Livon Blade-Brethren

Livonian Brothers of the Sword / Prussia inspired Regiment.

The Blade-Brethren

In the grim darkness of the Galaxy, in the Ultima Segmentum, the Civilized World of Livon lies relatively unmolested. However, it was not always so. Throughout much of the 37th Millennium, threats from the Maelstrom regularly terrorized the people of Livon. Finally having had enough of this clear defiance of the Imperium's rule, the Astra Militarum raised a series of regiments on Livon, with the assistance of several regiments of Cadian Shock Troopers forming the core, as was protocol.

The Cadian regiments unexpectedly went native unexpectedly quick, adopting the customs of the people they lived with. They refused to shave, growing great, shaggy beards as was the custom. They began to wear white mesh armor tabards with the Livonkreuz, a traditional symbol of Livon and her people. And most terrifying to their foes, they always made a point of marching in perfect formation when doing battle. Over time, the Cadians interbred with the Livonians, to the point where purple eyes became a rare and unexpected genetic mutation.

Today, the Blade-Brothers continue to serve the Imperium faithfully in battle. Marching in unbroken formation and shouldering powerful weapons, they go to war with dedication, faith and discipline - a Commissar's worst nightmare, as the Blade-Brethren's conditioning and cultural norms effectively supersedes them.

Tactics

Livonian tactics are simple, yet efficient. Carefully placed troops march in formation towards the enemy, with artillery support paving the way for their advance, fire several volleys with their weapons, then close to melee range in a orderly bayonet charge.

However, these tactics suffer from the fact they rely very much on the individual discipline and will of the soldier, not to mention those of his superiors. This is no problem to the fanatical Livonians, whose deep faith in the God Emperor carries them through nearly any hardship. In addition, exhaustive training makes the Livonians excellent students in their particular school of warfare.

The Blade-Brethren are considered excellent, high-quality infantry for their discipline, faith, and training. They excel in sudden, swift assaults at close range and with artillery support. In short, a mailed, mighty fist to pound the foes of the Imperium into a bloody pulp.

Regimental Structures

Livonian Regiments are formed out of five companies. These follow a simple, standardized structure:

• The 1st Company is the Command and Logistics company, consisting of the HQ Staff, signals specialists, medics, and the ordnance/fuel carriers. This is considered the core of the regiment, allowing the other companies to carry out their duty without worry of such things as where the next meal/refueling/magazine of ammunition is going to come from.
• The 2nd Company is the Grenadier Company, consisting of the veteran soldiers of the regiment. This company forms the vanguard of the offensives, striking hard and deep into enemy lines and leaving the foe vulnerable for the next set of companies and their assault.
• The 3rd and 4th Companies are the main force. In a standard infantry regiment, these are the 1st and 2nd Rifle Companies. In a armored regiment, they are the 1st and 2nd Tank Company.
• The 5th is the Pioneer Company, who follow the Grenadiers into battle and destroy enemy fortifications. In a armored regiment, these are generally equipped with armored engineering vehicles such as the Centaur.

Unique Equipment

Livon-pattern Long-Las

The Livonian philosophy of design has been described into two words- "better" and "harder" - by certain Techpriests given the opportunity to manufacture their equipment. This has no finer exemplar than the primary weapon of the Blade-Brethren. Built for stopping power and accuracy over rate of fire, the Livon-pattern provides the individual infantryman with significant firepower.

However, the average Livonian infantryman carries several changes of barrels on him for when the barrel inevitably gives out from the stresses of sustained fire with such power. It also drains it's power packs ridiculously, also requiring the Livonians to carry more spare ammunition, further weighing them down with kit.

In addition, the Livon-pattern also serves as the "long spear" of the infantry thanks to it's razor-sharp plasteel bayonet. In the hands of a skilled user, a Livon-pattern is as much as a spear as it is a rifle.

Sturmmannhelm

Meant for close, tight assaults, the Sturmmanhelm is a welcome addition to the kit of the Blade-Brethren's Grenadiers. It's distinctive "coal-scuttle" shape makes them stand out amongst a line of their fellows, and helps to deflects shrapnel away from the wearer's face.

The Sturmmanhelm provides increased protection in contrast to the boiled leather caps the rest of the Blade-Brethren wears, decreasing the casualties of the Grenadiers by at least a third per battle.