Imperial Army (Hektor Heresy)

This page details people, events, and organisations from the /tg/ Heresy, a fan re-working of the Warhammer 40,000 Universe.

Notable Imperial Army Units

The Auron Infantries

(I'm thinking a mix of "everything", like, drawing on ANZAC elements from the world wars, but also from the Vietnam wars (hence a sprinkle of Catachan), but also blended in with sci-fi to keep it consistent with 30k. Still in the early stages though, so could change later on.)

The Auron Infantries are known affectionately among themselves, and those who know them, as ‘Aurries’ (an oh-so very original nickname). The formation was founded on the planet Auron, and ever has ever since recruited its numbers from there.

The Auron Infantries have an emphasis, obviously, on infantry. They make use of little heavy weapons or vehicles.

The flavor is ,predominantly, a mix between WWI and WWII Aus soldiers (them Slouch hats, brownish cloths, sometimes pouches across chests), but obviously worked into the future-soldier look, with a sprinkle of Catachan (singlets, bandannas, muscles, knives, etc).

Solar Auxillia pattern armor is incorporated slightly, just enough to blend it with sci-fi. The Auron Infantry/ies will keep mainly with the lightly armored look (for now), as I think it fits well with the theme.

Their behavior is characterized by Mateship, their casual attitude, a strong brothers-in-arms feeling, general larrikinism, a jokey outlook, but also the tendency to get deadly determined and serious if things turn out dire.

The Auron foot soldiers seem more at home in harsher, wild environments than the average soldier, especially in hot climates, as they are used to such conditions on Auron, especially the rural areas.

Living on Auron has also let Aurries develop certain habits and rituals, like checking your boots EVERY time you put them on, NOT leaving clothing on the ground, and the old tried and tested assuming EVERYTHING that moves is a danger. Such practices further add to the Auron Infantry’s resilience to harsh environments.

This doesn’t mean that the Auron Infantry can breathe toxic air and live in deadly temperatures; it’s just that their ‘comfortable fighting conditions’ is wider and more flexible than the average joe.

Select companies of the Auron Infantry have found niches in the theatre of war, specifically jungle fighting, in which the natural habits of the Aurries are extremely useful (like tracking), although these specialist fighters remain as merely an element of the Auron Infantry.

The Auron Infantries' claim to fame is that they are underestimated by other Imperial Commanders (the casualness gives the impression of minimal dedication), but loved by other foot soldiers (friendly, jokey, generally great guys, always ready to share a cigarette).

Auron is a world of farms, bush, and mountains. It is mostly monocultural, with slight variations according to region. Auron was founded just before the Age of Strife, originally as a low-budget attempt at dumping a multitude of systems' criminals onto one planet. Auron survived throughout the Age of Strife, developing efficient agricultural systems to feed their low population and infrastructure. When they were enveloped into the Imperium, Auron took up the role of an agricultural supplier, and simultaneously founded the Auron Infantries to join the Emperor’s Great Crusade.

Chelob Hammerers

Following the conquest of the Core Worlds Confederation by the Children of Armok and Winged Victory, a heavy tithe of troops was imposed on the defeated planets. As the most populous Core World, Chelob Hold was required to raise one hundred and twenty regiments each year. The warlords of the Imperium were well-pleased by the results. These sturdy men, clad in their Grummel powered armour suits, made outstanding heavy infantry. Their technical nous made them excellent artillerists, though the officers of Hammerer regiments lacked the audacious streak necessary to make good use of their heavy and super-heavy vehicles in open country.

The Dolsene Rifles

Dolsene is a world perpetually under Siege. Located on the very doorstep of the Halo Stars, it has been raided, ravaged and assaulted by all manner of xenos horrors down the years. Over the years this has bred a highly militaristic and egalitarian population, where universal service is the norm, the mandatory conscription of women in times of need and levies of reserve troops which make up the bulk of the population must give one month every year for training and ongoing defence activities as well as being called up when war threatens. These features, coupled with a strict training program and advanced equipment breeds some of the best troops in the Imperial Army and later Guard. Though Dolsene Regiments only rarely leave their embattled homeworld, when they do they are praised for their methods of war, their defensive genius and offensive shock.

Dolsene itself is a strategically vital world. As the hub of an entire fortified sector and the first world to meet invasion when it comes from the Halo Stars, it is heavily fortified with two Class One Star-forts as the primary orbital defence. Even these cannot keep all foes from the planet’s surface, so the ground cities are well fortified with walls, shield generators and antimissile systems in case of enemy bombardment. Dolsene has a much smaller population then similar worlds such as Cadia, and so needs to conserve troops as well as defeat the enemy, which has led to its unique combat doctrine.

Due to the constant assaults from beyond the stars and need to maintain a flexible defence, the Dolsene Rifles use a highly unusual method of ‘offensive defence’. Regiments are assigned a point to anchor their defences upon. From these strongpoints the division would launch spoiling attacks against the foe, putting them on the back foot and forcing them to react and defend instead of assaulting in their full strength. When on the offensive the Dolsene Regiments attack from multiple vectors at once, using speed and surprise to force the enemy back, close in firefights being preferred over the dangers of close combat.

Their stubbornness and refusal to back down in the face of adversity is reflected in their battle cry: ‘We are the Line!’

The Exiran Armored Brigades

So named for the perponderance of tanks and other armored equipment in their divisions, the Exirans are among the most widespread of Imperial Guard units, with Princes fighting on almost every side of every conflict. Hailing from the eponymous sector, Exiran units feature some of the best individual fighting forces in the Imperium. Exirus is home to countless factories spanning entire continents, and based on a tradition of ritualized warfare between local nobles Exiran units have developed a stong tradition of integrated armor/infantry/artillery operations. While the various Princes have since embraced naval and space combat as well, the wargame traditions have often time blinded them to wider strategic considerations.

If left to their own devices an Exiran brigade may quickly run out of fuel, run out of food, run out of ammo in protracted battles. This is not indicative of any sort of wastefulness on the part of Exirus soldiers but a testament to the Kriegspiel traditions of their commanding officers, when a single battle might have dictated the fate of an entire nation. Exiran infantry may require greater resupply but they are well trained professional soldiers rather than the mass conscripts of other parts of the Imperium. Squads train with nearly every weapon available to them. A commanding officer couldn't ask for a better fighting force, but Imperial Commissars often butt heads with them. As such, one will often find Princes of Exirus leading a brigade from the front in the Commissar's stead.

The Kondrus Aeroguard

(Note: Whereas the Elysian Drop Troops are more of a Paratrooper themed unit in the vein of the U.S. 82nd Airborne Division and 75th Rangers, the Kondrus Aeroguard are an Air Assualt centric force built around the close joint maneuver of VTOL's and infantry inspired by Afghanistan War era VDV and European air mobile units.)

Hailing from the former Hive World Kondrus in the Solar Segmentus, the foreboding shadows of Kondrus Aeroguard gunships and their hooded drop troops have graced many a recalcitrant world's surface. An Air Assualt formation, the Kondrus Aeroguard make extensive use of VTOL gunships which serve as organic transport and fire support for squads of Light and Medium infantry. Light infantry (in search of a better name) serve as infiltrators and guerrillas, drawn from the bands of young scavengers and treasure seekers that scour the lichen jungle covered industrial ruins that surround the Hives of Kondrus. Medium Infantry possess semi-powered armor, allowing them to carry stubbers as primary weapons. These squadrons are also host to Hardsuits, bipdel walkers which carry a host of heavy weapons and advanced sensor systems. The Aeroguard also makes use of elite, air mobile armored formations of light tanks and self propelled artillery for the rapid exploitation of enemy weaknesses and strikes against enemy command and control nodes. Rarely seen though often prized are Kondrus Aeroguard GravLancers, large yet fast skimmers that possess Grubhead Demolition rockets. Flying low and hugging the terrain, GravLancers and their devastating ordinance are used to break stubborn enemy fortifications.

Kondrus Aerguard forces are known for keeping to themselves when deployed with other formations, preferring the company of their own gunship bound squadmates where they often can be found bartering and playing music on instruments designed to emulate the sound of the wind whistling through the carcasses of dead Hives and the constant clanking of the manufactorium jungles that dot the world's floor. They also make heavy use of mimic and stealth cloaks, hoods, and pressurized helmets which allow them to fight in a variety of environments. Aeroguard forces will not hesitate to scavenge battlefields for useful components and even souvenirs, though their compliment of high powered stalker guns, bullpup autoguns and above average sensor gear are usually sufficient for their tasks. Kondrus Aeroguard also utilize a variety of launchers, such as Flamer rockets and rad munitions.

A typical Aeroguard attack is a chaotic swarm of landing and strafing gunships. False landings and constant harassment confuse the enemy as to the Aeroguard's numbers and location. In extended operations, Aeroguard light infantry serve as skirmishers, attacking enemy supply lines and destroying the enemies own recon elements all the while relaying information back to command. When enemy vulnerabilities and strategic locations are determined, Medium infantry are deployed to either force the enemy to engage them or secure already contested points. Once an enemy moves to engage, Air Mech lances are deployed on head hunter raids to cripple enemy command and control elements or to attack other targets of opportunity. All the while, VTOL elements provide fire support, air interdiction and resupply.

While tactically and strategically nimble, Aeroguard regiments lack the capability to provide a knockout blow in a head to head fight, under performing when not augmenting a more heavy hitting or numerous force. Also, their lack of initiative in cooperating tactically with other Imperial Army troops can result in battlefield friction.

The Markian Corps

Bound in servitude to the Fifth Legion is the Markian Pact, a military alliance of five planets(and a forgeworld) to the galactic southeast of Ciban. The regiments of Karmia, Atashia, Kouralia, Lemartia, and Thenar are insignificant individually; what the Markian regiments derive their power from is combined arms and unit cohesion, utilizing versatility to attain victory. Instead of going their separate ways, the regiments raised in the Markian Pact unify into a Grand Corps consisting of artillery, infantry, armor, and light elements combined to assault a single stubborn foe. This oddity of unity is accomplished with the approval of their Astartes benefactors, who see the versatility and close ties of the Grand Corps as advantageous in planetary-scale warfare.

The Markian regiments field a variety of distinctive equipment, some of which seems to go against their intended role. From the sniper mantlet used on the frontline in siege battles, to the light but powerful mountain gun artillery in service with light infantry, Markia's forces do not take the phrase "intended role" seriously. In general, besides their specialist weapons and regiments, the Markians are Jack of all trades, master of none: their infantry, while disciplined and professional, are not trained to excel in a specific situation; their artillery gets the job done, but don't expect perfection; their armor is sufficient, but is hardly a match for dedicated tank forces; their drop regiments are simply that, without much renown, their primary feature being the airships they possess; and their mechanized regiments are good enough, but far from the best. Their specialist regiments, however, are the opposite: the mountain infantry and roughrider regiments, while rather heavily armed for their supposed role, are out of their element anywhere besides mountains and open ground; air-mobile artillery regiments are fast, but lack the fortress-busting firepower of heavy artillery; L'Infentarie de Marine regiments' vessels are useless without so much as a lake; and sapper regiments are slow and of questionable utility outside of trench warfare and sieges.