MARINES MALEVOLENT

“And as for these lesser Chapters, these harbingers of misery, these scum, these marines malevolent, I defy them. Let them crash like waves upon fortress Terra, they will only break and retreat like the tide. Let them do their worst. For I am the light of the Imperium and will purge them in fire and blood!”
-Gorge Vandire, broadcasting to his supporters at the height of the siege of the Ecclesiarchical Palace on Terra, M36

The Marines Malevolent Chapter is almost universally regarded with fear and suspicion within the Imperium. Their dire reputation is not founded upon the High Lords’ fear of rebellion or treachery among the Chapter’s ranks, but is rather due to the ruthless and brutal methods they habitually employ in fulfilling their duties. They appear to revel in utilising the most callous tactics, heedless of the damage inflicted upon the ordinary citizens of the Imperium. Such excess has damaged their standing in the eyes of their peers, thought the Marines Malevolent themselves appear to regard the humanitarian concerns of other Chapters as at best naïve and at worst actively detrimental to their shared objectives.

HISTORICA MALIGNIS

The Chapter was created during a relatively unremarkable founding in M32, under the original name of “The Golden Choir.” It is not recorded which of the original Astartes Legions provided the Chapter’s geneseed template, but other marines have pointed to either the Ultramarines or the Iron Hands as potential progenitors, the former on the basis of the Golden Choir’s rigid adherence to the Codex Astartes, the latter on the basis of their endless quest for internal and external perfection and disdain for weakness.
The Golden Choir, as was, had a comparatively undistinguished service record until the later stages of the Wars of Apostasy. The Chapter was drawn unwillingly into these various conflicts, having previously enjoyed excellent relations with the Ecclesiarchy. They were severely mauled during 265 M36 in an unprovoked attack by Gorge Vandire’s Templars Frateris legions; their home world of Kudriss was rendered uninhabitable following two months of bombardment by forbidden atomics. The Golden Choir was appalled by this, and followed more distinguished chapters, including the Imperial Fists and Black Templars in assaulting Terra itself. In response to an inflammatory broadcast by the insane Vandire during the subsequent siege, the Chapter changed their name to the Marines Malevolent to mock his grandiloquent ranting. They played little major role in the siege, which ended prematurely when Vandire’s own bodyguard turned against him.
During subsequent decades, the Chapter turned inward and struggled to reconcile its religious beliefs with the actions of the Imperium’s spiritual leaders during the Age of Apostasy. The destruction of their homeworld forced the Chapter to spend much time rebuilding and seeking new recruits, embittered by the actions of other Imperial institutions. During these dark days, the Chapter’s commanders became heavily influenced by the Istvaanian philosophy which held sway over large tracts of the Inquisition.
Istvaanians believe that the Imperium becomes stronger through conflict. Extreme followers of Istvaanian teachings actively promote strife and war in an effort to temper Imperial institutions into greater efficiency. The Marines Malevolent, while having little need for the more devious and subtle expressions of the Istvaanian belief system, have embraced the “survival of the fittest” philosophy wholeheartedly, and continue to embody its approach in all that they do.
Over the past five thousand years, the Marines Malevolent have honed themselves into an utterly ruthless and dedicated fraternity who seek out the most dangerous conflicts purely to test themselves and other Imperial bodies with a view to strengthening the Emperor’s hold over the Galaxy. For them no tactic is too base, no sacrifice to great to achieve their objectives, and they will scorn any who lack the stomach for the grim tasks ahead.

SHEOL

The Marines Malevolent rule the quarantined hiveworld of Sheol with an iron fist, malign masters over a whirling maelstrom of murder, vendetta and atrocity. The whole world is a testing ground for their Istvaanian beliefs; there is no government or police force, and where local gangs begin to resemble such structures, marine scout squads descend upon them in the night and murder their leaders. The Chapter’s ruling council floods the hives with dangerous narcotics and weapons of all kinds, guaranteeing endless conflict and bloodshed. Children are not raised at all, but are often as not abandoned by their parents or orphaned. Only the very toughest, those with tremendous will to survive or sheer psychotic killer instinct can flourish in such an environment, and it is to create such individuals that the Marines Malevolent subjects this benighted world to such torture.
Sheol is a grey nightmare-world, full of abandoned tenement blocks covering tens of thousands of square miles, populated with desolate and desperate dregs who will do literally anything to survive. The world offers no tithe to the wider Imperium, paying its way instead in the service of the marines who rule over it. Those born on the world know that the only way out is to fight, to prove themselves merciless and driven enough to serve the Emperor.
The Marines Malevolent rule the world from a hundred hidden fortresses within the planet’s deep interior, emerging only to ****** aspirants from the street or to whet their appetite for combat in full scale war against the larger and more ambitious hive-gangs. Food is provided in meagre qualities to Sheol based upon oath-debts of protection with the Governors of local agri-worlds. When the planet’s population dips too low due to the never ending round of low-level violence, millions of new prisoners are imported from the gaols of other worlds across the entire Sheol Subsector. As a result of this, the region is one of the most peaceful and orderly in the entire Segmentum Solar.

COMBAT DOCTRINE

The Marines Malevolent will do anything to win. Anything. They embrace controversial and morally dubious tactics, such terror attacks, atomics, chemical weapons or viral agents. They will utilise torture and direct assaults on civilian populations accused of harbouring enemies of the Imperium.
Such pitiless methods have earned them a horrific reputation across the Imperium as a whole, and within the Adeptus Astartes in particular. Certain chapters, such as the Salamanders and Ultramarines have formally condemned the Marines Malevolent as war criminals who have spat upon the Astartes sacred oath to defend Mankind. The Marines Malevolent, for their part, appear to almost relish such condemnation, and gleefully court controversy in the application of force against the Imperium’s enemies.
Dispiritingly for the Chapters detractors, its service record over the past millennia is virtually spotless, with only a handful of defeats during that entire period. Whenever they are given an objective, the Marines Malevolent achieve it, even if it means collateral damage beyond the worst nightmares of the Adeptus Terra. Many wonder if there is some grim lesson here: when there is only war, perhaps moderation in war is the true sign of madness, not excess…

MARINES MALEVOLENT CHARACTERS

Marines Malevolent are renowned for their totally merciless tactics, and their sneering contempt for vulnerability of any kind. They are brutally effective warriors who revel in showing others to be weaker, morally, spiritually or physically than themselves.

A Marine Malevolent’s profile is adjusted as follows: +5 Ballistic Skill, +5 Willpower, -5 Fellowship, and the Will to Win Solo Mode ability

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[ Will to Win : this is a solo mode ability of the same type as those set out on page 217 of the DW Core Rulebook. It is only available to Marines Malevolent. Marines of that Chapter, in order to even enter its ranks, have had to kill dozens of their fellow human beings, often in almost incomprehensibly savage conditions. They are totally driven and determined individuals, who pride themselves on their mental toughness. Whenever a Marine Malevolent is in Solo Mode, he may re-roll any failed willpower-based tests, and if he does so counts as possessing the Hatred Talent against whatever he is currently fighting against for the duration of the scene.
Improvement: At rank 3 and above, the Marine Malevolent adds +10 to all Willpower-based Tests. At rank 5 and above, he gains the Unnatural Willpower (x2) Trait while using this ability. At Rank 7 and above, the Marine’s determination and contempt for weakness is so strong that once per game session he can automatically pass any test based on Willpower (for the purposes of Opposed Tests, the Marine is considered to have rolled a 01.) Note that this solo mode ability cannot be used by Marine Malevolent Librarians to reroll or enhance any Focus Power Tests or Opposed tests when utilising psychic powers: while the Marines Malevolent have powerful psykers, they are no more notably powerful than those of other Chapters.]

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MALICE INCARNATE: MARINES MALEVOLENT DEMEANOUR

Malice Incarnate is a Demeanour (see page 32) unique to the Marines Malevolent.
The Marines Malevolent are cruel and harsh, but utterly loyal to the Emperor. They are devoted to the Imperium as a whole, and are ever ready to slice off a diseased limb in order to save the entire body. As such, they regard any who shudder at their pitiless methods with amused contempt, and are vocal in their mockery of those who lack the backbone to make difficult, harsh moral decisions.
Although regarded by many as brutal and cruel, they regard themselves as pragmatists who need to prove a point: that weakness, moral and spiritual, abounds, and that it must be purged in order to strengthen the Imperium as a whole. When contemplating a tactic that you know will horrify and shock your compatriots, you struggle to resist suggesting it. You spend endless hours practising the arts of war, drilling yourself in perfect firing techniques and tactics, and researching new and devious methods to defeat the enemy.
You also feel that the best way to strengthen any unit is to test it constantly, so you subtly place pressure on your battle brothers from other Chapters, chiding them where they fail in your eyes and ridiculing their traditions in order to test their ability to remain calm under pressure. You do not care that this makes you hated, as long as you are respected and your fellow Deathwatch Marines are tempered in the fire of your scorn.

A note on the Marines Malevolent: This is my first crack at designing Deathwatch rules for a Chapter from scratch. I didn't want to start with a particularly popular Chapter, or one of my own, so I settled on these guys. I've tried to come up with a background that reflects the relatively scant information on them. I also wanted them to avoid being two-dimensional "bad guys." I hope they're a bit more nuanced than that. They're bastards, yes, but given the horror of the 40k universe, perhaps the Imperium needs bastards. I've also designed them to be interesting to roleplay, as played right they will constantly dig away at the other Deathwatch Marines, but perhaps in a useful way. They might even come to be valued and useful members of a team...

Need more house-rule chapters with this level of detail.

Unfortunately you will need the following for it to be complete:

1. Squad-Mode Abilities

2. Chapter Advance Table (skills/talents)

3. Chapter Trappings

4. Past Chart (not as important I suppose)

5. Psychic Powers (or have them use another chapter's powers just renamed)

kenshin138 said:

Ask and thou shalt receive!

CHAPTER ATTACK PATTERNS

COLLATERAL DAMAGE

Chapter: Marines Malevolent

Action: Free Action

Cost: 2

Sustained: No

The Marines Malevolent are ready to explore any option, no matter how ruthless, to acheive their objective. If the Kill-Team is using an area attack weapon with the Blast special quality against an enemy when a fellow Marine is within the blast radius, the weapon is treated as having a Rate of Fire of one more than normal. This represents the Marine adopting the ruthless tactic of pouring fire upon the enemy, even if it means harming an ally.

Improvement: If the Battle Brother is Rank 4 or more, the weapon is treated as having a Rate of Fire of two more than normal.

CHAPTER DEFENSIVE STANCES

GRIND THEM DOWN

Chapter: Marines Malevolent

Action: Full Action

Cost: 2

Sustained: Yes

Although renowed for their lethal and merciless offensive tactics, the Marines Malevolent possess the willpower and mental fortitude to trade blows with the deadliest enemies, even when holding a defensive line. Such is the ruthless efficiency of the firepower unleashed that the enemy quail before the might of the Astartes. While this power is in effect, the Kill-Team gains +10 to all Ballistic Skill Tests, +3 Armour points and causes Fear (with a Fear Rating of 1) in any force assaulting them within a range of 50 yards.

Improvement: If the Battle-Brother is Rank 4 of more, the bonus to Ballistic Skill Tests is increased by +20, and their Fear Rating increases to Fear Rating 2)

MARINES MALEVOLENT CHAPTER ADVANCES

Advance/Cost/Type/Prerequisite

Interrogation/200/Skill/-

Interrogation+10/200/Skill/Interrogation

Interrogation+20/200/Skill/Interrogation+10

Tactics(Any)/400/Skill/-

Tactics(Any)+10 /400/Skill/Tactics (any, same skill group)

Tactics(Any)+20 /400/Skill/Tactics +10 (any, same skill group)

Paranoia/400/Talent/-

Exotic Weapon Training (Nerve Gas, Atomics or Life Eater Virus)/500/Talent/-

Scourge of Heretics/500/Talent/-

MARINES MALEVOLENT RELICS

The Marines Malevolent are an unsentimental chapter, with spartan tastes even by the standards of the Adeptus Astartes. They rarely employ artificer armour or the highly-decorated trappings so often carried by other marines. They place their trust in cold, hard steel and ceramite, and eschew artifice in favour of lethality. All Marines Malevolent are eligible to receive training in the operation of the deadly weapons systems whose use is normally only authorised by the Masters of other Chapters. This practice is regarded with some distaste by other Astartes, who correctly infer from this practice that a Chapter trained to use Atomic, Biological and Chemical weapons will do so far more regularly than a Chapter that is not...

A Kill-Team containing a member of the Marines Malevolent Chapter may use one of the three following types of relic, subject to the Marine having the Exotic Weapons Talent appropriate to its use:-

Neutron Bomb

A Neutron Bomb is a cursed class of Atomic weapon from the ancient days of Old Terra. Designed primarily to kill organic life within its blast radius without severely damaging valuable equipment, these weapons are now rarely used due to the lingering taint of radiation, which can breed generations of mutants on worlds where such devices have been employed. They remain popular with the Marines Malevolent, who have used them hundreds of times in the past millenia in a variety of situations, including boarding actions, urban warfare and (controversially) low level police actions where they were ordered to protect valuble Adeptus Mechanicus property from petty vandalism by local seccesionists. There are many grades of Neutron Bomb, but the example here - also known as a Rad Grenade - is a low grade variety used for clearing small buildings of dangerous organic life. The Grenade takes the form of a small metal box the size of a man's fist, marked with the ancient Rad rune and bearing small flashing "danger" optics.

Name/Class/Range/RoF/Dmg/Pen/Special/Wt/Req/Renown

Astartes Rad Grenade/Thrown/Range/SBx3/ S-- / Dmg2d10 +10 /Pen 2 /Blast (8), Special, Toxic, only damages organic life / 1.2 / 60 / Hero

Life Eater Virus

The Life Eater Virus is one of the most powerful weapons in humanity's arsenal. A ferociously vituperative biological agent engineered during the High Dark Age of Technology, a single vial of this weapon, properly employed, is capable of destroying an entire planet and rendering it forever uninhabitable. The Marines Malevolent have a reputation for being inordinately "trigger happy" in the use of this weapon, and have left over a dozen worlds permanently barren and lifeless. Many Deathwatch Watch Fortresses retain stocks of this virus for use during Exterminatus missions, the deadliest that can be undertaken by a Kill-Team.

Rules: There's no point providing rules for this really, as it's going to dominate any missions it's used for. GMs should use it as a plot device, really, but assume at least 100 Requisition points if players want to demand to take some along for their next mission "just in case..."

Nerve Gas

Toxic chemical weapons are not uncommon in the Imperium of Man, but are rarely used with decisive effect. Most of the really dangerous oponents faced by mankind (chaotic or xeno) are either naturally resistant, well-enough-equipped to ignore them, or adaptable enough to rapidly overcome their effects. However, against unmodified and poorly equipped humans, such weapons are deadly, and have turned dozens of warzones (including Vraks, Mandragoris, Chelpa and Greenburn) into choked, silent, deadly hellholes. The Marines Malevolent routinely use nerve gas against human forces that oppose them, using thick clouds of the invisible vapour to sow disorder and panic amongst enemy ranks, or to cover their retreat after decisive strikes. The delivery method shown here is a typical Reaper Class XI visible spectrum Nerve Gas Grenade.

Name/Class/Range/RoF/Dmg/Pen/Special/Wt/Req/Renown

Astartes Nerve Gas Grenade/Thrown/SBx3/RoF/ S-- / 1D10 + 10 / Pen 0 / Special: Smoke, Blast (2) / 0.8 / 25 / Distinguished

Right, that's me done for tonight. I'll draw up a Past Events chart and create a couple of Librarian powers when I get a chance. Hope you enjoy it, I'd love to have feedback, but be gentle!

I was going to say Grind was too powerful, then I compared it to the Dark Angels power and it feels fine.

IMHO this is excellent work and a fine example of really showcasing house rules for Chapters.

MARINES MALEVOLENT PASTS

1D5 Result Past experiences

1. Gas gas gas! You were part of the veteran squad which infiltrated into the heart of the vast bunker complex on the rebellious mining world of Jibbus IV in 801 M41 and laced the ancient life support machines with nerve gas, killing millions of heretical fanatics in minutes. You know that your actions were justified, as the world can still by mined by the automated servants of the Adeptus Mechanicus, but sometimes you still hear the choking screams of the dying.

2. Fire on my mark… During a desperate defence of the Forge World of Rotracuda against Tyranid attacks in 789 M41, you called artillery fire onto your own position as it was overrun. Your actions led to the death of all of your surviving squadmates, but you were lauded by your superiors as exemplifying the ruthless ethos of your Chapter.

3. Scorn. During an encounter with Marines of another Chapter, you openly mocked their horror at the methods you employed during a joint action. Although officially rebuked by your commanding officer in order to avoid open conflict with fellow Marines, he secretly congratulated you upon your perception and unwavering dedication to the Chapter’s philosophies

4. Exterminatus. You were given the honour by your Chapter Master of triggering the release of the Life Eater Virus against the Genestealer-held world of Trepta. From orbit, you watched entranced as the virus blossomed across the entire planet, wiping out every living thing, before finally consuming the atmosphere in a series of hellish firestorms released by the stored energy of the world’s dying biomass.

5. The Cleansing. You were one of the organisers of the cleansing of the hive world Maudigarn II in 793 M41. The world had been infiltrated by a sinister race of shapeshifting Xenos able to replicate the divine human form. The world was in the process of tearing itself apart in a series of paranoid civil wars until your Chapter descended upon it and instituted brutal purges. Billions were killed, thousands of them at your hands. Most of them were probably aliens, though there was no way to be sure. Even if hundreds were innocent…better to die than suffer the xenos to live.

Rules for Marines Malevolent instabilities...

ENDS AND MEANS (MARINES MALEVOLENT)

The Marines Malevolent retain no records of the identity of their Primarch. They have no time for the navel-gazing reverence other Chapters have for such things. However, it is clear that this mysterious figure still affects their thinking, and they are no less prone to peculiar mental instabilities than other Marines. Alternatively, their mental tics might be the result of their pitiless and cruel philosophies. In the case of the Marines Malevolent, such idiosyncrasies can take a sinister form, leading to massacres and atrocities. Furthermore they often lose the ability to hold their tongue, and will harp on and criticize the perceived failures of their teammates, damaging the esprit de corps so essential for Deathwatch operations.

Level 1 (Desperate times…) The Marine actively seeks to court controversy with a view to proving the superiority of his ruthless methods. The Marine finds it harder to resist arguing for the course of action that will cause the most collateral damage to civilians and the innocent. The Marine must make an unmodified WP test to avoid advocating some horrifically violent “solution” to a tactical problem, even where this would be diplomatically catastrophic. For example, the Marine might seriously suggest to an Imperial Governor that the best solution to his insurgency problem would be to virus bomb the world and for the Governor to commit suicide as a warning to others in the subsector.

Level 2 (Scorn the weak) The Marine grows impatient with the moral weakness around him, and cannot hold his tongue in the face of failure to make tough decisions by his teammates. Unit Cohesion is reduced by 1.

Level 3 (Make a friend of horror) The Marine has reached a stage in his instability where his pride demands that he make a clear display to his colleagues of the efficacy of merciless action without a thought for the casualties. The Marine must make a WP test at -10 to resist implementing some lethal tactic that is certain to achieve his objectives while also causing civilian deaths, or deaths among allied forces.

Actually it was brought to my attention that some of the fluff here is not official canon. Personally, for an official chapter I would stick only to established lore, even if its pretty sparse. This is pretty good: http://wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/Marines_Malevolent . The Iron Hands novel does a great job of explaining their scavenging and overall attitude.

I like the rules and you've obviously put a lot of thought and work into it. However I think its somewhat overshadowed by the questionable fluff. Also I think M32 places them as Third Founding IIRC.

It's not Canon - it's drawing on what little Canon there is. I used Lexicanum (among other sources, including most of the original material cited in Lexicanum) in writing it, and expanded upon the background. Everything I've written is compliant with the Canon as far as I can see, but you are of course welcome to ignore or amend as you please.

Although I admit I've not read this Iron Hands novel... what does that say about the Marines Malevolent?

kenshin138 said:

Not necessarily. The Imperium isn't restricted to one founding every 1,000 years.

The background is kinda reminiscent of the orginal Night Lords- both use terror and megadeath to win at any cost and **** their peers opinion.

SJE

SJE said:

True. I wasn't intending to imply this, but it's an apt comparison. I was more trying to build upon the scant background for the Chapter and suggest the logical outcome of Marines having Isvaanian beliefs.

Lightbringer said:

Reminds me more of Mortarion and the Death Guard more than the Night Lords. They're a little more in-your-face than the Night Lords.

An interesting counterpoint to the Blood Raven ties to the Thousand Sons.

Hey, if you want to make the Marines Malevolent from former Traitor stock, by all means be my guest!

Personally I dislike any concept that involves "loyal" marines chapters descending from traitor legions. I reckon loyalist marines (like normal humans) are just as capable of doing terrible things in the name of religion, or political belief, or philosophy, as the Traitors were. The idea of "good" marines like the Ultramarines or Iron Hands producing Chapters which go on to do terrible things in the name of the Emperor is a neat one, I think...

Lightbringer said:

Errr, I actually meant the novel Salamander, not Iron Hands. I'd suggest giving it a read. The Salamanders encounter them and they are very...unique, to be sure.

They are shown as scavengers mostly. Its a unique outlook.

Gah. How annoying. I wasn't aware of that, and it's a reference not cited on Lexicanum. The perils of relying on the interweb....

Hopefully the Salamander book doesn't change them to much, as I really liked your take on them.

Next time I go homebrew...

Extremely well done and I like it.

My only issue with them, ( not your background at all! ), with the chapter in general is it comes out as a chapter which is literally on the verge of complete Excommunicate Traitoris, one step out of the worship of Khorne and a short and violent exterminatus of their homeworld.

again, I think you did an awesome job and I love it, but I think it might only work well if you had a full squad of em as the Ultramarines, Imperial Fists or just about any loyalist chapter would see them as an enemy just as dangerous as the foe they are set against.

SinisterCheshire said:

How is this any different than the Flesh Tearers Chapter prior to the rise of Gabriel Seth as Chapter Master?

Both these rules for the MM and the canonical references for the FT picture them as bloodthirsty, unforgiving, and downright dangerous to be around, though Lightbringer's MM rules paint them as coldly calculating and uncompromising in their method of making war. IIRC, during the Third War of Armageddon, a squad of Flesh Tearers were so caught up in the Red Thirst that they swept through not only an enemy line of orks, but an entire Imperial settlement and a unit of Sororitas on the opposite flank!

I like the fact that the MM chapter has been so successful in their persecution of the Emperor's wars that they are loyalist almost to the point of being beyond reproach. Save for that niggling tendency to bring a battle barge to a knife fight.

cliffetters said:

Never said they were any different than the Flesh Tearers, just putting up my opinion. Also, the Flesh Tearers have a condition which causes their rage. And are under scrutiny of the Inqusition anyway. The MM here are more than willing to shred any Imperial citizen or soldier or battle brother between them and the enemy, and its just part of their doctrine.

I'm not so sure The Emporer's ways include slaughtering Imperial citizens to get the job done. It seems to me that The Emporer would rather his Space Marines die to save the lives of the citizen unless there was absolutely no other way.

But thats what makes the whole debate so awesome.

Without totally breaking IP, here are some snippits:

“Excuse Brother Nemiok,” he saidaddressing Pyriel, who exhibited no reaction. “We are unaccustomed to Librarians in ranking positions,” Lorkar explained somewhat thinly. “The Marines Malevolent still adhere to some of the tenets laid down at Nikea."

"Hate is the surest weapon,” Lorkar replied with all seriousness. So vehement was his stress on the first word that if the sergeant had had the power to kill with it then Tsu’gan would have keeled over in his power armour there and then."

"The Space Marines themselves appeared to be just as archaic. Most wore Mk VI Corvus-pattern power armour, stained yellow with a black cuirass andgenerators, the left pauldron studded with fat rivets. The armour’s plastron was bereft of the Imperial eagle,and carried onlyan octagonal release clasp, unlike the modern suits of the Mk VII Aquila-pattern. Every suit amongst them, bar none, was patched and chipped. The rigours of battle were worn proudlyas marks of honour, in the same manner as the Salamanders’ branding scars. It was armour that had been made to last, not in the sense of its sup erior forging or exceptionallydurable craftsmanship; rather, it was battle-plate that had seen hundreds, perhaps thousands, of victories and been strung back together and hammered into shape by any means necessary in order that it saw another."

But these warriors were hard-bitten veterans, every single one. Theydidn’t have the forges or the technological masteryof the Salamanders. Theywere seldom re-supplied or their materiel restocked or replenished. They knew only war, and fought it so relentlessly and without cessation that their equipment was battered almost to destruction.

Dak’ir then realised what Lorkarand his battle-brothers were doing on the Archimedes Rex. The fledgling weapons were the perfect replacements for their arcane militaria. The Marines Malevolent were re-supplying; appropriating the materiel cache from the forge-shipfor their own purposes.

And one of the best examples is some discusson:

“What do you think you’re doing,brother!” he growled, ignoring the others and addressing Lorkar directly.

The sergeant was directing two of his battle-brothers hefting the equipment out of the storage room and didn’t look at Tsu’gan when he answered.

“What it looks like, Salamander. I am re-supplying my Chapter.”

“You steal that which is not meant for you,” he countered, clenching his fists. “I did not realise the Marines Malevolent were honourless pirates.”

Now Lorkar turned, and his previous nonchalance crumbled away. “We are true servants of the Emperor. Our integrity is beyond reproach. We seek onlythe means to prosecute His wars.

--

So yea, you really should get the book. The entire encounter between the Salamanders and the Malevolent would be very, VERY useful for this. Again, I'm not trying to bust you up no it, rather I'd like to see this turn out to be as best as it can be. I enjoy the chapter based on reading Salamander myself.