The 1201st

[Lord-Commander Macarian]

I allready made a thread about my own DIY Chapter here: http://www.bolterandchainsword.com/topic/316259-ia-the-1201st-work-in-progress-help-appreciated/

 

Writing on it tonight made it clear to me I was trying to cram to much detail in it. So I sat down with a clean sheet of paper and said to myself I would write  a complete summary on my Chapter with only one page. I think I succeeded rather well and I would like to share the result here and hear your thoughts & critique on it. Enjoy!

 

Many thanks to and @Conn Eremon for helping me develop a good background.

 

"For Humanity, For the Future"

 

The origins of the 1201^st are quite unknown, the details of their founding unknown to all save maybe the High Lords of Terra. What is known is that their gene-seed came from the Ultramarines Chapter and that they believe themselves to be the 1201^st Chapter of Adeptus Astartes to be founded. Depending on how one would count the number of Chapters in existence, this places their founding between the 23^rd and 25^th founding. Their early history places them as a fleet-based Chapter operating alongside the Ultramarines and Imperial Navy. They took part in several campaigns, fighting Orcs, Tyranids, and Tau as well as pirate groups in the area around Ultramar. During this period they gained a reputation as effective, but unimaginative soldiers specialising in shock & awe warfare from orbit. Not much else is known about this period for the Chapter. They served as well as any other Astartes Chapter and would continue to do so as unsung heroes for many years.

 

It is only after the Chapter took control of the world of Promia Primus in early M40 that the history of the Chapter begins to take more solid form. Promia Primus had been a human world hidden from star charts for many years. The planet only became widely known when the 1201^st formally submitted their declaration of imposing a protectorate on the Promian system. There exist only scant scraps of information on the planet´s pre-imperial history, being noted in a single archeo-datatablet from the Dark Age of technology as a research facility. The purpose or nature of the research conducted is lost to time and it is believed the human population regressed like so many worlds to a barbaric state. In any case the 1201^st and human population integrated quite well with one another and begun developing the population´s society back to a civilized level. When representatives of the Eclessiarchy and Mechanicus arrived to the world they were immediately ordered to leave the system by the 1201^st. They stated they would see to the development of their new home world without help from Terra or Mars. Why this move was accepted at the time is unknown, perhaps the Chapter’s proven track record and good standing with Ultima Segmentum Command providing some goodwill. Later investigation did turn up a formal complaint filed by the chief Adept but, strangely enough it had never reached an official with power to act upon it.

 

Maybe even more baffling is the fact that some years later the Chapter annexed the neighbouring Imperial systems of Eypra and Chodoria. Exact details of what transpired are difficult to come by. What is known is that at 2 215 150.M40 the 1201^st launched simultaneous invasions of both the systems´ capital worlds of Eypra Secundus and Chodoria Minor. Within a day of the surrender of both systems the Chapter provided evidence of heretical cults operating at the highest levels of leadership and claimed to have been preparing this operation for months in secrecy so as to not alert them. Furthermore the 1201^st declared both the Eypra and Chodoria systems part of their Protectorate so that the heresy could never again take root. The Chapter would be commended by Ultima Segmentum Command and the local Ecclesiarchs for their initiative, even being declared Defensor Fidelis by the High Ecclesiarch of Espandor. Inquisitorial records however show no suspicions of heresy on either worlds and no prior knowledge of these specific cults. At the request of [REDACTED] a covert Inquisitorial inquiry was opened by the honourable Lady Inquisitor Sorvina of the Ordo Hereticus.

 

The initial investigation showed no sign of corruption on the part of the 1201^st and, much to the surprise of the Inquisitor the cults did exist. It however proved impossible to gain access to Promia herself, contact was lost with the agent assigned to the world and an official visit was given only limited access. Continuing her investigation Sorvina uncovered that underneath the Chapter´s formal organization another informal structure had developed. This ´Magnus´ society operated among the highest echelons of the Chapter´s command, with its entire officer cadre being members. The Society has charged itself with the protection of the human genome and the development of the race´s psychic potential. They believe Astartes to be the pinnacle of mankind and Astartes to be the only ones capable of harnessing the powers of the Warp safely. Mortal humans are viewed as lessers, to be used only as expendable labour. Promia´s population appears to be treated differently due to their viewed genetic purity, having been undisturbed over the millennia. Because of this, the Chapter decided to take their recruits exclusively from Promia going forward.

 

This also explained the capture of Eypra and Chodoria. The systems were essentially worthless with all natural resources having been drained and their position near a warp rift known as the Baleful Sea and the Tau Empire caused them to increasingly be abandoned. To the 1201^st however, they would provide a place to cultivate the true currency of the Imperium: manpower. Using the population as indentured soldiers or forced labourers they could essentially bribe the region´s officials to turn a blind eye to the actions of the ´Magnus´ Society. Their positioning relative to Promia made them ideal buffer zones, wars could be fought on the surface of these worlds, with their population fighting and dying in Planetary Defence Forces known as the Protectorate Auxilia. Thus leaving Promia and her population safe and unblemished.

 

The ongoing investigation of the Lady Inquisitor eventually attracted the attention of the 1201^st Chaplains. They had come to serve a dual role within the Chapter. The increased research into and lenient attitude toward the power of the Warp caused the inherent risks involved to be multiplied tenfold. It falls to the Chapter´s Chaplains to exterminate any corrupted Librarian to prevent the corruption from spreading and, maybe more importantly, to make sure that the Imperium under no circumstances comes to know of the corruption ever occurring. Every time the Lady Inquisitor came close to tangible evidence with which to condemn the Chapter, she found herself foiled by the actions of these Chaplains. For reports on these incidents see 7151315-ad “Knightfall Incident” or 8743612-fhf “Winter Protocol”. In the end the Inquisitor´s inquiry did not put forward any evidence and the Chapter was deemed to be pure and loyal, much to Sorvina´s chagrin.

 

Following the years up to today, the Chapter has acted as a strong bulwark against the continued expansions of the Tau Empire and the predations of heretics coming from the Baleful Sea. The Chapter has been quite active even in campaigns beyond the borders of her Protectorate, often joining Ecclesiarchal Crusades and Mechanicus Expeditions. Their active role appears to come from a wish to normalize relations with these factions. Despite these commendable actions Sorvina has remained suspicious of the Chapter and the intentions of the ´Magnus´ Society. She has yet to be able to condemn them.