Dark Templars: Blood & Honour Chapter 1, a warhammer fanfic

I thought I'd have a go at doing my own space marine chapter, in this case the Dark Templars. Please read and review and let me know what you think of the story and how it could be improved. Because I've got way too much time on my hands at the moment, I've included the make up of the Dark Templars at the bottom of chapter 1, for anyone who is even vaguely interested. First chapter is short, I'll see if there's any interest before carrying on. I've now included an introduction to give some insight into the Dark Templars and to introduce some of the characters.

Introduction:

Dark Templars

Midgard was a world of extremes. From the vast untouched scorching jungles and continent wide forest wildernesses to the mountains and high plateaus. From the island super volcanoes that dotted the oceans to the deadly deserts and wide open plains. It was a world much larger than Holy Terra. More extreme in its landscapes and appeared how Terra once was before it became a world of pollution, toxic sludge and oceans boiled away. Before it became a world of plasteel and plascrete, swarming with the countless billions of humanity that made Terra there home. Midgard was a world of tribes and merchant caravan houses. It was a world of tribal warfare, of devious subterfuge and subtle intrigue between the ruling noble and merchant clans and houses. But for all its extremes Midgard was known beyond the world only for one particular fact, it was the homeworld of the Dark Templar space marine chapter.

The Dark Templars were once of the more well known Black Templar chapter, the crusaders of the Imperium. Over two thousand years ago during one of the Black Templars crusades, an entire crusade, over fifteen hundred space marines, their ships, vehicles and equipment vanished in the warp. They were thrown off course and came to an otherwise forgotten medieval world of tribes and tribal warfare. For five hundred years the marines stuck to the teachings and ways of the Black Templars, but with warp storms engulfing Midgard's star system they were effectively trapped and cut off from the Imperium. Just as the people of Midgard had been for thousands of years, since the earliest days of space travel.

The chapter replaced the space marines who were lost, thinking them killed in the warp. With the receding storms some five hundred years later, a chance visit from a rogue trader fleet looking to settle new worlds brought them into contact with the lost space marines and their grounded fleet. Word quickly went back to Holy Terra from the rogue trader fleet that they had found the lost marines. Although it was looked upon as a day of celebration, the chapter of the Black Templars already larger than any other chapter in the Imperium was informed by Terra and the inquisition that the lost marines would not be able to rejoin the chapter.

For the lost marines this was a blow to their long and continued devotion to the Imperium, they felt as though they were stuck in Limbo. Many were over half a century old, venerable even by the standards of the long lived space marines. Word soon came back from Terra of the intention that a new chapter be formed from the lost marines. So it was that fifteen hundred years ago, the Dark Templar space marine chapter was born. While the Dark Templars retained all or most of their ships from the time they were lost, it was felt that the marines had been too long away from Holy Terra and needed the guiding hand of the Ecclesiarchy too steer them on the right path. The Temple city ship The Ragnarok, a vast 10km long behemoth that at its maximum capacity could house over a million people, was sent to Midgard to act as the spiritual and holy figurehead of the Dark Templar fleet.

The people of Midgard became the worshippers, soldiers and crewman who would make the fleet their home. The fleet and marine chapter were considered by many to be a military arm of the Ecclesiarchy, but newly appointed chapter master Solomon Abrahams had different ideas of where is priorities would lie. While the Ragnarok has become the centrepiece for the fleet's vast numbers of personnel to worship and live in the virtual city. It has also taken on a significant role as a military city from where the chapter and their masters on Terra can wage both war and conduct diplomacy with worlds throughout the Imperium. To assist the space marines, Terra has permanently placed a division of imperial guard and two regiments of Imperial Navy marines aboard the Ragnarok. Short of an all out full scale war, the fleet is more than capable of dealing with many of the threats that would bring destruction to the Imperium.

From the countless tribes of Midgard, the space marines maintain a large and steady flow of possible recruits. Those who are chosen to replace fallen battle brothers are given the honour of joining one of the fourteen companies that make up the whole of the Dark Templars. Those who are not deemed worthy will join the fleet, to replace the losses of crew and soldiers. The worshippers who travel with the fleet are devout and fanatical followers of the Emperor. Many are the families of the troops that make the fleet their home.

Where chapter master Abrahams disagrees with the Ecclesiarchy is in certain officials of Terra attempting to use the chapter for their own personnel gains. The chapter master refuses to be drawn into personal disputes and private wars, and maintains the right to refuse Terra the use of his chapter should he disagree with the given task. The position of chapter master seems to one of eternal politicking with the officials of Terra and their representatives aboard The Ragnarok. Relationships with the Black Templars remain good, with few disagreements and no recorded conflicts.

6 years earlier:

The village was alive with the sounds of excitement. The last choosing had been over twenty years earlier. It was the time for space marine recruiters to pick the finest young men from the cities, towns and villages of Midgard. For space marine sergeant Argos, the task was one he had repeated for the last one hundred and seventy years. The young lads and men of the village of Stronburg waited patiently. The recruiters consulted the village elders for likely candidates after the completion of the annual games in which all young men and women competed. This year's games held particular significance, and were the way in which the space marines would find the finest recruits to take back to the fleet.

Sergeant Argos walked the line, choosing those who had performed exceptionally well during the games. He stopped in front of a tall youth with waist long red hair. The youth was well muscled and toned, an athlete by the looks of him. The sergeant turned and spoke to the town elder, enquiring as to whether the youth had performed well during the arena fights. He was informed that the youth was the winner of the combat for his age group and had performed well beyond that expected of someone of his eighteen years.

Achilles smiled at the elder's remarks, proud and headstrong he was a young warrior of his tribe. Achilles was a tapestry of tattoos, wolves, bears, eagles and dragons adorned his arms, chest and back, the familiar sight of the tribal tattoos was repeated among many who stood in line. A scar ran across his face from just below his right eye across the bridge of his nose and down his left cheek. He stood over six feet six inches, tall for the villagers but still dwarfed by Sergeant Argos and his space marine escort.

Achilles let his mind wander to the thoughts of joining the space marines. He would miss his family, grandparents, parents, seven brothers and eight sisters, not to mention his aunts and uncles, and cousins. His family was huge and it would bring them great pride and prestige if one of their number was accepted into the ranks of the Dark Templars.

The sergeant seemed to contemplate his decision for awhile, Achilles held his breath, praying he would not pass him by without choosing him. Moments later he gestured for Achilles to join the other five who had been chosen. They were his fellow villagers. All had performed excellently during the games and in the arena. There was Stron, son of the village chieftain for which the village was named, the name passed down through the family's generation of first born males. There was Eldric, a second cousin of Stron. There was Dieter, Hanz and Tor. Tor was Achilles's cousin, the first born son of his father's eldest brother. Half an hour later they had been joined by four others, Reichik, Aradain, Darck, and Jano. The ten recruits were to travel back to the Norsca, battle barge of the 14th Scout Company of Dark Templars, and their home for the foreseeable future.

Achilles took an hour to say goodbye to his family, their was much rejoicing and celebration that two of the family had been chosen, but there was also many tears especially from the younger members of his family who knew that it would be a very long time before they saw their eldest brother again.

As the Thunderhawk gunship disappeared over the horizon, gifts of honour and tribute to Achilles's father were given in celebration of Achilles becoming a space marine recruit. They could only hope and pray that their eldest child succeeded where many had failed. They all knew the trials and tribulations that Achilles would face. They offered prayers to the god emperor to keep him safe.

Dark Templars:

Blood & Honour

Chapter 1:

Initiation Rites

Present Day:

For Achilles the right of passage was upon him, acceptance into the 14th Company of The Dark Templars. Only the initiation rites remained to be completed, only then would he be imbued and transplanted with the precious gene seed of the chapter. Completion had been fierce indeed. A thousand recruits had fought for the right to take the place of fallen brother Amadeus, nine hundred and ninety nine had failed. Achilles was the best of them, of the thousand recruits aboard The Norsca, battle barge of the 14th Scout Company.

Achilles was a proud headstrong young warrior from the world of Midgard. All he had to do now was survive for one week alone on a death world while the fleet waited in orbit. Similar initiation rites would also be carried out throughout the companies of the chapter to replace fallen battle brothers. It was the way of the Dark Templar Space Marines. Only the best would ever be accepted from the vast ranks of recruits that made the fleet their home. For the others, there were few choices f they were deemed unfit to join the ranks of the Space Marines. Either the Imperial navy marine corp. or the imperial guard, both of which had a permanent place among the fleet.

The Thunderhawk Gunship touched down in a forest clearing. It had travelled for hours looking for a spot to drop the hopeful recruit, they also had to bare in mind the location of other recruits undergoing the initiation, none were supposed to meet with a fellow brother while on the surface of the planet. Only once they had reached the Hive city of Kullkera would they be able to rest and relax and wait for the Norsca to send a gunship to collect them. If they didn't make the two hundred mile journey, they were left behind, considered lost to the vast and deadly jungles of the death world Seralas.

Achilles watched with a hint of fear as the Thunderhawk departed, he was alone now in the jungle with only a compass and map to guide him the two hundred miles to Kullkera. It seemed an almost impossible task, but others had obviously made the journey, otherwise there would be no chapter. The going would be undoubtedly tough, of that he had no doubt. He checked his bolt pistol and two foot long combat knife, more for reassurance than anything. They would be his only friends in the harsh terrain through which he had to travel. He fitted his backpack in place, what little he had was stored in the pack, such as a weeks rations, although if he wanted meat he would have to catch it himself. He had enough water for a week, but it didn't really take into account the stiflingly hot temperatures of the jungle, again he would have to find any extra he might need. Medical supplies were essential, especially the anti toxin syringes that he carried. The jungles were notorious for their poisonous flora and fauna, not to mention the beasts that roamed the dark underbrush.

Within minutes he was ready to leave, he glanced at the compass knowing he must head north west to reach the Hive City of Kullkera. It was the only human inhabited place on the entire world, only the mountainous terrain provided enough relief from the jungles to build anything of any size. There had been other settlements, but they had a habit of being swallowed by the jungle, once clear areas overgrowing within a matter of weeks or months as the relentless expansion of the deadly jungles continued. Seralas was renowned for its indigenous populations, the beasts that roamed the jungles were awesome predators, only the most highly trained warriors ventured beyond the city, only those foolish enough to think they could master this deadly world. There were others too, wealthy merchants and nobles who came to Seralas looking for a safari through the wildlands, hoping to hunt down a predator of considerable worth to display for all to see.

For Achilles he would be happy to settle for getting through the jungle in one piece and hopefully not getting lost and left behind by the fleet. He would travel by day and make his camp in the trees at night, tying himself to a branch to escape the vicious predators that would likely be crawling throughout the jungle during the twilight hours.

It was early morning, half past seven according to his timepiece. He knew from looking through the files on the planet that sunset in the summer months was not until eleven o'clock. That gave him fifteen and half hours to travel the thirty miles a day that he needed to cover. As far as predators were concerned, he knew he had to avoid them wherever possible, not least because it would waste valuable time. He figured at two miles an hour he could rest for perhaps twenty minutes an hour and still make good time, only swift travel would get him through this nightmare and to his destination in one piece.

With knife in hand he began moving into the jungle, cutting a vicious swathe through the undergrowth and quickly dismembering any feelers that tried to grab him. He had to remember that a death world was virtually alive, the wilderness was a living organism that took no prisoners, only if he treated it with the respect that it deserved would he manage to complete his initiation.

The jungle was alive with the sights and sounds of the wilderness. Everywhere he looked creatures crawled, slithered, swung and ran. Some were to be feared, of that he was certain, he was new to the jungles, and an unknown prey. Within moments of leaving the clearing he had already counted over twenty different kinds of beasts. Most were too preoccupied to bother about him; they too were pray for something else, as was the way of all things.

He had studied hard, the flowers, plants and trees alone had taken him over six months to digest all the information. He had thought becoming a space marine would be one long battle quest. He had been surprised by the other things he was required to learn. The Dark Templars were fanatically devout followers of the god emperor, while not as rigid as the make up of many other chapters they retained a deep devotion to their lord that when tested found them to be among the emperors most deadly servants.

Achilles had vowed to himself that he would join his battle brothers as a chosen one, a space marine, one of thousands in an Imperium of countless trillions. He often wondered if his name would curse him with the same fate as befell his namesake all those tens of millennia ago, even now the old histories were still taught. Back long before even the Imperium existed their had been a warrior of great legend, he also vowed that in ten thousand years time his name would be remembered like all the heroes of legend. Of course he was being hopeful. First he had to make a journey that most humans would find impossible not to mention deadly.

Dark Templars

Space Marine Chapter

Order of Battle

The Dark Templars roam the Imperium in their considerable fleet. The Ragnarok is a virtual city, bringing together many arms of the Imperium from where the Chapter is directed on its Crusade to rid the worlds of the Imperium of all those who oppose the god emperor.

The Ragnarok – Temple City Ship & Carrier

Fleet Admiral (1), Senior Fleet Officers (20), Techmarines & Tech servitors (200 & 5000), Admin Staff (500), Support Personnel (1000), Ships Crew (55000), Imperial Marines (10,000), Imperial Guard (18,000), Imperial Guard Support (6000), Imperial Citizens – Worshippers (280,000), Space Marine Recruits (15000) Master Chaplain (1), Chaplains (10), Master Librarian (1), Librarians (10), Master Apothecary (1), Apothecaries (10), Master Ecclesiarchy (1), Senior Ecclesiarchy (100), Ecclesiarchy (5000), Battle Sisters (1500)

Fighters (2500), Bombers (2500), Thunderhawk Gunships (1050), Chimeras (2000), Trucks (2000), Leman Russ (500), Baneblade (30), Shadowsword (30), Basilisks (300)

Hammer of Thor – Flagship, Dreadnaught & Carrier

1st Company – Terminator (Veterans) (100), Chapter Commander (1), Senior, Commanders (6), Company Captain (1), Chapter Elders (120), Master Chaplain (1)

Chaplains (4), Master Librarian (1), Librarians (4), Master Apothecary (1) , Apothecaries (4), Chapter Standard Bearer (1), Company Standard Bearer (1)

Techmarines & Tech servitors (20 & 150), Admin Staff (500), Support Personnel (1000), Ships Crew (25000), Imperial Marines (5000), Space Marine Recruits (5000)

Land Raiders (20), Land Raider Crusaders (20), Drop Pods (150), Whirlwinds (20)

Predator Destructors (20), Predator Annihilators (20), Vindicators (20), Dreadnaughts (10), Fighters (500), Bombers (500), Thunderhawk Gunships (150)

Spear of Odin – Battleship

2nd Company – Battle (Veterans) (100), Company Captain (1), Chaplains (4)

Librarians (4), Apothecaries (4), Company Standard Bearer (1), Techmarines & Tech servitors (20 & 150), Admin Staff (500), Support Personnel (1000), Ships Crew (18000), Imperial Marines (3000), Space Marine Recruits (1000)

Rhinos (20), Razorbacks (20), Bikes (100), Land Speeders (50), Drop Pods (120)

Whirlwinds (20), Land Raiders (20), Land Raider Crusaders (20), Predator Destructors (20), Predator Annihilators (20), Vindicators (20), Fighters (100)

Bombers (100), Thunderhawk Gunships (30)

Loki – Heavy Cruiser

3rd Company – Battle (100), Company Captain (1), Chaplains (4)

Librarians (4), Apothecaries (4), Company Standard Bearer (1)

Techmarines & Tech servitors (20 & 150), Admin Staff (500)

Support Personnel (1000), Ships Crew (10000), Imperial Marines (2000)

Space Marine Recruits (1000)

Rhinos (20), Razorbacks (20), Bikes (100), Land Speeders (50), Drop Pods (20), Whirlwinds (20), Land Raiders (20), Land Raider Crusaders (20), Predator Destructors (20), Predator Annihilators (20), Vindicators (20), Fighters (50)

Bombers (50), Thunderhawk Gunships (20)

Freya – Heavy Cruiser

4th Company – Battle (100), Company Captain (1), Chaplains (4)

Librarians (4), Apothecaries (4), Company Standard Bearer (1), Techmarines & Tech servitors (20 & 150), Admin Staff (500), Support Personnel (1000), Ships Crew (10000), Imperial Marines (2000), Space Marine Recruits (1000)

Rhinos (20), Razorbacks (20), Bikes (100), Land Speeders (50), Drop Pods (20)

Whirlwinds (20), Land Raiders (20), Land Raider Crusaders (20), Predator Destructors (20), Predator Annihilators (20), Vindicators (20), Fighters (50), Bombers (50), Thunderhawk Gunships (20)

Fenris – Battle Barge

5th Company – Battle (100), Company Captain (1), Chaplains (4), Librarians (4), Apothecaries (4), Company Standard Bearer (1), Techmarines & Tech servitors (20 & 150), Admin Staff (500), Support Personnel (1000), Ships Crew (5000), Imperial Marines (500), Space Marine Recruits (1000)