User:Spaceraider2070/Sandbox

Tetrarchan Void Marines
"They are parasites on our world. They tear out her natural bounty, drive our people into slavery in their industries, claim the work of our shipwrights as their own, and even expect us to grovel, to forsake the independence of our ancestors. It's true, I'm no fan of the corpse-worshippers. That being said, however, being paid to take my men and my ships and destroy any filthy Xenos I come across almost makes it worth it."

- Attributed to Prince-Leftenant Sinbhad Elesshemer.

The Tetrarchan Void Marines are a specialist and highly independent regiment of the Astra Militarum hailing from the world of Tetrarchus, in the Ultima Segmentum. They are recruited exclusively from the Elesshan ethnic caste, originating in Eless, the arid, equatorial continent which serves as home to the world capital, Hive Crucibulum.

Though recruits exclusively come from the affluent Elessha population, the regiment generally holds a disdain for displays of arrogance or ornamentation, leaving their armour as unpainted gunmetal, and even the highest ranking officers display their rank only through the most utilitarian markings. The regiment is also highly meritocratic, with combat aptitude and experience determining the appointment of officers, outside of the ranks of Prince-Commander and Prince-Leftenant, reserved for members of the royal family of the Elesshan Tetrarch, the Grand-Emer. This austere and practical attitude stems from the traditional culture of Eless.

Homeworld
The world of Tetrarchus is said to be as ecologically diverse as ancient Terra, with four continents each with a unique climate, and flora and fauna. Eless is the seat of the world's capital, Hive Crucibulum. Hive Crucibulum and the name 'Tetrarchus' originate from the time the world was integrated into the Imperium, c.M40. The four continents up to that point had been disparate entities, and it was only the arrival of the Imperium that united them into a Tetrarchy. Previously, the world had been feudal, and the human societies had only just begun to develop powered, in-atmosphere flight upon discovery.

Imperial development heavily focused on the mineral-rich desert continent of Eless, and thus many of the tribal Elesshan population developed a resentment towards the Imperium. It was only after the Imperial Navy halted the regular Drukhari raids on the world that full compliance was achieved.

Regimental History
It was at the same time compliance was achieved by the Imperium on Tetrarchus that the question of raising an Imperial Guard regiment on the planet became a priority. The Imperial Navy and Adeptus Mechanicus Explorator forces that had brought compliance to the world had new objectives, and thus a loyal military was needed, both to protect the world from further Xenos raids and to continue compliance.

The Imperium turned to the noble houses of Eless, led by their Tetrarch, Grand-Emer Mallahd I, to form such a regiment. This was firstly due to their illustrious military traditions, possessing a hatred of Xenos, as well as experience in fighting them. Secondly, Elesshans were fiercely proud and the least accepting of the world's four castes of Imperial rule; giving them a position of seniority in military matters quelled at least some descent, crucially, from the aristocracy.

Drukhari piracy around the local systems, and T'au trading and expansion efforts in the Eastern Fringe were rampant, and posed a real danger to the now substantial Imperial industrial and shipbuilding presence on Tetrarchus. Therefore, it was decided that, as the primary Planetary Defence Force and an independent Imperial Guard regiment, the unit would be a space-borne marine corps.

The Command and Leftenant positions were given to Mallahd I's two sons, and recruitment drawn from the existing Elesshan warrior bands. After extensive training, necessary due to the alien nature of most regulation equipment to the Elesshans, an initial force was deployed, and given free reign around the neighbouring systems.

Notable Campaigns

 * Gnara Engagement (950, M40) - The very first combat engagement of the Tetrarchan Void Marines. The strike cruiser Honoris Mallahd encountered a Drukhari warband in orbit of Gnara, a moon of their home system's fourth planet. Boarding actions were successfully completed and the Xenos presence in-system eliminated entirely.
 * Korreick Landings (700, M41) - Throughout the seventh century of M41, one of Tetrarchus' rulers, Kyreus II, of Korreick, the planet's coldest and most northerly continent, was covertly harbouring T'au emissaries and utilising Xeno technology. Following the discovery of this by his contemporaries, Grand-Emer Ellhad II ordered the intervention of the Void Marines. Strike forces were landed by Valkyrie into the major cities of Korreick; any Xenos were eliminated on site, and all traces of Xenos architecture or technology were destroyed. In exchange for allowing their continued survival by not informing the Ordo Xenos, the Tetrarch Kyreus II was forced to pay fealty to Eless and support the continued presence of the Void Marines in Korreick.
 * Actions in the Damocles Crusade (742-745, M41) - Upon rare Imperial orders to the Tetrarchan Void Marines, a detachment of several strike cruisers mustered alongside the Ultramar Auxilia at Calth. The strike force, led by Prince-Commander Jaharre, then took part in numerous engagements against the Xenos across the Eastern Fringe and Damocles Gulf.

Regimental Organisation
The Tetrarchan Void Marines do not follow typical Imperial organisational structure, due largely to their high degree of independence and basis in ancient Elesshan culture.

Ranks

 * Prince-Commander - The overall commander of the Void Marines, and of any Imperial Navy units at their disposal. Title held by the eldest son of the current Grand-Emer of Eless. Raised from birth to lead the regiment.
 * Prince-Leftenant - The second-in-command of the regiment. Usually held by the next-eldest son of the Grand-Emer, or, alternatively, if he has more than two sons, whichever of them prove the best candidate for military leadership. If the Grand-Emer has only one son, the next most senior officer will obtain the role, but with the title khassi-leftenant.
 * Khassi - An equivalent to a regimental captain. Usually responsible for a strike force of 1,000 or so marines, a Khassi oversees individual engagements or missions.