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Lynata wrote:Aye, but they belong to the Inquisition. There's a certain connection that enables them to speak with the Inquisition's authority (limited only by their station and any internal challenges that would have to be dealt with elsewhere).

Meaning: When some random bloke encounters a guy wearing a shoulder pauldron which bears the Inquisitorial seal, he's going to gak his pants because he thinks of the Inquisition. They see the organization, not the individual. And in the case of the Red Hunters, they'd see beyond the Chapter, basically regarding the Marines as agents and executioners.

Or they'd just crap themselves because it's an Astartes in warplate.

Kinda fits the role they took in Vraks, too, considering they were bodyguards assigned to the various Inquisitors of the Ordo Malleus active in that sector rather than mounting their own "sub-campaign".

Yes and no. The Inquisitors DID have bodyguards from the Red Hunters. The deployment orders made it clear though that the Red Hunters did mount their own campaign, in support of the Inquisitorial warbands and Krieg actions.

That's how I see it. I think I understand now why you remain unconvinced, though, especially given that those DW pauldrons apparently can be worn beyond actual Inquisitorial service as well.

The pauldrons proper are the same as what the guys entered service with. The difference is that they affix the sigil, by all accounts.

Kanluwen wrote:Yes and no. The Inquisitors DID have bodyguards from the Red Hunters. The deployment orders made it clear though that the Red Hunters did mount their own campaign, in support of the Inquisitorial warbands and Krieg actions.

After re-reading, it seems it was somewhere in the middle:

"The Red Hunters strike force on Vraks was never deployed as a single unit, but individual squads and vehicles were divided amongst Inquisitors to act as a core of elite shock troops for their operations. Hence, squads and vehicles could be found just about anywhere along the front, and the Red Hunters were present (in small numbers) at most major battles until the end of the campaign."

Tanks as bodyguards would have irritated me as well.

The Inquistion isn't allowed to have a pet chapter (other than the GKs) but wanted one anyway so made an off-the-books one. There's enough plausible deniabilty to get the Red Hunters through legal loopholes but they are still in violation of the spirit of the law. But basically it's the fething Inquistion so whatcha going to do.
That's my opinion anyway.

The Inquisition isn't allowed to have a pet chapter

What? On who's orders?

I don't recall Big E saying "The Inquisition only gets one pack of my Marines, and I guess they can sorta borrow those guys that borrow all the other Marines sometimes to shoot space-elves and bugs and orks and what-not."

If the Big E didn't say it, then the Inquisition is above the authority of anyone trying to say anything about it. Thus, their "rules" become invalid.

Don't remember where I read it, but Aren't "Ex-members" of Deathwatch still IN Deathwatch (IE can be called at a moments notice by Ordos Xenos and have to leave)

I'll see if I can find where I read that in one of mah books.

Not that I recall. There are some members who remain within the Death Watch for life, though these are generally very high ranking within the organization, the exact equivalent of the Chapter Master and his immediate counsel of other, more-traditional Chapters. The rank-and-file, though, remain for their term of service and then roll back to their home Chapter, unless they're the special Black Shield type, in which the DW is their only Chapter allegiance.

I suppose, should the need be great enough, the DW could request that the DW veterans who've since returned to their home Chapters come assist them, since they're already experienced with the DW's methods and tactics, but in such a case, such veterans would probably also bring contingents of their own Chapters with them, since the gak has obviously hit the rotating blades.

There's a difference between carrying the Inquisitorial seal (or Rosette, as it's officially named) and being honoured/invited/able to have the I mark upon your armour or weapon.

In the same way that Imperial Guard and Navy tanks and aircraft are occasionally given the right to paint the crusader's cross after particularly heroic actions alongside the Black Templars. This does not mean that they are Templars, merely it's a reflection of the high esteen in which they're considered. (Source SM Battles: Helsreach).

Psienesis wrote:

The Inquisition isn't allowed to have a pet chapter

What? On who's orders?

I don't recall Big E saying "The Inquisition only gets one pack of my Marines, and I guess they can sorta borrow those guys that borrow all the other Marines sometimes to shoot space-elves and bugs and orks and what-not."

If the Big E didn't say it, then the Inquisition is above the authority of anyone trying to say anything about it. Thus, their "rules" become invalid.

Well then what is the point of having a chamber militant? They seem to have only three forces as their chamber militant. Perhaps they are just limited in that.

I assume that when they return to their chapter, they repaint their armor in the original colors. BUT they keep their left deathwatch shoulder pad that they had on the operation.