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Post by Warsmith Wolf on Feb 28, 2017 22:05:43 GMT -5
Throne of Terra, I haven't posted here in years!Literally.Right, as it's currently 3am, I'll keep this brief. I have some lovely airborne lads and ladies to show you all, fresh out of the Militarum Tempestus. The 99th Aleutian 'Seahawks' (of no relation to the NHL team, that was a coincidence) are a naval-based airborne assault regiment (naval as in actual boats), perfecting the tactics of amphibious Taurox assaults, commando raids, and good old fashioned hell dives! I'll post up more pictures when it isn't the middle of the night, but for now here's a taster. A tastefully teal taster.   (I'm aware that a Taurox isn't airborne. It came in the Start Collecting.) |
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Post by nutty on Mar 1, 2017 4:59:31 GMT -5
Those are some good looking scions!
It might be the lack of sleep I've had over the past few days.. but I'm having trouble grasping the concept of airborne amphibious droptroopers on boats.
But heck if it looks cool & sounds cool, it's probably cool!
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Post by Walk on Mar 1, 2017 12:12:57 GMT -5
Man those are gorgeously painted. You should start a log of them over in picture post so you get more views. The fluff sounds awesome and now I want to see an imperial battleship hit the waves. I'm expecting it built and painted by the weekend sir!
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Post by Warsmith Wolf on Mar 2, 2017 17:17:41 GMT -5
As I am an idiot and completely missed the picture post section, it looks like you guys are going to be getting some lore instead! Buckle in lads, we're going on a ride. There'll be a quiz at the end, so make sure you take notes!
Seriously, take notes. The Commissars shoot anyone who scores under 40%.
Planetary Databank: Aleutia
Yulanthi System, Subsector Calypso, Segmentum Tempestus
Extracts from the Imperial Explorator Cartographical Divisio
Aleutia is a temperate Oceanic World with few real continents to speak of other than its frigid ice caps, the entire planet criss-crossed with snaking networks of archipelagos interspersed with vast expanses of open ocean. Rediscovered by the Imperium as far back as the Great Crusade, the world has a long and storied history of providing dependable and adaptable troops to both the Imperial Navy and aquatic-oriented divisions of the Imperial Guard, as well as valuable agricultural exports. The sight of water-borne battlefleets and carriers launching amphibious assaults of teal-armoured Guardsmen is a common one on Oceanic Worlds the Imperium seeks to defend or reconquer, though in practice just about any planet with a body of water on it is fair game for an Aleutian strike force.
Aleutia experiences remarkable cultural diversity, with many of its populous 'hive-chains' - cities spread over the larger islands and in no way 'true' Hives - situated in completely different climates. The New Solomon chain experiences temperate weather, for one, while the equatorial chain of Kahli is beset by extreme heat almost all year round (one Aleutian year being 344 Terran standard days). There is no one defining racial feature to Aleutians at large - the closest analogue being naming conventions as per each hive-chain - and their diversity and cultural mixing is a point of great pride to their people.
Aleutia has three moons, each named after a great sea beast of Terran mythos - the Scyllax, the Mobii-Dakh, and the Kharybdiss - with the seasons largely dictated by which moon holds the most tidal pull at any one point on the surface. Only the lattermost is inhabited to any degree, and even then its sole source of habitation is its training facility.
Hive-Chains of Note
New Solomon - A temperate hive-chain in the northern hemisphere, and the planet's largest - but by no means particularly large by Imperial standards. Holding the planet's sole industrial-grade spaceport, New Solomon is the trade nexus of the entire world, and is rich in cultural diversity. If any stereotype of a 'typical' Aleutian existed, they would come from New Solomon - often fairer skinned due to the more northern locale.
Kahli - An almost equatorial hive-chain in the southern hemisphere, and one with a proud and fierce history for its warrior tribes. A Kahlian tribal tattoo is the mark of a soldier without peer, and only those recognised by the hive-chain as such will be permitted to wear them. Enduring a long penance for their initial resistance of Imperial rule - a resistance whose strength was far in excess of what the Imperium expected - the Kahli voluntarily send their finest men and women to the Schola Progenium, regardless of background or parentage, a tradition that has ensured the superlative quality of Aleutian troops.
Guadaluk - Covering almost the same amount of islands as New Solomon, Guadaluk was not developed as an industrial centre, instead retaining most of its remarkably arable land to exploit its agricultural output. The 'breadbasket' of Aleutia, almost anything organic that isn't related to the sea comes from Guadaluk, and in the pre-Imperial days of the island nations it was a fiercely fought over asset to whoever controlled it.
Nagase - Once the military and shipbuilding hub of the world in the days before the Imperium, Nagase serves now as a training ground the size of a hive-chain, its waters filled with ships at anchor and its lands host to drill after drill by the PDF, Imperial Guard, and Militarum Tempestus. Though no-one lives here as a civilian, such is the scale of constant military operations and wargames that it is still ranked as one of the most populous hive-chains on the planet.
Militarum Databank: Aleutian Militarum Tempestus
Schola Progenium #1905-T
Extracts taken with permission from the Officio Tempestus
The third moon of Aleutia, Kharybdiss, is particularly noteworthy (and indeed only noteworthy) for its Schola Progenium, Facility #1905-Tertius. The sole source of life on an otherwise barren rock, the size of the facility requires it to be situated here rather than on Aleutia itself due to its multi-functional role of training Inquisitorial, Sororitas, Administratum, and Militarum Tempestus troops and adepts - the lattermost of which forms the basis of this extract.
Aleutia is known for its amphibious and naval prowess, and its Scions are no different. Militarum Tempestus assets from #1905-T form highly skilled carrier-launched airborne divisions, though the barren surface of their training world requires the Tempestus Scions to train in aquatic and airborne warfare upon Aleutia itself for extended periods - often in joint operations with the PDF and Imperial Guard. Trained to be the pinnacle of non-augmented humanity like all Scions, Aleutian regiments serve multiple roles as raiding commandos, amphibious special forces, and airborne strike units - roles that are not necessarily bound to oceanic worlds, though any Aleutian worth their honour-stripes would prefer such a deployment.
Upon elevation to the ranks of the Tempestus Scions, each soldier is given a name and a number taken from prestigious lists, though names may be recycled as needed - names with particular pedigrees within a regiment are seen as a mark of honour if given. For example, the current officer of the 99th 'Seahawks' D Company is Fusō-914 - the nine hundred and fourteenth recruit of his class, given the name 'Fusō' as a sign of prestige (Fusō being a particularly accredited designation in the 99th).
Standard Tempestus uniform consists of oceanic blue carapace armour fitted over pale grey fatigues, a scheme not too dissimilar to Aleutian Imperial Guard unit dress uniform, though with the addition of a white honour-stripe on each shoulder as a mark of proficiency (officers are permitted to extend this stripe down the entire length of the arm). Armour is usually trimmed in silver, though command units are granted a dull golden bronze. The standard issue dress beret is a rich crimson, though most units will stick to protective omnishield helms in combat.
Regiments that have come from Kharybdiss' training facilities almost always take their moniker from oceanic birds or deep-sea creatures. Though many more have served and continue to serve still, several regiments in particular have a good deal of esteem attached to their records.
99th 'Seahawks' - The archetypal Aleutian Scion regiment, infamous for its daring raids and laudable pedigree. One of the oldest of its type in existence on Aleutia, acceptance into its ranks is seen by the general populace as a mark of high favour. In reality, the unit operates no differently to any other of its type and shows no sign of caring about its apparent fame, simply continuing to persecute wars in the Emperor's name.
23rd 'Cormorants' - A solid and dependable force, notable for their almost entirely airborne approach to operations - rarely, if ever, deploying groundside assets that cannot be airlifted in. It is said that the Aleutian Scion idea of not carrying regimental or platoon banners into battle came from the Cormorants, who saw the idea as a waste of vital drop capacity.
65th 'Petrels' - A rather innovative division, noted for inventing the tactic of pressure-sealing the hulls of Taurox APCs to withstand intense water pressure and mounting amphibious assaults without the need for bulky landing craft. Though the 99th 'Seahawks' would gain fame for using this tactic and their Tauroxes' magnetic tracks to assault an enemy fortification by driving up its floodwall, even the 99th themselves give all credit to the Petrels - only the public seems to ignore their contribution.
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Post by RedsandRoyals on Mar 2, 2017 20:10:18 GMT -5
Have you looked at other model ranges for vessels to co-opt and kitbash? I believe Revell does a 1/48th landing craft that pairs well (the "buckets" on the prow for turrets actually fit rather well with the Russ cupola). I imagine you could find some PBR patrol boat models too.
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Post by Warsmith Wolf on Mar 2, 2017 21:19:01 GMT -5
Have you looked at other model ranges for vessels to co-opt and kitbash? I believe Revell does a 1/48th landing craft that pairs well (the "buckets" on the prow for turrets actually fit rather well with the Russ cupola). I imagine you could find some PBR patrol boat models too. Unfortunately, I intent to field these guys almost entirely at a local Games Workshop (the one they're currently on display at, no less!), so 3rd party conversions are a no-go. I'll keep that idea in mind if I end up doing actual Aleutian Guardsmen, however - a Chimera can't be TOO difficult to turn into an LST, can it? |
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Post by RedsandRoyals on Mar 2, 2017 22:11:18 GMT -5
Even taking some rubber and modding floats on the side (like the infamous Hovervan) would work in that regard. Or you could use sand and some creative painting to replicate a water line on the Chimera, as if it's just emerged from the ocean. Judging by your minis, you've certainly got the painting skills to pull it off. |
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Post by nutty on Mar 3, 2017 3:54:58 GMT -5
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