WIP: Tempest Guard

[Maj Tom]

ORIGINS

Founding: 36th Millenium
Geneseed: Imperial Fists

The Tempest Guard were formed at the beginning of the 36th Millennium. The High Lords of Terra commissioned this new chapter to bolster the Eastern Fringe in light of the Emperor’s Tarot indicating grave threats would arise, but failed to mention when and where they would be specifically; a process known as Strategic Prognostication. Due to the vague information received the High Lords asked for new reading of the Tarot only to get the exact same vague answer. The High Lords believe this to be an omen of impending destruction in the Ultima Segmentum.
The Tempest Guard were one of several chapters formed to combat this unknown threat, however, it was the Tempest Guard that came up with a unique solution to this conundrum. Then Captain, of the 4th Company of Imperial Fists, Garen Roomaly was selected to lead this chapter, along with a cadre of some of the most veteran voidsman he could find to form a new fleet based chapter. Roomaly’s outspoken thoughts on the vital roles fleets play in Astartes warfare were likely what landed him this post. It was not his impressive service record the earned him his new position, but politics, as he had upset the Chapter Master of the Imperial Fists with his rhetoric.

Commandant Garen Roomaly

Garen Roomaly served the Imperial Fists for some 450 years before being given command of the Tempest Guard, quite old for most captains. Roomaly was actually older and more experienced than the then Chapter Master of the Imperial Fists, but he is extreme views on chapter organization and codex limitations earned him much ire from the ranking officials of the Fists. Despite his making waves in the Imperial Fists his battle record and captaining skills were superb which earned him much respect and admiration from younger Astartes. Roomaly had many successful fleet actons against a whole range of pirates, xenos, and heretics. Roomaly began to speak out about the lack of fleet resources to properly prosecute his campaigns to keep the space lanes free of pirates and other threats, but the Fists still believed that ground warfare was were the most glory was to be had. He was also critical of chapters that ruled worlds or entire systems, believing Astartes were created to serve mankind, not rule them.

Roomaly was posed with an interesting problem to the reasoning behind the formation of the Tempest Guard, the promise of the Emperor’s Terrot that a major threat was coming, eventually. Roomaly was still convinced that chapter fleet did not offer the self-contained autonomy that he desired, so early in the chapter’s development he requisitioned extra strike cruisers, destroyers, and battle barges. The requests were initially turned down, but the new chapter master did not relent and eventually made some head way and earned a 4th battle barge and three more strike cruisers, along with a handful of more escort vessels. Roomaly did not look a gift cruiser in the launch bay and put them to use. The four battle barges were given to four of five of his new super companies, which he referred to as Expeditions, while the fifth made due with the three new strike cruisers.

These new Expeditions would be approximately 200 battle brothers strong and none were held in reserve, having had the reserve companies folded into the five expeditions. This in theory would meet any new threat with a powerful fleet and sufficient battle brothers to crush or hold at bay this unknown dire threat until addition forces could be called to aide, preferably the rest of the chapter. In the meantime the expeditions would drift through the Ultima Segmentum, answering calls for aide and keeping space lanes protected. With this reorganization he changed his title from chapter master to Commandant, the expeditions were led to be led by Commodores.

The Age of Apostasy, Alliances Forged

The first major conflict the Tempest Guard were involved in, to their surprise, was the destabilizing civil war known as the Age of Apostasy. In the beginning Commandant Roomaly felt the conflicts of faith were none of the business of mortal men, as they did not view the Emperor as a god, but the perfect example of a man. It was not until the 1st Expedition, which the Commandant had joined, entered a free port at the edge of Imperial space, after dealing with a small band of chaos raiders at the edge of the south eastern fringe of the galaxy, did he learn of how desperate things had become. The free port berthed the astartes ships for several days and cause quite the stir amongst the citizenry and merchant guilds that had made their home.
This port was referred to as Gauner IV Minning Station by Imperial charts, but the planet in which it received its name had been striped clean of resources for some decades and abandoned. Enterprising merchant guilds had established their headquarters here, at great risk, for the potential to use the station to spring board into frontier space in search of new worlds and bigger profits. Roomaly was a restless individual and his respect for mortals, perhaps even his ego, drove him to don his relic MK III armor, modified to proudly show the mighty Imperial Aquila across his chest, strode amongst the merchants of the station. Some bowed, some coward, all made way for this giant.

As Roomaly made his way deeper into the station he found that many extra spaces and cargo holds were jammed full of civilians, when he questioned them they all said they were fleeing persecution and extermination by the Ecclesiarchy. It was clear that many of the merchant guilds were trying to rid the holds, meant to be filled with the wealth of planets, not the unwashed masses. This incensed the Commandant and shortly thereafter the picket ships reported a psychic bow wave in the warp of a sizable flotilla of ships that were about to exit at the edge of the system.

The 1st Expedition was mobilized to the edge of the system to meet with the picket ships in time to meet what appeared to be Imperial Navy vessels, but were instead under the command of the Frateris Templars, the Ecclisiarch’s personal army. The Tempest Guard hailed the vessels and asked them what the flotilla wanted this far our in space, expecting them to be on simple patrol, but they were under orders to hunt down and the refugees that had fled and those who harbor them. The Tempest Guard would not relent to their request to proceed and destroy the former mining station with all aboard. The Frateris Templars were cordial at first, but became more and more demanding and disrespectful. The Frateris ships eventually tried to power up and push through the astartes blockade. Roomaly warned the flotilla’s commander that they would not harm the station, but the commander was embolden by countless times were he had gone unopposed and held unaccountable for past murders pressed forward. Roomaly gave one more order to stand down as he ordered his fleet to expose his broadsides to Ecclisiarchy navy and fired with the combined might of a battle barge, two strike cruisers, and a multitude of escorts.

<div style="background-color:#000099; padding: 12px 8px 12px 8px; border: 1px solid #DDD; margin-left: 0 auto; text-align: left; color: #fff; text-indent:10px; font-size:130%; width:50%;">“I do not recognize the authority of the Ecclisiarchy. I recognize the authority of the Emperor of Mankind and you do not speak for him.”- Commandant Garen Roomaly at the Gauner System Incident


The Frateris ships had no time to maneuver as their engines were maxed to break through the Tempest Guard’s blockade. A Mars class battle cruiser, the capitol ship, bore the brunt and was disabled in the first volley of fire along with two cruisers. Roomaly put his veteran abilities of naval combat to devastate the monsters that would butcher the defenseless. The naval battle lasted for nearly an hour before assault craft were launched, apprehending man scores of Frateris men, and many fought fanatically to prove their loyalty to their insane patron, only to be ruthlessly cut down by the Tempest guard.
Those that surrendered were captured. The techmarines scoured the databanks of the disabled Mars class vessel, revealing every log, every horrendous genocide they and other ships had committed in the name of the Emperor. The captured crew were brought back to the station and put on parade before the merchants before being brought before those who had fled their wrath.

“These are the men you ran from, the men who would murder you for not bending a knee to psychopaths and madmen. I wash my hands of them; their lives are in your hands now.” –Master of Sanctity Rohn Joreom

The crews were given over to the mercy, or lack thereof, of those that had once fled for their lives, all having lost everything to their purges. The Tempest Guard hauled back many of the salvageable hulls of the Frateris flotilla and brought back into working order in service of the chapter, while the scraps were left over to the merchants. The Liao Cartel, the most influential merchant guild on Gauner IV swore fealty to the Tempest Guard in exchange for the lion’s share of the salvage and the fact that they owed their lives to the astartes.

The Liao Cartel

The Liao Cartel, is a sizable and legitimate merchant guild that operates throughout the Ultima Segmentum as well as Sementum Tempestus. This new alliance meant that the Liao Cartel could call on the Tempest Guard when reasonable threats were poised against them, like pirates, raiders and the like. What the astartes got was much more valuable they now had access to Liao Cartel space ports, not that any port would or could turn away the astartes, but it was still a valued asset. Additionally the Tempest Guard could gain valuable intelligence about most any world they would encounter. On more than one occasion Liao information has led to a Tempest Guard Expedition arriving in an unstable region only to have hostilities or revolt halted, due to the show of force.

After the Gauner System Incident the Tempest Guard went on to engage other elements of the Frateris, destroying them utterly when encountered, but the engagements were smaller in scale and the chapter did not go to Terra for the final battle, believing that there were many threats to contain in the Eastern Fringe in the after math of the Age of Apostasy.

[voi shet magir]

You just wrote a mystery novel and started it this way: Steve Dangerface was a detective. He was tall and sat in a diner late at night drin- and I stopped reading because I didn't care.

 

So actually I did keep reading, and I see that the companies have reformed into expeditions and you can't decide whether to call the one guy by his first or last name. The result was the same though, I still didn't care.

 

Write this instead: The summer of the murder, only one customer came into the diner at night. He never ordered anything but coffee, and he told the staff his name was steve dangerface, and that he was a detective.

 

Give me the good stuff first. You have good stuff, right?

[Brother Tyler]

According to the short story "The Emperor's Mercy" the homeworld of the Storm Warriors Chapter is Taran III.

[Destecado]

@ Voi Shet Magir:

 

Well at least it didn't start out with "It was a dark and stormy night." :D

I agree with you though.

 

@ Mag Tom:

 

Before you begin with the personal story Cpt. Roomaly, you may want to start by explaining in more detail how the chapter came into being....what makes them different from the Imperial Fists and the Black Templars. IIRC from the background of the Imperial Fists, Rogal dorn was initially against the idea of breaking up his legion,but later relented.

 

As part of the second founding, the Black Templars chapter was created from the most fanatical brethren of the Imperial Fists. In turn, the Crimson fists consisted of the most "level headed" marines. Also part of the second founding was the Soul Drinkers. Yes, I know that you aren't saying the your cpater was part of the second founding. I am just using this to illustrate the unique nature of each of these successor chapters drown from the same parent chapter.

 

The question becomes how are the Storm Warriors unique. It begins well, with the idea of Cpt. Roomaly emphasizing the importance of the Fleet. The problem is that you start to drift from there. Roomaly wants to be a crusading chapter in add ition to being a fast reaction force. He is good at void combat but also planetary assault, oh and seigecraft as well. The cpater protects civilians unsless the enemy is in amongst them. Then they have no compunctions about killing innocents.

 

 

Dividing up the IA...tone and point of view

 

It sounds like you had a cool idea for a Space Marine character and decided to build a chapter around him. Remember though, that the IA is about the Chapter, not just Roomaly. It is good to know about the chapter's origins and who their first chapter master was, but readers are going to want to know the state of the chapter now. Details of the past of the chapter can be peppered throughout the IA...kinda like "flash backs" or related quotes which shed light on the character or history of the Chapter. These quotes can either be from notable brethren within the chapter or from outside observers remarking on the chapter or certain personages within the chapter.

 

The nice thing about these asides is that they open up different avenues to explore in the future. They show that more depth exists beyond what is stated in the IA. Quotes and side stories also help to break up the text, helping to mitigate the dangers of an impenetrable wall of text.

 

 

Seigecraft

 

Being an Imperial Fist successor chapter it is understandable that the Storm Warriors would have some level of seigecraft. I think however that it is important to define where their expertise lies within the broad spectrum of seigecraft. Are they building redoubts and fortifications? This seems at odds with the nature of being a fleet based chapter. A highly mobile force would probably beless inclined to the study of static defenses and more disposed to the destruction or destruction of said fortifications; sappers extrodinare.

 

Contrary to many of the stories I have read, orbital bombardment is not just about pulling into orbit and unleasing an orbital bombardment followed by a drop assault. On an lightly defended world this might work, but even raiders need intelligence about their target before they attack. You have to know something about your enemy. What his defenses are, line of communication and resupply, etc. Such intelligence may help to locate hidden gun implacements or give an idea about hidden facilities, hardened bunkers or depots that are mearly facades made to draw enemy into traps or give the appearance of being stronger than you really are. Such intelligence gather would most likely fall to the scout units and possibly some form of intelligence aparatus on which the chapter can draw.

 

 

Good with People?

 

You have indicated that the Chapter tries to protect civilians. Maybe you could expand upon this. The Ultramarines are an example of a chapter that is very integrated into the society they have created in Ultramar. Being a fleet based chapter, it would be difficult to create such a domain. I also don't see the High Lords or other Iperial officials allowing it. Ultramar is fairly unique, given the time of its creation and its location, all the way out on the Eastern Fringe. So, you might not be able to carry off something like the domain of the Ultramarines, but being a fleet based Chapter does offer certain advantages.

 

I see the arrival of a space vessel in a star system as being similar to when a sailing vessel would come into port ages ago. On the larger planets, it might not create such a stir, but on smaller, less populated or visited worlds, the arrival of a ship was a cause for celebration. It provided communication with the outside world. for colonies, one could learn about what was happening with relatives back in the home country. These vessels also brought goods from abroad and stimulated the local economy as sailors would take shore leave.

 

Now I'm not saying that Space Marines will be carousing in bars, but there is always a need for material ggods and food stuffs to resuply their fleet. Perhaps the chapter has dealings with various merchant houses on the worlds that they frequent. they may even allow such vessels to travel in close proximity to their fleet offering some protection from pirates or if the ship were to experience mechanical difficulties. Such a relationship would be mutually beneficial to both the merchants and the chapter. This financial benefit could also prove to be a strategic asset, as these merchants may have personally visited or know someone who has been to a world that the Marines must assault, and can provide useful intelligence.

 

Reorgamization

 

I have no problem with this reorganization, but you may wish to consider why you are doing it. Is it just because it is different or is there some underlying tactical reason for the new organization? One obvious consideration is the ineffectiveness of company level fleets. The marines are just spread too thin. The reorganization might provide the optimal level of men and ships to fulfill the required task. Personally I think that two companies per fleet might still be a little light. You may want to consider three companies in each fleet.

 

1. The Marine contingent that protects the fleet against and initiates bording actions against enemy vessels in space (void combat specialists).

 

2. The planetary assault specialist.

 

3. The marines who bring in the big guns (predators, vindicators, etc) after the initial assault has secured a beachhead.

 

Elements of the tenth, scout company, would serve in each fleet. They would pave the way for and support the drop assault.

 

The tenth company might actually be more of a nebulous designation. Maybe each fleet supports a full strength 10th company. The reasoning behind this being that this company not only fulfills the function of scouting, but is also the training cadre for a given fleet. Having recruits in a centrally located 'dirtside" training facility would be impractical. It would also draw strength away from the fleets, requiring the allocation of resources and manpower to staff and defend the facility. Further manpower would be lost as instructors would have to leave the fllets to go to the facility to oversee the training of the recruits.

 

EDIT:

 

Brother Tyler has a point about the Storm Warriors already existing as a chapter. Their color scheme and Chapter insignia is documented. The chapter has also been featured in a canon short story (The Emperor’s Will). I’m not trying to dissuade you from using the name, just be aware, that using the name of an already known chapter can create problem….especially where you begin to contradict canon fluff.

If you are interested in an alternate name, how does the Doom Strikers or Death Strikers grab you? The word striker is used here to refer to a bell striker; the internal or external device which makes it ring. The initial idea for the name came from the Doom Bell in Mechanicsburg (from the hilarious web comic Girl Genius). Since I am already working on several chapters, I stored it away for future use, but please feel free to use it if you like.

 

In heraldry a bell symbolizes the power to disperse evil spirits. Hawk's bells denote one who is not afraid of signaling his approach in peace or war. The uses of bells as time keepers and signaling devices also have a long naval tradition. Since you are going with a fleet based army, this tradition might continue even on vessels which “sail” the void.

 

There is also the obvious connotation of “striking” someone with a fist…which can be used to tie it back to the origin from the Imperial Fists. What you have then is a blow (attack) which comes without warning that overwhelms and utterly destroys an enemy…bringing about his doom /death.

 

Extending the metaphor a little further, you could possibly create a supporting character for your Chapter with a name similar to Klaxon (a horn or alarm device that makes a loud warning sound). He could be bold and brash, possibly bellowing at the top of his lungs as he leads his men into battle. Maybe Klexon or Klexus?

 

Thinking about it, Clarion might also work. A Clarion is a medieval trumpet with a shrill clear tone. The “Clarion call” was an urgent call to action, a signal to go to war.

[Maj Tom]

Before you begin with the personal story Cpt. Roomaly, you may want to start by explaining in more detail how the chapter came into being....what makes them different from the Imperial Fists and the Black Templars. IIRC from the background of the Imperial Fists, Rogal dorn was initially against the idea of breaking up his legion,but later relented.

 

As part of the second founding, the Black Templars chapter was created from the most fanatical brethren of the Imperial Fists. In turn, the Crimson fists consisted of the most "level headed" marines. Also part of the second founding was the Soul Drinkers. Yes, I know that you aren't saying the your cpater was part of the second founding. I am just using this to illustrate the unique nature of each of these successor chapters drown from the same parent chapter.

 

The question becomes how are the Storm Warriors unique. It begins well, with the idea of Cpt. Roomaly emphasizing the importance of the Fleet. The problem is that you start to drift from there. Roomaly wants to be a crusading chapter in add ition to being a fast reaction force. He is good at void combat but also planetary assault, oh and seigecraft as well. The cpater protects civilians unsless the enemy is in amongst them. Then they have no compunctions about killing innocents.

 

I am going to edit out bombing civilians it seems really silly in retrospect.

 

I was wanting to have Roomaly having a bit of a grudge against the Ultramarines not only for the codex and its limitations, but also due to their lordship of a large portion of space. Roomaly is a big believer of Marines being the protectors, not the rulers, of humanity. While Roomaly will definatly not speak ill of the Ultramarines, his reoriginization of his chapter is meant to still adhere in numbers, but bend the orginization. Also the limits the codex puts on fleets seems to make it difficult to opperate as fleet based chapter so he combines company fleets. but I picked two company fleets for one contiengent due to it be a nice round number of 5 expeditions; this can be flexible because as you say later even 2 company fleets is still pretty small. I wasn't sure how much of a stretch a battle barge for each Expedition would be since even the Ultra's, which I use as a base line, only have 2, since Caesar crashed apparently.

 

As for flavor I was wanting them to fall more in line with modern US Marines as far as deployment and doctrine. In game terms they are kind shock-assault like BT, but do not emphasis on close combat, but a more balanced close-mid range fire power. I definatly see what you're saying with the eclectic roles of my chapter. I want to keep void combat and planetary assaults as their key roles. I am going to make them more like sappers like you mentioned, with close artillery tanks like the vindicator, maybe have a single Land Raider Achiles (chapter wide, only one). Also small detatchments of TF Cannons and Devastators to support the sappers.

 

Dividing up the IA...tone and point of view

 

It sounds like you had a cool idea for a Space Marine character and decided to build a chapter around him. Remember though, that the IA is about the Chapter, not just Roomaly. It is good to know about the chapter's origins and who their first chapter master was, but readers are going to want to know the state of the chapter now. Details of the past of the chapter can be peppered throughout the IA...kinda like "flash backs" or related quotes which shed light on the character or history of the Chapter. These quotes can either be from notable brethren within the chapter or from outside observers remarking on the chapter or certain personages within the chapter.

 

The nice thing about these asides is that they open up different avenues to explore in the future. They show that more depth exists beyond what is stated in the IA. Quotes and side stories also help to break up the text, helping to mitigate the dangers of an impenetrable wall of text.

 

 

I like it. I was having a hard time figuring out how to approach this since Roomaly was pivotal in how they fight now, but I definaly focus too much on him. I can give him a section later in the IA, possibley but I will break up his parts into references like you suggested. I definatly want to put up quotes and things like that for more flavor, your suggestion for breaking up the great wall of text is awesome! I will use that when I edit this in the next couple days.

 

Seigecraft

 

Being an Imperial Fist successor chapter it is understandable that the Storm Warriors would have some level of seigecraft. I think however that it is important to define where their expertise lies within the broad spectrum of seigecraft. Are they building redoubts and fortifications? This seems at odds with the nature of being a fleet based chapter. A highly mobile force would probably beless inclined to the study of static defenses and more disposed to the destruction or destruction of said fortifications; sappers extrodinare.

 

Contrary to many of the stories I have read, orbital bombardment is not just about pulling into orbit and unleasing an orbital bombardment followed by a drop assault. On an lightly defended world this might work, but even raiders need intelligence about their target before they attack. You have to know something about your enemy. What his defenses are, line of communication and resupply, etc. Such intelligence may help to locate hidden gun implacements or give an idea about hidden facilities, hardened bunkers or depots that are mearly facades made to draw enemy into traps or give the appearance of being stronger than you really are. Such intelligence gather would most likely fall to the scout units and possibly some form of intelligence aparatus on which the chapter can draw.

 

Like I mentioned above, the sapper idea really struck me and that is how I have played them thus far! I always take melta bombs and melta weapons are pretty prominant. I never intended for them to build fortresses, but I still think they need to have some knowledge of expedients fortifications. They may need to dig in to protect a space port, or to make a no man's land against nids and orks. Hardening exsisting buildings, maybe mild trench works with pre-fab bunkers? Nothing grand like a perminent defence line. Sappers is definatly going to be a theme!

 

I am thinking scouts are going to be key in a lot of ways and I was wanting to use squads deployed in Land Speeder Storms, which may be delivered by Thunderhawks before the deploying frigate slips out. Perhaps the ship may even be disguised as some sort of freighter ot trading craft. This might actually go into alliances with merchant guilds that you mention later. Their alignment with these houses could help them infiltrate hostile systems, perhaps befriend some rogue traders.

 

 

Good with People?

 

You have indicated that the Chapter tries to protect civilians. Maybe you could expand upon this. The Ultramarines are an example of a chapter that is very integrated into the society they have created in Ultramar. Being a fleet based chapter, it would be difficult to create such a domain. I also don't see the High Lords or other Iperial officials allowing it. Ultramar is fairly unique, given the time of its creation and its location, all the way out on the Eastern Fringe. So, you might not be able to carry off something like the domain of the Ultramarines, but being a fleet based Chapter does offer certain advantages.

 

I see the arrival of a space vessel in a star system as being similar to when a sailing vessel would come into port ages ago. On the larger planets, it might not create such a stir, but on smaller, less populated or visited worlds, the arrival of a ship was a cause for celebration. It provided communication with the outside world. for colonies, one could learn about what was happening with relatives back in the home country. These vessels also brought goods from abroad and stimulated the local economy as sailors would take shore leave.

 

Now I'm not saying that Space Marines will be carousing in bars, but there is always a need for material ggods and food stuffs to resuply their fleet. Perhaps the chapter has dealings with various merchant houses on the worlds that they frequent. they may even allow such vessels to travel in close proximity to their fleet offering some protection from pirates or if the ship were to experience mechanical difficulties. Such a relationship would be mutually beneficial to both the merchants and the chapter. This financial benefit could also prove to be a strategic asset, as these merchants may have personally visited or know someone who has been to a world that the Marines must assault, and can provide useful intelligence.

 

Like I above said the Marines having alliances with merchant houses seems like a very good idea and seems like a good hook. Perhaps even a few Rogue Trader Captains. I figured that the chapter may be able to call on additional ships from these houses and captains, but of course will inturn respond to any of the before mentioned factions if they need the aide of the chapter. I was an intelligence specialist iin the Marines and I definatly know the use of intel, these merchants are definatly a good source, human intelligence can be one of the best types, depending on the motive of the source. I also like how the Marines docking in various systems for resupply and repairs fells very "Master and Commander" where the ships are out on the fringes, but still have to find ports.

 

I like the Space Shark's Predition patern of fleet based chapter, except that my chapter can still rely on the Imperium to some extent for what they need. I'd also like to think the chapter has also salvaged some pirate vessels and assimilated them into the fleet.

 

Perhaps recruitment drives for chapter serfs to man the ships and support craft, kind of like recruiting privateers for ships back in the olden days of sailing vessels. I know this can open up for possibley internal threats, but maybe a librarian can screen them for purity, and if found wanting may be executed as a possible infiltator for even daring to apply. That may be extreme, but they can't just let anyone aboard. Failed initiates may even be manning stations on ships since making them a servitor or killing them would be a waste.

 

I was also thinking that when scouts are being deployed ahead of a Marine assault on a world where there might still be loyalists they may attempt to find concentrations of Imperial sympathizers and contact them. Scouts may even try to train these people as insurgents to destabilize certain enemy positions, maybe insighting insurgent activity in one area so enemy troops have to redeploy to deal with the masses uprising. Additionally the scouts can monitor these movements and search for C&C nodes for them to demolish or target for the chapter's assaults. Kind of like commandos or green berrets.

 

 

Reorgamization

 

I have no problem with this reorganization, but you may wish to consider why you are doing it. Is it just because it is different or is there some underlying tactical reason for the new organization? One obvious consideration is the ineffectiveness of company level fleets. The marines are just spread too thin. The reorganization might provide the optimal level of men and ships to fulfill the required task. Personally I think that two companies per fleet might still be a little light. You may want to consider three companies in each fleet.

 

1. The Marine contingent that protects the fleet against and initiates bording actions against enemy vessels in space (void combat specialists).

 

2. The planetary assault specialist.

 

3. The marines who bring in the big guns (predators, vindicators, etc) after the initial assault has secured a beachhead.

 

Elements of the tenth, scout company, would serve in each fleet. They would pave the way for and support the drop assault.

 

The tenth company might actually be more of a nebulous designation. Maybe each fleet supports a full strength 10th company. The reasoning behind this being that this company not only fulfills the function of scouting, but is also the training cadre for a given fleet. Having recruits in a centrally located 'dirtside" training facility would be impractical. It would also draw strength away from the fleets, requiring the allocation of resources and manpower to staff and defend the facility. Further manpower would be lost as instructors would have to leave the fllets to go to the facility to oversee the training of the recruits.

 

The main reason is definatly because the lacking of power for a company fleet. Above I was thinking of ways around it like more battle barges, or using captured craft, even requesting support from rogue traders or merchant house ships where possible. I still want them to be able to stand on their own with their fleet though. May they have managed to recapture some renegade marine vessels, onces not corrupted by chaos, and return them to imperial service. I will have to fluff that up a bit, perhaps an expedition has made it down to the Maelstrom to specifically deal with the Astral Claws or another similar warband, just to get more suitable ships.

 

As for the specialists:

1. I was thinking that most Marines Would have void hardened armor standard, if I ever were to play the Blood in the Void. I even planned on scouts to have it which gave me a great idea for scout conversions using the Cadian Hostile Environment conversions and scour squads.

 

2. Sternguards, Terminators, and Dreadnoughts would tend to be the head of assaults. They would tend to be engaging the enemy, supported by land speeders while more troops and vehicles were being landed.

 

3. The heavy armor would then be brought in supported by tactical marines, in Rhinos. primarily. These would go onto assist the veterans with smashing through the enemy lines before being mopped up by tactical squads land speeders, and of course scouts that come out of hiding.

 

I like the idea of there being a scout company in each expedition. This could have been a way to have more Marines on the vessels either to augment the ship's defences during boarding actions or to simply have the chapter's presence known on a vessel without having to draw from the pool of active Battle Brothers. May even be a way to subvert the codex further while not breaking it.

 

EDIT:

 

Brother Tyler has a point about the Storm Warriors already existing as a chapter. Their color scheme and Chapter insignia is documented. The chapter has also been featured in a canon short story (The Emperor’s Will). I’m not trying to dissuade you from using the name, just be aware, that using the name of an already known chapter can create problem….especially where you begin to contradict canon fluff.

If you are interested in an alternate name, how does the Doom Strikers or Death Strikers grab you? The word striker is used here to refer to a bell striker; the internal or external device which makes it ring. The initial idea for the name came from the Doom Bell in Mechanicsburg (from the hilarious web comic Girl Genius). Since I am already working on several chapters, I stored it away for future use, but please feel free to use it if you like.

 

In heraldry a bell symbolizes the power to disperse evil spirits. Hawk's bells denote one who is not afraid of signaling his approach in peace or war. The uses of bells as time keepers and signaling devices also have a long naval tradition. Since you are going with a fleet based army, this tradition might continue even on vessels which “sail” the void.

 

There is also the obvious connotation of “striking” someone with a fist…which can be used to tie it back to the origin from the Imperial Fists. What you have then is a blow (attack) which comes without warning that overwhelms and utterly destroys an enemy…bringing about his doom /death.

 

Extending the metaphor a little further, you could possibly create a supporting character for your Chapter with a name similar to Klaxon (a horn or alarm device that makes a loud warning sound). He could be bold and brash, possibly bellowing at the top of his lungs as he leads his men into battle. Maybe Klexon or Klexus?

 

Thinking about it, Clarion might also work. A Clarion is a medieval trumpet with a shrill clear tone. The “Clarion call” was an urgent call to action, a signal to go to war.

 

I am really bad with names. I had looked up Tempest Warriors and thought it was too long, so I assumed without looking that Storm Warriors was available. I went with the storm theme for a couple of reasons. The armor of my marines is primarily codex grey with the shoulder pads being mordian blue which gave me an idea about the storms. The idea about the using Strike in the name is good since I am using the black fist as my heraldry because there is a lot of bits to use for shoulder pads and transfers. I need to play around with the name now with striker.

 

@Voi Shet Magir:

I see what you are saying and I should have proof read my entry before posting it up. I just started typing and got carried away. Thanks for the tough love!

 

@Brother Tyler:

I should have done more research on the name and shouldn't have assumed it would be all good. I'll probably take Destecado's advice and use Striker in the name.

 

Thank you all for your feed back. This is my first IA and I know what my chapters about so I make a lot of assumptions and accidentally omit things to the detrament of the reader. I will re edit this in the the next few days and if anyone as any more comments and what I said in response to Destecado, Destecado included, feel free to post. I hope me going through and responding to each segment helps to cleaify where I am going as I edit this.

 

Some new name ideas (checked cannon lists for availability):

 

Tempest Guard(ians), Astral Strikers. Doom Strikers, Storm Bringers, or Grey Strikers. Blue Rajas?

[Maj Tom]

Fixed the origin, hoping that it is more comprehensive, but it feels long, since its not even finished yet. The other sections will come. C&C welcome!

[Destecado]

I was wanting to have Roomaly having a bit of a grudge against the Ultramarines not only for the codex and its limitations, but also due to their lordship of a large portion of space. Roomaly is a big believer of Marines being the protectors, not the rulers, of humanity.

 

I’m still trying to nail down Roomaly’s motivation and his character. Are the space marines really the protectors of humanity or do they enforce the will of the emperor and the officials who rule in his stead (High Lords of Terra)? I’m not saying that his desire to protect humanity is not valid. I’m just wonder how that protection is expressed. The Inquisition slaughters millions in the service of protecting the greater whole…..better thousands or millions die, than all of humanity. It is in part how they justify their actions.

As for Roomaly’s grudge against the Ultramarines. He may view them as hypocrites. Roboute Guilliman, and by extension the Ultramarines, carved out a kingdom for himself on the Eastern Fringe and then set rules into place to prevent other Chapter from doing the same….to prevent the Imperium from devolving into a collection of petty fiefdoms. He might also take the view that the Ultramarines have become bureaucrats and administrators rather than warriors.

 

I am reminded of Gen. Patton chafing under the restrictions placed on him; being forced to play nice and let Montgomery take the lead. Patton viewed himself as a warrior, not an administrator. Roomaly may have a similar point of view. It could be that some encounter with the Ultramarines occurred earlier in his career which caused him to view them in this way.

You have mentioned capturing enemy ships, refitting them and deploying them as part of the Chapter’s fleets. What if some altercation occurred over a vessel or several vessels taken as prizes. The Imperial Navy or possibly the Adeptus Mechanicus may have laid claim to the vessels even though it had been the Imperial Fists (prior to Roomaly leaving to head a new chapter) who had boarded and captured them. Roomaly may have refused to cede control. The disagreement may have escalated to armed conflict, at which point the Ultramarines interceded.

 

Roomaly may have been forced to hand over the ships to mollify the Imperial Navy / Adeptus Mechanicus. Of course, before he handed them over, he may have had all of the fitting and any equipment not welded in place removed. Ostensibly this “salvage” would be used to repair the damage his ships had sustained in capturing the renegade vessels. In truth Roomaly was incensed at the affront. The ships he turned over will little more than hulks, requiring a major refit, before they would once again be space worthy. He was angered by the Ultramarines butting their noses into what he viewed as Imperial Fists’ business.

 

The indignity was magnified when he received an unofficial reprimand from his Company Commander / Chapter Master. The reprimand was not for almost going to war with the chapter’s “supposed” allies, but for the condition in which he handed the ships over. Such an action showed pettiness and reflected poorly on the Chapter. The reprimand was off the record due to the circumstances surrounding the altercation. Although he was not ordered to submit to the pain glove it was strongly suggested that he should “meditate” upon his actions.

 

While Roomaly will definatly not speak ill of the Ultramarines, his reoriginization of his chapter is meant to still adhere in numbers, but bend the orginization. Also the limits the codex puts on fleets seems to make it difficult to opperate as fleet based chapter so he combines company fleets. but I picked two company fleets for one contiengent due to it be a nice round number of 5 expeditions; this can be flexible because as you say later even 2 company fleets is still pretty small. I wasn't sure how much of a stretch a battle barge for each Expedition would be since even the Ultra's, which I use as a base line, only have 2, since Caesar crashed apparently.

 

I’m still unclear on the mission of the chapter. Are they striking out like the Black Templars on a continuous crusade or do the patrol and protect a given region of space? The Ultima segmentum is enormous. Given their small size, spreading out, each one their own crusade seems impractical. Patroling a given region of space would allow the disparate fleets to coordinate efforts to support each other as needed.

 

It could be that they act as interdictors, possibly on some frontier, from which attacks could come at any time. This could be the border of one of the large Ork Waaaghs or since you have mentioned them, patrolling one of the borders of the Maelstrom against raids by the Red Corsairs and their allies. I understand where you were going with expedition, but I’m not sure if it works.

Expeditions are generally headed somewhere. If they are more in the line of guardians or fast reaction forces, you may want to consider something like Sentinel Fleets or possibly even Kestrel fleets. The name Kestrel is used to describe a subset of falcons, distinguished by their hunting behavior. Kestrels usually hover at a height of around 10–20 metres (33–66 ft) over open country and then swoop down on their prey.

 

I definatly see what you're saying with the eclectic roles of my chapter. I want to keep void combat and planetary assaults as their key roles. I am going to make them more like sappers like you mentioned, with close artillery tanks like the vindicator, maybe have a single Land Raider Achiles (chapter wide, only one). Also small detatchments of TF Cannons and Devastators to support the sappers.

 

You may want to consider placing an emphasis on Techmarines and Masters of the Forge. Living on a ship, there is always something that needs to be cleaned, painted or repaired. On a vessel in space maintenance and repairs are even more important. You rely on machines for light, heat and the very air you breathe. Techmarines and Masters of the Forge can also reinforce ruins. This would provide a in-game example of their siegecraft abilities.

 

Another benefit would be to enhance the number of units you can put in the field. In addition to the normal marine compliment, maybe the Chapter relies heavily on squads of servitors. Before I retooled my army, I use to field two Masters of the Forge. Reinforcing ruins let my scout squads dig in like ticks (with cammo cloaks they became very resilient while in cover). Fielding two MotF also allowed me to field two Conversion Beamers. The way you are describing your army, these sound like a must have. Paired with vindicators, they give you both a long and short ranged threat.

 

Tempest Guard(ians), Astral Strikers. Doom Strikers, Storm Bringers, or Grey Strikers. Blue Rajas?

 

Blue Rajas made me laugh. All I can picture is Hank Azaria flinging flatware as the Blue Raja in Mystery Men.

 

 

Age of Apostacy

 

Let me start by saying that I like that Tempest Guard became involved in this conflict. IIRC the Adeptus Mechanicus and many space marine chapters tried to stay out of the escalating conflict. Brainstorming on what I wrote above about why Roomaly might hold a grudge against the Ultramarines, maybe the engagement with the Frateris Templars was in some way vindication or vengeance for the earlier encounter.

 

I can’t remember if the Ultramarines were involved in the war or, if like other chapters, they sat on the sideline, waiting for the right opportunity to intercede. The inaction of the Ultramarines may have been part of the impetus which drove Roomaly to take step in and defend the civilians…

[Maj Tom]

I’m still trying to nail down Roomaly’s motivation and his character. Are the space marines really the protectors of humanity or do they enforce the will of the emperor and the officials who rule in his stead (High Lords of Terra)? I’m not saying that his desire to protect humanity is not valid. I’m just wonder how that protection is expressed. The Inquisition slaughters millions in the service of protecting the greater whole…..better thousands or millions die, than all of humanity. It is in part how they justify their actions.

As for Roomaly’s grudge against the Ultramarines. He may view them as hypocrites. Roboute Guilliman, and by extension the Ultramarines, carved out a kingdom for himself on the Eastern Fringe and then set rules into place to prevent other Chapter from doing the same….to prevent the Imperium from devolving into a collection of petty fiefdoms. He might also take the view that the Ultramarines have become bureaucrats and administrators rather than warriors.

 

I am reminded of Gen. Patton chafing under the restrictions placed on him; being forced to play nice and let Montgomery take the lead. Patton viewed himself as a warrior, not an administrator. Roomaly may have a similar point of view. It could be that some encounter with the Ultramarines occurred earlier in his career which caused him to view them in this way.

You have mentioned capturing enemy ships, refitting them and deploying them as part of the Chapter’s fleets. What if some altercation occurred over a vessel or several vessels taken as prizes. The Imperial Navy or possibly the Adeptus Mechanicus may have laid claim to the vessels even though it had been the Imperial Fists (prior to Roomaly leaving to head a new chapter) who had boarded and captured them. Roomaly may have refused to cede control. The disagreement may have escalated to armed conflict, at which point the Ultramarines interceded.

 

Roomaly may have been forced to hand over the ships to mollify the Imperial Navy / Adeptus Mechanicus. Of course, before he handed them over, he may have had all of the fitting and any equipment not welded in place removed. Ostensibly this “salvage” would be used to repair the damage his ships had sustained in capturing the renegade vessels. In truth Roomaly was incensed at the affront. The ships he turned over will little more than hulks, requiring a major refit, before they would once again be space worthy. He was angered by the Ultramarines butting their noses into what he viewed as Imperial Fists’ business.

 

The indignity was magnified when he received an unofficial reprimand from his Company Commander / Chapter Master. The reprimand was not for almost going to war with the chapter’s “supposed” allies, but for the condition in which he handed the ships over. Such an action showed pettiness and reflected poorly on the Chapter. The reprimand was off the record due to the circumstances surrounding the altercation. Although he was not ordered to submit to the pain glove it was strongly suggested that he should “meditate” upon his actions.

 

My chapter doesn't blindly protect every civilian that they come across, understanding the sometime you have to crack a few eggs. What they would be upset about is what happened after the 1st War for Armageddon where the Inquisition rounded everyone up to either be slaves or slaughtered IIRC. For instance a hypothetical sitiuation. A mad man has taken hostages, holding one at gun point. In the real world obviously we would try to talk the man down, this chapter may very well kill the hostage held at gunpoint to put down the mad man, while saving the rest of the hostages. They do not want to have to do wide spread civilian killing, but are not above it when timely mission success is of importance, but they don't do it lightly if that makes sense.

 

You are right Marines do enforce the will of the Imperium, but by extension Roomaly considers protection of Imperial citizens and planets with in an Astartes' mandate, since what good is the Imperium of Man without men, and of course women?

 

I do like the idea with the Ultramarines sticking their nose into Imperial Fist business. This could have happened soon after becoming the captain of the 4th Company, before he became chapter master of the Tempest Guard. I could see how the Ultramarines interference would be seen as meddling from a group of hypocrits that some 6,000 years earlier had nearly come to blows with the IF. Now these Ultra's rule over a sector of space, while others hardly rule a single world, and are prevented to do the same. So their could be a lot of animosity just below the surface.

 

I’m still unclear on the mission of the chapter. Are they striking out like the Black Templars on a continuous crusade or do the patrol and protect a given region of space? The Ultima segmentum is enormous. Given their small size, spreading out, each one their own crusade seems impractical. Patroling a given region of space would allow the disparate fleets to coordinate efforts to support each other as needed.

 

It could be that they act as interdictors, possibly on some frontier, from which attacks could come at any time. This could be the border of one of the large Ork Waaaghs or since you have mentioned them, patrolling one of the borders of the Maelstrom against raids by the Red Corsairs and their allies. I understand where you were going with expedition, but I’m not sure if it works.

Expeditions are generally headed somewhere. If they are more in the line of guardians or fast reaction forces, you may want to consider something like Sentinel Fleets or possibly even Kestrel fleets. The name Kestrel is used to describe a subset of falcons, distinguished by their hunting behavior. Kestrels usually hover at a height of around 10–20 metres (33–66 ft) over open country and then swoop down on their prey.

 

They are more like interdictors than crusaders, but the wondering fleet and shock orbital assault is what they have in common with the BT. I was thinking of having them patroling interlocking routes near the galactic SW of Ultramar. This could have an Expedition near the Maelstrom and still be protecting the fringes from threats of raiders, purates and the tyranid in the 41st Millenium.

 

As for the Expeditions. I refer to them this way because US Marines deploy in what are called Marine Air Ground Task Forces. Each on is called either a Marine Expedition Unit, Marine Expedition Brigade or Marine Expedition Force, depending on size. I took the name Expedtion because they are task forces that usually just patrol certain regions of the world, waiting for something to happen, whether it be a conflict or a natural disaster. I do like the Kestrel name though, but if Expedition is too much I may just switch to Task Force.

 

You may want to consider placing an emphasis on Techmarines and Masters of the Forge. Living on a ship, there is always something that needs to be cleaned, painted or repaired. On a vessel in space maintenance and repairs are even more important. You rely on machines for light, heat and the very air you breathe. Techmarines and Masters of the Forge can also reinforce ruins. This would provide a in-game example of their siegecraft abilities.

 

Another benefit would be to enhance the number of units you can put in the field. In addition to the normal marine compliment, maybe the Chapter relies heavily on squads of servitors. Before I retooled my army, I use to field two Masters of the Forge. Reinforcing ruins let my scout squads dig in like ticks (with cammo cloaks they became very resilient while in cover). Fielding two MotF also allowed me to field two Conversion Beamers. The way you are describing your army, these sound like a must have. Paired with vindicators, they give you both a long and short ranged threat.

 

Depending on what I am facing, usually horde armies which put me more on defence, I often have two techmarines, a Master of the Forge and a TFC crewman. I get to bolster two buildings with this, which is like having a mini-fortress. I was wanting to make a couple of fabric banners to mark them in game and to show the xeno/heretic scum who they are dealing with.

 

I often run the MotF to make my Ironclad a havy support, while I have 2 Sternguards and an assault terminator squad, depending on the game. I like the idea of squeezing more manpower out of things like servitors, they are cheap gun platforms! I need to try the conversion beam for some reason I am obsessed with having him in a Sternguard squad, with his servo harness. In defencive roles a conversion beamer would be invaluable. Also my scouts, like you said, will love their new 2+ cover saves!.

 

Blue Rajas made me laugh. All I can picture is Hank Azaria flinging flatware as the Blue Raja in Mystery Men.

 

I was hoping some one would get that reference! I have thought about making some Imperial Army called the blue Raja's, but not being blue in the slightest, just to see people's rections. Might be a fun IG idea!

 

 

Let me start by saying that I like that Tempest Guard became involved in this conflict. IIRC the Adeptus Mechanicus and many space marine chapters tried to stay out of the escalating conflict. Brainstorming on what I wrote above about why Roomaly might hold a grudge against the Ultramarines, maybe the engagement with the Frateris Templars was in some way vindication or vengeance for the earlier encounter.

 

I can’t remember if the Ultramarines were involved in the war or, if like other chapters, they sat on the sideline, waiting for the right opportunity to intercede. The inaction of the Ultramarines may have been part of the impetus which drove Roomaly to take step in and defend the civilians…

 

I don't see many chapters getting involved with it and I thought it would be unique to have them moving around and keeping other threats at bay while the Imperium was in disaray, that and smacking arounf the Frateris Templars. I tried to find any mention of the Ultra's participation, but couldn't find any. This would definatly fuel their distate for them since Roomaly likely would have seen the Ultra's as too busy lording over their little kingdom to do something about the rest of the empire.