Iron-hearted Angels

[Bjorn Firewalker]

NAME: Iron-hearted Angels.

 

PRIMARCH: Sanguinius, via the Flesh Tearers' lineage.

 

FOUNDING: The Third Founding (M32) is claimed. The 21st (M36) is the earliest for which there is evidence of their existence.

 

SYMBOL: A silver heart on a red field, with four golden rays extending from the center, like sparks from a forge.  Previously, the symbol had a golden heart on a silver field, with four red rays extending from the center, like a fountain of blood.

 

COLORS: Silver, with blood-red gauntlets. Previously, the colors were blood-red, with silver gauntlets.

 

BATTLE CRY: "Purge the corruption!" Previously, the Chaplains said, "Give us your cowards, your weaklings, your massed hordes yearning to free there souls!" and the brethren answered, "Our blood will cleanse them of their sins!"

 

 

 

Changed the Chapter symbol's colors on 12MAY.

Edited May 29, 2016 by Bjorn Firewalker

[Bjorn Firewalker]

BELIEFS:

 

The Iron-hearted Angels demonstrate how far Sanguinius' sons may stray from the Primarch's example. Originally named the "Bleeding-hearted Angels," and famed for their compassion towards citizens of the Imperium, they became as merciless and unforgiving as the Iron Hands in 689.M41: the year a Chaos warband attacked and destroyed their fortress-monastery, and the entire Chapter went on a penitent crusade to punish their own negligence.

 

The penitent crusade saw all but 170 of the Angels die at the Chaos Space Marines' hands. Only the direct intervention of the Sons of Medusa (Iron Hands successors) in the final battle, allowed the Bleeding-hearted Angels to survive.

 

The Chapter returned from the penitent crusade in 899M41, unrecognizable to those who called them "brothers." The new name "Iron-hearted Angels" not only distinguished them from the Angels of Iron (Dark Angels successors), it expressed hatred towards any weakness; where the Angels once risked their lives to aid embattled allies, they now voice contempt towards those who ask for help, and ignore pained cries from those who fall beside them. The new colors reminded the Angels "there is blood on our hands," in their own words.

 

Most alarming was the Iron-hearted Angels' new beliefs: they viewed their own genetically enhanced flesh, the Primarch's gifts to his sons, with disgust. The Angels adopted a ritual the Iron Hands enacted for those promoted from the scout company: a Marine will amputate his left hand and replace it with a mechanical limb. The longer an Angel serves, the more augmetic organs will replace those of flesh-and-blood, as he attempts to "purge the weakness."

 

When the Blood Angels' High Chaplain voiced concern over the Iron-hearted Angels' new rituals, the Iron-hearted Angels' Master of Sanctity answered:

 

"The flesh is weak; it is saturated with passions that distract us from our duty, with lusts that threaten to corrupt our souls. Only by purging ourselves of this weakness- by uniting our pure spirit with the strong machine- can we rise to Sanguinius' expectations, and do our duty to the Emperor.

Edited May 29, 2016 by Bjorn Firewalker

[Bjorn Firewalker]

HOMEWORLD I:

 

Argentum, the third planet orbiting a star known as "Falk's Eye," is a civilized world in Segmentum Obscurus. Originally a mining colony (primary export, the silver for which it was named), its industries diversified to include cogitator components, foodstuffs, medical supplies, and textiles used in Astra Militarum uniforms. Laws protecting the environment (and in turn, the agriculture industry) forced the Adeptus Mechanicus to establish Manufactorums in space stations.

 

A "Ruling Council"- emulating the Council of Terra, its members represent the agriculture, jewelry, medical, mining, and textile industries' interests- governs the planet with the Adeptus Mechanicus representative, the Argentum Planetary Defense Force (PDF) and Falk's Eye System Defense Force (SDF) commanders. The council members' interests often conflict, forcing them to negotiate, show humility before their peers, and compromise.

 

In 376M37, the Adeptus Mechanicus and the Guild of Jewelers fought to allocate more silver for their respective industries, which paralyzed the government. Industrial harvesters received no fuel, allowing crops to rot in their fields; food preservation systems received no power, wasting what was already harvested. Thousands starved to death in what was known as the "Silver Winter," and tens of thousands rebelled against the Ruling Council for allowing this to occur.

 

In 377M37, Lord General Tiergail Leopold, Supreme Commander of the Falk's Eye Defense Forces, seized power; the other Ruling Council members were arrested, tried for "dereliction of duty," and then executed. Leopold began welfare programs to aid those who suffered during the Silver Winter, which initially won him the Argentum public's support. When he received word a Chaos warband attacked Astra Militarum garrisons in nearby star systems, Leopold ordered a "Planetary Reorganization Process," preparing his own to face the Great Enemy.

 

The Process allocated more resources than were available, for the Falk's Eye Defense Forces. Manufactorums were established on the planet's surface to arm the PDF, without thought to their environmental impact- to water for irrigation, soil for farmland, air the farmers and their crops breathe- leading to poor harvests, famine, food riots, and eventually, open rebellion. Leopold imprisoned and then executed any who criticized him, including relatives of many PDF and SDF service members, who rebelled in turn. Millions died before the Bleeding-hearted Angels, answering Leopold's call for aid in crushing the "rebels," overthrew the Lord General in 403M37.

 

The Ruling Council was reconstituted; the Chapter Master enacted laws to prevent the government paralysis that caused the Silver Winter, and was named a council member for his services. The Angels disassembled the Manufactorums and then reassembled them on the White Sentinel, the planet's highest mountain, where they built a fortress-monastery.

 

When the first fortress-monastery was destroyed in 682M41, the Bleeding-hearted Angels asked the Blood Angels to serve as custodians to Argentum, before they went on a penitent crusade. The Blood Angels Chapter Master held an honorary position on Argentum's Ruling Council, until the Bleeding-hearted Angels- now known as "Iron-hearted Angels"- returned.

[Bjorn Firewalker]

HOMEWORLD II:

 

The San Valmi asteroid field lies between the third and fourth planets orbiting Falk's Eye. Scholars believe the asteroid belt is the remains of a planet destroyed 60,000,000 years ago. Rogue Traders made sporadic efforts to mine the asteroids' mineral wealth, but all suffered high accident rates, lost factory ships, and were forced to terminate operations. This alarmed the Adeptus Mechanicus, who felt each factory ship was the Machine God's gift to mankind; at its request, the Bleeding-hearted Angels quarantined the asteroid field in 404.M37.

 

When the Iron-hearted Angels returned to Argentum, they left the first fortress-monastery in ruins, and built a second on the nickel-iron asteroid designated "1870 Solano." Nicknamed the "Rib Cage" for its unusual appearance, the asteroid has docking facilities between each "rib," for the Angels' warships.

 

The Sanguinala, a holiday to commemorate the Blood Angels Primarch, is most celebrated on Argentum. The colonists hold athletic competitions on that day, demonstrating their readiness to fight for the Emperor. The "Sanguinala Games" were suspended from 385.M37 to 403.M37, and reinstated after Lord General Leopold was overthrown. From 404.M37 to 688.M41, the Bleeding-hearted Angels sent a Chaplain to attend each game, judge each competition, and recruit athletes for the Chapter; the Iron-hearted Angels reinstated this practice in 900.M41, taking the recruits to the fortress-monastery they named "Heart of Iron."

<>

 

FLEET

 

The Iron-hearted Angels operate 59 ships in total: one battle barge, 16 strike cruisers, and 42 frigates.  The large number provides redundancy, allowing the Chapter to continue the mission despite equipment malfunction, loss of communication, unforeseen delays, and other vagaries of war.

The battle barge "Flesh Tearer" provides transportation and logistics support for First Company's 100 Marines.  Originally designed to transport 300 Marines at once, an arms manufactory now occupies much of the interior space, allowing the Company to sustain itself on extended campaigns; the barge is capable of smelting ore, forging metal, and assembling equipment the size of Thunderhawk transporters.  Two of 10th Company's frigates accompany this monument to Nassir Amit's memory, wherever she sails.

 

Second to Ninth Companies each operate two strike cruisers and four frigates.  Each cruiser is responsible for 30 Marines' transportation and logistics support; integral manufactories, capable of manufacturing equipment the size of Land Raiders, provide the latter.

 

10th Company operates 10 "scout frigates."  Each frigate is responsible for 10 Marines; their integral manufactories can manufacturing equipment the size of Predator battle tanks.  When Second to Ninth Companies' ships sail, one of 10th Company's frigates will be attached to their flotillas; this allows the Neophytes to learn from others' experiences, and to serve as attrition replacements in case of heavier-than-expected casualties.

Edited May 29, 2016 by Bjorn Firewalker

[Bjorn Firewalker]

HISTORY I:

 

The Iron-hearted Angels claim to be a Third Founding Chapter, descended from Sanguinius via the Flesh Tearers' gene-seed. The Inquisition suspects the Angels to be a 21st Founding Chapter- cursed, like their peers- the Angels are not mentioned in any records prior to M36.

 

The Flesh Tearers' records state they seconded officers to the Adeptus Mechanicus in M36; these officers trained recruits for Chapter Number 9-21-002, selected the trainees most qualified to lead the new Chapter, and then returned to the Flesh Tearers' ranks. Afterwards, the Flesh Tearers washed their hands of the new Chapter; they deny having evidence to support the Inquisition's claims "Number 9-21-002" and the Iron-hearted Angels are the same Chapter.

 

The Angels were a fleet-based Chapter until they arrived on Argentum. Space Marines bearing their Chapter symbol were first seen in 901M36, when they fought against a Black Legion warband in the Sixth Black Crusade of Abaddon the Despoiler. The name "Bleeding-hearted Angels" was first mentioned in 266M37, when a combined force of Blood Angels successors engaged the Great Enemy on the archeotech world of Hell's Hollow.

[Delta E.T]

I like it. Its cool to see a chapter take a step towards the darkness. Too many are just dark and brooding for no reason from the onset, but I like the connections made. It's also interesting to see that they shun their space marine bodies and claim that even those are not strong enough for their task.

Why does the inquisition think them to be cursed founding? Just because the chapter has little records until around that time and that some chapter with a specific number got founded from the same progenitor. A bit confusing for me

Keep it up!

[Bjorn Firewalker]

Thank you for replying, Delta E.T. As for the Inquisition, its attitude towards the Iron-hearted Angels is the same as that towards the Iron Hands, for the same reason.

They have an unhealthy interest in Necron artifacts. (Yes, 'Clan Raukaan' states the Iron Hands hate the Necrons, but it also states this is a recent development; before Kardan Stronos became War Leader of the Iron Council, the Chapter salvaged Necron technology instead of destroying it.)

 

The Ribcage's unusual appearance is NOT natural, and NOT manmade.

As for the reason the Iron-hearted Angels are so hateful towards everything, including themselves...

The Bleeding-hearted Angels' fortress-monastery was actually destroyed when several companies swore allegiance to Khorne, and turned on their battle-brothers. The Angels' "penitent crusade" was actually meant to hunt down and destroy these turncoats. When the Sons of Medusa rescued the Angels, Sanguinius' sons tearfully confessed the truth to Ferrus Manus' sons. The Sons of Medusa gave advice on how to purge corruption from themselves; it was at this moment the Angels adopted the Iron Hands' beliefs.

[Lucernius]

I really love the grim feeling you convey, from being being fame for their compassion to coming back from their crusade and having changed their views/beliefs to the disgust/hatred of anyone weak in their eyes.

 

I do like the idea of them changing towards beliefs/tradition of the Sons of Medusa (Iron Hands) any special reason? were they 'held' for their own good in the Sons of Medusa ships for a while? And learned their ways there?

• Or did they see their type of warfare when the Sons came and rescued them and tought that too be the better of the two?

• Or have they noticed that removing their weak bodies the Black Rage and the Thirst is not as pressing and as frequently in their brothers?

I really like both your homeworlds! Really nice, specially now that you hinted the Ribcage might be necron! :D but even before that it was a really nice and unique. Have your Chapter built upon it (Between the Ribs?) or have they found ways inside the construction and utilize its insides too?

[Bjorn Firewalker]

Lucernius: I will add further details when Writer's Block lifts. My current idea for the Rib Cage:

The tomb world's stasis system suffered a catastrophic failure during the past 60,000,000 years, killing all the Necrons. The automated weapon systems intended to protect the tomb world, remained functional; the Adeptus Mechanicus lost at least one ship while attempting to "mine" the asteroid. When the Iron-hearted Angels returned to the Falk's Eye system, the Sons of Medusa helped them secure the Rib Cage and deactivate its xeno defenses. The salvaged systems were bartered to the Mechanicus, in exchange for the powerful fleet the Angels now have.

 

As for why the Rib Cage's secrets weren't discovered earlier, why the Mechanicus abandoned further efforts to study the asteroid, why the Bleeding-hearted Angels left it alone during the millennia they occupied the Falk's Eye system... well, I need time to fill these plot holes.

These ideas may change, however.

Edited May 29, 2016 by Bjorn Firewalker

[Bjorn Firewalker]

Edited the "HOMEWORLD II" section.

Rogue Traders tried to mine the asteroid field, but they suffered high "accident rates," lost their factory ships, and were forced to terminate operations. (In truth, the tomb world's automated defenses attacked their ships and their mining servitors. Necron stealth technology, and the unfamiliar nature of their weapons, prevented the victims from realizing they were under attack.) The Adeptus Mechanicus felt each factory ship is the Omnissiah's gift to mankind, and were alarmed at their loss. (The Necrons' presence remained a secret to them.) The Bleeding-hearted Angels quarantined the asteroid field, at the Mechanicus' request.

[Brother-Sergeant Valorum]

Very cool concept. I like the idea of a fallen BA successor, following the doctrines of another chapter. I also like the explanation as to why they became so grimdark. I would like to know whether they still follow BA tactics, such as maintaining the Sanguinary guard and death company. In addition, do they maintain links with other BA successors, or have they isolated themselves from their brethren? Overall, though, great writing and a really cool Chapter!

[Bjorn Firewalker]

Brother-Sergeant Valorum: I described my writing as a 'Codex: Blood Angels' Supplement when I posted it on my DeviantArt gallery. The Iron-hearted Angels do maintain a Death Company, but

each Death Company Marine has a melta bomb fixed to his breastplate. I wrote rules so, when a Death Company Marine loses his last wound, he can instantly move up to 6" towards the unit that killed him, before detonating the bomb.

The Blood Angels, understandably, are NOT happy with this.

 

The Iron-hearted Angels have tolerable relations with the Flesh Tearers. They infamously fought AGAINST the Lamenters during the Badab War, which outraged most Blood Angels successors (I described them as attacking with "fury unmatched by all save the Minotaurs"), but I doubt the Flesh Tearers would particularly care about that.

[Brother-Sergeant Valorum]

That's an awesome bit of grimdark in there. Nicely done! On an unrelated note, did they ever actually catch the traitor companies?

[Bjorn Firewalker]

Yes.

[Bjorn Firewalker]

HISTORY 2A:

 

In 603.M41, the Bleeding-hearted Angels' Fifth Company engaged Chaos Marines of the Word Bearers and World Eaters Legions in the Corrientes system.  The Chaos warband was completely destroyed; Fifth Company lost 31 Marines, including its Captain.  Afterwards, the Captain of the Angels' Sixth Company became Captain of the Fifth, the Seventh Captain became the Sixth, etc., in accordance with the Codex Astartes.

 

Franco Lopez (Veteran Sergeant of the Angels' Fifth Company) distinguished himself on Corrientes, and was named Captain of the Tenth Company.

Edited May 2, 2016 by Bjorn Firewalker

[Bjorn Firewalker]

Antonio Carlos, late Captain of the Fifth Company, lay in state on the strike cruiser's flight deck.  Red silk enclosed his body, hiding bloodstains from the wounds that ended his life; an Aquila, embroidered with silver thread, embraced the Captain's mortal remains with its wings.  Carlos was nude beneath the burial shroud; his artificer armor would be given to his successor as Captain of the Fifth Company, upon the return to Argentum.

 

The successor was not to be found among the veterans who formed Carlos' Command Squad, and now served as an honor guard for his funerary procession.

 

"I deserve the Captaincy!" ranted Franco Lopez, whose power armor seemed to deform as the Veteran Sergeant's muscles strained against their confines.  "Did I not demonstrate tactical proficiency when I anticipated the traitors' flanking maneuver, and planned our defenses accordingly?  Did I not demonstrate valor when I faced their Forgefiend?"  He raised a chainaxe-- a trophy taken from a World Eaters Champion, its blasphemous symbols scoured with acid and then replaced with a silver Aquila-- over his head.  "Did I not demonstrate strength when I cut down the Daemon Engine before me?"  Lopez slashed at the floor, drawing sparks.

 

"Check your pride, brother," admonished the Apothecary.  "The Codex Astartes states a leader must temper his emotions-- courage and cowardice alike-- or he will lead his brothers to their dooms, and himself to dishonor."

 

Lopez's hands shook with suppressed emotions-- and something else.  "Yes, Brother-Apothecary."  With that, the Veteran Sergeant's arm rose to magnetically lock the weapon across his back.

Edited November 21, 2015 by Bjorn Firewalker

[Bjorn Firewalker]

Lopez hid his bitterness from all but his nearest confidants, and served with honor for a time.  He become the Ninth Captain in 644.M41, and the Eighth in 671.

 

In 688.M41, Eldar pirates attacked the planet Mato Prime; the Bleeding-hearted Angels' Fourth and Eighth Companies were ordered to defend the agri-world.  Favorable Warp currents allowed the Eight Company to arrive earlier than planned, taking the Eldar by surprise.  After eliminating the enemy, Lopez ordered his men to punish the Mato Prime PDF for "cowardice before the enemy," killing thousands before the Angels' Fourth Company arrived and arrested him.  The Eighth Captain was confined aboard the Fourth Company's fastest ship, and returned to the White Sentinel to stand trial.

 

Unfavorable Warp currents delayed Lopez's arrival until 689.M41.  At the trial, Lopez stood to be judged by a jury of his peers- nine Captains of the Bleeding-hearted Angels- and said:

 

"Sanguinius was not the Emperor's son, he was Khorne's!  The Anathema- the Emperor stole our Primarch from the Blood God's essence!  He made Sanguinius fight his brothers-- those faithful to Khorne- and perverted the cause for which our Primarch was born!  The Blood Angels Legion was meant to serve the Blood God!"

 

Upon hearing this, Lopez's Blood Vengeance (the chainaxe he took from a World Eaters Champion) flew from the table on which the evidence was displayed, to sever the Eighth Captain's bindings.  As Lopez charged forwards to slay the Fourth Captain, his followers acted; scouts attached to other companies, attacked Sergeants and other leaders to decapitate the Chapter.  Fifth Company tore itself apart as Lopez's former brothers-in-arms fought those still loyal to the Emperor.  Eighth and Ninth Companies' warships opened fire on those docked in the Chapter's space port, destroying 15- half the Bleeding-hearted Angels fleet- before the space port's defenses returned fire.

 

As the Fourth Captain's severed head fell, Dominus Josefo Camara used his hand flamer to make the Eighth Captain's face a blackened ruin.  Bleeding-hearted Angels Terminators-- their Chapter symbols defaced with the Chaos Star bursting from a black heart-- entered the courtroom, caught the falling Lopez, and teleported away before surviving Captains could render justice to the traitor.

 

Lopez and his followers boarded Eighth Company's strike cruisers amid the literal Chaos they wreaked upon their former brothers-in-arms.  Bleeding-hearted Angels loyalists boarded Thunderhawk gunships, Dominus Camara and the surviving Captains determined to launch their ships and give pursuit; this saved many lives when Ninth Company's strike cruisers, their gun batteries rendered molten slag in the space battle, suicidally dived into the White Sentinel, the mountain rendered a smoking crater in turn.

 

Lopez's final insult was to vox the Falk's Eye Defense Forces Headquarters, report a Chaos warband (bearing Bleeding-hearted Angels colors to disguise themselves) infiltrated and then attacked the fortress-monastery, and the Bleeding-hearted Angels "loyalists" blackened their Chapter symbol to differentiate themselves.  The Eighth Captain ordered the Falk's Eye Defense Forces to attack the "imposters" still bearing the original colors; fortunately, the Falk's Eye Defense Forces officers voxed Dominus Camara for clarification.  Nassir Amit's sons shed no more blood that day, innocent or tainted; the confusion allowed Eighth Company's strike cruisers to escape into the Warp.

 

A fortnight after the White Sentinel's destruction, the Chapter learned the "Heartless Angels"- Lopez and his followers, now sworn to Khorne (Chaos God of Battle and Bloodshed)- bombarded Mato Prime with cyclonic torpedoes, destroying the planet.  Camara knew he could've prevented this tragedy; wracked with guilt over his dereliction of duty, he swore to hunt down and destroy the traitors.  The Bleeding-hearted Angels described the mission as a "penance crusade," as none were willing to share their greatest shame with anyone, not even the Blood Angels; they described Lopez as a Chaos infiltrator, confirming reports an enemy attack destroyed their fortress-monastery.

Edited May 29, 2016 by Bjorn Firewalker

[Bjorn Firewalker]

Edited the "Homeworld II" section to include details on the Iron-hearted Angels fleet. I named First Company's battle barge "Flesh Tearer," and described it as a monument to Nassir Amit's memory. Makes sense, doesn't it?

[Bjorn Firewalker]

HISTORY 2B:

 

Lopez taunted his former battle-brothers with astropathic messages and vox broadcasts, claiming Khorne wanted him to take Sanguinius' place at the Blood God's side; the Heartless Angels were on a pilgrimage to the Eye of Terror, during which they'd kill the strong and cull the weak, honoring Khorne and demonstrating their worth.  Such claims infuriated the Bleeding-hearted Angels, who pursued the traitors with reckless abandon.

 

In 701.M41, the Heartless Angels laid siege to the star fort Corumba II, intending to harvest its defenders' skulls for Khorne's Skull Throne.  Dominus Camara ordered his ships to dock at the fort, so the Bleeding-hearted Angels may cleanse it of the traitors' presence; he didn't think to destroy Lopez's ships and trap the traitors "behind enemy lines," where they may be dealt with at the loyalists' leisure.  Were the Bleeding-hearted Angels facing any other opponent, their leaders would notice the warning signs, but- impatient to bring the traitors to justice- they followed Camara into a trap.

Edited May 29, 2016 by Bjorn Firewalker

[Bjorn Firewalker]

Josefo Camara, Dominus of the Bleeding-hearted Angels, gasped when he caught sight of his former Eight Captain.  "What have you done to yourself?"

 

Franco Lopez's face was not healed, but mutated; scales and scutes covered what was once burnt skin, making him resemble a bipedal alligator.  He smiled, revealing teeth filed to triangular points.  "I only accepted the embrace of our grandfather, Khorne, and agreed to serve Him in Sanguinius' stead."

 

Camara was freed from his shock when he heard the Primarch's name.  "You're not worthy to speak that name!"  He raised his power sword and charged, determined to bring justice to Lopez.

 

Blood Vengeance (Lopez's chainaxe, the silver Aquila defaced with the Blood God's mark) rose to his defense.  "You betrayed our one true master- our grandfather, Khorne- now face His judgment."  He released the chainaxe- instead of falling, the Daemon weapon remained airborne, locking Camara's sword in place- to draw a second bolt pistol.

 

Camara didn't cry in pain as the traitor opened fire at point-blank range, perforating his breastplate- he couldn't, for he was drowning in his own blood.  With his last breath, he spat in Lopez's eyes, blinding the traitor.

 

Lopez licked the blood flowing down his face, feeling newfound strength- Khorne's gift to him- flow through his body.  "Blood for the Blood God."  He holstered a bolt pistol, and reached for his chainaxe.  "Skulls for the Skull Throne."  He swung Blood Vengeance, the chainaxe's teeth reaching for Camara's throat...

 

"Traitor!"  Bartholomew Braganza- the Bleeding-hearted Angels' First Captain, who approached unseen while Lopez was blinded- fired his storm bolter, severing Lopez's right hand.

 

"Shrieeeek!"  Without its master's guidance, Blood Vengeance missed its target.  Lopez's lifeless hand fell from its grip as the Daemonic chainaxe hovered in midair, confused and disoriented.

 

Lopez's left hand caught the weapon, which shivered as Captain Bagranza fired another burst, bolt shells beating a tattoo upon the chainaxe head.  "I'll kill you next time," Khorne's Champion swore as Heartless Angels interposed themselves between their leader and the First Captain, allowing the wounded Lopez to escape.

Edited May 2, 2016 by Bjorn Firewalker

[Bjorn Firewalker]

FYI, I posted this Chapter's special rules for a Codex supplement in my DeviantArt gallery, in case anyone wants to play an army with both Blood Angels and Iron Hands Chapter Tactics.

 

Part 1 (Ranged, Melee, and Special Weapons; Special Issue Wargear; Vehicle Equipment): http://armamentdawg.deviantart.com/art/Iron-hearted-Angels-Codex-supplement-part-1-WIP-517819811

 

Part 2 (HQ, Troops, Elites, Fast Attack): http://armamentdawg.deviantart.com/art/Iron-hearted-Angels-Codex-supplement-part-2-528003559

 

Part 3 (Heavy Support, Apocalypse Formations): http://armamentdawg.deviantart.com/art/Iron-hearted-Angels-Codex-supplement-part-3-607019406

[Bjorn Firewalker]

After the Battle for Corumba II, the Inquisition suspected the Heartless Angels were Bleeding-hearted Angels members-- grounds for declaring the entire Chapter "Excommunicate Traitoris," ordering its destruction, and subjecting the Chapter planet to Exterminatus-- but as a First Founding Chapter, the Blood Angels were able to prevent the Inquisition from doing so.  As evidence for the defense of their successor, the Blood Angels presented the testimony of Bagranza-- named Dominus after Josefo Camara fell in battle-- who dutifully reported the battle's outcome to Argentum's custodians, gave the reasoning behind his predecessor's decisions before battle, and justified his battle-brothers' actions during it.

 

When Bagranza died in battle, the Second Captain succeeded him.  When the former Second Captain died, the Third succeeded him.  When the former Third Captain died...  The Bleeding-hearted Angels lost all their Captains by 871.M41, along with the cyphers and keys to maintain secure communication with their homeworld and its custodians.  With the Blood Angels themselves uncertain of their successor's loyalty, the Inquisition ordered the Bleeding-hearted Angels brought to account.

Edited May 29, 2016 by Bjorn Firewalker

[Bjorn Firewalker]

Edited 29MAY, to show what happened to Lopez's Daemon Weapon.

Edited 02JUN, to note Ordo Astartes' participation in the Inquisition's investigation.

Pedro Mitre saw red when he awoke; the Bleeding-hearted Angels Chaplain removed his skull helm to wiped blood from his forehead.  "What happened?" he asked, noting the odd angle the Baal Predator turret was in.

 

"The traitors downed our transporter," answered the Marine who served as driver and hull gunner.  "The rear grapples prematurely released us."

 

"We will honor the Thunderhawk transporter and its crew for their sacrifice," 'if we survive,' he didn't say, hiding his bitterness towards the apparent futility of the Bleeding-hearted Angels' efforts.  Mitre opened a hatch, his head rising above the pulpit mounted atop the Baal Predator turret (itself mounted atop a Land Raider Redeemer) to take advantage of the higher vantage point.  "For they brought the traitors within our reach."  He put on the skull helm.  "Advance!"  The Chaplain braced himself as the Redeemer's sponson-mounted Flamestorm cannon-- which Mitre dutifully blessed this morning, as he prayed to the Emperor for guidance-- pushed the tank off its side.

 

The battle was already fierce when Mitre's modified Land Raider Redeemer arrived.  "What in hell is that?!" the driver exclaimed.

 

The sight rekindled hatred in the Chaplain's hearts.  The approaching Daemon Engine skittered on eight metal legs outboard of its caterpillar tracks; its heavy bolter sponsons had mutated into scorpion-like claws; its Flamestorm cannon had mutated into a stinger, the turret into a tail curving over the machine-turned-beast's head; but was still recognizable as Eighth Company's Reclusiam field shrine, a Baal Predator formerly serving as a Bleeding-hearted Angels Chaplain's pulpit.

 

"It is an insult to our Primarch's memory."  Mitre pushed a joystick behind his pulpit, making the turret traverse as the Daemon Engine's passenger-- a Dark Apostle of the Word Bearers Traitor Legion-- aimed a power maul at the Bleeding-hearted Angels Chaplain.  "Fire on my target!"  Mitre ignored the heavy bolter shells reaching for him as he squeezed the trigger, turret-mounted assault cannons hammering the tank-turned-scorpion.  The hull-mounted weapons opened fire a split-second later, shattering the enemy's armor to reveal the mutated bodies of two Marines: the tank's gunner and driver, fused to their crew stations when the vehicle transformed.

 

The Daemon Engine stopped firing; its sponsons-turned-claws rose to shield its exposed flesh, but not before Mitre beheaded the mutated gunner.  The Dark Apostle inhaled loudly, but the Redeemer's Flamestorm cannon spoke first, reducing the traitors' last words to agonized screams.  The Bleeding-hearted Angels Chaplain drew a bolt pistol, shot and killed the Word Bearer-- not to relieve the traitor's suffering, but to prevent him from mutating into a Chaos Spawn and fighting on, as many Heartless Angels did.  The Redeemer turned away from the burning Daemon Engine, escaping its projected blast radius.

 

Mitre stood still as the enemy vehicle exploded, only for a blazing axe to sever his left hand, the blow launching the Chaplain from his pulpit.  "Argh!"  'The enemy used the fireball,' from the exploding Daemon Engine, 'to hide his presence,' he realized as the ground rose to meet him.

 

"Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!"  Feathery wings rose from Lopez's shoulders.  His missing hand was replaced with a transparent talon, visible only because the air around it was Warped; this "ghost talon" phased through the Land Raider Redeemer's armor to pluck the tank crewmen from their stations, allowing Blood Vengeance to harvest their skulls.  Bolt shells reached for the Heartless Angels leader's head, but the ghost talon rose, freezing the projectiles in midair.

 

"Khorne rewarded my loyalty, blessing me with godlike strength!" Lopez exclaimed as the shells harmlessly detonated within a Warp energy field.  "This strength could've been yours."  The traitor flew from the Redeemer-- its roof still phased through the crewmen's torsos, leaving their headless bodies half in, half out of the hull-- and landed before Mitre, who struggled to reloaded the pistol with one hand.  "It can still be yours."  The ghost talon extended as a gesture of friendship.  "Renounce the Anathema-- the Emperor, and join your true brothers..."

 

Boom!  The explosion drew Lopez's eyes upward.  "My Thunderhawk!" he cried as his flaming gunship fell before those bearing a skull within an iron halo-- symbol of the Sons of Medusa.  While he was distracted, the Redeemer's Flamestorm cannon traversed-- on its own, as the servitor gunner's headless body was visible above its barrel-- to strike the Heartless Angels leader's head, knocking Lopez onto the ground.  Engines roaring, the Land Raider Redeemer moved itself, crushing the traitor's legs beneath its tracks.  "Ahhhh!"

 

Blood Vengeance rose to its wielder's defense, but the Flamestorm cannon opened fire, bathing the Daemon Weapon in blessed fuel.  The Daemon bound to the weapon, shrieked as the chainaxe shattered, forcing it-- and Khorne's blessings upon its wielder-- from the material realm.

 

Mitre let his pistol fall to the ground as he rose, drawing a crozius arcanum, his staff of office.  "Die!"  The Chaplain repeatedly swung the crozius, flattening Lopez's skull, crushing the Chaos Marine's chest, shattering his pauldrons and erasing the defaced Bleeding-hearted Angels symbol, breaking his arms, tearing off the mutant's wings, until everything above the traitor's waist was ground into dust.

 

A shadow fell over Mitre.  "Are you a Bleeding-hearted Angel?" the shadow asked.  The Chaplain nodded, too tired to speak.  "I am Codicier Taprik of the Sons of Medusa.  By Inquisitor Ward Thornton's order, under the Ordo Astartes and Ordo Hereticus' joint authority, you are to surrender to our custody."

 

Chaplain Mitre took off his helm as he climbed to his feet, meeting his captor's eyes with grim determination the skull helm and its ruby lenses cannot express.

Edited June 2, 2016 by Bjorn Firewalker

[Bjorn Firewalker]

Edited dates, including making the Iron-hearted Angels return from their penitent crusade in 899.M41 instead of 890.M41. Changed the spelling of the asteroid's name to "Rib Cage" (two words) instead of "Ribcage" (one word).

Edited May 29, 2016 by Bjorn Firewalker

[Bjorn Firewalker]

HISTORY 3:

 

Mitre confessed his sins to the Sons of Medusa Chaplains, and ordered his battle-brothers to do the same; they admitted the Heartless Angels were Bleeding-hearted Angels turned traitor.  Sons of Medusa apothecaries provided Mitre an augmetic hand to replace the one he lost, as a sign of trust; other Bleeding-hearted Angels received augmetic organs as a "favor."

 

Inquisitor Thornton (Ordo Hereticus) died before he reported his findings to the Inquisition; his deputy, Inquisitor Liam Doria (Ordo Astartes), absolved the Chapter.

 

Added the following scene to this section of the Codex supplement.

Hearing the blast doors open, the Fourth Captain of the Sons of Medusa, an Iron Chaplain, and Codicier (Librarian) Arbin Taprik turned to see Lord Inquisitor Thornton enter the strike cruiser's bridge.  The Sons of Medusa saluted the approaching Lord Inquisitor (their acting commander), expressing no anger when Thornton and his four bodyguards failed to return the gesture.

 

"The Bleeding-hearted Angels counted the Heartless Angels-- traitors and heretics-- as brothers.  Therefore, they are guilty by association," Thornton declared.  Forgiveness did not come easily to Ordo Hereticus' members.  "In the Emperor's name, I order you to execute the Bleeding-hearted Angels in your custody-- destroying your own ships if necessary, to erase these traitors and heretics from memory.  Then we will continue to Argentum, and subject that world to Exterminatus," orbital bombardment to destroy all life on a planet.

 

"I disagree.  The Bleeding-hearted Angels punished the Heartless Angels for their sins, willingly paying a heavy price..." the Iron Chaplain began.

 

The Lord Inquisitor drew his plasma pistol, aiming it at the Iron Chaplain's head.  "Traitor!"  The weapon exploded in a blast of roaring flame, reducing Thornton's hand-- his entire body, and those of his bodyguards-- to ash, before he pulled the trigger.

 

The Sons of Medusa stood behind a Telekine Dome the Librarian erected, watching the fireball extinguish.  "He failed to observe Rites of Maintenance for the plasma pistol, allowing the weapon to catastrophically malfunction," Taprik stated.  He focused witchfire, which should not have such great effects on the weapon.

 

"To prove their loyalty and redeem themselves," the Iron Chaplain finished.  "You just paid a heavy price to prove your idiocy."

 

I originally intended to have the Sons of Medusa kill the Lord Inquisitor, due to their disagreement. Later, I realized this is out-of-character behavior for ANY loyalist Marine. As rewritten, the Lord Inquisitor's death was an accident, and largely of his own doing.

A Tech-Priest Enginseer testified the Lord Inquisitor, fearing sabotage, prevented Tech-Priests from observing Rites of Maintenance for his weapons; this allowed the tragedy to occur.  Thornton's deputy, Inquisitor Liam Doria (Ordo Astartes), absolved the Chapter.  The surviving Bleeding-hearted Angels returned to Argentum, verified their identities with the planet's custodians, and reclaimed their homeworld in 899.M41.

 

Upon his ascension to Chapter Master, Pedro Mitre-- styled "Dominus Pedro," in Argentum custom-- renamed the Chapter the "Iron-hearted Angels," and ordered a "Reforging" to eliminate mental and spiritual weaknesses responsible for Lopez and the Heartless Angels' descent into Chaos.  He led his battle-brothers on a pilgrimage to the San Valmi asteroid field, seeking raw materials with which to build the new fortress-monastery, isolation from "subversive influences," and time to plan for the future.

 

The Iron-hearted Angels strike cruiser "Phoenix" was destroyed the moment she entered the asteroid field, and of 218 loyalist Marines to survive the penitent crusade, "ghost weapons"- so named because the Space Marines' shipboard sensors were unable to detect their discharges- instantly killed 48.  Two Sons of Medusa frigates transformed into fireballs a split-second later; the only sign the ghost weapons were firing, was the ships' destruction.

 

Based on the destructive patterns made before the ghost weapons' targets were destroyed, the Sons of Medusa tracked each invisible beam to its origin, deducing the defenses were centered around an asteroid known as the "Rib Cage."  Arbin Taprik, a Codicier (Librarian) of the Sons of Medusa, proposed using a precisely calculated Warp jump to bypass the Rib Cage's defensive gauntlet.  Acknowledging the dangers in Warping into an asteroid field, Taprik boarded the Iron-hearted Angels scout frigate "White Swan" and personally navigated her towards the Rib Cage, allowing Dominus Pedro and his Sanguinary Guard to board the asteroid.

Edited February 6, 2017 by Bjorn Firewalker