Dumizid Felinid Hellcats

History
Dumizid Felinid Hellcat Auxillia Detachments are often attached to various Regiments in the Ishtar Subsector. These Felinid Detachments have a long history of working well with Lunar Venatorii units as forward scouts and as Bodyguard detachments for senior staff of the Astra Militarum for the Subsector.

Initial contact with the Felinids of Dumizid was first made by Rogue traders in mid M34, during an expedition to explore remote systems in Segmentum Ultima. The fleet lead by 'Admiral' Alexis Poparov was searching for undiscovered habitable worlds, lost technology valuable to the Cult Mechanicus and new potential trading partners. Seeing the former and possibly the latter Alexis Poparov acting on advice of her fleet council decided to send an envoy, a man named Ivan Sevarstein to meet with one of the tribes on the planet surface.

On the surface the descending landing craft quickly attracted scouts and other onlookers from nearby tribes, all of which plainly able to see the object come down from the sky from other strange objects (in their perspective) partially eclipsing the sun. When the Arvus Lighter landed and a crew of voidsmen armed with Galaxy pattern lasguns disembarked along with Ivan Sevarstein a sizeable gathering by Dumizid Felenid standards had gathered a distance away watching warily. Eventually a meeting with one of the tribal leaders was managed and some meagre supplies were traded along with the summary of both the culture of Dumizid and the glory of the Imperium of man. When Ivan departed back into orbit with a collection of woven cloth embroidered with tribal motifs, some trinkets of spiritual value and a supply of animal hides the Felinid tribes had come into possession of a single shipment crate of Munitorum standard nutrient paste. Both sides of the trade were ultimately left feeling less than satisfied by the transaction. Later contact was made in a similar fashion on the world of Carlos McConell and 'Admiral' Alexis Poparov noted publicly to her crew that she had trouble seeing the value in the culture of the Abhuman tribes of both Dumizid and Carlos on their own. Later these statements became known to adepts of the Adeptus Terra with connections to a Magos Biologis maniple who then contacted 'Admiral' Alexis Poparov and stated a need for the abhumans to be tested for genetic stability.

Compensated adequately for their trouble the Rogue trader fleet remained in orbit above the planet of Dumizid while the abhuman population was tested by the stringent examination of Genetor bio-scrutiny, entire tribes were isolated and some Felinids were even killed and meticulously dissected to check for consistency. Following a campaign of scientific control eventually the Genetors of the Magos Biologis were satisfied with their findings and reported to the Adeptus Administratum that the Felinids of Dumizid were not only stable subspecies, but were also a deliberate alteration of the human form. Theorising that the Abhumans may in fact be a holdover from a project from the dark age of technology the Mechanicus unreservedly sanctioned the Felinids of both Dumizid and after a similarly through series of tests the Felinids of Carlos McConell as well. Accompanying adepts of the Adeptus Terra declared the planets under Imperial control and requested the installation of new planetary governors and a set of temporary Munitorum tithes to be put in place until the planet could be properly classified.

The following years was a time of uncertainty of the future of the Felinids while the representatives of several Imperial institutions discussed the fate of the Abhumans and their homeworlds, on board one of the many ships of the Rogue trader fleet that was still maintaining orbit. Magos 'IN364' leader of the Magos Biologis maniple proposed owing to the Abhuman heritage that the worlds be left alone until holdover knowledge from the golden age of technology could be fully recovered. News of a newly discovered world with an abhuman population had attracted the attention of the Ordo Xenos, though not in their purview their representative advocated for extermination, claiming that the world itself was too valuable to simply be left in the paws of abhumans regardless of genetic stability. Likewise Munitorum representatives having examined the soil composition of the planet stated the world was ideal for the classification of 'Agri-World' stating the need to feed the developing hive cities in the Ishtar subsector. The vote reached a stalemate when Ivan Sevarstein acting on behalf of Alexis Poparov stated that the Rogue trader fleet wished to sponsor the continued survival of the Abhuman homeworld egotistically confounding a clean resolution of the forum but also stating the need that the Felenids be first given a chance to prove their worth to the Imperium. Begrudgingly both the Inquisition and the Departmento Munitorum representative acquiesced to the point on the condition that the regiment that the Felenids tithed accomplished an acceptable service record, otherwise Ivan's bombastic claim would be overruled.

Shortly thereafter a Munitorum tithe conducted and regulated by the Adeptus Terra rounded up and sorted several tribes of Savannah Felenids into a light infantry regiment and given rudimentary training in the use of lasguns and Munitorum standard equipment. A 'Colonel' was chosen from one of the tribal leaders that stepped forward claiming to represent his tribe and other such leaders as his lieutenants regardless of their protestations, their new titles were given by munitorum officials regardless of how the Felenids might have felt about the decision. The Inquisition deciding to humiliate Alexis Poparov had deliberately made the regiment little more than a rabble of conscripted abhumans and had intended to send the unfortunates to one of the worst warzones in the subsector, where he expected they would all be killed mindlessly charging Ork Battlefortresses on the dead moon of 'Clementus IX' a leftover threat from the war of the beast. Little did he know that Alexis Poparov had her own plan, she had a reason for disrupting the forum in the favour of the Abhumans, using Ivan Sevarstein she covertly began organising the Abhuman regiment en'route to the warzone giving them proper equipment and training out of her personal expenses whilst informing their leader the reality of the price of failure should they all die.

Leader of the Felenids, a cat named 'Archer' was by the time the regiment landed on Clementus IX a respected leader of the '1st Dumizid light infantry regiment' famed for being a great hunter on their homeworld before the Munitorum came. With their given ranks disregarded 'Archer' was considered the true leader and he knew full well that the fate of the Felenid worlds depended upon him for their very survival. Even if the Orks of 'Clementus IX' themselves had nothing to do with 'Dumizid' or 'Carlos McConell' he new he had to vanquish the threat of the brutish aliens. From what Alexis had told him he knew a direct assault on the Orks would be suicidal, seeing the massive lumbering constructs of pigsteel and Squig paint he likened it to hunting the elephants on Dumizid. Among some other pieces of special equipment Archer's regiment had been given a collection of Chimeras and sentinel walkers to better increase their mobility, they also had some Zebras from their homeworld that some members of the tribe had managed to bring with them in the tithe to use as mounts. Opting to fight a Guerrilla war Archer then spent several months doing hit and run assaults, carefully placed ambushes and infiltration missions against the vastly slower Ork juggernaut. Archer knew the although physically stronger Orks were often crude and intellectually unremarkable on average, he was told better than to let them draw him into a protracted fight, he spent many of those months testing the range of the often unrelenting barrage of Ork kill kannons. Eventually he provoked the attention of the Ork Warboss 'Drezzgutz Mawkrusher' to come after Archer's convoy after a successful raid on his own battlefortress 'Marmalizer' leading him into an ambush away from the rest of the Battlefortresses. The abhumans hit the ramshackle construction with everything they had, yet it seemed the Ork vehicle not only kept working but kept shooting back as well, even worse the other battlefortresses were fast approaching. In desperation Archer took his bodyguard and boarded the battlefortress looking for some kind of command deck, they dispatched grots with both las and claw while fleeing from any full sized Orks they encountered until they found a incomprehensible chaos which they presumed to be the engine room. Deciding there was nothing else they could do they planted demolition charges and fled the battlefortress before it detonated, they were just fleeing before the Orks could retaliate when they saw the Greenskin armada begin shooting at each other in infighting. Not entirely sure what to make of it, they received a message on their bandwidth to all their vox casters from Alexis Poparov congratulating them on successfully besting the Ork Warboss.

With the Orks of Clementus IX defeated Archer and what was left of his regiment were brought back to Dumizid secretly by Alexis Poparov, where she finally revealed the reason for investing so much into saving their race. whilst the 1st Dumizid light infantry was fighting the Orks, Alexis Poparov had been busy politicking to install Ivan Sevarstein as planetary governor of Dumizid. With news of Archer's success the Ordo Xenos were forced to concede the continued survival of the Felinids on both Dumizid and Carlos McConell and the tithe of the planet now went through her agents installed in the planetary governorship of the world. Now owing the wily rogue trader a life debt for their entire race Archer and his regiment was left dumbfounded by the ambition of the 'Admiral' they were celebrated as heroes by the rest of Dumizid for their victory. Meanwhile Archer himself knew that he and his people were now firmly under the thumb of not only the machinations of Alexis Poparov but also the coldness of the Imperium.

Regimental Home-world
The majority of Dumizid is grasslands until the Badlands and the mountains areas in the north of the continents. The Grasslands is home to one of the continents highest concentrations of large mammal species that were introduced long ago, including lions, hyenas, zebras, giraffes, and elephants. Each year, more than 1 million wild beasts travel in a circular migration, following seasonal rains, across the Plains. Their grazing and trampling of grass allows new grasses to grow, while their waste helps fertilise the soil. Badlands and Mountains in the north has small valleys of either jungle or forest Dumizid's continents are separated by low oceans or giant lakes. The tribal Nomadic Felinid of the planet travel from water source to water source hunting for their food.

Felinids (Homo sapiens hirsutus) - Felinids are endemic to the Imperial worlds of Carlos McConell and Dumizid. Whether this is due to the particular biological requirements of that planet, prior genetic modifications made to a human population during the Dark Age of Technology or prior Imperial regulation is unknown, but they are virtually unheard of in the Imperium at large. Felinids are humans who have had their genomes spliced with genetic sequences derived from various species of Terran felines, and they possess many Felinid traits, including a light covering of fur over their entire body, extended canine teeth and superhuman agility and grace.

Felinids of Dumizid resemble a cross between a large predatory cat and a human, with a sleekly muscled humanoid body and the head and mane of a feline. Most male Felinids wear their thick hair in braids, while females keep theirs short and sleek. The most common Felinids have feline characteristics reminiscent of lions, including thick manes for the males. Other groups have the characteristic markings and appearance of snow leopards, lynx, tigers, or cheetahs. They have the habit of leaping impulsively out of hiding and into combat when a foe is in the vicinity. Many Felinids favour the use of charms and totems that they braid into their hair for luck in battle, success on the hunt, and good fortune in other such endeavours.

While clearly humanoid, they possess many feline features, including a coat of soft fine fur, slit pupils, and a sleek, slender tail. Their ears are pointed, but are more rounded and catlike. They manipulate objects as easily as any other humanoid, but their fingers terminate in small, sharp, retractable claws. These claws are typically not powerful enough to be used as weapons, but some members of the species—either by quirk of birth or from years of honing—can use them with deadly effect. Feline whiskers are not uncommon, but not universal, and hair and eye colour vary greatly.

While self-expression is an important aspect of Dumizid culture, it is mitigated by a strong sense of community and group effort. In the wild, Felinid of Dumizid are a hunter-gatherer tribal people. The pursuit of personal power never comes before the health and well-being of the tribe.

Felinid prefer to be led by their most competent members, usually a council of priests chosen by their peers, either though consensus or election. The priests then choose a Head Priest to lead in times of danger and to mediate disputes among the prides. The Head Priest is the most capable member of the tribe. Felinid who settle in more urban and civilised areas still cling to a similar tribal structure, but often see friends outside the tribe, even those from other prides, as part of their extended tribe.

Dramatis Personae

 * Lt. Jethro Vega - A Felinid Liaison is one of the few males in the 225th Lunar Venatorii. It was his pride as a whole that volunteered to join the guard in exchange for extraction from their World at war. In this instance they had no where else to turn and in the shuffle his family and more got combined into the whole of the detachment to the 225th. Luckily due to the nature of the Frontiers and the constant exposure to the alien the fear was less than elsewhere.

Organization and Tactics
The Lion Pride's Solar Priests are leaders and devout worshipers of the Imperial Cult. Solar Priests of the Lion Prides are both medics and mystics, for they are called upon to counsel their fellow Felinid. The Solar Priests are the most revered of their kind, holding such authority that even the proudest of Felinid Lords step aside at their passing. They are the guardians of their charges' genetic, spiritual and physical heritage, their duty includes to personally take the field of battle and provide religious inspiration to those in their care. Each Lion Pride Solar Priest Detachment delivers around twenty priests to oversee the spiritual and medical needs of all the other squads from the other Prides.

Tiger Pride Ambush Assault Squads are a squad of specially trained Tiger Pride Felinid to provide heavy support on the ambush or to counter ambushes. With their heavy armament of grenades and their clawed gauntlets, the Tiger Squads are quite capable of bringing down almost any enemy and their natural combat skills make them good assault troops. They tend to be driven individuals, stubborn to a fault and unwilling to back down or admit defeat in even the most hopeless situations.

Cheetah Pride Pursuit Squads and Snow Leopard Pride Tracker Squads are expert trackers, almost tireless in their pursuit of the prey that has been identified by their commanders. They make exceptional forward scouts, and are able to move covertly into firing positions right under the nose of the enemy army. Only when the opening salvoes of battle have been loosed do they reveal themselves, announcing their presence with hails of precision shots that catch the enemy completely off-guard. The effectiveness of Cheetah or Leopard Felinid fire can often mislead the enemy into believing they face an entire platoon of Imperial Guardsmen. Cheetahs are quick on the pursuit while the Leopards provide patient tracking for long ranged targets, getting in close with short range fire and devastating close combat capabilities.

Lynx Pride Bodyguard Details make excellent bodyguards for they are loyal, determined, and extremely hard to kill. In this role they have but one duty -- to protect the Imperial Guard officer to whom they are assigned. Whether they achieve this by throwing themselves in the line of fire, or by slaughtering all enemies who come near to their charge, they are invaluable retainers in the swirl of combat. Among the officer cadres of Astra Militarum regimental commands of the Lunar Venatorii, it is considered a great honour to have an Lynx Pride bodyguard.

Standardized Equipment

 * Lion Pride Solar Priests wears priestly robes over flak armor carrying a Sun Stave in honor of their saviors the sun priests of Radiance. Using an Auto pistol and stave to encourage their fellow Felinid to greater heights of fervor in the name of the Imperium.


 * Tiger Pride Ambush Assault Squads wear Flak armor with a Grenade Discharger attached to their large frames, they go into battle with Twin Molecular Claw Gauntlets


 * Cheetah Pride Pursuit Squads wear specialized Flak weave Fatigues for pursuit of the prey for the Imperium carrying an Autopistol and Las-Spears


 * Lynx Pride Bodyguard Details wear the rare carapace and are armed with Molecular Bladed Bucklers to protect important Imperial officials


 * Snow Leopard Pride Tracker Squads wear Flak Armor while carrying a autopistol as well as a Snare Whip and Molecular Dagger

Non-Standard Equipment
The Dumizid Felinid Hellcat Auxillia Detachment posses a variety of non-standard equipment.

The Dumizid Felinid Hellcat Auxillia Detachment Troopers are known to carry extra arms and armament into the field as per their personalities. The specialist and standard equipment are provided to them. But many carry an array of Auto-weapons and blades as extra weaponry to help in a pinch. Most have an extra pistol or two, and almost everyone has a boot blade of some sort.

Acknowledgements

 * Donairian#1444 Thanks for building out the history for the Dumizid Felinid Hellcat Auxillia Detachments
 * OldKingCole77 Thanks for forming the basis for the Felinid organization and tons of the background planning for their initial set up