Crimson Warhawks

The Crimson Warhawks
Battle Cry	Second to None!
Number	II
Successor Chapters	Is this a thing?
Primarch	Raydon Neratos - The Hawk, Lord of the Skies, Master of Descents, The Red Hunter
Homeworld	Port Indefatigable
Specialty	Masters of the sky & Peerless void combatants
Allegiance	Fallen Imperium of Man
Colours	Crimson armor with brass trim. Pauldron on the right all yellow, with legion mark.

"Battles are won through manoeuvre and slaughter - the more you commit to the first, the less you need to commit the third."

- Debate between Raydon and Balthasar

The Warhawks are dedicated warriors of the God Emperor of Mankind. In battle they descend from the skies in shadowhawks, stormbirds, darkwings, and fireraptors - targeting identified critical capabilities, seeking to neutralise the enemies battle-plan rather than achieve outright destruction of his forces. The chapter specialises in covert insertion and direct actions such as ambushes, sabotage, assassination, and raiding.

In order to maximise their mobility on the ground they largely forgo the use of heavy weapons instead relying on firepower providing by their close air support or by precise long range artillery called in by hidden observers.

Their expertise with fliers and penchant for covert operations makes them masters of void combat, unparalleled masters of the 3D battle-space they launch their strike teams onto enemy vessels and to ply their trade: elimination of command and control nodes and disrupting key systems such as weapons, shields, engines, and radars.

In the Dark future of the 40th Millennium, unlike many of their Brother legions they have not settled a Crusade State, instead continuing the fight against the Dark Imperium and the Traitor Primarchs - their war unending.

With the loss of their Primarch's leadership and presence, the Legion fell back on its roots as hunters and pirates, maintaining only small independent fleets to avoid detection and maintain mobility in hostile territory. But staying true to the mission. Death to the False Emperor!

Summary of Legion XII

Numeration: The II Legion

Primogenitor: Raydon Neratos - The Hawk

Cognomen (Prior): None

Observed Strategic Tendencies: Air-mobile strike teams, air superiority, and direct action.

Noteworthy Domains: Star Forts Dominos, Invictus, Hydros and "Ravenloft"

Allegiance: Imperium

Homeworld

Port Indefatigable was an artificial planet-port built during the ages before the Great Crusade, and was a rapidly converted into a second-line defence as well as a mustering point for the crusader fleets. With the outbreak of the Heresy, it was one of the initial targets for the War Master, he had saboteurs destroy vital graviton belts that held the planets-ports internal structure together and within hours it had collapsed in on itself.

Yet another plot in the Warmasters schemes, uncertain of which side the Hawk would take in the Heresy he ensured that the destruction of Port Indefatigable was attributed to the Loyalists, hoping to tip the scales of decision.

Legion Tactics

The Hawks practice a way of war, quite unlike their brothers - economy of action. Committing no more than necessary to achieve their missions. They work quickly, quietly, and efficiently. They drop from the skies in small strike teams, often in tandem with other teams fighting elsewhere. Eliminating the critical aspects of the enemies resistance.

They see war as a great hunt, the enemies as their prey. That is not to say they think of their enemies as lesser, indeed they acknowledge a certain nobility in some prey, those who fight well, those who are skilled at evasion, those who show conviction in the face of certain death.

All this changes however in relation to their fallen brothers, they revile the traitors - having a reserved a special undying hatred that few can truly fathom. Indeed if it was not for their unbridled loyalty to the Emperors light, it is likely their hatred would consume them entirely.

Legion Organization

The legion practises a dispersed organisation in order to best practice their role as outriders.

The Legions basic building block is the Talon and the Wing, Talons being a team of operatives - roughly equivalent to a combat team in size. A Wing likewise is a grouping of like-vehicles whether they be Fire Raptors, Storm Eagles, or Shadowhawks.

The Legions organisation is around Strike Teams, a case-by-case assortment of various Wings and Talons - purpose built and armed for the tasks at hand.

Legion Relationships

Pre-Heresy

Post-Heresy

Legion History

Great Crusade

Second Legion found.

Volunteered as outrider for the crusade.

[// BATTLES YET UNWRITTEN //]

Returned for council of Nikeae.

Sent away by Warmaster [on task X]

Part of the Warhawks return for the Tournament.

News of the bloody tournament & the civil war reaches the Primarch.

He returns and sees his Legion base (Port World) destroyed, supposedly by the instigators of the civil war (loyalists).

He moves towards Terra to get answers for the civil war.

Runs into Enoch who attemps to sway him to the Warmasters side, but comes across creepy and evil.

Begins a delaying action but fails miserably, instead opts to reconstitute his scattered legion.

Flees with other loyalists to the Eastern Imperium, and calls the Council of Primarchs to rally the Legions in an attempt to take back Terra. They reference the fall of Klaus, and put forth the idea of stabilising the Eastern Imperium (and cannot agree on how best leading to the Crusader States) - The idea infuriates the Hawk and he storms out, to launch his own crusade.

The Eastern Imperium

Flees with other loyalists to the Eastern Imperium

Calls the Council of Primarchs to rally the Legions in an attempt to take back Terra.

They reference the fall of Klaus, and put forth the idea of stabilising the Eastern Imperium

The idea infuriates the Hawk and he storms out.

The discussion turns to how best stabilise the East and obviously turns to shit, leading to the development of the crusader states.