"Well, it doesn't get any deader than that."

- Historitor Meric Van Damm, upon witnessing the mission on [CLASSIFIED] - 

 

Greetings Fraters et Sorores!

 

The diligent (or bored) among you may have noticed a few more picts go up on the Kommisar's Salamanders album a week or so ago. Predictably, I set up the images long before I could get around to actually creating a blog entry. Oh well. Such is life. 

 

Anyway it's been busy. I finished painting a bunch of Tidal Blades: Rise of the Unfolders stuff and got started on my Krieg army (might find a place for that here too). That and visiting family have kept me pretty busy when school wasn't looming, but after a long while, the Terminators are done! And boy am I pleased. These guys were so much fun to build and paint. I look forward to getting them on the table. Maybe run a couple thematic melee-and-flame lists in the style of 4th company...

 

Here stand the Golden Drakes, glorious Terminator squad (demi-squad? Oh right Combat squad) of the Firedrakes. The personal bodyguards of Chapter Master Tu'Shan, these warriors are decked out in Nocturnean finery. Drake scales on everything!

 

Da shields. I added a few purity seals for variety. These guys are veterans, after all.

 

Aaand "yes capes!" 

 

I like this teleport homer better than the old one. Not that the old one isn't cool! 

 

Alright... yep. A fun project indeed. Very pleased with the final result. However, that's not all! 

 

What's a bodyguard without a body to guard? Tu'Shan is here too, ready to stand alongside his brothers and lead them into glorious battle! I modeled him from one of the new(er) Terminator Captains, bits of the Salamander Primaris Upgrades, and a 3D-printed Thunder Hammer arm. As much as the Assault Terminators were fun, this guy was better. Such a joy to build and paint: I love conversions!

 

 

A few more photos from different angles (all obscenely huge but shrinking them was losing quality)

 

OK. The title mentioned the Great Rebasing. A lot of my Salamanders (not all, but many) have a very simple base scheme. Literally black with orange painted over in lines to simulate lava flows/cracks. You'll notice none of these new guys are like that. They've all got bits of cork glued onto their bases. I've been building all my new Marines like this for a while, so now the rest need to catch up. At last count I'm going to need:

• 1 25mm (the Old Termis need a proper base for their teleport homer right?)
• 51 32 mm (65 to actually replace)
• 18 40mm
• 1 100mm

Yep. There is much to do. I managed to break off a couple bases, but many will need to be cut away and replaced entirely rather than being reused. Quite a way to go, but I"ve got the cork at any rate. Anyway, material shortfalls aside, the project has begun! Captain Xavus, leader of the 4th Company and Master of the Fleet, got a new base while the Terminators were getting theirs. 

 

 

He's quite possibly the first [Character] model I ever painted, and been revisited with updated green, transfers, and a fancy back banner since then. And now, new base! He looks happy, right? That challenging sword-raise, confident swagger... I think he likes it. 

 

Aaaand as if that wasn't enough, here's another Unit Focus. And Xavus gets it! First time I'm doing a character one too. So without further ado-

 

Unit Focus: Captain Xavus, 4th Company, "Master of the Fleet"

From the notes of Hina Et'Ska, Imperial Propagandist

996M41

Few in the Chapter are as well-suited to the role of 4th company leader as Captain Xavus. Stoic and insightful, he is perfectly able to lead the newest full battle brothers into battle. With strict discipline and timely encouragement, Xavus ensures the flawless integration of all parts of his command, whether they be man, Marine, or mighty battleship. Indeed, as Master of the Fleet, Xavus is often responsible for the Chapter's naval assets in their largest space battles. His intuition for combat in the vast areas of space in uncanny, and he has capably led the fleet to victory time after time. 

 

From the writings of Meric Van Damm, Historitor Adept

Extract from file entitled "Operation Imperator: Armageddon Naval Deployments"

???M42

It comforts me somewhat that Captain Xavus will be remaining in command of our naval assets, albeit subordinate to another in overall command. This diversion is an unfortunate roadblock in the Forgefather's quest, but the Salamander's Chapter Master is right. Armageddon must be saved. 

I am to remain aboard ship for now. I curse myself for a coward. Kyra is going. At least I shall be able to organize my notes a bit. 

But I digress. Xavus. His handling of the fleet during that campaign against the hideous Death Guard - may the Emperor preserve us from ever again encountering their taint - was lauded by his brothers as most exemplary. The human crew seem in general a bit less enthusiastic. I understand there were casualties. Certain maneuvers were too much. But more survived than were lost, so we have him to thank for it. I know he is a capable commander. With this deployment to Armageddon, I only hope his skill holds. From what I hear of the xenos, he could be about to face his biggest test yet...

 

Extracts from the record of Captain Xavus

[988M41]Captain Xavus led elements of the Salamanders, Black Templars, and Angelic Destroyers fleets in battle against rebel forces over Chemlock III, securing the planet's orbit entirely and allowing a beachhead to be established planetside. 

[005M42]Xavus led the assault on Summoners Ridge, single-handedly slaying the Death Guard sorcerer in the gate of his own fortress. 

[009M42]Xavus' analysis of enemy firing patterns allowed a primary Warpfire missile battery to be destroyed from orbit. Imperial forces, freed from the bombardment, were able to evacuate with minimal losses before Exterminatus was declared.