Intro
He looked over the gentle rolling grassland in the valley below him. A place of agriculture, for breeding cattle and harvesting grain to feed the two hive worlds and the factory world of the Germania system. This was his home, the agri world Germania prime. A world with big fields, were autonomous harvesters brought in the grain, huge woods with lots of deer and great farms ,raising cattle.
On the Southern Hemisphere were huge plantations of vegetables and fruits looked after by thousands of Servitors. In between the three big continents of the world were wide oceans full of marine life forms. On the third continent was his actual home and the home of his brothers. The “Marienburg.”
He stood on a low slope wearing his white power armour and his red helmet, denoting his rank of Komtur. On his left shoulder pad he wore the black cross, surmounted by the black eagle on a yellow field, heraldry of his chapter. On his right shoulder pad he wore the arrow of the tactical squad he was leading. The black aquila on his chest was the only device braking his otherwise plain white armour. It was crowned by a blood red death head. On his right knee he wore the chapter cross in orange. Denoting his squad number. In his case the 6th tactical squad of the 4th company.
Behind him stood a drop ship of his chapter waiting for him .
He heard a familiar voice over the vox in his helmet:
“This is Meister Sigurd of the 4th Schlachtkompanie , do you read me Komtur Helmuth?”
“Loud and clear ” he answered.
” Rear guard has completed boarding , pull in the perimeter guard and board the ship immediately .”
So this is it he thought, the last of his brothers and he himself as the last Space Marine of the Galactic Knights chapter were leaving Germania prima, their homeworld. Forever!
He gave the order ” Marines of the 6th tactical move out , board the drop ship !”
Germania prima was lost.
Lost to the greenskins and their biological bombs spreading viral death to humans and animals alike. Transforming the former live spending world into an uninhabitable death world for millennia to come.
Hopefully the rest of the Germania sector could be saved….
Creation
The “Galactic Knights of the Ordo Teutonicus”, in short “Galactic Knights” or “Ordo Teutonicus”, were formed during the second founding. So they are very ancient like the Black Templars.
They were formed when the Imperial Fists Legion was split up into chapters according to the Codex Astartes and Guillimans order after the Horus Heresy.
They are very similar to the Imperial fists and adhere to the Codex Astartes more or less. The Imperial Fist Space Marines which were chosen as the founding members of the Galactic Knights had to be from Terra as the Galactic Knights Chapter follows a very old knightly chapter from Terra , the Ordo Teutonicus, which used to have its headquarters in a part of Terra which before the unification wars, in M30, was known as Jermani. Today the recruits come from many different worlds.
The Ordo Teutonicus does not follow the Eclesiarcies believe and has very old rites of his own which are said to derive from Terra and are said to be millennia old.
The Founding brothers had a common old language, known as German, which only very few humans outside the home system of the order can understand in the 41 millennium. The new recruits have to learn it when they join the order.
The main function of the Ordo Teutonicus is the founding of new human colonies or the recapture of former human colonies from the xenos. There most hated enemy are the Orks. This is explained by the chapters homeworld history.
Homeworld:
The chapters homeworld is a moon, called Münster, in the Germania System. The system consists of three habitable planets and one Death world. The planets are called Ruhr, Germania Prima, Germania Secunda and New Berlin. Ruhr is a forge world, Germania Prima is a death world, Germania Secunda is a agri world and New Berlin is a hive world. Münster is a moon of the fourth planet in the System, New Berlin. Further out from the systems sun are two Gas giants near the Mandeville point. The System was once colonised by the chapter after destroying an Ork force on Germania Prima. Alas Münster is not the first homeworld of the Galactic Knights. They used to have an agri world as a homeworld in the same system, but it was lost after a viral bomb attack by Orks. and is a death world since then. The dialect spoken in the system is German. Of course High Gothic is the language of the Administratum of the System according to Imperial law.
The base of the Ordo Teutonicus is situated mainly under the surface of the moon . Only the defences against orbital attack and the space port facilities are on the surface of Münster. It is said that the complete moon is the base of the chapter. Because of their homeworld the Galactic Knights are also known as Mondkrieger (Moonwarriors), by the humans living on the planets of the Germania system.
The moon homeworld turned the chapters Marines into formidable void fighters. They excel in ship to ship combat and in boarding actions. There is no spacehulk safe from them!
Combat Doctrine
The Galactic Knights of the Ordo Teutonicus are very good void fighters. They have a big chapter fleet consisting of many ships. From small corvettes to big battleships. They love fighting in close quarter but also have the capability of long range fire support.
Their aim is the liberation of star systems from the xenos and re-establishing new human colonies on the freed systems. Their arch fiend are the Orks because they destroyed the first homeworld of the chapter.
They answered the call of the Last Wall with a 4 ship fleet, carrying parts of the 3rd Gefechtskompanie in support of the Imperial fists in their fight against the Beast.
To be continued.
Organisation
Whilst the Codex Astartes is the baseline we compare all Chapters to, it’s undeniable that some Chapters differ in their adherence to the sacred tome. But it’s important to note that according to the Insignium Astartes sourcebook, there are several versions of the Codex. Roboute Guilliman’s writings can be interpreted in different ways.
The Galactic Knights of the Ordo Teutonicus are a chapter following the Codex Astartes but not as closely as others. The reason for this is the function the Ordo has given itself during the founding under the first Hochmeister Heinrich. As the chapter not only liberates systems and planets from the xenos but also looks after re-establishing human settlements on the liberated planets he has to guard these planets against new xenos attacks. Therefore the Ordo Teutonicus has a force called the Landwehr. It is similar to Imperial Guard Regiments, which are stationed on the systems belonging to the Ordo Teutonicus. These are equipped following the conventions of the Imperial guard. The units are named after the planets they are stationed on.
The Galactic knights consist of 10 Gefechtskompanien. Each consisting of 2 Zügen with 5 Gruppen. The Dreadnoughts and other vehicles are assigned directly to the Gefechtskompanien . This is also true for the Chapters spaceships. So every Gefechtskompanie is a self-sufficient unit and can perform the assigned tasks on their own. These Gefechtskompanien are often working together with units of the Landwehr when defending planets against the xenos. People outside the Ordo Teutonicus speculate that there might be more then 10 Gefechtskompanien as there are so many planetary systems under guard by the Ordo Teutonicus, but if that is true no one knows.
The Galactic Knights’ chapter headquarter consists of the Hochmeister (Chaptermaster), a Großspittler ( Apothecary) and a Priesterbruder ( chaplain). The Hochmeister has a bodyguard consisting of 10 space marines in Terminator armour. These are known as the Eidbrüder , as they have sworn an oath to protect the Hochmeister at all costs.
A Gefechtskompanie is lead by a Kompaniemeister or short Meister. The equivalent of a captain in other chapters. The Gefechtskompanie is devided into two Züge with 50 Space Marines each. Each Zug is let by a Hochkomtur the equivalent of a Lieutenant in the Codex Astartes. The 5 Gruppen ( Squads) in each Zug are lead by a Komtur each. In codex Astartes chapters this would be the Sergeant. The Gruppe 1-5 is in the I Zug, the Gruppe 6-10 is in the II Zug. Aditionally every company can have one additional Gruppe of 10 Novizen ( Neophytes) these can belong to either Zug and are assigned as the Kompaniemeister sees fit.
Look
The Galactic Knights wear a completely white set of power armour. As the chapter is very old there are many different types of power armour in use at the same time. The latest is the Type X armour used by the Primaris marines of the Chapter. These are currently only deployed in the 2nd Gefechtskompaniekompanie.
The marines wear the Chapter icon, a black cross ( Krückenkreuz) superimposed by a yellow shield showing a black eagle on the left shoulder pad. The Krückenkreuz is the true chapter icon the yellow shield with the black eagle is the heraldry of the Germania system. It was adopted into the chapter icon after the Ordo Teutonicus chose its homeworld in the Germania System. So very old dreadnoughts might still show the old icon.
On the right shoulder pad the tactical sign in black is worn. These are like in the Codex Astartes.
The Gefechtskompanie is indicated by a shoulderpad rim in company colour. Here the Galactic Knights follow the codex astartes again but as the armour is plain white the 1st Gefechtskompanie wears black as colour. As the first is the elite company according to the Codex Astartes they wear black helmets instead of white ones, as all elite Marines in the chapter do. So the colors of the Gefechtskompanies are as follows:
1st Gefechtskompanie black ( also black helmets)
2nd Gefechtkompanie yellow
3rd Gefechtskompanie red
4th Gefechtskompanie green
5th Gefechtskompanie dark blue
6th Gefechtskompanie orange
7th Gefechtskompanie violet
8th Gefechtskompanie grey
9th Gefechtskompanie sky blue
10th Gefechtskompanie brown
As the Galactic Knights Gefechtskompanies are self-sufficient at all times they have their own Scout Gruppen. These wear the company colour broken by white stripes. There is no Scout Company and no support companies like in the Codex Astartes. The 10 Gefechtskompanies are similar to each other except for the 1st which is ,like in the Codex Astartes, the elite companie. The one with Terminator armour. The Galactic Knights amassed so much Terminator Armour that the complete 1st can be equipped as Terminators at the same time. The First Gefechtskompanie is also known as the Mondkrieger ( Moon warriors) . This commemorates that the Galactic Knights are the best void warriors you can find.
There are 10 Gruppen in each Gefechtskompanie these are designated by a cross in the corresponding colour worn on the right knee . Black for the 1st Gruppe, yellow for the 2nd, red for the 3rd, green for the 4th, dark blue for the 5th, orange for the 6th, violet for the 7th, grey for the 8th, sky blue for the 9th and brown for the 10th Gruppe.
All other insignia, like Terminator crosses etc, are like in the Codex Astartes.
The vehicles show the chapter icon, all other insignia follows the codex astartes.
Beliefs
The founding members of the Galactic Knights of the Ordo Teutonicus came from Terra as explained earlier. They believe in a deity which is long forgotten by the rest of humanity. The rites of the Chapter are very obscure and only a very small inner circle knows about these in the 40.000 milenia. This inner circle consists of the Hochmeister and the rest of the Chapter headquarter as well as the members of the 1st Gefechtskompanie. What is known is that the brothers of the Galactic knights go into battle chanting:” In hoc signo vinces” The Priesterbruders are keeping up the rites.
The most important for all chapter members is the protection of Humanity, the Emperor and the founding Hochmeister Heinrich. The remains of Hochmeister Heinrich are kept in a special chamber in a stasis field and he still looks like he died only yesterday .
The Galactic Knights believe that the Emperor is the only human being that followed their deity to the fullest and therefore is the human with the greatest psychic power. Psychers / Librarians are not recruited into the order according to the founding under Primarch Dorn.
Geneseed
The Galactic Knights of the Ordo Teutonicus decend from Rogal Dorn and were created during the second founding when the Imperial Fists Legion was split up.
Rogal Dorn, also known as the Praetorian of Terra was the Primarch of the Imperial Fists Space Marine Legion. He was one of the twenty Primarchs created by the Emperor in the earliest days of the Imperium, just after the end of the Age of Strife. Despite being considered dead by the Imperium at large, Dorn’s status remains unclear. During the War of the Beast, the rediscovered Primarch Vulkan stated to Koorland that he would speak well of the Imperial Fist to Rogal Dorn.
The Imperial Fists were the VII Legion of the original twenty Space Marine Legions. The Legion remained loyal during the Horus Heresy, after which it was reorganised according to the Codex Astartes and divided into Chapters. , one of them are the Galactic Knights. The Galactic Knights are recognised to be among the most loyal Chapters to the Emperor .
The Galactic Knights were formed on Terra as part of the reorganisation of the Imperial Fists during the Second Founding, christening also the Soul Drinkers, Black Templars, and Crimson Fists. The Legion’s most fanatical battle-brothers composed the Black Templars while the more level headed members founded the Crimson Fists. The most secretive and monastic members excelling in void warfare were chosen as the founders of the Galactic Knights, when the VIIth Legion was split up into Chapters.
The Imperial Fists gene-seed possesses two unique characteristics that are expressed in physiological and the behavioral terms. Physiologically, the Chapter has lost two of the organs particular to Space Marines: the Betcher’s Gland, which allows the Marine to produce acidic spittle, and the Sus-an Membrane, which allows the Marine to enter a state of suspended animation. Behaviorally, the Imperial Fists are given to an obsession with conquering pain by force of will and discipline. The Chapter’s obsession with willpower and discipline is sometimes characterized as further involving a deep-seated drive towards self-sacrifice or penance. This trait is often simplified as merely involving a stubborn disposition.
The Galactic Knights Chapter considers the behavioral characteristics of its geneseed to be both a strength and a weakness. On the one hand, such tendencies engender stubborn conduct on the battlefield and ensure battle-brothers are more likely to fight on despite terrible injuries. On the other hand, Imperial Fists may subconsciously invite such injuries and difficulty, which can imperil battle planning and lead to unnecessary risks of personnel and material. Along these lines, the Galactic Knights are noted to be reluctant to accept the possibility of defeat when retreating would be the wisest course of action. The Chapter consciously attempts to minimize the liabilities of these behavioral traits while maximizing the benefits.
The VII Legion was one of the few that recruited entirely from their homeworld and were the only formation to have recruited from across all of Terra, including areas where other Legions claimed exclusive “Rights of Tithe.” The founders oft he Galactic Knights were chosen from Jermani, a part of the former european continent on request of the founding Hochmeister Hermann. He wanted the members of the chapter to have their own, in chapter, language, known as Jerman.
The Galactic Knights recruits consistently possessed a taciturn nature and were quick to action but reserved in speaking. They are known for their quiet monastic behaviour. You will never hear a word spoken about what happens inside the chapter .
The homeworld of the Galactic Knights is the Moon Münster in the Germania sector. Furthermore some of the individual Gefechtskompanien, like the third, have been fleet-based since the first homeworld of the chapter had been destroyed by an Ork Waaagh .
The Chapter emphasizes its historic role as part of the VII Legion defenders of Terra and takes part in maintaining a coded sequence of alerts and signals to coordinate the rapid redeployment of the full forces of the VII Legion to reinforce Terra against attack if the contingency arises. This is called „The last Wall Protocol“. The protocol was enacted 1,500 years later during the War of the Beast. The third Gefechtskompanie was involved in the Campaign against the Beast on Ullanor. The rest of the Chapter fought in different systems against the “Slaughter Waaagh.”
Battle Cry
-In Hoc Signo vinces-
The Galactic Knights are known to go into battle shouting “ In Hoc Signo Vinces” . This is hight Gothic for “In this sign victorious” oder in the language of the Chapter “ In diesem Zeichen siegreich”. Which sign is ment is only known to the inner circle of the Galactic Knights Chapter of the Ordo Teutonicus.
So far the fluff of my DIY Space Marine Chapter. I will right more about the chapter and its campaigns in the future. There will be stories about specific members like the first Hochmeister Hermann or the Kompaniemeister Siegfried of the 3rd Gefechtskompanie during his exploits on Ullanor.
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