Pretty Marines

Pretty Marines

Created by the Imperium as a symbol of human perfection and grace, all members of the Pretty Marines are selected for their dashing good looks, androgynous charm, and combat prowess. The Pretty Marines excel in covert warfare, sabotage, parades and flower arrangement. The chapter emblem is a rose on a field of white and the powered armor is commonly painted lavender augmented with various pastels.

Unique to the Pretty Marine geneseed is a specialized organ called the "Sparkle Gland". This is said to be the source of the Pretty Marine's powerful and mysterious sparkle attacks.

Sparkle Gland

A mutation of the Occulobe, increases the functionality of the eyes and tear ducts. When a Marine sheds tears, the liquid will provide rapid healing of any wound it touches. Additionally the pupils can cause minor forms of hypnotic phenomena in subjects looking directly into the Marine's eyes. The phenomena commonly manifest as increased glamour of the Marine or hallucinations of 'bubbles' or 'sparkles'.

Tales from the Battlefield

Collected from the field reports of many industrious Anonymii.

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Tales from the Battlefield: A data log of Imperial Battles by Adept Scribe Manfold the Note-Taker.
Chapter XXIV: The Rose's Thorns. The Battle of Gerlei II.
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Privy to information from rogue traders of an Ork invasion upon the verdant world of Gerlei II, I arrived to find PDF forces already fighting a bloody and brutal trench war with the savage greenskins. May the Emperor bless those fine men for their valour in the face of such a horde (and forgive me for not fighting), but they were outnumbered.

All appeared to be lost at the main hive, when a strange procession made its way towards the battle. Resplendent in their purple armour and bearing the symbol of the rose upon their shoulders and banners, I beheld the Pretty Marines in their glory. As they advanced the air seemed to clear, the sun appearing to shine directly upon their battle-ready forms. Behind them was a procession much like one I had seen of pilgrims following Sororitas as they marched to war, though instead of flagellating zealots I saw a throng of screaming fourteen year old girls.

In war they were as any Astartes, brutal and swift. The Ork horde were caught in the sudden counter-attack spearheaded by assault troopers who glided gracefully overhead before diving upon greenskins like an eagle swooping upon its prey.

The Orks were annihilated utterly, but the marines did not celebrate. They left the battlefield, bearing the body of one of their own in a mournful procession. I managed to get a hold of one of their scouts to ask him what had occurred to fell this brave warrior, for no marks appeared to adorn his form.

"No marks?!" the scout had exclaimed at me, manly tears streaming down his face, "Those greenskins cut his cheek! His beautiful features are marred forever!"

The wailing of the little girls lasted well into the night and the next day. +++++

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From the historical records of Inquisitor Jangel, non-aligned investigator of Adeptus Astartes 'Incidents'.
Section #511: The 'Friendly' Fire Incident of Klaxus XII.
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The records of this dire moment in Imperial History were (until I came upon them) known only to the two Space Marine Chapters that took part in the skirmish. However, only by putting the two records together is the truth found.

The Pretty Marines tell of a conflict fraught with glory against the odds, and of dire betrayal: "Before the sortie against our enemy our glorious Chapter-Master graced us with a speech, before the resplendent lines of Brother-Marines sparkling under the twin suns he told of beautiful victory, of the fates of our enemies. As one we cheered, then awaited his inevitable dance number. From the skies fell a drop pod, smashing into our forward lines and engulfing the area with thick dust. It took us only a moment to clear the air with our blow-dryers, but it was a moment too late as we saw the Chapter-Master fallen..."

The Angry Marines tell the other side of the story, though in far less words due to a lacking in vocabulary beyond many four letter cusses. Hastily inserted into the annals of their chapter glory is simply a picture with the words "OWNED" across it, and the visage of the Pretty Marines Chapter Master unconscious on the ground, a crude moustache drawn on his face with paint, and what appears to be a set of testicles on his forehead.

So began the greatest feud in Imperial History.
+++++ Thought for the day: Ruthlessness is the kindness of the wise.
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