Units of the "Dark angels": Nephilim Jetfighter.

The units of the “Dark angels”: Nephilim Jetfighter

Units of the "Dark angels": Nephilim Jetfighter. 

A Nephilim Jetfighter is a variant attack aircraft used exclusively by the Adeptus Astartes of the “Dark angels" and their successor chapters, known collectively as the “unforgiven” The Nephilim's primary role is an atmospheric interceptor, helping to keep the skies clear over the field of battle, protecting their brethren on the ground from the threat of an aerial attack. The Nephilim is indeed capable of flight in the void, but only for short trips, usually when deploying from an orbiting warship or perhaps “the Rock” itself. It has little combat capability outside of a planetary atmosphere.

Units of the "Dark angels": Nephilim Jetfighter.

History

Nephilim Jetfighters are sleek aircraft deployed from the fighter bays of The Rock or any of the Dark Angels’strike cruisers. Although sometimes given the task of escorting thunderhawk gunships to their drop sites, the main role for the Nephilim is as an interceptor intended to establish air superiority over the battlefield, allowing their brethren to concentrate on ground targets with little concern for aerial assault. Nephilim Jetfighters have only been used by the Dark Angels since the late 40th Millennium, when the Standard template construct or STC data for the improved engines which distinguish this aircraft was discovered while hunting a suspected Fallen, Baelor the Imposter, in the Nephilim Sector. Designated the Lionheart Engine, the technology was frequently used to modify older Imperial fighter designs, though many features were left in place to appease the aircraft’s Machine spirits. The end product was a more agile fighter with improved speed, even while carrying more powerful armaments. With a twin-linked Lascannon mounted in its nose, the Nephilim is ideally suited to bringing down aerial targets. It has proven itself a skilled combatant in this role on innumerable occasions. Nephilim Jetfighters have also proven more than capable in an anti-tank role as well. When fitted with an Avenger mega bolster, Nephilim have proven quite effective at raking through enemy armour, whilst their brethren on the ground equipped with the usual Lascannon make short work of the heavier vehicles.

Units of the "Dark angels": Nephilim Jetfighter.

To pilot such a swift attack craft, the Dark Angels have naturally turned to the Ravening, for the Astartes of the 2nd Company cultivate the skills needed for such rapid manoeuvres. Ever since its founding, all members of the Ravenwing have been trained to pilot any of the vehicles their company utilises in battle; however, it is the oversized 2nd and 3rd Squads that have traditionally served as the company's the frontline pilots. On the whole, the Dark Angels exhibit a general conservatism regarding their wargear, preferring the standard-issue weapons and vehicles that have served the Chapter for thousands of Terran years. Ravenwing pilots, however, do not show such obstinacy. While they revere the ancient relics that have been used in combat since the days of the Great Crusade, they continually push the Chapter’s Techmarines, for enhancements, modifications or newer aircraft, anything that can boost the speed with which they can take the fight to those who would deny the Emperor's will. Whatever the foe, the sleek Nephilim will guard the skies above their brethren, and the dark angels will rule the heavens.

Units of the "Dark angels": Nephilim Jetfighter.

Armament

The Nephilim Jetfighter is armed with a twin linked heavy bolter and usually a twin-linked Lascannon and possesses hard points that are usually fitted with 6 Blacksword missiles, These “blacksword”  missiles take their name from the ominous black contrails they leave in their wake, and are used primarily to bring down enemy flyers and light ground vehicles. When pursuing an anti-armour ground attack role, the Chapter’s Techmarines may replace the aircraft's twin-linked Lascannons with a potent avenger mega bolter, which fires explosive bolts intended to penetrate the heaviest of vehicle armour.

Units of the "Dark angels": Nephilim Jetfighter. picture from "dakka dakka"

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The History of the "Dark angels": Part 3

The History of the "Dark angels" part 3

Hi guys, welcome to part 3 of the history of the "Dark angels" space marine chapter of space marines.

part 1 can be found here

and part 2 can be found here

The History of the Dark Angels: Part 3

Gene-seed

Successors

The Dark Angels and their known successor chapters are collectively known as the “Unforgiven" and generally maintain close links with each other.
The Chapter Masters of each chapter belong to the Inner Circle and also carry the honorific of "Grand Master of the Inner Circle". The Dark Angels Chapter Master is also the Inner Circle supreme leader and every single member of the circle answer to him when it comes to the hunt for the Fallen.
Dark Angel's Successor Chapters, much like themselves, will abandon everything for the hunt of the Fallen. It's known that the Dark Angels Legion sired at least three Second Founding chapters, although several other are also thought to hail from this Founding.

The History of the "Dark angels": Part 3

Culture

The organisation of the Dark Angels Chapter has been shaped primarily by events in its history, as a result it is different from that of any other. The Chapter is monastic in nature with much time being given over to worship and prayer. There are also many different levels within the Chapter which individuals may gradually rise through. On attaining each level, they find out a little more about the truth behind the Dark Angels' origins. Most Dark Angels themselves know nothing about the beginnings of the Chapter. It is only those at the very top who have learned the whole truth.

The History of the "Dark angels": Part 3

Organisation

To outside observers, the Dark Angels seem to follow the standard Codex astartes, as written by Roboute Guilliman, organization - comprising 10 companies of roughly 100 Marines plus Headquarters Staff, however they do have several organisational differences which are unique to them and their Successor Chapters -

• Inner Circle: It is in the organization of the Dark Angels' higher levels that the chapter deviates from the dictates of the Codex Astartes, At the highest level of the Chapter is the Inner Circle, which consists of a number of officers who stand apart from the company organization, and include the Chapter's Librarians and Interrogator-Chaplains. Companies are each led by a Master, who is part of the Inner Circle.

The first two companies are also uniquely organized:

• The Chapters First company is called the “Deathwing", which fights exclusively in (usually) Indominatus pattern Terminator Armour
• The Second Company is known as the “RavenWing", which is a formation consisting entirely of fast and highly mobile units such as bike and “Land Speeder" squadrons.

The remainder of the Chapter is organized along Codex lines.

Recruitment

As the Dark Angels are no longer based on an actual world, they draw their recruits from a variety of planets, mainly highly primitive worlds. One of these worlds is the feral world “Kimmeria", from which the current chapter master “Azrael" himself was recruited. Representatives of the Dark Angels visit each recruiting world once within a normal human's lifetime, and take the strongest juveniles from the population. Each recruit is thoroughly screened, and from the moment he is accepted into the Chapter as a Space Marine his past becomes irrelevant.

After the Heresy, the Dark Angels recruited from a single planet (known as the “Plains world"). Sometime before the 41st Millennium a group of returning Deathwing found that their planet had been overrun fifty years earlier by “Genestealers", with only a few untainted humans remaining. The Terminators, whose duty and honour required the extermination of the genestealers, prepared themselves for battle. Because the odds of their success were nearly non-existent, the Terminators engaged in their native death ritual. Instead of anointing their skin with white ash, they anointed their armour. The Terminators cleansed the world and rescued the enslaved populace, and in honour of those few Terminators, their armour was ever after white. Meanwhile, the Dark Angels leadership, the Inner Circle, recognized the folly of relying upon one planet for manpower and so diversified their recruiting grounds.

The History of the "Dark angels": Part 3

Headquarters

The ruins of Caliban are located in the “Cadian” sector, close to the “Eye of terror". Prior to the Great Crusade and the Horus Heresy, the planet of Caliban was covered with lush forests inhabited by creatures warped by Chaos. The humans of the planet were a proud, martial people forced to live in great fortress monasteries of stone.

The Dark Angels rebuilt their fortress-monastery on the asteroid that had borne the old one, drilling deep into the bedrock and rebuilding the ruins. The new fortress is known officially as The Tower of Angels, but is more commonly referred to as The Rock. The Rock has been equipped with warp engines, enabling faster-than-light transit through the Immaterium.

The warrens beneath The Rock are where the Dark Angels bring their fallen brethren to be redeemed by their Interrogator chaplains It is believed by the inquisition to hold many other secrets.

However, even this pales in comparison to the greatest secret held by the Dark Angels. This secret is known only to the “Watchers in the dark" and to the Emperor himself. Deep within the bedrock of the asteroid which is their home there is a solitary chamber. In this chamber, attended to by the Watchers in the Dark, lies the sleeping form of Lion El'Jonson.

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The History of the Dark Angels. Part 1.

The Dark Angels Chapter of Space Marines

 The History of the Dark Angels. Part 1.

Hi guys, well today is the start of a new venture, we are going to be looking at all the armies of the 41st (and probably 31st and onwards millenium.

The Dark Angels Chapter.

History of the Dark Angels Space Marine Chapter:

 The Great Crusade Era Dark Angels.


The Dark Angels were the first Space Marine Legion created by The Emperor. When the Primarchs were scattered throughout the galaxy by the Ruinous Powers (otherwise known as Chaos) while still in their incubation capsules, the child who would later be named Lion El'Jonson arrived on the distant planet of Caliban, which apparently bore some resemblance to early medieval Terra. A local named Luther, who discovered El'Jonson and prevented his death at the hands of his fellow knights, was a member of the Order, an organization of knights, and the two become close friends. The Primarch eventually became the leader of the Order and the whole of Caliban itself.

Meanwhile, unknown to the people of Caliban, the Emperor of mankind was waging what was known as the Great Crusade across the galaxy, reuniting humanity and purging entire star systems of their alien oppressors. As the Imperium's wave of conquest advanced across the galaxy, Imperial scouts rediscovered the isolated world of Caliban. It was not long before the Emperor of mankind was at last reunited with his lost son, El'Jonson and was filled with joy as a father would be on finding his lost son. The Emperor's first action was to give Lion El'Jonson control of his 1st Legion. This legion of Space Marines had been created by the Emperor from its Primarch's DNA samples and had fought alongside the other Imperial forces as the Great Crusade was waged across the galaxy.

The Dark Angels Chapter of Space Marines

The 1st Legion was thereafter known as the "Dark Angels", in reference to a Caliban legend that told of great, righteous heroes who held back monsters. Announced by the Primarch, the connotation was in fact first drawn by Luther himself, who quoted a section from the legend upon first seeing Astartes descending using jump packs: "And the angels of darkness descended upon pinions of fire and light...the great and terrible dark angels."

The Dark Angels Chapter of Space Marines

Caliban was made the homeworld of the Dark Angels and the whole of the Order moved to join the ranks of the Astartes. Those knights who were still young enough had the Legion's gene seed implanted within them. Those too old for this process underwent surgery to transform them into elite warriors of the Imperium. Although they were not full Space Marines, their enhancements granted them special abilities and a lifespan beyond those of normal men. The first to be brought into the Legion in this way was Luther, who became Jonson's second-in-command, just as he always had been within the Order. However, the Dark Angel's contributions to the Great Crusade had barely begun when the Lion sent Luther and a small contingent of Dark Angels back to Caliban, purportedly to garrison the world and increase the speed and quality of the training given to the Legion's recruits. Whatever the reason, the force sent back felt disgraced and rejected.

The Great Crusade had to go on: there were countless human worlds that were still under the influence of Chaos or suppressed by the harsh rule of alien races. So it was that the Lion and many of the Dark Angels continued on the Emperor's Crusade for the reunification of humanity while Luther was left behind in charge of the remainder of the Legion on Caliban. Despite the importance of Luther's position, it was not one that suited his ambitious personality.

The Dark Angels Chapter of Space Marines

Lion El'Jonson and his Legion performed well during the Great Crusade, although during a particular battle, he and Leman Russ, Primarch of the Space Wolves Legion, came to blows over the latter's action during the siege of the Crimson Fortress. This event began a feud which still continues strong in the 41st millennium, usually taking the form of a ritualistic duel between two elected champions, although it has been known to manifest itself in a very violent manner.
As Jonson's fame spread throughout the galaxy and reports of his great deeds and prowess in battle reached the Legion's home world, Luther felt robbed of his share of the glory. He wanted the fame and recognition that he felt he deserved as Jonson's equal. His role as planetary governor of some half-forgotten backwater world seemed more and more to him like an insult. The seed of jealousy and dissension that had been planted within Luther when Jonson was made the Grand Master of the Order now began to grow and rankle within his heart as the Primarch became more and more celebrated and famous.

Part 2 follows soon!

As always thank you very much for visiting the site----------if you have any questions or comments please feel free to share them!----------You can help us out by joining us on facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/Scifiwargamers or Following us on twitter Here: @Marsekay-------If youre feeling VERY generous,by using the donate button or finally just browsing the site! ----------Thanks for visiting from the SciFiWargamers team.