Colour Scheme: The Chapter Badge consists of the wings of the Dark Angels, with no sword in between. This "Sword that was missing" represents the Chapter's failure to arrive at the most crucial juncture of the Dark Angels' history. The Angels of Repentance still wear the pre-heresy black armor of the Dark Angels, with traditional company markings. However, both shoulder pads are Dark Angels green to symbolize their aspiration to be reaccepted to their parent Chapter. When Veteran Robes are worn, they are Dark Green also, while Terminator armor keeps the same color pattern as the standard power armor of the rest of the Chapter. Brothers of the Angles of Repentance often decorate their armor with liturgies and prayers to their Primarch and on shoulder pads and equipment. |
LEGIO INFITIALES VENIA |
ANGELS of REPENTANCE By Douglas Miller aka ODM |
Combat Doctrine Due to the ravages of time, and constant warfare, the Angels of Repentance are extremely light on vehicles. Their general tactics involve light infantry tactics, with careful application of firepower. Very rarely do they seek to get tied down in close combat, seeking to use mutually supporting fire teams to cut apart the enemy rather than assault. Special Rules Due to their dwindling numbers and experience battling Tyranids, the Angels of Repentance do not follow Dark Angels Special Rule of Stubborn. Because of their combat style, tactical squads may take two special weapons instead of a heavy weapon and special weapon. This reflects their emphasis on fire and movement. Due to the scarcity of Gene Seed and the need to recover it, the Angels of Redemption player may convert one troop in each squad to an Apothecary. Their Sacred Standard is the Banner of Repentance. It acts as Dark Angels Banner of Destruction. Restrictions The Angels of Repentance may only take 1 Rhino/Razorback per 3 squads For games up to 1500 pts., the Angels of Repentance are limited in the following categories: 0 - 1 elite choices 0 - 1 heavy support choices 0 - 2 fast attack choices (always under strength no more than 2 vehicles each squadron) Famous Battles: The Angels for Repentance spent the initial centuries of their Crusade for Repentance cleansing the star systems to the Galactic South of the Segmentum Tempestus of the rebellion and Chaos rot that had spread and taken root there during the Horus Heresy. Due to the limited nature of their forces and lack of support from within Imperial Space, the process was extremely costly in men and resources. Each world had to be cleansed to absolute surety and new governments vetted and tested to ensure lack of taint, as without follow-up from the Administration or the stationing of Guard troops, even one Chaos cell could restart the infection process as soon as the Chapter departed. In addition, as many of the worlds encountered had never been reclaimed by the Emperor during the Great Crusade, the task was multiplied. During this time there was no contact with the Fallen, but the taint of Chaos was strong, and one more than one planet the Exterminatus was proscribed. It was during the campaign of System Sigminus IV that Grandmaster Drago fell. Subsequently, it was determined (without prejudice?) that the rot of Chaos was too entrenched and the entire star system was purged of all life to deny the enemy its foothold. 1000's of years were spent by the Angels of Redemption reclaiming, discovering, and recording previously unknown worlds, bringing them into the Imperial Light. However, over the last 250 years instances of genestealer presence on feral and medieval human worlds increased exponentially, and these vile creatures became the main enemy. It was due in large part to his Company's heroic last ditch defense against untold thousands of pure strain stealers on Dracmur VI that 3rd Company Master Nahilus ascended to Chapter Master. Literally hundreds of battle brothers were recruited, fought and died only knowing conflict with these evil creatures during their service to the Chapter. This dramatic increase in genestealer presence was a foreshadowing of an approaching menace that would eventually threaten the heart of the Imperium. In M700 the Chapter engaged in the successful defense of several feral human worlds from a minor Ork Warboss, Grackul von Smasher. During the mop up operations on Marcos III an alien fleet exited the warp and began the assault of the planet. After some initial skirmishes, the scale of the onslaught became apparent and the Sergeant Justinian ordered a tactical withdrawal off planet, determining that getting intelligence of the nature of the threat and back to the Chapter to be more important than dying in place with the remaining Orks and feral human population. Thus, the Angels of Repentance recorded the first encounter with the outlying elements of Tyranid Hive Fleet Behemoth, although this meant little to them at the time. The true size and nature of the menace was made apparent when the entire 6th Battle Company, command group and all, was lost defending Marcos II, a feudal human world that was destroyed and absorbed by the Hive Fleet. Losses spiraled until the Chapter was forced to change its tactics and settle for harrying the Hive Fleet and achieving smaller victories without fully engaging rather than the decisive battles they were used to. The Angels of Repentance continually attacked the fringes of the Hive Fleet on planets and in space as it made inexorable progress toward Maccrage and the heart of the Imperium. Though no official record exists, in the last 250 years reports of an unidentified Chapter entering conflicts of the side of the Imperium have begun to surface across the Segmentum Tempestus. Battle Cry: "Ultimate sacrifice, ultimate redemption" |
This article has been published with the kind permission of Douglas Miller. |
