Editing Chapter of the Forlorn Hope (section)

=The Chapter=
==Founding==
     "We were outcast, no legion to call our own, thrown to the darkest parts of the void along the galactic east. Coming to our senses to late we were not counted 'brother' among those loyal to Horus nor were we redeemable in the eyes of our kin following the Emperor of Mankind. Our number was once seventy-one, now reduced to a fraction of twenty-three. We scavenge the carcasses of battle like revolting carrion with the simple imperative to just survive. We are forlorn. Doomed to die in the darkness where the light of the Imperium does not shine." - '''''The First''' (Exert from the Tomes of Three: The First)''

     "Our time here on the edge of the unknown has been one of great trials, testing each and every one of us in ways never before conceived. Years have been spent fighting formidable xenos warriors, none more so than the Eldar. If it had not been for the Rogue Trader House from the nearby Profanus Sector, we all would have been annihilated and our legacy, experience, and knowledge lost for all time. Our armor and weapons were of a bygone age and what remained were scrapped together from our fallen brethren in years past. Brother Loritus has and continues to work tirelessly to maintain what supplies and armor we have acquired. I had managed to extract their gene seeds and the gene seeds of fallen Astarties that had fallen in battle. We were mere carrion picking on the corpses of the dead to bolster our meager number. Even so, in the end, it was not enough. Though we bore the markings of legions long lost, our former brothers turned traitor, we were accepted by the humans of this sector and treated with compassion. It is apparent now that the strength of the Imperium is not in arms alone, but the humans within it." - '''''Cospirious, The Suicidal Apothecary''' (Exert from the Tomes of Three: Tome of the Suicidal Apothecary)''

     "Never again shall we strike without purpose. No longer shall we desecrate the fallen among our brothers. No longer shall we hide in the shadows. No longer shall we be forlorn. We are reborn in the light of the Emperor. Through His light we will speak his truths! Through His light we will illuminate the dark places! Through His Light will be guard humanity against any encroaching threat! Born out of hopelessness we will bring hope! We are humanities hopeless hope. We are the Forlorn Hope! And never shall we ever turn out backs on humanity! Upon our honor, upon our oaths, upon our lives do we swear this oath!" - '''''Loritus, The Reborn''' (Exert from the Tomes of Three: Juggernaut)''

Very little is known of the Forlorn Hope, even from among their lower ranks. The Chapter is guided by [[Chris-Chan | Master Aldaer Dosuss]], a warrior of exceptional skill selected from among the Aspirants. They are known to operate in the Eastern Fringes of the galaxy and appear to center their operations around the Praufus System and the territories controlled by Rouge Trader House Bellend.

==Appearance==
The primary color of the Chapter as a whole is a dark gunmetal silver with overtones of light translucent colors that reflect light almost making the armor appear to shimmer like that of a chameleon. Unlike all other Chapters, the Forlorn have not taken a Chapter Icon but rather have left a single portion of their armor untainted by the overcoats. This portion of their armor is polished to a mirror finish to remind the Forlorn and all those that see their reflection within it that they are the hope of the Imperium.

==Chapter Structure==
The Chapter of the Forlorn Hope sports a very unique organization. From the head it is lead by its Chapter Master, First Captain simply known as "The First", and the reclusive Juggernauts kept secret from all but The First and the Master of the Forlorn Hopes. From here the Chapter is broken down into its main offices. Office of the Chaplaincy led by the Chief Chaplin, Office of the Librarius led by the Chief Librarian (known as a Weird), and Office of the Company led by the Company Chief. Further positions are headed within each individual Company and further still each Division within each company. This is due to the fact that The Forlorn Hopes boast no more than 4 Companies at any given time leading the numbers within each to fluctuate anywhere from 100 to 300 Battle Brothers. Each Company is led by its respective Company Master, Master Chaplain, Master Weird, and Company Command Squad. Each Division within the Company follows the same structure as their overarching Company being led by a Lieutenant, Chaplain, Weird, and respective Division Command Squad. Existing outside of this structure under the direct secretive knowledge of the Juggernauts, The First, and Chapter Master are the Reapers who possess no more than 71 members are any one given time. This organization is led by a single Company Master known as The Grim and a Champion Chosen from among the ranks of the Reapers. The Reapers are further broken down into 3 Troops consisting of 23 members each. 

 Chapter Master
    The First - - - - Juggernauts; Reapers 
       Chapter's Commanding Officers (Chaplains, Librarians (Weirds), Company Chief)
           Company Officers (Master Chaplain, Master Weird, Company Master, Company Command Squad)
               1st Company (Aspirants)
                   2nd Company (Regnant)
                       3rd Company (The Marked)
                           4th Company (Scout Corp)
                              Division Officers (Chaplain, Weird, Lieutenant, Division Command Squad)
       
       Reapers

===Officers===
Officers are pulled from the 1st Company whose members are known as Aspirants. It is from this pool that the Chapter can be sure that the members assuming the role of leaders are free of The Mark and most skilled among their brethren. When an Aspirant seeks to attain the position of an Officer they must challenge their commanding officer to a Duel of Command. This duel takes place before a battle or campaign where the aspiring Aspirant proves their right to command by strength and skill. Should they prove to be the victor the commanding officer will shadow the Aspirant for the duration of the engagement, allowing him to command his brothers. If found to be worthy the commanding officer will present a token to the Aspirant. This token is then taken to the Company Chief where they will be tested beyond the limits mentally and physically, further establishing by what right they seek the title of Officer. Past this stage they are granted the Rank of Lieutenant and given command of a Division. During their time as a Division Commander they will be graded by The First as to their skill and merit. If worthy, The First presents they with a token whereby they are granted the opportunity to apprentice under a Company Master as a Master Lieutenant. Upon the passing of the Company Master, the Master Lieutenant will assume command. If at any point the Aspirant should fail, they must report to the Deathwatch to serve another 71 years to further hone their skills.

{| border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=4 align=center
|- valign=top
! Office !! Description
|-
| Master of the Chapter || Oversees the direction and overall well being of the Chapter.
|-
| The First || Honorific title given to the First Captain. The name and titles once held by the individual assuming this position are erased from the Chapter's history.
|-
| Juggernaut || Hidden from all but the Master of the Chapter and The First, this office is held by 23 individuals that produce, maintain, and invent the Chapters weaponry and armor.
|-
| 'Chief' || Denotes that the Officer is in command over an entire section of offices to which they specialize, answerable only the Chapter Master and The First.
|-
| 'Master' || Denotes that the Officer is in command of a Company or plays a role within the hierarchical of said company. This title applies to the company's captain, chaplain, and librarian. 
|-
| Lieutenant || Denotes the Officer is in command of a Division. This is not the same as a Perpetrator.
|-
| Chaplain || Oversee the Weirds and Suicidal Docs for potential chaotic corruption and for detecting the flaw within the Chapter. They also provide the pivotal roles in the training of new initiates, and leading The Marked into combat.
|-
| Weirds || Oversee the initial training and indoctrination into the Chapter. They are tasked with teaching all initiates the dangers of the warp and screen for potential psykic talent and The MArk.  
|-
| Perpetrator ||  The honorific title given to an Aspirant that acts in the place of a Captain. It is given to an Aspirant that either challenges their commanding officer in hopes to taken on the title of Officer or an Acting Captain should the current Captain be killed in combat. It is not a permanent position among the Chapter.
|}

===Aspirants===
Upon assignment to the 1st Company, a Regent from the 2nd Company will be granted the title of Aspirant Warrior, or simply Aspirant. During their induction to this elite fighting force they are given specially crafted artificer armor painted boltgun silver and a Maverick Stave as their primary weapon. A weapon reminiscent of a Guardian Spear used by the Adeptus Custodes with the added advantage of incorporated re-engineered xenos technology. With this they must spend a period of 71 years within the Deathwatch to learn and train to fight against all known Xenos. When returned to the Chapter, the Aspirant is given the opportunity of choosing one of eight paths. Each donated by one of the seven primary colors with the addition of black for the Chaplaincy. Upon the completion and mastering of this path, the Aspirant is given a translucent overcoat to their armor. It is not uncommon for each warrior to possess at least two colors with the exception of new inductees. Further applied coats begin to become increasingly rare with those attaining five or more being called Prism Aspirants who will graduate to the Elite 100 of the 1st Company.

The Elite 100 would be considered to be the true 1st Company of most Chapters and able to equip the much revered Tactical Dreadnought Armor. However, The Chapter of the Forlorn Hope does not possess, nor desires to possess, any sets of Terminator Armor. They instead have taken on the tradition of each of the 100 to work with the Chapter's Techmarines to engineer their very own unique weapons and armor that will then be crafted by the Chapter's Juggernauts. This time honor tradition provides each warrior with a unique way of protection from and execution of their preferred xenos species whilst allowing them to maintain a greater amount of speed, agility, and mobility that is otherwise restricted by Terminator Armor.

{| border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=4 align=center
|- valign=top
! Color !! Description
|-
| Red || Techmarine or Chapter Artisan.
|-
| Orange || Specializes in large scale hoard type enemies such as the Orks, in open environments. Known among the Chapter as Path of the Last Stand.
|-
| Yellow || Specializes in confined space combat such as ship boarding actions, underground and urban campaigns.
|-
| Green || Specializes in long range combat and ambush. Normally found attached to the 4th Scout Corp but separate from the initiate Scouts
|-
| Blue || Chapter Weird. 
|-
| Indigo || Specializes in combating psykic enhanced or gifted xenos species, such as the Eldar.
|-
| Violet || Specializes in tactics and diplomacy.
|-
| Black || Chapter Chaplain.  
|}

===The Marked===
The Chapter of the Forlorn Hope suffers from a self imposed flaw within their Chapter. Mainly that during the indoctrination process the initiates have such an immense amount of information implanted within their heads that they begin to go insane thinking that they are one of the many images of Battle Brothers falling in combat to any number of xenos species. Not only do they see and experience their deaths along with ways to counter the weapons and tactics of these many xenos, but also feel the pain. Though this is most common to suffer from The Mark, as it is called within the Chapter, it has been known to occupationally afflict fully fledged Battle Brothers later on, albeit much more rare. Those that succumb are placed into the care of the Chaplains of the 3rd Company known as The Marked Company. Within the 3rd each Marked Battle Brother will serve the Chapter as nearly uncontrollable battle crazed psychopaths that will stop at nothing to find their next kill in attempt to alleviate themselves of the pain.

===Reapers===

===Juggernaut===

==Doctrines and Specialties==
Officially, the Maverick Marines are a specialized in close combat and siege warfare in Imperial documents. However, an imbedded Inquisitor attempted to report the following before the transmission was intercepted and the Inquisitor vanished:

          "''During my time among the serfs of the Maverick Marines Chapter, I was perplexed at the odd natures and blatant heretical actions they committed in the name of mankind and the God-Emperor. Although many of the battle brothers are clearly insane, from what I cannot be sure of, it is my profound belief that the Chapter hides its true self behind the mask of its cursed founding gene seed. This 'curse', should one call it that, has been obvious since the Chapters creation. It does appear to have affected a majority of its number but equally not the others. Those that are unaffected form the bulwark of its fighting forces leaving those that bare the marks of the curse to their own devices and further still as cannon fodder upon the field of battle. I have witnessed first hand the true might of the Chapter. Entire companies of psykers have been deployed into battle but in the aftermath there is no trace they had been there at all. I have seen special operation forces of battle brothers darken their armor and weapons and seek out a target on the field of battle and rogue mission alike, and again there is no trace of these units when their deed is done. Where they do excel in close combat and siege warfare I cannot help but feel they are more diverse and cleaver than I previous believed. They must hold a secret close to their breast that could rip the Imperium asunder.''"
          ('''Transmission Intercepted''')

The truth of the Mavericks is that they are a force organized into elite units used to serve as an augmenting force to an already existing one. This does not mean that they are not capable of fielding their own companies. Taken from their study of the Eldar Path System, the Chapter has adopted this channeling of its forces onto their desired paths. Those that start on these paths are called Aspirants and bare no mark of insanity or mental degradation. As they progress along their respected path of choice they are able to change their path and join another after having reached a certain level of understanding and training. This allows them to bring new skills and experience from one path to another, further enhancing the effectiveness of these units. As an Aspirant moves from one path to another, an Aspirant's armor will possess several different layers of chameleon overlay giving the armor a truly unique color that varies in the light and angle in which the observer views the Maverick Marine from. As of the current date within 8th edition the Maverick Marines follow the main paths of Paths:

{| border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=4 align=center
|- valign=top
! Path !! Appearance !! Description
|-
| Aspirant || Base Silver || Those that are seen fit to choose their Path are given their muscle etched silver breastplates. As of this point they have not chosen their desired path and as such have not been granted the ability to add a chameleon overlay.
|-
| Shadow of Death || Varies according to mission || These units specialize in special operations of assassination and subterfuge.
|-
| Serpent's Lash || Base silver with green chameleon overlay || Those that wish to earn the right to carry the Serpent's Tongue, a Chapter Relic, they must first master this path on their way to becoming The First. It focuses on the quick and fluid motions of a power spear to not only keep an enemy at arms length but to strike it down with brutal efficiency. This is also the Path that its Aspirants who make up the ranks of the first company. 
|-
| The Truth || Base silver with black chameleon overlay || Those that embark on the path to becoming a Chaplin.
|-
| Reborn || Base silver with blue chameleon overlay || Those that embark on the path to becoming a Techmarine.
|-
| Power || Base silver with purple chameleon overlay || those that embark on the path to becoming Weirds. 
|}

There are many Paths open to the Chapter but many will fall into the categories listed above. It is not uncommon for an Aspirant of the Path of Power to also follow the Path of the Reborn or another of their choosing. This is a very unique element within the Chapter allowing non-psykers to attain a measure of training within the Librarius that does allow them to manipulate the powers of the warp with very limited degrees of success, unusually in the form of The Emperor's Tarot and short vision quests to see the near future. Unlike their more restrictive brother Chapters, this also allows the more restricted Chaplaincy, Librarius, and Techmarines to intermix their disciplines to varying degrees. Due to this system, it is difficult for outside observers to know how many brothers there are within any discipline at any given time leaving their numbers to only be guessed at.

==Interactions==

{| border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=4 align=center
|- valign=top
! Organization/Faction !! Standing !! Description
|-
| House Bellend || Allies || House Bellend has a symbiotic relationship with the Maverick Marines and supply them with recruits for their chapter and further Imperial support and supplies the Chapter desperately needs in order to continue their existence within the void. The Rogue Trader house is led by Lord Bellend II the Imperial Governor of Profanus Prime. His son Bellend III has the most interaction with the Chapter in their quest to trade and uncover lost technologies. Due to the similar objectives of the two the Chapter and crew of the Boner Erect are never far behind the other.
|-
| Mechanicum || Uneasy Allies || Often strained at best, the Mechanicum desires nothing less than the complete destruction of the Maverick Marines for their techno-heresy. As such, with the exception of the eccentric few Magos and Forgeworlds the Mechanicum at large refuses to join forces with these Space Marines and frequently come to blows. Mechanicum forces of the Profanus Sector treat the Maverick Marines as heroes to aspire towards.
|-
| Imperial Guard/ Imperial Navy || Allies || The Maverick Marines have the utmost respect for the men and women of the Imperial Guard and Imperial Navy and place great value on each of their lives. However, they have a distinct hate and loathing of commissars not sanctioned by the battle brothers themselves. They believe these enforcers are assholes and loathsome beings for brutally and publicly executing members in their charge to 'improve moral'. Commissars under the watch of the Maverick Marines lead from the front and act as rallying points inspiring those under their charge forward to greater feats of bravery and glory. Due to their dislike of these individuals the Chapter refuses to utilizes bolt pistols as they are used only by assholes.
|-
| Other Chapters || Allies || Relations are tenuous at best even under the most dire of circumstances. With the exception of the few other outcast Space Marine Chapters the Maverick Marines must rely on themselves and support of the House of Bellend.
|-
| Deathwatch || 'Allies' || It is seen as a great honor and privilege to serve within the Deathwatch. The Maverick Marines supply a generous number of their forces to take the oath of the Long Watch. Most of those supplied are drawn from the 1st company or more specialized and stable battle brothers.
|-
| Inquisition/Grey Knights || Enemy || If the role of "Mortal Enemy" was not previously occupied by the Hipsters of Chaos, all forms of non-ordo xenos would be put into this grand title and loathsome position. Whenever encountering a member of the Inquisition it is everything a battle brother can do to not lash out and snatch their meaningless lives from them. This hatred continues further out into the Grey Knights and any other organization that would consider themselves close to the Inquisition. More often than not, Inquisitors, Inquisition Representatives, assassins, operatives, and occasionally even Grey Knights meet mysterious ends.
|-
| Hipsters of Chaos || Mortal Enemy || The mortal enemies of the Maverick Marines. The Chapter actively hunts down these heretics and brutally murders them out of sear annoyance. 
|}

==Relics==
===The Tome of Three===
The Tome of Three, contrary to its name, is a 289 volume collection of tomes written by the Chapter's Founders. There were several authors but the primary three authors are what the Chapter currently views as being the core of the founders. A chosen Aspirant may be selected to carry a select tome into a battle where the contents may have some hidden secret knowledge the battle brothers may glean a more honed edge to bring a swifter victory.

Remebrance

Serpent's Lash

The Grand Servo

==Edict Expanse==
It is the Chapters long sought after goal to venture out into the great void between galaxies and bring humanity to the shores of a new galaxy rich and ripe for the taking. It is the mission of the Chapter to leave the Milkyway Galaxy and venture to a new galaxy where humanity can begin anew and allowed to prosper without the ruling of the current Imperium of Man.