Falqerkan Engineers

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

Falqerkan Engineers
Homeworld	Falqerk
Doctrine	Combat engineering, siege and fortification
Signature Equipment	spigot-mortars, demolition charges, flamers.
Associated Legion	Thirteenth Legion

The Falqerkan Engineers were an Imperial Army formation founded during the Great Crusade.

Background

Falqerk was brought into compliance without bloodshed in 863.M30 by the Rogue Trader Major Willam Hawkeelings Middletone Lancastair. The people of Falqerk were disposed of the opinion that the Imperium provided more opportunities for the Falqeekan people than without, though many reservations were made about the freedoms and independence of Falqerk itself. The regiments tithed first came into contact with Astartes from the XIII Legion. Their spirit and ingenuity quickly won the respect of the Astartes Legion who 'adopted' many regiments of the Falqerkan Engineers, and folded them into Echelon, the formation responsible for incorporating and coordinating Imperial Army into frontline duties. The regiments of Falqerk were divided relatively evenly at the outset of the Heresy, with most of those who had served under the Jausticars joining the Astartes traitors. But many regiments remained staunchly loyal to the Imperium, one regiment even dying to a man on Terra itself. Post-Heresy Falqerk continues to provide the Imperium with more than its alotted tithe, though grumblings about independence have been heard as the Imperium adapted after the Reformation.

Organisation

The clan system that enables the survival of Falqerkan peoples is also found in its regimental organisation. Though recruited from clans from all over the planet, new blood are inducted into their regiment in a ceremony identical to those the recruits would have gone through as children coming of age back home on Falqerk. The Falqerkan regiments possess unusually modified Imperial armoured vehicles, designed to fill battlefield engineering roles and act as platoon support weapons that can be used to plug a gap in fortifications easily. Despite these vehicles the Falqerkan regiments are not armoured regiments, retaining many companies of infantry engineer teams, and scout saboteurs.

Doctrine

The Falqerkan Engineers are unsurprisingly used most commonly as battlefield support, providing tailor-made solutions to dynamic battlefield problems. When deployed with the Expedition Fleets of the Imperium, the numerous regiments of Falqerk would quickly earn a reputation for their bravery, resilience, and resourcefulness. When deployed by the Justicars, the Falqerkans were often tasked to help other Imperial Army regiments live, move, and fight at the operational tempo the Justicars set;no mean feat! They were often popular with the locals due to their friendliness and for spearheading the XIII Legions planetary rebuilding efforts. When required though the stalwart Engineers fight alongside their Imperial Army brethren shoulder to shoulder; the stalwart and stubborn Falqerkan spirit, and their deep appreciation of the strength of unified action make them a strong backbone to any front line.

Wargear

The regiments role as battlefield engineers gave them an interesting array of weapons and equipment to employ. Most common is the man-portable spigot-mortar, which functions as a squad support weapon, and as a versatile engineering tool capable of firing grapnel hooks and demolition charges the regiments are so fond of; Spigot mortars can be found on almost every vehicle in the regimental armoury, even if it had to be jury-rigged to the vehicle with bootlaces. The regiment also has small dedicated brigades of elite engineers who spearhead assaults on fortification with flamers and demolition charges.

Homeworld

A quiet day on Falqerk

Located in northern Segmentum Ultima, the planet of Falqerk is a bleak place; The skies are almost permanently grey, and the temperature only varies between cold and colder still. The varied terrain tends towards being sparsely forested and with poor soil, making for hard living. For the average Falqerkan citizen, most of the year is dedicated to preparing to survive the winter or evading the persistent xenos raiders. With all the hardships of living, one would think the Falqerkans to be a dour and sombre people. Somehow though, the people of Falqerk elude this assumption. Instead they are possessed of a stalwart resilience to these hardships, overcoming the challenges of their lives with an unshakeable optimism and infectious good humour.

Aside from a few heavily fortified strongholds dug deep into the mountains, the majority of the Falqerkan settlements are temporary; most Falqerkans live in semi-nomadic clans. The constant threat of raiders is a way of life, and shooting down bands of raiders from the safety of the fortifications each clan constructs is a regular chore. But the larger and more organised bands of raiders pose serious threats, as most clans do not have enough manpower to safely deal with them. So, the Falqerkan clans make their forts from prefabricated components and armoured vehicles, that can be quickly constructed and deconstructed with great speed and efficiency. Other clans build their forts directly into their vehicles; makeshift airships and track-mounted fortresses that traverse the planet stopping only to gather resources or trade. The more insane clans set out onto the planets vast oceans, building flotillas of enormous floating citadels they join together with cables and chains. These floating cities are spared the winter and all but the most desperate and determined raiders, but they are far from safe. Falqerk doesn't have many dangerous predators that roam its lands, but the watery depths of the great lakes and oceans are not so sparse; beneath these icy depths dwell gargantuan monsters better suited to legends and myth than reality. Tales of colossal sea monsters rising from the depths to attack and consume the floating cities are common, and worryingly accurate in their veracity. However, the oceans and great lakes provide such bountiful sources of food, the most prized resource on Falqerk, that clans will always be drawn to risk their very survival.

There is a common saying on Falqerk: "If you want to make something of your life, join the merchant guild, or become a soldier". This advice, given to so many young men and women as they come of age, combined with the hardships of life on the planet, perfectly explains why Falqerk produces more regiments and navy personnel than any other world in its sector, despite its comparatively small population.

Notable Regiments

• 3rd Falqerkan Engineers, "The Black Watch"
  

The 3rd regiment was one of the most illustrious regiments produced from Falqerk, having served in countless campaigns. These veterans died to a man at the Siege of Terra, fighting in a bitter defence staged on the final approaches to the Imperial Palace. This heroism was lost in the many displays of heroism on that dark day, though the Falqerkan Engineer do not forget.

• 319th Falqerkan Engineers
  

The 319th regiment played a significant role in the final battle of the Valefiddick Campaign, laying bridges over a river while under intense fire, and going on to lead a charge into a breach supported by the 180th Juran Light Infantry and the 18th and 12th Hibiki Armoured Infantry regiments.

Notable Personnel

• Aethelstan Hakkinen Muir, b. 839.M30, d. 017.M34.

Muir started his journey as a sergeant in the 1st Falqerkan Engineers regiment. He would prove himself a tenacious and creative leader, and was promoted to lead his own company. There he would fight alongside the warriors of the Justicars. A close bond was formed between the regiment and the XIII, and the 1st would find itself as the backbone of the 9th Expeditionary Fleets Imperial Army support forces. Muir would go on to become the regimental commander for the 1st, and ultimately sided with the traitors. He continued his service with the Justicars after the Heresy and would eventually meet his end in the fierce city fighting on Ithas Secundus during the Asmorian Campaign.