XX Legion, Fifth Harrow, Naga Splinter

[CaptainTenacity]

XX Legion

Fifth Harrow

Naga Splinter

 

Operational Theatre: Jordyte Depths, Ultima Segmentum, M31

 

The Jordyte Sector, colloquially known as the Depths, is a relatively small region of Imperial-controlled space on the borders of Ultima Segmentum and Segmentum Solar. Lying within reasonable distance of many stable warp route shipping lanes, the sector’s four habitable systems became a small but thriving area of space, based primarily on the Chyronaea System’s mineral-rich inner planets and the forge world established by ancient offshoots of the Martian Priesthood. The neighbouring Sarsile System is an economic powerhouse, effectively controlling the stable warp routes from the Depths to the wider Imperium, and playing host as such to the vast majority of the demi-sector’s commercia. Sarsile III, notably, is home to Imperial Auxilia Sarsillian Fusiliers, as well as the Knight House Graith, pledged by ancient allegiance to the Confederation Commercial of Sarsile. The Mechancium of Chyronaea Forge, conversely, hold the loyalty of the engines of House Xyrax. This latter House has long competed for sectorial prestige with House Graith, although, even prior to the arrival of the Imperium, it had been many years since either had sparred engines, preferring instead the much less bloodless but even more vicious arena of sector politics upon which to mete out their deeply-held enmities.

 

The Depths possess a much higher than normal incidence of asteroid fields and belts, as well as gravity wells, gas clouds, and other void hazards. According to studies undertaken by the early settlers of the sector, and, later, Mechancium and Imperial cartographers, a massive cosmological event, likely a gigantic gravitic anomaly or series of anomalies, occurred at some point several thousand years prior, causing planetary destruction events amongst several trans-solar planets in outer-elliptical orbital patterns around the sector’s four stellar bodies. Consequently, the sector is littered with numerous intra-solar and trans-solar asteroid belts and fields. While this has made mining and commerce profitable, as humanity scours the belts for numerous planets’ worth of minerals and elements, it has also led to these regions becoming havens for any aggressive xenos or human groups skilled or stubborn enough to navigate the perils of the belts.

 

Over the sector’s history, this has proven a considerable challenge to planetary rulers. Houses Graith and Xyrax owe their standing in-sector to the aid they have provided over the centuries to the military needs of both the Confederation Commercial and Chyronaea Forge. By enmeshing themselves militarily and politically in both camps, Graith and Xyrax saw a plethora of benefits. In the case of the former, House Graith rose to a position of great wealth, with riches heaped upon them by the grateful Spacing and Mining Lords of the Confederation Commercial. Over the centuries, they gradually involved themselves in not only the courtly affairs and belligerent sallies of a Knightly House, but merchant trading, shipping, and mining venture, making the House a fearsome commercial entity in its own right. There are whispers of instances where the Baron of Graith turned a blind eye on and a deaf ear to pleas for aid from mining settlements in the belts that found themselves set upon by raiders only to further the merchant interests of his own house. Conversely, House Xyrax was privy to the very best equipment Chyronaea Forge could provide; allowing it to field, despite its comparatively small size, some of the best and rarest engine-patterns during its own sallies. In doing so, Xyrax developed upon a different course to Graith, becoming more akin to what Imperial citizens would peg as Mechanicum disciples, rather than an old Knight House. This is reflected in the titles the members of Xyrax themselves bear. Opposing the Baron of Graith stands the Disciple-in-Extraordinary of Xyrax, or Dex Xyraxi. Despite the formidable combat record it has always held, Xyrax has perennially played second-fiddle to the more politically powerful and engine-numerous House Graith, who have on many an occasion used their sheer commercial weight to purchase engines and equipment from under the noses of Xyrax.

 

The system achieved almost model compliance upon the arrival of the 1,128th Expeditionary Fleet in 897.M30, allowing members of the fleets’ attendant XIV Legion Astartes ‘Death Guard’ to rearm in Chyronaea Forge. Rumours of internal dissent within the Forge itself, opposed to the intrusion of the Martian Mechanicum upon its sovereignty after so many hundreds of years of isolation, were rapidly quelled by the Heirophant Omins Chyronaea, enthusiastic as he was for a smooth transition of power to the new regime and the formalisation of what he believed would be an accord that would bring great wealth, both mineral and intellectual, fealty to Mars would bring to his forge. Houses Graith and Xyrax, who had been involved in crushing what little resistance the Crusade had been presented in-sector, were eager to compete with each other for the glory attendant in aiding what they saw as not only humanity resurgent, but also the Depths’ return to the galactic stage, and competed for the attention of the commanders of the 1,128th Fleet. Through maneuvering, the sway of the Confederation Commercial, and the reluctance of the Mechanicum of Chyronaea over the potential loss of its strongest defence, it was decided that the pledges of House Graith would see them seconded to the 1,128th, while House Xyrax would remain largely in-sector to assist in the combatting depredations of belter pirates, alongside newly provided frigates and destroyers seconded from the Expedition.

 

Despite the arrival of the Imperium, these recidivist holdouts proved to be more tenacious in their continued existence than initially expected. While the newly unified sector forces won a  string of early and crushing victories against the larger xenos holds, the Navis and Auxilia Imperialis assets of the Depths lacked the resources and manpower to account for the full extent of the asteroid fields and the sheer number of potential hiding spots and staging locations they could provide to the enemies of the Imperium. The Knights of Xyrax, despite their great destructive power and undeniable skills in planetoid prosecution, were only useful if they had a target, and the stubborn pirates of the belts proved adept at avoiding the interdiction patrols and sweeps. Their raids on shipping, both intra-and-extrasectoral, did prove however to be far below what those in the upper echelons of Crusade command deemed a dire threat, especially considering the Depths’ proximity to more important conflicts, such as the Gjirr Exterminations and the Volodoro Front. Thus, the sector’s military spent the better part of a century of void warfare and voidstructure clearance warfare ‘managing’ the issue internally, until intervention by Astartes of the newly sanctioned XX Legion Astartes ‘Alpha Legion’ allowed a swift conclusion of the drawn-out campaign. Despite their supposed inexperience in the field compared to their fellow Legions, elements identifying themselves as belonging to the Fifth ‘Harrow’ of the Alpha Legion were able to rapidly prosecute both known and previously unknown xenos holdouts within the fields, including a remarkably belligerent hrud infestation and numerous eldar raider enclaves. Within a year of their arrival in 986.M30, the XX Legion, under the command of Consul Shale Xorn, had affected total compliance of the belts and fields of the Jordyte Depths.

 

It is now believed that it was during this time the Alpha Legion obtained its clearly extensive data of and network of contacts within the Depths, in particular its intelligence regarding stellar cartography, political networks, and system military assets, as well as forming its first association with House Xyrax.

 

++Dramatis Personae++

 

XX Legion Astartes 'Alpha Legion'

 

Shale Xorn Consul Primus, Fifth Harrow, ‘Naga’

Aric Camulus Master of Signals, Vox Hydratus

Naseem Tetravacta Consul Delegatus, Oculus Hydratus

Eligos Prime, Eligos Headhunter Squad

Zaffra Harrower, 7 Iota Lernaen Terminator Squad

Mayzys Sergeant, 18 Kappa Tactical Squad

Roatra Sergeant, 4 Omicron Tactical Squad

Eskate Thuul Legion Saboteur

Heiro Isstratus Sparatoi

Farah Dneb Sparatoi

Inya Origa Sanctioned pysker

 

Fifth Harrow - Fleet

 

Penelope DeVries Shipmistress, Theta

Titus Gafrick Shipmaster, Lambda

Ornacia Fallow Mistress of Astropaths

 

Mechanicum Zahn Taghmata

 

Afrik Zahn Magos Reductor, Ordo Reductor

Geragera Taiko Magos Dominus, Legio Cybernetica

 

House Xyrax

 

Clohvis Xyrax Disciple-in-Extraordinary, piloting Vindicta Omnissiah (Cerastus Knight Atrapos)

Dmitrius Xyrax Disciple-in-Ordinary, piloting Irae Omnissiah (Cerastus Knight Lancer)

Helena Xyrax Disciple-in-Ordinary, piloting Aestus Omnissiah (Cerastus Knight Castigator)

Castrius Xyrax Disciple-in-Ordinary, piloting Terraemotus Incarnadine (Knight Magaera)

 

House Graith

 

Raphael Graith Baron, piloting Hexum Ascendant (Cerastus Knight Lancer)

Hiraldus Graith Scion, piloting Aurea Magnifica (Knight Paladin)

Magnus Graith Scion, piloting Magnaghast (Knight Crusader)

Phillipus Graith Scion, piloting Cataphractus Bellicosa (Knight Warden)

 

Chyronaea Forge

 

Gygot Adoravillius Hierophant Omnis

Zeta-Rho 66 Ruinator, Master of Skitarii

Lucius Myrrd Executor Fetial

 

Legiones Astartes

 

Naia Karubiel Consul Primus, IX Legion ‘Blood Angels’

Charah Khan V Legion ‘White Scars'

 

Legio Lazarus

 

Fafnir Galadrastus Princeps Maximus, piloting Bellator Justitia (Warlord Titan)

Qor Xapander First Princeps, piloting Gladius Aequitas (Warlord Titan)

Beau Esramodi Princeps, piloting Lex Lazarus (Reaver Titan)

Davide Markehl Moderati, Gladius Aequitas

Jorah Ruwae Moderati, Gladius Aequitas

 

 

So. The XX. 

 

I'm starting it, and this is me pulling the gun. And by pulling the gun, I mean building an entire sector and populating it with things and places and people so I can fluff-justify my own army. It's actually something I've loved about the hobby since I read that first Index Astartes: Night Lords article back in 2002. Flexing what terrible writing muscles I have allows me to add depth to painting these plastic men. This post is something of a self-indulgent promise to myself, a statement, after a fashion. I'm new to the site, so please, educated me on any infractions to rules and formatting!

 

There will be army photos. I'm building from the Calth boxset, slowly but surely, and I've got other pieces coming it. It'll be slower on the hobby front, so I'll likely punctuate it fictional bits I work up on my lunch hours at work. 

 

Hope you enjoy!

[Slips]

Welcome aboard!

[CaptainTenacity]

ATTENUATE/DEBILITATE

 

++tightbeam transmission gate kappa-kappa-nth-4823749303200--/j/l/q++

++ route comms-hub cho-primaris-879278379920--/r/h/w++

++ route comms-hub cho-secundus-8765686892152--/t/y/z++

++ENCRYPTING++

++ENCRYPTING++

++ENCRYPTING++

++encryption protocols secure++

++code djinn deployment successful++

 

“Speak.”

“To whom am I speaking?”

“If you think you may expect an answer to that question, we may as well terminate this link immediately.”

“No, please do not. I apologise, honoured lord. I meant no disrespect.”  

“We have little time, and you seek to waste what of it we have granted you with idiocy and platitudes. Speak, or this link shall be terminated.”

“It is working.”

“Specify.”

“The Forge is being rent, almost invisibly. Those opposed to the Adoravillius are speaking, while not openly, more enthusiastically than ever. Magi meet in the catacombs in increasing quantities, and the noosphere is replete with heavily encrypted exloads. The world whispers, lord. I must commend you upon your work.”

“It is not our work. We merely light the kindling; it is up to the sown men to fan the flames.”

“If I could be put into contact with these operatives, I am sure my position could be of greater use in…”

“Once again, your stupidity risks link-death.”

“Apologies, once more. I am…”

“What of the Hierophant Omnis? What does the Forge Lord know?”

“In his sanctum does he rest, uneasily. He is not blind, our puppet of the Red Planet. He hears the whispers of the chorus, perceives the inexplicable absences, and finds the air ill. Yet, he is unable to act. His wellsprings of influence are running dry, and the discord upon Sarsile does him no aid. The favours of the Confederation Commercial are to his throne as vital as air, and they return his missives less and less as their own affairs overwhelm them.”

“The Lazarasti?”

“The Legio Lazarus keep to themselves aboard their grand conveyers. I am aware that the scheduled repairs are nearing completion, but with no stable route out-sector, Princeps Maximus Galadrastus is perturbed. He dislikes the quiet of the greater galaxy. He further dislikes that the only sounds that do pierce the veil appear to be screams. His engine, and the engines of his Legio, echo is unrest. I am told their warhorns rumble with the discontent of being so moored. His opinions are shared in his communication with the lords of the IX and V Legiones.”

“The content being?”

“As I said, my lord, they are ill at ease here. They are beached, becalmed upon unfamiliar shores in the midst of this great tempest. The disharmony of Sarsile contributes naught to their growing fears. They know a great disaster has occurred. They are not fools. They do however hold their tongues to those outside their shared ranks. They whisper, as cousins, yet present as brave a face as they may muster to those outside their Legions.”

“Others speak of meetings with the Hierophant and the Dex Xyraxi.”

“Indeed, honoured lord. Consul Primus Naia Karubiel of the IX Legion and Charah Khan of the V Legion attended upon the new Dex of House Xyrax to seek his aid in prosecuting the engines of House Graith, in the belts.”

“What was the content of that meeting?”

“The Dex Xyraxi is newly-crowned, my lord, and eager to please. He acceded to every request the Legions asked of him with almost unseemly haste. Even now, he makes haste to the southern belts with almost the entire strength of his House, in-system.”

“Good. Your dossier is updated. Terminate this link and terminate this cogitator.”

“Yes, lord. Hydra Dominatus.”

“Hydra Dominatus.”

++link-end terminated++

“Were you there?”

“We cannot be serious about relying upon this wretch.”

“Calm your choler, brother. He is useful. Or rather, his position is unique, in-sector. And, thus, useful.”

“Undoubtedly, but he is vastly unused to the patterns of the Work.”

“You will find no argument from me on that count. He is obsequious to the point of inducing bile in me. Regardless, he is beneficial. And his use advantageous.”

“You presume to debate this? You are but the Voice. I have rank here.”

“Aye, Naga, but when has my instinct led us astray?”

“Shall I list chronologically, numerically, or alphabetically?”

“Your levity is appreciated.”

“What is our operational status?”

“Final Consolidation is complete. Preliminary Attenuation is expected to begin three solar from now, and from there, Primary Attenuation. Are our brothers embedded?”

“Those that are have darkened. Those that will are expected follow the forerunners soon.”

“The Xyraxi?”

“Our man was incorrect. The engines of House Xyrax walks upon KFD9896 as we speak.”

“You are watching?”

“Always, Arik. Full-spectral feed capture will record the interdiction. House Xyrax will be known.”

“I look forward to inloading that.”

“Complete Attenuation. I will raise you when we may begin.”

“For the Emperor, Naga.”

“Heh. Hydra Dominatus.”

[Soldier of Dorn]

http://i.imgur.com/QHMHZYs.gif

Can't wait to see what you've got coming!

[Brother-Chaplain Kage]

Project logs shouldn't get too long without photos.

[CaptainTenacity]

Won't be too long, I'll have a test model within the week! Thanks for the feedback guys!