Exirans

This article is about an Imperial Army formation from the /tg/ Heresy project, a fan re-working of the Warhammer 40k universe.

Exiran Armored Mercenaries
Homeworld	Exirus
Doctrine	Mechanized Warfare
Signature Equipment	Rapid-Deployment-Wagon(RDW)
Colors	Dark Blue with Gold Livery

The Exiran Armored Mercenaries were a peculiar addition to the armies of the Imperium. Formed up from warriors sent through a crucible of wargames and conflict on their homeworld, the Mercenaries brought with them a odd form of rugged discipline along with plenty of mechanized support. Their Kaiser-Elect willingly surrendered his authority to Shakya Vardhana of the Eyes of the Emperor. Resentful of this, during the Heresy several Prince-Foremen joined along the side of Hektor Cincinnatus to exact revenge.

History

Foundation of Exirus

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After the invention of the Gellar Field, Terra's hunger for colonization knew no bounds. In order to meet the demands of Terra early humans set out to the stars to harvest the resources to supply the homeworld. A large portion of the Core Worlds were colonized at a rapid pace, providing mining facilities, agricultural worlds, and factory planets at the very heart of a growing galactic effort to expand mankind's dominion. No planet was deemed too inhospitable, no world too hostile for humanity's ambitions.

Exirus was no different. Despite the lack of water, large size, and far off position from the heart of the Core Worlds it was taken by starry eyed colonists all the same. The first cities were towering spires and hab-blocks, with the more menial workforce laboring in the mountain ranges carving up metals to be shipped offworld. Then the Long Night came, seeing the cities destroyed by the fighting with the Men of Iron. The skies turned against the Exirans, leaving those who survived in the mountains to build the world back up.

An upper class emerged among those who controlled the mines. Survivors who needed to tend to the harsh soil of Exirus could only subsist on the mercy of the nobility. Kingdoms popped up all over Exirus, regions being dealt out to loyal families adding Duchies and Counties of feudal rulership. It was not long till the old cities being brought back to life as the spires were partially reconstructed by centuries of toil to return them back to the way they once were with far less advanced technology. From these places arose the Burjar, civilians with unseen personal freedoms compared to the field peasants.

War became a past time among the Exirans as Kingdoms would bring themselves into conflicts utilizing Burjar Mercenaries named Lantzers to offset the loss of peasant farmers used in their levies. The Lantzer was moderately trained, with simple equipment used from scavenged parts built by men who only knew basic weapon maintenance. The most famous of these hired bands used recovered armored tanks, which were once mining vessels meant to crawl along the gravity dense surface of Exirus.

The Kaiser's Ascension

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In 455.M25, the secrets of industry had been rediscovered due to diligent work by the Burjars. Tanks of all kinds, with half-track support adding to the now formal and dedicated mercenary battalions emerging from the rag-tag volunteer armies. Rich Burjars could even sponsor these groups, who in turn served the interests of a noble lord as they bid for dominance over territory. King Fraknhert attempts to seize the Free City of Dazni, only to have his Burjar mercenaries turn on him en-masse. Thus begins the Concord of Dazni, which becomes an unstated rule throughout Exirus. Any lord with their eyes to seize the Free Cities will suffer the wrath of the Lantzers.

During the year 564.M25, Komra from the world of Rakizor descend upon Exirus. The fighting claims untold millions, with over two billion of the four living on Exirus being claimed in the conflict. Armies of the servile, engineered from human-Scab warriors lay waste to the fighting forces of Exirus. A Prince of the Richtenesser Kingdom, named Johan, makes an appeal to all those surviving after the first months of the fighting. Giving a passionate speech on the necessity for a singular, strong leader to unite the squabbling lords as a one whole he demands the Kings and Princes make a vote on a leader.

They chose him.

Though young, Johan was able to consolidate the scattered forces of Exirus into a cohesive whole. The fighting was brutal, but they were able to check the hordes of Scabs led by the seemingly unstoppable Komra. Due to tensions elsewhere in the Core Worlds, and with resistance rising, the Komra retreated with the intent to return later to the world after achieving victory over their temperate kin. But from the view of the Exirans, they had forced off the attack. After this, with the approval of the remaining lords, Johan founded the One World Empire.

Exirus grew in the years between the dawn of the Empire and the arrival of the Imperial forces. The Kingdoms in fealty to the Empire were no longer led by Kings, but Princes, as the title showed their more subservient role, and after Prince Johan's ascension became an unspoken tradition to only have Princes become Kaisers. The Princes of Exirus fielding Lantzers to fight limited wars between one another, to prove to the Empire who was more validated to be the Emperor. The position demanded a martial leader capable of bringing together all of Exirus in the case of another attack.

Great Crusade

Service in the Imperial Army was a prestigious affair for both the Princes and Lantzers. The former mercenary outfits held by wealthy regal lords readily assisted in the final actions of the Core Worlds Campaign helping the Eyes of the Emperor Space Marine Legion bring a swift end to their interstellar neighbors. Afterwards, the Exirans heavily mechanized forces were in high demand by Lord Commanders across the Crusade to form an armored backbone for the Imperial Army.

Hektor Heresy

The Exiran regiments in the Imperial Army become divided in allegiance. A planned coup by the Princes against the current Kaiser, Orno Ironside, fails with the Lantzers overthrowing their noble commanders. Those regiments who survive the failure ally alongside the Traitor forces. Exirus is overwhelmed shortly into the Heresy, being directly in the path of Hektor's advance to Terra. The Kaiser is able to retreat, taking with him a few million survivors out of the four billion populace which is purged by Traitor Legionnaires. After the Heresy Orno returns to repopulate Exirus.

Politics

Pre-Imperium, the myriad territories of Exirus were subject to the rule of the Kaiser Elect, chosen from among the thousands of Prince-Foremen that own territory and oversee production throughout the Exiran worlds. In theory, the Kaiser was responsible for defense of the Realm and setting priorities for diplomacy. In practice, the challenges of directly ruling such a vast decentralized proved too great, and many Princes would act as free agents. Each of these princes would oftentimes own precious factories, plentiful farms, or rare mines. Some larger installations being split between multiple princes. These properties would be maintained by serfs, men and women that would be born, raised, and die on the Prince's land. Every Prince considered themselves of equal rank to the others, which only heightened the competitions that sprung up between them.

The Free Cities were merchant republics, each ruled by a council of elders. A representative of the council would vote when the time came for the choice of a new Kaiser, but beyond this very little business was done with the wider Empire. The youth of the Cities would find themselves with a decent education and a built up income allowing them to purchase a rifle and armor. Joining up in the Lantzer regiments was a common practice, paying far better than any academic position or menial labor. These young men would be subject to the games of fancy between the Princes, but were able to after a decade of service retire quietly.

Culture

In the regiments of the Armored Mercenaries, a opulent lifestyle is enjoyed. Due to still being paid by the Princes, these men can afford many services when not on duty. Some soldiers have even been given vacations during lulls in a campaign. A favorite commodity to purchase is yeast-produced alcohol, which is dark in coloration. The Exirans have been known to hold quite a few 'Drinking Brawls', in which they feast on nothing but alcohol inviting any other regiments in their vicinity to join in.

Music is highly valued in the ranks of the Exiran regiments. Drummers, pipers, and singers are usually formed in bands to play songs for the soldiers even when entering battle. These musicians normally write their own songs, usually about the current campaign the soldiers are fighting. A few ballads have survived past their initial conception, living on to become famous tunes sung long after the men who made them have passed. Which is a rarity for Exiran music. A choice selection of Exiran songs include, "Trum, trum, the engine's hum", and "I wish I get to kiss a Terran girl".

Exirans are unusually gaunt and pale due to the smog of the factories on their large world, and oddly stuntish. The average Exiran however hides an unseen strength, having grown up on big Exirus. While their muscles are thin, they can hold the same strength as average human muscles. Much debate has been had by the members of the Mechanicum on whether or not this means the Exirans should be placed under Abhuman status, but experiments are still being conducted.

Military

While normal Imperial Army units have been drafted from the main Exiran populace, their true power comes from the mercenary brigades. Exirus has a long tradition of wargames among the Prince-Foremen for territory and resources. These battles of Kriegspiel would play out on areas specially set aside for them, using real soldiers, real ammunition, and real tanks. These competitions came to emphasize mobility and armor, ditching the mass levees available to the average Prince in favor of an elite core of troops. Each squad consists of a dozen men or less, trained in a specific weapon. They often work with APC support, but with the abundance of other armored vehicles these people carriers go lightly armored and nearly unarmed, focusing more on delivering troops to the field as quickly as possible.

This is a consequence of the nature of Kriegspiel, which has often blinded Princes to broader strategic implications. There's been more than one occasion when Exirans might have taken the day if only their Prince remembered that he had air support at their disposal, or had pressed too far forward on the offensive only to be cut off from their supply lines. And the shortlived nature of these conflicts has created logistic expectations that supporting forces cannot always fulfill.

Despite these difficulties and drawbacks, when properly supplied and directed the Exirus Armored Mercenaries make for a fine tactical force. Due to frictions with the normal Imperial Army and its command structure, Princes are often allowed to command their mercenaries directly in the field. While this has proven effective, it proved troublesome during the Heresy when Princes would bring their entire mercenary force (and attached tanks) to the side of the Traitors. This nearly led to the downfall of Exirus.