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If you're not familiar with the project, there are a bunch of threads in the Modeling forum, the latest of which is here:
http://www.dakkadakka.com/Forums/tabid/56/forumid/8/postid/110416/view/topic/Default.aspx
At the end of the first post you'll find an FAQ with the fluff I have been using up until now.

The creative process is an evolving one. Modeling and fluff have to be brought together like two halves of a zipper. Now that the project is nearing completion, and about to be painted, I thought it might be a good idea to re-examine the fluff, and perhaps align it better to the way the models turned out.  Several posters have brought up some good points, and have suggested that I make a thread dedicated to brainstorming some possible alternatives that might be better then the fluff I origionally wrote.

Remember, we're trying to align the fluff to the models that have been made.  I am not going to re-do the 100 marines I've already made, so we need to keep that in mind as we brainstorm.

Here's some of the key points that need to be addressed:

1) They are female space marines.  I would like to examine the methods by which there could be female space marines in 40K, and find, perhaps, the most likely and believeable scenario that would be accepted by the greatest majority of gamers out there.  Up until I have been using the lost legions as the source of the geneseed, but I would like to get away from that if a better source can be found.  Some people have suggested to me along the way that Fabius Bile would be a good source for female geneseed.  This could require making the Valkyries a chaos army, which I'm not totally opposed to, or they could be a group which escaped from Bile's experimentations and are now more-or-less mercenaries, or they could be associated with the dark mechanicus, or the Adeptus of Mars could have aquired the geneseed through illegal ties to the dark mechanicus.  Or, something else entirely, hopefully that is enought to get the ball rolling on that.  Another possibility is to make the Valyries associated with a human group that has been out of touch with the Imperium since before the great crusade.This is probably the biggest wrinkle to be ironed out, because justifying female marines is difficult fluff-wise, but certainly not impossible.

2) They use energy weapons.  The models have a wide variety of energy weapons that do not need to be reloaded for months at a time.  There is also very little standardization within the army, each squad essentiall fielding it's own unique weapons.  We need to re-examine the reasons for this.  Perhaps the weapons for each squad are hand-made by individual artificers, or perhaps the energy core's they use are very unsafe for the user, (radioactive or something) and so not fit for general use.  Admittedly, this point is difficult to iron out until the first point is more fully developed.

3) Their armor is very different from standard power armor.  We need to re-examine the reasons for the difference in the armor's style and thickness.

Your thoughts are appreciated in this matter.

if the adeptus is going to free anybody, it would be the dragon.

but I like the thought that the Ultrasmurf is evil

Okay,as a long supporter of your project,here goes:
Part 2-The weapons can be used as a sort of 'id tag' to your squads.The fluff itself could be that the Ad-mech (i like the idea of that),after having found the body,revived it then started cloning it in secret of the imperium.The 'production' of troops was slow,seeing as its a new way of making 'marines',making the need for more competent trainers.This led the first X number of full fledged Valkyries to be trained to the art of weapon crafting so they themselves could train the new troops.
Since the equipment (i'll come to armours later,this is a retype cause my router f-up and i lost all data,but i have an idea) was still in production also yet it was need to be made faster and more importantly,unusable to the other species(including marines),bare skeleton pistols/rifles were given out to the head of squads.These ladies then worked over the bones of the weapon to make it their own pattern ('Ryhaina pattern' for example),then instructing its workings and maintenance to their squad members.
Heavier weapons can be MODs of an already existing weapons,only modified by combined Ad/Valkyrie crafters to the standarts of the army.This could mean that a simple lascannon was re-manufactured into a more potent,destructive tool by tweakings and more efficient use of its capacity.
Or alternatively,the energy weapons were meant for the Imperium as a secret technology,but the new information of the betrayal of the E. changed the way the knowledge was used...

Part 3-Since im still sticking to the Ad-mech thing,i'll go along with it.
The given area of found space (the homeworld of the legion) had very little left after the desolation it received.The one survivor was in reefer-sleep (cryo in A. Reynolds terms) and even after awakening by techpriests,could remember very little (to add drama,forgotten name is always good).Nicknamed 'Waking Redemption' or something equally epic,she was to lead the future troops on a righteous quest to save the Emp blablablabla...back to the shells.
Many blueprints of better weapons and especially armour were found in the vault of the sleeping dweller,as well as a prototype armour that was supposed to be used during the heresy to fight Chaos,hence before the Emperor got KO'd.Hell,you could throw in the fact that it was also psy-immune,so not to be corrupted,leading up to the fact that its the future Grey Knight armour(this could place your fluff right were it should be,in the lost area that eventually surfaces.This could also explain why the Vals weren't found by the Imp psychers until now,because of the psy-immunity).This first armour was re-tailored to the HQ,seeming to be the only one worthy at the moment to wear it(if you're going to model it,i'd suggest something -heavilly- Gothic/victorian in appearence,like one of the SoB Inqs.).
Problem was that shredding it for understandings of its work was the same as denting ye olde Land Raider.The Ads had then to resort to faded prints to create less powerful copies (mind you,still upgraded ones compared to the SM) of the 'great armour' to use for the Valkyries.These ones required a smaller power source,less space and maintenance.Seeing as the double heresy (the betrayal of the E.) was barelly discovered,the armour didnt make it across the production facilities to be mass produced,making your task as a fluff maker simpler and needless to explain.

i really hope this all makes sence to you though,cause i really want this project to see life on the tabletop.
Good luck with the rest Doc.

 

Clayman, you are awsome. 

 

That is all really great stuff, especially considering that you had to type it all twice.

Thanks a bunch, seriously.

heeeyy....no prob man
it seems my brain was actually functioning that time so i guess it came out good

K here is some really old stuff. Originally when the emperor created the 1st marines the techniques he used ensured that the majority of subjects would survive the transformation from mortal to marine. During this time it was uncommon, but not unheard of for Females to be Marines. It was only after the death of the emperor, and the end of the heresy that they really used the proginoid gland for geneseed replication. This unfortunately meant fewer geneseed. This resulted in chaplains only choosing the finest specimens, because only they could survive the barbaric methods used by the "current" marines to surgically implant geneseed. Males where statistically more likely to survive as women needed more genetic modification to become marines. The geneseed must be preserved so only males are chosen as marine candidates

one possibility is that a joint exploration by the AM and the Ecclesiarchy resulted in the discovery of a new STC that detailed superior medical facilities, and possibly how the emperor was able to ensure a high survival rate in marine genetic modification. It was decided between the AM and Ecclesiarchy that they would create several new marine chapters. And since the best material makes the best marines it was decided that they would use Sisters as the Basis for these new chapters. (of course the Ecclesiarchy hoping that the former sisters would remain loyal to them)

Well i hope that helped the brain storming effort.

neil

i can tell you how they can be female space marines, its called a sex change, and i mean a full one... :/

please guys for the love of the emperor do not take the path you are on..

the Inquisition will hunt down and burn all those who follow these steps of heresy

Seriously though i grant you nice modelling job and its good that so much thought is going into this however.... the only way in my eyese as an ardent 40k fluffite to get female Space marines is if they were chaotic. The techniques used require a male subject...

Also the idea about involving the Echlesarchy in the creation of a new space marin chapter is also dodgy ground.... also it requier the consent of the high lords of terra... The main probelm with the echlesiarcy thing is if any of the space Marin chapters found out that this had happened it is likely they would not rest on their laurels about  such an out of place act.. it is likely that the Astartes would take military action even if it was only surgical strikes against stuch an undertaking... If you don't believe me look at what happened to Goge Vandire....

anybody modelled any of these new marines?

noooo pls don't :p gl with modelling them though

I think that Space Marines are, according to the fluff, necessarily male. I don't know why, come to think of it, but it's the distinct impression I get over a few years of reading.

But Fabius Bile is Fabius Bile, and he's the big innovator, so who's to say?

--

You could always say that after the change into Space Marines, some guys decided to become transgendered. Like, maybe their primarch didn't really want to be a guy, who knows? And that was passed on to the chapter. It could explain why all the GW female heads have such mannish features.

I think I'd stick with geno-enhanced Fabius Bile products though . . .

maybe some of fulgrims boys decided to tap into there feminine side.

This is a combined work from many different sources. It is in Cronological order but may not make sence. Yet I hope it will help you.

The only true man he trusts the Emperor bestows upon Calvin Ewald two sacred relics (Spear of Destiny, Sword of Truth) for safe keeping.

In mouring Calvin Ewald and his Green Hunters embark upon a sacred quest to slay three Chaos Daemons.

Much to everyone's disbelief, Calvin Ewald returns with the carcasses of three greater Daemons. Impressed Roboute Gulliman requests of Ewald that experiments in creating a new gene seed be used based on his genetic makeup. Ewald agrees and the Grunjaegers chapter is created.

The only female geneseed is reputedly created from the Ewald experiments.

Calvin Ewald declares the Grail Quest and prepares to depart with his retinue. The Grunjaeger chapter accompanies him as far as the twin worlds of Tarleton and Emmerich in the Caledon subsector. Ewald passes on the sacred relics to Legatus Andronicus, the only member of his original Green Hunter retinue to remain with he Chapter.

Grunjaegers refuse to share their gene core with other chapters.

Inquisitor Lynox comments "The Grunjaegers refuse to disclose their primary genetic code. Many adhere to a pre-Imperial code of worship. Females serve as combat Marines in some units."

During an intense naval battle between Grunjager and Fallen Praetorians ships, Longinus is forced to scuttle the Sword of Truth on an unmarked planet. The relic is lost.

After hundreds of years hunting down and battling the Fallen Praetorians the Grunjaegers geneseed is almost worn out of existence. The chapter is forced to retire and consolidate or be destroyed.

The chapter settles in the Agrippa Sector and is so depleted and demoralized they change their name to Victrix Astartes.

Legatus Andronicus dies and is succeded by Tribune Agar.

With the permission of Doge Alexis Dukas the remanents of the Grunjaegers settle on Trajanus.

Cardinal Raithbone of Blodsburg declares the Vixtrix Astartae Chapter heretical and leads a crusade against them. In a rare show of solidarity the four Houses (Dukas, Red, Fortuna, White) unite against him and support the Chapter. Raithbone dies under questionable circumstances. Sister Superior MagLenor declares the crusade "mistaken."

While on his return home Devine visions leads Dukas to recover the Holy Relic of The Sword.

Dukas returns to the Agrippa Sector and returns the sacred sword to the Victrix Astartes. A legend grows that Dukas is descended from one of Calvin Ewalds original retainers. House Dukas and the chapter create a sacred alliance.

Warp storms briefly isolate the Agrippa Sector. For reasons unknown, Cardinal Raithbone declares war against House Dukas but is turned by Victrix Astartes seizing control of Blodsburg. Outcry from Fortuna, D'Hautville, and White causes order to be reestablished quickly and the marines to retire. To resolve the government the four houses agree to rule jointly in the "Grand Alliance" but are forced to return power to the Imperium under the treaty of the Emperor's Peace. The war is known as the Wars of the Alliance, or Raithbones little war. The result sees the Cardinal as head of the sector but the house of houses, or the house of the alliance, a strong voice in future Agrippa Sector politics.

Right, so, here's a quick one:

During the last years of the great crusade, the Emperor saw the deep rifts growing between the Primarch-Brothers, the anger and rivalry between them threatening to burst out into war. Though he has little suspiscion that some of these dangerous frictions are the result of Chaotic influence, he nonetheless begins to take steps to counteract them -- a kind of 'peacekeeping force' or 'Imperial Marines,' who owed no loyalty to any Primarch.

To do this, the Emperor formulated a new geneseed, unlike any of those used to grow the primarchs -- a geneseed which could be implanted in anyone who proved their loyalty, regardless of their sex or origin -- or even age. With the aid of the advanced technology recovered from the Dark Age during the crusade, the Emperor designed new, more mobile power suits that did not require the powerful, augmented musculature or Black Carapace of the Primarch Marines, and powerful plasma weapons that would allow them to trump the normal Marines.

However, not even a full Company of these new 'Valkyries' had been raised before the crisis they were to avert struck: the wars of the Horus Heresy rent the Galaxy, and extremists on all sides took up arms. Entrusting the secrets of their own creation to the eldest of their number, the Emperor tried to give his Valkyries time to escape, but it was not to be: they insisted on aiding him in the final battle, and were struck down by their fellow-marines after his death. Because they had been kept secret, the Loyal Legions and Traitors alike took them for enemies -- and in the chaos following the death of the Emperor, many believed they had been the agents of his assasination.

The few who survived fled Terra and the Terran Sector altogether, and spent many centuries underground, forever on the run from the Inquisition, the loyal Marines, and even Chaos (who believe they can steal the secrets of their weaponry and geneseed). In the last five centuries, however, they have slowly managed to collect all the ancient technologies used to create them, and, in a daring raid on the Librarium Heresium on Luna, even recovered the Book of Sisters in which the methods of their creation were detailed. Now they have begun to arm themselves again, and stand up to their myriad enemies in the name of the Father-Protector.

Eh? Eh?

You know I guess I'm with Roadkill on this one. The 40k universe doesn't seem so open minded to me as to include female space marines. the only reason the ecclesiarchy uses women in its armies is so they can exploit a loophole in the decree passive that states that they cannot have "men under arms". If it weren't for that they would have an army of men.

Having said this, If I were to see your female marines (using spacemarine rules) on the other side of the table, I would complement your conversions/ paint job and play normally (but inside I would be thinking "that's kinda weird"....).

Fabulous Bill's the only way forwards. Remember, he is actually one of the Emperor's Children, so obviously he'd like the idea of experimenting on a load of women...

So, he goes ahead and makes a force of female marines, for whatever randomly beneficial reason. Initially, they work with him, but at one point they capture and interrogate an (obviously has to be female) Inquisitor, who explains to them "the truth" of the Emperor's Holy Light. So, they rebel against their creator, and attempt to return to the Imperium. Unfortunately, they're declared a Heresy Against The Almighty God-Emperor, so have to flee. They end up escaping to a non-imperial High-tech human world, where they end up acting as mercenaries/guardians in return for supplies of high-tech weaponry and resources to maintain the gene-seed. Unfortunately, the Imperium catches up with them, and virus-bombs the planet out of exeistence.

The Valkyries then go on the run, still loyal to the God-Emperor, but unable to persuade the bigoted Imperium of their faith. Therefore, they spend their time in secret, acting to bolster the Imperium's defenses whilst remaining in the shadows, forever shunned by imperial dogma. Kind of working as a loyalist equivalent of the Alpha Legion, staying hidden within Imperial space but working for the 'good guys,' quashing rebellion rather than inciting it.