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This article, Steel Harbingers, was written by TechCaptain. Please do not edit or 'acquire' this fiction without the writer's permission. |
The Steel Harbingers are an ancient and venerable Space Marine Chapter created during the 3rd Founding at the dawning of the 32nd Millennium. This Founding took place following the tragic era of the Age of Darkness during the Horus Heresy, the subsequent Great Scouring and the sundering of the Legiones Astartes into separate Chapters. It is unknown with any certainty from whom this Chapter is descended from, but many of their cultural beliefs and propensity for utilising bionics mirrors that of the the stoic and unforgiving Iron Hands, though these Sons of the Gorgon refuse to acknowledge the Steel Harbingers as one of their own.
Chapter History []
The Great Crusade and Horus Heresy []
Tracing its lineage back nearly ten millennia, the venerable Steel Harbingers Chapter emerges from the mists of history. Like their brethren of the Third Founding, their origins are not just storied but legendary, rooted deeply in the tumultuous era of the Horus Heresy. Originally created as the --███████--, the Legion the Steel Harbingers came from was founded atop the wreckage of a recidivist fortress on the Terran Auro Plateau of --███████--. The warlike gun-tribes in the surrounding areas made up the first of the Legion's Marines. The legion that Steel Harbingers came from proved itself in the Unification Wars, making its domain one of the most stalwart bastions of the Emperor. The Legion's gene-seed showed above average adaptability and a below average resistance rate to bionics. This allowed the Legion to be one of the largest and the earliest deployed alongside the I Legion and V Legion.
The Legion continued to distinguish itself in the conquest of the Sol System during the early days of the Great Crusade, winning honours in many battles, most notably in the --███████-- on Venus, where the --███████-- was commanded by the Emperor himself to defeat the deadly --███████--. In light of their early successes, the Legion was given first access to new equipment being delivered from Mars. The Legion led the --███████--, which distinguished itself in many campaigns. However, the Legion did not adapt their tactics to the new realities of the expanding Crusade, and was called unimaginative by other Space Marine Legions and by --███████-- himself. --███████-- however was impressed by their stubbornness and would use progenitors to fight inglorious but vital campaigns of --███████--. They soon became known as the --███████--, relied upon for their tenaciousness and following orders to the letter. It was during this time that the Legion began to spread itself out, garrisoning many worlds and fighting many smaller campaigns across the expanding Imperium. One the Garrisons from these early days would be the core of the original Steel Harbingers. Forgotten by all guarding a far flung Fortress Ice World made compliant by use of experimental weapons that froze the world into eternal winter.
The Great Scouring []
Unearthed amidst the chaos of the Great Scouring, the Steel Harbingers were abruptly awakened to the grim reality of a fractured Imperium. The fledgling Imperium was wrested back from the brink of destruction by those who remained staunchly loyal to the Emperor's vision for humanity. After the death of Horus, those Traitors who had not been slain outright during the Siege of the Imperial Palace fled before the vengeful wrath of the Loyalist forces. Many made good their escape into unexplored space or disappeared into the Eye of Terror or other, lesser-known Warp rifts such as the Maelstrom.
In the wake of the Horus Heresy, the Imperium was a dismal, shattered thing. As the beauty and grandeur of the Imperial Palace had been burned black in the flames of betrayal, so great swathes of the Emperor's star-spanning realm had suffered a similar fate. The Master of Mankind was a broken husk, and his dream of unity erased forever. Yet for all this, the Imperium retained might enough to exact a bloody revenge upon its foes. There could be no forgiveness for the crimes of the Traitor Legions -- those who now ruled in the Emperor's name had neither the ability nor the desire to prevent a war of reciprocity.
This was a period of monumental violence, of confusion and darkness. Though the newly founded Imperium fought to root out corruption and expose wrong-doers to the cold light of Imperial justice, the galaxy's scope and dark, shadowed reaches worked against them. With new betrayals and cries for vengeance emerging daily, a great many bloody-handed deeds went unseen. The ravaged Space Marine Legions were no exception to this, with many striving to cover up their own misdemeanors or exact their pound of flesh from those who wronged them.
The Steel Harbingers protected their small corner of the Galaxy from the ravages of Imperium coming apart at the seams. And their they stayed until a new age had dawned in which they would be accepted as a chapter of Imperium. Fortress Xisimali was garrisoned by Steel Harbingers, the sons of the great Primarch --███████-- and whose expertise in --███████-- was unparalleled. In what is now a largely forgotten episode of the Imperium's history, while many worlds of these far-flung territories were deemed not valuable enough to offer any kind of coordinated resistance or threat -- which at least in the case of the Xisimali would prove to be a gross miscalculation.
A fleet of Night Lords and several other bands of traitors who had gathered together fleeing the Scouring of the Loyalists retreated to the far corners of the Galaxy. When they came upon the world of Xisimali which was inhabited by Steel Harbingers they thought they had came to a refuge to rebuild. But instead they found that the Steel Harbingers did not believe the wild and dark Night Lords nor any of the others for they had no known to the Harbingers among them. In response the Night Lords began a campaign of terror and attack on the home of the Steel Harbingers. This began a protracted siege as the garrison defended themselves from the fleet of traitors.
It was the Ultramarines, supported by the Cruisers of their Battlefleet, that broke the siege of Xisimali; their arrival came just as the last of the Steel Harbingers were gathering for a final stand. Many Ultramarines and Steel Harbingers died in breaking the siege. The survivors were given opportunity to rebuild and were called upon later after much deliberation they would be watched even though they had proven loyal to the Emperor.
Hidden in a Founding []
In the nascent years of the 32nd Millennium, a pivotal event unfolded within the Imperium – the 3rd Founding of the Space Marines. This monumental initiative, championed by Rogal Dorn, the stoic Primarch of the Imperial Fists, represented a strategic renaissance in the wake of a galaxy scarred by heresy and betrayal. This Founding included two Successor Chapters created from the gene-seed of the Imperial Fists and the Ultramarines, respectively -- both highly aggressive Chapters.
Among the newly founded Chapters, a particular case drew the attention of the High Lords of Terra. A loyalist garrison, whose lineage was shrouded in the mists of the Horus Heresy, stood at a crossroads. Their past, veiled in shadow and marked by whispers of a dark legacy, conflicted with their proven fidelity to the Emperor.
In a secretive conclave, a bold resolution was formed. These warriors, whose valor remained unblemished despite the sins of their forebears, were to be reborn as a new force. Thus, the Steel Harbingers were conceived – not as a mere expansion of the Adeptus Astartes but as a symbol of redemption and unyielding loyalty. Slipped in as allegedly Sons of Gorgon though the Chapter themselves never claimed a genetic fore-bearer.
Their founding was steeped in symbolism. The dark cobalt and steel of their armor signified a severance from the ambiguity of their origins, embracing a future dedicated to the Emperor’s cause. The selection of their first Chapter Master, a figure both enigmatic and steadfast, epitomized their renewed purpose. The Steel Harbingers, while carrying the echoes of a lineage wrapped in speculation, stood ready to chart a course of honor and unwavering duty.
Inquisitional Deal []
In the year 034.M32, a mere three decades after their enigmatic inception, the Steel Harbingers found themselves entwined in a pivotal arrangement that would shape their future dealings with the Imperium's more clandestine forces. It was during this nascent stage of their chapter's history that they first garnered the attention of the Ordo Originatus, a lesser-known but influential faction within the Inquisition.
The Ordo Originatus, dedicated to unraveling the tangled skein of Imperial history, was intrigued by the enigmatic past of the Steel Harbingers. Their interest was not merely academic; there were strategic implications in understanding the true lineage of a Space Marine Chapter, especially one shrouded in as much secrecy as the Harbingers. This is a difficult task, raised to impossibility due to the opposing work of the Ordo Redactus.
Recognizing an opportunity, the Chapter's leadership entered into a delicate dance of diplomacy with the Inquisition. A deal was proposed, one of mutual benefit but fraught with risk. In exchange for access to the chapter's meticulously maintained archives – a treasure trove of information from their early days – the Inquisition would offer their protection against prying eyes and political machinations. This protection was invaluable for a Chapter whose origins might attract unwelcome scrutiny and controversy.
More than that, the Steel Harbingers negotiated for access to resources and intelligence only the Inquisition could provide. This was not a decision made lightly; aligning so closely with the Inquisition could draw suspicion from other Chapters and Imperial bodies. However, with a vision for the future security and autonomy of his Chapter, saw this as a necessary alliance.
This early deal with the Ordo Originatus became a defining moment for the Steel Harbingers. It afforded them a degree of insulation from the political undercurrents of the Imperium while providing them with resources to further their own secretive objectives. In the shadowed halls of their fortress-monastery, they cultivated a relationship with the Ordo Originatus that was enigmatic to outsiders, yet pivotal in maintaining the delicate balance of their existence within the Imperium.
As the centuries passed, the Steel Harbingers continued to uphold their part of this pact, ever cautious of the watchful eyes of the Inquisition, yet also keenly aware of the benefits such a relationship provided. It was a testament to their strategic foresight and their unyielding commitment to safeguard the legacy and future of their Chapter.
The Reclusive Centuries []
As the dust settled from the harrowing Siege of Xisimali, a period known in the annals of the Steel Harbingers as 'The Reclusive Centuries' began to unfold. This era, spanning several hundred years, marked a significant transformation within the Chapter, both in mindset and in operational doctrine.
In the immediate aftermath of the siege, the Steel Harbingers embarked on a journey of introspection and consolidation. The Chapter's fortress-monastery on Xisimali, once a beacon of their resilience, became a symbol of their newfound isolationism. The Harbingers turned inward, focusing on reinforcing their defenses and honing their expertise in siege warfare to an art form. This reclusive nature stemmed not only from the trauma of the Night Lords' assault but also from a growing distrust of external forces, including the Inquisition.
This period saw the Steel Harbingers withdrawing from many of the Imperium's broader conflicts, choosing instead to solidify their control over their Sector, which they had sworn to protect. They fortified worlds, erected impenetrable bastions, and laid down a network of surveillance and early-warning systems that could alert them to any threat within their domain.
The Chapter's tactical approach also evolved during these centuries. They developed innovative defensive strategies, honing their skills in guerilla warfare, and rapid-response tactics. Their battle-brothers became experts in using the terrain to their advantage, setting ambushes, and striking swiftly from fortified positions. During this time, the Chapter's Apola and Khele formations, the Brethren of Sculptors and the Brethren of Frozen, respectively, flourished in their specialized roles.
Simultaneously, the Chapter's already strong ties with the Adeptus Mechanicus deepened. This alliance led to the introduction of advanced defensive technologies and weaponry within the Chapter, further enhancing their combat efficacy. The Reclusive Centuries were also a time of technological advancement within the Chapter, as they employed their secluded nature to experiment and innovate without external scrutiny.
Internally, the Chapter's culture was also undergoing a subtle shift. The secrecy surrounding their origins and the constant vigilance against potential threats fostered a sense of brotherhood that was almost clannish in nature. The brethren of the Steel Harbingers became more insular, their trust extended only to those within their ranks.
As these centuries passed, the Steel Harbingers became known throughout the Imperium as silent guardians, rarely seen but always present. They emerged only when their sector was threatened, striking with precision and then disappearing back into the shadows of their fortified realm.
'The Reclusive Centuries' finally drew to a close as the Chapter was called upon to confront a new and rising threat that required them to step out of their isolation. This period, however, left an indelible mark on the Steel Harbingers, shaping them into a Chapter that was as enigmatic as it was formidable.
The Calamity of Laconia []
One of the defining moments in the Steel Harbingers' modern history was the Calamity of Laconia. Laconia, a key system in the Heimdall Sector, faced a massive Necron incursion led by the Sautekh Dynasty. The Steel Harbingers, still scarred by the Night Lords' assault, were hesitant to intervene directly. However, the situation became untenable, and the Chapter reluctantly committed its forces to defend the imperiled sector.
The ensuing conflict was brutal and protracted. The Steel Harbingers, along with Imperial forces, engaged the Necron legions in a series of desperate battles. The Brethren Lord, drawing upon the lessons learned from the Siege of Xisimali, orchestrated a brilliant defense that ultimately repelled the Necron onslaught. Laconia became a bastion against the Sautekh Dynasty, solidifying the Steel Harbingers' reputation as stalwart defenders of the Imperium.
Fortress-Monastery []
The planet of Xisimali is already a frozen fortress but the strongest fortifications are that of the Steel Harbingers. Built during the Great Crusade, the fortress-citadel of the mighty Steel Harbingers, which is known by the same name is vast beyond imagining, a single peak rears up on the horizon, as if the core of the world of Xisimali had been shoved through its mantle into a terrifying, unmatched pinnacle, a conical mountain-mass soaring up into the darkening sky. Its flanks are sheer and snow-clad on jagged shelves of rock, glossy with ancient, undisturbed ice. In every direction, lesser summits crowd the view, and is ringed with high walls as it was built into the heart of a mountain that has steel like ice over reinforced areas, the monastery comprises dozens of ramparts, watchtowers and bastions. Every entrance is sealed with heavy adamantium, barred by ancient and complex locks, often keyed to Steel Harbinger Brethren. The monastery also incorporates shimmering void shields, domes of power enveloping the entire structure to ward off orbital bombardments or assaults from Titans. Covering every entrance and approach, macro-cannon turrets, heavy bolter bunkers and missile batteries scan the horizon for foes, ready to unleash their deadly ordnance at a second's notice. In addition to thick walls and gates, the Steel Harbingers created other kinds of defenses to further discourage assault. These consist of grav-mine nets, vortex-pits, and electro-pylons, each one capable of killing a multitude of enemy squads. Dark shafts cut miles into the mountainside conceal potent defense lasers that are capable of blasting apart even the most heavily armored spacecraft. These huge weapons are as ancient as the Chapter itself, the geothermal reactors that power them testament to the precious technology from the distant past.
The colossal gates of Adamantium, granite and Ceramite bristles with linked Bolter turrets, rocket-launchers and static Plasma Cannons. The Twin Plasma Obliterators that sit on either side of the main gates are the ultimate expression of plasma weaponry, an apocalyptically powerful weapon capable of unleashing the wrath of a sun's heart onto the battlefield. This cannon is so large that it requires a bastion-sized weapons platform just to hold it. The firepower collected there is vast, the kind of arsenal more suited to an Imperial Navy Battle Group than a land-bound citadel including a single neutron energy beam emitted by a Neutron Laser Projector's ray collimator is capable of rupturing enemy armour on a molecular level, often resulting in the target vehicle being vaporized in a massive explosion. Only the most heavily armoured super-heavy tanks and Titan-scale vehicles can hope to survive the forces unleashed by this weapon. Even if the target is not destroyed outright by the initial beam, the neutron energy of the attack will overwhelm and disable the target vehicle's electronics and systems temporarily with a storm of electromagnetic radiation. Across the entire structure stretches the citadel's Void Shields, glistening faintly as the oblique sunlight slants through clouds of burning engine oil. Far up near the very peak of Xisimali are located the Docking Platforms where the Chapter's many aircraft can take off and land. Reaching just beyond Xisimali's atmosphere, Xisimali's docking platforms can even service the Chapter's warships. Xisimali is vast beyond comprehension and a huge network of tunnels, shafts and chambers riddled the highest levels of the peak.
Entire levels of the fortress-monastery is given over to the forging of weapons and the maintenance of the Chapter’s war machines. This is the domain of the Sculptors. As secretive as their Adeptus Mechanicus brothers, they work their rituals and prayers behind sealed doors, coaxing machine spirits to life or constructing new ordnance for their battle-brothers. This is especially true of weapons unique to the Steel Harbingers, such as relic blades, specialized bolter rounds and ancient suits of armor. These weapons are created and maintained in the forges of the fortress-monastery, the Sculptors and servitor workers casting gun casings, chain blades and ceramite plates. To house the war materiel of the Chapter huge shielded silos are built into its central recesses. Protected from attack by metres of adamantium, ferrocrete, null shields to dampen energy weapons and reactive blast doors, they are always piled high with crates of shells, rounds and missiles. Racks of boltguns, meltaguns, and heavier weapons line the walls, each one wrapped in the purity seals of the Master of the Forge, attesting to its blessed craftsmanship. Connecting these silos to the rest of the fortress, a network of shell-hoists and ammo-conveyors ring the central chambers. Legless, sightless servitors hang suspended over the moving platforms and belts, their wizened fingers sorting rounds and shells by size and shape. Thus, from ammo-shrines throughout the monastery, a battle-brother can reload his boltgun or summon a weapon with which to fight any would-be invader. Hundreds of metres down, in the huge cavern spanned by the bridge, is a vision of Hel. Gigantic, hulking furnaces, each the height of a Warlord-class Titan and twice as wide, throw off clouds of blood-red light. Channels of heat-blackened stone carry rivers of fire from one inferno to the next, passing through wheels of iron and plunging pistons. The silhouettes of Servitor-Thralls, their wire-studded spines curled over from hunching, creep between the colossal machinery, checking flickering pict-readouts and tending brass-lined banks of Cogitators. The vast space hums with a low, rumbling activity. Along clattering conveyor belts amid the forges are the embryonic shells of vehicle plating, artillery barrels, even body armour parts. And then there are the hammers. They are borne by rows of muscle-enhanced, metal-ribbed, faceless Servitors chained to their Adamantium anvils by segmented nerve-conduits, endlessly working. There are ranks upon ranks of them, more machine than human, molded into mindless golems by the uncaring arts of the flesh-makers. They are the perfect workers: tireless, uncomplaining, hugely strong, content to hammer away in the pits of fire until death from the aging or breakdown of their organic components give them a final release.
Next to the forges and armouries, the Apothecarion is amongst the most well defended parts of a fortress-monastery. This is where the Apothecaries safeguard the Chapter's genetic heritage and tend to its injured Space Marines. The Librarius is the central core of all the Chapter's history and lore. Filled with ancient tombs and sacred scrolls, every piece of text ever laid down by the Steel Harbingers or relevant to its existence is housed within. Overseen by the Librarians, it is a silent and holy place of whispered secrets and hidden truths. Few brethren are permitted access to the Librarius, its reserve of knowledge restricted to the Chapter Master and his advisers. At the deepest levels of Xisimali, lay the massive geothermal generators which provide the great citadel with all of the power required for its operations. This includes the blazing capillaries of magma which bring superheated rock up from the mantle of Xisimali to heat the water that provides the fortress' gigantic steam turbines with their motive force. This area of the fortress-monastery is maintained by a legion of Chapter thralls who are sometimes guided in their endeavors by the arcane technomancy of the Sculptors. of Xisimali represented the very bowels of the mountain fortress. It is a universe of stone marked by the increasing heat radiated by the geothermal reactors that provide Xisimali with its power and by the ancient Armouries and hidden vaults of the Chapter where the Steel Harbingers kept their greatest secrets -- and their honored dead.
Rumors and Investigation Notes[]
Investigations: Steel Harbingers
Date:...............012.M42
Ref:................Mechanicus/ST/54982
Re:.................Adeptus Astartes - Steel Harbingers
- Steel Harbingers Rumor: Whispers among the Adeptus Mechanicus suggest a unique bond between the Steel Harbingers and the Machine Cult. Some believe that the Chapter's extensive access to cybernetic implants and arcane war machines hints at a deeper collaboration with the Mechanicus, potentially involving classified technology.
Investigation Status: Pending
Mechanicus Inquisitorial Note: Given the sensitivity of the Mechanicus involvement, an investigation is underway to assess the nature of the Steel Harbingers' relationship with the Adeptus Mechanicus. Any unauthorized access to classified technology will be met with severe repercussions.
Notable Campaigns []
- Laconia Rebellion (942.M41) - The Laconia System is on what becomes the Sector's boarder with the Sautekh Dynasty. For the 1,200 years leading up to 942.M41, the Hive World of Laconia Tertius underwent a Civil War against Secessionist forces, with the inhabitants of Laconia Secundus intervening on the Loyalist side. In 942.M41, it was revealed that Laconia Secundus had once been home to a small outpost of the ancient Necron Empire.
At that time, the Sautekh Dynasty dispatched a force to reclaim the world, as part of their broader onslaught against the Imperium. Two Companies of the Steel Harbingers Space Marines Chapter were deployed to repel the assualt, but feared they would arrive to late. What the Steel Harbingers found when they arrived was that the Secundai, who had become heavily militarized during the Laconian Civil War, had managed to resist the Sautekh assault, all but crushing the small Necron force while suffering only reasonable casualties. The Astartes' Breathren Lord, thinking to the future, launched his full force against the secessionists on Laconia Tertius. In weeks, his forces managed to break a stalemate which had held for over a millennia.
With the World now back under Imperial control, the Steel Harbingers ordered the people of Laconia Tertius to aid the Secondai in turning Laconia Secundus into an impenetrable Fortress World. In the decades which would follow, the Secundai would fight off several more Necron assaults, leaving the system as one of the few bastions between the Sautekh Dynasty and the vulnerable interior of the Heimdall Sector.
- The Imperial Purgation of the Tengu’s Watchman (963.M41) - The Purgation of the Tengu’s Watchman was one of several Imperial Campaigns along the Tau boarder systems in the centuries between the Second and Third Sphere Expansion. Tengu’s Watchman was one of those worlds on the western edge of the Damocles Gulf whose Imperial Governors had cut selfish deals with the Xenos, turning their citizens and their worlds over to the Tau Empire without a fight.
Loyalist forces arrived to reclaim the system in 963.M41, spearheaded by the Astartes of the Steel Harbingers Chapter, but including both a Battlegroup of the Imperial Navy, an Imperial Guard Armygroup, and of course, representatives of the Holy Inquisition. While Brethren Lord Slavicus Ven led his 3rd Company, known as the Precursors, and the Navy in assaulting the Air Caste Orbital Platforms, Lord General Horatio Couture led the 35th Armygroup to assault the planet.
While outlying settlements were quickly reclaimed, the substantial defenses of the Fire Caste in and around the Capital City of Takane set the Imperial Guard on the back-foot. In addition to an seemingly un-breachable perimeter, and a strong mobile reserve, the Tau had achieved effective local air superiority through the use of mobile Sky Ray missile platforms and a seemingly limitless supply of aerial drones. While the Steel Harbingers could still, in theory, breach the Tau parameter using orbital drop pods, there was no guarantee that they could overcome the Tau defenders without their heavy equipment.
As Lord Ven and Lord General Couture prepared to commit to a massed frontal assault, using the Guard Regiments to soak up damage while the Astartes brought their mighty siege engines into position, one of Couture’s Colonel’s spoke up. Colonel Hung Tran of the 11th Laconian Riverine Raiders pointed out that there was a swamp on the eastern side of Takane which led right into the enemy’s soft underbelly. The Yokai Swamp, had been an all but impassible wetland to begin with, but it was now also inhabited by the Tau’s Kroot allies, and in great numbers. None of the other Officers present felt that any force could pass such an obstacle, but Tran swore that if the Astartes could keep the Kroot off of them, the Riverine Raiders would transport their vehicles through the swamp.
That night, as heavy artillery from Lord General Couture’s lines seemingly presaged a ground assault, the Harbinger's blades began to reap a silent harvest from the Kroot. Meanwhile, using converted Chimera APCs, what local rivercraft they could find, and even buoyant ration crates, the 11th River Raiders managed to move almost 200 tons of equipment through an all but un-traversable swamp in under five hours. As dawn broke in blood red upon the City, the Emperor’s angels of death strode forth into Takane, leading Predator Tanks and Hellfire Dreadnaughts. While the Fire Caste reacted quickly and fought ferociously, it was already too late.
While Lord Ven led the bulk of his force against the City Center, two squads, accompanied by the exhausted Laconians, assaulted the defensive perimeter from behind. With the Tau distracted, Lord General Couture brought the rest of the Army group against the City, overwhelming the defenders and following in the Astartes’s wake. While the Fire Caste fought on, trying to buy time for their Ethereal overlord to escape, Slavicus Ven personally managed to overtake and slay the Xeno Leader. While fighting would continue for several days, the death of the Ethereal seemed to break the spirit of the Tau. The world was soon declared compliant, and its people handed over to the Inquisition to be put to the question.
Chapter Organisation []
With the adoption of the Codex, the High Lords of Terra required a Chapter to meet the arch-foes of the Imperium in combat - the vast armies of the False Gods of Chaos. The Steel Harbingers were not among the Chapters founded during the second founding, chosen for their stalwart and dedicated service during both the Great Crusade and Horus Heresy, no their history was much darker and so are their origins. Unlike their genetic forebears, the newly formed Chapter opted to take a more defensive approach, by building garrisons and fortifications that rival the Imperial Fists.
Officer Ranks []
- The Harbinger (Chapter Master Equivalent) - The supreme leader, a master tactician and stalwart defender of the Imperium.
- Brethren Lord (Captain Equivalent) - Lords of the Brethren, commanders of companies, each with a vital role in the Chapter's defense.
Specialist Ranks []
- Soothsayer (Apothecary) - Guardians of the Chapter's genetic legacy, ensuring the survival and purity of the Steel Harbingers' gene-seed.
- Herald (Chaplain) - Spiritual leaders who inspire and uphold the unwavering faith of the brethren in the face of darkness.
- Sculptors (Tech Marines) - Masters of the machine, these artisans communicate with the machine spirits, ensuring the Chapter's arsenal is in optimal condition.
Line Ranks []
- Augury-Sergeant - Seasoned veterans entrusted with leading squads, their experience invaluable in the heat of battle.
- Brethren - Battle-hardened warriors forming the backbone of the Chapter, standing resolute against the enemies of the Imperium.
- Scout Brother - Swift and stealthy, the eyes and ears of the Chapter, gathering intelligence and striking from the shadows.
- Aspirant - Initiates undergoing trials to prove their worthiness to become full-fledged Astartes.
Specialist Formations []
- Apola - The Apola, known as the Brethren of Sculptors, the Apola's particular focus was on machine-craft; both in their construction and maintenance, and their employment in war. It exists in an uneasy alliance with the Mechanicum of the nearby Forge World, save those Tech-priests who had long-served the Steel Harbingers directly.
- Khele - The Khele, known as the Brethren of Frozen, although led and commanded by Astartes, also encompassed the senior officers and Mechanicum magi, engineers and shipwrights who maintained and crewed the Chapter's warships. Its base of operations a heavily fortified orbital shipyard, void warfare and the construction and design of warships and assault craft were its obsession.
Order of Battle []
Headquarters[]
| Steel Harbingers Command | |||||
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| Honour Guard | Logisticiam | ||||
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| Other Departments | |||||
| Librarium | Armoury | Reclusiarchy | Apothecarion | Fleet Command | |
  Korian Darius, Chief Librarian 14 Epistolaries 13 Codiciers 9 Lexicaniums 6 Acolytum 3 Furioso Librarian Dreadnoughts |
  Juvian Kirat, Master Sculptor of the Forge 30 Techmarines 90 Servitors 18 Predators 7 Vindicators 5 Whirlwinds 33 Land Raiders 60 Stormraven Gunships |
  High Herald Kalgoan, Reclusiarch 11 Chaplains |
  Soothsayer Margrave Geuffroi, Chief Apothecary 19 Apothecary |
Commander Ivan, Master of the Fleet 2 Battle Barges 10 Strike Cruisers 10 Rapid Strike vessels 42 Thunderhawk Gunships 5 Thunderhawk Transporters | |
Companies[]
| Veteran Company | Battle Companies | |||
| 1st Company Frozen Heart |
2nd Company Immortals |
3rd Company Precursors |
4th Company Forerunners |
5th Company Omen Bearers |
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Lord Stanislaus 121 Space Marine Veterans 3 Furioso Dreadnoughts 1 Leviathan Dreadnought 1 Venerable Dreadnought |
Lord Andrik 4 Tactical Squads 4 Assault Squads 3 Inferno Squads 2 Devastator Squads 4 Dreadnoughts |
Lord Slavicus Ven 4 Tactical Squads 4 Assault Squads 3 Inferno Squads 2 Devastator Squads 3 Dreadnoughts |
Lord Danek 4 Tactical Squads 5 Assault Squads 3 Inferno Squads 2 Devastator Squads 3 Dreadnoughts |
Lord Ladislas 4 Tactical Squads 4 Assault Squads 4 Inferno squads 2 Devastator Squads 1 Furioso Dreadnought 1 Contemptor Dreadnought |
| Reserve Companies | Scout Companies | |||
| 6th Company The Ordained |
7th Company The Occult Hunters |
8th Company Knights of the Path |
9th Company Bloodied Fate |
10th Company The Found |
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Lord Lazarus Cicarian 12 Assault Squads 2 Dreadnoughts |
Lord Varus Spheridon 12 Devastator Squads 1 Siege Dreadnought |
Lord Vallen 11 Tactical Squads 1 Dreadnought |
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Chapter Recruitment []
On Xisimali, A small planet almost entirely covered in snow and ice. Only at the height of summer do temperatures rise above freezing. Both the northern and southern hemispheres experience harsh winters, with cold nights that can last for weeks or months at a time depending on latitude. The atmosphere is composed mostly of nitrogen and oxygen, but high levels of methane and carbon dioxide make it lethal to humans. Classified as a Death World now, it was a bustling Fortress world before it was brought into compliance by use of newly discovered and untested weapons used by the Cult Mechanicum. The survivors descendants and those of the occupying forces that now lived in the tunnels and ruins of the frozen fortresses fight for limited resources. Those that survive the constant wars are sometimes chosen to travel to the Fortress of the Steel Harbingers. Their Aspirants are put through a series of trials until they become a true inheritor of the heritage of Iron and Steel.
Chapter Beliefs []
The Steel Harbingers are resolute in their beliefs that the Emperor thoroughly used their Legion to fight the bloodiest and most brutal battles of the "Great Crusade". They care little for trophies and embellishments, instead preferring to prove their strength and prowess through acts of Occupation. The Great Shame they learned of their Genetic Fore-bearers weighs heavily on their beliefs. The Steel Harbingers do not accept mutation among their ranks as willingly, instead choosing to remove the corrupted limbs and replace them with powerful, infallible cybernetics.
The Steel Harbinger Chapter has become increasingly reclusive and hostile towards outside interference. Though the Inquisition continually investigates the Steel Harbingers, the Chapter bears such scrutiny with unconcealed disdain. Strangely, the Inquisition does not appear very concerned with the Steel Harbingers Chapter's many deviations from standard Adeptus Astartes and Imperial practice.
The Chapter boasts a great number of armored vehicles and Dreadnoughts -- so many, in fact, that each company maintains its own revered armoury of battle tanks and Centurion Warsuits. Each one of the Steel Harbinger Brethren consider it a great honour to crew one of their Chapter's venerated war machines and interface directly with their vehicles through bionic implants, their heart beat becoming the thrum of powerful engines and their war cries the roar of heavy gunfire.
At every level the Steel Harbingers Chapter was formidably provisioned in arms and wargear, from operational suits of Tactical Dreadnought Armour of every pattern to munitions reserves estimated to exceed that of several other Chapters combined. The technical aptitude of each Steel Harbinger was also formidable, furthering the functionality and customization of their personal panoply of war.
Librarians are considered just above outsiders and are not fully trusted in the Steel Harbingers. This is due to an innate mistrust of mutation and mutants. Times in their history the deadly planet and the tunnels underneath has produced many a mutant. Being a mutant means to cut off the mutation and replace it with cybernetics if possible. Librarians can not do so and have proven too useful as a weapon but have never fully integrated with the rest of the Chapter.
Combat Doctrine []
The Steel Harbingers are known for an affinity with technology and the clinical application of logic to military problems. This affinity was channeled into the mastery of that form of warfare. These abilities were increased by cross-training with the Mechanicum. The Steel Harbingers' Sculptors could match skills with Magi. Their methodical attitude made them merciless men in battle and siege. After the siege works were built there was a choice given to the besiegers; either to throw down their arms then and there or the Steel Harbinger would show no mercy. Just like many other Chapters they soon gained the reputation of brutality during siege, not to mention their merciless manner after the siege had taken place.
The Steel Harbingers are unparalleled masters of siege warfare as well as of building defensive fortifications and fortresses. Their attacks are typically slow, but relentless and scientific. Most Steel Harbingers assaults begin with an intense orbital bombardment, followed by a rapid aerial landing. As the Steel Harbingers secure their landing zone, they will begin to erect fortifications around their drop site and use this as their base of operations for a siege as well as prevent counter-attacks by the enemy. Instead of using classic building materials for these fortified positions, the Steel Harbingers will connect their Rhinos together into a ring of pillboxes. With their position established, the Steel Harbingers will then deploy great siege engines to reduce the enemy positions before a final charge.
Right after they set up their fortifications and before the initial bombardment, the Steel Harbingers will commonly send infiltration units ahead of the main force to disable the enemy's defenses and set up ambushes and conduct flank attacks while the main force charges the fortifications. Where possible, field fortifications will be used. Steel Harbinger doctrine includes extensive use of fortifications to occupy the maximum number of opponents while using the absolute minimum number of troops. This in turn keeps the bulk of the Steel Harbingers Marines fresh and available for assaults, and allows them to achieve superiority elsewhere.
In combat, Steel Harbingers are terrifyingly adept at both ballistic warfare and close-range melee bloodshed, and use a mixture of the two to slaughter opponents in vast numbers. The typical Steel Harbinger is armed with a powerful Bolter, Plasma Gun or other such ranged weapon, as well as a close-combat Power Sword or Chainsword.
The Steel Harbingers place a great deal of importance on heavy weaponry of all kinds, for they value the tools of destruction far more than flesh and blood. Their Devastators are famously clinical killers, blasting apart keystones and buttresses to bring down fortifications, or sniping enemy officers from afar as they try to restore order. The Steel Harbingers have a special association with the Mechanicus cult. They have extensive access to the hulking combination of armor, weapons, and Marines.
The Steel Harbingers are expert sappers, engineers and miners and have acquired a formidable siege train of specialist equipment over the centuries. This includes Termite tunnelers, a Leviathan transport, Dreadclaw assault boats adapted for planetary landings and a large assortment of Imperial-built artillery. These are used very sparingly and are maintained and guarded by the Steel Harbingers' 1st Company. Additionally they have a number of Corvus assault pods which allow them to make use of any supporting Titans as siege towers.
Thanks to long-standing ties to elements of the Mechanicum and the technological aptitude displayed by many in their number, the Steel Harbingers possessed access to numerous cybernetic implant systems seldom seen outside the Machine Cult, and they were also able to widely reproduce and maintain large stockpiles of Grav-weapons, Conversion Beamer and Laser Destroyer systems, and other arcane and esoteric machineries of death.
Of singular note within the Steel Harbingers was the range, number and diversity of the armoured vehicle and artillery support assets fielded by them. These were known to include the full breadth of general patterns and designs operated across the Imperium by the Legiones Astartes, with tactical emphasis placed on heavy units such as the Land Raider and super-heavy war machines such as the Typhon, Stormblade and Mastodon.
Once a planet has been secured few Brethren are detached to fortify the world against further assault. This would become the core of a security force that is no longer considered apart of active roles with the Chapter and their numbers are no longer counted. These Brethren become apart of an inactive reserve network for the planets that fall under the protection of Steel Harbingers.
Chapter Gene-Seed []
The Steel Harbingers' gene-seed produced a marked tendency towards suspicion and paranoia within the Astartes but also was known to create Space Marines who were extremely intelligent and possessed naturally well-developed problem-solving abilities. The Steel Harbingers retain cold intelligence, paranoia, dark skin and dark eyes, and are noted for a preference for technological methods of warfare.
The Steel Harbingers possess the Mucranoid organ which allows a Space Marine to survive extremes of heat by secreting a waxy protein substance, similar to mucus, through their pores to seal their skin but for some reason theirs does not work like it is suppose to. Space Marines are cocooned in this way before they enter suspended animation, and the process can even protect them from the harshness of the vacuum and other extremes of temperature, particularly deeply frigid environments. The Steel Harbingers Mucranoid doesn't protect them from extreme heat and they must rely on their armor to provide enough of an barrier.
Documentary evidence attests that the Steel Harbinger gene-seed showed an above-average adaptability and rates of implant rejection were notably low, particularly in comparison with difficulties in large-scale implantation encountered with other Progenoid types, which would not be eliminated until the acquisition of the gene-labs of Luna. This advantage meant that the Steel Harbingers' fighting strength was built rapidly, and could be maintained even while facing continual attrition. The 10th Company Neophytes contained large numbers to be ready to fill in the ranks as brethren were assigned to garrison duty or long term detachments as well to the usual losses in battle.
Notable Members []
- Brethren Lord Slavicus Ven - Commander of the Precursors has led his Company in honorable combat many times. His Company especially has been assigned to aid nearby sector known as Heimdall and to keep an eye on the Fortresses to be built up around the Sector and neighboring ones to contain the Tyranid and Necron Menance.
Chapter Fleet []
The Steel Harbingers possess a mighty Chapter fleet composed of no less than 8 Strike Cruisers and at least two Battle Barges.
Chapter Relics []
- Praedo de Obterere (Cerberus Heavy Tank Destroyer) - Relic Tank of the Steel Harbingers. The Cerberus Heavy Tank Destroyer was used by the Space Marine Legions near the end of the Great Crusade in the late 30th Millennium as a testbed for the experimental Neutron Laser Projector weapon.
Deathwatch Service[]
The Steel Harbingers send those brethren to the Long Vigil of the Deathwatch as a way to gain knowledge of the Xeno threats but also as a way to further their net of knowledge to be gathered in their grand fortress. Any brethren serving the Death Watch is stricken from the rolls until they return and are not counted for the numbers of Steel Harbingers. Long detached duty requires that in the minds of the Steel Harbinger leadership.
Chapter Appearance []
Chapter Colors[]
The Steel Harbingers primarily wear cold, dark cobalt colored power armour trimmed with dark steel. Their Chapter's colors exemplify their cold determination and dark origins in which they still acknowledge. The Chapter's badge is prominently displayed upon their left shoulder pauldron. A large white squad specialty symbol is displayed on the opposite shoulder pauldron, indicating a Brethren's assigned specialty (Fire Support, Close Support, Battleline, Veteran or Command). Sometimes this symbol is centered within a small cog symbol and displayed upon their plastron (chest guard) or alternatively on one of their vambraces or greaves. A white colored lozenge (diamond symbol) on the left poleyn (knee guard), with a black coloured Gothic numeral stenciled upon it, indicates squad number. A smaller Gothic numeral displayed upon the right inset indicates squad assignment.
Chapter Badge[]
The Chapter's badge is that of an iron mask formed into a shape of a skull with cross-hairs in one eye. Upon seeing this symbol, few could doubt the intent and grim determination of this stalwart Chapter.
Chapter Relations []
Allies[]
Astra Militarum[]
| The Laconian Riverine Raiders | These Imperial Guard Regiments are raised on Laconia Tertius, following the conclusion of their civil war. They have their roots in the first assault forces which would cross the toxic tidal-swamps, hoping to survive long enough to breach a rebel Hive and open a new front in the war. They are excellent brown water combatants, ready to bring the God Emperor's wrath anywhere there is 75 millimeters of water, and enough gravity to hold it in place. | |
| The Secundai Speartip | These Astra Militarum Regiments are comprised of Heavy Mechanized Infantry. They deploy in Chimera APC supported by Hellhound flame-tanks. They make for excellent assault troops, but have been accused of not caring about friendly civilian casualties. In the Secundai's defense, they don't. |
Rivals[]
Adeptus Astartes[]
| Iron Harbingers |  |
The Frateris Firmitatis are well known to the Steel Harbingers, especially the Iron Harbingers. Many a join campaign with the Sons of Gorgon has led to a mutual understanding of each other's demeanor. Admirers of each other's tenacity and iron-will, however are stand-offish to one another due to each's inherent nature of stoic reservatism. |
| Champions of Mortis | The supposed sons of Dorn that are Mortis Followers have a long history of competition and rivalry with the Steel Harbingers. Their Rivalry actually predate records of either Chapter, rumors of grudges held from even before the Horus Heresy are whispered about these two little known Chapters of the Southern Sectors. |
Enemies[]
Eldar Corsair Raiders[]
| Aeldari Corsairs |  |
Eldar Corsairs are those Eldar Outcasts who have deliberately chosen to make their living by raiding the commerce of the other star-faring intelligent races of the Milky Way Galaxy, particularly the shipping of the Imperium of Man. |
Drukhari Raiders[]
| Drukhari |  |
The Dark Eldar are mainly pirates and slavers who prey on targets across the galaxy to feed their unholy appetites for other sentient beings' souls, a terrible desire called the Thirst, though they are sometimes used as mercenaries by other species. This has lead to many conflicts with the Steel Harbingers. |
Necrons[]
| Sautekh Dynasty |
Renegades[]
| Forces of Chaos |  |
|
| Night Lords | 
|
The Steel Harbingers hate the Night Lords. The Harbingers fervently believe that their brutal methods, though cruel and extreme, are necessary. Their methods are merely a tool - a cold calculated means to an end. Whereas the Night Lords' proclivities for murder and destruction are employed simply for the sick pleasure of creating terror on a massive scale. On the rare occasion when these two diametrically opposed forces have met - both darkly-famed in their own right for being savage and unyielding - they have fought each other to near-mutual annihilation. |
| Iron Warriors |  |
Steel Harbingers have a special dedication on wiping the stain on thwe Imperium that is the Iron Warriors whose philospohies are perverted from what they once were in the time before the Heresy. |
| Merciless | 
|
The Merciless are a large splinter warband of the merciless and unforgiving Iron Warriors Traitor Legion. Dedicated to Chaos Undivided, they were founded and commanded by the infamous Warsmith Torian, the 'Iron Butcher' of Xiollon II. Known to the Steel Harbingers as fallen brethren so seek to counter this warband and any other fallen Iron Warriors where ever they are encountered. |
Notable Quotes[]
By the Chapter[]
- "My gaze is sharp, My weapon is raised.
My vigil is eternal, My enemies death assured.
For War am I forged, For War I am destined.
My position at your side, Oh Emperor, eternally assured."- —Litany of the Steel Harbingers
About Chapter[]
- "That night the God Emperor's fist came down upon Bui Hive
There was fire, ash, and sounds like the world was ending
The next day, we looked to see where the traitors had held against our fathers for 800 years
And there was nothing, nothing but ruins and death"- —Corporal Tina Nguyen, Laconia Tertius PDF, describing the Liberation of Bui Hive by the
Steel Harbingers
- —Corporal Tina Nguyen, Laconia Tertius PDF, describing the Liberation of Bui Hive by the
- "Steel Harbingers claim no heritage though some call them Sons of Gorgon but in truth have a history much different than the Hands of Iron being Warriors first."
- —Unknown
Gallery[]
Acknowledgements[]
Thanks to the Lost Ithacan for help with the campaigns that the Steel Harbingers engaged in and to Achilles Prime for the excellent artwork.
Links Elsewhere posted[]
Bolter and Chainsword Forum Index Mechanicum: Bolter & Chainsword Forums - IA: Steel Harbingers