|
This article, Crux Catharian, was written by ToastGoats1. Please do not edit or 'acquire' this fiction without the writer's permission. |
|
This article, Crux Catharian, is currently under active construction. The author, ToastGoats1, apologizes for the inconvenience. |
- "We are satisfied with the work we are destined for. Call it gloriless, but our monuments breathe, they have ambitions, goals and higher purpose. They are far more than mere statues could ever be."
- —Jirishei, Battle Brother of the Crux Catharian 3rd Company.
The Crux Catharian is a semi Codex-compliant Successor Chapter created during the 24th Founding as a successor of the savage and morbid Iron Talons Chapter, whom themselves hail from the ancient and heroic lineage of Jaghatai Khan. Like their progenitors, the Crux Catharian share their general recklessness and tendency to extend their operations. However, they will readily fight alongside other Imperial forces, but remain aloof and unforthcoming with other Imperial commanders, preferring to maintain their own counsel and values in achieving their tactical objectives.
This uncharacteristic respect for their brothers in arms is especially noteworthy as the Crux Catharian chapter will often remain on worlds long after they are liberated to hunt down stragglers, Orkoid spores, and whatever is necessary to truly ensure that their fellow man can live in relative peace. However, as benevolent as they might act, their true, intended purpose remains - to cleanse worlds of the taint of Chaos long after the battle is seemingly won, a purpose that the chapter follows to an often alarming extent.
Chapter History
Following the aftermath of the 11th Black Crusade, the Crux Catharian chapter was established as part of an effort to reclaim a foothold in the Cardinal world of Relorria and its surrounding systems, which were left battered by constant Ork incursions and the ever-present taint of Chaos after the conflict. At the behest of the Adeptus Ministorum, the chapter was created from the gene-seed of the Iron Talons Chapter for their apparent resistance to the corrupting influence of Chaos during their ongoing service to the Astartes Praeses, a group of Loyalist chapters formed to guard the edges of the Eye of Terror.
This risky choice proved fruitful, as the Crux Catharian chapter have since become a thorough and dedicated force against Ork and witch alike, defending the people of the Imperium all the while. However, as millenia passed, the chapter accrued a dark reputation befitting of a successor of the Iron Talons.
Notable Campaigns
Reclamation of Relorria (344-352.M39)
After the culmination of the events of the 11th Black Crusade, the Relorrian System was lost to the combined forces of Orks and the few remaining Daemons. Little more than a decade following this event, the newly founded Crux Catharian dispatched five standard companies of marines to the surrounding systems in the hopes of cleansing them of stray Ork mobs and chaotic influence, and eventually, a staging a full reclamation mission against the now primarily Ork-held world of Relorria.
The Crux Catharian succeeded in their efforts until their attempt at reclaiming the lost world of Relorria. While the chapter had found success in dealing with minor Ork uprisings and the occasional witch, the battle-brothers of the Crux Catharian were ill-equipped to face an Ork-held world. In the ensuing campaign, the third and fifth companies were nearly lost to the massed gunfire of Orks inhabiting a cathedral deep in within the city, only surviving thanks to the efforts of the 5th Company captain, Captain Antixilo. With the help of his Psyber-Vultures, Antixilo managed to sabotage key targets through a series of firebombings, allowing the remaining astartes to secure a small yet valuable victory for the fledgeling chapter. Since then, the 5th Company has been reorganized as a company of air support specialists entitled "The Harriers."
The Chapter, facing heavy losses, was forced to retreat following their initial push into Ork territory, but their efforts were not in vain, for their cathedrals still held some recoverable artifacts, such as Sororitas Power Armor and various rarities. However, many large, unrecoverable artifacts, including several Imperial Knights were destroyed in order to prevent their use by Ork forces.
The Indomitus Crusade (000, M42)
Chapter Homeworld
Fuezhar Prime, the Homeworld of the Crux Catharian Chapter.
Fuezhar Prime is a Penal World located along the eastern side of the Segmentum Obscurus. With a now dwindling population in the low millions, Fuezhar Prime is a truly desolate place. The world is in essence, an immense ball of badlands with hardly enough water to sustain its inmates, who toil away within the world's many radium mines. However, as expected of worlds of it's caliber, it has hardened it's populace into ideal recruits for the Imperial Guard and the Astartes. These same Astartes have since gone on to improve the living conditions of those living on Fuezhar Prime.
The Centennial Ziggurat
For all who visit the comparatively desolate world of Fuezhar Prime, the Fortress Monastery of the Crux Catharian is a surprising sight, for numerous reasons. Not unlike the cliff-dwellings of the world's inmates, The Millenia Ziggurat is a partially natural structure, carved from the badlands of Fuezhar Prime's landscape. It is an immense temple-city dotted with the carvings of Imperial officials, historical figures, and even the inmates who assisted in carving the monastery.
As it's namesake implies, the construction of the monastery lasted a full century before it was truly deemed complete.
Chapter Organization
Headquarters
| Chapter Command | |||
 |
| Armoury | Reclusium | Apothecarion | Librarius |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Companies
| Veteran Company | Battle Companies | |||||
| 1st Company | 2nd Company | 3rd Company | 4th Company | 5th Company "The Harriers" | ||
Bikes Transport Vehicles |
6 Battleline Squads 2 Close Support Squads 2 Fire Support Squads Bikes Transport Vehicles |
6 Battleline Squads 2 Close Support Squads 2 Fire Support Squads Bikes Transport Vehicles |
6 Battleline Squads 2 Close Support Squads 2 Fire Support Squads Bikes Transport Vehicles |
 4 Battleline Squads Transport Vehicles GunshipsPsyber-Vultures | ||
| Garrison Companies | Scout Company | |||||||
| 6th Company | 7th Company | 8th Company | 9th Company | 10th Company | ||||
10 Battleline Squads Transport Vehicles Gunships |
10 Battleline Squads Transport Vehicles Gunships |
Captain 10 Battleline Squads Transport Vehicles Gunships |
Captain 10 Battleline Squads Transport Vehicles Gunships |
Bikes Transport Vehicles | ||||
Chapter Gene-Seed
Genetic Flaws
Chapter Beliefs
Combat Doctrine
Much like the nature of Orkoid species and the various cults within the Imperium, the Crux Catharian ingrain themselves within the inner working of the world they inhabit, spreading their influence from the highest echelons of society to the no man's land torn apart by years of insurrection. Consequently, defense missions undertaken by the chapter quickly become protracted scouring campaigns, spanning years of politicking and outright warfare. When possible, the Crux Catharian fully commit to their mission, even if other opportunities to further their goals arise.
The chapter primarily favors a well-rounded approach to combat, utilizing whatever weapons would prove useful in the current situation, be it the common flamer for Ork spores or a long-ranged firefight to eliminate a key target. Their true specialization, however, is more complex. The greatest combat strength of the Crux Catharian is their allies, the humble Planetary Defense Forces. With them, the planet-spanning scouring campaigns the chapter is known for are elevated from infeasible pipe dreams to an efficient and reliable strategy. The chapter operates in tandem with a host planet's PDF to operate on a scale impossible for a scant few companies of Astartes, often superseding the officers and government of the planet.
This perfectionism combined with their use of allies also brings the chapter to a crossroads, as many of the chapter's missions bring the people of a planet into close contact with the worshippers of the ruinous powers and the taint of the genestealer. Thus even after the enemy is seemingly defeated and the victorious forces of the world begin to celebrate, there is still much work to be done, for the Crux Catharian truly are nothing if not thorough.
Garrison Companies
While the Crux Catharian chapter is largely adherent to the guidelines set by the Codex Astartes, one notable deviation is the chapter's reorganization of reserve companies. While most chapters utilize reserve companies as a means to train newly graduated scouts, the Crux Catharian' reserve companies hold a specialized role as garrison companies, a role best suited for marines with an aptitude for settlement defense and combating internal strife as opposed to the battle companies' traditional forms of warfare. Because of this extreme reorganization, newly inducted astartes will often be forced to fight alongside longer-serving marines, albeit in separate squads.
Notable Members
Chapter Fleet
Chapter Relics
- Herald's Wings - The Herald's Wings is a heirloom, double-sided power axe passed down to each successive Chapter Master of the Crux Catharian. It bears two broad, pointed blades reminiscent of an ancient rendition of the Imperial Aquila. Being based on an unknown design, the origins of the axe are lost to time, often being speculated to be of ancient origin.
Chapter Appearance
Chapter Colours
The marines of the Crux Catharian wear primarily brown and red power armor, the shades of which designed to match the colors of their homeworld's badlands. The latter color is typically reserved for reinforced armor while the former is used as the armor's primary color, but are often used interchangeably. Specialty symbols are white, and are specially modified to account for the pauldrons' reinforced plates, typically being oriented horizontally and placed low, under the plate rather than on top of it.
Chapter Power Armor
Typically lacking any sort of decoration or ornaments, the design of Crux Catharian power armor is largely practical, sporting reinforced armor plates for added defense as well as armor studs on the head, knees and occasionally knuckles to serve as improvised weapons should ammunition become scarce.
The few decorations the Crux Catharian wear are kept modest and personal, with vulture feathers and individual markings. However, in recent years, some battle brothers have taken to adorning themselves with flayed carrion. This morbid tradition has its roots in their progenitors use of flayed skin tabards, and while most followers claim to use the carrion as a symbolic gesture or to attract the various carrion birds of Fuezhar Prime, it's use likely stems from their Iron Talons geneseed.
Chapter Badge
Relations
Allies
| Name | Iconography | Notes |
| Iron Talons |   |
While it is expected of all loyal Astartes chapters to hold their progenitors in great reverence, the Crux Catharian knows little, if anything, about the Iron Talons.
|
| White Scars |   |
Although the warriors of the Fifth Legion are held in great regard by their descendants, the White Scars offhandedly view them as oddities; their slow and patient approach to warfare being seen as antithetical to their traditional battle doctrines.
|
| Forge World Lucius |   |
The closest major forge world to the chapter's homeworld, and as is a given, a vital lifeline to the chapter.
|
Troubled
| Name | Iconography | Notes |
| Death Spectres |   |
What good will existed between the Crux Catharian and the Death Spectres has been thoroughly eroded after a customary naval conference aboard the latter chapter's battle barge ended in the respective death and execution of two battle brothers.
|
Enemies
| Name | Iconography | Notes |
| Orks |   |
Being founded ostensibly for the purpose of eradicating the remainder of WAAAGH! Murgor, the chapter is deeply familiar and resentful of the Orkoid menace.
|
| The Plaguebones |   |
Responsible for a multitude of deaths and unholy corruptions among the chapter following the end of the 11th Black Crusade, The Plaguebones warband of the Death Guard legion has cemented itself as the Crux Catharian's bitter enemy.
|
| Death Guard | |
Regardless of the rivalry between the Crux Catharian and the Plaguebones, the Death Guard remains a natural enemy of the chapter.
|
Notable Quotes
By the Crux Catharian
About the Crux Catharian
| Twenty Fourth Founding Space Marine Chapters | |
|---|---|
| Dark Angels Successors | Knights of the Lion • |
| White Scars Successors | Crux Catharian • Storm Sons • |
| Space Wolves Successors | N/A |
| Imperial Fists Successors | Knights Adamant • Mordekaisers • |
| Blood Angels Successors | • |
| Iron Hands Successors | Star Crusaders • |
| Ultramarines Successors | Battencian Heralds • Knights of Cyon • |
| Salamanders Successors | Space Drakes • Starborn Giants |
| Raven Guard Successors | Death Bearers • Sable Daggers • Shadow Warriors • Void Hawks • |
| Unknown Lineage | Electric Wardens • |
| Renegades | • |