Editing The Ramparts (section)

==Warband Combat Tactics==
"The only way to ensure victory is to eliminate any and all resistance." 
- Indomitus, Highcastle of the Ramparts

While the Ramparts practice a combat doctrine very similar to that of their Founders, they differ in that instead of focusing on attrition-based siege warfare, the Ramparts focus on artillery barrages to conquer worlds.
Via orbital bombardment, the Ramparts clear an LZ for their pre-fabricated fortresses to touch down. 
If the enemy has a stranglehold on the space around a planet, specialty fortresses come to the fore; akin to Kharybdis drop pod but the size of a Storm Eagle, these towers are dropped from orbit in groups of 3-5. Each tower, called a Node, houses a squad of 8-12 Marines. 

Each Node possesses a modular defense system that can be configured with various different heavy weapons, such as heavy bolters or plasma cannons. 
Once at least 3 Nodes have touched down, void shields are transmitted between them, creating an isolated section of enemy real estate. 

Pointing their weapons inward, the squads would then clear a beachhead within their void shields. Once several of these beachheads have been made, their void shields would be linked to create a much larger staging area for the rest of the occupation force to land.

Once this LZ has been established, the artillery barrages begin. Battery after battery of Manticore Missile Platforms and Earthshaker Cannons bombard the area around the LZ, clearing a path between Node groups in order to further reinforce their positions. Any assaults upon the Node forts are repulsed with heavy weapons fire; the Ramparts need never step foot outside their defence lines.
Eventually, these Node forts will encompass large portions of the combat zone. Instead of attacking their enemies, the Ramparts will simply continue to launch Nodes further and further into enemy territory until there is nothing left.

Resistance is met with overwhelming force; unlike other forces who must use their supplies wisely, the supply lines of the Ramparts extend however far they need to, ensuring they never run out of ammunition or other supplies. In this way, while a barrage of Deathstrike missiles would likely be sufficient against a major hive city, the Ramparts might issue two or three of said barrages to completely devastate it.

However, no evidence of this mass destruction is ever left behind; due to the thriving empire at the heart of the Ramparts, they export populaces as others might products. Transplanting a populace that is already loyal to them, the Ramparts effectively instantly colonize a world with pre-fabricated, self-sustaining cities that will eventually expand into the planet beyond. In this way, instead of spending years colonizing planets, then fortifying them, the Ramparts form Fortresses from each of their conquests; what was once an offensive defense is now a defensive offense.