The Crusaders

The Crusaders
Number	X
Founding	First Founding
Successors of	N/A
Successor Chapters	Crusaders Obscurus, Crusaders Pacificus, Crusaders Tempestuous, Nova Defenders, Thousand Swords, Ultima Crusaders
Primarch	Thomas Gaudin
Homeworld	Sturmundrang
Strength	105,000 at start of Heresy
Specialty	Armored Frontline Combat
Allegiance	Imperium of Man

This page details people, events, and organisations from the /tg/ Heresy, a fan re-working of the Warhammer 40,000 Universe. See the /tg/ Heresy Timeline and Galaxy pages for more information on the Alternate Universe.

Summary of Legion X

Numeration: The 10th Legion

Primogenitor: Thomas Gaudin

Cognomen (Prior): None

Observed Strategic Tendencies: Combined Arms Warfare, Armoured Assault, Mechanized Infantry Assault, Maneuverer Warfare

Noteworthy Domains: Terra, Sturmundrang and the Solar Domains

Alliegence: Fidelitas Totalis

"The battlefront disappeared, and with it the illusion that there had ever been a battlefront. For this was no war of occupation, but a war of quick penetration and obliteration, a war where it was won before the enemy even knew they were in a war.”

Unnamed Remembrancer attached to the X Legion, on the battle tactics of the Crusaders

Mechanized infantry that uses Blitzkrieg tactics. Commonly operates as a peacekeeping force. Aggressive, but tempered. They make a point of being fair and honorable where they can.

Unit Organisation and Structure within the Legion

Like all the Legions, the Xth started out with the standard Terran Pattern of Legion organisation, though with a bias towards armoured formations only equalled by the XXIVth. However it wasn’t very long into the Crusade when their Primarch was found, and he would re-create the Legion from top to bottom along the lines of flexibility and a combined arms approach to warfare that would leave it by the time of the Heresy very different from its brother Legions. Though the basic structure of the Chapter, Battalion and Company remained, they were completely restructured by Gaudin. Every Chapter was organised as a completely self-sufficient formation capable of prosecuting campaigns entirely independently. When multiple Chapters were deployed to a single warzone, each was treated as a separate entity Battalions were heavily reinforced and became the main battle formation of the Legion. One of the most notable changes within the Legion was the decline in the use of large sized squads. Twenty Man Squads, the building block of almost every other Legion could only fit into the larger Spartan Transports, which were always in short supply within the Legion due to battlefield losses. And with the Rhino and Lucifer Engined Land Raider being foremost in use, ten man squads grew to dominate Legion formations save only in exceptional circumstances. To further the flexibility of these mechanized squads, they often carried special and heavy weapons with them instead of relying on Tactical and Heavy Support squads, a precursor to the all arms tactical squads of the post-Heresy era. Along with the lack of larger squads was a corresponding lack in specialized formations that were not effective in mobile warfare. Breacher Siege Squads were rare within the Legion due to their disdain for urban conflict, and Assault Squads were also in the minority, principally employed as the vanguard for the main mechanized assaults. Like most Legions the Crusaders maintained a Destroyer cadre, though they were mainly used with Jump Packs in advance of the armoured thrusts.

Legion Command Hierarchy.

Thomas Gaudin was the undisputed lord and master of his Legion. His men adored him, and would gladly follow him into the most hellish warzones at his command. Beneath the Primarch, the foremost member of the Legion was the Hochmeister, who was the First Chapter Master and the Primarch’s chosen champion and representative. At the time of the Heresy, the Hochmeister was Anton Kantner, formerly the Head of the X Legion’s Sacred Band. The Chapter Master equivalent was the Ordensmarschall, each tasked with the command of a single Chapter formation. Beneath them were the Battalion-Level Commanders known as Komturs, who orchestrated the bulk of the operational tactics and were the main formation commanders. Beneath the Komtur was the Captains of the Mechnaized Line Companies and Armoured Companies of the Legion, which operated together and thus were required to exhibit a large degree of co-operation and co-ordination between them. Inter-Company rivalries were almost unheard of in the Crusaders, with smooth bonds of comradeship between the various captains greatly aiding the effectiveness of the combined arms armoured warfare that so characterized the Legion. Merit was the foremost judge of competency in command for the Legion, and all promotions within the Legion were based on the martial record and ability of the prospective commanders.

Legion Tactics

The Crusaders are an army of rapid mechanized assaults. Using Land Raiders and tanks on the ground and Thunderhawks in the air, they break through enemy lines. Once this has been achieved, mobile forces race deeper into enemy territory, disrupting the rear areas and threatening the front lines with encirclement.

The infantry tactics of the Crusaders are to continuously gain ground and to push the enemy back. They are known for their modified Land Raider platforms each containing 10 marines, forming a single "troop". The Land Raider will advance towards an enemy position supported by artillery or gunship fire. Once it has reached its objective, the Land Raider will disgorge the Space Marines and fight alongside them. As this is happening, other Land Raiders will continue on to their own objectives in a leap frog tactic. This allows the Crusaders to cover tremendous amounts of ground and completed multiple objective simultaneously. Once a "troop" completes it's objective it will return to the Land Raider and move on to other objectives. This maintains a very rapid and disorientating assault

If the enemy does not give ground or manages a counter-attack, a Crusaders troops is perfectly capable of digging in their heels and calling in support. The same rapid manoeuvres that deliver attacking troops can also bring up reserves, or fire support via artillery or Thunderhawks. The Crusaders are a fast-moving, multi-pronged spear. Their tactics, and the difficulty to dislodge them from any position, has earned the Legion an unofficial nickname; "The Barbs."

Legion Equipment

Legion Doctrine

The Crusaders make a point of being fair and honorable where they can. They were the second most powerful legion after the Heresy. Thomas Gaudin offered a logical and well thought out alternative to the military organisation of Gaspard Lumey presented in the Institutorum Astartes. The Crusaders accepted much of the Institorum, but made a change in the chain of command of the Chapter. They included the new "Lieutenant" rank, given command over two squads of five marines, which form a single "troop". Due to their strength, hardiness, and strong sense of justice, the Crusaders have taken the role of a peacekeeping force. Sending fleets out to patrol their section of the galaxy, they also keep a sizable force planet side to mobilize as a quick reaction force or to reinforce other Legions if needed.

Notable Crusaders

Leon Heldt was serving as Gaudin's page when the Emperor came to Sturmundrang. Still young enough to be inducted into the Adeptus Astartes, Heldt graduated as a fine Space Marine. Despite many offers of promotion to command, his highest aspiration was to serve as the Primarch's bodyguard. Heldt laid down in life for Gaudin and the Emperor during the fateful assault on Hektor's flagship.

The Sacred Band

Anton Kantner led Tenth Squad during the battles of the Merican Hives. Kantner took pride in always accomplishing his tasks ahead of schedule. Although this zeal sometimes offended other members of the Sacred Band, it also established the Tenth Legion's tradition of letting nothing slow, let alone stop, their advance. After Gaudin was rediscovered, Kantner laid down his command without ill-feeling, and was rewarded with a place as the Primarch's Equerry.

Erik Faas was a much-feared commander. His weapon of choice in the Merican Hive campaign was the flamer, and it was well-suited to his temperament. Though Faas could be jovial and kind to his men, he is best-remembered for his declaration to the Legion at the start of the Great Crusade:

Do not be swayed by the false virtues of compassion or mercy. No carelessness, driven by warm feelings, should dissuade you from utter loyalty to the cause of Mankind. We go to the stars to destroy the Alien, the mutant, and all who would endanger the human race!

Marcus Drag is often forgotten by outsiders who recount the history of The Crusaders, for he had few great victories associated with his name. But for the Legion and their many successors his name is highly honoured. Drag was a skilled tank driver and commander, and he certainly contributed to some of The Crusaders finest hours - especially their lightning strike during the Siege of Terra, when he laid down his life fighting against the Traitors. Yet it was his role behind the scenes that truly defined this warrior's role. He worked tirelessly to plan and establish The Crusader's network of fortresses throughout the interior of the Imperium. Drag's achievement allowed the Legion, and later their association of Successor Chapters, to rapidly redeploy across the Galaxy to confront the Imperium's direst foes. It is for this that he is remembered as The Peacemaker.

Max Toten, on the other hand, was the best-known of the Crusaders outside of their Primarch. Toten's tall, bearded figure stood out among his peers, and his great voice and charisma could rally the forces of the Imperium like few others. Though not the most skilled general of Gaudin's inner council, he was regularly entrusted with critical commands because of the effect he had on morale. Thankfully for the Crusaders, Toten was humble enough to take advice from better planners. Max Toten's final battle was the massive naval engagement at the beginning of the Traitors' attack on the Solar System. He volunteered to take command of the point ship in the Imperial forces, understanding that this duty was a death sentence. Though Toten and his command were lost early in the engagement, his selfless courage would continue to inspire the Crusaders through the dark days of the Siege of Terra. He is venerated as a saint in many parts of the Imperium. Void-farers, especially sailors in the Imperial Navy, often carry medals bearing a likeness of "Saint Max" to invoke his protection.

Gabriel Bain was initially groomed for duty as an Apothecary in the embryonic Space Marine Legions, but his combat and leadership skills improved much more quickly than his peers. A sober and stiff-mannered Marine, his cool demeanour masked a tendency for daring in both personal combat and command. Bain was Tenth Squad's point-man throughout the Pacification of the Merican Hives, and tanks under his command would reprise the role during many of The Crusader's armoured actions.

Severin Hahn A highly skilled warrior with a flair for command, Severin Hahn was the first Legion Champion of the X Legion. Throughout the Crusade he would continue to stand for his legion, eventually meeting his end on the blasted plains of Zhuko V, fighting the traitor Primarch Tollund Otztal in single combat.

Elias Selig

Walter Blum

Lucas Braun

Rook North was an exemplary warrior. He was also something of a blowhard, composing and performing many fine songs - about his own heroic exploits. His bragging did not endear him to his peers. However, The Crusaders prize results more than personality and North certainly got his results. He would fight in every great campaign of the Legion, from its origins in the Merican Hives to the pyrrhic victory at the Siege of Terra. North would eventually be dispatched to guard an ancient relic in the Galactic South-East as the Master of the Nova Defenders Chapter.

Notable Successors

Mechanist Warriors

Mechanist Warriors
Battle Cry	"Let's ride!"
Founding	Second Founding
Successors of	The Crusaders
Chapter Master	Jáchym Aarts
Homeworld	Fleet-based
Specialty	Marksmanship and vehicle handling
Allegiance	Imperium of Man

During the Second Founding, the wildest sons of Gaudin were banded together in the Mechanist Warriors. These restless heirs to lightning war are among the most mobile warriors of the Imperium.

Chapter History

When the great Space Marine Legions were broken up in the Imperial Reformation, the Crusaders had already begun to make good on their losses of manpower from the brutal war against Hektor Conathos's traitor legions. But their losses of equipment still dogged them. A partial solution during the Scouring had involved outfitting more of the Legion with attack bikes, preserving the mobility that was their hallmark. Rather than leave his Successor Chapters permanently skewed in this manner, Thomas Gaudin saw fit to establish his surplus bikers as a specialist Chapter, the Mechanist Warriors.

442.M33 Battle of Swirling Sands A company of Mechanist Warriors descend on an outpost of the Harakien Eldar Empire. The target is a major supply depot, believed to be a preparation for new offensives against Imperial worlds. Despite their foes' reputation for speed, the Mechanist Warriors' assault leave the Eldar bewildered and hurting.

Chapter Combat Doctrine

The Mechanist Warriors prize mobility and fluidity in battle. Unlike their knightly sires, they are very comfortable with hit-and-run tactics. Pistol marksmanship, especially while controlling a bike, is a fixation of the Chapter, to the exclusion of swordplay.

Always on the margin of the fighting instruction of the codex, the Chapter has gradually modified its companies into independent formations, each maintaining its own scout and veteran squads. This variant organisation has meant that they are often the first responders to incursions from aliens, heretics, and traitors. When a problem is too big for their widely-spread forces, the Mechanist Warriors know that they can draw on the strength of the other Crusaders Successors.

Chapter Beliefs

Strength comes from striking fast and loose, not iron rigidity. - Jáchym Aarts, first Chapter Master of the Mechanist Warriors

Chapter Homeworld

Like many of the Crusaders' Successor Chapters, the Mechanist Warriors' crusade through the galaxy never ends.

Nova Defenders

The Nova Defenders were a Second Founding Chapter tasked with defending an ancient technological facility at the edge of the Ultima Segmentum.

Thousand Swords

Thousand Swords
Battle Cry	No Mercy! No Surrender!
Founding	Second Founding
Successors of	The Crusaders
Homeworld	Crusade Fleet Rotbart
Specialty	Close Combat
Allegiance	Imperium of Man

Chapter History

While the Crusaders had redefined their role after the heresy, many within the legion vehemently disagreed with the new direction. They felt that to become peacekeepers and border guards was a violation of the original purpose of the Great Crusade, which had given them their name. The Imperium was battered, but not broken, and it was only right for them to push forward into the unknown and continue gaining ground for humanity, as the Emperor originally intended. Emboldened by their desire for revenge, they proposed to separate from the main force of the crusaders to continue pursuing the traitors towards the Eye of Terror, regaining the worlds despoiled by those that they once called brothers.

The Arkangel Crusade

After a great number of victories, here is where the Thousand Swords met their first great loss. In the heat of battle, their first chapter master, Peter Wrangel, was cut down by a turbo-penetrator round from behind. The shooter was never found, but the chapter still harbors a distrust of all assassins to this day.

Notable Members

Peter Wrangel – First Chapter Master

Chapter Combat Doctrine

The Thousand Swords prefer a more aggressive approach than their progenitors, preferring to charge head on towards the enemy. Throughout the years, they have developed a culture based around the honour of close combat, seeing it as cowardly to stand back and bombard their opponents from afar.

Chapter Beliefs

The Thousand Swords shun the use of psykers in any capacity outside of what is strictly necessary to guide their ships, and therefore make no use of librarians. They believe that meddling with the warp is what caused the Hektor Heresy in the first place, and want to have as little to do with it as possible.

Chapter Homeworld

The Thousand Swords have no fixed homeworld, stationing themselves on a fleet of ships, heading farther and farther out into the far reaches of the Imperium.