Index Astartes: Iron Angels

[Titan87]

Iron Angels

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http://www.bolterandchainsword.com/hq2.gif); background-repeat: no-repeat; background-position: 8px 2px; padding: 12px 8px 12px 8px; border: 1px solid #DDD; margin-left: 0 auto; text-align: left; color: #fff; text-indent:50px; font-size:130%; width:50%;">Organization

Following The Crusade of Fire Malachi began meditating on what he needed to do to save the Iron Angels. Nearly the entire chapter had been destroyed; in fact only 200 of the 400 marines remaining had been Initiates on Lutzen where the crusade had begun. Malachi knew changes were necessary to ensure the survival of the chapter. In honor of the deeds of those who had lived through The Crusade of Fire Malachi renamed the First company The Revenants, and inducted the 200 marines who had survived since Lutzen. While these veterans were the foundation of the chapter, as they had ever been, Malachi knew that the future of the chapter lay with its neophytes. The most crippling blow of the battle at Lutzen was the destruction of the 10th company. As such, Malachi decided decreed that neophytes would be spread throughout the fleet instead of in a fleet training company to ensure that the entirety of the chapter’s neophytes could never be destroyed in one fell swoop.
Malachi also reorganized the fleet assignments. Each fleet would be composed of two Battle Companies made up of 100 initiates, each assigned their own strike cruiser, 1 Training Company composed of 50 initiates and 50 neophytes, and a company of 50 veterans (100 veterans in the case of the Grand Master’s fleet) who would occupy the fleet battle barge. Each Company would be led by the captain, while the veteran company was led by the Fleet’s Knight Champion. Two fleets would be commanded by the chapter Preceptors, with the Celestial Warrior and its attendant fleet remaining under direct command of the Grand Master. The Grand Master is obliged to listen to the advice of the Preceptors and captains, but retains final authority over the chapter.

Gene-Seed

Venerable Dreadnought Gideon, the First Grand Master of the Iron Angels, has stated that the training Iron Angels are descended from Roboute Guilliman and were trained by the Ultramarines 3rd company. Though the chapter is from Ultramarine gene-stock, the gene-seed of the Iron Angels has a strange affect on aspirants. None of the apothecaries understands why, but the progenoid of the Iron Angels reacts to any psychic talent killing any aspirant who can touch the warp. As such, the chapter is devoid of librarians, as none can survive the implantation process. In truth, the chapter prefers this, as their hatred for the psyker is legendary.

Beliefs

The Iron Angels are not a member of the imperial cult; instead, as is the case with most Astartes they venerate the Emperor of Mankind as their father and pray to stand by his side in the final battle. Additionally they venerate both Robute Guilliman as their Primarch and their genetic father. Though not prone to superstition the Iron Angels do believe that Guilliman is slowly healing, and will one day return to lead the Ultramarines and their successors when the fate of humanity is in its greatest time of need. While the Iron Angels take great pride in their lineage they have become far more zealous than many of their brethren in the years since its founding. Indeed the Iron Archon’s hatred of the enemies of the Imperium is rivaled by only a few chapters in the Imperium. The chapter is unyielding in its pursuit of the alien, the witch, and the heretic and will go to any length to rid the Imperium of its enemies, both internal and external.

Combat Doctrine

The core of any Iron Angels army will always be its veterans. These deadly warriors always form the tip of the spear, and are supported by the members of the training and battle companies. As a chapter the Iron Angels weapon of choice is the blade when dealing with the foes of mankind, preferring to dispense their judgment on enemies of mankind in the fires of close combat warfare. From its inception, the chapter has tended toward pinpoint strikes with overwhelming firepower. First Identifying a weakness and then bringing as much power to bear on that weakness as possible. Indeed the penchant of the Iron Angels for daring coup de grace tactics has earned them a reputation for tactical genius, as well the labels of headstrong and impulsive.

The Iron Angels are usually seen in the vanguard of invasion fleets leading boarding actions to clear the way for further planetary operations. Their expertise as a crusade fleet with hundreds of naval operations has hardened the chapter to the unique environment of ship to ship warfare. Indeed it was in this role that the Iron Angels served under the command of the Black Templar's High Marshall Helbrecht in the orbital ward during the Third War for Armageddon.

Once their duty in space had been fulfilled the chapter prefers to employ a pincer strategy combining units of mechanized veterans with reserved forces striking from the orbit. This traps the enemy in place and forcing them to fight on two fronts.

Battle Cry

"Honor through Victory, Victory through Purity, Purity through Hate"
“Victory or Death”

[Titan87]

Chapter edited, review and suggestions please. I would really like to get this into the Librarium some day.

[Titan87]

First draft completed. Please, comment.