Automated Space Wolves Thrall
Belleville, IL
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Here is the history of my army, hope you all like it.
ORIGINS
Formed during the twenty-first founding on the planet Caledonia, the Sons of Caledonia were created from the native populace of numerous Clans. Each Clan had a feud or an alliance with another. These Clans were very primitive in the ways of the universe and what lay beyond their world. For many centuries, the people of Caledonia had forgotten that they had originally come from Terra. All remnants of space-faring technology had either been left to rot, or had been taken apart and melted down into items needed to survive. These people adapted themselves into a largely agricultural and hunting society. Each Clan was formed by people that had the same beliefs, trades, resources or just a general feeling of family. When a surveying team - that included representatives of the High Lords of Terra, the Ordo Malleus, and the Adeptus Mechanicus - landed on Caledonia, the general populace took a defensive stance. Emissaries from the High Lords and each respective Clan met on neutral ground to discuss inclusion into the Imperium. The Clan leaders - joining each other against what seemed like a common foe - agreed they should all be part of the Imperium once again. With a spark or a twinkle in the Clan leaders' eyes, they decided to celebrate and get the visiting entourage drunk before any further discussions would take place. Eight hours of boisterous celebration had passed by when several of the Clan leaders noticed one member of the Imperial group was never inebriated, even though he had imbibed twice as much as anyone there. This captured the awe and admiration of many Clan leaders. After the celebrations and many long hours of hang-overs had passed, the Clan leaders stated that a vast amount of raids had taken place by huge, green-skinned creatures that called themselves Orks.
Some of the hunters from different Clans had followed these Orks a few times and reported the reason these Orks never tried an all-out invasion was because the planet would fall too easily. A discussion amongst the Imperial representatives took place aboard on whether or not a new chapter of Space Marines should even be created. With the Imperium in countless total chaos as to whom might be friend and who might be foe, a positive decision was made to create another chapter of the Emperor's finest. Another rather heated discussion as to what gene-seed could be used to establish this new chapter. After weeks of deliberation, the decision to mix the gene-seed of the Ultramarines and the Space Wolves was made. Most of the High Lords' emissaries protested the inclusion of Space Wolf gene-stock being mixed with another chapters' genetic legacy. Something about an unstable helix mixed in with one of the finest examples of genetic engineering just did not sit well with most everyone. A staunch believer in the purity of the Space Wolf gene-seed pointed that no member of the Great Companies has ever succumbed to any of the agents of Chaos, and was one of the greatest supporters of the Emperor. Even members of the Ordo Malleus and Lords of Mars had to agree with logic. With grudging acceptance, the new chapter was to be made with one condition. The Space Wolves are not to know, but are allowed to send training squads due to the location of Caledonia and preference of fighting style.
HOMEWORLD
The homeworld of the Sons of Caledonia is located in the Segmentum Obscurus relatively close to Fenris. It orbits a single sun along with eleven other planets. Six of the planets are gas giants, two others are dense, rocky spheres with an abundance of raw materials, and three are supporting life. One of these is Caledonia and the other two are Culloden and Luss. Scotia has two major continents and several large islands. The topography for these continents is roughly even between hard granite type of stone and prime agricultural areas.
Caledonia has four distinct seasons with the winter being very harsh. The spring is very bountiful in rain. The summer is moderate to mild with a few days in the high temp levels. The fall season is where nature unleashes untold amounts of color and beauty. With an alarming amount of regularity, crops that are planted in late winter/early spring are ready for harvest in about a two month time period. Most of the time a second crop is planted and then harvested in the early Fall. Some of the farmers plant grass seed after the first crop is harvested so the soil can regain some of what was lost during the growing season. Sometimes farmers will let the grass grow so high that grazing animals - both wild and domesticated - will have enough to eat. This causes a natural fertilizer to be deposited onto the field. After the grazing animals have completed their eating-fest, the farmers come out and plow the fields to ensure the nutrients for the soil are mixed very well.
Farming is not the only productive activity that takes place on Caledonia. Hunting is a huge industrial enterprise and supplies almost forty percent of the meat consumed or exported. The rest of the meat consumed or exported comes from a closely monitored process. Fishing also plays a role in the day-to-day society. The fishing of a huge creature called the Caledonian Tuna is widely eaten on locally, and elsewhere. Approximately fifty percent of this large fish is processed, canned, and shipped to various parts of the Imperium. A fishing team never takes more than what is needed from the numerous "hot spots" where these animals live. There are other types of fish that are caught, and also exported, but the Caledonian Tuna is the most widely sought after delicacy.
Caledonia is a world that is not for the lazy. Life is harsh in many respects concerning the day-to-day activities to sustain life. Any lazy citizens are dealt with severely. Since half of the land masses are solid stone, life is very difficult. Everyone on Caledonia begins contributing to daily life at around the age of three or so. Every male child is tested physically until the age of sixteen, for inclusion into the Royal Guard. Now that the planet is part of the Imperium, these same tests are still used for inclusion into the hallowed ranks of the Sons of Caledonia. These tests are based off of normal everyday routines which are in a series of games. These games last an entire six days when all contestants are dwindled down to the most deserving and righteous.
COMBAT DOCTRINE
The Sons of Caledonia's doctrine of fighting is to fight until no one is left to fight, or no enemy is left to fight. This is done primarily by close combat. Not many foes are able to withstand an onslaught by a squad of these skilled practitioners of death. The addition of modern ballistic weaponry does not lessen the ferocity these stout-hearted individuals. As soon as these modern weapons were introduced, the newly formed chapter was already proving themselves with them. Every new recruit is extensively trained in the use of every single weapon the chapter is issued. Close quarters combat is stressed and practiced everyday. These sessions can sometimes last for three to four hours. Some individuals are so adept at using a bladed weapon that they can not use a ballistic weapon with the same skill as their brethren. Even the new recruits can out-shoot these blade masters.
A favored way of fighting is the use of the jump pack to get into close combat. A few squads of tactical troops are sent in to engage an enemy force, then come in the jump squads. Blow after blow is delivered until no enemy squad member is left. One squad of jump assault is so elite, they choose whatever weapons they are adept at using, rather than the standard assault troop issue. These veteran squad members number only ten and are allowed to wear the colors of their Clan on their shoulder armor. Many an enemy that have seen this squad dropped their weapons and ran in fear.
The tactical squads, which are the backbone of any force, mainly number ten marines to a squad. These are the more seasoned troops that have a some action and still want to prove themselves. The new recruits, the Youngbloods, typically number up to fifteen members. This is to ensure a wide variety of weapons being used in the field and to have an overwhelming amount of firepower. Even though the skill at using a bolt pistol or bolter is less than other brethren, the Youngbloods can still shoot very effectively.
The vehicles that are used coordinate their attacks with the tactical and assault squads. The Predators and Land Speeders are used in almost every battle. Every single Land Speeder is outfitted with an assault cannon to great effect. The favored tactic with these vehicles is to either get behind an enemy and unload with the assault cannon and heavy bolters, or pop out from a building, shoot, and pop back if able. Very few times will the pilot just go straight in on a straffing run. The tactic that is used with the Predator and Land Raider models is to get into a defensible location and use all of the weaponry to its fullest potential.
The heavy weapons teams are some of the best shooters in the chapter. These squads seek out ruins of buildings - and use everything that structure has to offer - to get an overlapping blanket of fire. If one squad has two targets, that squad can split their firepower to inflict the most amount of damage that can be done. There is no favored heavy weapon, but everyone is leery of the plasma cannon.
Scouts in the Sons of Caledonia are the most skilled hunters in the chapter. Typically, in other chapters, scouts are the newest inductees into any Space Marine force and must prove themselves before being accepted into a regular - or training - company. The Caledonian scouts have seen more combat, fought in countless battles, and killed more than their fair share. Any weapon given to one of these highly skilled agents of death is assuredly used with extreme efficiency. The favored weapon is the sniper rifle. If the sniper rifle can't destroy whatever it is used against, the missile launcher will.
Dreadnoughts are highly revered in the Sons of Caledonia's army. When one of these entombed warriors is in battle with his brothers, an excitement is in the air. When one of these battle-wise warriors falls, the outcome is very quick and decisive as all hell breaks loose and no prisoners are taken for questioning, even if they might have information to share. These armored coffins of death and destruction hold untold centuries of tactical and strategic knowledge deep within them. Some of these ancients are among some of the highly respected leadership roles.
Elites of the Sons of Caledonia are called Warrior-Poets and are hand picked to serve as a guard unit for any HQ that chooses to have them. Most of the time when they are used - or assigned - the ancient suits of terminator armor are donned and draped with the colors of that particular person's Clan. This is only one way a Sons of Caledonia can wear his identifying print of cloth. Having terminator honors is another way a person could wear the sacred colors. There are very few special weapons in the Caledonian armory for these suits, but it seems assault cannons and lightning claws are favored. These fearless troops are renown for their martial prowess and shooting ability. Using a drop-pod to get into the enemy's ranks is what these warriors do best.
Battle-Lords of the Caledonians are warriors of such skill, one of them could fend off an entire squad of traitor guardsmen if he had to. The weapon of choice most every time is a pair of lightning claws, frost blade, or even dual power swords. Each Battle-Lord includes himself into a squad of Youngbloods or Highlanders. With a Warrior-Poet guard with him and attached to a squad, that squad will most likely destroy whomever they come in contact with.
HISTORIC BATTLE
One battle that is lauded and lamented in song and story concerning the Sons of Caledonia is against the Tyranids on Cepharus III. The Crescents were already on the surface of the planet when the strike cruiser Caledonia's Heart - and her frigate escorts - were assailed upon by a Tyranid hive ship. Caledonia's Heart and three of the four escorts entered combat against the smaller vessels first. The remaining frigate - MacNab's Fury - was ordered to head back to Caledonia since long-range communications were down due to the Tyranid fleet. Fighting off the smaller attack vessels, MacNab's Fury was able to make it back to the homeworld and make its report. Chapter Master Saemus MacEoghain ordered three quarters of the chapters' companies to the awaiting battle-barges and strike cruisers. Within three hours, three-fourths of the chapter was embarked and ready for travel to Cepharus III. Numerous Iron-Priests and their repair servitors were aboard MacNab's Fury to hastily repair any damage the Tyranids may have done. Chapter Master MacEoghain bestowed the Honor of being "First Ship on Scene" to MacNab's Fury and off into the warp the armada went.
While Caledonia's Heart and her escorts were engaged in space, Battle-Lord Kayne MacTavish and the rest of his company spotted what looked to be a meteor storm. Upon viewing the storm through image enhancement and magnification equipment embedded in his helmet, MacTavish ordered a battle line to be formed. He ordered the land speeders to the extreme right flank for a possible sweeping hook into the enemy's flanks. The heavy weapons team was ordered to high ground to acquire a better vantage point. The venerable predator, Savage Heart, positioned itself in the middle of the line, behind Battle-Lord MacTavish and his retinue of guards. One of the tactical squads positioned themselves inside an abandoned building to keep watch on the Caledonian right flank. Another tactical squad took up positions on the left flank utilizing the foliage as a defensive barrier. A squad of Warrior-Poets - armed with two menacing looking assault cannons - took up a position in the command squad. With everyone deployed, Battle-Lord MacTavish had a surprise for the incoming xenos invaders. This surprise would surely be a one-way trip for these brave warriors being held back as reserve.
All positions were manned. Every warrior knew this was the fight of fights. Unusual chittering sounds could be heard in the distance. The rustling of leaves and branches came next. With an explosive appearance, the dreaded Tyranids were in full view. Worm-like creatures, each having numerous teeth, dipped in and out of the ground towards MacTavish and his company. What ran behind these over-active maggots was much more horrific. Four armed creatures slightly larger than a space marine - with nothing but hatred and hunger in their eyes - were moving in sync with others of their kind, as if something were directing their movements.
The two land speeders arrived on station and unleashed a hellish fury from the assault cannons and heavy bolters on both of them. One by one, these monstrosities blew apart from the volume of firepower pouring into them. The squad in the abandoned building was too far away to provide another wall of death, but they were able to provide just multiple long range shots with their bolters and a single lascannon. After all the shooting was done on the Caledonian right flank, not one Tyranid genestealer was left standing.
The command squad immediately started pouring explosive storm bolter rounds into the worm-like creatures. Killing these runt-sized worms was found to be more difficult than anticipated. It was not for any reason other than multitudes of these things were everywhere. The heavy weapons team was standing-by to engage the enemy, as well as the Savage Heart. Two heavy bolters on the high ground while two more on either sponson of the venerable tank. These combined with the assault cannons , twin-linked lascannon, and the numerous storm bolters would guarantee a quick end to these ever hungry savages. After the initial hail of firepower ceased only about half of the vermin had ceased to exist. The remaining tactical squad on the left flank was very anxious to get into combat so that an improved firing position could be found. Sergeant Graham ordered his men to the edge of the thick foliage they were in. When they reached the edge, a building could be seen. Hissing and chittering could be heard beyond the building in front of them.
The remaining Tyranids did very little except advance. The ones that could shoot did with great success. Numerous hits would be the only underlying explanation for being successful. The only positive outcome for these always hungry aliens was the damage caused to the Savage Heart. The main weapon - the twin-linked lascannon - ceased to exist in a workable fashion. One of the weapons sponsons also turned into scrap metal after the initial volley of fire.
When the foul xenos were finished with their fire, the command squad, both land speeders, and the heavy weapons team unleashed pure Hell on the remaining swarms. All traces of the swarms had disappeared into nothingness. The tactical squad - posted in the building - opened fire with only their lascannon. That one shot was able to wound a creature that seemed like it was protecting the Hive Tyrant. The Savage Heart opened fire with its only remaning weapon, a heavy bolter sponson. The three rounds found targets with only two of them creating any wounding damage. One of the Tyrant Guard fell to the ground lifeless. The squad taking cover in the foliage could not find any targets and decided to take a stand. Without warning, hideous genestealers burst out of the building towards the foliage with primal hunger driving them to madness. Melee combat erupted into a free-for-all. Marine and xenos alike fell due to grievous wounds. Neither really gaining ground on the other. Things appeared to be a stalemate until a quick flash of rage and talons brought the tactical marine squad to their knees. Only the sergeant came out alive, only to fall back towards his own lines. More shots came from the minute amount of firepower the Tyranids possessed. One of these shots disabled the Savage Heart and destroyed its final weapon.
The Caledonian left flank began looking weak, while the drop pod - Wind of Doom - landed none too soon.The battle-brothers of the Caledonian Guard disembarked, while the autoguns - from the pod - located the remaining genestealers brood and destroyed one. The Caledonian Guard brothers began raining death to the rest of that brood. Storm bolters and one assault cannon barked loudly as explosive projectile after explosive projectile landed a wounding hit on the tough bodies of the xenos threat. Storm bolter and multiple assault cannon ammunition - from the command squad - began impacting on the remaining larger Tyranids. Two more Tyrant Guards were blown apart from the onslaught. Frustrated at the Savage Heart becoming immobilized, the driver and gunner got out and began throwing rocks at the xenos scum, with no effect. The lascannon from the remaining tactical squad on the right flank and five bolters were able to score hits on the last Tyrant Guard. The lascannon ripped the head in half, leaving the Hive Tyrant to fend for itself.
No sooner had the reserves from the drop pod completely eradicated the final brood of genestealers, a carnifex - accompanying the Hive Tyrant - charged them. Hardened, crushing claws swung wildly with space marine body parts flying from the fray. Two drop pod battle-brothers remained and attacked in kind. This gesture was nothing more than amusement for the carnifex. Both battle-brothers were unable to deliver any wounding hits. The Hive Tyrant and remaining carnifex advanced towards the command squad out of instinct rather than something tactical or fore-thought.
Without moving their footing, the command, tactical, and heavy weapons squads - along with the land speeders - unloaded all remaining ammunition into the Tyrant and unengaged carnifex. Bit by bit, pieces of the Tyrant and carnifex carapace began chipping away leading to large, bloody chunks dropping off. Some of these pieces flew off with such force, pieces could be seen landing thirty meters away. When the shooting ceased, the Tyrant and carnifex were dispatched beyond any hope of returning. The last carnifex - engaged in close combat - made short work of the last two battle-brothers from the drop pod Caledonian Guard. With the creature free to do as it pleased, the lone marine from the decimated foliage squad shot two rounds of super-heated plasma into its back. Burning carapace and flesh created a stench that was nearly indescribable. Communications were re-established with the Crescents' fleet and extraction commenced.
ORGANIZATION
The Sons of Caledonia are structured like the Space Wolves in the sense of having more HQ units on the field than any other chapter. The variety of units make up most of every company. Reserve companies are unheard of in the Caledonian force structure. Scouts are still in a company all their own and detachments are assigned as needed. While the Space Wolves are twelve companies strong, the Sons of Caledonia number only ten companies that are identified by different colors on their shoulder pad edges. White is the color of the Caledonian Guard to show they are pure of heart. Any Caledonian marine with terminator honors has the option to join the first company and automatically gain their Clan colors. Gold is the color of the second company, and so on with the color ranking of companies for the Ultramarines. Those individuals that stay in there original unit, when they were awarded the coveted terminator honors, only strengthens a company. This also allows for a more fluid style of fighting due to the experience level that is retained. Some companies are more adept at certain forms of fighting than others. For example, the fifth company is quite adept at utilizing heavy weapons while the seventh company has more of a close combat orientation. Each company can achieve what the other can companies can, they just use different methods. Vehicles are assigned to each company as well. Two MKIV Land Raiders, two dreadnoughts, and one land speeder squadron is the normal outfitting for all of the companies, except for the scout company.Predators, Razorbacks, and Rhinos are called in on a need-to-need basis.
GENE-SEED
During the twenty-first founding, genetic experimentation was running out of control. The need for more space marine chapters took precedence over the normal procedures. Very few chapters came out of that founding without any mutations that were considered heretical. The Sons of Caledonia are one of those chapters. What is known about the origins - and gene-seed - of the Sons of Caledonia is known to only a few individuals within the high lords of Terra and the Inquisition. The only person outside of these two branches of the Imperium is the Chapter-Master of the Sons of Caledonia. When a new Chapter-Master is chosen, all knowledge about the chapter is passed on and sworn to secrecy, except for passing the information to a new candidate. During the genetic experimentation, gene-seed from the Ultramarines and the Space Wolves was used and carefully studied, examined, cleansed and purified of any mutations - and other factors - that would otherwise deny further combining of the two samples. The material was provided by the Magos-Biologica - along with other samples - to begin the twenty-first founding. Several combnations of cross-mixing the various gene-seed had numerous results. Some of the test subjects were found to be too unstable to continue. A few test subjects began showing signs of mutation. The Inquisition immediately started interrogating the test personnel, the attending staff, and the project overseer. All personnel were cleared of any tainting by chaos and were allowed to proceed. The methods, processes, and samples used went under intense scrutiny for anything ab-normal, illegal, procedurally questionable, or out of the ordinary. All inquiries and investigations revealed nothing that could be called heretical, but the test subjects were kept under a close eyes by the Inquisitorial agents. Only four other sets of test subjects went through the genetic modifications and were found to be suitable for further development with limited supervision.
The test subjects for the Ultramarine/Space Wolf gene-seed combination were recruited from the planet named Caledonia and with every test of loyalty came a positive result. It appeared that the combining of these two great chapters enhanced one another. The hair on the test subjects became thicker and their teeth became slightly more pointed. The overall result of these individuals was nothing more than growing bigger and hairier. One negative result from combining these two genetic legacies was discovered when needing a critical shot to connect with a target, it would not result in a wound ninety percent of the time. This could be why the chapter prefers to bring the fight to the enemy rather than try to shoot them at long range. This affliction seems to curse the snipers of the chapter, as well as the heavy weapons teams only when a critical shot is needed.
When not in combat, members of this chapter begin to get headaches and become more moody towards on another. It could be classified as withdrawal symptoms much like someone who imbibes too much hard liquor constantly suddenly has none. Once combat resumes, whether it is a wargame or deadly combat against the many enemies of the Imperium, all of these symptoms go away. At times, a strong feeling of sincere friendship or deep depression can be felt within the chapter between fights. This all depends on how victorious - or how costly - the previous battle went. On rare occasions, Clan feuds will result from one of these melancholy moments while no fighting is in progress, but are resolved in a short amount of time. One of these feuds that came from one of those down moments continues to this day. [ This can be found in the additional history section.]
ADDITIONAL HISTORY
I will be writing this part out over the next week due to finals in school.
COLOR SCHEME
Main parts of the armor is Shadow Grey with company identifiers located on the shoulder pad edges. Any member in the first company - or that has been awarded terminator honors - has his family colors draped over his armor somewhere. This is done by fully draping the armor, donning a cape, or having some form of their Clan colors on them if they so choose. The eye lenses are blood red and the main part of the weaponry is boltgun metal.
BATTLE-CRY
Gothic - "For King and Country"
Caledonian - "Mo righ's mo dhuchaich"
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