Ardito Highwatch
 This article is about an Imperial Army formation from the /tg/ Heresy project, a fan re-working of the Warhammer 40k universe. |
The Ardito Highwatch were a formation in the Imperial Army famed for their rugged style of warfare. They fought alongside predominately with the Silver Cataphracts Space Marine Legion. The unique skill-set offered by the Arditons brought them distinction in their service during the Great Crusade, the Hektor Heresy, and the Great Scouring. The planet was ravaged utterly by WAAAAGH! The Beast, robbing the Imperium of one of its many legendary recruiting worlds.
| Ardito Highwatch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Homeworld | Ardito | |
| Doctrine | Mountain warfare and light infantry tactics | |
| Signature Equipment | Sniper rifles, climbing equipment, skis | |
| Associated Legion | Tenth Legion | |
History
The Foundation of the Highwatch
Ardito destroyed consciously its technology during the uprising of the Men of Iron to rid themselves of all artificial intelligence held within. Unfortunately, this left the remaining survivors to build back up from scratch. Bereft of Xenos Raiders or other horrific forms of opportunistic attackers, the world flourished for a time until the rise of Kurl-Kan-Tarker. Kurl was born on the plains of the south, opposite of the Highwatch's home in the central mountains. His armies were made up of conscripted levies, raising up new numbers with each conquest. His wars of bloody aggression found nearly the whole plane to serve him. However, those who opposed him built industry in hidden valleys and glades to produce enough weaponry to fight with him on equal terms. The Highwatch was born from these rebel fighters, who were able to outmatch the feeble supply train of Kurl-Kan-Tarker's soldiers.
During the final war of dominance for Ardito, the Highwatch were outnumbered one to ten in men. But after luring the various divisions of Kurl's armies into death-traps, winning three battles in a single weak were they killed one third of the enemy force each time the tide turned fast. Being able to take advantage of this momentum there were massive defections to the Highwatch, who in all respects were a better equipped and trained force than the meager rabble arrayed to fight them. Kurl took his own life the moment the Highwatch's mules first came across the outskirts of his capital.
With the fall of the great planetary empire, several nation-states emerged with democratic rulerships. The Highwatch was instituted as an international defense force meant to crush any future 'Kurls' that would arise. The criteria for joining the military organization was staggering, with only the top five percent of the candidates applying being accepted.
Arrival of the Imperium
In 865.M30, the world of Ardito had been scoured by the Great Crusade's advance forces. The basic technology levels of the local forces deemed it an easy victory for the Imperium. The 301st Expedition Fleet was tasked with conquering it, landing down on the same southern tip of the one and only continent. The Imperial Lord Commander, Ranar Zerezt demanded they kneel before the force of his fleet. Seeing him as another Kurl, the people of Ardito refused marshaling national militias and the Highwatch. Though the fighting was intensive, the Highwatch prevailed by being able to outmatch the wheeled and tracked vehicles when fighting spilled into the mountain ranges. In the birthplace of the Highwatch, they broke the back of the Imperial Army sent to conquer them.
The Silver Cataphrcats were not far from the world however, and sent a single Chapter to the world. After initial planetfall the Arditons immediately surrendered after the Astartes laid low their battlements and armies. The Highwatch however had been left in reserve at the mountains, resulting in their forces being untouched by the Astartes assault. Alexandri of Rosskar came to Ardito shortly after intrigued by the angered reports of Ranar who wanted to punish the populace of the planet for defeating him so severely. After watching a training exercise by the entirety of the Highwatch, the Primarch struck a deal with the world.
The Arditons would have to give only one thing in tithe to the Imperium. Every three years, a regiment of Highwatch was to be supplied to be put in service to the Imperial Army. All current forces of the Highwatch were to be pressed into service however. These regiments would then be requested by Alexandri to be issued in conjunction with his conquests. The Primarch valued the excellence shown by the elite formations, and would not have them be diluted by having to meet an impossible tithe standard. The Highwatch would burst onto the scene of the Great Crusade, bringing their own style of warfare.
Service to Terra Highly valued for rugged terrain, the Highwatch came prepared for any engagement but excelled in high altitude regions. Firing down on the enemy from cliff-faces or combating them from peaks, their names became on the top of requisition lists for many Lord Commanders. Unending in stamina, discipline, and coordination they showed an eerie sense of cohesion and logistical capability despite normally carrying out their duties running without vox equipment. Sophisticated foes of the Imperium's advance attempted to read their movements by reading the signals the air for chatter, but heard nothing but silence.
When the Silver Cataphracts were restricted from what Imperial Army regiments they could use, the world of Ardito continued to give the consent of the use of the Highwatch alongside the Legion as Auxilia.
Not a single regiment of the Highwatch joined in with the Traitors during the Hektor Heresy. They fought with distinction in both the Segmentum Solar and Segmentum Pacificus.
Organisation
Officers in the Highwatch are handpicked by their comrades. Squad leaders are chosen by these individuals, being picked from the unit's most promising youths. The Colonel of an Arditon regiment is normally only a nominal rank, with the Captains of Companies holding all real authority. This is because the Highwatch's highly decentralized fighting style, which can see the regiment break apart to never meet again unless they join together for an offensive after exhausting their foes. Great responsibility is placed on the shoulders of Lieutenants, who must perfectly coordinate with the other platoons of a company without the use of vox equipment in combat.
Doctrine
Due to the difficult terrain of their homeworld, the Highwatch make no use of wheeled vehicles. Even their logistical trains are limited to man and mule-hauling. This makes their regiments highly infantry-focused. Heavy weapons utilized by capable crews allow them to fill the gap in firepower due to a lack of mechanized support. Special weapons operators, acting alone came bring even some of the most formidable armor to a halt with timed strikes from hidden locations. The cream of the Highwatch regiments were issued with aircraft support allowing them to bring an never before seen edge to their standard tactics.
The strength of the Highwatch comes from their independence and fluidity. Though not rapid, they simply never stop even when engaged. There is an old saying on Ardito, 'the Highwatch is full of Asses and Mules', usually referring in the case of the former to the soldiery. This is in reference to the tireless nature of the average Highwatch trooper, who have been known for being able to march and fight for sixteen hours carrying full gear without rest and minimal water. This legendary ability to stay moving and capable despite inhospitable conditions made the Higwatch renown with all they fought beside.
Wargear
The Highwatch makes heavy use of sniper rifles, often infiltrating into positions that their enemies might think blocked by terrain. Arditon soldiers are all proficient skiers and their ability to conduct "marches" over snow-covered terrain has occasionally proven decisive. A dedicated company of climbers is given to every regiment to allow them to pass over any area no matter how difficult the journey. Two-man weapons platforms are universally favored by the Highwatch, with the armament being strapped to pack-mules to be quickly assembled sometimes in a firefight by the most trained individuals in the regiment.
Homeworld
Located in the Segmentum Solar, Ardito has often defied Imperial classification. Although technically not a Death World in that the flora and fauna are not inimical to human life, it is still an extremely hostile environment. Much of Ardito suffers from a thin atmosphere, high level of geological activity, and thin soils. Those who grow up on this savage world must be hardy just to keep drawing breath, and the Highwatch are recruited from the toughest of their breed.
Culture on Ardito is, like its people, frugal and durable. Communal singing is popular, but instruments are rare. A tradition of poetry persists despite widespread illiteracy. Offworld ethnographers have occasionally braved Ardito to record the best of the poems of their century. The best collection is generally considered to be Marcus Hasser's Selected Works of the Ardito poets, published in 624.M36 after a lifetime of work.
Notable Regiments
The 301st Ardito Highwatch Regiment is not in fact the three hundred and first regiment to be sent to the Imperium, but the first. Named after the Expedition Fleet that found them, they wear their victory over the force as a badge of honor. This regiment as a result was sent into some of the most terrible warzones by their commanders to humble the arrogant Arditons. Emerging from these hellish battles victorious only gave more clout to the regiment. Though their losses would force them to combine with other Highwatch regiments, the 301st stood as the elite of the already exalted Highwatch regiments.
Notable Highwatchers
- Maggiore Ratko Caracci, b. 869.M30, d. 955.M30. Although Caracci's combat record is not outstanding, he played an important role in developing the Imperium's armies. A stand-out instructor in Ardito's airborne warfare programme, he was headhunted to spearhead the Ciban Chasseurs' efforts at developing their own airmobile demi-brigades. Caracci's extravagant dress sense and love of good living would earn him quite a name on Ciban IV, although it took him several years to adapt to the more independent-minded sensibilities of Ciban's women.