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Special Report collated by Maeister Lukov for Segmentum Command, Kar Duniash
An Ongoing Investigation into Events Surrounding the 3rd Saturune Crusade, M38
In historical review my Lord Commander, any action, especially one as large as an Imperial Crusade, will undoubtedly encounter inconsistencies in records and data archives when collated from the numerous extant sources available. One such curiosity is the case of Operations Group Cobalt. All surviving archives document that this was a simple logistics support force consisting of Tithe Grade Delta minor troops: Effectively press-ganged conscripts given minimal training and tasked with menial guard duties generally in rear support echelons or bivouac regions. Their greatest value being that they free more valuable resources to prosecute the campaign objectives.
When an automated distress signal crypto signed as Operations Group Cobalt containing a burst vox recording on loop was received by the Imperial Signal Corps, it was quickly triangulated as originating in the deep equatorial deserts, far beyond Imperial lines or in fact outside any region of strategic significance. The event was duly noted and the information passed up to Crusade Intelligence channels via local commanders though no rescue operations were enacted. The unit was simply too far away and not valuable enough to warrant response, especially in light of the rapidly changing tactical situation once the Iron Warriors Legion had entered the fray. Therefore the immediate flash command coded Vermilion Level received from the Inquisitorial conclaves on the planet was was unexpected as the instructions were clear:
"The pinpoint location of Operations Group Cobalt will be performed immediately. The acquisition and safe return of the attendant Inquisition Lord and members of 96th Operations Group, Militarum Tempestus in retinue will be considered Objective: Primarus. Guard units tasked will be considered expendable to the recovery of agents.Attachment:
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The question must be asked, why then was an elite unit of Tempestus Scions locally operating under cover of a simple logistics group? Just what were they searching for in the deep deserts, a region I note that has been perditia as far back as Imperial Records go, or at least ones available to your humble servant.
It should also be noted that the limited information available on the 96th Special Operations group finds the curious repeated presence of an unknown Inquisitor agent (assumed) in the field. The individual is unnamed though clearly present with the forces in no less than 3 campaigns [see attached addendum GF89.Fz] through the Segmentum in the last century alone. The unmistakable and striking presence of the one armed ebony skinned agent and what is assumed his Abhuman bodyguard is found in inadvertent pict capture numerous times when pattern collated in our data looms. As to what he is doing there my lords, is not only unknowable but dangerous to question...Attachment:
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Painters notes:
These were the leftover Novan Royal Marines from the TMG kickstarters. Originally I planned to only leverage a single formation of them (viewable a few pages back). However I was so displeased with the outcome last time that I pulled these from storage and went back to my original approach. Red accents on white uniforms. I used a base of AP Uniform Gray spray and then straight edge highlights of VMC Silvregrey (Thanks Moredakka for that paint color tip!!!) to give a start contrast on the uniforms.
I've had this old 3rd edition psyker model laying around for years I finally thought to get some use out of him. Unfortunately it wasn't until I went to based coat him that I noticed he was actually missing his right arm. Well what type of fool runs around in battle without a weapon (and one arm)? Only the biggest baddest Inquisitor Lords of course!
Sometimes you just have to roll with the punches and quickly a whole back story just evolved when figuring out what to do with him...
I figure these guys can either be used as another stormtrooper formation with count-as Commissar or as a Cadian company if needed (who have the sanctioned Psyker characters). Another thought is that I could always throw them on some Centaurs and then they'd work as two formations of DKoK Grenadiers as well.
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He's a lawyer and a super-villian. That's like having a shark with a bazooka!
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