:: Scion of War :: Deathwatch Kill Team ::

[Horus Aximand]

DEATHWATCH
KILL TEAM SCION OF WAR



OPERATIONS IN THE ANTIOCH SUB SECTOR
973-984.M41

The Deathwatch kill team under Captain Paraendum was assigned to hunt down and destroy the elusive space hulk Scion of War during the Antioch Worlds Crusade of 976 to 984.M41. During their five year mission the kill team encountered the hulk and the orkish hordes aboard on numerous occasions but never came close to bringing down its warlord Gasharg Skull Crusher until the final battle for Antioch in late 984.M41. The kill team earned numerous commendations from both the Inquisition and Lord Commander Symaros, and were the first to encounter the necron threat hidden within the sub sector.


Space Hulk Scion of War
The space hulk codified as the Scion of War was first noticed by the Adeptus Astra in 436.M39. It was noted to be built around the cruiser Lord Callistor which was thought lost in the warp in early M33 however later investigations revealed its core to be the former Death Guard battle barge Mortifaction, believed destroyed during the Great Crusade in the Aegon warp storm. The hulk appeared only once again in Imperial space prior to the forty-first millennium, this time as part of a war fleet under the Archenemy warlord Baalberith Adramelecht during the invasion of Scythius in 451.M40. It would not return after its believed destruction until 944.M41.
The Scion's return was heralded by increased warp storms near the Charadon Empire. It arrived within the ork-held territory and was immediately occupied and claimed by the xenos hordes. The ork warlord Dagskar took over the hulk, bringing his forces aboard before leaving the sector to rampage across neighbouring worlds. It first garnered attention from the Ordo Xenos and the Inquisition as a whole when it attacked the Inquisitional holding world of Tampus Var in the Vahnoff system. Inquisitor Cyrac-tal managed to escape the assault with copies of the astropathic surveys of the hulk and managed to bring them to Conclavical attention.
Inquisitor Cyrac-tal's findings noted that the hulk wielded weapons not commonly found in orkish or Imperial arsenals. The Conclave decided to place Inquisitor Algier in command of the investigation with Cyrac-tal providing background assistance. Algier decided to make use of the Deathwatch in his mission, with the plan of eliminating the orks onboard the hulk and securing it for research.
However during Algier's mission preparation the Scion of War had already launched another attack on Chrissenholm, an armoury world not far from the Antioch sub sector. During the assault the orks were joined by those of Waaagh! Gasharg fresh from their war in neighbouring Eltenor. Gasharg was impressed by the size of Dagskar's space hulk and killed the warlord and took it as his own.
The space hulk left Chrissenholm with a sizeable force of orks aboard, escorted by the warships of Gasharg's Waaagh! Imperial astrologists and astropaths managed to predict its course, believing it to be heading for the Antioch worlds with several translation points on its way. Inquisitor Algier, with his assembled Deathwatch kill team, chose their point of attack and prepared to assault the hulk in the Lantea belt in 974.M41.


Kill Team Scion of War

Inquisitor Algier's kill team was named after their target and has passed through numerous rosters in its lifetime. The team commander, Captain Lusha Paraendum, has seen close to a score of Astartes serve under him as part of the kill team during their hunt for the space hulk, and regrets the cost paid by each and every one of them. It was initially assembled in the year 973.M41 by Inquisitor Algier and was in operation for eleven years until the Battle for Antioch and the conclusion of the Antioch Crusade in 984.M41.

~*~

I finally figured that I'll start a log on B&C that will (hopefully) go somewhere. This is my Deathwatch kill team (or at least the startings of) that I began in the Summer of 2009. They sat mostly unpainted until the Christmas break when I decided I needed something to break up the monotony of the holidays with. I'd like to say updates will be regular, but they won't. University takes priority here, and anyone else who stays in Glasgow knows all too well that getting decent lighting for photography is pretty tough. Plus I'm still figuring out how to get decent close-up shots of the individuals, so those may have to wait a while.

The Deathwatch conversion kit is currently sitting on my desk waiting to be used. This means that the first few models of the kill team will be complete relatively soon, weather permitting. Currently on the workbench are an Imperial Fist veteran, a Blood Ravens Librarian (pictured is an Exorcist battle-psyker. More on him later) and a White Scars veteran.

C&C are always greatly appreciated

~Horus Aximand

[Horus Aximand]

Captain Lusha Paraendum, Eagle Warriors

Captain Paraendum was seconded to the Deathwatch some time prior to his assignment to the kill team from the Eagle Warriors chapter. He was accepted following the campaign on Saris IV against the orks, during which Paraendum showed exceptional skill and tactical knowledge in fighting the green skins. When Paraendum was chosen he was placed on an active reserve roster and was stationed on Talasa Prime when Inquisitor Algier was selecting his kill team. As former captain of the Eagle Warriors fourth company Algier believed him a prime candidate for leading the squad into combat.
From the strike cruiser Venator Paraendum launched his first assault on the space hulk Scion of War. The kill team teleported aboard the hulk and managed to infiltrate what was identified as its bridge with little difficulty. As the ten astartes entered the bridge they had time to note its history as the battle barge Mortifaction before Gasharg's orks attacked. Despite the kill team's best efforts they were overwhelmed by the number of orks, losing three of their number before managing to hunker down in a suitable defensible location. The kill team managed to hold out against the hordes for twenty-three minutes before Gasharg arrived with his retinue of lieutenants and sub-commanders. The Deathwatch attempted to kill Gasharg and his commanders but suffered heavy losses at their hands but still they continued to fight until only three survived. At that point, Captain Paraendum deemed the mission a failure and ordered the Venator to teleport them out of the combat zone.
With their defeat aboard the Scion of War the morale of the three surviving astartes was low. The Venator brought them to the space station Vigil where they were met by Inquisitors Algier, Cyrac-tal and Heliana Mantell, a senior Ordo Xenos field agent who would be lending additional assistance to the kill team. The three Inquisitors and Captain Paraendum agreed to continue the mission, and requested aid from Talasa Prime and the Inquisitional strongholds in the Temok and Antioch sub sectors. Paraendum was once again placed in command of the kill team, this time number twelve astartes including the two other survivors from the raid. A new plan of action was devised where the kill team would take advantage of the recent Antioch campaign to entrap Gasharg and take over the space hulk.

Father-Librarian Talos Israfael, Blood Ravens

The Deathwatch inducted Israfael after the tyranid invasion of Abydos almost a hundred years prior to the initial assault on the Scion of War. Israfael served in many missions against the tyranids and orks throughout the Ultima Segmentum until combat with a brood lord (Corporatus Primus) on the hive world of Sertius left him with severe injuries across his chest that rendered him unsuitable for further combat. Israfael remained as a part of the Deathwatch to train and instruct new recruits in anti-tyranid tactics. He resigned himself to his role as instructor rather than fighter and accepted the fact that upon his return to his chapter he would continue to serve as an instructor to the neophytes.
Israfael's tour of duty in the Deathwatch was chosen in end in 975.M41. He was glad to have the chance to return to the Blood Ravens and had heard he was to be joining Captain Hyrcleon and the fifth company as a part of the Imperial defence of the Antioch worlds, Israfael's former home. When he was approached by Inquisitor Algier to join his kill team in 973 he respectfully declined, citing that his experience was against the tyranid menace and not the orks. Following the failed raid on the Scion of War Algier once again requested Israfael join his kill team, and again the elderly Librarian declined, until he learned that the target space hulk was mere light years away from the Antioch worlds. Israfael agreed to join the kill team under the provision that he would immediately be allowed to rejoin his battle brothers as soon as their mission was over.
Inquisitor Algier accepted Israfael's terms. The Librarian joined the kill team in a support role, studying the orks' movements, aiding in the prediction of movements and deployments and also in researching the hulk's history. Israfael became fascinated with the archaic xenos weaponry it had deployed on Tampus Var, and ultimately was the one to identify them as necrontyr gauss weaponry.

Brother Lias Hannon, Howling Gryphon

Hannon was one of the survivors of Paraendum's first assault on the Scion of War. The young Howling Gryphon astartes harbours a deep resentment for Paraendum, feeling his captain fled the battle out of cowardice and left their brethren to die aboard the hulk. Hannon was reluctant to continue his service to the Deathwatch and petitioned both the Inquisition and Chapter Master Alvaro to return to his chapter. Master Alvaro felt that Hannon had not yet been tempered by his service to the Deathwatch, and the Conclave believed the mission too crucial to lose one of its veteran survivors. Brother Komor spent several days lecturing the young astartes on how dishonourable his actions were and convinced him to remain.
Hannon continued to serve in the kill team as they served through Antioch, assisting Komor and Israfael in briefing the newer additions to the mission about the space hulk. Yet his resentment for Paraendum and Komor continued and Hannon found little comradeship in the new battle brothers except for Osir of the Sons of Orar, a fellow astartes with a bitter resentment of his brethren.

Brother Osir, Sons of Orar

Osir has the regality and superiority complex that many of the successors of Guilliman's warriors share. He holds a great disdain of the 'younger' chapters such as the Blood Ravens and this has caused him to earn few friends among the brothers of the kill team. Many of the astartes hold a great disdain for Osir but tolerate him for his purpose within the kill team although he has found fraternity with Brother Hannon. The two astartes are able to pool their resentment together allowing it to fester and develop like a canker within them.
Osir holds a great disdain for the Atessius twins. The two young Ultramarines go against the ideology that he believes the primogenitor chapters should uphold in his eyes and this has lead to conflict between them, often resulting in ferocious fights in the sparring cages of the Venator's training deck. Paraendum and Komor have tried to keep this conflict in check and allow it to continue only as a form of fraternal competition but both know it could well escalate into something worse.

[Horus Aximand]

Veteran Brother Jagotan, White Scars

Like his kinsmen Jagotan hails from the planet Chogoris and has served the White Scars for a great many years as part of fifth brotherhood. Like Komor, an astartes of similar years, Jagotan has a great skill-at-arms in boarding actions and other close quarter combat, but it is on the open field and during the hunt that his skills come to the fore. Jagotan has recently surrendered his combat bike for his tour of duty in the Deathwatch but continue to maintain his persona as huntsman and stalker, laying down support for the kill team from afar whilst still being able to track and pursue a target. But it is the skills that made Jagotan an exceptional candidate for the kill team that also seem to prevent him from joining in with the camaraderie of his battle brothers and he often remains aloof and secluded from the rest of the team.

Bloody four image per post limit :P

All of the Deathwatch are currently WIP. Shoulder pads and boltguns have arrived but I don't have any spray currently with me at university. Hannon and Osir are currently the most fully completed models as they only require a couple of details whereas Captain Paraendum is only about 75% complete. Hopefully I will start work on Father Israfael over this weekend and mooch some primer of a mate to finish of the others boys.

As always, C&C is greatly appreciated.

~Horus Aximand

[Lord Inquisitor]

Great start, keep it up.

[DanteSuper]

+10 Internet for you about the fact you started a Deathwatch Kill team ! Seriously, keep it up ! It's looking good.

[Crimzzen]

Seriously Very Cool! Love deathwatch

[pretre]

Pics are a bit dark, but still very nice. Keep up the good work!

[faolan]

Nice, someone else doing a Deathwatch Kill team.

Death the Xenos!

But yeah, the pics are a bit dark, you need some more light and/or a trip through photoshop to balance the levels as well. I also see you have a bit of blurring with some of the images towards the periphery of any given model, same as I do

[Horus Aximand]

Hmm. This doesn't look like the weekend. Sorry for the delay folks.



Following the events of the Antioch Crusade, Inquisitor Algier was brought before the Segmentum Conclave to display the outcome of Operation Scion of War. He provided the conclave with formal images of the members of the kill team from its inception, each rendered by the Imaginist-archiver Schielles during his time aboard the Venator. These images were taken following the mission on Gethsemane after the engagement with Astral Claws traitor space marines and show Banisher Gebruah of the Exorcists, Varanius of the Mortifactors and Apothecary Saraen of the Red Scorpions.

Each of the astartes display the tactical Deathwatch shoulderpad, a more reinforced mark of shoulder pad from the Ordo Xenos stronghold forges on Talassa Prime. With the exception of Apothecary Saraen the images do not display the astartes' individual wargear, however it was noted in Algiers' notes that the kill team operated at close range with the enemy. Each member of the kill team was equipped with Hesh-pattern boltguns with integral shot-selector and preysight in addition to their preferred choice of weaponry. Banisher Gebruah, who joined the kill team to replace losses suffered at the hands of the Astral Claws, wields Voidscar, a Purgatus-pattern force sword from the chapter armourum. Apothecary Saraen forgoes his boltgun in favour of a power fist, citing that his role is not that of purely killing the enemy but that of defending the wounded. He was personally commended by Lord Commander Symaros, Supreme Commander of the Antioch Defence, following the siege of Antilochus for his actions defending the civilian population of Hive Leartes.

Veteran Brother Varanius of the Mortifactors displays several augmetic replacements. Captain Paraendum and Inquisitor Algier's records indicate the space marine suffered heavy losses six months prior to his tour of duty in the Deathwatch. His bionic replacements include, but due to damage suffered by the Venator's cogitator banks may not be limited to, two fully replaced bionic legs with full articulation (it is not uncommon for replacement limbs to be far more restrictive than their organic predecessors), a bionic left arm with inbuilt power feeds for a power weapon (axe), replacement lungs, stomach, secondary heart and throat. During the autopsy on Varanius, Apothecary Saraen and the medicae assistants noted that the flesh around the bionic limbs was burnt to the atomic level. Although these wounds matched plasma damage it was later believed to have been caused by gauss weaponry, yet as to when Varanius and the Mortifactors fought the necrontyr is as yet unknown.

So that's some of the concept art for a further three members of the team up, and a little more of the back story for the ill-fated kill team. If all goes to plan I can get some painting done Friday and Saturday in between uni work and starting my Space Wolf army for Glasgow's TOMG (a log may or may not be upcoming). My aim for this weekend is to finish off Hannon, Osir and Gebruah (sans basing) and crack on some more with Captain Paraendum himself and hopefully get the next three prepped and ready.

With regards to the darkness of the photos, this is the best I can manage in my current locale. Student halls (and Glasgow as a whole) are not the most well lit of places and Photoshop is expensive! :L But I will endeavour to do my best with the next lot of images.

As always, C&C is greatly appreciated

~Horus Aximand

[KJD]

Nice work... I love the deathwatch