I-ARMY-2600

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13th Solar Auxilia Cohort “Void Rifles”

Regiment classification: Imperial Army, Solar Auxilia

Recruitment grounds: Non-planetary population centers

Nature of Recruitment: Volunteer

Home-world: Various void domains within the Kuiper Belt

Preferred terrain: Void environments

Special Equipment: Exotic mounts

Regimental Creed: Esoterical beliefs

Allies: The Cult Mechanicum

Hated enemies: Traitors

History

Origins:

First mustered during the Solar Reclamation, the 13th Void Rifles were recruited from the populations of the far Outer Solar System - Uranus, Neptune and the Pluto Belt. The Void Rifles initially recruited from pirates, refugees, sanctioned mutants, sanctioned abhumans, rogue mechanicum communes, spiders, void tribes, techno-barbarians and volunteers. Their first true success was at the destruction of the fake planet of Sedna which lay within the blackness of the outer Solar System - earning them their first campaign award. The significance of Sedna’s destruction was a truly celebrated feat in its time, bringing the Solar System into complete compliance. Regiments of the Void Rifles were dispatched throughout the early expeditionary fleets due to their effectiveness at Void warfare. This has earned the many regiments, and later cohorts, of the Void Rifles great prestige. In the early years of the Great Crusade they acquired the following campaign honours: Sedna, Elysia, Catachan, Kronstadt, Necromunda, Braccus, Kalianox, etc. During these early years, the 13th served alongside many of the Legions - earning widespread respect amongst the command cadres of many companies. Due to the high numbers of request by the Space Marines, the old War Council was generous to the Void Rifles. By the time of the mid-crusade period, the 13th had been sub-divided into many more cohort – all Void Rifles. By the time of the Horus Heresy the Cohort was one of the Crusade's finest baseline human units - second in prestige only to those of the Old Hundred, Saturnyne Rams, Jovian regiments and Cthonian Headhunters.

Combat Doctrine:

The Void Rifle’s primary combat role is that of dedicated void infantry. Due to the hazardous nature of Void warfare, the 13th were often deployed within warzones dubbed Zone Mortalis. Due to the limited space of void warfare, large vehicles are extremely unsuited for combat, hence the 13th have designed their own unique brand of war making. The mainforce of a common Void Rifle force comprises of their gun batteries. As many as 9 heavy weapons can be arranged into a battery, serving as the ‘main force’ of a Void Rifle contingent in any regular combat engagements. The superior technological capacity of Void Rifle equipment truly shows here when even the hardiest of foes succumb to the overwhelming fire power of concentrated battery firepower. When well positioned and commanded by a good officer, there batteries are a truly ferocious asset. The anvil of a Void Rifle force are comprises of their lasriflemen. Lasriflemen, referred to as Rifles, are often made up of the youngest and least experienced of recruited forces – hence given the longest range weapons. They are further augmented by NCOs, communication specialist, vexilia bearers and warrant officers. Assembled into tercios, Rifles become surprisingly effective due to weight of fire, easily suppressing and pinning down enemy units. Their main role is harass the enemy, and protect the ‘main force’. Officers who lead such detachments are by necessity required to be quick and aggressive. The most senior Rifles are put into Stormtrooper squadrons, serving as shock troopers or heavy reserves. In order to be a stormtrooper, a rifle must have attained the rank of Lance Corporal - not an easy feat in the myriad of lethal warzones in the Imperium. They are then given more specialised equipment and training, promoting speed and aggressiveness. The hammer of the Void Rifles are found in the cavalry units, riding into war mounted on massive spiders bigger than ogryns. Every sub-cohort has at least one squadron of light cavalry and at least 1 squad of heavy cavalry. Armed and armoured uniquely to the infantry, the cavalry serves their intended role with great success. A concentrated cavalry charge that is well timed and executed has won the Void Rifles many a campaign. Recruits are predominantly drawn from the volunteers of noble families, though random spider rider candidates occasionally occur. It should be noted there is a deeply ingrained friendly rivalry between the gunners, rifles and spiders.

Equipment and their Alliance to the Cult Mechanicus:

The Void Rifle’s primary combat role is that of dedicated void infantry. Due to the hazardous nature of Void warfare, the 13th were often deployed within warzones dubbed Zone Mortalis. Due to the limited space of void warfare, large vehicles are extremely unsuited for combat, hence the 13th have designed their own unique brand of war making. The mainforce of a common Void Rifle force comprises of their gun batteries. As many as 9 heavy weapons can be arranged into a battery, serving as the ‘main force’ of a Void Rifle contingent in any regular combat engagements. The superior technological capacity of Void Rifle equipment truly shows here when even the hardiest of foes succumb to the overwhelming fire power of concentrated battery firepower. When well positioned and commanded by a good officer, there batteries are a truly ferocious asset. The anvil of a Void Rifle force are comprises of their lasriflemen. Lasriflemen, referred to as Rifles, are often made up of the youngest and least experienced of recruited forces – hence given the longest range weapons. They are further augmented by NCOs, communication specialist, vexilia bearers and warrant officers. Assembled into tercios, Rifles become surprisingly effective due to weight of fire, easily suppressing and pinning down enemy units. Their main role is harass the enemy, and protect the ‘main force’. Officers who lead such detachments are by necessity required to be quick and aggressive. The most senior Rifles are put into Stormtrooper squadrons, serving as shock troopers or heavy reserves. In order to be a stormtrooper, a rifle must have attained the rank of Lance Corporal - not an easy feat in the myriad of lethal warzones in the Imperium. They are then given more specialised equipment and training, promoting speed and aggressiveness. The hammer of the Void Rifles are found in the cavalry units, riding into war mounted on massive spiders bigger than ogryns. Every sub-cohort has at least one squadron of light cavalry and at least 1 squad of heavy cavalry. Armed and armoured uniquely to the infantry, the cavalry serves their intended role with great success. A concentrated cavalry charge that is well timed and executed has won the Void Rifles many a campaign. Recruits are predominantly drawn from the volunteers of noble families, though random spider rider candidates occasionally occur. It should be noted there is a deeply ingrained friendly rivalry between the gunners, rifles and spiders.


Demographics and Culture:

The Void Rifle’s primary combat role is that of dedicated void infantry. Due to the hazardous nature of Void warfare, the 13th were often deployed within warzones dubbed Zone Mortalis. Due to the limited space of void warfare, large vehicles are extremely unsuited for combat, hence the 13th have designed their own unique brand of war making. The mainforce of a common Void Rifle force comprises of their gun batteries. As many as 9 heavy weapons can be arranged into a battery, serving as the ‘main force’ of a Void Rifle contingent in any regular combat engagements. The superior technological capacity of Void Rifle equipment truly shows here when even the hardiest of foes succumb to the overwhelming fire power of concentrated battery firepower. When well positioned and commanded by a good officer, there batteries are a truly ferocious asset. The anvil of a Void Rifle force are comprises of their lasriflemen. Lasriflemen, referred to as Rifles, are often made up of the youngest and least experienced of recruited forces – hence given the longest range weapons. They are further augmented by NCOs, communication specialist, vexilia bearers and warrant officers. Assembled into tercios, Rifles become surprisingly effective due to weight of fire, easily suppressing and pinning down enemy units. Their main role is harass the enemy, and protect the ‘main force’. Officers who lead such detachments are by necessity required to be quick and aggressive. The most senior Rifles are put into Stormtrooper squadrons, serving as shock troopers or heavy reserves. In order to be a stormtrooper, a rifle must have attained the rank of Lance Corporal - not an easy feat in the myriad of lethal warzones in the Imperium. They are then given more specialised equipment and training, promoting speed and aggressiveness. The hammer of the Void Rifles are found in the cavalry units, riding into war mounted on massive spiders bigger than ogryns. Every sub-cohort has at least one squadron of light cavalry and at least 1 squad of heavy cavalry. Armed and armoured uniquely to the infantry, the cavalry serves their intended role with great success. A concentrated cavalry charge that is well timed and executed has won the Void Rifles many a campaign. Recruits are predominantly drawn from the volunteers of noble families, though random spider rider candidates occasionally occur. It should be noted there is a deeply ingrained friendly rivalry between the gunners, rifles and spiders.

Leadership

The Void Rifles are led by a deeply entrenched military nobility class. Within this system there exist 2 ranks of nobility - lesser and higher. The lesser nobility comprise all the officers of a sub-cohort level, that is to say everything from a Sergeant, to a Lieutenant to a Major. One is either promoted into this tier of nobility, or a born into it. These ‘Regimental Lords’ have absolute authority of the internal workings of their regiment – unless countermanded by the highest ranking Imperial military commander of the mission. The higher nobility comprises all the officers higher than sub-cohort level. They typically serve as staff officers of an expeditionary fleet and typically command and organise many regiments. This class of nobility encompasses anything from Captain, to Colonel to General. These ‘Cohort Lords’ typically have a number of Regimental Lords under their immediate influence and command. However these Auxilia Lords are not landed nobility, but first and foremost a military nobility. Their noble status can be immediately revoked at any time by the Emperor and his beloved representatives. Furthermore, many Lords of the Void Rifles, and therefore all officers of the Void Rifles, are oath - honour - and duty bound to the rogue trader militant dynasty of Epikoros-Arachnii. Tracing its origins to the Unification Wars of Terra, this rogue trader dynasty was formed when its first Rogue trader married a Neptunyne Tech-Priestess; entrenching House Epikoros-Arachnii’s power and status during the Great Crusade. The scions of House Arachnii (shortened) have served the Imperium with excellence and honour.

Lord Solar Epikoros Kor’Dain

During the waning years of the Unity Wars, the bludgeoning Imperium found a hero in the figure of Kor Dain, the Silver Prince of Unity. Born in the Void Fortresses surrounding the Elysian Gate, he was part of the warrior class that ruled his hab-station/fortress home. In his youth he joined a Urantyne mercenary company called the ‘Silver Company’. Rising through the ranks, he became their Captain by the age of 40, earning his position through his valour and sacrifice. He arrived on Terra after the Old Albian integration, quickly winning over the masses with his charisma and oratory power. He quickly became the poster child of the Late Unity Wars, the fact that he was horribly scarred and deformed from past engagements only fuelled his renown. It was said that he was at the battle of Ararat, changing his name to Epikoros Kor’Dain after the events of the battle. Once Terra was unified, he had the honour of becoming one of the first Rogue Trader Militants of the Imperium. His was instrumental in forming the 13th Solar Auxilia Cohort and the ultimate cleansing of the Neptune Deeps. His power in the War Council was further amplified by his marriage to a Neptunyne Tech-Priestess name A-0192 Arachnii. By the time of the Horus Heresy, House Epikoros-Arachnii had direct control over 37% of all Void Rifle military assets, had bounded 21% of assets to their authority and were allied to another 28%. An overwhelming percentage of the dynasty sided with the Emperor during the Horus Heresy.

Magos A-0192 Arachnii

During the waning years of the Unity Wars, the bludgeoning Imperium found a hero in the figure of Kor Dain, the Silver Prince of Unity. Born in the Void Fortresses surrounding the Elysian Gate, he was part of the warrior class that ruled his hab-station/fortress home. In his youth he joined a Urantyne mercenary company called the ‘Silver Company’. Rising through the ranks, he became their Captain by the age of 40, earning his position through his valour and sacrifice. He arrived on Terra after the Old Albian integration, quickly winning over the masses with his charisma and oratory power. He quickly became the poster child of the Late Unity Wars, the fact that he was horribly scarred and deformed from past engagements only fuelled his renown. It was said that he was at the battle of Ararat, changing his name to Epikoros Kor’Dain after the events of the battle. Once Terra was unified, he had the honour of becoming one of the first Rogue Trader Militants of the Imperium. His was instrumental in forming the 13th Solar Auxilia Cohort and the ultimate cleansing of the Neptune Deeps. His power in the War Council was further amplified by his marriage to a Neptunyne Tech-Priestess name A-0192 Arachnii. By the time of the Horus Heresy, House Epikoros-Arachnii had direct control over 37% of all Void Rifle military assets, had bounded 21% of assets to their authority and were allied to another 28%. An overwhelming percentage of the dynasty sided with the Emperor during the Horus Heresy.