#H. V. Calimorre

[yandins-beleagured-historian]

Entry #001.v2.final

I have had the pleasure of meeting Yandin once before, in the aftermath of the Indomitus Crusade's arrival over Taralus. The navigator records on the Macragge's Honour had listed that dusty old ball of drab rock and snow as an Armoury World, so there was a fair amount of bemusement all round when we got word of a sizeable contingent of Astartes dug in on the planet's surface. Initial communications indicated they'd been holed up for some time in an old ruin near one of the old space elevators. They identified themselves as Iron Fists, and were claiming the planet as their ancestral chapter world. By all account, Crusade Command spent no small effort to screen them for foul play, corruption or infiltration. While the Iron Fists' claim to Taralus was eventually upheld, there was a general interest from higher up in gathering more information about the chapter and verifying some of the accounts that were coming out of Taralus. Remembrancer Anjelika Biscari led the effort, and took a small team down to the planet's surface to conduct interviews, appraise structures and write reports. I was still fairly new to the role then, and my visit to the Godspire anchorage terminal was the first time I worked alone in the field. Biscari had gone down a few hours before me and had emphasised an unusual need for brevity. "Broad strokes only", I believe her words were, and I didn't understand what she meant until I stepped out of the lander and saw the planet surface for the first time. The sights of war stretched all the way out to the horizon, and the ragged landscape of the Godspire mountains were littered with the husks of drop pods, tanks and bunkers. You couldn't walk twenty meters without passing a pile of burning dead, and it was here I first encountered sergeant Cosrau Yandin, sixth squad, second company Iron Fists. The moment stuck in my head rather prominently, as I recall he was helping a couple of disposal operatives clear a maintenace passage. The two men had been struggling with the body of a metahuman, still in its power armour, and as the sergeant reached in and dragged it out, I decided on a  bit of a whim to snag a pict-capture. It was only once I looked up that I realised I'd just got my first ever look at a Chaos Space Marine. Regrettably, I was only able to spend a few hours with the sergeant on Taralus. Broad strokes, Biscari had asked for, so that was all I could really capture. The Crusade did not linger long at Taralus, and before long the Iron Fists were well behind us. It's only been in recent months, as the Grand Conclave of Baal winds down, that I've had the opportunity and freedom to track the Iron Fists down and produce more of a complete history of the Chapter. It also gave me an opportunity to present Yandin, now Captain of the seventh company, with the pict-capt I took on our first meeting. (or rather, a remaster: most of my original pict-logs were scrambled quite badly during a brush with the bleak coil two years ago, so I had a colleague of mine, Artov Ilqar, recreate the pict with oil on canvas. See attached.) I've since had the opportunity to interview Captain Yandin on a number of aspects of his chapter's history, and hope to catalogue some of the more notable testimonies, treatises and accounts here. Throne willing, Hester Vinchix Calimorre, Historiographer-Moderatus, Logos Historica Verita.

[yandins-beleagured-historian]

Entry #012.3v2.(fennion).uncompressed.

--The Second Company, Part 4 of 9 5 9-- +Header Item: Pict-Capture, Sergeant Harmik Fennion, retrieved from archived sensor-capts, Avaricum Tercius, Demeter Campaign, approx. 963.M41. The Departmento Photartem formally apologises for hue losses and degradation encountered during processing.+

Continuing this entry on, and I quote "names that should be known" (??) within the Iron Fists' Second Company, we come to Harmik Fennion. Chapter readiness records, as delightfully reliable as they are, suggest that Fennion was the sergeant of the seventh squad, second company, from 932.M41 at the latest. This is according to a few cross-referenced accounts of the Emerigo campaign, in which Fennion is described as:

"a proud graduate of the Gygar Octavian School of Unsubtle Grox-Headedness" by one Ensign Ebosan, and

"...adequate..." by the aforementioned Sergeant Gygar Octavian himself.

Despite this...ringing endorsement by his peers, Fennion seems to have enjoyed a fairly successful career as far as space marine sergeants go. His squad attained consistently high kill rates, relatively few casualties, and battle commendations across Demeter, Poros and a number of other campaigns. However, a few noted statements in his log stand out as unusual, and detail explicit rejection of bionics, in apparent confliction with the chapter's general adherence to the teachings of Ferrus Manus. This appears to have even gone so far as to merit him an official warning from Company Command for "deliberately slowing tactical replenishment rates". Odd. What is also odd is that the best-quality pict-capt I could find of Fennion depicts him wielding a power sword of a pattern that is generally not seen outside the armouries of the Ordo Malleus. I;ve asked Yandin about the sword, and he has refused to comment.

+Supplementary Log, Cosrau Yandin, Captain, 7th Company Iron Fists+

"Fennion was...well, you couldn't have asked for a better sergeant, in my books. The line between mechanical obedience and radical initiative is a hard one to walk, especially as a sergeant, but he managed it, and managed it well. He never cut corners, never took shortcuts, but always managed to find little ways of improving things. For example, I remember him wrapping ammunition belts around his wrist rather than using magazines, because 'the burst rate never quire lines up right with the clip capacity.'" "By the time he took me into the seventh squad, his reputation for clean efficiency was known well outside the Second Company. It was a reputation that got him places, no doubt about that. Fennion's reputation put him alongside First Captain Aurastra, when we charged at a Shadowsword on Avaricum Tercius. Fennion's reputation also put him on the plainwards flank of Verchen's rearguard during the siege of Taralus. It put him against two score Kakophoni noise marines of the third legion. It put him in his grave, that day...."

+End log.+ +Addendum. I refuse to comment on Fennion's sword. -Y.+

Throne knows I try, Hester Vinchix Calimorre, Historiographer-Moderatus, Logos Historica Verita.

[yandins-beleagured-historian]

Entry #005.2ndcompany.v2[avaronedit].txt

--The Second Company, Part 1 of 5-- +Header Item: Pict-Capture, elements of the Second Company, Iron Fists Chapter, during deployments on Crucible, Poros Crusade, 985.M41. The Departmento Photartem formally apologises for resolution losses and degradation encountered during processing.+

Within every Astartes chapter, there is a company that occupies the lion's share of the spotlight. For some, this is the result of years of dutiful service, such as the Dark Angels' fifth company, or a hereditary, prominent position at the tip of the spear in the case of the Space Wolves' Blackmanes. The Ultramarines second company, oft-referred to as the Guardians of the Temple, exemplify this trend most clearly, thanks to their 'crafted...reputation as dynamic heroes'. The test for such prominence is fairly trivial, and requires that one merely browse the galleries of chapter artwork and identify the company heraldry that comes up most frequently. For the Iron Fists, this trend manifests strongest around the Second company, sometimes colloquially known as the black-blades, but more often referred to as simply "The Second". However, unlike the famous companies of first-founding chapters, the Second's prominence in the eyes of the outside world is not the result of a prodigiously long roll of honour, nor a saga of dramatic, galaxy-shaking deeds. It is a quirk of doctrine that makes the Iron Fists' Second stand out. The bespoke organisational layout of the Second dates back to around 350.M39, some half-century hence of the Fall of Taralus during Abaddon's tenth black crusade. With limited resources with which to rebuild the shattered chapter, surviving command staff were compelled to devise novel force structures in order to maximise the utility of what few assets they had. Swiftly-promoted from savant-initiate to captain (a normally unprecedented ascension that owed more to the lack of more senior candidates with more seniority), it was Llewellus Thoca who received the responsibility of reforging the Second.

Thoca deserves a treatise all of his own (which I am told exists but am struggling to locate at present), but his restructuring of the Second was one of the earliest and most immediately effective measures of its kind. The company focused itself around a core of assault veterans who had survived the Fall of Taralus by near-constant ship defence actions. The successful utilisation of these squads would prove pivotal in the company's first actions since the fall, and gradually the company's doctrine would shift towards creating and exploiting scenarios where their effect could be maximised, usually in the form of rapid, pinpoint strikes on key enemy targets. This structure had its fair share of downsides. The Second had significantly less specialised resources at its disposal in comparison to its contemporaries. The company's core strength was bound up in close-range infantry, and if improperly commanded, that infantry would take heavy casualties, especially if tasked to handle threats they were incapable or inequipped to face. These core assault squads also required significant coordination inside and outside the Second, which required company command to establish and maintain high levels of trust and cooperation with outsiders.

Nevertheless, such hardships would foster unique levels of proficiency across the company's tactical, assault and devastator units, creating a company-wide focus on cohesion, diplomacy and quality intelligence gathering. The entombment of select veterans of the company into dreadnought chassis would further this trend by preserving hard-won expertise for future generations to learn from. In particular, the tactical squads of the second company would develop a bespoke reputation for quality, both within and beyond the chapter, and it was not uncommon for individual squads to be placed under the command of other captains in instances where well-disciplined line troops were vital.

Thus, when the Second was suitably managed and supported, their ability to turn the tide of battles or even whole campaigns was profound. Such deployments frequently put elements of the Second in positions of much greater visibility to mortal soldiery and imperial commanders alike, in stark comparison to the other four battle companies who were generally more capable of operating alone. This factor would be further enhanced by the personality of the Second's captains, who were chosen by vote from within the company and were generally selected for their zeal, inspirational abilities and diplomatic candor, all the better to secure the collaboration that made the Second effective.

+Supplementary Log, Cosrau Yandin, Captain, 7th Company Iron Fists+

As a former sergeant of the Second's sixth tactical squad, Captain Yandin had this to say when asked about the prominence of the company. [edited for brevity]

"This is a feature, not a glitch. The Second lives and dies on its reputation. The moment it is perceived as unreliable by those it fights alongside, it is no longer able to draw on the support, intelligence or specialist units that allow it to fight as well as it does. You've only to look to instances like Ibossim to see how the Second fares when fighting alone." "A lot of the training leverages this mechanic. While you always train with your squad, eight times out of ten your squad trains alone. This cultivates an understanding of what happens when you are unsupported. If you make a mistake, you die, and so do those around you. The pressure is extremely fierce, as a result." "This pressure extends to every part of the company . A warrior of the Second bears responsibility for the lives of those they fight beside. But a captain of the Second carries the entire company on their shoulders. It lives and dies with him. He must be considerate enough to soothe his allies, yet passionate enough to inspire them. He must carefully consider his stratagems, yet always be ready to join the fray himself. He must be open minded to new ideas, but throne forbid he make a mistake." "That's not to say it's all as brutal as it sounds. Yes, I mean it, stop looking at me like that. The Second has just as long a history of teaching its members as it does combat-simming them into perfectionists. Sharing knowledge strengthens the whole company. Ascendants teach the sergeants, who teach each other, who teach the rank and file. [Author's note: 'Ascendant' is a term used within the company to refer to those interred in dreadnoughts.] The first squad was a self-contained bladesmanship academy long before it was the captain's personal bodyguard, and those who do make captain often spend decades being prepared for the role by their predecessor. The last captain, Exitas, could trace the teachings he received all the way back into M40, when Hayabusa Shandar was wrestling necrons out of their night scythes."

"That tradition could've continued for another thousand years, had his tenure not ended so abruptly. Exitas died on Kalidos, during the retreat from the Stygius sector, barely thirty years into his tenure and with no suitable successor prepared. Throne, it wouldn't have been so bad if we'd just lost Exitas. Samas Tenebra was right there, Exitas' direct predecessor, the only First Captain in the chapter's history to have risen from the Second. There was literally no better to teach Exitas' successor, but then Saphyre happened, and before either of them were laid to rest in Taralan soil, our beloved Chapter Master bike-slides onto the Tsiolkovan and declares Throne-damned cog-brained Artos Myra as Second Captain and before you know it-"

+Log terminated: storage capacity exceeded+

Saved by the voxcaptor, Hester Vinchix Calimorre, Historiographer-Moderatus, Logos Historica Verita.

+Attached Image: Second Captain Shado Avaron in action at the head of first squad Zaio, second company, during the "Ibossim Bloodbath", circa 639.M41. Recovered from data-fragments extracted from Praetorian XIX regimental datalink.+

[yandins-beleagured-historian]

Untitledmemoranda(23)[cathaytemple].autorecovered

In light of the recent antics of one Custodian by the name of Calladayce Taurovalia Kesh, a desire has been expressed amongst the higher levels of the Logos Historica Verita to reappraise existing histories of the Emperor's Companions and ascertain what proportion of named individuals may, like Kesh, be, and I regrettably quote "Companionesses." (remembrancer mikelos why are you like this??) 

Given the agonizingly byzantine nature of personal onomastics within the Adeptus Custodes, I have requested that I use my current research connections as a method for contribution to this undoubtedly grand and worthy undertaking (/s), rather than spend the next five decades combing through Terra's underlibraries and arguing twenty different forms of ancient linguistics with adepts who still believe the Necron are chaos robots.

I caught up with Captain Yandin on the launch deck to introduce him to my new task and ask him whether the Iron Fists have ever fought alongside the Adeptus Custodes. He was just limbering up to regale me with the story of eighth captain Demiach's experience aboard the Talos Clarion during the siege of Taralus, when we were promptly interrupted by savant Paramete, who was heard to explain something along the lines of "WE CAN DO THAT NOW??" Before leaving the deck at speed in a state of what I can only describe as 'righteous jubilation.' 

With some trepidation, I asked Yandin if the savant has a particular affection for cyclonic warheads. He responded that "The Cathay Temple is just a bit excitable when it comes to matters of engenderment." While there are notes of closed-doors organisations within the chapter, with the honour guard of the Arcan Temple being most notable, I have yet to probe further into this 'Cathay Temple'. Mostly as such exploration will likely require interacting with savant Paramete. Given the fortitude that such an experience will require, I am not keen to undertake this quite yet. Throne preserve my good graces, Hester Vinchix Calimorre, Historiographer-Moderatus, Logos Historica Verita. -Addendum- +Attached file: replication of token seen to be carried by Savant Haymer Paramete, seventh company command, Iron Fists+

[yandins-beleagured-historian]

Entry #002.chapter-preface.v4.lastsavedbyuser

Preface on Iron Fists Chapter Astartes For internal use only

Chapter Name: Iron Fists

Founding Chapter: Iron Hands

Founded: Approx. 015.M37, 22nd founding.

Homeworld: Taralus (see addendums)

Current Chapter Master: Katon Cantabricus

Codex Adherence: Moderate divergence (see addendums)

Colours: Gunmetal, silver, black, gold.

Addendum: Homeworld

Taralus is located on the southern Antimar Fringe, Scarus Sector, Segmentum Obscurus, and served as the chapter homeworld between 015.M37 and 001.M39, at which point it was considered lost to a substantial traitor fleet seeking to shield the coreward flank of the Despoiler's Tenth Black Crusade. The remaining third of the chapter is reported to have undergone an arduous pilgrimage to Terra, seeking sanctuary and reinforcement from the High Lords. The Iron Fists would be assigned to a barren holding-station within the moons of Jupiter while their fate was decided. After much deliberation and several attempts to break the chapter up, the Iron Fists would be permitted to operate at limited strength on selected campaigns, providing they report all activities and maintain subservience to the Terran Castellan of the Imperial Fists, who was authorized to sanction the chapter should they be found wanting in their duties. In the waning days of M41, the Iron Fists would be granted approval to launch a crusade to reclaim their homeworld, with the provision that they use the resources of Taralus to reinforce the increasingly-embattled Cadian sector. By all accounts, the reclamation was a briefly-enjoyed success, as the rapid destabilization of the cadian gate and the formation of the Cicatrix Maledictum would subject the world to many horrors, and true liberation would only come at the hands of the Indomitus Crusade.

Addendum: Codex Adherence

Having been bound to operate at limited strength for the best part of two millennia, the Iron Fists' structure as a chapter has diverged somewhat from its previous, codex-adherent structure. Notable divergence includes:

Company Structure: Instead of retaining the balanced approach laid down by the Codex Astartes, the makeup of the chapter's key battle companies indicates a level of specialization within each company. The Second company possesses twice as many assault squads as a standard codex company, while the Fourth company operates almost exclusively on bikes and other fast platforms. The Third and Fifth company follow more conventional structures, but with integrated pools of armoured vehicles and aircraft respectively. The Unbound: Once at the end of the roster, the Sixth company functioned as the Chapter's scout company. Exploiting a loophole in the terms of their confinement, the sixth company concealed multiple squads of power-armoured neophytes, termed as 'Unbound', to serve as a reserve pool that other companies could draw on. Such an action, while dubiously legal, provided much-needed capacity in the depleted chapter and paved the way for the reinstatement of first, the seventh and eighth, then the ninth and tenth companies following the liberation of Taralus. The Sixth company was elevated from scout company to battleline company in the wake of these actions, but still retains a specialism for infiltrators. The Savants: The chapter's adherence to the teachings of Ferrus Manus, in combination with limited chapter resources and high numbers of battle-brothers wounded in action, served to create a unique position within the chapter. As the distinction between mechanical and organic assets becomes increasingly blurred, the black-armoured Savants of the Iron Fists are part-techmarine, part-apothecary, charged with looking after both aspects of the chapter's wellbeing. Each company has a dedicated Savant embedded within its command structure, who oversees a number of Savant-Initiates that are tasked with vehicle operation, medicae duties and maintenance efforts, The Arcan Temple: The chapter is known to harbour a number of 'Temples', largely closed-door congregations that normally serve a role as keepers and educators in specific schools of war, but have also been known to include sergeants' councils and even a captains' council. The Arcan Temple is chief amongst all, as it functions as both a chapter-wide honour guard, and a monument to the chapter's spirit of vengeance. Warriors of the Arcan Temple shed their individuality on induction and are never seen helmetless or outside of their armour, although what occurs between the gold and iron-clad doors to the Arcan Temple is unknown. Unlike the rest of the chapter, Arcan maniples do not bear hereditary names or those of the squad’s sergeant, but are simply numbered. Company colours are shed in exchanged for a halved scheme, The badge of the Arcan Temple is a pair of black axes crossed on a golden yellow shield, and the warriors within have sworn to not rest until their homeworld is recaptured. Or at least, they did, until their homeworld was promptly recaptured.

+Attached Image: Arcan Warder in action during the Karefax Campaign, circa 680.M40.+