Admech's Marines

[Uberlord Gendo]

In the far reaches of the galactic northeast, where the Astronomicon's light fades and the Ghoul Stars are near, the Adeptus Mechanicus has long waged war against the Hereteks in conjunction with a few trusted forces of the Inquisition (the radical sort). The reconquest of of several star systems in including a forgeworld which has yet to be named, under the leadership of a Radical Inquisitor and an Rune Priest Archmagos (if I'm not mistaken, they tend to specialize in lateral thinking), has been particularly successful. Protected by distance, Inquisitorial Mandate, and a good deal of success, including a previously lost STC template, the Archmagi of the Reconquest began to secretly stockpile gene seed material. Hoping to avoid the mistakes made with the Steel Confessors, the Chapter is deployed primarily against Chaos installations in conjunction with Adeptus Mechanicus operations. (I'm also thinking that having received tacit approval from major chapter might help. I'm considering Dark Angels, as they might appreciate being let in on such a conspiracy if they got to handle operations against fallen. If it makes more sense, perhaps this is part of a blackmail thing on the part of the inquisitors or Admech.)

 

The chapter is not Codex Compliant, commonly deploying with Skitarii Legio and Robot Maniples. Equally, due to the radicalism of the local forge world, the Chapter uses much non-standard equipment, including portable void shield generators and even an sauropod artillery device based on recovered heretek designs.

 

 

Basically, I was going for a DIY Admech force that used standard codecies (so Guard and something sort of Marine). I really like the forge fiend model and marks and icons make for nice Admech toys. Thing is, I'm using marines models, so why not make it a chapter.

 

I'm also considering throwing in an Alpha Legion conspiracy, manipulating events so that this all works out.

 

Anyways, what do you all think? It's all kind of far fetched, but I figure radical inquisitors would naturally get a long with radical techpriests and working together, they'd be pretty good at keeping things quiet.

[Bjorn Firewalker]

In the far reaches of the galactic northeast, where the Astronomicon's light fades and the Ghoul Stars are near, the Adeptus Mechanicus has long waged war against the Hereteks in conjunction with a few trusted forces of the Inquisition (the radical sort).

Radical Inquisitors may ally themselves with the AdMech, but their forces are unlikely to take the field the same time. If I was a Radical Inquisitor, I'd want to keep my xeno tech-using acolytes away from any and ALL prying eyes, including those of my "allies."

The reconquest of of several star systems in including a forgeworld which has yet to be named, under the leadership of a Radical Inquisitor and an Rune Priest Archmagos (if I'm not mistaken, they tend to specialize in lateral thinking), has been particularly successful. Protected by distance, Inquisitorial Mandate, and a good deal of success, including a previously lost STC template, the Archmagi of the Reconquest began to secretly stockpile gene seed material.

The approval of the High Lords of Terra MUST be received before gene-seed is used outside of an existing Chapter. If you found a new Chapter without their approval, you will be declared a heretic, and a HUGE beatdown will be administered- the intentions don't matter, as Lufgt Huron learned.

(I'm also thinking that having received tacit approval from major chapter might help. I'm considering Dark Angels, as they might appreciate being let in on such a conspiracy if they got to handle operations against fallen. If it makes more sense, perhaps this is part of a blackmail thing on the part of the inquisitors or Admech.)

Considering how damn ruthless the Dark Angels are, blackmailing them is GUARANTEED to result in campaigns to eliminate witnesses.

The chapter is not Codex Compliant, commonly deploying with Skitarii Legio and Robot Maniples. Equally, due to the radicalism of the local forge world, the Chapter uses much non-standard equipment, including portable void shield generators and even an sauropod artillery device based on recovered heretek designs.

Be careful; people may accuse you of creating a "Mary Sue" Chapter. That said, I'd love to see the quadrupedal self-propelled artillery system.

Anyways, what do you all think? It's all kind of far fetched, but I figure radical inquisitors would naturally get a long with radical techpriests and working together, they'd be pretty good at keeping things quiet.

The radicals would be too damn paranoid to "get along." Each group would make contingency plans to eliminate its partner, "just in case" the partner betrays it to the puritans- and you can bet they have plans to rat on each other, to eliminate witnesses to their supposed heresy.

[Uberlord Gendo]

Bjorn, I agree with most of what you said, but I was thinking that the radical inquisitors were working with the radical techpriests as their goals aligned and they could use their institutional pull to shield eachother. But yes, this is certainly a breach of most of the regulations surrounding chapter creation, not that Admech hasn't done it before.

 

What reasons can you think of for a space marine chapter to deploy primarily with Skitarii and use non-standard stuff? Or might a radical forgeworld supplying a non codex chapter with strange stuff in return for aid in the search for knowledge be enough to do it?

[Bjorn Firewalker]

But yes, this is certainly a breach of most of the regulations surrounding chapter creation, not that Admech hasn't done it before.

To use my Steel Crusaders as an example, I got around the need to get the approval of the High Lords of Terra, by creating a Death Watch-like organization instead of a true Chapter.

They appear as silver shadows, cast wherever the Quest-- the Crusade for Knowledge takes the magi. They are the scalpel with which the Fabricator-General may remove vital technology from Man's enemies: Steel Crusaders, Space Marines seconded to the Adeptus Mechanicus. With the Mechanicus aiding the Marines by improving arms already far superior to another Chapter's, the Crusaders are rightfully feared by those they face in battle, and rightfully hated by those who covet their technological secrets-- or whose secrets they seized in the Machine God's name.

 

The Crusaders know Man, physically weak compared to other species, depends on technology to survive; from a hunter's knife to a guardsman's lasgun, technology alone provides the strength to match and even overcome Man's enemies. The Crusaders will face any foe to save the human race-- or create one as they loot Eldar ruins and other xeno sites, defying Inquisitors who dare deny them the artifacts they seek.

 

Marines, from the Iron Hand Chapter and its successors, serve the duration of a crusade (an average of 20 years). Upon entry, the Chapter symbol is moved to the right shoulder, and the Marine repaints his armor.

 

<snip>

 

During Goge Vandire's Reign of Blood, the Fabricator-General founded the Steel Confessors: a "ceramite wall" to protect the Adeptus Mechanicus from the Ecclesiarch's excesses. As the Confessors were not a Space Marine Chapter, the Fabricator-General deemed it unnecessary to ask the other High Lords for permission. After Vandire's fall, the Confessors were tasked with "preventing the spread of techno-heresy,"-- in other words, deny the Inquisition an excuse to interfere with the Mechanicus' affairs.

 

In the 41st millennium, a Tyranid Hive Fleet attacked the forge world of Kalevala, the Confessors' main base. The Marines repulsed the foul xenos, but at heavy cost: a 69% casualty rate. The surviving officers, from the Confessors and their parent Chapters, found fault in what was once "healthy competition" between the Clans, e.g., the Sons of Medusa Techmarines' were unable to repair the Brazen Claws' Predator Hellfire tanks, because they were not cross-trained to maintain equipment another Chapter developed, denying the Confessors heavy support.

 

Ferrus Manus' sons formed a Tech Council to coordinate inter-Chapter efforts, plan joint training exercises, standardize communication protocols and Rites of Maintenance. The Steel Confessors changed colors to commemorate those lost on Kalevala. When the Astronomican began failing, the Fabricator-General ordered a "Crusade for Knowledge" to repair the Golden Throne; the Confessors volunteered to a man, and were renamed the "Steel Crusaders."

What reasons can you think of for a space marine chapter to deploy primarily with Skitarii and use non-standard stuff? Or might a radical forgeworld supplying a non codex chapter with strange stuff in return for aid in the search for knowledge be enough to do it?

To explain the Skitarii and the exotic technology, just claim the Chapter has unusually close relations with the AdMech- the Iron Hands and their successor Chapters do it, the Mentors do it, you can do it. If you want more details, say the Marines were seconded to a Magos on an expedition, the way Space Marines used to be seconded to Rogue Traders (see In the Belly of the Beast, one of William King's contributions to the Let the Galaxy Burn anthology); or the Marines are aiding the defense of a forge world, and accompanying this world's defenders in striking an enemy-held objective.

 

By the way, I'd change strike the "radical" from your description of forge world. Even if the forge world's administrator is a radical, the rest of the planet is unlikely to be, and his techno-heresy WILL be noticed- cue the AdMech calling the Iron Hands to support the army it's sending to punish the heresy.

[Wulfebane]

Confused about the presence of a Rune Priest...

 

Also, I've heard that Inquisitors can sanction/force the HLoT to grant a chapter creation if they willed it.

[Uberlord Gendo]

Confused about the presence of a Rune Priest...

 

Also, I've heard that Inquisitors can sanction/force the HLoT to grant a chapter creation if they willed it.

 

Lexicanum or another such wiki mentions Rune Priests, which are different from the Space Wolves ones, as a group in Admech who do lateral thinking and experimentation. They're sort of the guys you call when it isn't working even though you applied the holy oil or when you need something reverse engineered.

 

As for the Inquisitors, that does sound useful, except the reverse engineering of Chaos and Xeno tech, as well as the experimentation would make for an odd situation. This said, Grey Knights get away with a lot of Xeno tech, even C'tan swords, so perhaps use of Xeno tech is more commonly acceptable?

 

Bjorn, I like a lot of those ideas, I'll get back to you presently.

 

To both of you, thanks.

[Uberlord Gendo]

Bjorn, I guess what I'm thinking now is an organization of Space Marines that operates in support of Xenologists and STC recovery operations. As they operate away from supply chains for extended time periods, they have a tendency to use some unorthodox technologies. (All Consecrated and blessed, of course). Marines involved tend to be recruited from chapters that either have close ties to the Admech, Iron Hands et al or are scholarly chapters, such as the Blood Ravens. Many marines find they enjoy the work and sign on for multiple tours, leading to the development of a distinct group culture.

[Bjorn Firewalker]

Bjorn, I guess what I'm thinking now is an organization of Space Marines that operates in support of Xenologists and STC recovery operations.

Take care with how the fluff is written, or I'll sue you for stealing my idea. :verymad:

As they operate away from supply chains for extended time periods, they have a tendency to use some unorthodox technologies. (All Consecrated and blessed, of course).

I can imagine them using Tau railguns, and countering claims that they committed techno-heresy, by stating the technology was stolen from humanity, due to the xeno weapons' similarity to manmade railguns from the Dark Age of Technology.

Marines involved tend to be recruited from chapters that either have close ties to the Admech, Iron Hands et al or are scholarly chapters, such as the Blood Ravens. Many marines find they enjoy the work and sign on for multiple tours, leading to the development of a distinct group culture.

It's probably best to limit the fluff to Marines descended from a specific Primarch; this would prevent (or at least limit) claims your Chapter is full of Mary Sues. (I learned this "the hard way" from a previous DIY Chapter, which used gene-seed from multiple sources- NOT something the loyalists do.)

[Uberlord Gendo]

Haha, alright, though it is a cool idea, ne?

 

With regard to Xeno tech, I may well try some of those conversions at some point, can imagine an assault focused SM army with Tau allies working quite well as a rule set for such a force. In the mean time, I've got a Forgefiend I'm planning on using exorbitant amounts of green stuff on to turn those chaos symbols into gears. Will probably also add some skulls.

 

Given that, I did some looking for chapters and I'm thinking I may go with Raven Guard and sucessors (perhaps with Blood Ravens being assumed in their number, even if they are probably Thousand Sons.)

I figure Admech must be on fairly good terms with them given that Deliverance is basically a forgeworld and due to the gene seed troubles, they need extra help from Magi. This could be part of how they pay them back.

I figure explorators would appreciate their careful approach, it avoids unwanted attention for recovery of artifacts of interest. Equally, the adaptive tactics ought avoid trouble where the code of the Ultramarines or the STAND AND FIGHT of the Iron Hands would just cause problems.-- so I suppose this is the group they send after the really odd stuff, like if you want to 'excavate' a necron tomb world or for when you want to track down a heretek and capture him and his work. And if a few railguns or star cannons happen to find their way into the armory, well, the scions of Corax are hardly the sort to go against something that works.

But yeah, basically marines searching for arcane knowledge with Admech.

What do you think?

[Bjorn Firewalker]

The ideas are good, overall.

With regard to Xeno tech, I may well try some of those conversions at some point, can imagine an assault focused SM army with Tau allies working quite well as a rule set for such a force.

My idea was the Marines use captured or reverse-engineered railguns, as the Astartes are unlikely to form long-lasting alliances with xenos- there will never be enough trust on BOTH SIDES to do so, what with the Tau annexing Imperial worlds in the name of the "Greater Good." (Temporary associations due to the threat a common enemy poses, however, are A-okay.)

In the mean time, I've got a Forgefiend I'm planning on using exorbitant amounts of green stuff on to turn those chaos symbols into gears. Will probably also add some skulls.

Disregarding my suspicion of Chaos-tainted tech (a valid suspicion, given what happened when the Imperium attempted to reverse-engineer the Despoiler class battleship), I'd love to see this reverse-engineered Forgefiend.

[Uberlord Gendo]

Ah, I'd meant as a counts as. Wouldn't actually be tau, they'd just use the tau rules.

 

I guess I'll get to work on proper fluff and models, eventually I'll put out an IA.

 

Thanks again.

[Messor]

As someone who started 40k with tau, I'd love to see this come to fruition. Those are some of my favorite models, so seeing some counts as among the space marines would be really entertaining.