Terindom Civil Reparation Regiment
This page is part of the Sector Rusoya Project. See the Sector Rusoya page for more information on the project.
Blah Blah WIP Blah Blah Mostly Done. Just in need of some Writefaggotry and some characters
Rolled up in the 4th Ice Wraith thread because Sector Rusoya was rapidly filling up with enemies and the Ice Wraiths needed some friends.
Terindom
Terindom is a world many consider a jewel among the harsh, unforgiving worlds of the Rusoya Sector. Hot and temperate, 94.74% of the landmass of the planet is covered by tropical jungle with 3.26% of landmass given to the Skyreach Mountain range,the only point on the planet that reaches too high for the jungle canopy to cover it. Even the planets' three, shallow oceans are overgrown with algae and plant-life. The remaining 2% is used by the Planets' Imperial inhabitants, occupying the ruins of an ancient civilization that scholars estimate dates back to the time before the great Crusade.
The life on Terindom very much resembles that of what is known of pre-historic Terra, with immense lizards and primitive mammals being the primary fauna of the planet and the flora consisting of mainly ferns or other shrubs and the large trees that make up the planet-wide canopy.
Human life on Terindom is divided into 5 major settlements, with "settlement" being a loose term. The first three, known as camps Primaris, Secundus and Tertio respectively, are the main prison camps where the prisoners spend their days farming and hunting for the rest of the populace. Camps Primaris and Secundus are all-male camps and Tertio is an all-female camp. The 4th major settlement is known locally as "The Dig" and formally as "Archaeological Site Terindom Primus" and is little more than a village, nestled into the largest cluster of ancient ruins. It is the site of a small archaeological dig consisting of no more than seven Magos of various types and their retinues as well as a guard made up of prisoners. The last settlement, known as "Skybase" to the occupants, is the base, primary headquarters, and training grounds for the Guard Regiments drawn from the prisoners. It is nestled underground and threaded throughout the Skyreach mountain range.
The Regiments
The Terindom regiments themselves are an odd bunch. Nominally favouring mechanized attrition warfare, the jungle makes it difficult to train for this type of scenario. To this end, massive caverns have been carved out of the Skyreach Mountains to give the units enough space to practice their maneuvers and building trenches and fortifications.
Each trooper goes through a fairly intensive selection process to determine if they are ready to receive the Emperor's forgiveness and martyr themselves in the name of the Imperium. Each prisoner must have served for at least 4 years in what is mockingly called the local "PDF" but amounts to little more than guard duty at one of the three main prison camps or at the Dig. Then, if the prisoner in question has proven themselves to be responsible in bearing a weapon and has not accrued an extensive record of offenses during that 4-year period, they are given the opportunity to join the Civil Reparation Regiments.
Each recruit is put through a grueling 6-month training regimen to prepare them for life in the Regiment with more than half the recruits failing out and a small percentage even dying during that period. They are taught the ins and outs of fortification and trench construction, the nuances of their own brand of mechanized warfare, and how to fight properly as a soldier of the Imperial Guard. After being accepted as a recruit into the Regiment any violent criminal act not committed on the field of battle is punishable by death and the commissars of the Terindom units have an especially trigger-happy reputation. If the recruit manages to last through the 6 months of training and has committed no violent crimes since joining the PDF they are officially inducted into one of the Civil Reparation Regiments and are read their Death-release by a priest. This blessing forgives them of any crimes committed in the eyes of the Emperor with the absolution taking effect the moment they are struck a mortal blow in battle against His enemies.
Officers above the platoon-level are nearly always imported from off-world with many officers from nearby systems with dead-end careers ending up commanding Terindom regiments. Being assigned to Command a Terindom Civil Reparations Regiment is a good as a death sentence for a commanding officer as the regimental creed espouses martyrdom and sacrifice in the name of the Emperor.
Famous Figures or Formations
Terindom Civil Reparations regiments are not usually given fresh recruits to replace their losses. Instead, they are combined with other under-strength units and a new regiment formed under the number of the old one. However, a particularly noteworthy regiment can be recognized for their conduct by being declared 'redeemed'. This means that from that point forward the regiment is considered a "Permanent Formation" and will start to recieve fresh recruits to replace any losses they incur during battle. In addition, each member of the Regiment with the 'Veteran' status (as determined by the Regiment's CO) is considered to be absolved of their crimes against the Imperium without having to martyr themselves in the Emperor's name (though they still are expected to do so) and given their status as a full Imperial citizen back.
The 19th Terindom Civil Reparations Regiment "Sky Sharks"
The 19th Terindom Civil Reparations Regiment is unusual in that the regiment is a designated "Air Cavalry" unit among a group of regiments that are known for their static, mechanized warfare tendencies.
The original impetus for such a drastic change in doctrine was a logistical error which saw the newly-formed regiment equipped with a full complement of Valkyries instead of their usual chimeras and Basilisks. By the time the error was discovered by the drivers of the regiment, they were already in the warp, halfway to their destination for their baptism by fire. However, the Regimental Commander, Major-General Elliot Dutton, a shrewd, experienced commander who had previously commanded the Cadian 11386th and served alongside the Harakoni 9047th, realized the potential for heavily armed, mobile troopers. He re-trained the entire regiment in a scant three weeks turning what would have become a disastrous mis-allocation of resources into one of the most highly effective and sought-after forces in sector.
The Sky Sharks' preferred method is to land a fairly large group of self-sufficient infantry deep behind enemy lines right on top of key positions and then capture and hold those positions until an armoured thrust from another Terindom Regiment pushes through and relieves them. The preferred insert method is via rappel line or jumping out of a low-hovering Valkyrie, although grav-chutes are sometimes used for when higher-altitude drops are required. This tactic is usually referred to as the armoured units "taking a stroll through the Market Gardens" making reference to the vast root vegetable gardens that the prisoners of Terindom are forced to maintain in their camps for survival.
After hundreds of battles and a list of honours that only General Dutton himself knows the full extent of, the Sky Sharks were officially recognized as the very first "redeemed" regiment and almost immediately received a massive influx of the most skilled soldiers Skybase had to offer. The red-beret-wearing, mustachioed troopers of the Terindom 19th have become one of the most famous and celebrated regiments in the sector and are now even allowed to recruit from regular citizens and PDF troopers that they have fought alongside. It is well known throughout the Rusoya Sector's forces that when the Astartes of the Ice Wraiths are unavailable, the Sky Sharks are next on the list when calling for reinforcements.
The 611th Terindom Civil Reparations Regiment "Battering Rams"
The 611th Terindom regiment is known as a particularly brutal and aggressive regiment. The 611th is noteworthy for bring made of of the worst of the worst criminals Terindom has to offer. One of the few Terindom regiments to be outfitted with the ubiquitous penal legion det-collars, members of the 611th are not volunteers, nor do they go through the long and arduous training regimen that the other recruits are subjected to. Instead, the 611th is made up of those criminals deemed too dangerous to live in the camps with the other prisoners and its' members are transferred directly from the landers to holding cells in Skybase until the regiment comes back from its' latest deployment in order to pick up the next batch of "recruits". The prisoners of the 611th are not even given any formal training, unheard-of for a Terindom regiment, their universally violent and brutal pasts being deemed adequate experience.
The preferred tactics of the regiment include the heavy usage of modified versions of the Gorgon Armored Assault Transport that incorporate additional reinforcement on the front of the personnel carrier and an added thin layer of armour on the top. The Gorgons are filled to the brim with as many troops as they will each hold with the prisoners initially handcuffed and bound beforehand with their weapons slung across their backs. Upon deployment the Gorgons are rushed at enemy fortifications using their reinforced prows to force their way through defence lines and even bunker walls, giving the regiment its' nickname. When an enemy position is successfully breached, the ramps on the front of the Gorgon open triggering the handcuffs and binds on the prisoners disengage and their lasguns to become active. The only soldiers expected, or indeed, desired, to survive these assaults are the officer-drivers, who are all drawn from the regular recruits of Skybase and put through a special driving school where they learn to pilot the modified Gorgons from their cramped, armoured cabs.
The commander of the regiment, Colonel Martin Raymond, is known to be particularly callous with his soldiers treating them as one would normally treat ammunition to be expended, throwing them into even the most hopeless meat-grinders without a second thought and only rarely actually deploying alongside them. The soldiers themselves, mass-murderers and psychopaths every one, are just as likely to kill each other as the enemy and so this callous attitude is seen as necessary to make sure that the soldiers are too busy fighting for their survival to kill each other. The battering rams are the only Terindom regiment to bear the designation "irredeemable", meaning that not even martyring themselves for the Emperor will grant a member absolution. The best a member of the 611th can hope for is a quick, painless death followed by eternal damnation.
The 611th serve as a brutal reminder to all soldiers of the Terindom regiments that they still all come from criminal pasts and, while redemption is not far away, neither is damnation. Just as there are celebrated and redeemed Terindom regiments that are lauded as heroes, there are condemned, irredeemable regiments reviled by all who know of them.
Crunchy Stuff
- Regiment Classification
- Penal Legion
- Regiment Demographic
- Convicts
- Nature of Recruitment
- Elite Tithe
- Homeworld Designation
- Lost (estimated abandoned since before the time of the Great Crusade and only recently re-colonized)
- Homeworld Terrain
- Jungle
- Regiment Core Units
- Mechanized
- Specialization
- Trench Warfare
- Loyalty Rating
- Adherent. The Emperor picked us for a reason.
- Special Equipment
- Blessed Wargear
- Regiment Creed
- Glory in Death
- Regiment Friends
- Adeptus Astartes (Ice Wraiths, Duh)
- Regiment Enemies
- Chaos Space Marines (Specifically the Night Wolves and Wayward Sons Warbands)
Terindom Civil Reparation Regiment Summed Up
We are part of the Imperial Guard. The draftees are mostly gangers and convicts who have shown above average abilities in combat. The planet we got sent to seems to have been abandoned for multiple eons, maybe even predating the emperor himself. The buildings look similar to the ones seen in old paintings. Upon landfall scanners have not picked up a single sign of life, execpt for the local flora and fauna itself, which is a lush jungle encasing the entire planet filled with dinosaurs. So whatever caused this to happen to the planet has to been long gone, but it could turn up again anytime. Our force is mainly made up out of Mechanized Infantry, armed with blessed wargear. We rely heavily on trench warfare, and we don't back down from any fight, for we know that there is Glory in Death! Also we like to team up with the Ice Wraiths to kick some serious Chaos Marine ass.
Writefaggotry
The First Drop
Sergeant Browton double checked the magazine lock on his lasrifle a third time. It was an archaic pattern from the Lierpuul forge world, a Lierpuul mk IV, specially granted to the Sky Sharks for their role as air cavalry and drop troopers. Greatly reduced cowling, a detachable wire-stock, and a side-feeding magazine all gave the gun a truly unique look, ubiquitous to the regiment that bore them. The rifle in question was battered and scratched, its parts all mismatched from being replaced half a dozen times. The grizzled Veteran Sergeant remembered when he had first been issued the gun, years ago upon his induction into the vaunted Terindom 19th.
The Intercom in the passenger compartment of the Valkyrie cracked with static and came to life, the distorted and tinny voice of the pilot coming through. “Commencing attack run. 15 minutes to drop.” The compartment where Browton sat was momentarily shrouded in darkness as the dim, loading lights switched over to the glowing red of the combat lights.
It was nearly time, thought Browton to as he adjusted his maroon beret, a piece of kit unique to the Sky Sharks alone out of all the Terindom regiments. A blast helmet, like those worn by the Elysian troopers or the Harakoni Warhawks would have been more appropriate for a regiment of drop troopers, but then, the Terindom 19th were unlike any other. No member of the Elite corps would be caught dead without his maroon beret on. Bearing the Maroon was a badge of honour. It meant you were the best of the best Terindom had to offer.
Browton handed his lasrifle to corporal Williams, his second, and stoop up to look at his men, 9 of them, huddled in two rows of five on either side of the cabin. Himself, Williams, and eight greenies, fresh from their training grounds back on Terindom. The troopers had never seen real combat before in their lives, just the mock battles and training simulations back at Skybase. Their young, unlined faces glowing blood-red from the battle-lights.
“Boys,” Browton began “I’m not going to sugar-coat this. We’re in for a real fekk-show when we hit the ground. You all remember the briefing.” The briefing seemed so long ago. In reality it had been less than six hours before now when they had received the word they would be dropping tonight. The Sky Sharks had only fully finished deployment to the planet’s surface just that morning. Browton didn’t even know the throne-damned hunk of rock’s name. “This is the real deal now” he continued, knowing that if his words could keep even one of these men alive that otherwise wouldn’t be he would be satisfied. “Just follow my orders, keep your heads down, and shoot anything that doesn’t have the maroon.”
He surveyed the raw troopers, each looking back at him with a mixture of fear and determination for the fight ahead. Browton knew that as the second wave of a line-drop they would have the hardest fight ahead. The first wave always had the element of surprise, drops ships swooping in out of the dark sky one moment, and disgorging their payloads of troops the next, the troops hitting the ground and opening fire before the enemy was even aware they were under attack. The third wave always had the knowledge that they were dropping into a secure drop-zone and wouldn’t take casualties until they moved into the fighting. The second wave had to drop onto an enemy who, by now, was fully aware of the attack and take over in securing the landing zone for the arrival of the third wave and the support units. The second wave always took the highest casualties in line-drop actions.
Browton’s unit would be lucky to survive the drop, never mind get to their platoon’s objective.
“Algie fer tha love ah th’Emprah, turn a diff’rent shade ah green boy!” called out the irrepressible Corporal Williams, breaking the silence. “Yar gonna blend in wi’ th’ wall lad.” The exclamation served to cut the tension in the cabin, managing to get a couple forced laughs at the expense of the terrified and queasy trooper.
The Squad lapsed back into silence again, the roar of the scram-jets once again filling the ears of each man. Some hummed songs softly to themselves, some prayed to the God-Emperor to see them through the fighting, Browton took his lasrifle back from Williams and checked all the parts and the power-pack charge level again.
After some minutes had passed the pilot’s voice squawked through the intercom again, “five minutes to drop. Better hold on to something gents, it’s about to get choppy out there; we’re about to hit the flak screen.”
As if the pilot’s warning was a cue, the Valkyrie started to shake and rattle, and the muffled explosions of anti-aircraft fire could be head outside the thin armour of the cabin. Browton heard a sharp intake of breath from the each of the troopers in the squad. Corporal William’s eyes lit up in anticipation, eagerly awaiting the certain-to-be-brutal fighting ahead. The Corporal had never quite been the same after the head wound he had taken in three campaigns ago. Trooper Algie violently threw up into a paper bag.
“Steady on now lads” Browton warned, his voice almost drowned out by the sheer amount of flak exploding around the aircraft. “Check Harnesses!” He ordered and each trooper triple-checked the harness of the man beside him and flashed the ‘ok’ symbol to Browton. “Check weapons!” he called out after allowing his own harness to be checked. Each trooper checked that his lasgun was firmly clipped into his harness and that the magazines were locked in place.
Trooper Robbs nervously started to fix his bayonet to the end of his rifle. “No stickers ‘till ya hit tha ground trooper!” admonished Corporal Williams upon seeing this, “cannae have ya greenies accidentally cutting tha line when ya go down, can we!?” Thoroughly chastised, the trooper reluctantly put the bayonet back in its sheathe and secured it.
“Two minutes to drop” squawked the intercom again “opening cabin.” A wall of sound greeted the men when the ramp at the back of the Valkyrie slowly opened.
“Clip in!” yelled Browton above the din, and all ten men stood up and clipped their harnesses into one of the deployment lines running the length of the cabin on each side and ending in a large coil at Browton and William’s feet.
The whole aircraft was shaking as it decelerated, the noise from the fighting below was drowning out even the scram-jets of the Valkyrie. The distinct whip-cracks from the lasrifles of the first wave, the chatter of the autoguns stolen from the manufactorums by the traitors and pressed into service for their rebellion, and the rapid, hard, concussive bangs of heavy bolters used by both sides marked the fighting around the DZ and added to the deafening noise of the flak. Browton could not hear the distinct fizzle of Lascannons though, nor the hollow pop of mortars being fired. Support weapons were often too bulky and heavy to drop in with the troops until the DZs could be secured and could only be landed just after the third wave’s arrival. Until then the troops of the Terindom 19th could only rely on their trusted lasguns and a precious few missile launchers. The lack of the distinctive sounds of lascannons and mortars meant that they had gotten lucky and the enemy didn’t have any in this sector.
“Thirty seconds!” came the voice of the pilot again, strained with the effort of holding the Valkyrie steady amid the gunfire and explosions. “Deploy lines!”
Sergeant Browton and Corporal Williams both kicked the lines at their feet out the back of the Valkyrie and into the fighting below. The Valkyrie had been dumping speed and altitude at an obscene rate for the last several minutes of the approach and was almost in a straight hover now, eighty feet above the fierce battles raging through the winding streets of the hab-block below as it approached the DZ.
The sergeant turned to his men one last time and yelled “remember lads,” his deep baritone cutting across the din of war and he shouted the first line of the famous Terindom 19th “Sky Sharks” battle-cry and unofficial regimental motto.
“Fight like bastards!” The sergeant called.
“DIE LIKE HEROES!” nine men roared back in reply.
“Green light!” yelled out Corporal Williams as the illumination of the cabin changed from red to green, the signal to commence deployment.
Sergeant Browton turned hurled himself out of the cabin of the aircraft into thin air. The automated arrestor clip that attached his harness to the drop-line would kick in at a pre-set height to slow his descent and have him hit the ground at a reasonable speed, but for the first few seconds of the drop, Browton remained in full free-fall as he plummeted down into the fighting below.