Editing Ferdain (section)

==Ferdain Mustangs==
The Ferdain Mustangs are only a relatively recent development; the planet reached a population to have to provide tithes to the Imperium's war effort that would not simply be covered by their other industries any longer. This was co-ordinated by the nobles, and as such ceremony took place over marshal practicality.

Each of the regiments is run and owned by nobles who have purchased a commissioned officer's rank, only some of which have much military experience. The NCO's, which are generally the highest ranks commoners can achieve, tend to fill these gaps by using their heads to accommodate for any shortsightedness on their superior's part (with said superior usually taking the credit if it goes right or having said NCO court-marshalled if it goes awry). The lucky ones will be under the command of an old Praetorian officer who has grown bored in his retirement. Others will be forced to follow the whims of a rich, young nobleman who has little to no clue just what he has signed on for.

The Mustangs use a form of Service Dress as their standard uniform, accompanied by a peaked cap. Sergeants tend to be slightly more garish, usually with shoulder-boards and embroidery to denote them being more important than the standard rank-and-file. 

Commissioned Officers tend to have all form of eccentric styles to their uniform, often attempting to outdo each other with materials such as the furs of off-world carnivores being fastened upon their uniforms. All soldiers are expected to keep their appearances in top condition at all times - a Guardsman who keeps losing his hat without sufficient reason will generally be shot for insubordination.

In cases where marriage is not possible, lower-tier noblemen are often sworn into the service of more prominent families in order to forge alliances and agreements. If the family in question has a stake in a regiment of the Mustangs, the nobleman in question becomes a Knight - having a horse commissioned directly from the Equestrium to fit his needs and tastes and being given a suit of [[Carapace Armor]] with a filter-fitted helmet and emblazoned with his sponsor's family crest and effects. These Knights tend to look down on the average trooper with disdain, knowing full well that they can never achieve the same status that they have. The Guardsmen are generally respectful of the Knights to their faces, but hate them and covet the protection that they are given off-hand.

When serving on in the [[Planetary Defense Force|PDF]] or in some form of social function, Mustangs wear the Dress Uniform that they keep in their saddlebags, which is expected to be well-maintained and looked after even during hellish campaigns. It is said that the veterans of the Mustangs have more polish on their boots than they do leather.

The standard weapon of every Guardsman is a sword and [[laspistol]], both of which are trained with heavily while the Guardsman is on horseback. The Mustangs are also expected to engage in swordplay amongst themselves, as it is seen as both a means of increasing their combat-effectiveness while also conditioning them into gentlemen through a noble activity. Others are sometimes issued with folding-stock [[lasgun]]s, made popular by Drop-Trooper forces.

All horses are made up of a myriad of different sources, sometimes being altered to suit current military direction (such as creating horses with higher heat tolerance for desert campaigns). Most rank-and-file mounts however, incorporate a large amount of genetic stock from [[Attilan Rough Riders|Attilla]]n breeds. They are all fitted with sub-dermal armour, mostly concentrated at the front to counter the age-old tactic of shooting the horse rather than the rider. All soldiers are issued a kit in their saddlebag to aid in treating lasbolt burns and bullet wounds caused by this. The heavier cavalry of the Knights employ flak harnesses over this, also being issued with gasmasks in the same vogue as their riders. The Dragoons use horses with slightly less sub dermal implants than most, but this is to take advantage of the horses' enhanced strength no longer being used to support its own weight as much, allowing them to reach much faster speeds than conventional cavalry would achieve.

All forces are proficient in mounted combat, including officers. When an entire regiment is deployed, it is rare to see any man on foot. Though this can be seen with bemusement by those of other forces of the Imperial Guard, none can deny the sheer power of an Officer-led cavalry charge with the fury of the [[Emperor]] behind them, sweeping upon their enemy as a massed wave.

Women are forbidden from ever being in the military, and the very notion of a woman fighting in a war is obscene to even those of the lowest status.

[[Category:Warhammer 40,000]]
[[Category:Stories]]
[[Category:Stories/Warhammer 40,000]]
[[Category:Imperial Guard]]