.
...Recordis Imperialis
...Inquisitorial Verification - IL: JR3020.
Access Cleared to Level 12
Inquiry:
...Adeptus Astartes; Knights Templar
Administratum Alert
Adeptus Mechanicus Review: Outstanding gene-seed tithe owed.
(Resolved)
Inquisitorial Censure:
Refusal to cooperate with the Holy Orders of the Emperor's Inquisition.
Disobediance to an Inquisitor Lord of the Ordo Hereticus.
Disrespect to an Inquisitor Lord of the Ordo Xenos.
-Right to a home-world revoked.
(Withdrawn due to lack of home-world.)
-Charged to a century long penitent crusade. Recruitment rights revoked.
Ecclesiarchal Reprimand: Inability to demonstrate adequate adherence to Imperial Dogma.
-Recruitment rights curtailed until further notice.
(Withdrawn due to testimony of Cannoness Rayne Alexandra of the Order of Our Martyred Lady; Adepta Sororitas. Verified by Inquisitor Lord Jericho Ransdel; Ordo Hereticus.)
"All available information regarding this chapter's history is based on speculation and rumor. What solid evidence of anything existed long ago, and is but scraps of truth to be found in gossip. Nevertheless I will list the most prevalent speculations, that they may be available for your consideration."
It is known that this chapter bears the designation of 768 with the Administratum Archives. It is, however, speculated that the chapter is much older; perhaps second founding era. Evidence to this hypothesis is as follows:
1) They maintain a level of sophistication in their equipment not shown by younger chapters.
2) Mentions of Astartes matching their colorations, formations, and tactics can be found as far back as the Age of Apostacy.
However old the Templar actually are is irrelevant as of this writing. Next, if I may be forgiven for moving so quickly, I will touch upon their Primogenitor.
Several hypothesi exist as to whom the Templar gene-seed is descended from, but there is no conclusive evidence. The Templar, themselves, seem to be unaware of their own origins.
1) Roboute Guilliman: As the Ultramarines' gene-seed is commonly used in the creation of new chapters, this is a likely possibility. The Templar gene-seed does have all functional aspects intact, circumstantially proving this hypothesis.
2) Rogal Dorn: This rumor is based upon their organizational structure and battle behavior. They act similarly to the Black Templar, and may be a splinter faction of that chapter. The similarity in the names should also not be overlooked. Update: Impossible due to Templars' functioning Betcher's Gland.
3) Lion El'Jonson: Dark Angels' gene-seed is just as pure and uncorrupted as Ultramarines', if not used commonly in the creation of new chapters.
4) Sanguinius: A long stretch, but the Templar do show a love of assault tactics. It is also known that their battle-brothers can live many centuries if not slain in battle. This is similar to how the Blood Angels and their successors are known to be; the Templar possess equipment that is masterfully made by expert artisans.
I have not included the numerous rumors and gossip, as I am sure that My Lord is aware and need not be bothered by such needless information.
Chapters of the Adeptus Astartes: A Most Secret Report
Compiled for His Most Supreme Excellency
the Patranoval Envoy, by his humble servant,
Master Maximus Pliny
Inquiry:
...Command; Knights Templar
"Robert the Righteous, as he is called, is the current Grand Master of the Knights Templar. As his name would suggest, the man is an extremely lawful and, as previous, righteous. Never once, in his four hundred year leadership of the Chapter, has he allowed them to devolve into barbarism. In fact, the man himself has instituted several rules and changes over time to protect the spiritual and physical purity of the chapter. Quite often those cognizant enough can make out the symbols of apothecaries marching into battle, leading squads of their battle-brothers. Marching at the head of the battle, himself, one can also see the black shape of a Chaplain nearby. Listening even casually you can catch the Chaplain's chants and prayers.
Always at the forefront of the battle, Robert carries two relics of the chapter with him: the Kensai's Ward and the Masters of War. These are the Grand Master's badge of office, and usually matched with an arcane device called the Iron Halo.
The Kensai's Ward is a suit of masterly crafted power armor, rumored to have been forged under the direct supervision of their unknown primarch, before the Horus Heresy. Each successive Grand Master adds to this armor during his service, creating an item unique in the Imperium.
Masters of War is the collected name/title of the Grandmaster's blades. Like a Crux Terminatus, the guard of these weapons contain a small fragment of the Emperor's, praise be his name, armor. While I am unsure of their exact properties, tales abound about Grandmasters of antiquity shredding men and tank alike with nothing but those blades in hand. Surely they are potent artifacts, ones used in the righteous pursuit of vengeance against the Great Traitors.
Surely, then, this chapter is a zealous enforcer of the Emperor's, praise be his name, might. It is the humble opinion of this lowly servant that this chapter is an asset to the Emperor's, praise be his name, Imperium."
Leaders of the Adeptus Astartes: A Most Secret Report
Compiled for His Most Supreme Excellency
the Patranoval Envoy, by his humble servant,
Master Maximus Pliny
Addendum to this report: Robert the Righteous fell in battle during the Fall of Medusa V, struck down in an ambush by a host of Tau artillery. His successor, Formerly First Captain Malek, destroyed the remaining Tau forces his men located in that sector. It is speculated that Robert the Righteous was entombed in one of the Templar's dreadnoughts.
Inquiry:
...Order of Our Martyred Lady
Order of Our Martyred Lady:
Based in the Convent Sanctorum of St. Katherine, built high within the superstructure of Tempestora Hive on Ophelia VII, the Order of Our Martyred Lady has convents throughout the galaxy and is one of the largest of the Orders Militant. Originally entitled the Order of the Fiery Heart, the Sisters changed their name within centuries of their founding by Ecclesiarch Alexis XXII, in memory of the supreme sacrifice made by their patron, Saint Katherine.
After the fall of Tempestora, the Order of Our Martyred Lady could barely field the equivalent of three companies upon the battlefields of Armageddon. The loss of the Sanctorum sent shock waves throughout the entire Order, leading to many Novices questioning their faith in the divine Emperor.
Inquiry:
...Medusa V
Medusa V:
The Medusa star system is located on the far side of the galaxy to Holy Terra. Named after the home world of the Iron Hands Space Marine Chapter, the star system consists of eight planets; named Medusa I - VIII. Of these worlds, two were suited to human habitation (Medusa IV and V), and two were gas giants (Medusa VI and VII).
The original purpose of colonizing the Medusa system was to provide a way station and staging point for Imperial starships seeking to utilize the phenomena known as Van Grothe's Rapidity. The system's great mineral wealth, discovered after the removal of the native alien species and the colonization of Medusa IV and V, became one of the primary contributors to industry in its galactic subsector.
The presence of Van Grothe's Rapidity causes significant warp storms to flare up on occasion. These storms served to cut off external access to the Medusa system for varying periods of time, ranging from months to decades.