, must have been a zero ball stadium or something, big and oval shaped with stripped out seats. They even had a burned out Happy Burger shack. Shame that, I used to enjoyed that gloop. Anyway there we were all set up nice and ready. No Anvils, Bodkins or Rons with us but command figured we had the Moth Type 12's with those 40mm grenades and our rifle rounds would be plenty. After all we had seen the six Tesserans coming down the bust up Rubbacrete strip towards us and we were just waiting. Fixed on the entry tunnel levelled barrels.

In they came. I saw the green suits, Medusa Legion, just for a moment before the comms signal to fire came. We opened up with everything and I watched the entry tunnel turn to powder and flame. Three seconds and we ceased. I expected green mist and nothing twitching but that ain't what happened, not at all. Turns out those alien scum bags had put in two Tesserans of Pioneers first and they had just sat down wrapped in those damn armour plates when we rained on them. Sure we dropped a couple of them but at that range and without AP it wasn't enough. As we reloaded they stood up and gave us a kiss back with a dozen Flora pattern grenaders. I lost some mates that day.

As I said Legion are bad enough but the Pioneers....screw that...that's a job for those shiny Retained lads!”

Majoris Killian Jones, Camarthen Prime, 4331IC

On our website at the end of last week and now with its actual release news we present all of our releases for February 2017. Two new 15mm Khanate packs and a new platoon pack with an extra free unique miniature. All building towards the next Patrol Angis book called The Khanate Return. Check out our blog article HERE to read all about the ideas and concepts going on with this title. Here are the details of the new releases and remember you get IMP42 Commander Gongji free in every order, worth 0.60GBP, automatically as well as your Reward Points on your account with us. Go HERE or read on for more.

IAF124 Legion 3rd Pioneers

This month the Shia Khan Empire expands again with a third code of 15mm Legion Pioneers in their distinctive Segmentum armour plates. This code contains eight new white metal poses composed of an Ordo (officer) in cloak armed with a Cupid 0.5Kw Pistol and Juno 2.0Kw Laser Rifle and seven different Discens (privates) armed with the Juno 2Kw Laser Rifle. Your core rifle squad. The suit worn by Pioneers lacks the reactive glimmer of Legionaries but has the same auto-aid ability and breather function plus the protection of the Segmentum armour plates. As always this code can be bought as a pack or as single miniatures or select the three packs and save 10% option on the page. Go HERE. Price 4.00GBP per pack.

IAF125 Legion 4th Pioneers

This month the command for the Khanate Pioneers is released. A code of eight 15mm Legion Pioneers in their distinctive Segmentum armour plates. White metal poses composed of senior officers, comms, banner bearer, medic and casualties too. Your command and personalities squad. The suit worn by Pioneers lacks the reactive glimmer of Legionaries but has the same auto-aid ability and breather function plus the protection of the Segmentum armour plates. As always this code can be bought as a pack or as single miniatures or select the three packs and save 10% option on the page. Go HERE. Price 4.00GBP per pack.

IAFP09 Pioneer Ordos Platoon Pack (with unique miniature) 

This platoon pack contains a full Ordos of miniatures as well as an additional free unique miniature found only in this code. An Ordos of thirty two Pioneer type Legionaries composed of four Tesserans of eight Segmentum armour clad Legionaries plus one Pioneer melee expert with powered sword. A full force for your wargaming table. This platoon pack is composed of the following packs: IAF012 Pioneers 1st Tesseran (Maia Mpis), IAF019 Pioneers 2nd Tesseran (Flora Grenade Guns), IAF124 Pioneer 3rd Tesseran (Juno Rifles) and IAF125 Pioneer 4th Tesseran (Command and Casualties). Lastly the melee expert Pioneer. The Legions of the Shia Khan Empire are the main fighting force of the Empire. Legionaries are their core who command themselves and oversee the hordes of Malig Space Goblins and instruct the hulking Warlords too. Organised into standard Tesserans (8 Troops) and Ordos (32 Troops) they are a flexible and effective fighting force. Legionaries are respected by the Retained, equals of the Muster and feared by the Planetary Militia. This code comprises thirty three different poses of 15mm scale white metal miniatures. You have the option of purchasing a pack or three packs with a 10% saving applied on screen. Supplied Unpainted and without Bases. Go HERE 16.00GBP

Noble Knight Games

Our North American Agent carries all of our products in all scales along with a lot of products from us and Alternative Armies too. This includes our entire 28mm and 15mm lines. So if you already use this great company or you want to since you are in the USA or Canada you can get your Ion Age products there. Browse from the main page link to all of our products on NKG. Go HERE.

Information Burst

The Xin have their month on our calendar and so we welcome the 42nd free monthly 15mm miniature and month of our little space opera setting. Commander Gongji is free in every order every time all month before being retired. This miniature is automatically put into every order at the rate of one per order regardless of order value. It can also be bought in any amount on the monthly IMP page of the website for this month only too before being withdrawn on the first of next month. We are into Year Four now and if you missed it you can see the Year Three Collection on the website. This month's miniature is a superb character by Sam Croes. Standing 17mm to the eye line it is a heroic officer for your Xin forces at the platoon or squad level. Armed with a powered sword. There is a growing page on the Ion Age website where the current and all former IMP series free miniatures are shown so that you can see what came before. Enjoy looking at what came before. This miniature is worth 0.60GBP. Go HERE.

Thanks for Reading,

GBS

The Ion Age - The Khanate Return for Patrol Angis Ideas and Concepts

"A matter gateway is active on Carmarthen IV. Losses are mounting, send everything; everyone. Send them now. The Khanate have returned." 

That above is the line which began the idea which has now become 'The Khanate Return'. Later this spring in 2017 the third book in the Patrol Angis series of 15mm tabletop gaming will be published by Alternative Armies in The Ion Age. This third book will fully bring back in the enemies of mankind first introduced all the way back at the dawn of the 1990's; the Shia Khan Empire. I had always been interested in massively expanding the Khanate both in terms of the miniatures for them but also their lore and their story. After all just who are they? Lets learn a little more....

Shortly after I launched the new Ion Age and its website we released IAF006 Legionary 1st Tesseran, sculpted by Sam Croes, which turned to 15mm scale the 28mm miniatures we already had. This began the process which was building towards the coming book. Over the last three years or so we have released more Legionaries, Warlords, Nox and Pioneers plus Malig space goblins making an excellent force for the Khanate but all working towards a much larger goal. We will be releasing a lot more codes before, alongside and after the new book to make the Shia Khan a full all arms force in The Ion Age. What we have right now in February 2017 you can see on the website HERE.

This article gives you a look at some excerpts from the manuscript of the book as well as its general contents plus some extra special early looks at both concept art and sculpts which are coming up. We are at the point of playtesting the new troop elements and vehicles in the book and we expect to finish this during February all being well. We hope to have the book ready in time for the April offensive which we do every year. So what are these concept pieces first, second and third shown.

The first concept sketch shows you our idea for the MkII Psychoborg. Updating on the original robotic terror machine with a metal human skull and massive shoulders we kept the look but changed the style to make it better suit the newer miniatures which are coming beyond the original ideas. The Psychoborg is one of the two reasons that the Prydian Precinct came up with Battlesuits...to put them on an equal footing. These robots are twice the height of a man. This and the 'humanscare' ability of these robots which drives soldiers away in terror makes them formidable foes. We intend an easy kit with several weapon options and posable head. The second concept sketch is an experimental one for bringing in female characters to the Khanate Empire. Drawn in non battle dress rather than the full glimmer suit worn by all legionaries it shows the Elvish nature of Legionaries. Above her is a sketch concept of a maser weapon which we are considering putting into the statistics tables. The third sketch is now outmoded in that we have moved beyond this in our designs for the Khanate vehicles which will go up against our Adders, Mullo's and of course Taranis tanks. The 'bulbous shoe' design was replaced with a conjoined tri-wheel arrangement which better suits the narrative of the setting in that every soldier and every vehicle these aliens possess must be brought through a comparatively narrow Matter Gateway from far across the galaxy. The Matter Gateway is the central focus of this new invasion.

While we have just completed having a full 'Ordos' (platoon pack) for each Khanate troop type with a Pioneer Ordos we have now turned most of our 15mm scale concept sketches into miniatures which will be released across this spring into summer. No confirmed release dates at this time but as a treat here are a couple of photos of sculpts with a little information on each. 

Were you a fan of the excellent computer game 'Joust' way back when? I was. Our goblin Maligs love the crazy dangerous aspects of space opera warfare and as a result they have insane vehicles such as the Infernus Ball Tank with twin flame throwers and the Orba ball bike which is very difficult to control. We are ramping this up by another notch with the 15mm scale Skrak Terror Birds above. These vicious giant birds each take a single goblin rider into the fray...unless they decide to eat the rider that is. We will have a pack of these cavalry with bird only option plus a handler and nest pack too.

The second image shows you parts from one of the two portable weapon platform code sets which are coming for the Khanate. Operated by Legionary gunners the 'Selen' platforms are much like the Espaten ones for the Retained Knights in that they have options for different weapon mounts. These weapons include the Maia Cannon and the Juno Laser Cannon among others. There is also a second platform with a 'slaved' operator called the 'Hypnus' with several other weapon options.

Look for these codes and others for the Khanate from March onwards at The Ion Age.

But what about the book...the loved 'fluff' that consumes a thousand hours of my life each time it is published. What will be in the Khanate Return title? Read on in part two of this article below with excerpts of the fiction and a look at the working cover of the book. We then end with a little surprise.

A thousand years ago the Ban of Prejudice was lifted when in the climactic battle for Aldan IV the accursed Templars detonated the Aldan Crucible and in doing so created a both a dark age and the end of the Great Khanate War. Their matter gateway in the Aldan system destroyed the Shia Khan Empire had no easy way to reach the worlds that became the Prydian Precinct as their empire lay so far away that no Dragon Ship could navigate to that region of space without immense difficulty. Gradually the Shia Khan became a memory and then a legend held by folk as a tale and nothing more. 

Had it not been for the occasional wreak and discovery of artefacts they would have remained that way. Had it not been for Hugo Sevaris the Khanate would have faded away. But Sevaris became the most notorious traitor in human history when he used arcane knowledge to activate the matter gateway in the Camarthen star system.

Despite a desperate action in the deep Belkus Labyrinth the Camarthen Planetary Militia with the aid of the few hundred Retained Knights of Prydia on the planet could not stem a tide of Shia Khan troops which emerged from the purple light of the matter gateway. A civilian fusion reactor taken from a nearby city was detonated and the Belkus Labyrinth destroyed burying the gateway and those coming from it under hundreds of feet of stone and earth. A message was sent to New Glastonbury at the fastest possible speed.

"A matter gateway is active on Camarthen IV. Losses are mounting, send everything; everyone. Send them now. The Khanate have returned." 

It did not take long for the Legions of the Shia Khan Empire to dig their way to the surface and begin once more their determined drive to conquer mankind.

Knight General Obermann. Fleet Command. 4329IC

Amy Barker was terrified. She faced death and knew that her life was at an end. The last hour had been a fleeting panicked flight from an ever escalating battle which it was clear the Camarthan planetary militia were losing and losing badly. It was hard to believe that she had only been on this planet for two weeks and now she was alone, kneeling next to a reprogrammed fusion reactor that had only just arrived from Pelacan city. It had been by sheer chance that she had taken this research posting and also chance that she had ended up in this small sealed chamber while all those she had met since her arrival were either dying or already dead.

With a shrill note her com-tel wrist communicator burst into life. Amy pushed the small button on its side to accept the incoming private call. Immediately it's small speakers echoed to the rattle of gunfire and shouting voices. All those sounds had been blocked by the heavy door to the chamber in which Amy now knelt.

“Amy. Can you hear me? It's Professor Turner. You have to activate the overload circuit on the reactor. You have to do it now or all of his has been for nothing. Amy can you hear me!”

There was a pause as a voice shouting orders next to the professor made him stop momentarily before continuing. Amy opened her mouth but Turner continued first.

“Amy. You must do it, the Wicca Protocol must be implemented. They are nearly here. I can see them. I...”

With a howl of distortion the transmission cut out and a moment later Amy felt more than heard the booming echo of very nearby energy weapons fire. It made dust fall from the roughly hewn ceiling of the chamber, some of which landed in Amy's now filthy blond hair and also upon the squat frame of the reactor. She lifted her hand and let it hover over the inert flat display screen in the middle of the reactor's casing. Could she make herself, will herself, to press the button that would activate the already set programme to overload the portable fission reactor and create an explosion. She glanced at the door, the only way into the chamber. Outside that door was something supposed long vanquished but very real indeed. Forces unchained by their greedy and naïve curiosity. 

Looking intently at the cracks in her fingernails Amy held her hand steady but unmoving over the display. Her thoughts tried to rally, tried to overcome the rising blind panic that threatened to overcome her. She realised that her whole body was shaking and despite her best efforts she could not prevent the movement or even reduce it. Her mind continued to seek for a way out, an avenue of escape, but it was pointless. Professor Turner had been in the chamber beyond the one next to where she was. There was one door into each of those chambers and beyond that she knew were kilometres of tunnels before she could even begin the long ascent towards sunlight. She was trapped. Well and truly.

Amy was brought from her thoughts jarringly back to the present by a hollow boom that reverberated around the chamber. She looked to the door. Had it moved. No, she realised the rock wall around the door had splintered and been pushed towards her and she could see flames licking around the gaps. They were here and with tears steaming down her face Amy knew she was the only human now left in the Belkus Labyrinth. It was time. They would pay for the dead, for their needless killing. With that Amy strangely felt at peace. The choice has been made. She brought her hovering hand down hard on the activation stud and the display lit up. It was a short sequence and it had begun. It could not be stopped.

A thrumming drone began to fill the chamber as the reactor reached its operating levels and then began to exceed them at an increasing rate. Another boom followed by the crashing fall of rock threw Amy to the ground. With blood in her eyes she managed to rise to her knees as hulking shapes entered the scarred chamber. Amy knew only seconds remained and as they surrounded her and then the now pulsing and glowing reactor. Amy grinned through red rimmed teeth.

“Welcome to Carmarthen IV; you alien bastards. Your gonna' have a blast!”

The illuminated green digits of the display ticked down the final few seconds to zero and then near everything for twenty kilometres all around was vaporised into a heavily radioactive dust cloud.....

“Make your rounds count. Auto-Targeters off, I want manual sighting and aim for the upper chest and heads. We have one chance before they make haste for our demise.”

The ten Retained Knights, all that was left of the 6th Lance, were ready in a single line and the final reminder over comm link into their helms was not necessary. All had their weapons ready and aimed at the chipped rubbacrete entrance to the abandoned building. Once it had held children who had gone about their daily learning without knowledge that they would soon die and all that would remain would be faded pictures on grimy walls. The Retained knew that three Warlords were about to come through the entrance. Warlords, the toughest of the slave races used by the Khanate each with the might of five men and carrying guns that were the envy of portable weapon teams. Prydian remote drones had picked up the trio who were evidently not expecting to find enemies in the building. Even so Warlords were very hard to kill even with 12.5mm AP rounds from an Angis Rifle.

“Here they come. Take the lead one first'”

Stooping to get in the first Warlord entered the long dusty room its ten foot tall frame filling the whole entrance and the lowered barrel of its Maia Scatter Cannon noisily scrapping the floor. As it straightened up the next Warlord came in behind and as it did so the first alien saw the knights and immediately started to raise its weapon. Without a command the ten Retained opened fire. The air was filled with over a hundred Angis bullets which tore great holes in the Warlord's lorican armour and then into its body. The 12.5mm rounds detonated with a bang and then the Warlord's head simply exploded and it pitched forward into the floor with a wet crash. Behind the fallen foe the next Warlord had its Mars 20mm Chain Cannon almost to the right level to open fire and its multiple barrels were spinning. A number of the Angis round struck it and giant paused. The pause was fatal as the two Retained, one either end of the line, each armed with an Anvil 888 launcher let fly their own projectiles. They had waited until the first enemy had dropped and the two TX9 Hollow Charges, essentially just really big 60mm bullets, hammered into the second Warlord just as its finger activated the chain cannon. Its left arm was thrown away and its right leg blown off at the knee which caused the 20mm shells of the chain cannon to rip into the wall and ceiling of the room missing the knights.

“Reload. Free Fire!'

There was blood as mist in the air and it would take the Retained a number of seconds to eject the spent magazines from their rifles and load more. They had brought down two of the monsters but now the third was in the room and its Helios 80kw Atomic Destabliser went off with a scream of super heated vapour. In the blinding flash of loosed energy six of the knights were obliterated, their powered armour no protection at the destabilising of bonds at the atomic level. The remaining four Retained on the right of the now gone line fell sideways as the red and white peeled and blistered from their titanium alloy armour. But their hands were slamming magazines in all the same. It would take the Helios time to charge again and perhaps the Humans would get lucky....perhaps.

Gullyville Edu Fact, Taranga District, Camarthen Prime 4330IC

These excepts are taken from the discovery of the alien artefacts on Carmarthen IV (also known as Carmarthen Prime) and from the story of the fight to stop the Khanate in the Belkus Labyrinth deep underground. Then lastly the hopeless campaign to save Pelcan City from the advance of the Legions as they try to take the planet. It is a really cool story and campaign giving a great number of tabletop gaming scenarios for you to play Patrol Angis. The book has still to have its final contents confirmed as, with every project I take on, I always create too much content and then have to trim it down but here is what currently will be in the book. These are broad sections to give you an idea of just how this Army Book for Patrol Angis will expand your Ion Age gaming.

THE KHANATE RETURN

The third book in the One Hour Wargame series is our first Army Book for

Patrol Angis. You will need the core rule book to make full use of it as well

as Callsign Taranis as it gives campaign and army lists for a new setting. Here

are the main sections what will be in this sixty four page book:

THE CAMARTHAN CAMPAIGN

A Matter Gateway is now active, and the Shia Khan Empire has once more

returned to the Prydian Precinct. A second Khanate War has begun in the

Camarthan star system!

THE SHIA KHAN EMPIRE

Army Organisation along with the Armoury

ARMY LIST FOR THE KHANATE EMPIRE

Full statistics for Troop Types, Armour, Weapons and Vehicles

ADVANCED RULES FOR THE KHANATE EMPIRE

Special skills as well as unique abilities for use in play

THE PLANETARY MILITIA

An addition to the Prydian Army you can field the Planetary Militia in “The

Khanate Return” and in your other games of Patrol Angis. Troop Types,

Armoury and Advanced Rules.

CAMARTHAN CAMPAIGN SCENARIOS

Get your games of Patrol Angis off to a flying start as the Khanate Empire

features in three great scenarios set in the Camarthan Campaign.

This is a lot in a packed sixty four pages I do hope you enjoy it. I have had a blast writing it! Now for the news....

This month's releases are actually online right now and the news for them will happen next week in detail. Brand new Shia Khan Pioneers two new eight figure packs plus a Pioneer platoon pack (33 miniatures) with extra unique free miniature in it. Plus we have free postage this weekend in conjunction with Alternative Armies in celebration of the merger of 15mmcouk back into the now massive choice Alternative Armies website. Check out the new releases HERE and all orders over 12.00GBP get free worldwide shipping plus Reward Points on their account and this month's free monhtly miniature too. Offer ends 9am GMT Tuesday 21st February 2017. Excellent!

Thanks for Reading and ask any questions you have here or on the blog or by email to info@theionage.com.

GBS

The Ion Age - IAFP08 Nox Ordos 15mm platoon pack released!

The biggest and most bad ass armoured infantry of the Shia Khan Empire now have their own 'Ordos', a platoon pack, which contains a full force of these miniatures! Each Nox stands about 20mm tall and the platoon pack contains fifteen figures and an extra special Nox which is only in the pack and is added free! Go HERE or read on for more information.

The Shia Khan uses technology that is more advanced that our own, that is sure. Though many of its troops are apparently slaves and are relatively poorly armoured and armed with Malig and Betrayers being more in common with our Planetary Militia and Muster regiments and their Legionaries a match for our Muster and Retained ranks there are troops evidently which are not expendable slaves. We speak here of the elite formations of a Legion and more specifically the Nox. The technology involved in the Jupiter series of plasmastic weapons is in our estimate a century or so beyond our own best efforts (see Academy Auto-Trainer Series 16) but the design contained within the Nox Segmentum pattern powered armour is much beyond that. Other Khanate Troops use the weapons that Nox carry though they operate in teams of two rather than a Nox which can wield the weapon alone. However within the sphere of the Legion itself and not speaking of Psychoborgs and other specialised threats it is the Segmentum pattern armour which has baffled us. Only a handful of Nox have been captured and none of them alive due to what we think is a flesh dissolving gas which is triggered if their armour is opened without the right seal codes. This gas also corrodes the internal fittings of the armour to the point that only rudimentary inspections can be made. In fact we have lost three expert fabricators to booby trapped Segmentum suits with imploder bombs. Information that is known consists of the following. Firstly the alloys used in the Segmentum's construction cannot be determined but do contain titanium as a stabiliser with a resulting hardness some third better than Alwite and on par with Noblesse series used by Desteria Knights despite being thinner. Secondly the internal power system of Segmentum is much more efficient as the self fuelling batteries use technology similar to ours but are nearly half the size and also provide the charge for carried weapons such as plasma and laser system whereas our own Alwite powered armour cannot do this. Thirdly the armour seems to fill with a thick black liquid when sealed which cushions impacts and trauma more effectively that the padding and gel layers in Alwite. Lastly and most troubling are the seemingly standardised Cynue ports in the neck and chest sections of Segmentum powered armour. While such technology is rightly banned in the Prydian Precinct after the tragedy of the Gurtan Activation the Khanate seem to give artificial intelligence assistance to Nox in combat. Research continues and we do hope a break through will be reached.

Academy Auto-Trainer Series 17, New Glastonbury, 4332IC

New Shia Khan on the Horizon

Previews of the Upcoming Khanate Warlord

By Eli

A bit of a tease this week from the folks at The Ion Age.

Slated for late Spring, these giant humanoids will be bringing some major firepower to the Khanate side of your tables. A selection of different head, body and weapon options are planned for these bruisers. All in metal. As you can see in the image below, they will definitely keep the Duxis on their toes.

For more information on this and other Ion Age news, check - HERE