Homeworld: While their home world will always be Caliban, the Angels of Mercy accept their place on the modified fortress of Salem a self-sufficient asteroid whose course can be directed by massive in-built engines, installed before the Dark Millenium. Recruitment: Bitter experiences has shrouded the Angels of Mercy in paranoia and mistrust of ANY race, human or otherwise and stubbornly refuse to bolster their number through recruitment. No one else has survived the punishing ordeals they faced in the warp, and their dark secret must remain as such. The Imperial Command has declared the chapter ex-communicatus and therefore does not issue them direct orders, acknowledging their fealty but realising their inability to be sustained as a chapter. They therefore fight in the Emperor's name but without his aid. Without recruitment the chapter has no permanence and it will eventually die out, along with its' warped gene-seed. The Inquisition on the other hand monitors them from the shadows for traces of Heresy, but their zeal and determination has only proved them increasingly loyal. |
LEGIO INFITIALES VENIA |
ANGELS of MERCY By Michael White (Sandalphon) |
This article has been published with the kind permission of Michael White. Planetary image created by Shadow Guard |
Colour Scheme: Retaining their suits of black armour the Angels of Mercy decorate their shoulders and re-breathers bone-white to mimic the sacred uniform of their Chaplains death masks. Their insignia is a variation of the traditional Chaplaincy, a white skull with a blood red sword through it; it also represents the demise of Corvus at Ghaleons' hand. The sword is winged as the Dark Angels sword is, to indicate the origins of the chapter and the salvation they shall reach when their mission is fulfilled. |
Combat Doctrine: The Angels of Mercy prefer to focus on close combat rather than the ranged tactics they originally upheld. Combat Knives and bayonets are mandatory, with many members wielding bolt-pistols and close combat weapons. Regardless of armament, each marine carries a series of ritual knives that are used to mark the dead, re-enacting Ghaleons' death blow by stabbing the blade through the skulls of the fallen as a sign of the "Mercy Killing" that has taken place. The 6th company consists of those ancient brothers who wielded plasma weapons and missile launchers before their demise (often caused by the very weapon they were wielding). Only the 3rd assault company have access to jump-packs, the resurrected Brothers Revenant fight with close-combat weapons on foot. The Angels of Mercy are a self-sufficient roving force that traverse the galaxy in search of their Fallen comrades to permanently relieve them of duty. While they will fight alongside their brothers marines it would only be coincidental to their own needs, they will not acknowledge an allegiance of any kind. Famous Battles: The battle with the traitor Corvus on Salem in c.993.M41 forged the Angels of Mercy into unified chapterhood. Having only recently resurfaced from the warp thanks to the havoc wreaked by Abaddon's 13th Black Crusade (5672999.M41), the Angels of Mercy were involved in the planetary defence of Xersia. Here they were seen as mysterious saviours and while suspected of being yet another traitor legion by the Dark Angels, their actions spoke louder than words in despatching countless Black Legionnaires and daemons. No sooner had they appeared they left again, en-route to Caliban on their return home, the only sign of their involvement being the grisly victims of the chapters ritual mercy killings after the battle. Battle Cry: "DEATH IS MERCY!" |
