Chiroptera Legion

The Chiroptera Legion are an Astartes Chapter of Unknown Founding and descent, but it is believed to early. speculated to be the 2nd founding. They are inhuman monsters, vicious and violent beyond what is expected even of Astartes, their armour covered in macabre images of death and terror they have even been compared to the traitor Night Lords and the similarities between them have led many to claim that it is more than just coincidence, for unlike other Chapters that bring hope to worlds, the Chiroptera Legion do not come to liberate, they do not come to save, they come to bring judgement, they come to punish.

History
The Chiroptera Legion are an ancient and mysterius Chapter, first mentioned in the works of the heretic Ciaphas Skoll, he described them as monsters, creatures that fed upon the fear of those that turned from the Emperor, in this description he was correct for the Chiroptera Legion are a Chapter unlike any other. They exist at the fringes of the Imperium for they are creatures of the outer dark, reivers that come to exact punishment before returning to darkness.

Noctis Aeterna
During this dark period the hopes of trillions was reignited with the return of one of the Emperors loyal sons - the Primarch of the Ultramarines - Roboute Guilliman. With his return, he brought with him the fruits of 10,000 years of research and labour - the Primaris Space Marines. Representatives from the Primarch were dispatched to every Astartes Chapter to gift these wondrous creations but unlike many other Chapters that received full grown and battle hardened Primaris the Chiroptera Legion instead received the technology and knowledge to create their own Primaris Space Marines.

The wargear to arm these formidable warriors was also received, including 500 suits of Mk X Power Armour in their various patterns, hundreds of Cawl and Belisarius Pattern Weapons, four Redemptor Dreadnoughts Chassis, 2 Overlord Gunships and two Repulser Grav Tanks, all of which have been assigned to the 2nd Host. Thanks to this great fortune, the Chiroptera Legion now prosecute their wars with even greater vigour. The numbers of Primaris Astartes currently serving are unknown but during the battles of the Indomitus Crusade they were able to field an entire company. Although the Primaris were intended to be free of the Curses of the Primarch's, this has proven not to be the case for the Primaris are just as susceptible to the flaws as their older brethren, for the Chiroptera this has turned them into the same fear-craving psychopaths as those of the old type.

Notable Campaigns
Punishment of Tsagul (111.M42) - The first target to suffer the wrath of the Chiroptera Legion since Zharost's elevation to Chapter Master, the world of Tsagul was once a staunchly loyal world but the opening of the eye changed that. The world's leaders proclaimed themselves no longer beholden to Terra and willingly led their world into rebellion, this state of affair would last for 100 years until the coming of the Chiroptera Legion and the horrific events that followed. The waning days of the 111 year of the 42nd millenium were much like any other in past 100 years, the chaotic scenes after the great eye opening meant that after the world seceded, no retribution came from those who claimed to rule over the galaxy, to the rulers of Tsagul this was a sign, either the Imperium could not reclaim what was theirs or it did not care, either way Tsagul was free but the rulers were not foolish enough to believe that it would be that simple. Attracted to this scene was the fallen Astartes of the Night Lords, for many years they worked in secret, providing the world's rulers the knowledge to create an army, rudimentary gene-modification was performed on the soldiers so that they were stronger, faster and smarter than baseline human's, powerful enough to repel anything that came, but the traitors had other plans, along with the gene-modifications the Night Lords also worked to turn them into willing supplicants, billions under their command.

The Chiroptera Legion knew all of this for they had been watching, the coming of Zharost was the catalyst to put their own plan in motion, they left the void and travelled to Tsagul and began their reign of terror, the whispers came first, they accused the populence of treachery, accusing them of spitting on their oaths to emperor, soon the whispers grew in intensity and soon they were addressed to individuals telling them what was coming for them and on the 3rd day the killings began, whole squads of soldiers massacred, their flayed corpses hung from street lights, high born rulers found mutilated and terrifying screams that echoed throughout the night. By the seventh day the world was in utter panic, terror stalked the streets but worse was to come, the sky lit up and with a scream of hate the Chiroptera Legion came. They smashed through the hastily erected barricades, slaughtering thousands, the Chiroptera took an horrific toll but worse was yet to come. The Night Lords responded in kind, attacking the Chiroptera in full force, blood both loyal and heretic flowed in rivers as the 2 sides fought in the most brutal fighting imaginable while what was left of the terrified civilians cowered in their homes, trapped between them and mercilessly slaughtered by both sides, neither side barely sparing them a glance. Zharost was a thunderbolt, wherever he fought the heretic Astartes it was a though a tank shell had exploded amongst them, his every blow sending mutated corpses tumbling through the air, the Traitors for their part hurled themselves at the towering warrior in their midst yet they were laughably outmatched in every regard, heads were ripped from their shoulders, bones pulverized, gene-forged superhumans torn apart as if they were nothing, none could stand before him. For a night and a day the sides fought until finally the Heretics were banished. As for the people of Tsagul, not a soul would be spared for once they had completed the destruction of the Night Lords the Chiroptera turned their attention back to those who had defied the Emperor, for days the Astartes stalked the streets, their armour still wearing the flayed skins of those they had found before as they hunted down and exterminated all that they found, Zharost wearing a cloak of flayed skin and with his previous victims laying at his feet personally judged those deemed the most treacherous, their pleas for mercy falling on deaf ears for the Chiroptera Legion had come not forgive but to punish.

Chapter Organization
Although they do not follow the Codex in it's entirety the Chiroptera have adopted some of it's tenants, they are organised into 10 company's, all save the 1st company are organised exactly the same and are expected to be able to fight for extended periods away from the main fleet and so include all units that will be needed on a given campaign such as scout squads and devastators along with their own armour and fleet assets. The second exception to this rule is the 8th company, all Primaris have been assigned to this company and so it is larger than normal and garrisons their own battle barge 'Night Terror', this company has been designated for anti daemon operations

Specialist Formations and Ranks
Lord Phantom - Chapter Master

Phantom Captain - Captain

Terror Squads - Elite assault squads, vicious and violent beyond even their own brothers, their plate hanging with the flayed skins skins of their victims, these marines have a sole purpose, inflicting terror on the enemy.

Chapter Combat Doctrine
The Chiroptera Legion seem to have adopted the modus operandi pioneered by the ancient Night Lords, and thrive in sowing fear and confusion among their enemy. It is common practice for the Chiroptera to ensure that the communications of a target planet are shut down, broadcasting hideous messages and screams across the airwaves as they begin slaughtering the occupants at their leisure. Repeated instances have shown that the Chiroptera Legion will not give quarter, and are entirely bereft of mercy. Any poor soul offering to surrender will have his pleas answered by mutilation and painful death.

The Chiroptera Legion are masters of stealth, able to infiltrate a position quickly and silently. These arts appear to be innate to the Chiroptera, and are used most often during the tactics the Chiroptera Legion use to drive their prey into paroxysms of terror. Once they have prepared themselves and found places to launch an assault that meets their standards, the Chiroptera Legion are capable of sudden, shockingly brutal ambushes or unconventional attacks intended to thin the enemy's ranks or simply sow chaos amongst the foe.

One such tactic designed to enhance fear that has been observed to be used by the Chiroptera Legion is when they unleash a fifteen-second-long Vox-augmented scream that ruptures any unprotected eardrums in the vicinity. Once their victims are hunched over in agony, stunned and deaf, the Chiroptera Legion unleash their wrath. The Chiroptera adorn their armour with the imagery of death; this is because they know that fear can be used as a weapon just as effectively as a Chainsword or Bolter.

Chapter Beliefs
The Chiroptera Legion have perfected the craft of sowing terror, discord, and confusion among its victims.The Chiroptera Legion are sadistic killers who delight in terrorising their foes before slaughtering them without mercy or restraint. They are cruel, ruthless, and opportunistic, frequently striking at vulnerable targets and toying with their unfortunate victims. When the Chiroptera kill, they kill violently and slowly, savouring the pain and horror on their victim's faces as the last moments of life leave them. Such acts are not undertaken in honour of the Emperor or thier Primarch; rather, a Chiroptera kills simply because he can. Certainly there may be other motives behind his actions, but more often than not that motive is only to wet his gauntlets in the blood of his victims. Each member of the Chapter is highly trained and proficient in the use of terror tactics, psychological warfare, and lightning raids and ambushes intended to leave their opponents completely demoralised and easy targets for the Astartes of this Chapter.

Gene-Seed
It is unknown which Primarch the Chiroptera Legion descend from, some evidence such as the pale skin and preference for assault and reconnaissance would seem to point towards the Raven Guard but they are so different in other aspects that it imperial sholors do not believe that they are descendants rather they believe that the Chiroptera Legion may have a far more sinister origin, that of the Night Lords. Such a connection would undoughtably cause the Chiroptera to be declared traitors and destroyed but enough evidence has yet to be found and in this Dark Imperium it likely never will be.