The Warp Hawks of Marr

[Captain Denaro]

Below is the background for my DIY Chapter that I've been toying with for some time now. I always meant to write something but have only finally got round to it. I'd really appreciate any feedback, in particular I've gone with the much maligned "lost in the warp" story. The reason being that initially I had real problems deciding whether to have them Ultramarine or Imperial Fist successors, so I just made them both essentially (Ultramarine gene-seed with Imperial Fist influences). I feel there's a weakness there (other than the obvious lost in warp bit) mainly because I haven't enough knowledge of warp space, warp travel, navigators etc. Any help would be great.

 

The other thing I'm a bit dodgy on is what exactly a "rapid-response" chapter would be. Initally I was going to go with an armoured chapter but have fitted that idea into the 5th company and evolved. I'm not overly keen on stealth and infiltration for my marines - it just doesn't feel mariney enough for me. Again any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

Anyway, hope you like it...

 

THE WARP HAWKS OF MARR CHAPTER OF THE LEGIONES ASTARTES

 

The Warp Hawks of Marr are a 25th Founding Chapter created in the wake of the Imperium’s first encounter with the Necron Empire. The Chapter was founded using stock of Ultramarine gene-seed sourced from the 2nd Founding Novamarine Chapter.

 

Whilst still without a name Chapter-designate 726’s gene-seed, founding equipment and a cadre of Novamarine training personnel began the long journey upon the Mechanicus gifted Battle Barge, Glory of the Imperium in search of a suitable home world in the galactic south-east of the Ultima Segmentum. During a scheduled warp jump the Barge became lost in the immaterium and feared destroyed. Seven years later a distress signal was picked up by a Crusade force belonging to the Imperial Fists Chapter who located and made contact with the missing Glory of the Imperium.

 

The Fists found the ship’s navigator in a catatonic state, neither waking nor sleeping having suffered psychic meltdown. Otherwise the Barge was intact and unharmed, and had been drifting in the warp for what seemed like only a few short months to the crew and marines on board. No explanation could be found to explain what had happened and the crew were unable to explain how they had exited the immaterium. The Glory was escorted to the Phalanx were the precious gene-seed was studied and found to be pure and untainted by its long exposure to the Warp. Following much debate it was decreed that due to the increasing threat of the Necrons, the formation of the Chapter would continue as before under the scrutiny and tutelage of the Inquisition and Imperial Fists.

 

This continued until such numbers of brothers and equipment were created to allow the Chapter to stand alone. No signs of warp taint could be found and Chapter 726 (still nameless) recommenced its journey to find a home world.

 

The Hive World of Marr had long caused concern to the Administratum, frequently missing its manpower tithes to the Imperial Guard and under-producing its vast and valuable mineral resources. For this reason it was gifted to Chapter 726 as its home world. The planet housed two vast hive cities; one at each pole with a vast wilderness of mountains, oceans and forest covering the rest of the planet with scattered settlements and outposts dotted across the planet surface.

 

The Chapter’s first Master, Verinus Octavian named Chapter 726 The Hawklords of Marr in commemoration of the speed in which the Chapter seized control of Marr from its governor and cleansed rebellious elements within the planet’s administration. The Hawklords Chapter immediately began implementing Imperial order across Marr and its surrounding systems.

 

It soon became apparent that although the Hawklords had escaped any taint of Chaos from its long exposure to the Warp, it had not escaped completely unscathed. Ships containing Hawklord Battle-Brothers were able to travel longer and faster through the immaterium. Studies by the Inquisition found that the Chapter gene-seed had mutated, allowing vessels carrying Hawklord marines to attune to the Astronomican and magnify the powers of Chapter Navigators. This at least in part explained how the Glory of the Imperium had managed to escape the warp all those years before.

 

The result of this was that the Hawklords found themselves transformed into a rapid-response force, often arriving long before other Imperial forces to a war zone following a call for assistance. They were renamed The Warp Hawks of Marr, or more usually just the Warp Hawks.

 

Home world

Marr is a Hive World located in the far south-east of the Ultima Segmentum and is part of a small cluster of star systems known as the Evenstar Cluster. It is a small planet of temperate climate, considerably smaller than Terra with an atmosphere and eco-system not unlike that of mankind’s ancient home.

Two vast hive cities (Marr Borealis in the north and Marr Meridianus to the south) cover each pole from which the planet’s vast resources are mined deep from beneath the planet’s surface. The rest of the planet is covered in vast forests and agri-lands, with numerous settlements of varying size dotted across the landscape inter-connected by a network of travel tubes.

 

The planet’s population numbers approximately 13 billion, with over 8 billion inhabiting the northern hive city and 4 billion in the south. The others are spread out, predominantly along the coastal regions in settlements numbering from a handful of citizens to cities housing several million.

 

The Fortress-Monastery of the Warp Hawks Chapter is located in a mountainous region just north of the equator. Called the Fortress of Light, much of it is situated below the surface.

 

Much of the Chapter’s recruits are drawn from the hive-cities of Marr, predominantly from the gangs that roam the under-hive. It is however a great honour for any citizen to be elevated to the ranks of the Astartes and every family, from the highest noble clan to the lowliest indentured labourer, gain great honour from having a son chosen to join the ranks of the Great Star Warriors, or failing that as a Chapter equerry destined to serve the Battle-Brothers.

 

Since their arrival the Warp Hawks have implemented reforms similar to those of Gulliman and the Ultramarines in Ultramar. The result of this is that outside of the lower echelons of the hive-cities the citizens are found to be productive, disciplined and loyal to the Chapter and Imperium of Man. The hive-cities have deliberately been excluded from these reforms, due to the immense and near impossible task of pacifying the vast domains and in an effort to maintain a strong manpower resource for the Chapter and PDF. Additionally local PDF units gain much experience defending the under-hive mine installations from gangers.

 

Marr is far from self-sufficient in food production, but has vast natural resources of minerals and manpower that are used for manufacture and trade with neighbouring systems, making the planet both prosperous and valuable to the Imperium. Should war come however, supplies of food rations to sustain the planet for several months are stored in vast warehouses deep beneath the planet’s surface. Once these are expended it is estimated that stringent control of existing food supplies and manufacture will allow the planetary defence to be maintained for several years unfortuantely at the expense of the majority of the population.

 

Recruitment to the Chapter is slow, so to counter this every Warp Hawk Strike Cruiser as well as the Chapter’s Battle Barges are equipment to enable recruitment of fresh manpower from any system visited by the forces of the Chapter. Approximately one-third of neophytes are recruited in this manner.

 

Combat Doctrine

The Warp Hawks are a rapid-response force due to their ability to quickly arrive in war zones. The force commander will quickly isolate and neutralise key installations such as command, communication and power resources then withdraw into orbit to harry enemy forces into surrender or to await the arrival of reinforcements. The Chapter utilities drop pod assaults to great effect.

 

It is rare for a crusade force of more than half a company to be assembled mainly due to lack of personnel.

 

One exception to this occurred in the year 975.M41, when a force of Warp Hawks led by Captain Antonius and the 4th Company responded to a distress call from beleaguered Imperial forces on the Hive-World of Hierocles. Upon arrival to the system the crusade force consisting a total of 324 Battle-Brothers and no less than 6 fleet assets, including the venerable Battle Barge Glory of the Imperium, reported that the system was under attack from an unknown xenos force. This was the last communication made by Crusade-Force Antonius, as shortly afterwards the system’s star suffered a supernova, destroying much of the surrounding stellar space including several prosperous and important planets. Investigations indicate that this was caused by the xenos but to date it is unclear which species is responsible. Crusade-Force Antonius is currently listed as Missing Feared Annihilated.

 

Beliefs

The Warp Hawks honour Roboute Gulliman as Primarch as taught by their parent Novamarine and Ultramarine Chapters. He is held as the Master. However, due to the long time spent on the Phalanx and the training and direction provided by the Imperial Fists Chapter, Rogal Dorn is also held in high esteem as the Chapter Founder.

 

Before battle the longest serving marine (which is not necessarily the highest ranking) will lead the assembled Battle-Brothers in prayer, when simple offerings will be made to each of the cardinal points of the compass when on a planet, or the galactic core-points when in space. This is to honour The Emperor as Creator (north), Gulliman as Master (east), Dorn as Founder (south) and Holy Terra as Home (west).

 

At the end of each day each Brother will face west towards Terra and make a simple blessing of gratitude to the Emperor of Mankind. When a Chaplain is present he will lead this ceremony, otherwise it is a personal moment when each Battle-Brother gives thanks for the day past and the day to come.

 

Organisation

The Warp Hawks of Marr view themselves as strict adherents to the sacred Codex Astartes in honour of both Gulliman and Dorn, the Master and Founder respectively. However, due to problems in recruiting neophytes and severe battle losses frequently sustained from Warp Hawk crusade fleets arriving first to a war zone, the Chapter has never fielded a full complement of warriors.

 

Losses are only very slowly replaced; consequently the Warp Hawks 7th Company was never formed and the 1st has rarely fielded more than 50 Battle-Brothers. Also the 5th is maintained as a tank company retaining a permanent complement of Predator battle-tanks. This divergence from the teachings of the sacred Codex is viewed as temporary, until such a time as the Chapter reaches full strength.

 

Gene-seed

The untainted Gulliman gene-seed sustained 7 years of warp exposure and although subsequent study indicated no chaos corruption, it soon became clear that the precious cargo had not been left completely untainted. Marines of the Warp Hawk Chapter have an ability to magnify a ship's Navigator powers and allow longer and faster warp travel.

 

Another consequence of this exposure appears to be that the failure rate of prospective neophytes is well above the norm, making recruitment and replacement of battle losses extremely slow. In the late 41st millennium were war is almost constant this has had dire consequences on the Chapter’s manpower; particularly following the Hierocles incident. The future of the Warp Hawks remains unclear unless some respite can be found from the constant maelstrom of battle.

 

Battle Cry

“For the Emperor” (Imperator Gratia) is used as a formal greeting between Battle-Brothers and is chanted by Brothers at the outset of battle.

 

Appendix A

Current Chapter disposition at 0.001.999.M41

Chapter Command

Oliverius Gaius Tullius Magne, High Regent of Marr, Master of the Warp Hawks

9 Honour Guard

1 Land Raider

Clarc Karael,

Reclusiarch and Master of Sanctity 1300 Chapter Equerries, serfs and servitors

 

Armoury

Ernuld Kryton, Master of the Forge

 

23 Techmarines

103 Tech Servitors

 

9 Predators

6 Whirlwinds

6 Vindicators

5 Land Raiders

21 Razorbacks

 

Apothecarion

Takahashi Slade, Chief Apothecary

12 Apothecaries

 

Fleet

Cornelius Marcus Julio, Master-Admiral of the Fleet

1 Battle Barge (Defender of the Faith: Defensor Fidei)

7 Strike Cruiser

3 Cobra RSV

2 Gladius Patrol

1 Sword RSV

1 Firestorm RSV

1 Hunter Destroyer

27 Thunderhawk Gunships

 

Librarius

Chief Librarian Wil Sassoon

3 Epistolaries

10 Codiciers

6 Lexicanium

7 Acolytum

 

Order of Battle (includes Captain, Chaplain(s) and Company HQ)

1 Captain Cantor, Knight Commander of Marr

16 Terminators, 29 veterans

2 Captain Stark , Master of the Watch

106 Battle Company marines

3 Captain Artur Denaro, Master of the Rites

107 Battle Company marines

4 0 – missing since Hierocles Incident (Captain Antonius, Master of the Gates)

5 Captain Cronus, Master of the Arsenal

36 marines, 7 Predators, 3 Razorbacks

6 Captain Kaan, Master of the Marches

77 Tactical marines

7 0 – Never created

8 Captain Josef, Chief Victualler

30 Assault marines

9 Captain Lucius

26 Devastator marines

10 Captain Nyasala , Master of Recruits

71 Scouts, 16 HQ, 11 Neophytes (survival rate at 23%)

Total: 514 Battle-Brothers

 

 

Appendix B

Lost 975.M41 during Hierocles Incident

1 Battle Barge (Glory of the Imperium)

1 Strike Cruiser

2 Gladius RSV

1 Sword RSV

1 Nova Gunship

 

1 20 Terminators

4 107 Battle Company marines

6 62 Tactical marines

8 53 Assault marines

9 40 Devastator marines

10 30 Scouts

 

HQ 7 Techmarines, 3 Apothecaries, 3 Librarians, 31 servitors

Total: 324 Brothers

 

3 Land Raiders

6 Predators

4 Razorbacks

4 Whirlwinds

5 Vindicators

11 Thunderhawks

[voi shet magir]

I was sold at the name. It's a good thing too, because the story is just all over the place.

 

I think, if you feel like making total tear-down renovations to the article, that you don't need all kinds of history from before the chapter got its name and planet. What they do now, and what characters from its modern incarnation are like are what you should write about.

 

It's a fine premise, so stick with that. Just write out the premise as the whole article, and fill in the tortuous justifications later. It's like writing the introduction and conclusion after you've done the method and discussion.

 

The warp hawks have mysterious abilities to show up quickly, their companies are understrength as a result of poor geneseed acceptance. Write those in, then the lost-in-the-warp scenario recedes in importance, even though it's still there.

[NightrawenII]

Hello and welcome in the Liber.

 

I gather, you know the Guide to DIY. Nice, less things to worry about. Although, the OctaGuide 2.0 is good read too. ^_^

 

Disclaimer: I'm harsh, sarcastic, obnoxious, persistent and sometimes even rude. Don't be discouraged. After all, it's just opinion of random guy on internet and therefore it shouldn't be taken seriously. ^_^

 

Now, onto slaughter... I mean comments&critique :) .

 

The other thing I'm a bit dodgy on is what exactly a "rapid-response" chapter would be.

- This is problematic in a different way. - All Chapters of Space Marines are rapid-response Chapters, so yeah... umm... :lol:

 

The Warp Hawks of Marr are a 25th Founding Chapter created in the wake of the Imperium’s first encounter with the Necron Empire. The Chapter was founded using stock of Ultramarine gene-seed sourced from the 2nd Founding Novamarine Chapter.

- I haven't read the new Codex, but the first recorded contact with Necrons was after the 26th Founding.

 

the formation of the Chapter would continue as before under the scrutiny and tutelage of the Inquisition and Imperial Fists.

- I could understand the Inquisition, but why Imperial Fists?? You have already esteemed training cadre.

 

Ships containing Hawklord Battle-Brothers were able to travel longer and faster through the immaterium. Studies by the Inquisition found that the Chapter gene-seed had mutated, allowing vessels carrying Hawklord marines to attune to the Astronomican and magnify the powers of Chapter Navigators.

- Eh, the Astronomican helps you keep a course, so you don't need to return in realspace for orientation purposes. How long or fast you can travel in Warp depends on the currents and navigator's fatique level, skill and experience. It will help in areas with erratic or faint light of Astronomican, otherwise not so much.

 

Beliefs

Before battle the longest serving marine (which is not necessarily the highest ranking) will lead the assembled Battle-Brothers in prayer

- A silly question; What are doing the Chaplains?

 

---

Overall:

Well, where to begin...? What you have here is pretty much standard Space Marine Chapter with warp-curse. With one eye closed, I could even say that Warp Hawks are RavenGuard, just with warp-mojo.

 

So, the question is; What do you want???

 

Cheers, NightrawenII.

[Leonaides]

The Hive World of Marr had long caused concern to the Administratum, frequently missing its manpower tithes to the Imperial Guard and under-producing its vast and valuable mineral resources. For this reason it was gifted to Chapter 726 as its home world.

Short, sweet and to the point: This doesnt make sense. If Marr has vast and valuable mineral resources (under-produced) and frequently misses its tithes, then an Administratum envoy (and assocaited armed friends - possibly an Inquisitor or two as well) will be dispatched to take direct control of the planet and the ruler probably executed for incompetence. Giving it to an Astartes Chapter simply means that instead of getting not as much as they could out of the world, they get nothing as Marine homeworlds are immune to tithing from the rest of the imperium. So no taxes, no IG recruits, no raw materials for local forge-worlds, possibly any ecclesiarchy booted out if the new chapter doesnt want them there......

[Captain Denaro]

Thanks for the feedback guys, sorry you didn't like it. It’s my first effort and I’d be the first to admit it needs refining, hence I posted here.

 

If I read you right voi shet magir you’re saying that I should cut the intro to 1 paragraph and fill the rest out with more recent events? To be honest I haven’t given the present time too much thought to date.

 

Nightrawen

The other thing I'm a bit dodgy on is what exactly a "rapid-response" chapter would be.

- This is problematic in a different way. - All Chapters of Space Marines are rapid-response Chapters, so yeah... umm... ermm.gif

I had problems with the rapid response theme for that reason, but I’m sure I read that one of the chapters involved in the Badab Wars was used for just that role but I’ll look at it again.

 

 

The Warp Hawks of Marr are a 25th Founding Chapter created in the wake of the Imperium’s first encounter with the Necron Empire. The Chapter was founded using stock of Ultramarine gene-seed sourced from the 2nd Founding Novamarine Chapter.

- I haven't read the new Codex, but the first recorded contact with Necrons was after the 26th Founding.

According to B&C timeline, first contact with the Necrons was 666.M40 and I thought the 25th Founding occurred not too long after this. But if as you say the first recorded Imperial contact wasn’t until after the 26th Founding I’ll have to re-look at that. Just thought it tied in.

 

 

the formation of the Chapter would continue as before under the scrutiny and tutelage of the Inquisition and Imperial Fists.

- I could understand the Inquisition, but why Imperial Fists?? You have already esteemed training cadre.

I think I need to take another look at the Imperial Fists association, maybe just tie the chapter to the Ultras and forget the Fists influence altogether.

 

 

Ships containing Hawklord Battle-Brothers were able to travel longer and faster through the immaterium. Studies by the Inquisition found that the Chapter gene-seed had mutated, allowing vessels carrying Hawklord marines to attune to the Astronomican and magnify the powers of Chapter Navigators.

- Eh, the Astronomican helps you keep a course, so you don't need to return in realspace for orientation purposes. How long or fast you can travel in Warp depends on the currents and navigator's fatique level, skill and experience. It will help in areas with erratic or faint light of Astronomican, otherwise not so much.

From what you write about the Astronoimcan I still think my concept works – the Battle-Brothers make the signal stronger allowing navigators to navigate better by it?

 

 

Beliefs

Before battle the longest serving marine (which is not necessarily the highest ranking) will lead the assembled Battle-Brothers in prayer

- A silly question; What are doing the Chaplains?

Hadn’t occurred to me that I’d made my chaplains redundant, thanks for pointing it out.

 

Leonaides – I see your point about Marr, my thoughts were that it would be gifted to the Warp Hawks so that they could maximise its potential for their benefit. I suppose a planet wouldn’t be rewarded for under-achievement. I wasn’t aware that marine worlds never raise Guard regiments so thanks for pointing that out.

 

Anyway, cheers for the posts, it's given me plenty of foood for thought.

[Leonaides]

Some marine worlds do raise IG regiments - see ultramarines for example - but no mrine world is obliged/required to. All imperail worlds are part fo an interconnected web - turning one into a marine world is akin to cutting it out of the web. Maybe this is why marines tend to have low-population death-worlds, since the nicer worlds are just too valuable for other reasons...

[NightrawenII]

The Warp Hawks of Marr are a 25th Founding Chapter created in the wake of the Imperium’s first encounter with the Necron Empire. The Chapter was founded using stock of Ultramarine gene-seed sourced from the 2nd Founding Novamarine Chapter.

- I haven't read the new Codex, but the first recorded contact with Necrons was after the 26th Founding.

According to B&C timeline, first contact with the Necrons was 666.M40 and I thought the 25th Founding occurred not too long after this. But if as you say the first recorded Imperial contact wasn’t until after the 26th Founding I’ll have to re-look at that. Just thought it tied in.

That was with Necron fleet, not the Necrons itself.

 

Ships containing Hawklord Battle-Brothers were able to travel longer and faster through the immaterium. Studies by the Inquisition found that the Chapter gene-seed had mutated, allowing vessels carrying Hawklord marines to attune to the Astronomican and magnify the powers of Chapter Navigators.

- Eh, the Astronomican helps you keep a course, so you don't need to return in realspace for orientation purposes. How long or fast you can travel in Warp depends on the currents and navigator's fatique level, skill and experience. It will help in areas with erratic or faint light of Astronomican, otherwise not so much.

From what you write about the Astronoimcan I still think my concept works – the Battle-Brothers make the signal stronger allowing navigators to navigate better by it?

I'm not sure, think of Astronomican as lighthouse. The Navigator "sees" the light and guides the ship accordingly. You will need to augment the perception of navigator's warp eye and I'm not sure how this would or could work.

 

 

Some marine worlds do raise IG regiments - see ultramarines for example - but no mrine world is obliged/required to. All imperail worlds are part fo an interconnected web - turning one into a marine world is akin to cutting it out of the web. Maybe this is why marines tend to have low-population death-worlds, since the nicer worlds are just too valuable for other reasons...

This+

Because anyone, who can reach his 10th year of life on DeathWorld is Space Marine candidate by default.

 

 

Cheers, NightrawenII.