The Commanders - Brother Capitan Gideon - Blood Angels

Brother Capitan Gideon - Blood Angels 

Born on Baal secundus to the red sands clan . He is one of the most stoic, deadly and compassionate members of his clan there has ever been. He proved these points during his initiation trials, to become one with the ADEPTUS ASTARTES he was welcomed into the brotherhood of the Blood Angels. He was placed under the command of the legendary Cpt Tycho, and fought at the orkopalypse where the green hoard were obliterated.

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As Captain Epathus stepped from the disembarkation ramp of his Thunderhawk transporter the lavish nature of the embarkation deck of the Blood Angel's strike cruiser struck him as a stark contrast to the more utilitarian ones of his Chapter.
Murals hung on every wall, gilt edges were common place and marble statues of long dead heroes welcomed him on board.
Standing in front of a Sanguinary Guard squad, as motionless as the statues and resplendent in their burnished gold armour was Sergeant Gideon.
Noble of bearing and handsome of face he cut a formidable figure. Every edge of his armour and weapons had seen the hand of master craftsmen in its long history. Gideon and Epathus had became close after the slaughter of a giant Ork hoard alongside Battle Brothers of the Salamanders and Dark Angels Chapters.
Gideon stepped forward and saluted the Ultramarine Captain "Captain Epathus, I am pleased to welcome you aboard. We have much to discuss".

The Commanders - Tech Priest Dominus Archimedes Galvani - Mechanicus

Tech Priest Dominus Archimedes Galvani - Mechanicus

Tech Priest Dominus Archimedes Galvani entered the bridge. With but a thought he instantly accessed the data of the planet below and surrounding space. The master of the augary almost looked embarrassed if such a thing was possible. He reported in binaric cant {Atmospherics still prevent a focussed augary on exact position of other forces Dominus Galvani}. The Tech Priest regarded the map of the city for a moment {the data must not be lost} "an old fashioned approach perhaps" he whispered before opening up a link with Infiltrator Princeps Rho-Omega 1. {What is the will of the Omnissiah Dominus?}. {Take the Skitarii down to these coordinates and scout the area, the data must be recovered at all costs, eliminate any who would stand in our way}.

CITY MAP

+++++ MAP UPDATE +++++

AFTER WEEKS OF RECON THE CITY MAP HAS BEEN UPDATED.

(SOME AMAZING WORK)

The Commanders - Capitan Brutus Epathus - Master of Rites Ultramarine 6th Company

CAPITAN BRUTUS EPATHUS - MASTER OF RITES - ULTRAMARINE 6TH COMPANY

"Spear of Calth, this is Severian, actual. Over", came the voice over the ship to ship vox.

"Severian, this is Spear of Calth, actual", replied Captain Epathus from his command position On board the Ultramarine's Strike Cruiser. "Sensorium arrays indicate we will be at your position in 6 standard hours, Captain. Courage and Honour!"

"Courage and Honour" came the reply.



Stepping off from the disembarkation ramp of his Thunderhawk transporter onto the gridded floor of embarkation bay 4 in step with his trusted second, Sergeant Decius, a veteran of several centuries of battle, came Captain Brutus Epathus, Master of the Rites of the Ultramarine Chapter of the Adeptus Astartes cut in imposing sight.

His artifier wrought power armour hung with medals of honour, slung over his shoulder was his weapon of choice an ancient Thunder Hammer that had seen battle during the great crusade and his laterally crested helmet was clutched under the crook of his other arm.
Waiting to greet him standing infront of an honour guard made up of 1st company veterans was Lord Executioner Numitor and the Master of Relics, Sinon.
All three Captains banged their fists into their chest plates three times in the old Terran custom that only the Ultramarines still used as a greeting.
"Brothers, we have much to discuss."

The three Ultramarines Captains stood around the command hub on board the Serverian, one of the Chapter's Battle Barges. Around them were many servitors, command staff and trusted veterans.
After a tense few moments frowning at a data slate Captain Sinon of the 9th Company spoke "Our Astropaths indicate that Dark Angels and Space Wolves have already landed on the planet and that Blood Angels are a few days from the system. Lord Admiral Tiberius predicts that we are around 18 standard days from the target. Which means well have to fight a war and tidy up the mistakes they make before we arrive".
"Then we had better make sure we get this one right first time Brothers" added Captain Numitor.
A wry smile crossed Epathus' lips "Do not worry Brothers a plan is forming. Remember what Sicarius and Ixiom did at Hybraxus 4?"

"Epathus, when we arrive in the Lastrati system let me speak to the other Chapters. The Dark Angels do not like you and Numitor has all the tact of a Carnifex" suggested Captain Sinon, Master of the Relics as the pair strode through the corridors of the Severian.
"That was just a misunderstanding" countered the other.
"You put their Chapter Master and two of their Captains in to the Apothicarion. One of them, Gideon is on the planet we are heading to".
"Is it my fault Dark Angels do not know how to duck? When a Thunder Hammer swings at your head you duck!" grinned Epathus.
"Has Chief Librarian Tigurius finished with the Inquisitors after the incidents with the Traitor Legions?" asked Sinon changing the subject.
"Not as far as I know.

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Chaplain Varro Scrippa strode into the arming deck armed with his crozius arcanum raised "Brothers, it is time to make glorious war in the name of the Emperor of Mankind. May death be brought to his enemies. May they know our name and fear us. For we are their doom".
He paused a few moments to let the mood build before bellowing in his clear, deep voice "The Company Captains have chosen me to lead the vanguard. I will not fail you. We are to land at co-ordinates hera-espandor-alpha-44 and secure the location by any means necessary. The most vile of foes stalk this world. We will make them see the error of their ways with the holy boltgun and chainsword. For the Primarch and the Emperor. For Maccragge!"

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The two Ultramarine vessels approached the planet Lastrati at unusual attack vectors. The larger of the two, the Battle Barge Severian took a standard low orbit pattern but the smaller vessel, the Strike Cruiser Spear of Calth hit the planets atmosphere side on with its prow upturned at a dangerous oblique to both the planet and the other vessel.
Once in low orbit the drop pods and attack craft where launched from the Spear of Calth at the capital city almost side on to the planet rather than the usual angle.
With split second timing the destroyer laser batteries on board the Severian raked deep gouges in the city missing the surface bound forces by inches.
The deep attack angle allowed the Ultramarines to slam into the planet mere moments after the devastating ordinance crippled enemy resistance.

"Serverain, this is Scrippa. Hera-Espandor-Alpha 53 has been brought to compliance. Hera-Espandor-Alpha 44 has been pacified. Sergeant Decius reports no resistance" spoke the Ultramarines Chaplain into the vox system. "Sergeant Octavian will have Hera-Espandor- Alpha 55 taken within the hour. Have Pentanus on alert code 2 for Hera-Espandor-Alpha 67. Over".
"Scrippa, this is Severian, actual. Recieved. Relief forces will be readied for insertion" came the crackled response.

The Commanders - Commander Demaratus - Dark Angels

Commander Demaratus - Dark Angels

The Commanders - Lord Chunder the Unlogable - Death Guard

Lord Chunder the Unlogable - Death Guard 

The Purging of Lastrati

The First Purging of Lastrati

Ecclesiarch at the beginning of 36th Millennium, and also Master of the Administratum, he engineered the ascension of the degenerate Ecclesiarch Paulis III. Shortly after, Vandire topples Paulis and assumes the mantle of both High Lord of the Administratum and Ecclesiarch. Vandire's Reign of Blood begins. Almost 14 billion are slaughtered by the Divine Army during the Purge of Lastrati. TheDaughters of the Emperor from San Leor are coopted into becoming Vandire's personal bodyguard, and are renamed the Brides of the Emperor. The Reign of Blood culminates in the Siege of the Ecclesiarchal Palace, at the height of which High Lord Vandire is executed by Alicia Dominica, the leader of the Brides of the Emperor.


The Second Purging of Lastrati 

Occurred in 543.M36, as a part of the Athalor Crusade, under the command of Marshal Gervhart of the Black Templars Space Marine Chapter. During Lastrati's tumultuous past a sect known as the Divine Army had gained control of the unremarkable Hive World of Lastrati, located in the Ultima Segmentum. The Divine Army preached a doctrine of intolerance of those with even the slightest deviation from what their leaders viewed as the physical attributes of the perfect human being. They created genetically-tailored viruses that targetted particular traits, eradicating whole swathes of the population. When Imperial contact was re-established with this remote planet, only 2.5 million inhabitants were left of a world that had once boasted a population of 14 billion.

Lastrati had become a place of pilgrimage, and for centuries, the faithful had come to bear witness to such spectacles as the Hill of Heretics and the Plain of Purity. Marshal Gervhart and the Black Templars of the Athalor Crusade had come to Lastrati to take heart from the planet's potent displays of faith from the past, but were horrified by what they found. The Quintarchs of Lastrati had turned to barbaric blood rituals and human sacrifices in search of genetic perfection. At first the Space Marines were welcomed as examples of genetic supremacy, but the more the Black Templars saw, the more they realised that the rituals of the people of Lastrati had too much in common with the heretical cult worship of the Ruinous Powers. Marshal Gervhart ordered the planet cleansed of its degenerate inhabitants before continuing the Crusade. After four standard years of fighting, the warriors of Marshal Gervhart forced the remaining forces of Lastrati back into the Plain of Purity where they made their last stand before the Black Templars at the Hill of Heretics. The army was destroyed, the Black Templars showing no mercy and accepting no surrender. Those deemed free from taint were allowed to live - an act of mercy that was to have repercussion for Marshal Gervhart in later years.

Marshal Gervhart - Gervhart was the leader who initiated the Second Purging of Lastrati in 543.M36, as a part of the Athalor Crusade. He was also a fearsome warrior and master tactician, and was a keen student of history, second only to the Chapter's archivists in his knowledge and understanding of the ancient days of the Imperium. He had studied the ways of war of every Marshal since the time ofSigismund and was well versed in the most arcane weapons and wargear. Gervhart was one of a rare few individuals who had the honour of treading the holy soil of Holy Terra, leading a pilgrimage of warriors through the teeming multitudes to the very gates of the Emperor's Imperial Palace where he conducted them in a month-long vigil to seek the Master of Mankind's blessing before setting out on the Athalor Crusade. Upon the carven outer wall of the Palace were many ancient bas-reliefs of the long-forgotten battles and ancient conflicts, which Marshal Gervhart studied intently, finding many images of what appeared to be warriors of the Black Templars in battle. One of the mightiest figures carried a crackling staff of office and Gervhart vowed to craft a new weapon in its fashion. Leaving Terra with his obeisance made, Gervhart did indeed forge such a weapon, a mighty Power Maul, and adapted his fighting style so that he could wield it together with his Combat Shield. The Hive World of Lastrati, located in the Ultima Segmentum, had become a place of pilgrimage, and for centuries, the faithful had come to bear witness to such spectacles as the Hill of Heretics and the Plain of Purity. Marshal Gervhart and the Black Templars of the Athalor Crusade had come to Lastrati to take heart from the planet's potent displays of faith from the past, but were horrified by what they found. The Quintarchs of Lastrati had turned to barbaric blood rituals and human sacrifices in search of genetic perfection. At first the Space Marines were welcomed as examples of genetic supremacy, but the more the Black Templars saw, the more they realised that the rituals of the people of Lastrati had too much in common with the heretical cult worship of the Ruinous Powers. Marshal Gervhart ordered the planet cleansed of its degenerate inhabitants before continuing the Crusade. After four standard years of fighting, the warriors of Marshal Gervhart forced the remaining forces of Lastrati back into the Plain of Purity where they made their last stand before the Black Templars at the Hill of Heretics. The army was destroyed, the Black Templars showing no mercy and accepting no surrender. Those deemed free from taint were allowed to live -- an act of mercy that was to have a terrible repercussion for Marshal Gervhart in later years. The infamous Gervhart Repeal of the 36th Millennium was the only time a High Marshal has repealed the promotion of a Marshal to that rank. Though his name is now synonymous with the Repeal of M36, Gervhart's power maul remains one of the Black Templars most revered relics.

Second Purging of Lastrati (543.M36) — During the so-called Second Purging of Lastrati, the Storm Giants' 1st Company is sent to support Marshal Gervhart and his Black Templars as they purge the planet of Lastrati upon discovering the purity cult, called the Divine Army, had turned to blood rituals in worship of the Blood God Khorne. As this event occurred before the Storm Giants' Founding, the Imperial records are either in error as to which Chapter participated in the event or the Storm Giants are an older Chapter than the records of the Administratumsuggest.

Hive Worlds

"New to the hive my noble sir? No, don’t take me amiss! I’m here to help you, see? Outworlder are we? I can tell of course, not just the accent you understand, or the dress. Not used to the crowds are we sir? Getting buffeted and pushed along like that? Confused? Lost? Why if I hadn’t found you you’d be dipped and clipped in the blink of a scarab’s eye! You’ll feel better out of the press, come along, this isn’t a safe level you know?! What a fine specimen you are sir, if you don’t mind me saying… ‘long of limb and clean of skin’ as we say in the inhumation business… this way sir, down here, just one more stairwell… I know some friends of mine that will take to you right off, well, parts of you anyway..."— Vargo "Redjack" Heit, Hive Sibellus Viscerator

A Hive World is the most populous type of Imperial planet, of which there are approximately 32,380 currently catalogued by the Administratum in the Imperium of Man. The populations of these planets are so great that the people live in huge urban arcologies called hive cities, truly immense, self-contained, many-layered structures that reach high into the sky, each housing billions of individuals. Hive Worlds often provide much-needed industrial labour, their manufactoria producing mountains of war materiel and other goods to meet the Imperial tithe's demands. Most Hive Worlds started out as relatively hospitable places to live but have become severely polluted, the areas outside the hives reduced to ash wastes or radioactive desert by the never-ceasing industry of the great cities. Equally dangerous can be the hives themselves. The crime-ridden, poverty-stricken areas, almost always found in the most polluted and decrepit lower levels of the under-hive, are home to violent gangs, criminals and assorted scum as well as mutants and heretical cults who hide there from the authorities. It has been said that the sacrifice of over a million Imperial soldiers is worth "one day's Hive World production" in weapons and armour.

Perhaps even more valuable is what at first glance seems to be a byproduct of the monolithic hive city's design. The population of any given world approximately doubles every 100 years. With each hive housing between 10 to 100 billion people and 5 to 20 hives per planet, the sheer number of Imperial citizens on a Hive World is staggering. And each of those citizens is a potential soldier for the Emperor's already uncountably vast armies. Hives manufacture far more than mere steel and silica; they are vast factories for the most useful possible resource, people. Almost every recruit into the Imperial Guard from a Hive World will already know how to handle a weapon. Hive Worlds also serve to populate newly discovered planets. Imperial citizens are gathered from various Hive Worlds (willingly or unwillingly) by the Administratum and shipped off to distant colonies first discovered by the Adeptus Mechanicus' Explorator fleets.

In common with most other Imperial worlds, Hive Worlds are often based on a very obvious class system, with a ruling noble class and a bureaucratic middle class, although with populations so tightly packed there always develops a lower working class that often fuels violent street gangs. As can be expected, the upper classes are situated in the affluent upper areas of the hive cities, whilst the middle classes are situated in the middle areas,and the working classes are packed together in the lower areas. The very bottom sections of a hive city, the Underhive, are often areas where the underclasses and criminals are sent to be forgotten about and anarchy rules.

Some extensively developed Hive Worlds do not even consist of various enclosed arcologies surrounded by wasteland, jungle, ice, or plains. These Hive Worlds are completely urbanised and stacked with hundreds of layers of arcologies, covering the entirety of the planet, effectively becoming an ecumenopolis. Terra is an example of this type of "Super Hive World".
Riot, Revolt and Calamity

That any civilisation is “three missed meals away from anarchy” is an adage that has held true since long before the Imperium and applies doubly in the case of a Hive World. In any given Hive, millions must live together in jostling proximity, utterly dependant on a complex and gargantuan infrastructure for the mere basics of daily life such as food, power, light and even clean air. If widespread rioting, unrest or serious disorder is allowed to ferment, it is possible that the threads binding the hive together may be broken and millions may suffer as a result. It is said by some that this is one reason why the phenomena of the “underhive” is allowed to exist in some form or another on most Hive Worlds, as a vital sinkhole for the city’s malice, sin and discord.

Despite unceasing vigilance and totalitarian control, catastrophic unrest does sometimes occur in even the most tightly ordered of hives, and the history of the Calixis Sector is littered with such calamities: Fenksworld’sinfamous Tyburn food-tax riots saw Volg’s population almost double inside a year (before natural attrition reduced it again in the following few months), while the two-decade long period of petty revolts and near civil anarchy caused by the misrule of House Koba on Malfi left near a billion dead and saw the final ruination of what had been one of the most powerful noble families in the sector. In more recent times even the mighty and prosperous Hive Sibellus has not proved to be immune. When heavy-handed Magistratum tactics stirred up a hornet’s nest of trouble during what came to be known as the “Reinholt Blackouts”, open warfare broke out between the Magistratum and criminal gangs, spilling over from the slums and no-go zones into the hive’s infrastructure. Power was cut to several dozen middle-hive districts for days—fear and anarchy took hold and tens of thousands died, with whole regions gutted by raging fires. Many sections of the hive, damaged by the blackouts, remain as burnt-out ruins, collapsing into the underhive; they are now the haunt of dregs and worse. Also as a consequence of the rioting and thanks to their loss of face and perceived failure, the Sibellus Magistratum has become even more brutal in the execution of their duties.

The Battle of Lastrati

The Battle of Lastrati - Hive World

Situated in the south of the Segmentum Ultima System 

The City is Dominated by the Ancient Palace of Peace, with the Starport to the North.