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Gothic Sector, Cyclops Cluster, Planet Endiness. Planet Endiness. 2 moons, Vellweb and Tiberoa Home to the Dragoons Chapter. Salamander Successor. Chapter Master: Megiddo Drakenfall Current Status: Under Strength, 5 out of 8 Astartes companies at operational strength, 2 Primaris companies near full strength. Current Fleet Status: 1 Battle Barge- Litany of Fire and Fury 3 Strike Cruisers- Hellkite, Wyvern’s Bite, Flame’s Purity 5 hunter Class Destroyers 4 Gladius Class Frigates 4 Nova Class Frigates 4 Cobra Class Destroyers 11 Sword Class Destroyers The strike cruiser Maw of Flames was transporting the 3rd company, currently believed lost. The strike cruiser Teeth of Tiberoa was transporting the 7th company, currently believed lost. The Dragoons Chapter claims to be a successor of the Salamanders Chapter. While sharing much in the way of iconography and weapon choice, the Dragoons have diverged significantly when it comes to tactics and doctrine. The Chapter symbol is that of a dragon’s head, with feathered wings. The chapter is somewhat known for its care and maintenance of its equipment, able to maintain equipment and make field repairs until full repair’s can be done. But the chapter also has a more questionable reputation as ‘Relic Hunters’. While often conducting themselves above reproach in the matters of warfare, they are also known to search space hulks, dead worlds, mechanicum vaults and the like to search for relics, equipment and anything that could be of use in the war against humanity’s enemies. This has sometimes been a great boon for the chapter as a whole as it has brought with it weapons, armor and even war machines to support their war effort; it has also put them at odds with some chapters as relics from other chapters have made their way into the Dragoon’s armory. While it has not lead to outright conflict with another chapter, it has put the chapter in tough situations as the Master of the Armory or Captains/lieutenants have had to negotiate with the original chapter’s captain about returning said gear. Usually the Dragoon’s will return most standard equipment without issue, but non-standard equipment the Dragoons will challenge the other chapter to a duel for ownership of the contested artifacts should negotiations fail. This has lead to some fantastic fights between chapter champions and a few rivalries. The Dragoons also have a larger than standard compliment of Librarians and Tech Marines, with each company having 1 to 3 on average. And due to the chapter holding artificers and technology in high esteem, the chapter tends to a larger contingent of Mechanicus support, a better supplied and supported chapter forge and access to some lost equipment due to the chapter’s search for relics of the past. The close relationship with the Cult of Mars and the ancient artifacts recovered has given the chapter more support than normal and a stronger relationship compared to other chapters. The Dragoons are a non-standard codex chapter. The chapter has 8 companies as compared to the standard 10. The chapter’s combat doctrine is also non-codex. Each company is roughly 120 marines strong, and follows a ‘combined arms’ combat style. Meaning each company has roughly every single unit type available to them. This allows companies to be very versatile in their response and deployment of assets, and allows more training and experience in working together with all the assets. Each company is roughly compromised of: 1 Captain, 1-3 Librarians, 1-3 Lieutenants, 1-2 Chaplains, 1 Apothecary, 6-8 Tactical squads, 2 Assault squads, 2 Devastator squads, 1-2 Terminator squads, 3-6 Dreadnoughts. The chapter doesn’t count scouts as part of their company counts, as each company is responsible for the training of their own scouts, and since the number of scouts in training is in flux they aren’t considered full brothers until they have earned their power armor. Each company has their own compliment of vehicles, and has a larger than standard number of pilots and drivers to operate and maintain the motor pool. Strong ties with the Cult Mechanicus has allowed the chapter to field equipment not normally standard. And with the chapter’s reputation for searching for, recovering and repairing warmachines and technology the chapter can field vehicles not usually associated with astartes. The chapter has access to several Sicaran tanks, a Warhound Titan and currently working with an Imperial Knight Freeblade. The chapter has also recovered multiple Fire Raptors and is currently in the process of bringing the back to operational capacity. Recovery of Contemptors from space hulks has also been a great boon. While the Dragoons have held onto the data templates for the Sicaran tanks (they can’t fully construct the vehicles, but can repair what they have recovered), the chapter has been working on spreading the data and STC templates for Contemptors to chapters they are on friendly terms with. Combat Doctrine The Dragoons combat doctrine is combine arms doctrine, with a focus on mobile weapon systems supporting fast attack and fast attack operations to avoid getting bogged down. While a company tends to only have 6 tactical squads, the availability of any asset allows them to fill in with more assault or devastator squads. While this focus on more versatility can leave fewer tactical squads to hold the line. It does allow for more assault marines to flank or more devastators to lay down more fire support on priority targets. Since the chapter is more focused on flanking and fast fire support, the chapter tends to have fewer vindicators and whirlwinds (as they are more designed for siege warfare) and more land speeders, stormbird aircraft, razorbacks and landraiders. Though this viewpoint has been changed somewhat when the Dragoons assisted the Minotaurs chapter in hunting down a chapter that was believed to go rogue. The Dragoons have started fielding the Helios pattern more regularly as the vehicle has proven excellent in dealing with entrenched foes. As more and more chaos forced have taken control of more planets, being able to deliver heavy long range fire that can survive chaos counter attacks have proven pivotal to purging operations. CHAPTER HISTORY Since at least M36 has the Dragoons Chapter defended humanity in the Gothic Sector, whether from Orks, Eldar, Tyranids and the forces of Chaos. M36 N/A. The earliest records of the Chapters creation and history have been lost or forgotten. The oldest accounts in the chapter’s history that are still available describes campaigns against Eldar Corsairs and fringe Craftworld elements as they assaulted Endiness. The story of Captain Kyr’tan holding his ground in front of a sacred monument while Eldar Banshee’s assailed him. It was said that while he stood in front of the monument to the emperor, a golden glow enveloped him and not a single blade could lay into the Captain. He wiped out multiple squads of banshees by himself. When reinforcements from the Sisters of the Silver Chalice rallied to recover the monument from Eldar control, they were surprised to see the captain, alone and surrounded by the bodies of slain Eldar. When the canoness relieved Kyr’tan of the defense of the monument, Kyr’tan drove his power sword into the ground and stated “I am relieved, continue in my stead”. The glow faded from Kyr’tan as he laid his back against the monument and died. Rents and cuts in his armor revealed as blood poured from the many wounds he had suffered. M37 602, 1st company of the Dragoons with elements of the 6th and 8th held against a chaos ‘Hellion’ warband. The chapter saw great success in combat against the forces of chaos on the planet of Argent and Durogas. While Casualties overall were low, the 1st company lost its captain and was interred into a Dreadnought. M38 106, Patrolling space lanes near Port Maw, investigating reports of xenos raids and space hulks disgorged from the warp. Elements of the 2nd company engaged Eldar corsairs and after several engagements the Eldar retreated. Giving chase, the small fleet was able to follow the ships back to their space hulk base. Requesting support from the 1st company to assist in blockading the hulk and boarding the wreck to cleanse the xenos. Purging operations were successful. Librarians in the boarding parties investigated psychic emanations and discovered a large supply cache of astartes equipment including Contemptor dreadnought frames and a Warhound Titan. M38 514- On a Vault search of a planet with no recorded name near the Tamahl and Gothic sector border. Further investigation of strange signals proved fruitful. A strange rock formation turned out to be a former outpost Legion outpost. The fortification was almost mistaken as just an unusual rock formation. Techmarines of the 5th company recovered partial STC fragments and several Sicaran battle tanks in different levels of disrepair. The legion symbols being too worn from weather to verify. The tanks were taken back to Endiness for study and repairs. M38 839- Responding to distress calls for aid against a Heretic Astartes warband called the Shadow Stalkers on the planet of Kur’ess. Upon arriving to the planet, they were surprised to find the chaos warband already engaged with another chapter. Bearing the color of bronze with a crimson bull head. The Dragoons fleet cut off the warband’s retreat and gave fire support while the Minotaurs boarding actions disabled the ships. Sending ground forces to the planet’s surface to assist the Minotaurs in cleanup operations. While they weren’t surprised that the Minotaurs barely coordinated or even communicated with them, though the Dragoons were surprised to find another chapter deploying multiple contemptors at the numbers they were. While the heretics were quickly wiped out, the Dragoon commanders were impressed by the Helios Land Raider that the Minotaurs deployed and upon returning to their home planet, the techmarines were put to task in replicating the pattern of land raider. M39 742- 3rd company assisted in the Domacles Gulf Crusade. While overall the 3rd company saw many successful missions in the campaign, the company lost many vehicles and weapon support systems to Tau long range weapons. Troop casualties overall were low, but the lack of heavy weapon systems after the ceasefire was negotiated left the 3rd company ill-prepared to assist the Tyranid threat as the Hive Fleet Behemoth as it assaulted the Imperium. M39 743-745, the 4th and 6th Companies of the chapter assisted in the fighting splinter fleets from Hive Fleet Behemoth. Both companies suffered heavy casualties as the companies defended against overwhelming swarms of Carnifex and Genestealer bioforms. 3rd Company, returning from the Domacles Gulf was redirected to assist the 4th and 6th company. While the imperial positions were eventually overrun, the 3rd company was able to give cover and fire support and allow the remnants of the 4th and 6th company to retreat and buy more time for the last of the Guard and Mechanicus elements escape the planet. M39 983- While dealing with a Dark Eldar incursion into the sector, the chapter was taken by surprise as a massive ork warband stumbled into the sector. Losing support craft and 2 strike cruisers heavily damaged in the fleet defense, the Dragoons lost their supply lines while fighting the Dark Eldar and were unprepared as ork roks fell from the sky. The 2nd, 4th and 5th company suffered heavy losses and fought a fighting retreat. M40 960- Investigating a massive space hulk named Gulgori, the 7th company terminators purged the wreck of Tyranid infestation. While suffering heavy losses, they were able to recover large supply and armor caches and recovered relics from multiple chapters before destroying the space hulk. While the Dragoon’s attempted to return relics to chapters that were recovered, several chapters were outright hostile. Believing the Dragoons to be little more than grave robbers picking over the bones of their dead. While not all chapters were hostile, and a few even thankful for the return of their fallen, there was no doubt that the chapters had an unfavorable view of the Dragoons. The Gothic War (Abaddon's 12th Black Crusade) M41 143-151 Abaddon's 12th Black Crusade Launched in full force onto the Gothic Sector. While the Dragoons were initially dealing with Eldar corsairs and Ork raids at the time, the sudden onslaught from chaos took the chapter by surprise. The Dragoons lost many ships in early defense operations trying to hold orbital defenses and imperial held planets from overwhelming chaos forces. As admiral Ravensburg was assigned to leading the defense of the Gothic Sector. Shortly after the Gothic War was launched in full, warp storms surrounded the gothic sector, preventing outside reinforcement from the Imperium. While Endiness was well defended and the Dragoons fleet had destroyed or forced the retreat of several Chaos fleets. The Dragoons led many hit and run attacks on the different warband fleets, and baiting chaos ships into ork held asteroid fields. While the Dragoons did not participate in the defense of the Blackstone Fortresses, they did harass and destroy many pirates that preyed upon merchant fleets transporting resources to starving worlds and pushed back against chaos fleets that had overextended. After 7 years the warp storms surrounding the gothic sector waned and fresh reinforcements were able to arrive in system and help deal with Abaddon's crusade to capture the Blackstone Fortresses. M41 152-160 In the aftermath of Abaddon's defeat, the Dragoons spent years hunting down remnants of chaos fleets, pirates and enforcing the Emperor's rule on many planets and space lanes that had been neglected due to the greater fighting of Abaddon's Crusade. The Dragoon's fleet forced never fully recovered to their pre- 12th crusade strength 1 Battle Barge, 3 Strike Cruisers and dozens of escort ships were lost defending imperial holdings, or were destroyed bringing justice to chaos fleets. Ships requisition orders were diverted or delayed due to supply shortages and repairs for the many ships that were destroyed or damage in the two decades of conflict. Dark side of the Imperium The Cicatrix Maledictum has had a devastating effect on the chapter. Already being engaged on several battlefields in the gothic sector and with two companies outside of the gothic sector answer distress calls in Tamahl sector. During the opening of the rift, the 3rd and 7th company were lost in the warp. Any and all attempts to contact the company’s ships via astropaths have gone unanswered. The 8th company was defending the chapter’s lunar base, manning the planetary defenses when a chaos fleet erupted from the warp outside the system. The 8th were able to send out warning signals to the chapter and surrounding planets, but with the warp in chaos and the astronomicon blocked out, there would be no reinforcements. The 8th was completely wiped out defending the station. While the planetary defenses on the moon were silenced by chaos forces, it the 8th’s sacrifice was not in vain. A chaos Acheron heavy cruiser, and a couple chaos cruisers were destroyed or disabled, allowing the Dragoon’s Battlebarge Litany of Fire and Fury as well as its support craft to counterattack and destroy more of the chaos fleet. While the fleet counterattacked, Chapter Master Megiddo Drakenfall lead a strike force from the Hellkite to retake the defenses on Vellweb and bring the weapons to bear against chaos. With the planetary defenses of Vellweb back under the Dragoons control and flanking attacks of the strike cruisers, the chaos fleet was forced to retreat. While the war in space was being won by the Dragoon’s fleet, the forces of chaos were able to land a strong beachhead on Endiness and start assaulting the mechanicus forges. The Dragoon’s 2nd and 5th company fought in defense of the forges, supported by the warhound titan Melbu Frama and assistance from a Freeblade Knight Mortiferus. Sororitas from the Sisters of the Silver Chalice defended the primary hive of Serdio. While the forces of Chaos were pushed back from the forges and the hive, the Dragoons weren’t able to drive the forces of chaos out due to being spread too thin. Losing 3 (3rd, 7th and 8th) companies, 1st company retaking the planetary defenses on Vellweb, 2nd and 5th defending primary objectives on Endiness, 4th company leading boarding actions against the chaos fleets, that only left the 6th company to go on the offensive. With fleet support limited, several locations under siege and chaos daemons spawning intermittently, the 6th company was limited to hit and run engagements, trying to draw out the forces of chaos to be brought down by air support and concerted devastator fire support. When the warp storms from the opening of the Cicatrix waned and the light of the astronomicon available, the calls of support from the Dragoons were answered with a contingent of Elysians. Reinforced the Dragoons went fully on the offensive. With strafing runs from Valkyries, and Elysians to hold objectives the Dragoons 2nd, 5th and 6th were able to fully commit to the attack on the chaos beach head. As the campaign wore on, the forces of chaos were pushed back until their last stronghold. A military outpost that was formerly manned by planetary guard. What remained of the Dragoons fire support vehicles maintained a meager barrage. Not enough to break their hold, but enough to prevent a breakout. As the Dragoon’s prepared for the final assault, they were joined by elements from the 1st and 4th company as the chaos fleet had been routed. With well-placed planetary bombardments from strike cruisers in orbit opened up holes in the outpost’s defenses. With mortar and air support from the Elysian’s, and the combined assault of 5 space marine companies, the forces of chaos were purged. While the Dragoons were recovering from the siege of their planet, rebuilding and repairing defenses and recruiting fresh bodies. A small fleet of supply ships able to break the Chaos blockade of Port Maw arrived. Arriving from Port Maw with reports and reinforcements from the other side of the Imperium. Of the news of the return of Guillimen and the Indomnitus Crusade. While only one of the ships containing the Primaris reinforcements for the Dragoons survived, it was welcome sight. The heavy losses incurred by the assault by chaos, and the loss of 3 companies left the Dragoons severely undermanned. While the Primaris support of 2 companies would certainly fill some of the gaps in the chapter strength, they were strict adherents to the Codex’s teachings. Leading to heated exchanges between the commanders of the Astartes and Primaris. While the Primaris were fervent to fight the enemies of man, they had no interest in the search for relics and warmachines of the imperium, and did not care for any tactics outside the teachings of the Codex. While the Captain of the Primaris would not refuse any orders from the chapter master, he would only follow Codex tactics to accomplish the mission, leading to higher than estimated casualties. Leading the Primaris sergeants to question the wisdom of only Codex approved tactics. Their strict interpretation of the Codex and its teachings has lead some to question the decisions and cost the lives of more than a few of the Primaris. More to come....