Editing Sons of Fire (section)

==Hammers of Terra==
''"We had failed our brothers, and Hektor. We had failed the Emperor. We would not fail the Primarch."''

'''Captain of the First Company, Jamasa'''


The following is a listing of the IVth Squad of the Sacred Band, both fallen and living.

*Jamasa, The Vengeful Nightmare (Survives, leads the warband '''The Unrequited Sons''')
*Zarath, Destroyer of Preit'Oria (Died on Mainiiu)
*Ushtra, The Augur Bane (Died in the Legionary Wars)
*Vistasp, Weapons-Bearer (Died in the Scouring)
*Karesna, The Master of Tactics (Died in the Betrayal of Sudden Flame)
*Yathoana, The Unremarkable (Died on Mainiiu)
*Kayan, The Selfless Shield (Died on Mainiiu)
*Iamyet, The Unceasing Terror (Died on Mainiiu)
*Mahmeher, Conqueror of Lashtri (Died on Mainiiu)
*Vishtar, The Angel of Flame (Survives, leads the warband '''Last Embers''')


The IVth Squad of the '''Sacred Band''' had a penchant for melee combat, being unrivaled in close quarter assault. However during the ''Pacification of the Merican Hives'' a number of the Squad showed signs of a terrible lust for wanton destruction. Fearing an fundamental issue in their genestock, this was kept a secret. The Sacred Band of the IVth Legion set about disciplining Legionnaires heavily for even slight lapses of judgement. Despite the infuriating level of control over each individual, the Legion continued to show immsense promise. It was even named by Emperor himself the '''Hammers of Terra''', for their swift actions on the worlds surrounding the Sol System. 

Thanks to their success, the Emperor gave them Tithe Rights to the cities of the former Achaemenid Empire. This region of ancient Terra had the most stable genestock of all the techno-barbarian states. Having access to it gave the Fourth a considerable recruiting pool. If it had not been for this, the Legion's disastrous defeat on ''Mainiiu'' could have doomed the Fourth to eternal ignominy. It was there they faced a race of Xenos-Human hybrids of unforeseen ferocity. After the defeat however they were kept largely in reserve, sent only to worlds which needed support from xenos raids or to bolster an assault with their numbers. The aim of the War Council in doing so was to allow them time to rebuild, and learn from the lessons taught on Mainiiu. 

But to the Marines, it felt akin to a punishment for not living up to legendary expectations.