For Holy Terra Because space is scary

RPC – Silent Defenders

Second of the runners-up:

Submitted by Rob:

Formed in the late 37th Millennium, after a discovery on the dead world Ednevtta, in the Huldra system. Its discovery, marked as one of the most important of the millennium, and one of the most since the heresy itself.  A small research team spotted unusual tachyon particles around the planet. Excavations in areas of the planet soon revealed unusual finds, for example bolter rounds and Astartes armour of unknown configurations. The team soon realized the significance of the planet and the council of terra put in immediate actions. The Iron hands dispatched a permanent team to become a new chapter, The Silent Defenders, specifically to defend the planet at all costs. The planet and surrounding system was removed from all records, all who knew of the planet silenced, and the planet declared “classification – defendere omnino nulla”.

At some point in the far future, the planet will be engaged in a large battle with forces unknown, and an enormous tachyon weapon will be used. This explosion will tear at reality itself, causing debris to be scattered backwards in time. Tech-priests work with thousands of servo-miners to carefully excavate this “future archeology” and carefully transport it back to mars. The Silent Defenders maintain its protection from all outsiders, as well as protecting the Tech-priests – the only ones allowed to leave the planet. Since then, 16 other planets have become under their protection. All of these are sites of enormous significance to the Imperium, but high risk should enemies of the Imperium take control of the planets. For example; the planet of Qabalah, which simultaneously exists in three separate locations in the universe at once, to the defiance of all known physics.

Originally without a home world, the chapter adopted the giga-planet of Imentet (known as “The Moorian Swamp”) when it came under their protection. Not originally a secret, “The Moorian Swamp” is the largest inhabited planet in the known universe. It is orbited by two dwarf stars and twelve moons, and is roughly half the size of the sol solar system. The planet is inhabited by the largest xenos in the galaxy, low intelligence tetrapeds called Alanti. Enormous herbivores, each dwarfing titans in size, they have been compared to ancient cows from ancient terra’s history. Attempts to make use of these animals for food or labour have failed in every attempt, and the high council has considered many times the exterminatus of the planet. However the sheer amount of explosive materials required for exteminatus would far exceed current stockpiles, so the planet has been left under the care of the Astartes. There are 112 hive colonies on the planet, all built upon the backs of these huge creatures, as attempts to build on the ground level soon became…trampled.

In the wake of the Tyranid threat, the planet has been classed as “defendere omnino nulla” due to the enormous amount of biomaterial on the planet. Should the Tyranids ever discover it, they could create a fresh hive fleet the size of kraken within cycles. Imperium news broadcasts reported the planet destroyed by supernova, and in a rare alliance with Craft-world An-Iolsus, moved the planet several light-years out of position and away from official shipping lanes. Since then the planet has been guarded by the Silent Defenders, and their hive cities have become recruitment hubs for the Astartes.

Structure

Each world’s forces act independently, under the command of a “Lord of the Veil”. Only the lords are allowed communication with anyone outside of the chapter. The Chapter-Master is known as “The Shrouded Master.”

The Silent Defenders, originally maintaining an armour uniform very similar to the Iron Hands, changed their armour designs in the early 39th millennium, to match armour pieces found at the site. Sergeants and higher authority figures wear robes similar to Dark Angels. Their left shoulders have a grey wall upon a black background.

The chapter will never respond to distress signals, unless within a defended sector. In the event of an emergency request or battle in their sector, the chapter will mobilize to destroy all enemies entirely, for even one to ship to escape would be a tragedy. Imperial civilians will be sent to Ednevtta to become servitors for the excavation team, and Astartes are forced to become part of the chapter. However, these Astartes are treated with great respect, and permitted to wear the symbol of their old chapter on their right shoulder as recognition of their origin.

They strongly favour defensive weapons, such as storm shields, preferring the enemy to expend their energy first before striking. However, in contrast, they maintain a large amount of land speeder storm configurations, to ensure the enemy does not escape back to report their locations. They also have a large amount of librarians armed with psychic hoods, to prevent any psychic messages escaping from the battle.

There is little rivalry between members of the chapter, and they pride themselves on the strength of their defense, rather than the ferocity of their kills. If a disagreement between astartes should evolve into physical violence, the rule of engagement is such as whomever falls upon the ground first is the loser – they have failed to hold the line.

Notable Members

Josiah Halo

In the late 38th, excavation site 152b in the southern hemisphere detected a huge concentration of tachyon particles. Suspecting this may be the initial explosion site, the team focused heavily on the area. Approx 20km down from the surface a suit of tactical dreadnought armour of unknown configuration was found embedded in graphium rock.
Techpriests and servitors worked tirelessly to remove the suit in one piece, and after several hours it was freed from its rock tomb. Much to the surprise of the archeologists, the suit was not only found to be functioning, but still contained its pilot, all-be-it in a comatose condition.

Freed from his suit, apothecaries managed to revive and heal the Astartes. Unable to remember is much more than his name and rank, he was interrogated by the Ordo Hereticus inquisitors for months. They eventually declared him sane, loyal and fit to return/begin work with the chapter, he returned to his original role as bodyguard to The Shrouded Master. He cannot remember any details from before his interment, but his battle technique and tactics are many years beyond current levels. He was re-equipped his original terminator armour, (after it was exhaustively examined by tech-priests). The suit, more resembling Adeptus Custodes then normal TDA, is able to fire small bursts of electricity through its curved lightning claws.

After 531 cycles he became the current Shrouded Master, based primarily on the sentient city of Ogom (declared “defendere omnino nulla” on 5/431/21/M40).

Click to enlarge

WIP is an Assault Marine, packing some serious future-tech plasma weaponry: