Post by Ferrum on Dec 28, 2010 3:58:38 GMT -5
5th Sidhean Aerial Assault Regiment
"The blades of Leodhus"
Planetary overview.
Date of discovery: M37, first exploration by Magos Finneus Sidhe.
Pre-Imperium form of government and circumstances: Feudal, however the organization is still nearly identical. Before the Magos discovered the planet it was home to various warring clans of hardy folk, there was a limited Tau settlement on the Northern Pole, they were swiftly driven from the planet.
Current population: 100,000, there are few concentrations of more than 10,000 souls due to harsh conditions.
Description of general population: 6-6.25', tall blond or red hair, blue or green eyes, skin which is pale even compared to deep hivers. Well muscled and suited to long distance travel by foot.
History.
The geography of Sidhe consists of a vast deep ocean, with lurk...creatures, however the only known record of such beings is in te ancient tales of the Sidheans themselves, and no expedition sent by Magos Sidhe has wet uncovered anything significant. Upon the oceans rest a multitude of islands, however this is not a garden world as one might expect from such a scene, it is in fact a cold craggy place, with shrieking winds, battering rains, and unforgiving winters. Despite these barriers Sidhe is also known for it's ragged beauty, it has never been a sight of a post-gunpowder war and so is not scarred with the craters that are so typical in the Imperium, and it doesn't possess the heavy industry of more populated worlds, and so has retained it's gentle climate and clear atmosphere.
Pre-Imperium Sidhe was even more sparsely populated than it has become since it's indoctrination. The tribes who were present upon the planet when the Magos arrived are most likely descended from the crew of a pre-heresy imperial cruiser. Colonization teams discovered various relics from the ship such as an ancient power sword carried by Grand Chief Murchison. With the blade in his possession the lord was able to take his men across the main grouping of islands, known as Leodhus, and conquer the people who dwelt there. By the time the Magos and his men arrived on the planet high chief Murchison was an old old man, but he still carried his ancient blade, which even after centuries in his family the blade was still sharp. Murchison rode out to meet the offworlders, and as he dismounted the Magos's enchanted eyepiece homed in upon the insignia the balde bore on it's hilt, a red cog with an ivory M in the center, the symbol of Mars. A shocked Magos Sidhe swiftly allowed the tribes of Leodhus amnesty within the Imperium, for he believed that they had been touched by the Omnissiah. Since it's induction into the Imperium the world of Sidhe became known for it's hardy soldiers both male and female, and it's commanders who were capable of swift adaptation to nearly any hostile environment.
Culture.
The soldiers of Sidhe are gifted not only with their physical might and raw athleticism, they carry to battle with them the hardiness and dedication their ancient ancestors from the Volition brought with them. They fight for the Emperor as If he were their own chief, and so are steadfastly loyal, never has man from Sidhe fallen into the dark one's hold. This loyalty comes with it's disadvantages however, for they disdain other regiments are loath to serve under commanders who haven't earned their respect, and detachments of Sidheans have been known to behave as the adeptus astartes do in battle, impetuously and with blatant contempt for their does and even their allies.
Tactics
The climate and geography of Sidhe have had a great effect upon the warrior archetype found in it's troops, the men and women of Sidhe prefer to strike hard and fast, using whatever means they can to strike the enemies flanks with elite harassing units while their main force rinds their for down with a frontal assault. In the armies of the Imperium the Sidheans have found their place manning the hard hitting Valkyrie squadrons, with units of hardened highlanders waiting within the hold ready to tear into their foe. Obviously not every trooper can be mounted within such a machine, so many Sidhean guardsmen ride to battle inside chimera APCs or march on foot. Since Sidhe is a world of islands heavy armor is horribly inefficient, and would only ever be used of the regiment were pinned down or ordered to defend a position such as a city or fortress.
Before the Magos discovered Sidhe and introduced las weaponry and the vast military machine that is the Imperium the warriors of high chief Murchison did battle with massive swords, axes, and javelins. This love of bloody battle has carried over into The present day, and as such many troopers carry the traditional weapons of Sidhe with them to battle, the targe shield, short swords, and the highlander units wield mighty claymore swords.
The forces of Sidhe engage horde armies with their valkyrie squadrons before the majority of their force engages, and they will often drip their highlanders in groups of three to five squads on strategic positions where they will be able to divert enemy vanguard units away from the gunlines of their brethren. Once the highlanders are dug in the Valkyries will continue to ravage the enemy with their heavy bolters and rocket pods, allowing the majority of the Sidhean force to reach true objectives. Once the regiment is in place the troops will begin their advance with support from the Valkyries and sentinel squadrons, making their way towards the highlanders. Simultaneously the highlanders push towards one another cutting the front lines of the enemy off from the majority and crushing them between the Sidhean lines. Once this is complete the highlanders embark once again and take up a fire support and reinforcement role, working in pairs of squads.
When the Sidheans encounter heavily armored or mechanized armies they will employ vendetta gunships with the highlanders working in concert to tank hunt and destroy key targets. Every platoon of Sidhean guardsmen has the capability to destroy an armored threat either with short ranged melta guns or overwhelming fire from their standard missile launchers and autocannons.
Training methods
Each Sidhean guardsman undergoes extensive physical conditioning and must be able to run without rest the circumference of the largest Leodhian isle, Caith, which in standard measure is exaclty 25.93 miles, and has an average of 24% uphill grade. If the troopers can pass this test as well as the harsh combat training, which includes platoon on platoon combat using stun rifles and clubs, then the soldier shall be admitted into the Sidhean military.
Once a soldier has been recruited and trained he or she is given an option of which further training course they pursue, try can choose either infantry, mechanized, or the pilots courses. The infantry course is the only one which may lead to acceptance into the elite highlanders units, this is restriction was put into place to ensure many recruits would become infantry seeking to be a highlander. The mechanized courses are for those who wish to fight within chimeras or sentinels, either as a driver gunner or member of a Targe squad, these squads bear the same name as the shields carried into battle because they protect their brethren with anti tank weaponry. The final course of training, the pilot's, is by far the least commonly chosen and most difficult one to pursue, it has a high drop out rate as an even higher mortality rate than the infantry course because of it's smaller size. However pilots are integral to the functionality of a Sidhe battlegroup, and so are paid a higher salary for their duties, and are given much respect by their comrades in arms.
The average Sidhean learns many things throughout the entirety of their chosen course, but all learn elaborate close combat manouvers using the targe and short sword, making them more than a match for any rebel PDF units and a threat to even such creatures as the Orks and Tyranids. Apart from close combat Sidheans constantly drill to be made obedient, they are naturally independent beings so theyust work hard to follow commands, and are taught to follow the parameters of an order, but complete it as they see fit in whatever situation, unless told otherwise. Marksmanship is also valued another the Sidhean regiments, and is taught daily to prevent troopers getting 'rusty'.
All in all a trooper can expect to be in training for 1.5 years as an infantryman, with an additional 4 months if accepted into the highlanders, 1.7 years in the mechanized courses, and 2.5 years as a pilot. Officers in the Sidhean military are drawn from the sons and daughters of clan chiefs, and only rarely are common troopers promoted above sergeant.
History of the 5th Sidhean Aerial Assault Regiment
"The blades of Leodhus"
The current commander of the 5th Sidhean aerial is none other than the great great great great great grandson of High Chief Murchison, Colonel John Murchison. Colonel Murchison is known for his incredible bravery and skill with the family blade he calls 'Sword of the Red sea', after the legend telling of it's discovery. Murchison leads his men valiently from the front and displayed the utmost bravery and dedication during the battle which made Sidhe famous.
The wars which took place upon the fringe world UC-456 were the most ferocious te refiner has ever seen. On the world was present a massive imperial force of 500,000 men, of which only 6,000 were under the colonel's command. Yet even with such a small force the Murchison chief was able to turn the tide upon the Tau who had colonized the world. The Sidhean warriors had heard tales of the Tau and matched them to the hated demons of ancient lore, for the Tau had visited the ancient Sidheans, and been far from kind to them.
The battle of Drenched Soul took place within a deep gorge, where a river of ice cold water ran from the high mountains. The Sidheans had been charged to defend the gorge and keep a much larger Tau force at bay, and had been given little aid at all. The imperial commanders knew not the worth of the Sidheans and threw them to the Tau as bait for the orbital guns. However the ships waiting to fire never got the orders, because the Tau were utterly destroyed by the disciplined yet hateful vollies of las fire and the sagar highlander counter attack.
Colonel Murchison led the counter assaults himself, riding to battle on Valkyries hastily painted black, the highlanders swooped in upon the Tau gunline as it dug in. The eight valkyries strafed once before the highlanders lept from their holds, using their grav shutes to land atop their foes. The highlanders fired a single wall of shotgun blasts into the firewarriors before charging with their mighty swords high above their heads, and colonel Murchison was with them all the way, he went straight for the enemy's general, protected within his battlesuit...or so he thought. The sword of the red sea took the leg off the mech and sent the rest of it sprawling, colonel Murchison saw his chance and lept upon it, stabbing down again and again.
The Tau looked on in horror, even as they were cut down like wheat in a filed they turned to gape, and gasp. In those moments the Valkyries returned, with full loads of troopers and weapons ablaze. As the rest of the Sidheans charges the Tau broke and ran.
The war was won, and colonel Murhison became the most decorated commmander in the brief history of Sidhean military history. But to all bright tales there is a dark side, before colonel Murchison the 5th had a different colonel, his name was Bronnot, he was an arrogant chieftain, not of noble lineage such as Murchison....as he was responsible for the 5th's first and worst defeat.
The 5th was a new regiment 50 years ago, and it's first commander was colonel Bronnot, the entirety of the Sidhean cohort was called to serve against an Ork invasion near the hive world of Angelis. The young commander jumped at the chance to earn his keep and so volunteered his refiner to lead the charge against the xeno horde. Unfortunately for him these particular Orks were Bad Moonz, and their favorite pastime was shooting down imperial gunships.
The colonel thought the the Orks would be mere fodder for his gunships, and so ordered his ground troops to hold Their ground alongside a detachment of Cadians. The lieutenant he left in command was Donald Murchison, father of John Murchison. Bronnot mounted up with his highlanders and sped towards the Orks in a tight formation, with all eight Valkyries close and ready to rain death upon the green tide. Unfortunately for Bronnot the Bad Moonz had a squadron of fightahs ready to deal with any such intruders, and as soon as they saw the Valkyries they gave chase. Now Bronnot was not such a fool to think he could best fightahs in air to air combat, so he fled to the east towards an Ork flank, where he ordered his men down. The valkyries landed and the troops dismounted, but this stop had allowed the orks to catch them, and every gunship was lost as they tried to take off. The highlanders fled to a nearby rock formation, and dug in waiting forthright Orks. Again Bronnot had made a mistake, his men were equipped for close combat, not a gunline! The orks saw this and brought up a unit of flash gitz. The heavily armed orks picked off many of the men with their hardly precision fire and a desperate Bronnot order a final charge. To the Orks this was as good as it could get, the men were shot to pieces by the large note Ork guns.
All of this was unknown to Major Donald Murchison, who held his ground as ordered. His men proved to be vital in holding the flank of the Cadian force and earned the respect of the allied commanders. This is Aldo how the 5th aerial passed to the Murchison clan, however since all of the valkyries and the highlanders were lost the regiment was crippled and used as an infantry regiment for the remainder of the war.
Dress
Armor plates: Dark gunmetal with woad patterns.
Fatigues:khaki shirts with black trim and buttons.
Kilts: As per each clan ( separated by regiment ) the 5th aerial use the Murchison clan tartan for their kilts.
Aquila: silver
Weapons: Gunmetal
"The blades of Leodhus"
Planetary overview.
Date of discovery: M37, first exploration by Magos Finneus Sidhe.
Pre-Imperium form of government and circumstances: Feudal, however the organization is still nearly identical. Before the Magos discovered the planet it was home to various warring clans of hardy folk, there was a limited Tau settlement on the Northern Pole, they were swiftly driven from the planet.
Current population: 100,000, there are few concentrations of more than 10,000 souls due to harsh conditions.
Description of general population: 6-6.25', tall blond or red hair, blue or green eyes, skin which is pale even compared to deep hivers. Well muscled and suited to long distance travel by foot.
History.
The geography of Sidhe consists of a vast deep ocean, with lurk...creatures, however the only known record of such beings is in te ancient tales of the Sidheans themselves, and no expedition sent by Magos Sidhe has wet uncovered anything significant. Upon the oceans rest a multitude of islands, however this is not a garden world as one might expect from such a scene, it is in fact a cold craggy place, with shrieking winds, battering rains, and unforgiving winters. Despite these barriers Sidhe is also known for it's ragged beauty, it has never been a sight of a post-gunpowder war and so is not scarred with the craters that are so typical in the Imperium, and it doesn't possess the heavy industry of more populated worlds, and so has retained it's gentle climate and clear atmosphere.
Pre-Imperium Sidhe was even more sparsely populated than it has become since it's indoctrination. The tribes who were present upon the planet when the Magos arrived are most likely descended from the crew of a pre-heresy imperial cruiser. Colonization teams discovered various relics from the ship such as an ancient power sword carried by Grand Chief Murchison. With the blade in his possession the lord was able to take his men across the main grouping of islands, known as Leodhus, and conquer the people who dwelt there. By the time the Magos and his men arrived on the planet high chief Murchison was an old old man, but he still carried his ancient blade, which even after centuries in his family the blade was still sharp. Murchison rode out to meet the offworlders, and as he dismounted the Magos's enchanted eyepiece homed in upon the insignia the balde bore on it's hilt, a red cog with an ivory M in the center, the symbol of Mars. A shocked Magos Sidhe swiftly allowed the tribes of Leodhus amnesty within the Imperium, for he believed that they had been touched by the Omnissiah. Since it's induction into the Imperium the world of Sidhe became known for it's hardy soldiers both male and female, and it's commanders who were capable of swift adaptation to nearly any hostile environment.
Culture.
The soldiers of Sidhe are gifted not only with their physical might and raw athleticism, they carry to battle with them the hardiness and dedication their ancient ancestors from the Volition brought with them. They fight for the Emperor as If he were their own chief, and so are steadfastly loyal, never has man from Sidhe fallen into the dark one's hold. This loyalty comes with it's disadvantages however, for they disdain other regiments are loath to serve under commanders who haven't earned their respect, and detachments of Sidheans have been known to behave as the adeptus astartes do in battle, impetuously and with blatant contempt for their does and even their allies.
Tactics
The climate and geography of Sidhe have had a great effect upon the warrior archetype found in it's troops, the men and women of Sidhe prefer to strike hard and fast, using whatever means they can to strike the enemies flanks with elite harassing units while their main force rinds their for down with a frontal assault. In the armies of the Imperium the Sidheans have found their place manning the hard hitting Valkyrie squadrons, with units of hardened highlanders waiting within the hold ready to tear into their foe. Obviously not every trooper can be mounted within such a machine, so many Sidhean guardsmen ride to battle inside chimera APCs or march on foot. Since Sidhe is a world of islands heavy armor is horribly inefficient, and would only ever be used of the regiment were pinned down or ordered to defend a position such as a city or fortress.
Before the Magos discovered Sidhe and introduced las weaponry and the vast military machine that is the Imperium the warriors of high chief Murchison did battle with massive swords, axes, and javelins. This love of bloody battle has carried over into The present day, and as such many troopers carry the traditional weapons of Sidhe with them to battle, the targe shield, short swords, and the highlander units wield mighty claymore swords.
The forces of Sidhe engage horde armies with their valkyrie squadrons before the majority of their force engages, and they will often drip their highlanders in groups of three to five squads on strategic positions where they will be able to divert enemy vanguard units away from the gunlines of their brethren. Once the highlanders are dug in the Valkyries will continue to ravage the enemy with their heavy bolters and rocket pods, allowing the majority of the Sidhean force to reach true objectives. Once the regiment is in place the troops will begin their advance with support from the Valkyries and sentinel squadrons, making their way towards the highlanders. Simultaneously the highlanders push towards one another cutting the front lines of the enemy off from the majority and crushing them between the Sidhean lines. Once this is complete the highlanders embark once again and take up a fire support and reinforcement role, working in pairs of squads.
When the Sidheans encounter heavily armored or mechanized armies they will employ vendetta gunships with the highlanders working in concert to tank hunt and destroy key targets. Every platoon of Sidhean guardsmen has the capability to destroy an armored threat either with short ranged melta guns or overwhelming fire from their standard missile launchers and autocannons.
Training methods
Each Sidhean guardsman undergoes extensive physical conditioning and must be able to run without rest the circumference of the largest Leodhian isle, Caith, which in standard measure is exaclty 25.93 miles, and has an average of 24% uphill grade. If the troopers can pass this test as well as the harsh combat training, which includes platoon on platoon combat using stun rifles and clubs, then the soldier shall be admitted into the Sidhean military.
Once a soldier has been recruited and trained he or she is given an option of which further training course they pursue, try can choose either infantry, mechanized, or the pilots courses. The infantry course is the only one which may lead to acceptance into the elite highlanders units, this is restriction was put into place to ensure many recruits would become infantry seeking to be a highlander. The mechanized courses are for those who wish to fight within chimeras or sentinels, either as a driver gunner or member of a Targe squad, these squads bear the same name as the shields carried into battle because they protect their brethren with anti tank weaponry. The final course of training, the pilot's, is by far the least commonly chosen and most difficult one to pursue, it has a high drop out rate as an even higher mortality rate than the infantry course because of it's smaller size. However pilots are integral to the functionality of a Sidhe battlegroup, and so are paid a higher salary for their duties, and are given much respect by their comrades in arms.
The average Sidhean learns many things throughout the entirety of their chosen course, but all learn elaborate close combat manouvers using the targe and short sword, making them more than a match for any rebel PDF units and a threat to even such creatures as the Orks and Tyranids. Apart from close combat Sidheans constantly drill to be made obedient, they are naturally independent beings so theyust work hard to follow commands, and are taught to follow the parameters of an order, but complete it as they see fit in whatever situation, unless told otherwise. Marksmanship is also valued another the Sidhean regiments, and is taught daily to prevent troopers getting 'rusty'.
All in all a trooper can expect to be in training for 1.5 years as an infantryman, with an additional 4 months if accepted into the highlanders, 1.7 years in the mechanized courses, and 2.5 years as a pilot. Officers in the Sidhean military are drawn from the sons and daughters of clan chiefs, and only rarely are common troopers promoted above sergeant.
History of the 5th Sidhean Aerial Assault Regiment
"The blades of Leodhus"
The current commander of the 5th Sidhean aerial is none other than the great great great great great grandson of High Chief Murchison, Colonel John Murchison. Colonel Murchison is known for his incredible bravery and skill with the family blade he calls 'Sword of the Red sea', after the legend telling of it's discovery. Murchison leads his men valiently from the front and displayed the utmost bravery and dedication during the battle which made Sidhe famous.
The wars which took place upon the fringe world UC-456 were the most ferocious te refiner has ever seen. On the world was present a massive imperial force of 500,000 men, of which only 6,000 were under the colonel's command. Yet even with such a small force the Murchison chief was able to turn the tide upon the Tau who had colonized the world. The Sidhean warriors had heard tales of the Tau and matched them to the hated demons of ancient lore, for the Tau had visited the ancient Sidheans, and been far from kind to them.
The battle of Drenched Soul took place within a deep gorge, where a river of ice cold water ran from the high mountains. The Sidheans had been charged to defend the gorge and keep a much larger Tau force at bay, and had been given little aid at all. The imperial commanders knew not the worth of the Sidheans and threw them to the Tau as bait for the orbital guns. However the ships waiting to fire never got the orders, because the Tau were utterly destroyed by the disciplined yet hateful vollies of las fire and the sagar highlander counter attack.
Colonel Murchison led the counter assaults himself, riding to battle on Valkyries hastily painted black, the highlanders swooped in upon the Tau gunline as it dug in. The eight valkyries strafed once before the highlanders lept from their holds, using their grav shutes to land atop their foes. The highlanders fired a single wall of shotgun blasts into the firewarriors before charging with their mighty swords high above their heads, and colonel Murchison was with them all the way, he went straight for the enemy's general, protected within his battlesuit...or so he thought. The sword of the red sea took the leg off the mech and sent the rest of it sprawling, colonel Murchison saw his chance and lept upon it, stabbing down again and again.
The Tau looked on in horror, even as they were cut down like wheat in a filed they turned to gape, and gasp. In those moments the Valkyries returned, with full loads of troopers and weapons ablaze. As the rest of the Sidheans charges the Tau broke and ran.
The war was won, and colonel Murhison became the most decorated commmander in the brief history of Sidhean military history. But to all bright tales there is a dark side, before colonel Murchison the 5th had a different colonel, his name was Bronnot, he was an arrogant chieftain, not of noble lineage such as Murchison....as he was responsible for the 5th's first and worst defeat.
The 5th was a new regiment 50 years ago, and it's first commander was colonel Bronnot, the entirety of the Sidhean cohort was called to serve against an Ork invasion near the hive world of Angelis. The young commander jumped at the chance to earn his keep and so volunteered his refiner to lead the charge against the xeno horde. Unfortunately for him these particular Orks were Bad Moonz, and their favorite pastime was shooting down imperial gunships.
The colonel thought the the Orks would be mere fodder for his gunships, and so ordered his ground troops to hold Their ground alongside a detachment of Cadians. The lieutenant he left in command was Donald Murchison, father of John Murchison. Bronnot mounted up with his highlanders and sped towards the Orks in a tight formation, with all eight Valkyries close and ready to rain death upon the green tide. Unfortunately for Bronnot the Bad Moonz had a squadron of fightahs ready to deal with any such intruders, and as soon as they saw the Valkyries they gave chase. Now Bronnot was not such a fool to think he could best fightahs in air to air combat, so he fled to the east towards an Ork flank, where he ordered his men down. The valkyries landed and the troops dismounted, but this stop had allowed the orks to catch them, and every gunship was lost as they tried to take off. The highlanders fled to a nearby rock formation, and dug in waiting forthright Orks. Again Bronnot had made a mistake, his men were equipped for close combat, not a gunline! The orks saw this and brought up a unit of flash gitz. The heavily armed orks picked off many of the men with their hardly precision fire and a desperate Bronnot order a final charge. To the Orks this was as good as it could get, the men were shot to pieces by the large note Ork guns.
All of this was unknown to Major Donald Murchison, who held his ground as ordered. His men proved to be vital in holding the flank of the Cadian force and earned the respect of the allied commanders. This is Aldo how the 5th aerial passed to the Murchison clan, however since all of the valkyries and the highlanders were lost the regiment was crippled and used as an infantry regiment for the remainder of the war.
Dress
Armor plates: Dark gunmetal with woad patterns.
Fatigues:khaki shirts with black trim and buttons.
Kilts: As per each clan ( separated by regiment ) the 5th aerial use the Murchison clan tartan for their kilts.
Aquila: silver
Weapons: Gunmetal