Editing Pallas Eugenesis

{{Infobox Homebrew 40k Characters
|name=Pallas Eugenesis
|bgcolor=Black
|fgcolor=White
|image=[[File:Dark queen by dularif-d3gudqw.jpg|225px]]
|title=Mother of Heresy, Eclipse Queen of Luna, Self-proclaimed Gene-Empress of Mankind
|alias=
|where=Luna
|when=late 8th Century, Thirtieth Millenium
|legion=associated with the [[Heralds of Hektor]]
|crusade=Governor of Luna
|sigil=[[File:Solar eclipse by lmaowut-d50nqhe.png|135px]]
|weapon=
|trait=Brilliant gene-wright
|flaw=Vain, superficial
|role=Pledges her aid to Hektor
|fate=Abandons the Siege of Terra and flees to the Eye of Terror
|dominion=Luna
}}
{{/tg/-Heresy-Head}}

{{Topquote|You are the moon to my sun. Our union was foreshadowed by all of man's struggles to date; the long rise from a bestial state, the crafting of the first tools, the founding of what previously passed for golden ages. Now that we are finally together, humanity's true day can begin - and we shall be the heralds of its dawn!|Excerpt from Hektor Cincinnatus' wedding vows}}

'''Pallas Eugenesis''' was a genetically-engineered super-being who swore loyalty to the Imperium toward the end of the [[Unification Wars (Hektor Heresy)|Unification Wars]]. She was particularly associated with the [[Heralds of Hektor|First Legion]] through her political marriage to their Primarch, [[Hektor Cincinnatus]]. Pallas was a brilliant geneticist and contributed her skills to the expansion of the great [[Legiones Astartes (Hektor Heresy)|Space Marine Legions]] of the [[Great Crusade (Hektor Heresy)|Great Crusade]]. Her skills would also help to destroy the Loyalist Legions during the [[Hektor Heresy]].

==Early Life==
{{Topquote|Normally the work of a Selenar heathen wouldn't even be worthy of our contempt.  But according to my agents, this "Pallas Eugenesis" has been making great strides in the Ars Biologis. It is my view that no price is too high to pay for copies of her data.|Lyster Larrey, written report to the Conclave for Intra-Solar Action}}

To many of Luna's gene-wrights, Pallas Eugenesis was the pinnacle of their art. She embodied centuries of experimentation. As she matured, many of the gene-cultists pledged their lives to Pallas Eugenesis, seeing her as a living goddess. However, fractious Luna could not be united peacefully, and the '''Eclipse Queen''' (as she was styled) would spend decades leading her armies against rival cults. Pallas also feuded with the warlords of [[Mars (Hektor Heresy)|Mars]]. The Magos Biologis [[Lyster Larrey]] sacrificed much to raid her gene-forges, but along with a bounty of gene-wrights and data-slates his forces also brought the crafty shape-shifting assassin '''Delphana''' to Mars. Pallas's agent would spend several years in deep cover on the Red Planet, copying Larrey's research and sending the fruits of his labour back to Luna. And so it went in the Age of Strife - petty lords exchanged petty insults and attacks.

The stalemate broke with the emergence of the '''Emperor of Mankind''' as the immminent unifier of Terra. Luna's warring factions did not mistake the implications: once the Emperor had finished on earth, he meant to claim the rest of the Solar System one way or another. In response, the Selenars set aside their differences and allied against the off-worlder. Initially, however, the Emperor sent only envoys, seeking to make a pact with Luna in the name of uniting the human race. Like the other gene-lords, Pallas Eugenesis rejected subordination to the Terran upstart. However, she was intrigued by an off-hand mention of the Emperor's genetically-created son and general, [[Hektor Cincinnatus]].

Dispatching one of her agents to Terra was not easy, but Pallas was accustomed to having her will served. Delphana delivered a message signalling the Eclipse Queen's willingness to negotiate with Hektor Cincinnatus personally. The Primarch left Pallas waiting for a short time, but it cannot be said that he disappointed her. On first sight of Hektor, Pallas was awed by the gene-craft that had wrought him.  She understood immediately that to harm such a perfected creature would be blasphemous, a far greater sin than abandoning her new-found allies on Luna. Although the talks were tense, Hektor and Pallas found a certain pleasure in one another's company. Neither had spent time with any creature that could rightly be considered a peer before and the simple novelty of being understood kindled feelings of friendship.  Seeing Hektor as someone she could work with and eager to maximise her gains, the Eclipse Queen proposed to make alliance with the Emperor. The price for her loyalty was Hektor joining her in political wedding - a symbol of the unity between the peoples of Luna and Terra. Once Hektor's reservations about the nature of the marriage were answered, the Primarch gave his assent, conditional on the Emperor's approval.

With the assistance of Pallas and her followers, the gates of Luna were opened and Hektor's Space Marines quickly conquered the satellite. The Primarch's [[Heralds of Hektor|First Legion]] secured Pallas's own territories, protecting her vassals from the vengeance of the other Selenar rulers. Meanwhile the [[War Scribes|Second Legion]] and [[Steel Marshals|Tenth Legion]] deployed and attacked. Though some of the defenders held out stoically, the matter had already decided.

Following the conquest, Pallas Eugenesis traveled to Terra to formally surrender her homeworld and receive the Emperor's recognition as the Governor of Luna. She had no high expectations of Hektor's creator, though she walked into their meeting with a great respect for his scientific talents. As Pallas came into the Emperor's presence, she felt the new sensation of mortal terror. So profound was this sensation that, rather than making a stately curtsy, she threw herself at His feet. Without permitting her to rise, the Emperor summarily granted His new servant the dignity of Imperial Governor of Luna. His great voice rumbled on, reminding Pallas that she was an imperfect creature, but that if she served His great designs and the needs of mankind then she would earn far more than the lying gene-cultists of Luna had ever promised. If she failed or turned to ambition rather than duty, there would be no mercy. Finally, the Emperor commanded Pallas Eugenesis to raise her head and meet His gaze, so that she might see the truth of His words in His eyes.

==Servant of the Emperor==
{{Topquote|Although the Legion pines for our lost father, we are blessed by the hand of our mother Pallas. Without her work, we would have been a mere footnote in the Great Crusade. Whatever we can do as repayment is too little.|Excerpt from Orend Ymoro's address to the newly-formed 4th [[Expedition Fleets (Hektor Heresy)|Expedition Fleet]]}}

Following her meeting with the Emperor, Pallas returned to her domain and set to work organising Luna's genetic laboratories for the production of Space Marine gene-seed and bringing the world into compliance with the Imperial Truth. Many of her followers found it difficult to refer to the Eclipse Queen as merely a scientifically superior being, endowed with great abilities but not a focus of veneration. Pallas showed great patience with these apostates, shielding them from Imperial Iterators until they had time to come to terms with the new reality. She was also vigorous in supervising civil reconstruction efforts as Luna recovered from its long civil war and the damage incurred during Pacification. Perhaps her greatest scientific achievement in this period was repairing the radiation damaged gene-seed of the [[War Scribes|Second Legion]]. The Second had been [[Dalvan Atrocity|attacked with nuclear weapons]] during the war against the Pan-Pacific Empire, and although the Emperor had the forces to see through the Unification Wars He was anxious that all of his Legions stand ready to embark on the Great Crusade. Pallas proved her prodigy by repairing the damage, and although she warned that the long-term stability of the Second Legion's gene-seed was suspect she earned considerable prestige among the War Council and the loyalty of the Second's Legion Master, [[Orend Ymoro]].

Like her master, the Emperor, the Eclipse Queen's dreams went well beyond her home system, but she did not have certainty to her position. She saw clearly that her security and influence in the new Imperium of Mankind required the fulfillment of her marriage pact with Hektor Cincinnatus. Carrying out their respective duties had kept the pair apart since their unorthodox engagement, but regular correspondence bridged the physical divide. Although their upbringings were quite different, Pallas and Hektor found certain peripheral common interests. For example, both were highly sensitive to the importance of fashion and appearance, and the primarch was as much an aid to developing his betrothed's wardrobe as she was in establishing the uniforms of his soldiers. But mostly their conversations dwelt upon the banalities of the day and their hopes for a brighter future. Even successes, be they Hektor's military victories or Pallas's scientific breakthroughs, were framed as mere steps on a road to an indefinite but glorious goal. The Emperor's final victory in the Unification Wars brought that goal one great step closer. All of Terra and Luna celebrated their union in late 798.M30, with the wedding of Hektor Cincinnatus and Pallas Eugenesis the symbolic highlight of the pageantry. With the Emperor presiding, the couple spoke their vows. Hektor was bombastic and hailed the marriage as an historic event in itself. Pallas felt the gaze of her new father-in-law and solemnly pledged her dedication to husband, master, and realm - earning a small smile from the Emperor.

Although the marriage was a political alliance rather than a physical liaison, it still provided Hektor with new sons. The First Legion were granted exclusive tithe-rights to Luna's teeming Hives and under Pallas's supervision the process for creating new Adeptus Astartes was streamlined. Of particular note was her discovery of a method for strengthening and improving the gene-seed with fresh samples of Primarch genetic material, a process first carried out using Hektor's tissues to benefit the First Legion. This discovery, and her broader role in the expansion of the Legions extended the Eclipse Queen's prestige, especially among the veterans of the [[Sacred Band]]. As Hektor himself was drawn to the fighting at the edges of the expanding Imperium, Pallas's court at Luna became a locus for influence-brokering among the Legions of the Great Crusade. Those in favour with Pallas Eugenesis could expect to see their Legion's increasing needs for genetic work met swiftly, while those that she disliked often found that "unexpected delays" occurred. [[Antoine Antonelle]] and the rump [[Void Angels|Fifth Legion]] suffered the worst neglect, though it appears that Pallas held no personal enmity to them. This system of patronage certainly distorted the growth of the [[Legiones Astartes (Hektor Heresy)|Space Marine Legions]], but the War Council generally looked at the overall picture of success and smiled upon Pallas's work.

===Early Great Crusade===
{{Topquote|I was able to deduce your involvement by observation and logic, the basic tools of a detective. There's just one piece of the puzzle that doesn't fit. Why didn't you push to have Larrey executed?|Uriel Salazar, excerpt from vid-recordings covertly made by the Primarch of the Justicars}}

The rediscovery of [[Arelex Orannis]] in 806.M30, and his dispatch to Mars shortly thereafter, was initially kept secret. However, Pallas's now considerable expertise with the peculiar genetics of the Adeptus Astartes made her privy to this knowledge. As soon as was practical, she traveled to the Red Planet to meet with the new-found Primarch, intending to assess the man and gain samples of his genetics.  Despite a certain degree of frostiness between Luna and Mars, [[Kalkas Tygian]] was a gracious host. Yet that pleasant surprise did little to alleviate Pallas's disappointment with Arelex Orannis. She had hoped for a man similar in type to her husband, a figure whose genetic superiority was obvious at a glance. She had expected at least a worthy sire to her recently-fallen favourite Orend Ymoro, a warrior of noble bearing in his own right. Arelex's stout, battered frame suggested a certain resilience, but he was far from graceful, let alone handsome. Pallas immediately concluded that her long weeks of work striving to repair the Second Legion's genetics had been in vain. The source, not the corruption of rad-weapons, was the reason for their defects. The Eclipse Queen concealed her anger and dealt with Arelex Orannis civilly enough, but she cut short her visit to Mars and made no haste to investigate the genetic samples the Primarch had provided. Pallas was so disgusted by her meeting with Arelex that she even proposed, in private correspondence with Hektor, that the Second Legion should be starved of resources and disbanded. Her husband's conciliatory reply recommended that she transfer responsibility for Arelex Orannis and his gene-sons to the genetors of Mars. Hektor argued that either Lyster Larrey would make something of the Second Legion's genetics to the benefit of the Imperium, or disgrace himself to the benefit of Luna.

Pleased by Hektor's suggestion, Pallas framed a highly diplomatic proposal for the transfer of responsibility. Lyster Larrey was surprised by his old rival's about-face but his delight at getting his hands into the Space Marine Project drove off any suspicion. The success of the Magos in stabilising the Second Legion's gene-seed using Arelex Orannis's genetics did little to impress Pallas, although she concealed her sneering about "at best, a second-rate genetor, doing second-rate work, on a second-rate Legion" to all save her most trusted confidants. Pallas took advantage of her reduced work-load to inspect some of the more civilised worlds newly-conquered by the First Legion, combining a biological survey with political appearances. Many of the planets that she visited renamed cities or landmarks in her honour. But on return from [[Olmer]] in 809.M30, Pallas discovered that her inattention to Solar politics had been costly. Lyster Larrey had been granted a place in the Space Marine Project and would now be supervising the implantation of Adeptus Astartes, including those of her beloved First Legion. The insult stung, but Pallas held her tongue. By now she knew the Emperor's character well enough to understand the consequences of complaining to him directly.

Instead of protesting, Pallas once again called on the services of Delphana. The Selenar assassin had significant experience with Larrey's security and encryption routines, and her powers of transformation could baffle even the close watch put on the Space Marine Project. Delphana quietly infiltrated Larrey's team and began hunting for incriminating evidence. After several years under deep cover, she discovered not mere misdemeanors but an outright crime. Larrey had conducted secret experiments on Space Marine gene-seed, seeking to "improve" on the Emperor's creation. Rather than expose Larrey directly, Pallas ordered Delphana to arrange the discovery of the damning files by a Terran genetor. The plot was a complete success. Larrey was perhaps fortunate only to be dismissed from the Project and returned to Mars in disgrace. With Larrey removed, new-found Primarch [[Uriel Salazar]] was transferred to Pallas's facilities on Luna for the process of enhancing his [[The Justicars|Thirteenth Legion]]'s gene-seed.  Uriel terrified Pallas by confronting her over the plot against her rival, but the Primarch went on to explain that he believed the cause of justice and the Emperor to have been served - even if the Eclipse-Queen had acted for more personal reasons.

As the Great Crusade continued, Pallas played host to the newly-discovered Primarchs in succession. [[Shakya Vardhana]]'s cryptic sayings were a bore, while [[Roman Albrecht]] was a model patient and [[The Voidwatcher]] proved every bit as unsettling as Uriel, though more for his demeanor than his discoveries. Pallas was, however, thoroughly taken by arrival of [[Johannes Vrach]] on Luna. Although the Primarch of the [[Life Bringers|Twelfth Legion]] was quiet and reserved, he was a brilliant biologist in his own right and his tenure was more that of a co-thinker than a subject. Vrach also took on the role of peacemaker, as he had been accompanied to Luna by his caustic brother [[Gaspard Lumey]].

===The Great Work===
By the beginning of the second century of the Great Crusade, Hektor Cincinnatus was concerned that the cutting edge of his Legion had grown dull.  While the Primarch set about military and political reforms, he commanded his wife to purify the Wolves' gene-seed.  Machaon Empiricus, Hektor's chief apothecary, was seconded to Luna to co-ordinate this great work.

==Appearance and Personality==
{{Topquote|Pallas is poison.|Gaspard Lumey, private correspondence}}

Her upbringing as a goddess did not incline Pallas Eugenesis to concerns for the well-being of others. In the most part, inferiors were to obey her will or be disciplined, often by death or worse.  However, she was given to adopting favourites who she would lavish with praise and provide with generous assistance. First among these was, of course, her husband Hektor Cincinnatus, but she also patronised many of the warriors of the Sacred Band. Among the other Primarchs, she only truly respected [[Johannes Vrach]], a fellow genewright. The others were simply seen as assets or dangers, depending on they aligned themselves. For a time Pallas Eugenesis recognized the Emperor of Mankind as her social better and followed His laws, but she was never a convert to His vision of a united human Empire or the furthering of the Imperial Truth. For all her cynicism and aloofness, Pallas was an asset to the Imperium. Through most of the Great Crusade, she was a willing ally of the Emperor who expected to rise along with him, and a scientific genius whose prodigy greatly accelerated the growth of the Space Marine Legions.

However, the Eclipse Queen showed a terrible cruelty after the [[Hektor Heresy]] began. She advocated the use of atrocities to disorient the Loyalist cause and carried out chilling experiments on captive Space Marines and mortals alike. Besides her betrayal of the Emperor, Pallas would also break her ties with Hektor and she abandoned him at the Siege of Terra.

Despite the occasional bitterness of her character, she was a strikingly beautiful and charming creature. Her skin was as pale as the gleaming silver face of her homeworld, but unlike Luna she remained unblemished and youthful. Pallas stood taller than even the warriors of the Adeptus Astartes and despite her slender, almost fragile appearance the Eclipse Queen was incredibly strong and resilient.  Befitting her style as the monarch of Luna she favoured black and silver schemes, but her sense of fashion was ever-dramatic. Many of the court trends in the Great Crusade era were inspired by Pallas' fancies. It was rare for Pallas to take to the battlefield. When she did go to war, she disdained armour of any kind and trusted in her gene-crafted bodyguards - or, as a last resort, a Refractor Field and her inherent toughness.

=A fan's Attempt at Rules=
{| border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="5" align="left"
! || PTS || WS || BS || S || T || W || I || A || Ld || Sv
|-
| '''Pallas Eugenesis:''' || 250 || 5 || 7 || 5 || 7 || 4 || 7 || 5 || 8 || 5+/3++ 
|}<br style="clear: both; height: 0px;" /><br>

Unit Type: Infantry, Independent Character. 

Wargear: Rail Pistols, Selanic Cherub, Velvetine Regalia. 

Special Rules: Adamantium Will, Crusader, Deep Strike, Eternal Warrior, Feel No Pain(4+), Fleet, Genewright, Independent Character, It Will Not Die, Jealous Pride, Night Vision, Not Worth Dying For.

'''Rail Pistols''': A pair of custom Mass Accelerator Pistols manufactured for Pallas when she found all other weapon choices... Lacking. S6 AP1, 30 inch range, Assault 4, Blind, Deflagrate, Haywire.

'''Selanic Cherub''': An Cyber-Familiar with advanced shielding and medical technology. Allows Pallas to reroll failed characteristic tests, It Will Not Die rolls, and invulnerable saves to shooting.

'''Velvetine Regalia''': Never one to come underdressed, Pallas's beautiful outfits have a built in Refractor field, and ballistic fibres woven into the cloth (though one might note that her own enhanced skin offers more protection).

'''Genewright''': Pallas grants two troops choices in the army +1 WS, BS, or Initiative. 

'''Jealous Pride''': May never be warlord. Additionally, Pallas and her Praetorians do not count as an allied detachment, and may never benefit from warlord traits, embark in allied transports, or be joined by allied characters. Additionally, if Pallas takes to the field alongside her husband or any unit with '''Legiones Astartes: Heralds of Hektor''', she and her praetorians gain Fearless.

'''Not Worth Dying For''': Pallas is famously arrogant. and will ''certainly not'' put her own life at risk if the tides turn against her. Pallas must test for morale and flees separately from her praetorians and does not benefit from their morale or special rules. Additionally she tests for morale when the army loses half its models and whenever she takes a wound.

{| border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="5" align="left"
! || PTS || WS || BS || S || T || W || I || A || Ld || Sv
|-
| '''Lunar Praetorian:''' || 40 || 5 || 5 || 5 || 5 || 1 || 5 || 2 || 9 || 2+/4++ 
|-
| '''Praetorian Champion:''' || 65 || 6 || 5 || 5 || 5 || 2 || 5 || 3 || 10 || 2+/4++ 
|}<br style="clear: both; height: 0px;" /><br>

Unit Type: Infantry

Unit Composition: 2-6 Lunar Praetorians.

Wargear: Bolt pistol , Lunar Blade, Defensive Grenades, Mass Accelerator Rifle, Melta Bombs, Praetorian Plate.

Special Rules: Counterattack, Cover Her Retreat!, Deep Strike, Praetorians of the Queen, Relentless. 

'''Mass Accelerator Rifle''': An esoteric, finely crafted type of rifle manufactured on Luna exclusively for the Praetorian elite. S6 AP1, 30 inch range, Heavy 2.

'''Lunar Blade''': a massive, golden arm blade in place of a powerfist, S:+1 AP 2 Melee, Shred, enemies have -1 to invuln save on rolls of 6

'''Praetorian Plate''': Finely wrought silver and white power armor with advanced targeting systems. 2+/4++, and all shots made at half range count as twin-linked. 

'''Cover Her Retreat!''': If Pallas Eugenisis breaks in combat and retreats, enemies may never sweeping advance against her as long as any praetorians are left. If they are not locking in combat, the praetorians must always flee with Pallas, keeping pace with her as well as possible. 

'''Praetorians of the Queen''': ATSKNF by another name, plus Praetorians fire snapshots at BS2.

'''Praetorian Champion''': For 25 points one praetorian may be upgraded to champion, gaining 1 WS, A, W,and LD. Additionally he exchanges his Lunar blade and Bolt pistol for a Praetorian Lance (S+2 AP2, Two Handed, Instant Death,). 

Pallas and her boys are Fun!*. On one hand, they're a deepstriking unit that'll cause Elites and Light vehicles in their proximity to suffer spontaneous critical existence failure, and they're dangerous to charge, what with their defensive grenades and wicked (BS2, twin linked) overwatch, plus, with their melta bombs and Pallas's haywire guns, they stand a decent chance of hurting heavier vehicles. On the other hand, they're actually pretty fragile for a squad that'll cost you anywhere from 430 to 610 points, even with their 2+/4++, and Pallas herself might lose her shit and run off if she gets hurt.