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THE RETURN OF THE GREEN KNIGHT The strike cruiser Verdant Oath did not sound a welcoming chime. The Thunderhawk settled into its cradle amid drifting vapor and cooling metal. From its hold emerged a lone figure clad in black ceramite. Brother Martin bore the sigil of the Deathwatch upon his pauldron. The Inquisitorial mark still clung to his armor, dull and intrusive, like a scar that refused to fade. No honor guard awaited him. Marshal Calder stood at the foot of the embarkation ramp, hands clasped behind his back. To one side waited Brother-Artificer Verdug, his servo-arm locked in repose. A pace behind them stood Codicier Lucan, hood drawn low, presence folded inward like a sheathed blade. Calder inclined his head. ‘Your vigil is ended.’ Brother Martin knelt. ‘It ended early, My Lord,’ Martin said. Not defensively. Precisely. ‘As intended,’ Calder replied The black of his armor was not revered aboard the Verdant Oath. It was residue. A foreign layer to be removed. They led him into the Armorum Sanctum. Cog-etched arches rose overhead. Incense hung heavy in the air, sharp with solvents and sanctified oils. The rites of return began. The black paint was burned away. Chemical agents hissed as Deathwatch livery dissolved down to bare adamantium. Serfs worked in silence. No hymns were sung. No litanies spoken. Only the steady rhythm of cleansing. As the green was reapplied, Codicier Lucan circled Martin slowly. His eyes never lingered on the armor. They searched deeper. ‘You refused three direct taskings,’ Lucan said, eyes unfocused. ‘Not requests. Orders.’ ‘I did,’ Martin replied. ‘Specify,’ Calder said. ‘The Deathwatch required maintenance of xenos-derived weapon systems,’ Martin said. ‘Calibration. Sanctification. Instruction.’ Verdug’s optics brightened faintly. ‘I refused,’ Martin continued. ‘Each time, I cited Martian doctrine and Imperial law. Each time, I offered sanctioned alternatives.’ ‘And?’ Calder asked. ‘They recorded my refusals,’ Martin said. ‘They judged me obstructive. Ideologically inflexible. A liability to operational cohesion.’ Calder’s mouth twitched, almost a smile. 'They I was released to my parent chapter under writ,’ Martin finished. Calder inclined his head once. ‘Exactly as hoped.’ Lucan stopped pacing. ‘There has been interference,’ Lucan said at last. Calder did not turn. ‘Explain.’ ‘The Ordo Xenos attempted a surgical purge,’ Lucan replied. ‘Memory excision. Observation anchors. They were thorough.’ Verdug’s optics flared softly. ‘And successful?’ Lucan paused. ‘Incomplete.’ At a gesture from Verdug, servitors drew back a shrouded reliquary. Runes flared as seals disengaged, one by one. Beneath lay an ancient device of brass and blackened steel, its surface etched with sigils older than the Chapter. ‘Sanctioned by Holy Terra,’ Verdug intoned. ‘Recovered during the Third Scouring of Helican Reach.’ Lucan’s voice lowered. ‘Rumors claim the Ordos Hereticus uses such devices to unmask witches. To reconstruct lies stripped from the mind.’ Calder turned at last. ‘Then use it.’ Brother Martin was seated before the device. Cables interfaced with his cranial ports. The machine stirred, not with noise, but with intent. Lucan reached into the warp. The device responded. Fragments surfaced—gaps where memory had been cut away, cauterized with cold precision. The machine probed those absences, not restoring what was taken, but mapping what should have been there. Runes ignited across the chamber walls. Star charts unfolded, incomplete at first—then sharpening. Worlds returned from omission – bled back into focus. Vaults hidden by silence. Listening posts. Quarantine reliquaries hidden beneath layers of denial. Lucan exhaled slowly. ‘Nineteen,’ he said. ‘Recovered from absence,’ Verdug confirmed. ‘The rest are too degraded.’ Calder stepped forward, studying the burning points of light. ‘Nineteen worlds touched by xenos treachery,’ he said, ‘Nineteen worlds, hidden not by ignorance, but by intent.’ ‘Some confirmed,’ Martin said, his voice steady despite the lingering ache behind his eyes. ‘Some merely watched.’ Lucan’s gaze hardened. ‘Watched is enough.’ ‘Then no longer,’ Calder said. He turned to Verdug. ‘Inform the Blade.’ The words carried weight. The War Council would convene. Routes would be charted. Oaths renewed. Weapons sanctified. Calder faced Martin once more. ‘Your vigil ended early because it needed to,’ he said. ‘You were sent back because you exposed their weakness. They lack faith in humanity.' Martin bowed his head. ‘You return to us without stain,’ the Marshal said. ‘Go and rejoin your brothers.' Outside the Armorum Sanctum, klaxons began to sound—not alarms, but summons. The Verdant Oath altered course. A Crusade had been declared. It was a good day for the Green Templars. And the alien would not endure it.

Imperial Fist: 1500 PotL; Zone Mortalis Assault Cadre i'm pretty new to list building and im not so stressed about it being competitive. i just want a strike team with as much potential for triumph whilst staring into the abyss' great maw, as being a forlorn hope just a breath away from oblivion and no route back to a once noble and forgiving creed they once strove to champion. now they choose the life of the void reaver, lords of the darkness. an in your face, blood and honour, fury and spite, win at all costs kind of character to the army. with a theme leaning towards the knights templar/hospitalers kind of style. warrior monks shrouded in the darkness of their secret lore and wisom of the past. So here it is: Alexis Polux - 165 Sigismund - 230 Chaplain - 135 AA, refractor field, Melta Bombs, Solarite power gauntlet. Goes with Sigi and Templars to provide a bit more shouting and zealotry in CC. Legion Apothecary - 70 AA, Augury scanner, Power sword. Goes with templar squad to help with all those sore throats the chaplain will be encouraging and to keep the lads hydrated. Legion Terminator Squad - 285 5 man squad sergeant with TH/SS & grenade harness (because everyone wants to have a top boy smashing around as an example of how to party), 3x SS, 3x chain fist, 1 power axe and a heavy flamer. Pollux's entourage of solid blokes to weather a storm in the void and hand out a good old bashing in return. the chap with the heavy flamer is the designated driver, an all-round gentleman and chief who is there to mop up the mess, burn any evidence and light up the way for the charge when the boys have had one too many... Templar Brethren - 280 6 chaps with combat shields + nuncio vox (to amplify shouting and maybe play some tunes on the ride in to get pumped) champion with combat shield and solarite gauntlet. These chaps are zealot fury, the broken soul of an arcadian dream. knowing only ruin and damnation behind them the only choice left is to forge on into the darkness, blade in hand, beer behind combat shield, headphones in; ready to kick it! Leviathan Siege dreadnought - 325 Armoured Ceramite, Grav-Flux bombard, claw, phosphex charger, heavy flamers. The big bruiser, the great grand daddy of old school roughing ups, the undisputed armqrestling champion of the cadre and all round party animal. when he's not clapping suckers who step on his business he's playing beer pong with the lads with that grav-flux ping pong CANNON! 1500 points. Please let me know if there are glaring errors. not sure if pollux and sigi are allowed in the same list, likewise not sure if the list is legal with just templars and termies as troops. it might be a bit cheesey (or terrible) but i really like the idea of it. have the templar unit deploying on the field with sigi, chappy and apothecary, im hoping the unit will behave as is befitting of "lads on tour" and wreck face. the termies will deepstrike with pollux using void commander rule and utilising the nuncio vox of templars if possible/required. the leviathan will hopefully amble around like a confused bull in an ikea shop and chomp and stomp to it's heart content. apologies for some of the more colourful descriptions, i've just watched guardians of the galaxy again and love the soundtrack, i've been imagining boarding torpedoes being launched to the tune of 'hooked on a feeling' and a little bit of jovial party vibes in the pod before all carnage breaks out and drinks are spilled on impact... anyway... i've opted for flamers & phosphex where possible to utilise the shred rule for zone mortalis (and i dont see range being an issue in the confines of a space vessel when you can box off denial areas with phosphex raging and flamers in your face) theres something for anti-armour with everyone; chainfists & pollux in termies, meltabombs and solarites in templars, and the levi should speak for himself. i'm aware its a low body count and high costing small units but i think in Zone Mortalis it's not such an issue...? that and i think the idea of some absolute heros and chieftains forming a rapid strike unit is a cool idea. I'm tempted to go for a darker, templar style colour scheme, lots of black and metal. alternatively i'm flirting with the idea of collecting models and units i like and having a shattered legions/blackshield display and i'm quite tempted to play this list with IF legion rules (for characters) but have my own dark and mysterious paint scheme and fluff... just my thoughts. and comments and criticisms are welcomed.

As the page turns and week 3 comes around, I am very much looking forward to the next campaign: HOLD THE LINE! Questions for the forum: 1. When running a vehicle heavy Templar list. What will be more important, techmarines to fix things or characters to buff shooting? 2. What kind of troop support would be best to screen attackers from locking up key units in CC? I'm thinking of running something along the lines of this: +++ Black Templar Heavy Armor | Konor Week 3 | 2000 +++ [99 PL, 1993pts] + HQ [5 PL, 89pts] + Techmarine [5 PL, 89pts]: Bolt pistol, Power maul [4pts] . Servo-harness [1 PL, 40pts]: Flamer [9pts], Plasma cutter [7pts], 2x Servo-arm [24pts] + Troops [6 PL, 90pts] + Scout Squad [6 PL, 90pts]: 5x Camo cloak [15pts] . Scout Sergeant [15pts]: Bolt pistol, Sniper rifle [4pts] . 4x Scout w/Sniper Rifle [60pts]: 4x Sniper rifle [16pts] + Elites [8 PL, 165pts] + Contemptor Dreadnought [8 PL, 165pts]: Combi-bolter [2pts], Dreadnought combat weapon [40pts], Kheres pattern assault cannon [25pts] + Heavy Support [80 PL, 1649pts] + Relic Leviathan Dreadnought [16 PL, 331pts]: 2x Heavy flamer [34pts] . Leviathan melee weapon [72pts]: Leviathan siege claw [55pts], Meltagun [17pts] . Storm cannon array [50pts] Land Raider Crusader [16 PL, 322pts]: Hunter-killer missile [6pts], 2x Hurricane bolter [8pts], Multi-melta [27pts], Storm bolter [2pts], Twin assault cannon [35pts] Predator [9 PL, 197pts]: Hunter-killer missile [6pts], Predator autocannon [49pts], Storm bolter [2pts], Two Lascannons [50pts] Predator [9 PL, 197pts]: Hunter-killer missile [6pts], Predator autocannon [49pts], Storm bolter [2pts], Two Lascannons [50pts] Predator [9 PL, 197pts]: Hunter-killer missile [6pts], Predator autocannon [49pts], Storm bolter [2pts], Two Lascannons [50pts] Vindicator [7 PL, 135pts] Vindicator [7 PL, 135pts] Vindicator [7 PL, 135pts] Deployment: LRC is keystone with Predators & Vindicators to either side of the battle line. Techmarine supports vehicles. Dreads camp the flanks & screen the tanks from CC (Levi with Preds, Contepmtor with Vindis), but not forward enough that they are the closest unit for enemy fire turn 1. Sniper squad deploys last for optimal positioning in cover to whittle down attacker HQ. Tactics: Turn 1, no one moves unless they have to. Focus fire alpha strike all HK missiles on biggest enemy target.Use the command points on the campaign stratagem to double up fire on the LRC if anyone dares get close. Praise the Emperor and pass the ammunition. Pros: This list will give a big bonus to VP as every vehicle that gets a kill generates another point on top of the VP awarded for kills. Cons: This list can get locked up in CC quickly if it's a fast moving list on the other side of the table. If that's the case I will drop the scout squad and one of the Dreads for some more boots on the ground. Thoughts?