Chaplain Cassius' Ultramarines

Cassius' Ultramarines have had previous encounters with Tyranids

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>finding file>’A History of Later Imperial Campaigns: Volume XIV, by Claudius Esdras’

>view index

>view ‘The Medusa Controversies’

>view ‘The Varlislia IV Campaign’

>view section ‘List of Participant Forces’

>view ‘Strike Force Relentless Fury’>sub-section ‘Overview and Force Composition’...

The Varlislia IV Campaign

Strike Force Relentless Fury 

Overview 

On 450998.M41 Chaplain Cassius of the Ultramarines received a coded message from an Inquisitor about a developing and concerning situation on Varlislia IV. The message was brief and lacked detail, but there was clear reference to signs of a Tyranid incursion. As a veteran of the 1st Tyranic War, Cassius was keen to understand more. He has been relentless in attempting to track down splinter hive fleets that would once again prove a danger to Ultmar.

Cassius was concerned by the brevity of the message, and because he hadn’t encountered the Inquisitor in question before. However, the message corroborated with some other signals of Tyranids in the vicinity of the Varlislia system. Recent months had seen several merchant vessels drop out of contact with the sector fleet command and in at least one instance genestealers were responsible. Furthermore, while it was of course the duty of every Ultramarine to defend the Imperium, especially at the behest of an Inquisitor, the finite numbers of Space Marines meant that any decision to commit them must be carefully considered. The factor that tipped Cassius’ decision in favour of intervening on Varlislia was that a Tyranid victory could provide the additional biomass required to allow the Hive Fleet responsible to threaten systems bordering Ultmar which would require a larger Ultramarine intervention.

With his mind set on responding to the Inquisitor’s call for help, Cassius set about assembling a suitable force for the anticipated demands of the campaign. Even as Head Chaplain, Cassius did not have direct control over any Ultramarine forces, but was able to gather various forces based on the fact he was the recipient of the Inquisitor’s demand. Strike Force Relentless Fury (as it came to be known) was composed of five main components.

The Ultramarine 2nd Company, ‘The Lost’

Background 

With Cato Sicarius at its helm, the Ultramarines 2nd Company has become one of the most potent fighting forces at the Imperium’s disposal. His fabled ‘Spear’ is favoured above all others. However, there are some of the 2nd Company’s older members who have not found such favour. By standing aside from their arrogant master they have become the ‘Lost’, posted to the furthest battlefields where they can do no damage to the image of their supposed leader. Bereft of new equipment they must make do with old patterns and what they can scavenge from defeated opponents. All is not lost for these unloved marines, for of late they have been joined by none other than Ortan Cassius. He is never afraid to be amongst those seemingly forgotten, and indeed he seems content amongst so many other old marines. Others hint of a more shaded reason for his presence. As tension builds between Sicarius and Agemman over the succession, Cassius’ movements are watched intensely as an indicator of Calgar’s preference.

By the time of the Varlislia IV Campaign, Cassius had been with ‘the lost’ for several years. Their strong record of success had seen their status rise amongst other Ultramarine factions. Of note was the extended campaign on Cea Fif’tee against the traitor forces and their temperamental Eldar allies. The long and hard-fought victory saw ‘the Lost’ repeatedly fighting alongside the Tallarn 331st; a relationship that Cassius would draw upon in preparation for Varlislia IV.

Force Complement 

At the start of the Varlislia IV campaign, ‘the Lost’ comprised approximately half a company in strength when supplementary units from the Armoury, 1st and 10th companies were included. In a rare opportunity they had recently received resupply from an Ultramarines outpost on the edge of the realm of Ultmar.

The Tallarn 331st Regiment, ‘Meande’s Misfits’ 

Background 

The Tallarn 331st Regiment was formed as part of the Taros Campaign against the Tau. Despite the failure of that campaign, the rookie regiment came away with a core of veterans and relatively intact (in contrast to most of the other Tallarn forces committed). They were then transferred to a few minor conflicts before being dispatched to Cea Fif’tee. Despite the bold successes of that campaign, leading to the defeat of the rebellion and the sealing of several unstable warp gates, the 331st paid a heavy toll. The outcome of this was that as the campaign drew to a close, they were merged with the remains of a light infantry regiment. This created a unique formation of heavy armour and skirmishers which proved an adaptable and mobile fighting force.

Critics pointed out that the formation lacked the speed of a true armoured task force and the staying power of an infantry company. However, its commander, Colonel Georges van deer Meande, a well connected political appointment from neither of the original regiments, has become a strong advocate of their successes (partly because it enhances his own profile) and so the formation has persisted after Cea Fif’tee, and has become known as ‘Meande’s Misfits’.

Due to their past relationship, Meande was happy to accept Cassius’ suggestion that the 331st should become part of the Campaign force for Varlislia IV, although of course, the 331st could not be under direct Space Marine control due to the restrictions following the Horus Heres.


Force Composition 

After resupply, Meande could provide roughly half an armoured regiment, along with his companies of light infantry. The key operational addition was the squadron of super-heavies that Meande had managed to hold on to following Cea Fif’tee. These would be a vital asset in shoring up the firepower of the regiment given its unconvential composition.

The Ultramarine 3rd Company 

Background 

While the 331st and ‘the Lost’ were a potent and experienced fighting force, they were in now way capable of defeating the scale of Tyranid incursion that Cassius predicted. Therefore, he petitioned Calgar to dispatch reinforcements. The Ultramarines responded with their greatest Tyranid fighting asset. The 3rd Company had been at the heart of the defences in the 1st Tyranic war. The current members had taken up the mantle of engaging the Tyranids wherever possible and so were happy to be diverted to Varlislia IV. Their current Captain, Aurelium Glovius, was unusually not a close friend of Cassius, unlike many of the Ultramarines senior leaders, but was by all accounts a solid and dependable commander. The 3rd had been en route to suppress an Ork incursion, but Calgar was happy to suggest the diversion as the impetuous and unexpected arrival of a Great Company of Space Wolves to that conflict suggested that the Ultramarines may be unnecessary additions; arriving too late to influence the outcome.

Force Composition 

The 3rd committed its full strength to Varlislia IV, including Land Raiders and Whirlwinds from the Armoury, and support from the 1st, 9th and 10th companies. Such a deployment would be a potent addition to the war on Varlislia.

Legio Invicta 

Background 

One of the oldest and most powerful loyalist Titan Legions, Legio Invicta has a long and illustrious history. A small complement of their strength had been assigned to assist the 3rd as the reports from the Ork incursion indicated large numbers of war engines. When the 3rd were diverted, the Princeps agreed to also divert his Titans in support.


Force Composition 

For Varlislia IV, Legio Invicta committed one Warlord, one Reaver and two Warhound scout titans

Imperial Navy 

Background 

The final part of the 3rd Company’s force were fleet assets under Rear-Admiral Ague Oleander. He commanded a cruiser squadron and associated escorts. After hearing of the inquisitors request from Cassius he agreed to provide the fleet support for the campaign. The Segmentum Command were keen that any Tyranid incursion was neutralised swiftly, especially if it would stop the loss of merchant shipping. It was agreed that Oleander would have overall command for Strike Force Relentless Fury with oversight of all the various units involved, although the assumption was that Cassius would nominally command once any ground campaign began.

Force Composition 

The initial force consisted of three ships of the line, Oleander’s flagship, a Mars class battlecrusier, one Gothic class and one Dominator class crusier, and escorts of one Dauntless light crusier, and three escort squadrons, one each of Swords, Firestorms and Cobras. The fleet would also provide air support for the ground campaign and the fleet of transports required.

>close section ‘List of Participant Forces’

>exiting....

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(provided by Ben aka DrWeir)