The Liber Cluster

[Captain Nameless]

Some interesting new forces of the lions. The mastodons remind me of the mutons from X-Com.

And I can't help but imagine Og acting like a stereotypical upperclass Englishman, while running around brutaly pulverizing everything he possibly can.

[Captain Juan Juarez]

Heathens, I am now genuinely in awe of you - I will send you my first born son as sacrifice if i can ever convince another woman to sleep with me.

 

I volunteer my services to write about some of the Lions if anyone feels that might be required - there is an awesome framework there to work from.

[Ace Debonair]

Hooo boy.

 

I'm glad I haven't written up my first draft yet - I simply have to include some of those Pitbulls in the Aetheric Swords' resounding defeat.

 

Heck, when I started reading Heathens' last post I was halfway through inventing a tank called the Stormripper that was basically the same thing but with less armour.

[Wade Garrett]

If I'm reading Heathens last post right, where he talks about the already-present-in-the-Cluster Inquisition elements holding out on the 18 Worlds as an insurgency/resistance during the Silence.....

 

They've been fighting the good fight for five hundred years? That seems a bit much, even by 40k standards.

 

It seems to me that it would make more sense for Ordo Hereticus (and possibly Xenos) Inquisitors to be sent in once the Reconquest gained enough traction to begin eyeing the Lions, both to gather intelligence and to sabotage, rabble rouse, and generally grease the wheels for the all out invasion to come.

 

On the other hand, there's some cool ideas to play with using the other....an Inquisitor who attempted to rally resistance to the Lions at the start of the Silence, and passed his gear and rosette down to a chosen successor when he could fight no more, and that one passed the mantle to another...

 

But I think after 500 years of lonely struggle, such groups/figures would be at least as divergent from the Inquisition at large as the Saneslau and Blackjaw Kindred are to the Mechanicus and the Codex Astartes.

[Brother Casman]

Sooo... I've read the whole thing so far, and I am quite impressed. Keep up the good work, everyone!

 

I was also curious about the "saurial abhumans" - are these basically Lizardmen? (in Spaaace!) I kind of want to model a few Skinks and Saurus as an Imperial Guard regiment, now.

[Nomus Sardauk]

The mastodons remind me of the mutons from X-Com.

That's exactly what I thought!

 

-----

 

Okay, here's my first segment, hope you enjoy folks.

 

-----

 

Scarlet Sentinels Battle Barge Ark Imperial- Hangar Bay D-4

 

With the high-pitched whine of engines and the roar of boosters the Thunderhawk Gunship sailed into the hangar bay, slowing to a halt before it's landing gears deployed and it carefully descended to the deck with a thunk. Brother-Chaplain Charlen of the Scarlet Sentinels watched impassively as the deep-blue craft's assault ramp began to open, hissing steam as it connected with the deck plating. Before the Thunderhawk Charlen waited with his "welcoming commitee", as Commodore-Captain Drake had called them, the ten battle-brothers of Tactical Squad Kenway, standing at attention.

 

Usually a meeting of Chapter representatives would demand a great deal more pomp and ceremony than this, involving multiple squads clad in full wargear with honours displayed, banners held aloft as the Captain welcomed the newcomers personally alongside his high-ranking officers. However, given the identity of the Sentinels' "guests", Charlen imagined a lack of reverence was rather expected. Even Squad Kenway had only been chosen for the duty of meeting the Eagles as penance for being the ship's lowest-scoring tactical squad at the firing range. Despite being fellow sons of the great Rogal Dorn, the Scarlet Sentinels bore a deep eninimity towards their brothers of the Eagles of Glory and were it not for orders from Sector Command and the sake of the current campaign the Sentinels would have nothing to do with their erstwhile kin.

 

Indeed, Charlen thought to himself, Given the chance I would much rather be preparing for the coming fight with my brothers and performing the rites of battle, as per my Emperor-given duty. Instead I am stuck here playing... Babysitter for the damn Eagles. Reflexively his hand clenched the grip of his Crozius, the golden figure of the Imperial Aquila perched atop the silver Trident and Shield of his Chapter thrummed quietly at it's master's irritation. Quickly suppressing the feeling he raised the Crozius in salute as he saw the Eagles' party about to exit their vessel;

 

"SENTINELS, PRESENT ARMS!"

 

With swift, practised motion Squad Kenway brought their Bolters up before them, barrels pointed toward the ceiling. The clanking of ceramite-armoured footsteps on metal thundered through the hangar bay as the Eagle Commander and his Honour Guard, resplendant in their ornately-artificered Power Armour strode down the ramp, between the rows of saluting Sentinels and up to the waiting Chaplain in perfect step. As one the Eagles saluted neatly, their Commander removing his helmet and tucking it under his arm before following suite.

 

"ORDER ARMS!" Sergeant Kenway bellowed, and the Sentinels released their salute, Bolters leant against their shoulders. The Eagles too relaxed, their Commander, a fair-faced man with blonde, well-trimmed hair, gave Charlen a warm smile. Underneath his skull-faced helmet, Charlen couldn't help but scowl, but quickly returned his expression to something more neutral before removing his helm out of courtesy.

 

"Hail and well met Brothers, I am Brother-Captain Nicholan Biddale of the Eagles of Glory 5th Company, I have been sent here to help plan out attack strategy for the Baluarte raid." The Commander said, extending a hand to Charlen, who glanced at it disapprovingly, before reluctantly grasping Biddale's forearm in a warrior's greeting which Biddale returned.

 

"Hail Brothers, welcome aboard the Ark Imperial. Commodore-Captain Drake sends his regards and apologises for not being able to greet you in person." The Chaplain replied with just enough false warmth to appear polite.

 

"Worry not Brother-Chaplain, duty before ceremony after all. I take it the rest of your company is preparing down below?" Biddale asked curiously, glancing at Squad Kenway with a hint of disappointment.

 

"Of course, although Sergeant Kenway and his squad here were kind enough to volunteer to help welcome you and your men aboard."

 

Charlen saw the aforementioned Sergeant quietly cast him a dirty look from behind the Biddale's right shoulder for that little lie, causing Charlen to grin slightly.

 

"Well then, enough pleasantries, if you'd follow me Captain I'll show you to the strategium."

 

EDIT: TYPO DETECTED-PURGE SEQUENCE INITIATED

[Olis]

Sooo... I've read the whole thing so far, and I am quite impressed. Keep up the good work, everyone!

 

Much appreciated, brother. Thanks. ;)

 

I was also curious about the "saurial abhumans" - are these basically Lizardmen? (in Spaaace!) I kind of want to model a few Skinks and Saurus as an Imperial Guard regiment, now.

 

In my mind I was thinking of a slightly more human version of this guy:

 

http://pixologic.com/interview/mass-effect2/6/img_lrg/Thane02.jpg

[Conn Eremon]

 

 

Sooo... I've read the whole thing so far, and I am quite impressed. Keep up the good work, everyone!

Much appreciated, brother. Thanks. ;)

I was also curious about the "saurial abhumans" - are these basically Lizardmen? (in Spaaace!) I kind of want to model a few Skinks and Saurus as an Imperial Guard regiment, now.

In my mind I was thinking of a slightly more human version of this guy:

 

http://pixologic.com/interview/mass-effect2/6/img_lrg/Thane02.jpg

My own mind went to this:

 

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ni9FG6Nyy2M/UKwhVLLXx_I/AAAAAAAAW_0/fc2xiF-RDAI/s400/lizard1992.jpg

[Brother Casman]

Aye, both of those make more sense for abhumans. I still might do up a Saurus Warrior with a guardsman's kit for fun, though.

[Wade Garrett]

Different sub species within the same strain, maybe?

 

At first I was thinking mainly of Fantasy Sauruses that could count as Bullgryns. But the whole idea of the Muldacians is the British Raj (or the pop culture vision of it) so it would make sense for their to be units of "sepoys" that are more humanlike.

[Conn Eremon]

Hmm. Now I have in mind of a deathworld whose sole purpose in life is to produce abhuman-dominant regiments.

 

Until a high-ranking Magos Biologis looks at some recent strain samples and determines the variances to be too extreme/prolific, and the abhuman race is reclassified and scheduled for purging.

 

Purging fleet arrives in the middle of yet another Founding. A large Imperial fleet is in orbit, getting some reinforcements before tackling some nearby secessionists.

 

tl;dr, the Imperium goes to war against itself, thanks to stubbornness, paranoia and miscommunication. A lot of good, loyal men died needlessly, one of the greatest Imperial commanders in the Cluster is executed for harboring mutants, and some nearby rebels get enough breathing room to become an actual threat.

[Hyaenidae]

Honestly, the Abhumans were, in my head, just heavily altered and jacked-up Ogryns, but with a large dose of intelligence thanks to a xenos crafted cranial implant. :sweat:

 

As for the Inquisition Cells, I was thinking more along the lines of the modern day terrorist. The big =][=  has the money and resourses, sends teams to build cells, cells multiply, divide, or die. Too many fade, and the next group goes out and starts again.

 

I mean, this is the Ordo Hereticus, in a cluster full of heretics and near-zero communication. It's like the Wal-Mart of 40k for them, lol.

[Conn Eremon]

I think we are discussing Wade's abhumans, not the Mastodons.

[Hyaenidae]

*facepalm*

 

EDIT: That's what I get for typing without my first cup of coffee...

[Olis]

Purging Conflagrator fleet arrives in the middle of yet another Founding. A large Imperial fleet is in orbit, getting some reinforcements before tackling some nearby secessionists.

 

Ftfy. :P

 

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Venerable Brother Scoria stood over the wrecked remains of a Dervish stalk tank, its engine oils and lubricants sprayed up the front of Scoria's sarcophagus. Littered here and there were the bodies of the dead, mostly Hyena strike teams interspersed with a Kodiak or two. They had fought hard for the command tower of the refinery-ship, defending it with their lives. The Venerable Brother's fellow Conflagrators had taken the fight to them with no regard for how they killed the enemy. Scoria himself hardly cared either but he recognised the importance of controlling the refinery-ship - the destroyed consoles and cogitators could have been useful.

 

They regrouped at the base of the command tower, three squads accompanied by Apothecary Culmer, Venerable Brother Scoria and Techmarines Sindre and Rotis. Brother Culmer had been busy after the battle, tying off a punctured artery and cauterising three separate stumps. Rotis and Sindre had planted fire-bombs at the bottom of the tower and in the fuel reserve. Capture was a secondary objective - the Conflagrators anticipated burning this hulk rather than keep it. 

 

A single shot rang out, felling Culmer. His helmet and head disintegrated bloodily, shards of ceramite pinging noisily off of the surrounding brothers' armour. In the very instant after Culmer began to pitch over the Conflagrators were moving, their bolters rising to meet the unseen threat. Out of the shadows, from the alleys and the vents, huge volumes of fire descended on the loyal astartes. It was mostly chaff, low calibre weaponry better suited to the hands of guardsmen and militia, and it pattered harmlessly off of Scoria's chassis. Several higher grade weapons were identified and catalogued by the sensors, rated as high priority targets. 

 

Scoria worked up speed charging down the first noted targets shifting from cover to cover, intent on catching them in the open with his inferno cannon. Their size initially registered them as Sereiki Lion auxiliaries before the venerable brother realised their true from: Astartes. He triggered the inferno cannon anyway. The enemies bathed in the fire for all of a few seconds before they crumpled and fell. Scoria felt a rush, sure in it's divine purity. 

 

"My hand is death, my faith is fire!" He bellowed, a rocket propelled grenade striking his pelvis and wrecking his locomotive servos. This only served to further his fury. To him, they were heretics, deserving only of fire and flame. To them, he was a large immobile target. It took them several minutes to kill Venerable Brother Scoria, hitting him with grenades and poor quality missiles. He in turn accounted for seventeen of them, screaming zealous rhetoric as he immolated each and every one.  

 

Of the rest of the Conflagrators, they were slowly taken apart by firepower and mob-rushes. It was inelegant and brutal. The enemy quickly set about purloining the dead of armour and arms, keen to loot the valuable astartes equipment. An unseen hand, Rotis' hand, activated a remote vox-link. This ship would burn.

 

 

 

 

Quick story (well, if you count three hours as 'quick'), fleshing out a part of the battle for Zavatista. No doubt a wee bit rough around the edges. ;)

[Conn Eremon]

 

Purging Conflagrator fleet arrives in the middle of yet another Founding. A large Imperial fleet is in orbit, getting some reinforcements before tackling some nearby secessionists.

 

Ftfy.

 

Some things go without saying, Captain Obvious. :p

[Olis]

 

 

Purging Conflagrator fleet arrives in the middle of yet another Founding. A large Imperial fleet is in orbit, getting some reinforcements before tackling some nearby secessionists.

 

Ftfy.

 

Some things go without saying, Captain Obvious.

 

http://img3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20070106155834/uncyclopedia/images/archive/1/15/20070526081818!CaptainobviousChooseOption.jpg

 

:lol:

[Tiberius Cato]

Here is my first portion of the Eagles and Sentinels campaign.

When I can get to a computer I will fiddle with the formating, and maybe make some additions.

----------------------------------------------------------

As Biddale was escorted down the hallways of the Sentinels cruiser he could feel the contempt and anger radiating from Chaplain Charlen, he wondered how he had already angered a man he had just met. Brushing it off, he made his way to the Strategium of the Scarlet Sentinels.

 

"Hail esteemed brothers. I, Brother-Captain Nicholan Biddale, am here to offer my aid in the upcoming campaign on Baluarte. My force consist of the glorious 3rd and 5th companies of the Eagles of Glory, we are here to make the Emperor's light known to these scum."

 

"With all due respect, it seems you aim to carry out the entire campaign on your own with such a sizeable force accompanying you." Chaplain Biddale responded skeptically.

 

"Not at all honoured- chaplain, what we bring in fire power on the ground we lack in the void, likewise your chapter seems to be the inverse." The captain had explained.

 

"All I ask is that your ships open a damn bloody hole in the defences of the enemy and provide us a way through to the orbital defense platforms so that we may bring the bulk of the forces to the invasion of the planet."

 

With contempt in his voice, the Chaplain responded "You can count on these men to open a 'damn bloody hole' captain, Emperor knows we're the finest void fighters. What are your plans for the invasion on the capital, if I may ask?"

 

Captain Biddale looked at the projection of the city and it's local area for a moment.

 

"We will deploy the armour and bike sqaudrons here, east of the city about 10 kilometres out. Once that group has reached the city gates we will rain death upon them with our drop pods, straight into the heart of the capital and behind enemy lines. We will then strike them like a hammer strikes hot iron on an anvil."

 

After a moment's pause the chaplain responded "Very well, we must make our preparations, and you must make yours. When your men are ready give the signal, and the invasion shall commence".

[Dizzyeye01]

Just a quick question, what would you say is the average number in an Imp Guard Storm trooper company / their equivalant these days?

[Conn Eremon]

Just a quick question, what would you say is the average number in an Imp Guard Storm trooper company / their equivalant these days?

In fluff I have seen regiments range from a thousand to a million, but I would assume storm trooper regiments (as in, more elite and well-equipped than the average Guardsman) to be on the smaller end of the scale.

[Harlan Skorus]

If you are talking companies, I would say anything from a hundred to a thousand, depending on organisation (I have it in my head that an 'average' infantry company is five platoons of 50-80, plus commanders - about 300-500 - but I have no idea where I got this idea from). Regiments vary a bit more I think, anywhere from 500 to 5000+. I think a million would be an 'army' or whatever the term is (the Cadian Shock Troops as a whole, compared to the 17th Cadian Shock Troops being a regiment).

 

As for Storm Troopers, I'd imagine being elite they are probably, as Cormac said, at the more compact end. A Company as somewhere from 200-400? A Storm Trooper Company attached to the 23rd Elysian during the Taros campaign had 155.

[Conn Eremon]

There are in fact million strong regiments. Not an army. A single regiment.

[Olis]

Iirc, in one of the Gaunt's Ghosts books there is an assault on an enemy strongpoint by a regiment several hundred-thousand strong. They also had titan support.

[Conn Eremon]

A line that always grabbed me about regiments was that at times a single world's entire military could be gathered into a single regiment of millions and sent away. It's a Codex line, so I'll try to see if I can find it when I get home.

[Astus]

Because of a little situation with my internet at home, I won't be able to post for two to three days. I should have some things to post then.

 

Heathens: The Lions become more dangerous with every update, and they were pretty dangerous to begin with. I can't wait to see what else they're hiding...

 

Ace: If you give me the names for the Aetheric Swords Librarian and the company's ship, I'll put into my vignette.