Editing Salamanders (Chapter) (section)

==The Early Crusade==
The XVIIIth legion were one of three legions, the others being the [[Space Wolves | VIth]] and the [[Alpha Legion | XXth]], that were established separate from the other legions. The reason they were kept in separation is currently unknown, and the mystery behind the separation led to the distrust of each one. It's implied that all three were supposed to specialize in something. However, while the Space Wolves went on to function as the Internal Affairs legion of the Astartes, and the Alpha Legion its Black Ops, the Salamanders never really acquired any particular niche. Unless it was that they were deliberately designed to be the [[This Guy|Bros]] of the Astartes, in which case they function spectacularly.

Whatever the cause of separation, the first publicly known deployment of the XVIIIth was near the end of the Unification Wars to destroy the Tempest Galleries of the Ethnarchy. As a foreshadowing of things to come, the XVIIIth legion's force of 20000 was reduced to 1000, but they still achieved a victory against seemingly impossible odds. This earned them much glory and renown amongst their cousins, but their severely depleted numbers saw them sit out most of the Solar Reclamation. 
As their heavy losses delayed their deployment to the Great Crusade, they didn't get their own expeditionary fleet. Instead, they were deployed in small groups to reinforce different expeditions and battle groups. They were especially noted for dealing with emergencies behind the Imperial borders, like the sudden appearance of space hulks, or eldar raiders. They were also left in area thought compliant to function as a rearguard in case of recidivism. The sudden nature of these emergencies meant that the XVIIIth were often the only marines available, so they had to cooperate closely with humans, and typically bore the brunt of whatever engagement they were embroiled in.

The XVIIIth would develop a weird reputation. On one hand, they were saviors. On another hand, if a bunch of the XVIIIth were coming, it probably meant things were seriously going to shit. Eventually, Imperial observers began to notice that the marines of the legion seemed to have an obsession with facing impossible odds. They would fight on even when it seemed more reasonable to fall back, and on more than one incident, their stubborness earned criticism. The XVIIIth's suicidal tendencies, coupled with their high battlefield losses, led some Imperials, particularly the Ultramarines, to start wondering if the XVIII was simply going to wipe itself out.

Fortunately, Vulkan was found, and after rescuing his Terran sons from what would have been a devastating ork attack, would temper his sons, so they would become more reasonable and less suicidal. Rather like Sanguinius, he introduced cultural and strategic reforms into the Salamanders which saw them keep their humanitarian tendencies, but become a far more effective fighting force. Gone were the suicidal last stands and stubborn rearguard actions. From Vulkan's introduction on, they would fight more intelligently and more flexibly, but would still never leave a civilian or brother behind.