The Guardians of Bellum

[Bruce Malcom]

(Part of a collection of organizations, all with a post-apocalyptic flavor)

 

When the planet of Pacificae was crumbling, the various cults sought to expand, and the rest of the system was subjected to these silent invasions of heretics and Xeno-tainted humans.

 

One of these planets was the planet of Bellum, a nice planet with a bit of everything; farms, industry, housing, power generation...but it's political side was fragmented at best. With a couple clauses and the very nature of the planet's placement, multiple Planetary Governors ruled the planet. Some believed in the freedom of their people, others believed their citizens were merely cogs in the machine. The PDF often fought themselves, and as a result they were almost financed like a standard Guard Regiment due to all the Nobles and such that profited from this political unrest.

 

As the years went by power generation started to show signs of slowing down. As the population grew and the fragmented leaders became even more untrusting, the lack of energy was the tipping point. As the people clamored for more energy and the leaders all promised they'd get it, they went to war with each other, ripping the planet's people apart and the leaders all taking different continents.

 

All the leaders decided the only way to win was to bomb the opponent, and all leaders ordered a bombardment of the other.

 

The Imperial Navy obliged, and the planet was decimated.

 

Silence.

 

No political parties. No people begging for another drop of fuel.

 

Silence.

 

 

Silence.

 

 

Silence for a hundred and twenty-five years.

 

This entire time a lone Imperial Fist from a successor chapter, a lieutenant, walked across the desecrated plains, helping survivors and rebuilding society. He was tormented by his broken Power Armor and Boltgun, which were hidden in a Firebase only occupied by him. They, to him, represented his inability to save they people. Without the armor, he was not recognized as an Astartes, and therefore he could not lead.

 

One day he found a Enginseer who used to help one of the various PDFs. The Enginseer started to fix his armor, but without proper materials, it would take a very long time. He, in that time, created a war band of survivors and scavengers who started to retake society. After conquering a large amount of land, the armor was finished and in fifteen years the planet was almost entirely over his thrall. When the Imperium finally got back in contact with the planet, the Adeptus Astartes was told his old chapter was destroyed two years prior. But, he was given a new chapter, one that would use the new pattern of armor created by the Enginseer.

 

The planet's name was Bellum, and his new Chapter was it's Guardians.

 

(Their motto is "From Rust and Ruin comes Reclamation and Rebirth." Their color scheme is steel and green)

[Messor]

Fun sounding concept. Is there more to share about this new pattern of armor? Also, hi, I'm Messor.

[Tarvek Val]

I like this concept. The idea of different Noble Houses being the cause of the planet's ruin is intriguing and worth developing further!

 

 

 

All the leaders decided the only way to win was to bomb the opponent, and all leaders ordered a bombardment of the other.

The Imperial Navy obliged, and the planet was decimated.

 

Imperial Navy fleets will have a commander whose rank exceeds that of individual ship captains (eg a Vice-Admiral outranks a Commodore, a Commodore outranks a Captain, etc.). The overall commander in charge of the Navy fleet would be unlikely to issue such a conflicting order as to bombard multiple feuding Imperial factions without good cause. 

 

With that said, a few potentials that could make this scenario plausible:

1. The ranking fleet officer is insane - his captains are conflicted and do not want to bombard the planet, but the 'mad admiral' threatens to destroy their vessels with his warship and they comply, raining devastation upon the world below at the will of the nobles and the fleet commander. This idea depends largely upon the size and strength of the 'mad admiral's' warship and the total number of Imperial Navy vessels present - if the commander has a medium-sized warship and the fleet consists of a large number of ships that could feasibly overwhelm the flagship at little personal risk, this concept loses credibility. 

2. The ranking fleet officer is paid off by one Noble House to target the other houses / factions.

3. The ranking fleet officer is influenced by Chaos taint, xenos influence, etc.

 

 

 

This entire time a lone Imperial Fist from a successor chapter, a lieutenant, walked across the desecrated plains, helping survivors and rebuilding society. He was tormented by his broken Power Armor and Boltgun, which were hidden in a Firebase only occupied by him. They, to him, represented his inability to save they people. Without the armor, he was not recognized as an Astartes, and therefore he could not lead.

 

This segment is excellent. It captures the humanity of the survivor's humanity and humility. I am wondering what he was doing on the planet in the first place - was this planet the site of a fortress-monastery that was destroyed in the bombardment? This would be an interesting take, and you may want to look into the devastation of Rynn's World if you decide to go this route. 

 

As Messor already mentioned, I'm intrigued by this newfound armor you mention. I'm getting the vibe of a mismatched suit, using parts of various Mark-pattern pieces, as well as custom parts requisitioned by the Enginseer. 

 

Another great start, looking forward to the next segment! 

Edited June 18, 2019 by Tarvek Val

[Bjorn Firewalker]

2. The ranking fleet officer is paid off by one Noble House to target the other houses / factions.

Or the fleet officer is a relative of the noble head-of-house, and acted in support of his kin. Option 2 makes the most sense, in my opinion.

[Bruce Malcom]

I like this concept. The idea of different Noble Houses being the cause of the planet's ruin is intriguing and worth developing further!

 

 

 

 

All the leaders decided the only way to win was to bomb the opponent, and all leaders ordered a bombardment of the other.The Imperial Navy obliged, and the planet was decimated.

 

Imperial Navy fleets will have a commander whose rank exceeds that of individual ship captains (eg a Vice-Admiral outranks a Commodore, a Commodore outranks a Captain, etc.). The overall commander in charge of the Navy fleet would be unlikely to issue such a conflicting order as to bombard multiple feuding Imperial factions without good cause. 

 

With that said, a few potentials that could make this scenario plausible:

1. The ranking fleet officer is insane - his captains are conflicted and do not want to bombard the planet, but the 'mad admiral' threatens to destroy their vessels with his warship and they comply, raining devastation upon the world below at the will of the nobles and the fleet commander. This idea depends largely upon the size and strength of the 'mad admiral's' warship and the total number of Imperial Navy vessels present - if the commander has a medium-sized warship and the fleet consists of a large number of ships that could feasibly overwhelm the flagship at little personal risk, this concept loses credibility. 

2. The ranking fleet officer is paid off by one Noble House to target the other houses / factions.

3. The ranking fleet officer is influenced by Chaos taint, xenos influence, etc.

 

 

 

This entire time a lone Imperial Fist from a successor chapter, a lieutenant, walked across the desecrated plains, helping survivors and rebuilding society. He was tormented by his broken Power Armor and Boltgun, which were hidden in a Firebase only occupied by him. They, to him, represented his inability to save they people. Without the armor, he was not recognized as an Astartes, and therefore he could not lead.

 

This segment is excellent. It captures the humanity of the survivor's humanity and humility. I am wondering what he was doing on the planet in the first place - was this planet the site of a fortress-monastery that was destroyed in the bombardment? This would be an interesting take, and you may want to look into the devastation of Rynn's World if you decide to go this route. 

 

As Messor already mentioned, I'm intrigued by this newfound armor you mention. I'm getting the vibe of a mismatched suit, using parts of various Mark-pattern pieces, as well as custom parts requisitioned by the Enginseer. 

 

Another great start, looking forward to the next segment! :D

Well thank you, and I'm glad you're enjoying these.

1. Yes, the various leaders issued to do this were all tipped off by all the Nobles to fire on each other. They were payed in advance, so...

2. The planet contained the base of an Imperial Fist successor chapter. It was down there with only a tactical squad, which he led, as an honorary defense due to the planet offering hundreds of their children to replenish the Chapter's ranks, because the chapter had thwarted a large Ork attack. I'm glad you liked the segment.

Fun sounding concept. Is there more to share about this new pattern of armor? Also, hi, I'm Messor.

Hello! And yes, there is.

 

The Bellum-Pattern armor is similar to Mark Ten in the way that's it's incredibly modular, being able to be repaired with the finest materials to wood and stone. It's also meant to block off radiation, in order for the Chapter to fight to reclaim a irradiated sector of a planet or nearby a star or pulsar. It looks similar to Mark Four in the helmet and legs, but it's Mark Seven throughout (the armor the Lieutenant/Chapter Master wears). When the armor is too damaged to be normally repaired, it has extra power generators throughout the suit to keep the remaining parts functional.

 

The original suit of Bellum-Pattern (the one the Enginseer made) is used as an Artificer suit. It has Mark Seven as a basis, a half-broken Mark Four helmet mixed with pieces from a Stormtrooper, giving it a 'Gas Mask' vibe, and Bellum wasteland insignias plaster all over it. The left shoulder is replaced with metal plates and one big plate that came from a Leman Russ is attached to the left shoulder with ropes and belts.

 

The Reclaimation-Pattern Boltgun looks like a Mark One Boltgun in frame but it's only made from the metal on Death Worlds. They're usually made by the Bombi Nuclearis Forge World. It has a Combi-Weapon mod that allows for a plasma gun or melta gun to be fired from underneath, giving the gun a 'retro 50's blaster' feel.

[Tarvek Val]

I like where this is going. Keep up the great work, the creativity of these segments is impressive and they are tying together quite nicely. Well done.

[Brother Cambrius]

As others have said, a great start and unique concept! Would love to see a little more on who this lone Astartes was and what defined him as a Chapter Master in the newer founding (incidentally, are they Primaris Founding, or earlier? If earlier I got a couple of things to ask and clarify below)
 
 

This entire time a lone Imperial Fist from a successor chapter, a lieutenant, walked across the desecrated plains, helping survivors and rebuilding society. He was tormented by his broken Power Armor and Boltgun, which were hidden in a Firebase only occupied by him. They, to him, represented his inability to save they people. Without the armor, he was not recognized as an Astartes, and therefore he could not lead.

 
Now I really do like the idea of a son of Dorn acting in this manner, very similar to Rogal Dorn himself when he shattered his power sword into pieces in the anger of failing to protect the Emperor during the Horus Heresy.
 
A couple of things to note, one a possible adjustment in wording - to clarify and explain to the reader that the Astartes is an Imperial Fist successor as opposed to a member of the former VIIth Legion, may I suggest changing the wording to:
 
 "The entire time, a lone Astartes of Rogal Dorn's legacy, once a Lieutenant within his Chapter, walked across the desecrated plains."
 
Incidentally, how come his Chapter of origin hadn't attempted to find him, to lose one of their command line is very serious and in the very least they'd wish to seek out their body (or a fragment of it) to lay it to rest in their typical custom and restore the armour to use for his successor etc. Were the original chapter wiped out or hard pressed elsewhere to seek their lost Company and Lieutenant? I'd advise possibly demoting your character to a Veteran Sergeant, he still carries prodigious command skills and would ascend to the rank of a Chapter Master well, plus it's slightly less likely the Chapter of his origin will seek them out as fervently as a Lieutenant.
 

On a separate note, although he does not wear his armour, being a 9ft super-human might help him to be identified as an Astartes. Is the wording in the paragraph implying that he and the others did not see him fit to carry the title of Astartes denuded of armour itself?

 

One day he found a Enginseer who used to help one of the various PDFs. The Enginseer started to fix his armor, but without proper materials, it would take a very long time. He, in that time, created a war band of survivors and scavengers who started to retake society. After conquering a large amount of land, the armor was finished and in fifteen years the planet was almost entirely over his thrall. When the Imperium finally got back in contact with the planet, the Adeptus Astartes was told his old chapter was destroyed two years prior. But, he was given a new chapter, one that would use the new pattern of armor created by the Enginseer.

Now I do like this concept a lot of a unique kit-bashed armour from necessity to survive. With the Engineseer, how did he placate the wounded machine spirits from the items re-crafted and brought together to create the Bellum-Pattern? Atop that, when they were recovered by the Imperium, how did they survive the affront and heresy of playing about with holy and sacred war gear from the Mechanicum. People have been executed for less. Was there influence from higher up that calmed the Mechanicum representatives' ire?

 

(Their motto is "From Rust and Ruin comes Reclamation and Rebirth." Their color scheme is steel and green)

 

I like this a lot. A great motto.

 

All in all I love the idea as mentioned, but just wanted to clarify and learn more. :tu: Keep it up!

 

Cambrius

[Bruce Malcom]

As others have said, a great start and unique concept! Would love to see a little more on who this lone Astartes was and what defined him as a Chapter Master in the newer founding (incidentally, are they Primaris Founding, or earlier? If earlier I got a couple of things to ask and clarify below)

 

 

 

This entire time a lone Imperial Fist from a successor chapter, a lieutenant, walked across the desecrated plains, helping survivors and rebuilding society. He was tormented by his broken Power Armor and Boltgun, which were hidden in a Firebase only occupied by him. They, to him, represented his inability to save they people. Without the armor, he was not recognized as an Astartes, and therefore he could not lead.

 

 

Now I really do like the idea of a son of Dorn acting in this manner, very similar to Rogal Dorn himself when he shattered his power sword into pieces in the anger of failing to protect the Emperor during the Horus Heresy.

 

A couple of things to note, one a possible adjustment in wording - to clarify and explain to the reader that the Astartes is an Imperial Fist successor as opposed to a member of the former VIIth Legion, may I suggest changing the wording to:

 

 "The entire time, a lone Astartes of Rogal Dorn's legacy, once a Lieutenant within his Chapter, walked across the desecrated plains."

 

Incidentally, how come his Chapter of origin hadn't attempted to find him, to lose one of their command line is very serious and in the very least they'd wish to seek out their body (or a fragment of it) to lay it to rest in their typical custom and restore the armour to use for his successor etc. Were the original chapter wiped out or hard pressed elsewhere to seek their lost Company and Lieutenant? I'd advise possibly demoting your character to a Veteran Sergeant, he still carries prodigious command skills and would ascend to the rank of a Chapter Master well, plus it's slightly less likely the Chapter of his origin will seek them out as fervently as a Lieutenant.

 

On a separate note, although he does not wear his armour, being a 9ft super-human might help him to be identified as an Astartes. Is the wording in the paragraph implying that he and the others did not see him fit to carry the title of Astartes denuded of armour itself?

 

One day he found a Enginseer who used to help one of the various PDFs. The Enginseer started to fix his armor, but without proper materials, it would take a very long time. He, in that time, created a war band of survivors and scavengers who started to retake society. After conquering a large amount of land, the armor was finished and in fifteen years the planet was almost entirely over his thrall. When the Imperium finally got back in contact with the planet, the Adeptus Astartes was told his old chapter was destroyed two years prior. But, he was given a new chapter, one that would use the new pattern of armor created by the Enginseer.

 

Now I do like this concept a lot of a unique kit-bashed armour from necessity to survive. With the Engineseer, how did he placate the wounded machine spirits from the items re-crafted and brought together to create the Bellum-Pattern? Atop that, when they were recovered by the Imperium, how did they survive the affront and heresy of playing about with holy and sacred war gear from the Mechanicum. People have been executed for less. Was there influence from higher up that calmed the Mechanicum representatives' ire?

 

(Their motto is "From Rust and Ruin comes Reclamation and Rebirth." Their color scheme is steel and green)

 

 

I like this a lot. A great motto.

 

All in all I love the idea as mentioned, but just wanted to clarify and learn more. :tu: Keep it up!

 

Cambrius

1. I'm glad the mirroring of Dorn and his Astartes son matched up.

2. Once that Ork invasion came and went, the Chapter was reassigned to fight another foe, this one Chaotic. They were locked in vicious combat for too long, unable to pull out and save the lone Tactical Squad from the destruction of the planet.

3. Yes, it implies that the Wastelanders and himself did not see himself as an Astartes without his armor and Boltgun. Think of it like Captain America without a shield and uniform. He's still a Super Soldier, but he's not exactly the living legend without his signature weapon and suit.

4. I'm not really that familiar with the Machine Spirit stuff (yet), but he did manage to bring them together and 'glue them' so they'd stick. Luckily, this didn't backfire and the armor was all the better for it. All Techmarines within the Chapter are taught how to fix and 'upgrade' the modular pattern by the Enginseer.

5. I was thinking he described it 'not as an affront to the holy Astartes war gear and their machine spirits, but therapy and healing of the machine spirits. I didn't hurt them; I saved them. You are free to check yourselves.'

[Bjorn Firewalker]

5. I was thinking he described it 'not as an affront to the holy Astartes war gear and their machine spirits, but therapy and healing of the machine spirits. I didn't hurt them; I saved them. You are free to check yourselves.'

My idea for how the Enginseer will explain his reprogramming of each armor component's machine spirit (what we call "AI") so they'll cooperate ("be compatible") with one another: "The machine spirits in each individual armor component, were robbed of companionship and the purpose it brought. I joined the machine spirits like a matchmaker joining widows and widowers who sought new spouses, allowing them to create new families to then restore their sense of purpose."

[Bruce Malcom]

 

5. I was thinking he described it 'not as an affront to the holy Astartes war gear and their machine spirits, but therapy and healing of the machine spirits. I didn't hurt them; I saved them. You are free to check yourselves.'

My idea for how the Enginseer will explain his reprogramming of each armor component's machine spirit (what we call "AI") so they'll cooperate ("be compatible") with one another: "The machine spirits in each individual armor component, were robbed of companionship and the purpose it brought. I joined the machine spirits like a matchmaker joining widows and widowers who sought new spouses, allowing them to create new families to then restore their sense of purpose."

That works too.

[Commissar Molotov]

As others have said, this is a characterful idea. Thank you for sharing it with us.

 

I do think there are sticking points, however.

 

Enginseers are low-ranking members of the Cult Mechanicus - this link may provide you with some context - though the source I've linked does stress how skilled and proficient they are. With that said, you should consider how in the 40k universe, knowledge is highly compartmentalised and innovation is seen as dangerous - your Enginseer, who likely has never encountered Power Armour before, would be seen as a heretic (or a heretek) by some. The route towards defending against that would be in having some political clout behind him. You could look at the wider Adeptus Mechanicus, or the Inquisition, potentially.

 

If Pacificae has been bombarded to the extent that it is useless as an agri-world or sustaining life, you might see it shifting towards becoming a proto-hive world, and the Mechanicus may be important there. Perhaps you could consider shifting the character of the Enginseer and instead making it a cabal of Tech-Priests who are able to support this lone Astartes and advance his cause. I find it exceptionally unlikely that a single Astartes like this would be granted a whole Chapter of 1000 Astartes - but if he has the political backing of the Adeptus Mechanicus, it's possible that it might work. I think you could then consider a slight duality in this Astartes figure; he wants to do his duty, but on some level he wonders whether the Mechanicus are manipulating him or controlling him for their own ends? How far do a Space Marine's honour debts extend, and what if they conflict with his oath to the Emperor? Are the Tech-Priests as wholesome and loyal as they profess?

[Bruce Malcom]

As others have said, this is a characterful idea. Thank you for sharing it with us.

 

I do think there are sticking points, however.

 

Enginseers are low-ranking members of the Cult Mechanicus - this link may provide you with some context - though the source I've linked does stress how skilled and proficient they are. With that said, you should consider how in the 40k universe, knowledge is highly compartmentalised and innovation is seen as dangerous - your Enginseer, who likely has never encountered Power Armour before, would be seen as a heretic (or a heretek) by some. The route towards defending against that would be in having some political clout behind him. You could look at the wider Adeptus Mechanicus, or the Inquisition, potentially.

 

If Pacificae has been bombarded to the extent that it is useless as an agri-world or sustaining life, you might see it shifting towards becoming a proto-hive world, and the Mechanicus may be important there. Perhaps you could consider shifting the character of the Enginseer and instead making it a cabal of Tech-Priests who are able to support this lone Astartes and advance his cause. I find it exceptionally unlikely that a single Astartes like this would be granted a whole Chapter of 1000 Astartes - but if he has the political backing of the Adeptus Mechanicus, it's possible that it might work. I think you could then consider a slight duality in this Astartes figure; he wants to do his duty, but on some level he wonders whether the Mechanicus are manipulating him or controlling him for their own ends? How far do a Space Marine's honour debts extend, and what if they conflict with his oath to the Emperor? Are the Tech-Priests as wholesome and loyal as they profess?

Actually, Pacificae is a forge world, with an understanding and humbled, while still ruthless, Fabricator-General.

 

http://www.bolterandchainsword.com/topic/356607-bombi-nuclearis-forge-world-knights-of-occulis-chapter/

[Commissar Molotov]

Thanks for the link; I was unaware of your other projects. My two issues here would be in the timescale you present a world changing from an industrial world to a forgeworld of the Mechanicus - given wrangling between the Administratum and the Mechanicus, this seems something that ought to be occurring over a longer period of time. I agree with many of Bjorn Firewalker's points in the thread you linked to. The 40k universe takes place over ten thousand years - far in excess of the lifespan of ordinary mortal men - and perhaps to achieve the grand things you should imagine it is better to think beyond individual men and to institutions instead.

 

You do mention in your other thread "a single man, claiming to be the son of a Fabricator-General" - perhaps this individual, along with his attendant forces and allied Tech-Priests, could be the driving force behind the elevation of this lone Astartes to Master of a Chapter of 1,000 Space Marines.

[Bruce Malcom]

Thanks for the link; I was unaware of your other projects. My two issues here would be in the timescale you present a world changing from an industrial world to a forgeworld of the Mechanicus - given wrangling between the Administratum and the Mechanicus, this seems something that ought to be occurring over a longer period of time. I agree with many of Bjorn Firewalker's points in the thread you linked to. The 40k universe takes place over ten thousand years - far in excess of the lifespan of ordinary mortal men - and perhaps to achieve the grand things you should imagine it is better to think beyond individual men and to institutions instead.

You do mention in your other thread "a single man, claiming to be the son of a Fabricator-General" - perhaps this individual, along with his attendant forces and allied Tech-Priests, could be the driving force behind the elevation of this lone Astartes to Master of a Chapter of 1,000 Space Marines.

That was the idea. The Forge World knew that it's entire system fell to ruin, through various means. It needed serious muscle to help get it back on its feet, and as such, it helped create the chapter.

 

And I don't know, I hate not have a vocal point, a character which the story of the Chapter focuses around. Regardless, this all takes place within a hundred years or so. It's a dated story.