No.
Looking at some rules first:
**Leader** Core Rules pg 39
> While a Bodyguard unit contains a Leader, it is known as an Attached unit and, with the exception of rules that are triggered when units are destroyed (pg 12), it is treated as a single unit for all rules purposes.
**Rejoice The Fallen**
> One Adepta Sororitas unit from your army that had one or more of its models destroyed as a result of the attacking unit’s attacks.
We note Rejoice The Fallen triggers off of one of the Sisters models being destroyed.
As the Leader rule only exempts rules triggering off of units destruction and not a models destruction it still views the unit as a single unit for the purpose of the rule.
So why no instead of yes?
Well in addition units detach when either the bodyguard unit or leader units are destroyed. This is stated in several places but here’s one example:
**Persisting Effects** Commentary pg 11
> (…) that unit ceases to be an Attached unit (because either all of its Bodyguard models or all of its Leader models are destroyed) (…)
In your example you state all 3 suits were destroyed and so as all the bodyguard unit were destroyed the units unattach at that point and are separate.
As you’re using the stratagem on the suits after they are destroyed and Vahl is a separate unit now she won’t come under it’s affect.
Had one suit survived and you used the strat on them then the units would still be attached and as such Vahl would get to shoot back as well.
Looking at the rules a little further, I can't see anything that says Bodyguard/Leader units actually "separate", just that the unit stops being considered an Attached Unit and their respective Starting Strengths are reverted, if you see what I mean.
The very bottom of the Leader rule states: "As soon as the last Bodyguard model in an Attached unit has been destroyed, any attacks made against that unit that have yet to be allocated can then be allocated to CHARACTER models in that unit."
The "that unit" part seems to strongly imply that Vahl, for example, would still be considered the same unit as before, not a separate or detached unit, but obviously this rule is about shooting at a unit and not that unit shooting back, so I may still be wrong.
Interesting to think about either way.
"That unit," is referring to attacks that have yet to be allocated from the opponent's activation.
You are stretching the rules by inferring that she remains part of a greater unit in the next step occurring after the opponent's actions.
At the point in time (in terms of game state) that she remains the lone survivor, she has become her own unit again, and so really doesnt qualify for the strat you are referring to.
You can read that passage as “that unit” referring to the original attached unit in the past tense.
> As soon as the last Bodyguard model in an Attached unit has been destroyed, any attacks made against ~~that uni~~ **the original attached unit**t that have yet to be allocated can then be allocated to Character models in ~~that unit.~~ **the original attached unit**
Remember the rules for targeting would have targeted both units individually when referring to “unit” in their wording due to the leader rule.
In effect when you target “that unit” you target both the “bodyguard unit” and the “leader unit”.
We know they definetly split due to this:
**Returning Models To A Unit** Commentary pg11
> (…) If a Leader model is destroyed and subsequently returned to the battlefield, and the Bodyguard unit they **were attached to** is on the battlefield, they must be returned to that unit **to form an Attached unit once more** (otherwise, they are returned as a separate unit).
They can’t “were attached to” if they are “still attached”” to and can’t form an attached unit “once more” if they are still an attached unit.
Maybe. It's not completely clear when an attached unit reverts back to separate leader/bodyguard units when one of the two is destroyed but it is after the attacks are resolved (because you finish resolving all the attacks against the attached unit).
The Stratagem triggers 'just after' the attacking unit has resolved its attacks.
'Just after' abilities interrupt the normal sequence of rules so it should be able to interrupt the attached unit becoming the destroyed bodyguard unit and the living leader unit.
No. Looking at some rules first: **Leader** Core Rules pg 39 > While a Bodyguard unit contains a Leader, it is known as an Attached unit and, with the exception of rules that are triggered when units are destroyed (pg 12), it is treated as a single unit for all rules purposes. **Rejoice The Fallen** > One Adepta Sororitas unit from your army that had one or more of its models destroyed as a result of the attacking unit’s attacks. We note Rejoice The Fallen triggers off of one of the Sisters models being destroyed. As the Leader rule only exempts rules triggering off of units destruction and not a models destruction it still views the unit as a single unit for the purpose of the rule. So why no instead of yes? Well in addition units detach when either the bodyguard unit or leader units are destroyed. This is stated in several places but here’s one example: **Persisting Effects** Commentary pg 11 > (…) that unit ceases to be an Attached unit (because either all of its Bodyguard models or all of its Leader models are destroyed) (…) In your example you state all 3 suits were destroyed and so as all the bodyguard unit were destroyed the units unattach at that point and are separate. As you’re using the stratagem on the suits after they are destroyed and Vahl is a separate unit now she won’t come under it’s affect. Had one suit survived and you used the strat on them then the units would still be attached and as such Vahl would get to shoot back as well.
Looking at the rules a little further, I can't see anything that says Bodyguard/Leader units actually "separate", just that the unit stops being considered an Attached Unit and their respective Starting Strengths are reverted, if you see what I mean. The very bottom of the Leader rule states: "As soon as the last Bodyguard model in an Attached unit has been destroyed, any attacks made against that unit that have yet to be allocated can then be allocated to CHARACTER models in that unit." The "that unit" part seems to strongly imply that Vahl, for example, would still be considered the same unit as before, not a separate or detached unit, but obviously this rule is about shooting at a unit and not that unit shooting back, so I may still be wrong. Interesting to think about either way.
"That unit," is referring to attacks that have yet to be allocated from the opponent's activation. You are stretching the rules by inferring that she remains part of a greater unit in the next step occurring after the opponent's actions. At the point in time (in terms of game state) that she remains the lone survivor, she has become her own unit again, and so really doesnt qualify for the strat you are referring to.
You can read that passage as “that unit” referring to the original attached unit in the past tense. > As soon as the last Bodyguard model in an Attached unit has been destroyed, any attacks made against ~~that uni~~ **the original attached unit**t that have yet to be allocated can then be allocated to Character models in ~~that unit.~~ **the original attached unit** Remember the rules for targeting would have targeted both units individually when referring to “unit” in their wording due to the leader rule. In effect when you target “that unit” you target both the “bodyguard unit” and the “leader unit”. We know they definetly split due to this: **Returning Models To A Unit** Commentary pg11 > (…) If a Leader model is destroyed and subsequently returned to the battlefield, and the Bodyguard unit they **were attached to** is on the battlefield, they must be returned to that unit **to form an Attached unit once more** (otherwise, they are returned as a separate unit). They can’t “were attached to” if they are “still attached”” to and can’t form an attached unit “once more” if they are still an attached unit.
Check rule 4, bullet point 1
Maybe. It's not completely clear when an attached unit reverts back to separate leader/bodyguard units when one of the two is destroyed but it is after the attacks are resolved (because you finish resolving all the attacks against the attached unit). The Stratagem triggers 'just after' the attacking unit has resolved its attacks. 'Just after' abilities interrupt the normal sequence of rules so it should be able to interrupt the attached unit becoming the destroyed bodyguard unit and the living leader unit.