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Marines Spectra - "Rainbow Warriors"
Founding Chapter - Ultramarines
Founding - Unknown
Chapter Master - None - Council of Seven
Homeworld – Prism, Ultima Segmentum.
Speciality – Communication Interception, Deep Space Imaging & Xenos Linguistics.

The Marines Spectra’s founding records are unknown but their geneseed can be traced to that of Ultramarine lineage. The Chapter specialises in intercepting communications and pre-empting alien incursions. Their arrival is seen as a blessing and the vibrant colours that they employ as armour markings have earned them the colloquial title of “Rainbow Warriors” amongst the peoples of the Ultima Segmentum, and across the Imperium of Man. The bright colours displayed on the armour of the Marines Spectra are owed to the many natural visual phenomena that happen across their homeworld of Prism; a verdant and beautiful world that rivals, or perhaps exceeds, those within Ultramar itself. Indeed these phenomena are also attributed to the make up and base of the Chapters command structure. They operate under the leadership of the Council of Seven, rather than a single Chapter Master, each member having their own heraldic colour. This structure has been established so that the Marines Spectra do not become singularly focused in their task, and that they consider all options and potential meanings of the information that they possess.

So prised is the information gathered on Prism, that the system hosts one of the largest battlefleets, outside of Ultramar, within the Segementum. Prism is also home to the revered aerial force of The Seraph, an all-female Aeuronatica fighter battlegroup that is renowned for their quick reflexes and precision strikes. The planet itself is also host to an array of secret inquisitorial tech that renders it a formidable, if not suicidal, target for all but the most overwhelming force. The incorporation of large numbers of human personnel within their ships, bases and operation procedures is owed to the vast amounts of data acquired by the Chapter. Without the assistance of Human counterparts it would be impossible for the Marines Spectra to continue to operate as a fighting force. As such, intellectuals from around the Ultima segmentum are sought to work with the chapter and are brought to Prism of their own volition.

Many of the communication interception methods used by the Marines Spectra are unknown and this has cast a shadow on their otherwise exemplary service record. The High Lords regard them with suspicion, the vast wealth of knowledge that the chapter gleans makes them privy to an array of secrets that should otherwise remain out of their hands. Many a time have the forces of the Ecclesiarchy and the Marines Spectra clashed, fighting over alien artefacts in order to understand them rather than see them destroyed by unthinking fanatics. The Ordo Malleus also watches the Marines Spectra with a careful eye, lest their quest for understanding foul Xenos brings them into contact with the diabolic.

While the Marines Spectra have enemies in high places within the Imperium they are also highly regarded by the Ordo Xenos arm of the Inquisition, with whom they share their gathered information. Indeed, Prism itself is home to many underground Inquistorial research bases, of which the Marines Spectra reap the greatest rewards.

Psy-Gore
Possessing formidable Psychic ability, organic crystalline technology and a contempt for all other races, the Psy-Gore make for formidable opponents. Isolationist in nature they mostly fight internecine wars within their complex social structure. Occasionally they choose to leave the confines of their system to wage war upon a unifying target defined through some unknowable machination. They utilise their Psycho-reactive crystal ships to make short warp jumps, however this method amplifies their Psychic ability which sings out to the voracious predators of the warp, shining like a supernova in the roiling darkness. As such Psy-Gore ships mostly make slow burn interstellar travel using their Psychic might to propel them through their star systems and beyond. When a Psy-Gore fleet does eventually arrive they wreak a bloody path across any sentient foe they encounter. During the last two centuries of M37 the Psy-Gore became unusually war like, consistent raids on nearby systems increased by 500%. The internecine conflict seemed to have ceased, and as such Deathwatch forces were sent to bring these Xeno-Psyker horrors to heel. Proving more formidable than expected, the Marines Spectra were inducted in their entirety into the conflict during the closing years of M37.

The surface of Mystos III saw the Marines Spectra Clash with the Order of the Martyred Bride
to decide the fate of the Xenos lexicon interred within the vast crystalline crypts hidden
below the ruined Psy-Gore world.

Mystos III, home of the Psy-Gore, is infact one of 13 moons orbiting the gargantuan Gas Giant Nymos.

At the height of Psy-Gore expansion all Moons around Nymos were
colonised, but the planet itself was left untouched. Remaining worlds
around the Perseus system were colonised, but the moons of Nymos
would remain the heart of the small, yet brutal, Psy-Gore empire until
their eventual extinction.

350.M37 – The defence of Hive World Stadkron against a Chaos Warband, the Blissful Excess, sees the Marines Spectra gain their Colloquial title of the “Rainbow Warriors” for the first time in Imperial record. Their brightly decorated armour being something of a peculiarity to the hivers when contrasted with the pervasive grey of the smoke filled atmosphere.

987.M37 –The Marines Spectra join Deathwatch Forces in stemming the Psy-Gore expanse out of their native Perseus system.

987.M37 – The Psygore are driven back to their System and the war is taken to their Homeworld, Imperial designation Mystos III. Heavy resistance is encountered by the otherwise small retribution fleet, and the combined fighting force withdraws. The discovery of vast crystalline crypts spanning the entire subsurface of the world particularly intrigues the Marines Spectra, but exploration is impossible.

988.M37 – Annexation protocols are enacted. The remaining Psy-Gore are caged within the confines of the Perseus System.

234.M38 – The Space Hulk later to be classified as the Harbinger of Lies, begins broadcasting a signal that matches known pre-Imperial Human communication protocols. The Marines Spectra make contact with the Space Hulk only to be ambushed by Fabius Bile and his traitor allies. While the marines fight bravely, all hands aboard the Strike Cruiser Brilliant Light are lost.

580.M38 – After monitoring realspace communication of Dark Eldar pirates plaguing outflung worlds on the eastern fringe, the Marines Spectra are able to triangulate and accurately predict the pirates next point of arrival. When they next translate to realspace they are met with the full might of the Marines Spectra both in the void and on the planet’s surface.

459.M39 – The Ork Warlord Redskul Spinerippa’s plan to gather a substantial Waaagh! is thwarted when communications with other Ork warlords are mysteriously misunderstood upon their arrival. The ensuing internal conflict results in the destruction of Spinerippa and all other Ork forces upon the arrival of the Marines Spectra.

975.M41 – A Tyranid Hive Fleet enters the Perseus system. Long range scans and communications monitoring mean that the Marines Spectra are aware of the approach and advise the withdrawal of Imperial Forces annexing the system. The Psy-Gore celebrate their apparent freedom unaware of the terror about to envelope their worlds.

976.M41 – The Tyranid Hive Fleet now designated Perseus has inflicted many casualties among the Psy-Gore. The hive fleet is much tougher than predicted and all scenario analysis points to the system being overwhelmed in less than two solar cycles. The Marines Spectra, Deathwatch and Ultramarines launch a campaign to halt the advance of the Hive Fleet. Requests for truce are received from the Psy-Gore, they are promptly dismissed.

979.M41 – The last Psy-Gore population centre is overwhelmed by the Tyranids, Astartes forces use this opertunity to inflict massive damage on the gorging hive fleet. The Psy-Gore are presumed extinct, or at such low levels of population as being unable to sustain their horrific species.

982.M41 – Hive Fleet Perseus mysteriously withdraws from the system. Astartes forces choose not to pursue. All forces, save for the Marines Spectra, leave the system.

983.M41 – Analysis of the any remaining Psy-Gore cities is complete, the vast crystalline crypts on the World of Mystos III begin to be explored, almost 4000 years after their initial discovery. The caverns bare the same resonance signals as the Psy-Gore’s weapons and technology. Further analysis is needed.

983.M41 – Further decryption of Psy-Gore texts reveals that these caverns were the home of their Gods. The Labyrinthine cave system appears to have been grown, and several charts of the region point to a central complex located within. The writing speak of the “Words of the Gods” and the ability to create the Crystaline technology.

984.M41 – Ecclesiarchal forces arrive to pre-colonise the new Imperial System, all worlds save for Mystos III are permitted to be colonised by the Marines Spectra. This refusal infuriates the Ecclesiarchy, the fleet being guided to the system through visions of shimmering palaces raised in the Emperors name.

984.M41 – Major Imperial Colonisation of the Perseus system begins on all worlds, save for Mystos III.

984.M41 – The standoff between the Marines Spectra and the Ecclesiarchal forces escalate when the Order of the Martyred Bride force their way through the blockade and allow for the rest of their forces to make planetfall. After a brief but bitter fight the Marines Spectra stand down, but tensions remain high.

985.M41 – The Ecclesiarchy discover the truth of the Cyrstaline caverns and are disgusted at such Xenos heresy being permitted to exist on the Emperor’s World. The Marines Spectra rush to reach the Central Palace of the Xenos structure, the “Word of the Gods” is theorised to be a Xenos Lexicon holding within it many technological marvels that could be used against the enemies of mankind.

985.M41 – Brutal fighting erupts across the ruined Psy-Gore cities as the Order of the Martyred Bride declare the Marines Spectra Heretics and demand the destruction of this Xenos text. The Astartes refuse and fight back, utilising the least amount of force to repel the Sisters of Battle without incurring many casualties on each side.

985.M41 – The Marines Spectra hold up within the Crystaline Caverns and defend the Central Palace while they finish decrypting the Lexicon. The Martyred Brides step up their tactics, flooding the caverns with fanatics, penitent engines and arco-flagellants before assaulting the Marines Spectra themselves.

985.M41 – With the Lexicon decrypted the Marines Spectra make a fighting retreat through the massed Ecclesiarchal forces. They promptly withdraw from the system. The Order of the Martyred Bride promise that the Emperor’s Holy justice will befall the fleeing Astartes.

990.M41 – The Perseus system grows at a substantial rate and becomes a hot-bed for Imperial Faith in the region. The bitter fighting with the Marines Spectra is recounted in many holy buildings across the sector, the Astartes being daemonised in the Ecclesiarchs portrayal of them.

994.M41 – Contact is lost with the Perseus system, previous monitoring by the Marines Spectra does not suggest any external threat. Contact is made with the Ordo Xenos and Inquistor Anderos Black is dispatched to investigate.

995.M41 – Over a year had passed and no contact with Inquisitor Anderos Black could be established, subsequent Deathwatch Killteams had also failed to make contact or return from the system. The Ordos Xenos contacted the Marines Spectra directly, due to their history within the region they felt the Astartes would be best suited to unraveling this mystery. The Religious hotbed that was the Perseus system would not be a welcoming place for the Astartes, but they agreed to investigate at the Inquisition’s behest.

This has a lot of potential. Where do you plan on going with it next?

I'm planning to expand the various elements in the above post. The Council of Seven, Working with the Deathwatch & Ordo Xenos and also expanding on more elements like the Seraph. I'm trying to incorporate some Captain Scarlet references in here, without making them too obvious. It's not that i'm a particular fan, it's just that Spectra is far too close to Spectrum to not have a couple of nods.

Tbh, the first thing that sprang into my head when reading about the all-girl flying team was the Angel Interceptors ... it's not that much of a stretch from UFO to Captain Scarlet, I suppose.

I look forward to updates. This could do for the Rainbow Warriors what the Badab War did for the Space Sharks.

Tried to expand some History of part of the Chapter, I'm building towards the revelation of some forgotten Psyker race that aren't the Psy-Gore. You'll notice gaps in the timeline, I'll fill them but plan to have other events the Marines Spectra are part of and tie them in with that.

*SNIP* Added to OP

I really like this.

Thanks guv.

*SNIP* Added to OP

More dates added.

*SNIP*

Feedback Appreciated, but cheers for reading!

995.M41 – Over a year had passed and no contact with Inquisitor Anderos Black could be established, subsequent Deathwatch Killteams had also failed to make contact or return from the system. The Ordos Xenos contacted the Marines Spectra directly, due to their history within the region they felt the Astartes would be best suited to unraveling this mystery. The Religious hotbed that was the Perseus system would not be a welcoming place for the Astartes, but they agreed to investigate at the Inquisition’s behest.

More to follow soon!

Hoping to write some actual fluff pieces now that the scene has been set.

OP updated with Psy-Gore fluff.

It's nice to see someone else do a serious job of giving the Rainbow Warriors fluff ^_^ You've gone a very different direction to me, but that's not a bad thing ^_^

I'm glad I'm not the only one out there after all. On the subject, have you seen this wallpaper? Very cool stuff ^_^