Disclaimer: I do not own Warhammer 40,000. I do however, own Sabre and the Dark Seraphim group.
This is mearly a reference chapter (obviously!) meant for the off chance that some one reading this doesnt know very much about Warhammer 40,000. If you do know this stuff already, feel free to go straight to the next chapter.
I apologize for the very long wait, but a lot has been happening (not gonna bore you with the details), but I am redoing the the fanfic so don't worry. I am adding things and generally making it longer and better. Even got a short spacebattle in the first chapter (I know hardly anything about Warhammer 40,000 spacebattles, so any tips, help or facts will help immensely.) As always constructive criticism and pointers are welcome and greatly appreciated.
References
There are 8 dominant races/factions. They are:
Space Marines: Also known as Adeptus Astartes, they are the most powerful and dreaded fighting force of the human warriors in the galaxy. They are not truly human, but superhuman, having been made superior in all respects, to normal men by a harsh regime of genetic and cybernetic modification, psycho-conditioning and rigorous training. Being few in number, Space Marines are organized into small independent armies called Chapters. Each Chapter is responsible for its own recruitment, training, equipment, organization and strategy. Their unswerving loyalty is to the God-Emperor and no other. They consider members in their own chapters to be battle brothers.
Imperial Guard: Since the beginning of the Imperium of Man, the Imperial Guard has stood as its pillars of protection. With billions of men from more than a million different worlds, they are the largest and most diverse fighting force in the galaxy. The Imperial Guard remains the human element in a galaxy of inhuman. Standing shoulder to shoulder, ordinary men outfitted with flak vest and lasguns form the line and hold it against the unending tides of daemons, aliens and whatever else assaults the Imperium. Behind the lines of men, the ceaseless firing of tanks pounds a familiar beating ending only with their targets destruction. Walking among the men and ensuring they stand firm are the epitomes of heroes, the leaders of the Imperial Guard. Generals, Commissars and Priests all work together to ensure by any means that the hearts of the men stay true to the fight and that the line does not fall.
Chaos Space Marines: At the birth of the Imperium of Man, fully half of the Emperor's trusted Space Marine Legions turned on him in a bitter civil war known as the Horus Heresy. Brother fought brother and Mankind stood upon the very brink of extinction in this civil war. Ten thousand years after their defeat, those same traitors still launch their Black Crusades out of the Eye of Terror, intent upon nothing less than the utter destruction of the Imperium and the death of its weakling Emperor. Now and forever they had become the Chaos Space Marines, despised and feared as traitors and heretics throughout the galaxy. They use daemons and chaotic power provided by the Chaos Gods.
Orks: Orks are the most widespread and warlike of aliens in the bloodstained galaxy of the 41st millennium. They only live for one thing and that's war. They are constantly fighting anything that gets in the way, even if it's other Orks! In fact, the only thing keeping the Orks from uniting and bringing about the end of the galaxy is their inability to get along. If they were to organize and unify, they would quickly overwhelm and crush all opposition. The basic Ork is a muscle-bound, hulking monster capable of ripping a man apart with its bare hands. Their battle-scarred green skin is tough and highly resistant to pain. In combat they can transform even the most common object into a lethal killing instrument. Orks aren't the brightest creatures in the galaxy, but they do have a certain animalistic cunning that can catch an overconfident commander off guard. In a word, Orks are built for nothing other than war.
Eldar: The Eldar are an incredibly ancient alien race, which once ruled a vast empire across the stars. Then came the hideous times of the Fall, when the Eldar fell from power. Though they are now few in number, the Eldar are one of the most technologically advanced races in the galaxy. An Eldar army is unique in that almost every squad in the force is specialized in some way. The Eldar are powerful psykers whose Warlocks and Farseers use their mental abilities to sway the battle in their favor. The intentions of the enigmatic Eldar are as unreadable and unpredictable as their battle tactics, but only a fool would ignore any warnings of doom they may foretell.
Necrons: For 60 million years, the Necrons have lain dormant under the surface of the planet Kronus. Eons ago, the Necrontyr race clung to their short lives in fear of oblivion at the hands of their massive and ravaging star. The pushed the limits of science in an effort to lengthen their lives, but to no avail. Then, the star gods known as the C'tan were discovered, offering immortality at a terrible price. The Necrontyr agreed, and their souls were encased in living metal bodies. What they did not know was that the process dulled their minds and senses so they became slaves of the C'tan. The C'tan needed warrior-slaves to harvest the life-forms of the galaxy so the star gods can feast on souls, and the C'tan's new Necrons served this purpose very well. Their methods are fearsome and without remorse. On the field of battle they wield unholy armaments and can tap into the dark powers of their god to give them a considerable edge against their enemies.
Tau: While a relatively young race, the Tau have made their presence known by becoming one of the most efficient and powerful military forces in the galaxy. Fresh from their successful campaign to conquer Kronus, the Tau are seemingly without rivals. Their powerful technology has laid waste to countless armies, but it is their unique ideology that proves to be their most powerful weapon. Fighting for what they call the Greater Good, the Tau sweep through the galaxy, seeking enlightenment and unity to those who join them. This powerful ideology, while focused on community and well-being, lends itself well to the ways of combat. Tau fighters are extremely determined in their reasons to fight, giving them exceptionally high morale. Two such allied races are the Kroot and the Vespid. Having joined the Tau Empire, the two alien races now fight for them, giving the Tau army a wide array of unique attack capabilities. The Kroot are fearsome warriors adept at melee combat, while the insectoid Vespid are skilled at quick raids and assaults, thanks to their speed.
Dark Seraphim: Not a race, but a faction of like-minded humans. During the Horus Heresy, a group of Space Marines, Imperial Guard and civilians broke away from the Imperium and started the faction known as the Dark Seraphim. They do not share either the Imperium's narrow-minded views of life or the Chaos's heretical views. They strive for the goal of galactic peace and order, and as such, they are constantly at odds with the Imperium, Chaos Space Marines and Orks. While they are not as numerically superior as the Imperial Guard or as advanced as the Space Marines, they have survived for as long as they because their tactics are far superior to the other races/factions. Their colonyship, the Dammerung, is their home, for they do not have a planet. It is also their base of operations, for tactical strikes and the training of their elite forces. They have chosen Kronus as their new home planet, but must contend with the other races that have already landed and entrenched themselves on the planet surface.
Faction leaders of Dark Crusade:
Sabre, Age: 34 (In actuality its thought that he is 600 years old, but this isn't confirmed as of yet). He is one of the Four Admirals of the Dark Seraphim group, Admiral of the 1st Fleet, commander of the HellKnights and field commander of Dark Seraphim's Kronus forces. He was a member of the Word Bearer Chaos legion 50 years prior to Dark crusade, but was somehow liberated by Dark Seraphim's leader, Malkov. After months of unimaginable therapy and operations, Sabre became a semi-normal person, although he is still an incredibly vicious fighter and is haunted by memories of his time as a Chaos Lieutenant. He was a close friend of Eliphas while he was a Chaos Lieutenant.
Eliphas the Inheritor, Age: 50 (in actuality he's over 10,000-years-old). Eliphas, a Dark Apostle the Word Bearer legion, has come to remake Kronus in the twisted images of the Chaos Gods. Eliphas became a Dark Apostle due to his many victories over the weakling Imperium. An unimaginably vicious fighter and superb leader. What Eliphas wants, other than to please his gods and restore the honor lost to the Word Bearers 10,000 years prior, is to sate his lust for blood, destruction and death. No one will stand in his path to conquering Kronus, not even his former friend and Lieutenant, Sabre.
Farseer Taldeer, Age: Unknown. Taldeer of Craftworld Ulthwe has foreseen the return of the genocidal Necrons. Now that they have awoken on Kronus, she trusts no other to stop them. The Imperial Guard is hot on her trail due to her manipulation of General Sturn on Lorn V.
Governor Luka Alexander, age: 48. Luka and his 1st Kronus Regiment have come to free the planet from alien domination and restore it to the Imperium of Man. Originally sent to Kronus to track down Farseer Taldeer, High Command changed the orders after Lukas men found an Imperator Titans Hellstorm Cannon on the surface of the planet.
The Necron Lord of Kronus has awoken to find his tomb world infested with the living. His goal is to wipe Kronus clean as a tribute to his fearsome god, The Nightbringer.
Warlord Gorgutz 'Ead 'Unter, age: unknown. Gorgutz sees Kronus as another prize for his Waaagh! and will lay waste to anyone in his path.
Brother-Captain Davian Thule, age: 42(in actuality, he's about 420). Davian of the Blood Raven chapter has arrived on Kronus to carry out a great purge. Dark secrets and holy relics luck on Kronus and Davian must protect them.
Shas'o Kais, age: unknown. Kais is the military commander of the Tau forces on Kronus and he fights to keep this world in the Tau Empire. While others fight for greed, pride or conquest, Kais fights for the Greater Good.
Greater Daemons:
Great Unclean Ones: Massive, bloated disease carriers, whose decaying flesh bulges with corpulent cancers. They usually carry a titanic rusted blade into battle. They generally act as the leaders and father figures for the other daemons, epitomizing Nurgle's joyful, paternal nature. Due to their bloated bodies Great Unclean Ones are extremely hard to kill
Bloodthirster: A Greater Daemon, the ultimate incarnation of the power of the Chaos God known as Khorne. An enormous Daemon, with bat-like wings that span 30 to 40 feet, hoof-like feet, bull-like horns on either side of its head and carries a huge Double-bladed axe and sometimes a whip, the Bloodthirster inspires fear just laying eyes upon it. The Bloodthirster is the most powerful daemon of Khorne.
Avatar of Khaine: The only Daemon the Eldar are known to use, it towers many stories above the battle field, is covered in holy flames and carries am enormous sword known as the Wailing Doom, and it is the Eldar's most powerful attacker and is their symbol of war.
Daemon Prince: the ultimate goal of any Chaos Lord is to become the nigh unbeatable Daemon prince. While not as big as greater demons, it is, without a doubt, FAR more powerful. It carries a large daemonic sword and is one of the most powerful daemons that the Chaos forces are able to summon to our plain.