The Saracens
This page details people, events, and organisations from the /tg/ Heresy, a fan re-working of the Warhammer 40,000 Universe. See the /tg/ Heresy Timeline and Galaxy pages for more information on the Alternate Universe.
The Saracens were a Codex-divergent Second Founding Chapter, first led by Salah Yusuf. They took the Fifth Legion's independent-mindedness as their cardinal virtue and are among the most individualistic of Space Marines.
Background[edit]
Salah Yusuf was recruited to the Fifth Legion from the wild parts of Gaspard Lumey's native Fennechia. Unlike the Primarch, he grew up in a tribe still nomadic and semi-lawless, learning the arts of horsemanship and hunting on the arid Fennec plains. After his warlike father was killed in a skirmish with the authorities, Yusuf was put in the care of his maternal uncle, who taught the youth a little patience and discipline. Rather than carry on the futile struggle for a dying way of life, Salah Yusuf sought to enlist in the military academies of Ciban. Testing quickly revealed his phenomenal aptitudes and a genetic scan indicated a high compatibility with Fifth Legion geneseed, seeing the youth brought to the Collegium Majoris for implantation.
If the physical difficulties were bad enough, the requirement to conform with the ideals of Gaspard Lumey chafed at the young nomad's spirit. Salah Yusuf could accept the virtues of human betterment and liberty (especially his own), but despite his native intelligence he detested book-learning. Only superlative results in physical testing and an acceptance of the core Imperial Truth kept the aspirant in the Legion - and nobody expected that he would amount to much more than a Battle Brother.
Combat Doctrine[edit]
The Saracens use light vehicles and assault troops to launch diversionary and swift strikes, hitting weak points and raiding depots. Their main and devastating strike is launched by mechanized infantry and armour formations. When heavy firepower is required, the Saracens trust to their air support.
Chapter Beliefs[edit]
Although he had accepted the Imperial Truth as an aspirant, Salah Yususf spent his childhood as a worshipper of the primitive Fennec faith. This, perhaps, explains why he and his Chapter would be drawn to the Imperial Cult during the Reformation. Regardless of its origins, the piety of the Saracens is undoubted. Except when actively engaged in the Imperium's crusades, each battle brother observes a strict religious regime. This includes regular fasting and six prayers every Terran day.