The Phantoms V4

[Hubernator]

Origins

The Phantoms are heroes forged in the crucible of war; a Chapter that to an extent shows the true nature of Space Marines and the constant adaption to the flow of battle. Indeed, their faithful acts in the Emperor’s name have been as widespread as many other Chapters before them - remembered by word of mouth, grafted into legends and forever entombed into history. The Chapter was born during the 25th Founding - a time, like many others, when the Imperium required increasing defence against their foes. It was during this time that the 6th Company of the Raven Guard, lead by Captain Juvieus Kaine, were undergoing extensive warfare against the Greenskin menace as the Orks prepared to launch a mighty Waaagh! into the Galaxy. It had been recognised by many that the Captain was a creditable strategist and an impressive warrior, and the eventual victory over the Orks was of little doubt. Through surgical strikes and tactical precision perfected within their Chapter, the Marines prevailed and quelled the horde before it could escalate - striking key targets and removing leaders when the opportunity arose. Within short time, the Waaagh! was halted in its tracks and the horde dissolved into a violent rabble. After extensive research into the Captain and his Company of the Emperor’s Finest, the High Lords of Terra concluded that Captain Kaine was worthy of the honour of leading a new Chapter and approached him with the offer. The Captain accepted, and prepared a select group of his own finest men to join him in forging a new tale amongst the Stars.

 

Following such a time, the Chapter sailed onwards in a steady path towards the Eastern Fringe, encountering Imperial and Heretical systems alike. Under Captain Kaine’s command, the Chapter recruited possible candidates from various lifestyles across many worlds. Meanwhile the Fleet gathered pace, lending their new might to Imperials in dire need as their journey continued. Their success grew with victory as the Chapter purged worlds of Xenos and Heretics wherever the need was greatest – it was deemed that they would lend their full strength to only the most desperate of worlds, lest the Chapter overstretch their marshalled resources before reaching full strength. As the Chapter reached a stable point in size, the Fleet crossed into the Eastern Fringe. The Captain, formally designated as Chapter Master, made the decision to find a suitable system to begin reinforcing their Chapter to bring the numbers to full strength. During the search they received distress calls from the Kavious system, violently under siege from Orks and Chaos Space Marines. The Chapter Master took this as a sign and immediately ordered planet fall to quell both threats in the swiftest of manners. While the Orks appeared to be the aggressors, it was the Chaos Marines that were the driving force of the growing horde. From careful plans and swift orders, the Chapter employed all its knowledge and experience from Veterans past to drive the horde back and remove the threat. Striking with Assault troops to disrupt surges in power and utilising lighting strikes to cut off supplies & destroy valuable assets, the combined attacks proved lethal - collaborating into the purging of the Orks force in weeks and the Chaos Marines shortly afterward. In the dying moments of the war, Kaine came to a conclusion. Up until this moment they were a nameless Chapter. Henceforth he decided they shall not be nameless; they shall now be known as the Phantoms - lords of lightning warfare, and the system will be their home.

 

Shortly after the events in the Kavious system, the Chapter claimed Kavious Prime as their homeworld and constructing a Fortress Monastery. In due time the Chapter gathered many more recruits from the system, bolstering their strength to full, allowing for the Chapter to begin full duties for the Imperium. From then onwards, the Chapter has proved its worth on many worlds, with Chapter Master Kaine leading them to glory time against many a foe. And as the wise man eventually passed on into the Emperor’s Light, a new figure took the helm and has lead the Chapter ever since. Newly appointed Chapter Master Arjax Verrus has taken the reins of the Chapter in his stride, further setting the example of a great leader and ensuring that the Phantoms remain in duty to the Imperium.

 

 

Homeworld

The planet of Kavious Prime is the Phantom’s homeworld – a world seeped in history within its waning populace and scenes of battle. Once a thriving hive world, the planet has since degraded after countless wars against the fearsome Greenskins and the added might of Chaos thrashing against their walls. When the Phantoms had arrived in the sector from calls of distress, they found a world in the climax of war. Lending their might to the cause, they managed to quell the Ork horde and eliminate the Chaos forces at the heart of the battle. Despite this victory, the planet has not fully recovered from its losses.

 

What remains of Kavious Prime’s history bears remnants of its once greatness. After its conquering and colonisation during the Great Crusade, the world soon became populated and self sufficient enough to grow into a colony. Vast settlements were constructed across the continents, from lowly villages and towns to mighty fortress cities that towered into the sky. Amongst the mountain ranges the most majestic fortresses were constructed, indeed for their purpose to be the last strongholds before the planet falls. Forges and Manufactorums were created and farms were planted, giving way to the thriving Hive world it used to be. Of the natural world, large dense forests covered the plains, covering precious soil that could easily have been dried out many years ago.

 

The aftermath of Kavious Prime was a shattered world. Towns and villages destroyed until little remained, while the great cities had been ransacked and overwhelmed, eventually abandoned and left to the elements. The once powerful factories and forges were now silent and mostly empty, looted crudely and inefficiently from the Ork horde that ravaged the world. Of the mountainous fortresses, they still remain yet show they did not escape the carnage. Craters and holes of various sizes litter the walls, scorch marks etched into the rockcrete from crude flamethrowers and rogue missiles. The land itself has since been left to suffer, with the local vegetation withering and dying in the heat from the system’s star Incendia. With its proximity to Incendia it was a wonder how foliage survived under the intense heat – under the crucible of war, it barely lasted, trampled and chopped down to clear the path for the Orks. The populace however survived the war on Kavious Prime but in the process lost their technologies to a combination of Ork looting and destruction. As such the populace had to rely on simple stone tools and tribal instincts of their ancestors past.

 

All is not ruined and desolate however. After the Phantoms arrival and eventual claim to the world, the condition of the world has vastly improved. Now under the guidance of the Space Marines, the technologies once lost have been recovered and the planet is regaining its strength. Wildlife is being tended to and much care pured back into the ecosystem, aiding a fast recovery. The crumbling ruins are being rebuilt to house the populace once more. New forges are being constructed, with aid from the small group of Techmarines and servitors, to replenish the weapons and tools lost to the people and to provide future munitions for the Chapter. Of the mountain fortresses, these have undergone extensive reinforcing to further bolster the planet’s defences, with fully functional gun batteries, greatly reinforced walls & shields, and evacuation landing pads implemented. One has been reconstructed as the Chapter’s Fortress Monastery, forever a Keep for their newfound domain.

 

Such domain is located deep within the mountains to the South of Kavious Prime’s current acting capital city of Thersus. The fortress constructed long ago has since undergone extensive changes from its previous form. Shield generators and armouries have been constructed, while various defence arrays have been put into place. A stealth field is also in place to hide the fortress from prying eyes. Within the fortress, the once large town hall is now a Grand Hall, banners draped from the high ceiling to the ground.  

Combat Doctinre

 

Much like their parent Chapter, the Phantoms have retained, and in some regard, refined their skills at surgical strikes and lightning assaults. Unlike their parent Chapter however they lack at current times the resources to constantly replenish their supplies and replace lost weapons of war. As such the Chapter has been forced to take a more strict use of their current resources, forcing a focused intent on completing a task with as little resources as possible. While it may appear conservative it has indeed reaped far greater reward, as the strikes planned must be planned and executed with no mistakes - failure is not an option. This in turn has produced a very professional outlook on the battlefield, asking for much more tactical thought and precision before full commitment is given. In lieu, wargear used is of little exception. The Phantoms makes heavy use of Assault troops and Drop-Pod landings to secure areas and deploy firepower where it is required. While vehicles can be used they are often left until frontal assault is unavoidable. Ultimately, it is the Scouts who remain vital to any task. The Chapter makes full use of their numerous amount of initiates – sending them in many days before the initial strikes begin. Armed and cloaked from prying eyes, they deploy deep into enemy territory for reconnaissance and, when it is required, surgical strikes against key targets. As such Scouts on foot, on bike or via Landspeeder Storm make the core of a Phantoms strike force, providing the much needed data their Battle Brothers depend upon to launch their assaults.

 

Dreadnoughts and Terminator armour are very rarely used on the battlefield – only applied when the need is greatest. Dreadnoughts like the Ironclad will often deploy via Drop-pod to enter the fray alongside their Battle Brothers, using their mass and weapons to bring additional offensive power to the battle. Terminators are more deployed with ranged weapons, teleported to the battlefield where the need for ranged firepower is dire. Weapons like the Assault Cannon are more favoured for suppressive damage output alongside the Storm Bolters – Heavy Flamers employed when hordes are involved.

 

On the battlefield the Phantoms will always push for the advantage – whether it is higher ground or the weakest point in the target. Any other method is considered flawed in logic – the Chapter fights by its own rules or none. This has caused disagreement when working alongside other Chapters or armies of the Imperium if they dictate another method of war that does not suit the Phantom’s liking. Such stubbornness has almost lead to disaster in a campaign but little comes of it – the Phantoms execute their tasks as planned and the battle is won. This is not to say the Phantoms do not co-operate with allies – indeed they share good relations with those that favour similar tactics of their own. Their parent Chapter and the White Scars in particular share good relations with the Phantoms amongst the few Chapters that utilise such lightning assaults.

 

 

Organisation

The Phantoms adhere to the Codex Astartes much like many Chapters before them, however the Chapter does not make full use of the designated Company layouts the book dictates. Indeed, within each Company is a compulsory unit of Scouts – their potential at gathering valuable information is something that cannot be ignored. The majority of the Company is comprised of Tactical Marines and Assault Marines, deployed with drop-pods and jump-packs respectively, with a Captain at the helm. Dreadnoughts are in small number within the Companies – this is mainly due to the lack of Marines able to fill the vacancies as many fail to survive the war at hand before being encased. Of those that do become Dreadnoughts, they are commonly deployed via drop-pod alongside the drop-pod assault. Ironclads are highly sought after and more common due to their sheer strength and toughness.

 

The 1st Company like many other Chapters is the Veteran Company, lead by the Chapter Master Arjax Verrus. Veterans of the 1st Company are not bound by their Company designation – their service is just as invaluable as the Scouts reconnaissance. Their tactical wisdom and experience is highly regarded and sought after, and their precision and skill on the battlefield is always desired. As such Veterans will deploy alongside a Strike force, willing to lend their expertise to the battle. Veterans however have been known to be far more stubborn to reason with, as their own skill is dictated from their martial training and countless battles perfecting the skill at which the Chapter excels. However when wars require it, the Veterans will descend into battle as their Company, deployed via Jump-pack or Terminator armour in most cases.

 

The 9th Company has been unofficially designated the Armoured Company, where the Chapter’s small armoury is brought forth. Lightweight Predator tanks, Vindicators and Whirlwinds await in this Company, prepared to lend their firepower to a Company if required. Landraiders are also present but these tend to see more action should the Terminator-clad brethren require the mighty armour for the task at hand.

 

The 10th Company is still formally designated as the Scout Company. However, due to the nature of the Chapter’s organisation, the Company is marginally small compared to other Scout Companies of other Chapters. Fresh initiatives will take to the Scout Company before they are promoted to serve their duties in the other main Companies. Within the Scout Company an initiate will learn the very basics of their role, being drilled in the art of lightning warfare and reconnaissance.

 

 

Beliefs

The Phantoms have always regarded the Emperor as a mighty being of age – the finest warrior to walk the plains of many planets across the stars. He is the epitome of Mankind and should be respected & honoured as such. The Phantoms hold the Emperor in high esteem alongside their Primarch, both of which the Phantoms believe they should aspire to become. In a way they feel their own Founding Chapter Master had reached the pinnacle - worthy of joining the ranks of honoured alongside the Emperor and their Primarch.

 

Their respect for their fellow Battle Brothers however wavers. Due to the changing nature of the Chapter in its earlier form, the Phantoms have adopted a stubborn nature; believing their own methods of warfare are second to none, with exception to their Parent Chapter. As such they feel that any of their fellow Space Marines who have not adopted this form of warfare, nor put it into practise, are seen as inferior to the Phantoms; considered unskilled at defeating the foes at hand. Because of this the Chapter has had very few alliances with other Chapters or indeed forces of the Imperium. Alliances forged for war have often ended or been cast into doubt as the Phantoms insist on their own tactics and strategies to be used rather than compromising to achieve the goal. This is not to say the Chapter has not forged solid alliances. In the infrequent instance where the Phantoms and their allies share the same ideals, the Phantoms are considered valuable allies to the cause – offering their own skills and knowledge to further improve the outcome of a war. The White Scars and Raven Guard Chapters in particular share good relations with the Phantoms, as do elements of the Elysian Drop Troops of the Imperial Guard.

 

Similar to their parent Chapter, the Phantoms have a negative view towards the usage of Dreadnought and Terminator armour. Due to the bulk and lack of pace behind both Dreadnoughts and Terminator armour, the Phantoms have often found the need for such armour of little value as the application of such power is often too late or too slow. However, unlike their parent Chapter, the Phantoms do recognise the need for the mighty power the Tactical Dreadnought suits and Dreadnought armour could bring to a battlefield. As such the Chapter have made small uses of the items in question, but in very small numbers – read to be used when firepower is needed at the most direst of moments.

 

 

Gene-seed

The Gene-seed of the Phantoms is from the Raven Guard Chapter, used in the first Marines under the command of Chapter Master Kaine. As through the ages the Gene-seed has degraded but with no significant consequences apparent thus far. The Gene-seed however has reacted differently to the initiatives from their Homeworld. Rather than the eventual paling of the skin to near-white and the darkening of hair to black, the recruits from Kavious Prime show greater resistance to the change and instead maintain their tanned skin for much longer. As the Gene-seed has been passed on and the bulk of active initiates be comprised from their Homeworld, the Phantoms have been able to avoid the mutation like their parent Chapter for longer periods of time. During times of old age does the mutation occur and in rapid time, as demonstrated by Chapter Master Kaine in his final years – a pale black-haired figure much like those of the Raven Guard.

 

 

Battlecry

Little is known of the Phantoms battlecry as it is rarely uttered in times of war. With the Chapter’s heavy reliance on lightning warfare, a battlecry is often not required – leaving the warzone in silence as the Chapter descends and engages the enemy. One battlecry has emerged though, uttered infrequently before an assault begins:

“Strike from the Skies!”

[Octavulg]

Why do people insist on doing that? Just keep the current version in the first post, and that way people don't have to scroll through the thread trying to find it.

[Hubernator]

Okay, got some questions and some bits of news. Yes I'm trying these guys again. This will be slow (college work in the way) but I at least have a heading. Beforehand I didn't have a proper theme for them, which many pointed out. So I thought before I started this version, I should get a theme. So with a help of a friend, I have decided to base them off the SAS (Special Air Service). Any additional information would be mighty handy about them besides the wiki page. I will do some proper research at some point.

 

Now for some questions:

- Would a Chapter be willing to share their tactica with a newer Chapter? As In, could Chapter B ask Chapter A to teach them about their tactics?

- Which geneseed should I use? White Scars as before, or Raven Guard? I'm rather unsure which is more appropriate in terms of the theme.

 

EDIT

Why do people insist on doing that? Just keep the current version in the first post, and that way people don't have to scroll through the thread trying to find it.

I'm doing this so people don't have to scroll down for the IA. All updates of said IA would go into the first post and I'm pretty much starting again...again...again :D

[Octavulg]

- Would a Chapter be willing to share their tactica with a newer Chapter? As In, could Chapter B ask Chapter A to teach them about their tactics?

 

I don't see why not. The question is why the other Chapter would ask. It's a very humble thing to do, and Space Marines are rarely humble.

 

- Which geneseed should I use? White Scars as before, or Raven Guard? I'm rather unsure which is more appropriate in terms of the theme.

 

Any would work. I'd lean toward White Scars over Raven Guard, since the RG are massively unstable.

 

What about the SAS are you using as inspiration, and how will you be distinguishing them from the Raven Guard and Alpha Legion?

 

I'm doing this so people don't have to scroll down for the IA.

 

Who has to scroll? It's in the first post when you need to look at it...

 

Ah, wait. You're just leaving it blank 'cause you're still planning, rather than those people who for some reason insist on leaving the first post for the final version, despite how annoying that makes it to find the IA in the rest of the thread.

[Hubernator]

- Would a Chapter be willing to share their tactica with a newer Chapter? As In, could Chapter B ask Chapter A to teach them about their tactics?

I don't see why not. The question is why the other Chapter would ask. It's a very humble thing to do, and Space Marines are rarely humble.

My current reason for why is that the newly elected Chapter Master is a clever man that always thought things through in terms of deployment, tactics, etc. Now being WS (at the moment) they're more favourable for lightning strikes in vehicles or on bikes. With the current formation I've used on the tabletop, it's not matched up and is more RG tactica, which I want but not full on (if that makes sense). THink a mix of RG and WS tactics which is quite fitting for the SAS theme. And I wasn't happy with the "The chapter lost its veretan brothers and had little tactics to work on, then the RG saved the day and taught them something new". Personal preference...

 

- Which geneseed should I use? White Scars as before, or Raven Guard? I'm rather unsure which is more appropriate in terms of the theme.

 

Any would work. I'd lean toward White Scars over Raven Guard, since the RG are massively unstable.

 

What about the SAS are you using as inspiration, and how will you be distinguishing them from the Raven Guard and Alpha Legion?

For the theme I'm taking both their Beliefs as it were and their deployment on the battlefield. Basic notes I had written down (solely from the wiki page at the moment) are:

 

* take their role as a marine seriously, very professional outlook

* have been known to be more friendly towards others of the same outlook

* uncompromising, will only use their rules

* use of scouts and drop-podded units most common tool. also includes WS elements of lightning strikes. terminators are rare and heavy vehicles almost unused. (stormravens used infrequently but promoted when the situation requires)

 

To differentiate from the Alpha Legion and RG I wanted a different approach to the fast warfare through the WS. Hence the previous question.

 

I'm doing this so people don't have to scroll down for the IA.

 

Who has to scroll? It's in the first post when you need to look at it...

 

Ah, wait. You're just leaving it blank 'cause you're still planning, rather than those people who for some reason insist on leaving the first post for the final version, despite how annoying that makes it to find the IA in the rest of the thread.

Correct. I have typed up the Origins but I'm not fully sure it's good enough as some of the parts I wanted to check through and the fact I wrote it at midnight :wallbash:

[Octavulg]

This: "* uncompromising, will only use their rules"

 

Contradicts directly with this:

 

"- Would a Chapter be willing to share their tactica with a newer Chapter? As In, could Chapter B ask Chapter A to teach them about their tactics?"

[Hubernator]

This: "* uncompromising, will only use their rules"

 

Contradicts directly with this:

 

"- Would a Chapter be willing to share their tactica with a newer Chapter? As In, could Chapter B ask Chapter A to teach them about their tactics?"

... Fair point. I could make it gradual. So as the first CM was flexible and over time the Chapter as a whole became rigid in mindset from the teachings of their Brothers. SO while at first they would trial new tactics to maximise their potential, in current times they won't do such a thing.

[Ecritter]

This: "* uncompromising, will only use their rules"

 

Contradicts directly with this:

 

"- Would a Chapter be willing to share their tactica with a newer Chapter? As In, could Chapter B ask Chapter A to teach them about their tactics?"

... Fair point. I could make it gradual. So as the first CM was flexible and over time the Chapter as a whole became rigid in mindset from the teachings of their Brothers. SO while at first they would trial new tactics to maximise their potential, in current times they won't do such a thing.

 

should work

[Hubernator]

Okay for anybody interested, I've been working on/off on this for a while now. I think there may be flaws but I wanted to put what I have up anyway, just in case.

 

Read, critique, enjoy, etc. And I know it's a bit of a Wall of Text, I won't add images until I'm confident this copy is good.

[Leonaides]

About time you updated this... <_<

 

I'll try and have a good snout through over the weekend for you and find some odd questions to ask (lets face it - if I didn't, you'd all wonder why!)

[Hubernator]

About time you updated this... :D

 

I'll try and have a good snout through over the weekend for you and find some odd questions to ask (lets face it - if I didn't, you'd all wonder why!)

Take your time good sir, I've got mine kinda stocked up with various... "grown up" things.