A Holy Work - The Three Hives Rebellion

[Brother Ambroz]

That chaplain is brutal!

[disease]

Don't know how this got missed, what a great thread

[strongbow]

@ Strongbow - Yeah not bad man, new job, another kid, another few years older I have made a start on the HH stuff but it might be a few months yet before I'm at the stage I can start the plog.

The time has flown by! Hopefully that means the few months before the HH stuff turns up will fly by too. Sounds like life's going pretty darn well for you, which is great :).

May I ask what's in store regarding the HH stuff?

[JackDaw]

Evning chaps and sorry for the long silence, had some real life stuff recently that has stopped all hobby stuff for a while. I'll make up for it with so,ething special for you at the end of this post.

@ LordOrdGermany - thanks fella

@ Lord Of The Cull - the Book of the Fallen series is so good, cant praise it enough. And literally every name is gold. Sadly nothing for Itkovian, but a few other names crop up later.

@ Tanith Ghost - thanks man, brutal is what I wanted to get across, nothing fancy just a elegant brutality.

@ Disease - much appreciated mate, hope you enjoy the rest.

@ Strongbow - ha, life was going well but its been a rough few months. Little taster of the HH stuff below, but the hobby is on the backburner for a few months more at least.

So then, a little treat by way of an apology from me, and a hint at what is on the horizon.....

"You call your Primarch the Red Angel, no? This is a jest surely? Some sly humour of the Twelfth? Come then, let me show you how a son of a true Angel fights..."

Afio Lorenz, named Samiel, of the Blooded of Seraph Company, IXth Legion Astartes

http://i894.photobucket.com/albums/ac145/Jackdaw1982/The%20Fall%20of%20Seraph/lorenz_zpsa0b0102a.jpg

[Tyrannicide]

Flawless. Totally surpasses my already high expectations of your work.

[JackDaw]

Ah you are way too kind Darth. Afio is the tester, but it's got that loose Blanchey art look I wanted while still feeling recognisable as my own style. Really enjoyed painting him as well. 

[reckoning]

Everything about that guy wins. Give us more!

[Argent aquila]

Lovely model!

 

Can't wait for more, whenever you can ;)

[Hyaenidae]

Took my breath away, Jackdaw. That is, by far, the most stunning and perfectly modeled and painted 30k Blood Angel I have ever, ever, ever seen.

 

I got some extremely high expectations for more, sir.  :)

[marine7312000]

That is a truly awesome red you have there.

[Nomus Sardauk]

"You call your Primarch the Red Angel, no? This is a jest surely? Some sly humour of the Twelfth? Come then, let me show you how a son of a true Angel fights..."

Afio Lorenz, named Samiel, of the Blooded of Seraph Company, IXth Legion Astartes

 

http://i894.photobucket.com/albums/ac145/Jackdaw1982/The%20Fall%20of%20Seraph/lorenz_zpsa0b0102a.jpg

 

http://i1.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/000/581/075/fe2.png

[Griz]

That Blood Angel is dope. That is all there is to say.

[Son of Carnelian]

I just discovered this thread and I am totally losing my mind over it. Awesome, awesome work.

[JackDaw]

Hello again chaps, seems like red is a popular colour ;) I have got a few more pics of more HH Angels that I have done, not painted but assembled and I am so so tempted to share them....but I am worried it might take some attention away from the Talons. However, I do think you guys would like them so I am torn. There will be a proper log for Seraph Company at some point, once I get a chance to sort out the storyline and get some actual hobby time.

 

Reckoning34 - thanks very much man, there is more to come eventually.

 

Argent Aquila - don't worry, there will be more of the Angels and the Talons soon.

 

1000Heathens - man, you are way way too kind. In part I blame your own In Memoriam for making me just that little more interested in 30k, so thank you sir. Just remember to breath ;)

 

Marine7312000 - thanks man, been a while since I painted that much red on a model, so was very happy with the result.

 

Sanguinius Reborn - I guess you like Lorenz then? ;) 

 

Griz - cheers fella :)

 

Marshal Sampson of Terra - ah thanks man, glad  to hear you're enjoying everything.

 

And more thanks to everyone who Liked the pic of Lorenz. Now, lets get back to our regular programming, at least for now.

 

Course, let me know if you want to see more Angels...

 

Jack

[JackDaw]

On the Prodigals

 

“Knowledge wins wars. Oh, you need guns and bombs and men and Astartes and tanks and whatnot to fight a war, but knowledge will win you the war. Know the enemy. Their hopes, their dreams, their strengths and weaknesses. Use any and all tools at your disposal to get in their heads. Once you know your enemy, it’s so much easier to kill them.”
Attributed to Inquisitor Sholesh dan Raf, Ordo Hereticus

***Begin Record

http://i894.photobucket.com/albums/ac145/Jackdaw1982/Iron%20Talons%20Adeptus%20Astartes/IMG1667_zps33ffc262.jpg

Footage captured by Secessionist Civilian Protection Forces of suspected Inquisitorial Agents attempting to access secure data-stack storage unit located in Hive Calbefraque. The identities and whereabouts of these agents remain unknown.

 

[Data corruption]-bjects have responded well to the initial genetic treatments. Integration of the Ander Serum into standard genetic manipulation templates has resulted in 35% increase in muscle mass and bone density, with corresponding increases in subjects’ neurological functions from the Ingram implants. Rejection rate remains low at 45% - even these failures are providing valuable information and results from the resultant vivisection. Suggestions to proceed to the tertiary level of testing and dosage have been approved and this will be-[Data corruption]

[Data corruption] has confirmed that Adept Rho-Hanshu has been able to adapt field technology designs from xeno-sources into homo-sapien relatable devices. The Adept assures me that once implanted into the subjects and aligned with the focus devices contained within the armour, power levels comparable to that of Knight-class voids are possible, however this will severely impact the physical function of the subjects. Adept Rho-Hanshu remains confident that levels equivalent to current disruption field and personal protection fields will be possible and sustainable on a long-term basis with little impact on the biological func-[Data corruption]

[Data corruption]-formed beyond all expectation. From the initial test group of 100 subjects, only 13 have survived to the Complete Prototype Testing Phase, however the results are…astounding. Approval has been received to begin in-field testing and deployment, with further approval received to begin secondary stage creation on further subje-[Data corruption]

[Data corruption]-nally have a name for them. Test subjects 1-13 are hereby referred to as The Prodigals. [End Data stream]

***End Record

[Nomus Sardauk]

Sanguinius Reborn - I guess you like Lorenz then?

Make more beautiful Blood Angels and I'll tell you.

[JackDaw]

Well there's at least another 11 and a half to show off at some point...... And I did spend a large portion of today planning what I wanted to do overall. So maybe I'll post some more up tomorrow. Definitely more from the Three Hives Rebellion to come tomorrow.

[Kobrakei]

I remember from your Warseer thread that when the Prodigals were introduced was when the Aren Prime fluff went from great to next-level. It's going to be so much fun both re-reading it and seeing all the new reactions!

 

Also, that Blood Angel is stunning. 

[JackDaw]

Kobrakei - hopefully people will enjoy it here as much as the guys on Warseer did. Crazily, with the next post I'm about to put up, we're already about 2/3rds of the way to the end. And thanks for the kind words about the Angel - taken me a while to bite down on the Heresy cherry, so its nice to know its turning out ok. 

[JackDaw]

Escalation – fury unleashed

“They told us we would have Astartes support this time, that they were co-operating. For the first three hours of engagement, there was frak all sign of cooperation. The Secessionists boiled out of that Township like ants from a hive, sending a hell of a lot of ordinance our way. Three hours we took that for, before the first Astartes bothered to show up.
Throne though…when they did show up….Five of them came to us to hold back a push by a brigade of Secessionist heavies. Two of the Astartes carried huge plasma weapons, bigger than anything I’d seen not bolted to a Russ. Made a mess of the heavies, just tore through them. They only fired maybe a half dozen bursts each, but it was like a new sun was born. After that, it didn’t take much from my boys to mop up the rest and move onto the Township proper.”
 

Third Captain Joren Allim, 16th Platoon, 131st Malaz Heavy Infantry

***Begin Record

To even the most casual observer, it must already be clear that the Iron Talons adherence to the dictates of the Codex Astartes is loose at best and dangerously rebellious at worst. The heavy-handed emphasis on close –range engagement, the non-standard squad markings and nomenclature – all these point to a marked disregard for the teachings of Guilliman, made even more apparent by the seeming lack of long range support. We have touched earlier on the lack of Devastator squads fielded by the Talons and it is easy to assume that there simply are none, the Talons instead relying on armoured units such as Predators and Vindicators for their support fire. However, this would be a false assumption. While Devastator Blades are rare, they are not entirely absent from the ranks of the Companies – most often they are only deployed in limited numbers and bear fewer support weapons than their more Codex brethren – it is easy therefore to overlook a Devastator Blade as merely another Tactical Blade. Counted amongst the ranks of the 5th Company Blade is but a single example, the Devastator Blade Ashok. Consisting of a mere five Astartes, Ashok is skilled in the use of all the heavy weapons available to them from the humble Heavy Bolter to the ravening energies of the Plasma Cannon to the tank busting Lascannon. It is most common for only two members of the Blade to wield such weaponry, while their brethren provide close range protection and additional target-marking. 

 

http://i894.photobucket.com/albums/ac145/Jackdaw1982/Iron%20Talons%20Adeptus%20Astartes/IMG16851_zps83a47fd6.jpg

http://i894.photobucket.com/albums/ac145/Jackdaw1982/Iron%20Talons%20Adeptus%20Astartes/IMG1686_zps3db42a08.jpg

http://i894.photobucket.com/albums/ac145/Jackdaw1982/Iron%20Talons%20Adeptus%20Astartes/IMG1690_zpsefdf66e1.jpg

 

Blade Ashok can be seen here deployed on the outskirts of the Stane Service Township at the start of that brutal engagement which marked the first large scale Astartes deployment as well as the first instance of cooperation with existing Imperial forces. Clad in the standard bone and crimson plate, Ashok nevertheless display several modifications to their power armour, most obvious of which is the additional targeting arrays and range-finders built into their helms. Not only off-setting the electromagnetic interference created by several of their armaments, the targeting arrays also provide additional threat-marking opportunities – with the Devastators often being deployed in high vantage points, they provide essential tactical updates to the rest of their brothers and can mark high-priority targets for destruction by other Blades deployed in-field. Imperial observers have already identified the heavy-gauge plasma weapons carried by two of Ashok as Starfury pattern cannons – a relatively stable design with only a 12% misfire rate. The muzzle venting seen here is remarkable free of carbon scoring, indicating that these sections were most likely recently replaced – Starfury patterns typical allow approximately half a dozen firings before warping and heat damage forces their replacement. Of particular note is the armour worn by one brother – an ancient set of Mk III, original designed to provide greater protection in boarding actions. Clearly this particular Astartes harbours a concern regarding the 12% misfire rate of his weapon.

 

http://i894.photobucket.com/albums/ac145/Jackdaw1982/Iron%20Talons%20Adeptus%20Astartes/IMG1691_zps97bf76c1.jpg

http://i894.photobucket.com/albums/ac145/Jackdaw1982/Iron%20Talons%20Adeptus%20Astartes/IMG1692_zpsab13f53c.jpg

 

Devastator Blade Ashok is currently led by Kanedias, Techmarine of the 5th Company Blade. Whereas most Codex adherent Techmarines will often take to the battlefield surrounded by servitors and weapons platforms, and armed to the teeth with servo arms and obscure weapon arrays, the Techmarines of the Talons are more often found leading Devastator Blades into battle, lending their expert technical knowledge to firing patterns and target resolution. The lumbering servo-harness equipped Techmarines of other Chapters would soon find themselves left behind by the swift tactics of the Talons and thus their Techmarines have learnt to adapt themselves to this style of war. Kanedias has overseen the armoury of the 5th for three-score years to date and has fostered a number of apprentices in that time. Respected and well-regarded by his brothers, Kanedias is surprisingly open and humorous for one initiated into the mysteries of Mars and is renowned for his encyclopaedic knowledge of the glories won by his brothers. Clad in a heavily augmented suit of power armour barely recognisable as Mk III, Kanedias cuts an imposing figure, the Signum targeting array mounted to his powerpack ensuring that no foe of the Talons will escape the gaze of his Blade unscathed.

Devastator Blade Ashok was one of the few Astartes units to emerge unscathed from the Aren Prime Reclamation, a fact which weighed heavily on the mind of Kanedias and further deepened the divide between the brothers of the Assault Blades and those of the Devastators. However, none could question the destruction caused by Ashok, whether it was by boltgun or more impressive weaponry.

***End Record

[Larkyn]

By all that his Holy and Unholy. That Blood Angel...Amazing. I can't wait to see what Malazan references slip into the IX Legion.

[JackDaw]

TheWarmaster - too kind mate, too kind. Lorenz did turn out pretty well though. There will be a few Malazan references, but not too many. 

 

So more Talons to come up, and maybe, just maybe I'll show off a few more Angels. I think they might need their own plog soon though, once I've got a few more together.

[JackDaw]

Escalation – Death in the skies

“The one thing we had over the Secessionists was air-support. They might have the numbers and the armour, but we could put birds in the sky when we needed. When the Astartes started putting out their own birds, well that was it. Game over. Those Astartes builds were brutal, like the bastard lovechild of a gunship and a warplane. Secessionists never saw them coming.”
Flight Captain Klara Jessick, Imperial Navy 297th Attack Wing, attached to the 131st Malaz Heavy Infantry

***Begin Record

Traditionally the Astartes have never cared much for air superiority – the nature of their deployments and the devastating speed with which they can crush the foe and redeploy means that by the time air support arrives, the Astartes are invariably already gone. As such, until recent years they have relied simply on the venerable Thunderhawk as a makeshift transport/gun vessel. While the Thunderhawk is as reliable as ever, recent developments in the technology used by foes of the Imperium means that the Astartes have been forced to adopt newer patterns of aircraft, such as the transport Stormraven and the attack/escort Stormtalon. The Iron Talons were enthusiastic in their adoption of the newer Stormtalon, and in particular the Harpy variant, which sacrificed some manoeuvrability and targeting arcs in favour of increased speed.

 

http://i894.photobucket.com/albums/ac145/Jackdaw1982/Iron%20Talons%20Adeptus%20Astartes/IMG1704_zpse0853b3b.jpg

 

Pictured here is one such Harpy variant Stormtalon employed by the 5th Company Blade of the Iron Talons during the conflict on Aren Prime. Immediately noticeable is the slimmer profile in both the chin and tail boom compared to the standard Aquila pattern. Here, the assault cannons are recessed into the chin of the craft with a far more limited degree of movement which while sacrificing ammunition hold-space and traversement, does reinforce the role of the Harpy variant as more of a highspeed attack craft rather than a support gunship. This particular craft has been outfitted with Typhoon Missile pods, able to fire both anti-armour and anti-personnel warheads, leaving the Harpy able to strafe ground targets with impunity once any enemy aircraft have been eliminated. 

 

http://i894.photobucket.com/albums/ac145/Jackdaw1982/Iron%20Talons%20Adeptus%20Astartes/IMG1705_zpse426d202.jpg

http://i894.photobucket.com/albums/ac145/Jackdaw1982/Iron%20Talons%20Adeptus%20Astartes/IMG1710_zpsbd61a26f.jpg

 

As usual, this Harpy variant bears no identifying markings beyond the Chapter colours of the Iron Talons – we have already discussed their pragmatic approach to naming war-engines in some depth – however Imperial combat logs have recorded this particular craft as being referenced to as ‘Arrow-3’ by the Astartes themselves. Whether a more informal name is also in existence is not known at this time. Imperial sightings of the Astartes Stormtalons were rare during the opening stages of the Aren Prime conflict, their deployment usually limited to rapid ground strikes in the Northern territories against targets marked by the Talons recon forces. Imperial savants were able to deduce that the Harpy variants were being held in attack cradles on the Astartes Strike Cruiser Kiss The Blade in close orbit instead of being held at an airfield or similar position. This would also explain the Harpy variants apparent lack of landing gear – unnecessary for a craft held and dropped from an attack cradle.

 

http://i894.photobucket.com/albums/ac145/Jackdaw1982/Iron%20Talons%20Adeptus%20Astartes/IMG1707_zps658f44fe.jpg

 

Investigation of the remains of destroyed Iron Talon Harpy variants provided some interesting information – rather than being crewed by Astartes, the Talon Harpy’s were instead crewed by Chapter Thralls. Each Thrall displayed extensive augmentation and genetic enhancement similar to that performed on Aspirants, leading Imperial Savants to theorise that the Iron Talons utilised failed Aspirants to crew the attack craft in place of full Astartes brothers. While in contradiction to the tenets of the Codex Astartes, it is entirely in keeping with the modus operandi of the Talons themselves, freeing the Astartes for the more visceral thrill of personal combat.

***End Record

[JackDaw]

On the Prodigals

“That…thing took out a whole platoon before the Russ hammered it to the floor. A whole platoon. What the frak was that? What the frak are we fighting here?”
PFC Tomas Nevin, survivor, 19th Platoon, 131st Malaz Heavy Infantry

***Begin Record

[Transcribers note – pictorial evidence of the Prodigals has been sequestered by the Inquistion, with all verbal and written records to follow. The following details have been culled from registered reports before sequestering by the Inquisition and are incomplete at best]

{Excerpt from post-action report, Recon elements of 131st Malaz Heavy Infantry}
…note brigade strength formation of Secessionists moving eastwards along access route 163a. Light armour in support, command elements…that can’t right. Command elements appear to be sole individual…Haynes are you seeing this? Sole individual in non-standard protective armour, easily a head taller than the standard grunts. Looks big, like Astartes big. Never seem any armour like that before though, that’s not power-armour…

{Excerpt from recovery logs, Mechanicus survey team deployed to Reclamation Action 236-59f}
…Chimera chassis 32674a/lan-631 displays impact damage consistent with recorded xeno-field weaponry. Organic remains in close proximity display similar impact markings, lack of tool marks in lacerations and in cuts evident under microscopic investigation.
Atmospheric residue testing indicates high levels of rare free-radicals and elemental fall-out. Heavy presence of ozone is indicative of prolonged power-shield usage, however no Imperial vehicles present were fitted with this level of protective shielding…

{Excerpt from Adeptus Biologist autopsy report, carried out on remains recovered during Reclamation Action 564-35k}
…subject is a post-augmentation human female, estimated to be no more than 25 standard Terran years in age. Subject was recovered partially intact, missing left extremities due to ordinance level weaponry interaction. Personal armour fragments recovered have been sent to Adeptus Armouris brethren for further study, along with sub-dermal implants linked to armour. Biological remains of subject show evidence of extensive genetic and surgical manipulation, both through surgery and implantation that are a mix of Imperial and non-Imperial techniques.
The full results of these manipulations have yet to be determined, however this subject displays a greater bone density and muscle mass, as well as improved neuro-connectors in the brain tissue. Simply put, the subject is faster, stronger and more intelligent than sapien-standard....

{Excerpt from Imperial Savants examination of hardware recovered during Reclamation Action 564-35k}
...armour appears to be a ceramite composite, possibly ceramic in origin. Conductor nodes would seem to connect to dermal sockets on subject physical body, with the intent of syphoning the bodies own bio-electrical output to power the implanted field technology. Sirs, there is a level of technology that far outstrips anything the Mechanicus can offer in terms of field control and bio-manipulation. I can only surmise that this armour is a hybrid of xenos and Imperial technology allowing for the deployment and use of power-fields in both a protective and offensive manner...

******
ERROR
ERROR
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This material has been sequestered by the Ordos of the Inquisition. Access to this material is restricted to officials of the Ordos with unauthorised access subject to reprisals.
Enforced and ratified by Inquisitor Sholesh dan Raf, Ordo Hereticus.

***End Record

[JackDaw]

Escalation – heavy metal warfare

“We were pushing into the Township through the south access route, big open roadway with no cover. Artillery was hitting us hard and the Secessionists had set a nasty line of support weapons up for us to walk into. The rate of fire we were taking was unreal, no way were we getting forward. Then the Astartes arrived in that Throne-damned moving bunker of theirs. The Raider just soaked it all up, didn't even slow down as it hit the Secessionist line. I've never seen any tank take that much punishment and still keep rolling.”
Captain Markus Soren, 2nd platoon 131st Malaz Heavy Infantry

***Begin Image Record

 

http://i894.photobucket.com/albums/ac145/Jackdaw1982/Iron%20Talons%20Adeptus%20Astartes/IMG1715_zps2968f10a.jpg

 

Captured by gun-cams operated by Imperial forces during the Stane Service Township engagement, a MkIII Land Raider bearing the colours and markings of the Iron Talons endures heavy bombardment during its relentless advance. Anecdotal evidence from Guardsmen present at the time indicates that the Iron Talons Astartes referred to the MkIII Land Raider as the Iron Bride, though this may be exaggerated by the witnesses in question. Combat reports show that the Secessionist line was breached by the Astartes Land Raider, allowing elements of the 131st Malaz Heavy Infantry to secure access to the southern districts of the Stane Service Township.

***End Image Record