A Holy Work - The Three Hives Rebellion

[JackDaw]

A Holy Work – The Three Hives Rebellion

 

Being an account of the Secession of Aren Prime and the interventions of the Iron Talons Adeptus Astartes therein.

“When they told us the Astartes were coming, that the Astartes would
be fighting alongside us, we rejoiced. How could we not? The famed
Astartes, warrior-knights of legend clad in polished steel, magnificent
and terrible in their wrath. How blessed we were, to bear witness to
their holy retribution?

When the Talons arrived, we swiftly realised just how foolish we had been and how quickly our dreams would fade.”

First Captain Morlan
Assant, 3rd platoon 131st Malaz Heavy Infantry. Acting field commander
following the Namas Highway Incident, Aren Prime Secession.



“They told us that we had wounded the xeno-beast immeasurably. They
told us that our Chapter had been wounded almost to death in return.
They told us that to stay was to see the end of our Chapter and our
glory. All of this is true. All of this is lies.

We have been taken from the place of our glory and scattered across the
Imperium in the name of preservation and recuperation. My brothers and I
have been tasked with bringing this sole lonely world back into the
arms of the Emperor. This is work for the Guard, not for my brothers and
I. The sons of the 5th will not remove their helms to let the people of
this world see the shame in their eyes.

They tell us that this is holy work. They tell us that we are needed
here. They tell us that we will not die here and will not die in
ignominy. All of this is true. All of this is lies.”

Praetor Corvin Varras, 5th Blade of the Iron Talon Adeptus Astartes.

 

http://i894.photobucket.com/albums/ac145/Jackdaw1982/Iron%20Talons%20Adeptus%20Astartes/f39447a0-799f-466d-933e-795290bb5745_zps31b7a76a.jpg

Pict-cap of Praetor Varras, rumoured post Namas Highway Incident. Source unknown

 

[JackDaw]

 A Systematic Breakdown of Civility

***Begin Record: Aren Prime Hive World, Logros sub-syst.

***Routine Arbite reports note increase in anti-Imperialist sentiment amongst primary Aren Prime Hives. Large scale demonstration and rioting affecting Namas Highway on-ramps at Junctions 14-alpha, 46-lambda and 35-theta are broken up by massed Arbite response and deployment of anti-personnel ordinance. Actions of Arbites approved in retrospect by Administratum.

 

No comments received from Aren Prime governance (ref The Triarchy).


***Rioting and demonstrations continue to occur in all major Aren Prime settlements, affecting output of materiel from manufactorums and factoria complexes adjacent to settlements. Arbites deploy in force, supported by local Magistratum forces, however their efforts achieve little. Adeptus Administratum recommends that non-local Imperial citizens arrange transport off-world, housing sub-sists and accommodations local to Journeys End Starport report marked increase in housing applications from non-indigenous citizens.

 

No comments received from Aren Prime governance (ref The Triarchy).


***Approximately eighteen (18) months from first Arbite submitted report of unrest, Inquisitorial agencies make themselves known on Aren Prime, beginning investigation into causes of anti-Imperial sentiment and uncooperative attitude of Aren Prime governance. To date, no other settled worlds in Logros sub-syst have displayed similar behavior, but Inquisitorial scrutiny is increased on each world as a prophylactic measure.

 

No comments received from Aren Prime governance, despite formal demands submitted by Inquisitorial envoys.


***Approximately three (3) months from Inquistorial intervention, Aren Prime erupts in full-scale revolt and militarised action against
representatives of Imperial government. Early reports indicate that several Inquisitorial agents are lost, including Inquisitor Aros Specere, formally recognised as leading the investigation into this matter.

Primary hives are completely removed from Imperial control, along with large number of manufactoria complexes adjacent to Namas Highway. The Highway itself, along with Journeys End Starport, remains in Imperial control.

Inquisitorial demands for support are met by the 131st Malaz Heavy Infantry who deploy in regiment strength on Aren Prime and begin
suppression and reclamation actions in the Emperors name.

No comments received from Aren Prime governance, despite formal demands submitted by Inquisitorial envoys.

 

***6 months from the date of deployment of the 131st Malaz Heavy Infantry, the coastal hive of Emmer's Dock is removed in its entirety by the focused deployment of several nuclear and fusion warheads. The resultant miles-wide crater and subsequent new bay created in the coastal wall of Aren Prime's northern continent is henceforth referred to as 'The Cut'. Approximately 30% of the 131st are lost.

 

Aren Prime governance formally declares its secession from the Imperium and deploys PDF and localised militia in open warfare. Specialised military units are rumoured to be equipped with non-standard equipment and armaments bearing no similarity to current  Imperial and Mechanicum approved design.

Inquisitorial envoys request further aid from the Adeptus Astartes, claiming malevolent influence on the population of Aren Prime and
stating that only the Astartes can bring this to a swift conclusion.

 

***Approximately thirty-six (36) months from first reports of unrest, the 5th Blade of the Iron Talons Adeptus Astartes arrive in-system, diverted from crusade actions against the Orkoid xeno-beast (ref Blackmaw Subjugation) and begin the pacification of Aren Prime and its localised star-system.

 

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Fleet elements of the Iron Talons breach the warp and enter in-system.
 

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The Cobra Destroyer squadron 'Fury's Daughters' claim the first kills, wrecking 4 system defense ships operated by Secessionist forces. 'The Wicked Sisters', an under-strength Sword frigate squadron begin picket duties, ruthlessly prosecuting actions against further in and out-system traffic that has not been approved by Imperial governance

 

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The Adeptus Astartes Strike Cruiser 'Kiss the Blade' remains in close orbit above Aren Prime. All attempts to communicate with the Astartes cruiser are met with silence.
 

 

***14 days after arriving in-system via warp-breach, the first elements of the Iron Talons Adeptus Astartes are deployed planet-side. The system is formally declared compliant within 8 months by representatives of the Inquistion. Representatives of the Iron Talon Adeptus Astartes are unavailable for comment.

 

*** End Record

[Olis]

An interesting introduction to B&C, brother. Welcome. ^_^

[MrBear]

I've seen this while lurking on Warseer, anyone not familliar with this is in for a treat as this is going to show some top notch models and background. 

[deathspectersgt7]

Look forward to seeing more. Well done.

[The Yak]

This Guys good.

 

You will like it here Brother.

 

Looking forward to this.

 

Cheers

 

The Yak

[JackDaw]

Planetfall – The footsteps of giants.

"Jesker was the one to spot them. Must have been no more than a hundred metres away, a stone’s throw really. They were huge. No one tells you that. No one says how frakking huge they are. Three of them, clad in cold bone war-plate. We got maybe three, four seconds of contact before they disappeared into the chem-fog. Moving up, we found maybe a score enemies casualties, torn abart by bolter fire, no sign that they’d even fired a round back in anger. Of the Astartes, there was no sign. They hadn’t even acknowledged our presence."

Field report of fire-team leader Calin Droost, recon section, 131st Malaz Heavy Infantry

Raseen Commercia District, reclamation action 34/Mh-7

 

http://i894.photobucket.com/albums/ac145/Jackdaw1982/Iron%20Talons%20Adeptus%20Astartes/IMG1297.jpg

Helmet-cam capture of Astartes forces, Reclamation action 34/mh-7

 

***Begin record

2nd Combat Edge, Tactical Blade Rashan

Deployed without fanfare or ceremony to planetside, the 2nd Edge of Tactical Blade Rashan claim the dubious honour of both the first Astartes footsteps upon Aren Prime and the first shots fired in anger by the Astartes during this intervention. While the 1st Edge secured the immediate dropsite and surrounding square two kilometres for use by the Astartes, the 2nd Edge performed hunt-and-kill sweeps, systematically clearing all Secessionist forces from the initial theatre of operations. Early reports relayed to the orbiting strike cruiser Kiss The Blade were despondent at best, detailing weak resistance by medium to low numbers of enemy combatants that required little to no tactical nous on the part of the Astartes and cursing the vagaries of destiny that had brought them to this place. It is notable that contact with pro-Imperial forces was limited to the point of avoidance by the Astartes, with no representatives present at any briefings or communications made by the Talons. Contact with elements of the 131st Malaz Heavy in-field were brief and few, with many Imperial persons doubtful that the Astartes had even deployed planet-side at all.

 

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The 2nd Edge are seen here clad in the standard bone-lacquered plate of the Iron Talons, bearing the red right arm as is traditional for fully inducted Astartes battle-brothers. As is usual for the Astartes, each brother displays a mix of various armour marks and bolters, ranging from the standard Godwyn pattern to older marks such as the venerable Tigrus. The Talons are renowned for a somewhat lax approach to the arms and armaments dictats of the Codex Astartes, instead allowing each brother to arm himself with whichever pattern bolter best fits his own desires and turning a blind eye to non-standard mixes of armour plate sections. Closer observation of individual Iron Talon Astartes will further the idiosyncrasies of this Chapter. In a similar manner to that of their Primogenitors, the lauded but savage White Scars, the Talons employ non-codex squad and company markings displayed on the right shoulder pauldron and left kneepad respectively. Enemy combatants and even friendly forces from outside of the Chapter will be hard-pressed to positively identify a particular squad or Astartes from these markings, a confusion that the Talons encourage and do not attempt to clear.

 

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Removed from the ongoing crusade against the Blackmaw orkoid xeno, several members of the 2nd Edge display kill tokens and trophies taken from notable kills. Often these will be the tusks and canine teeth ripped from the jaws of the xeno-forms, although other tokens carved from sections of larger bones are also common. Note that all tokens are stained black due to the documented traditions of this particular xenos clan-brood.

Review of after-action reports and missives submitted by combat veterans of the 131st Malaz Heavy Infantry and other pro-Imperial agencies clearly picture an Imperial presence disappointed and disenfranchised with the presence of the Iron Talons. Whilst many of the Imperial commanders might have expected a more co-operative Chapter, possibly influenced by the depiction of the so-called 'Space Marines' of the penny-dreadful prop-lit publications and more lurid entertainment vid-progs, it is clear that much of the Imperial strength in-theatre was unsure how to deal with these elusive and silent Astartes. For their part, the Inquisition remained silent and choose to concentrate on their continuing investigations and infiltration of Secessionist-held territory. It was only with the Stane Service Township clash (ref Reclamation Action 82/db-3) that Imperial forces would see the Astartes deployed in more than combat team strength, an event that established both the Astartes' feelings towards this Compliance and the combat doctrines by which they would prosecute this war.
 

***End record

[lost_angel]

Excellently written! Looking forward to more. 

[JackDaw]

Hello everyone

Many thanks for the warm welcome and the kind words. As you've probably guessed from the location of this plog, the Iron Talons are all completed, up to 2500-odd points. Lots of fluff and completed stuff to come, hopefully you'll enjoy the ride.

@ Olisredan - Thanks very much brother

@ MrBear - No spoilers for anyone else Glad to hear you liked what you saw on Warseer

@ DeathSpecterSgt7 - Lots more to come

@ The Yak - Hello again brother, nice to cross your path one more and cheers

@ Lost Angel - Much appreciated fella

That's about all from me tonight, more to come over the weekend.

Cheers,

Jack

[deathspectersgt7]

Like the Color scheme of Iron Talons .

[Marshal Rohr]

So glad to see this over here! I LOVE this log. It is above and beyond awesome.

[Sanguine_Knight]

I agree!!

[Lysimachus]

One of my favourite threads from WS, haven't looked back through it in ages though so really looking forward to seeing it again!

[Kobrakei]

Jackdaw made his way over! Loved this on Warseer, as well as it being a direct inspiration for my own log. At the risk of sounding redundant, you are all in for a treat.

[Doghouse]

Very nice work. :tu:

[Olis]

Well now, what with all this praise, I'm now curious just how good you are Jackdaw. I will be watching.

[reckoning]

Awesome introduction. Awesome fluff. Awesome models. Awesome name (I play Black Flag a lot).

 

Bring on more awesome.

[JackDaw]

Wel damn chaps, you know how to make a man feel welcome.

@ Deathspectresgt7 - glad to hear it, it took a few attempts to settle on the split red and bone.

@ Marshal2Crusaders - ah you are way too kind man. In Memoriam is no mean feat itself, I think you may have eclipsed this one in terms of awesomeness.

@ Sanguine Knight - thanks fella

@ Strike Captain Lysimachus - and thanks as well man, glad to hear you are looking forward to another look-though.

@ Kobrakei - don't big me up too much Glad to see another fan already around though.

@ Doghouse - thanks very much

@ Olisredan - ha yeah, suddenly I seem to have a lot to live up to...

@ Reckoning34 - more awesome inbound fella ;)

[Larkyn]

Waitwaitwait...JackDaw's now on the B&C??? Oh feth yeah! I love your Dark Elves, and the 3 Hives rebellion is just plain awesome.

 

Subbed.

[JackDaw]

Escalation - Stemming the tide.

"Someone told us the Astartes were here. Can't tell you if that was true, but what I can tell you is that things got real quiet round 'End 'Port real quick. We went from crapping ourselves at every raid siren to routine patrols in the habs like nothing had happened. The prop-lit mags and pic-shows were full of tales of the Holy Astartes saving kiddies, castigating the Secessionists, all that stuff. The habbers lapped it up, but the vets, those Malaz guys - some of them had been up-country and claimed to have seen the Astartes in action. The things they told us didn't sound like any prop-lit I'd seen. Sometimes it was hard to know if the Malaz boys even thought the Astartes were on our side."

Magistratum Officer Jiraz Tomei, Journeys End Starport East-19 Precinct. Excerpt from post-event Inquisitorial Debrief, Aren Prime Secession.

***Begin Record

Within two weeks of the Astartes' deployment planetside, the southern continent of Aren Prime had been pacified by the combined but not co-operative military actions of both the Iron Talons and the 131st Malaz Heavy Infantry. While the guard secured Journeys' End Starport and the surrounding habitation and goods-processing districts, the Astartes appeared to concentrate on reclaiming several outlying manufactoria and supply districts adjacent to the continent and ocean spanning mega-transport route known as the Namas  Highway. These interdictions effectively removed all semblance of Secessionist control from areas designated as an immediate threat to Imperial holdings on Aren Prime and ensured that the Starport remained firmly under the aegis of the Emperor's faithful. Attempts to co-ordinate military efforts with the Talons came to nothing as the Astartes embarked on a lightning fast series of murderous attacks on Secessionist supply lines and command nodes. The military dogma and doctrines of the Talons clearly owed a great debt to their Primogenitors, the White Scars, as swift-moving Rhino and Razorback mounted Tactical Blades savaged the Secessionist forces with little reprisal in return. Fragments of Iron Talon combat records recovered from communication traps installed by Inquisitorial agents and translated from the obscure combant-cant used by the Astartes seemed to indicate that this war was approached with something less than the righteous fervour that one would expect from the Angels of Death. It was not until the shocking events of Reclamation Action 80/db-3 (ref The Broken Angel) that Imperial observers would see the Talons ire come to the fore and the escalation of their presence on Aren Prime, an series of increasingly brutal compliance actions that started at the Stane Service Township clash (ref Reclamation Action 82/db-3) and ended with the first major Astartes military action at The Cut (ref Reclamation Action 214/sh-6).

                                                         http://i894.photobucket.com/albums/ac145/Jackdaw1982/Iron%20Talons%20Adeptus%20Astartes/IMG1329.jpg
                                  Secessionist emplaced observation posts capture footage of Edge fireteams advancing under supporting fire from Astartes armour elements

*** End record

[JackDaw]

Escalation - A broken blade can still cut

 

"We lost brothers. We lost warriors. But we did not lose our courage. Question this again, and I will kill you, brother."

Veteran Iskar Jarak, to his Praetor.

*** Begin record

Broken Edge, Tactical Blade Meanas

During the Crusade against the Blackmaw xeno-kind, the Iron Talons were deployed in Chapter strength across a sector-wide warfront. Whilst Chapter-scale deployment of the Astartes may seem an overly agressive move, the Iron Talons have never been a large Chapter and lack the volume of battle-brothers of other Astartes. Numbering somewhere in the region of 700 to 800 Astartes, the newly appointed Chapter Master Sevrin Kallas deemed it appropriate to call together all 7 Blades of the Talons and deploy in force to prosecute the subjugation of the Blackmaw ork clans. Almost a full decade of warfare, coupled with the close-range combat doctrine inherited from the Founding Scars, resulted in the Iron Talons suffering high casualties and bringing themselves almost to the point of Chapter-death. The results of this can be seen most prominently in the under-strength Tactical Blade Meanas, referred to as a Broken Edge. Consisting of the five surviving Tactical Astartes from Meanas, they have been joined by the sole survivor of the 5th Blades fourth Tactical unit and form an ad-hoc fighting unit used primarily to support the advances of the Assault Blades.

 

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Led by Veteran Jarak, the Broken Edge normally deploy via Razorback armoured transport as fire-support for the swift moving Assault Blades, securing objectives after they have been cleansed by their brethren. This close association with the Assault Blades has coloured the combat actions of Meanas and they are often to found engaging the enemy in close range firefights and advancing into areas of intense combat. An almost fatalistic attitude seems to colour the orders and decisions made by Jarak, almost as though he and his brothers seek to join their fallen brethren and see Meanas reunited once again. This has not gone unnoticed and the Broken Edge often find themselves censured by Praetor Varras for their oft-impetuous and foolhardy exploits. Second of the Talons squads deployed to Aren Prime planetside, Meanas took it upon themselves to harry and harass Secessionist relief columns and comms-stations. While these actions were within standard Talon combat doctrine, they were not ratified by Praetor Varras and only their unparalleled success saved Jarak and Meanas from further censure and punishment.

 

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The four line Tactical Astartes of Meanas can be seen here in the now-standard mix of armour marks and plate sections. After the bitter drawn out conflict of the Blackmaw Subjugation, it was rare for an Astartes to wear a set of power armour consisting of plates from a single mark and these Astartes bear witness to that truth. Several pieces of Mk IV and Mk VII plate can be seen above, along with reconditioned sections of Mk VI and Mk VII plate. Each brother bears the traditional red right arm and bone plate of the Iron Talons, along with the company marking of the 5th Blade displayed on the left kneepad. Again, the Talons preference for non-Codex squad markings and the display of kill-tokens and fetishes is in evidence, with each brother bearing xenos tusks and bone sections in triumph. It was in part this savage appearance that went some way towards explaining the less-than-enamoured attitude displayed towards the Iron Talons by Imperial persons on Aren Prime, who by all accounts were expecting a Chapter more in the vein of the Argent Crucifers or vaunted Ultramarines.

 

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Iskar Jarak, Veteran of Tactical Blade Meanas, perhaps comes closest to the biased ideal of an Astartes that Imperial forces were expecting, bearing as he does several relics of an Ecclesiastical nature. Mounted atop the power plant for his reconditioned mix of Mk VII plate is a simple devotional icon taken from the altar of the Demoscien Cathedral on Praxis 9, site of the fall of the majority of Tactical Blade Meanas, while a ragged section of tapestry from the same Cathedral is draped across the rear of the power plant. While some might think that Jarak does this to honour and venerate the God-Emperor, the truth is far more pragmatic - they are marks of shame, borne by Jarak in recognition of the fall of his brothers and a constant reminder of their fate. This morbid celebration of his brothers death is one of the many reasons that Shield-Father Brukhalian keeps a close eye upon Jarak and Meanas, ensuring that their melancholic nature does not turn into outright despair. Armed with a rugged Godwyn pattern bolter and straight form power sword, Jarak is an imposing warrior and easily the equal of many other champions of xeno-breeds and traitors alike and his tactical acumen ensured that the Broken Edge became a hated and feared force on Aren Prime, renowned and reviled in equal measure by the Secessionists for their uncompromising and brutal nature as well as the speed and fluidity of their attacks.

 

http://i894.photobucket.com/albums/ac145/Jackdaw1982/Iron%20Talons%20Adeptus%20Astartes/IMG1337.jpg

 

The final member of Meanas is rarely spoken of. Known only as the Penitent, this Astartes has been stripped of all honour and identification markings and is forbidden from bearing the winged talons of the Chapters symbol, instead bearing only a scroll detailing his trangressions inked in his own blood. This is the gravest punishment that the Destriants and Praetors of the Talons can mete out, further compounded by the actions of the Chapters Librarians who mind-scrub the brother to ensure that even he cannot remember his name, only the dolorous deed that has earned him this punishment. Once marked in this way and armed only with a bolter and combat blade, the Astartes is expected to find his end in battle in order to atone for his sins - the irony is that the mere existence of the Astartes ensures that this end is hard to find. During the Aren Prime intervention, the remnants of this particular Penitent were recovered from the site of the final clash with Secessionist forces, his search for redemption finally achieved.
 

*** End record

 

[deathspectersgt7]

Very Cool look, forward to the next installment.

[JackDaw]

Arrivals - the Lords of War walk amongst us
 

"Was it an error in judgement to summon the Astartes? No. This war needed to be prosecuted swiftly and brutally as an example to those other planets and sub-systs harbouring similar pretensions towards independence. My colleagues may have wished for a more amenable Chapter, one more suited to the propaganda machines tastes, but for my own purposes, the Talons would more than suffice."
 

Excerpt from personal recordings, post-investigation reports made by Inquisitor Sholesh dan Raf, Ordo Hereticus.

"So apparently some Astartes commander is here. What's your frakking point? Is he gonna suddenly appear at tac-briefs, bathed in the light of the Emperors holy hole? Is he single handedly gonna protect every low-grade habber we have flocking here? Is this frakking hero gonna save my men? No, because they're already frakking dead. I'll tell you what this hero will do - he'll fug off up north in secret with the rest of his frakking Astartes and all we'll see is the bodies left behind."

Gunnery Sergeant Rand Lasko, 4th Platoon 131st Malaz Heavy Infantry. Comments made are typical of anti-Astartes feeling prevalent amongst Imperial forces.

*** Begin Image Record

 

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Inquisitorial spy-drones seeded in the Raseen Commercia District capture footage of assumed Astartes command elements for the first time.

 

http://i894.photobucket.com/albums/ac145/Jackdaw1982/Iron%20Talons%20Adeptus%20Astartes/IMG1342.jpg

Closer image of Astartes command elements captured by spy-drone. Initial visual clue recognition and Astartes heraldry pattern analysis tentatively identify the central figure (ref Ast-[2]) as a company level commander equivalent to Captain in Codex Astartes designation. Ast-[2] temporarily assigned identification appellation of Praetor in line with known Iron Talons Chapter organisation.

 

Further image captures and identification efforts hampered by destruction of Inquisitorial spy-drone by Astartes pictured far left (ref Ast-[1]).

*** End Image Record

 

[JackDaw]

Armoured wrath - the war machines of the Astartes wake

"Secessionist armour had us pinned down in the hab units while their ground forces moved in to circle us. Maybe a half-dozen light tanks, couple of self-propelled artillery pieces that looked nothing I'd even seen before. Those self-prop frakkers were the issue, once they wiped Kessler and his team we were frak outta luck and anti-armour gear. Vulture support was apparently inbound but wasn't gonna make a crapload of difference until we were all smears on the roadside. We could hear the self-props spooling up and moving in and nothing on Terra was gonna stop them. Then Solomon spotted the Astartes. Three armour units he said, what looked like a mainline battletank and two transports. Three units and they went through those Secessionist pieces like they weren't even there. It was so fast we barely saw anything, just that battletank moving faster and firing more accurately than anything that size had a right to do. By the time we cleared out the infantry it was all over, just wrecks as far as the eye could see. Still no sign of those bastard Astartes though."

Post action report, First Sergeant Nylan Reese, 8th Platoon 131st Malaz Heavy Infantry, Reclamation Action 124/sh-4

***Begin Record

 

http://i894.photobucket.com/albums/ac145/Jackdaw1982/Iron%20Talons%20Adeptus%20Astartes/IMG1358_zpsa8d1b457.jpg

Inquisitorial spy-drones capture footage of Iron Talon Astartes armour elements moving through heavily shelled area north-east of Namas Highway off-ramp Theta-354/b

 

It is rare indeed for any Astartes force to make war without the support of armour elements and heavier weaponry more suited to vehicle mounts rather than infantry held. Whilst the Iron Talons share their parent chapters predilection for a swift moving style of war, they also share the Scars appreciation for a telling blow that cripples the enemy in one hit. Thus, while Devastator squads are a rare sight in Talon forces, mobile weapon platforms such as the noble Predator pattern main line battle tank are a more common sight. During the Blackmaw Subjugation, Predator Destructor pattern squadrons were commonly deployed to counter the hordes of light walkers and buggies utilised by the orkoid-xenos. Military intelligence regarding Secessionist forces had established that while light to medium weight armour elements were plentiful, heavier units were curiously absent. Praetor Varras wasted no time in deciding that the few remaining Destructor pattern Predators held by the 5th would serve and deployed them planetside to act as opportunist armour-hunters.

 

http://i894.photobucket.com/albums/ac145/Jackdaw1982/Iron%20Talons%20Adeptus%20Astartes/IMG1362_zpsf12e2e31.jpg

http://i894.photobucket.com/albums/ac145/Jackdaw1982/Iron%20Talons%20Adeptus%20Astartes/IMG1360_zpsa0c3ce14.jpg

 

The Predator shown here was given the designation 'Lance-1' by Imperial military observers, in the absence of any confirmed name provided by the Iron Talons themselves. While superficially similar to the Rhino-pattern APC commonly utilised by Astartes forces, the Predator sports noticeably heavier armour on its flanks and on the mantlet of its main piece. Armed with the formidable Hewer-type heavy autocannon, the Destructor pattern Predator can lay down a surprisingly heavy rate of fire that makes a mockery of the light armour units deployed by Secessionist forces and made the deployment of heavier ordinance such as lascannons unnecessary. This particular Predator unit was also equipped with a machine-spirit operated Hunter-killer one-shot missile, ensuring that any target that escaped the attentions of its main piece would find their respite brief at best. Of particular note is the lack of any sponson-weaponry, indicative of the fast-moving nature of Iron Talons combat doctrine - without sponsons, the Predator can maintain a rate of travel and fire that exposes the weaker side and rear armour of enemy units while also providing a fine defense against the attentions of the slower Secessionist forces.

 

http://i894.photobucket.com/albums/ac145/Jackdaw1982/Iron%20Talons%20Adeptus%20Astartes/IMG1359_zps24fda758.jpghttp://i894.photobucket.com/albums/ac145/Jackdaw1982/Iron%20Talons%20Adeptus%20Astartes/IMG1361_zps001c110d.jpg

 

Lance-1 displays the idiosyncratic markings common to the Iron Talons - observational reports and background data retrieval have tentatively suggested that the white triangular flash displayed on the left flank is a Company-equivalent marking, while the symbol displayed on the right maintenance access hatch may refer to the Predators support role and possible Devastator designation crew. Iron Talon armour units are rarely fully-crewed by Astartes due to a combination of low recruitment numbers and the fact that Talon Astartes prefer to face the enemy in person. Thus, this Predator unit will be crewed by a single Devastator class Astartes, supported by hard-wired combat-grade servitors and the machine spirit of the Predator itself. The gene-hanced physiology of the Astartes and the integration of purpose-built servitors leaves the Predator the equal of any veteran crew-served Imperial armour piece and able to respond to battlefield conditions quicker than a purely mortal crew.

During the Aren Prime Interdiction, commonly referred to as The Three Hives Rebellion by non-military personnel, the armour units of the Iron Talon Astartes reaped a fearsome toll from Secessionist forces and ensured that the southern third of the Namas Highway and outlying continental plains remained firmly in Imperial hands.
 

*** End Record

 

[Antarius]

Great stuff!