First Draft: Imperial Falcons

[PyronusSouria]

Imperial Falcons

Origins

Founded as part of the 23rd Founding in M38 to reclaim the Stannis system.

Gene-Seed

Raven Guard, via Raptors.

Homeworld

Stannis IV-I (Four One) is the homeworld of the Imperial Falcons Chapter. This planet is fourth from the star, and is one of two hospitable planets. The climate of Stannis IV-I ranges from quite hot to quite cold throughout the year, with neither extreme being inhospitible. The planet is covered mostly in water, with a single large continent that spans the poles, as well as 1/3 of the Northern hemisphere and 1/4 of the Southern. A single year on the planet lasts exactly one-thousand 20 hour days.

The relations between Governor Imran Markov of Stannis IV-II and the Imperial Falcons Chapter have traditionally been strong, due largely in part to the humanitarian nature of the chapter and the Chapter Master. Currently however, relations between the two planets are tense because of the new Chapter Master's radically differing views from his predecessors on humanity.

Incident at Trahl III

After the last planet of the Trahl system was brought under compliance, Champion Bethor recieved a transmission from planetside. The Imperial loyalists had invited the Chapter Master, Torion, down to discuss the final arrangements for governance of the planet. He brought 1st Company Captain Pryce with him to help negotiate, and Bethor accompanied them. The discussion was held in the fortified bunker under the former capitol building. Shortly into the meeting, a plasma based explosive went off, devastating the meeting room and killing everyone inside. Bethor was outside the room when the blast occurred, and recovered the Chapter Master's body. When he returned to the orbiting Imperial Falcons Strike Cruiser, he immediately ordered the gunners on the ship to open fire on the planet and destroy the capitol city, the communications grids, both of the planet's spaceports and a number of civilian targets. Afterwards, he explained his actions as an anger-fuelled response to the deaths of two of his closest brothers, and that he may have over reacted.

Organization

The Imperial Falcons have always had a mostly Codex-adherant organization, with a few minor changes. Each battle company has 6 Tactical squads, 2 Devastator squads, 1 Assault squad and 1 Sentinel squad. A Sentinel squad is a squad of dedicated Scout marines who have completed their training but remain as scouts. They are treated as equal to Tactical marines, and may be mounted on bikes or land speeder storms as required. Also, the Armoury members remain completely independent from the companies, training their own drivers. Tactical squads are each assigned their own Rhino transport, meaning that Rhinos are plentiful within the Chapter, but remain within their companies and do not move around.

The First Company is also non-Codex. Instead of the traditional system, the 1st consists of fifteen six-man squads of veterans called Task Forces. These squads consist of 5 Sergeants and are led by 1 Lieutenant. One of these 15 Lieutenants is then selected to be 1st Captain. He however retains his place as a member of his Task Force. Also, the Chapter Champion is the Lieutenant of the 15th Task Force, which is a Vanguard Veteran Squad, while all the rest are Sternguard. There is currently no 1st Company Captain, or Chapter Champion, as Chapter Master Bethor has taken on both of these roles, accompanying Task Force 15 into battle.

Cloudbreaker

Although early uses of the Task Forces were highly successful, it was obvious that there was only so much that could be done by a squad of that size. Their standard combi-bolters gave them limited anti-armour ability, and heavy weapons conflicted with their infiltration doctrine. This led Chapter Master Xavier to innovate a new technology. He had his Techmarines modify and Aquila Lander, removing the area for pilots and replacing it with an autopilot system and a weapons targeting array. They removed the nose-mounted autocannon, and attached a number of missiles to the wings. He then integrated a hardened uplink to this system into the power armour of each Task Force member. This would allow them to designate a target through their HUD, sending it up to the modified Aquila in low orbit, which would then launch a missile directly at that target. This system was called “Cloudbreaker” by it's first user, Sergeant Pryce, since the missile had such velocity coming down from orbit that it created a large gap in the cloud cover where it passed through.

Combat Doctrine

The Imperial Falcons follow the Codex Astartes when it comes to warfare, but increasingly under Bethor the Codex is pushed aside in favour of his own tactics. These tactics often prove successful in battle, lending to their credibility. However, even Bethor knows when to consult the Codex, and does so for the majority of his decisions.

Task Forces

The Task Force, introduced into the Chapter by Chapter Master Xavier, was an innovation designed to create small, ultra-versatile teams that could accomplish precise objectives to change the course of a war. Extensively trained in stealth tactics, hand to hand combat and incredibly versed in the Codex, these teams act behind enemy lines, fighting many times their own number to obtain vital information or eliminate high priority targets. More than once has the Task Force uncovered the enemy's plans just in time to change the course of a battle. While Task Forces have access to special issue ammunition, plasma, flamer, and melta weaponry, grenade launchers and all types of heavy weapons, there is one asset that truly sets them apart from the Sternguard of other armies. This asset is their access to close air support, especially the Cloudbreaker missile.

Beliefs

The beliefs of the Falcons are that of the large majority of other Chapters; the Emperor is a man to be revered, but only a man. In the past, Chapter Masters of the Falcons have encouraged a humanitarian stand, but since Trahl III, an almost anti-human stand has been taken by Bethor, and by relation his marines. There is a growing belief among the Chapter that humanity is the burden that the Emperor gave the Astartes to carry, and that it is becoming a tiresome burden to bear...

C&C very welcomed, this is my first shot at doing one of these and I'm sure there's plenty wrong with it ;)

[Andrew J]

Good start. I like the new org structure. With the Cloudbreaker, I am not the most up on the fluff but I would be careful with having Techmarines make an entirely new anything. Innovation is considered heresy if I am not mistaken.

 

Other than that some suggestions would be to look at your homeworld a little more. While it is nice to know exactly how the planet is made up, the more important part is how the marines interact with the local population and why that world was chosen to be a recruitment base for the chapter. It also looks like you forgot to finish the Task Force about the special weapon is that makes them different.

 

I would recommend if you have not already looked at them, the guide to DIYing at the top of the page and the octaguide if you can find it. It will give you some ideas to help flesh out the chapter.

 

Good luck!

[PyronusSouria]

Thanks for the feedback :) I'll definitely develop the homeworld more, I guess I kind of forgot to do that.

 

About the Cloudbreaker, I figured that since it's an adaptation of an existing technology they can get away with it a little easier, like those modified Land Raiders.

[PyronusSouria]

Any way I can get some more feedback on this? :P

[NightrawenII]

Any way I can get some more feedback on this? :teehee:

Yes, expand your stuff.

 

*cough*

 

Anyway, the crux of DIY is not What, Who or When but Why.

The true aim of DIYer should be establishment of the inner workings of Chapter. The fancy toys or unique organisation are just "Effect" not the "Cause". The "Cause" lies in the Chapter homeworld, history, creed and to some degree in gene-seed.

 

 

~NightrawenII.