Welcome to the Librarium
Origins of the Archangels Chapter
An ancient and venerable chapter, the Archangels have a long and bloody history that dates back to the 31st Millennium. Created in the midsts of the sector-spanning Forgotten Wars involving the Dark Angels and their successor chapters, the Archangels were created to help pacify the ongoing conflicts that ravaged swathes of the Imperium.
Modeled after their parent Dark Angels Chapter, the Archangels are a fleet-based chapter and have earned a fearsome reputation in notable conflicts throughout Segmentum Obscurus and beyond. The Archangels first task was to push deep into the Gothic Sector and to eradicate any remaining Ork forces they could find. (See Forgotten Wars)
Pursuing and destroying those Ork remnants took decades but eventually led the Archangels fleet to the edge of the Segmentum – that dark and menacing void known as the Grail Abyss, where the Psychic Beacon is nearly non-existant and aggressive xenos species launch forays into the Imperium.
Once the Ork threat was contained, the Archangels were free to pursue their true agenda – that of locating and capturing a small cadre of The Fallen that were rumored to be operating near the Grail Abyss. Having been chosen from amongst the Dark Angels’ Inner Circle, the Archangels first Chapter Master Sariel knew what was expected of him and his recently founded “Unforgiven” successor Chapter.
The Fallen known as Agraxtes and his traitorous brethren were eventually located, captured, interrogated and destroyed but not before disrupting the slumber of something ancient on an unnamed Necron Tomb-world deep within the Grail Abyss. This “trespass” would have devastating ramifications for the Archangels fleet which would affect them for centuries.
Chapter Fleet
The Archangels have a rather large chapter fleet which easily rivals some Imperial Navy fleets. Such a large fleet was warranted due to the vast operational area that the Archangels were charged with securing. Their massive Chapter-barque, “The Indomitable” is larger than either a standard Chapter barge or Retribution class battleship. “The Indomitable” was at one time nearly destroyed by a large Necron armada and crash-landed on a world in the Angelius System located to the galactic north of the Cyclops Cluster. Though the massive warship was repairable, this event would change the Archangels’ modis-operandi for at least a few centuries by forcing them to adopt and defend the populated worlds of the Angelius and other nearby systems. The Archangels fleet continued operations throughout the Segmentum Obscurus but always returned to Fortis-Angelius, their newly adopted home world, when necessary to rearm and refit their vessels. Continued forays and minor crusades into the Grail Abyss to exterminate hostile xenos gradually picked up in pace, but without the constant presence of “The Indomitable”, the Archangels vessels always eventually returned to Fortis-Angelius. For several centuries “The Indomitable” served as the Archangels' Fortress Monastery on Fortis-Angelius. But even after “The Indomitable” was space-worthy once again, the Archangels continued to view Fortis-Angelius as their home port. Fortis-Angelius had become the Archangels “life-blood” for millennia. The Archangels’ fleet was large enough to simultaneously pursue operations into the Grail Abyss, defend their Angelius System and send a small flotilla to aid the beleaguered Imperial Navy during the Gothic War. The Archangels were instrumental in the campaign to retake the Floki system from the Orks, and to this day, help to contain any remaining threats within the boundaries of the Grail Abyss. The Archangels recruited from worlds in the Angelius system to replenish their ranks whenever necessary, but all that came to an end once the Cicatrix Maledictum tore across the galaxy, ravaging the galaxy and destroying the Angelius system as well as any infrastructure the Archangels had built there over the millennia.
Angelius System
When the Archangels’ fleet first arrived in the Angelius System, auto-scribes noted that Fortis-Angelius, was a typical Class-M planet, with several continents and large oceans teeming with life. The majority of the planet was quite hot and tropical with high humidity. The polar caps were comparatively small but tropical rainstorms, which pummeled the planet during its 6 Terran month-long winter, help to stabilize the climate of Fortis-Angelius at the expense of massive flooding in many regions of the planet. Fortis-Angelius was home to many species of large reptilian carnivores which roamed the plains and jungles and preyed upon those unlucky enough to be caught out in the wilds. Though the original human population was small and quite backwards by Imperial Standards, they were, never-the-less, loyal to the Imperium. The cities and towns of Fortis-Angelius were protective bastions which, though spartan in appearance, functioned effectively well. The other planets within the Angelius System provided many crucial resources. Raw minerals, pure water, rare and exotic gasses and bizarre foodstuffs could all be exported throughout the Ultima Segmentum from the worlds in the Angelius System. The Angelius System and two nearby smaller, “sister systems” were located to the norh of the Cyclops Cluster. Though all were populated systems, they were all some distance apart from each other. With the arrival of the Archangels Chapter, this collection of systems became controlled by navigator and trade households and were united and protected by the Archangels through the millennia. The several habitable worlds that were maintained by the Archangels became quite civilized. Some having developed sprawling hive-cities and minor manufactoriums while others were agri-worlds which exported necessary foodstuffs. All of the populations seemed to share a common and ancient Terran heritage. Though competitive by nature, all of the populated worlds regarded the Archangels’ presence with utmost esteem. Many prominent households sponsored annual tournaments, the victors of which were taken by the Archangels as initiates. Though the winning of such a challenge was by no means assurance that the aspirant would complete the testing and training necessary to become an Astartes, the rigorous training by the competitors weeded out many who wouldn’t succeed the Archangel’s initiation rituals to begin with.
The Destruction
When the Cicatrix Maledictum “event” occurred, a Warp-tear consumed one of the two smaller inhabited systems near the Angelius System. The massive gravitational disturbance flung some planets in the Angelius System into one another. Daemons appeared and ravaged the surviving populations on other worlds which were not consumed by the Warp or destroyed outright. The destruction was so fast and so complete that there was nothing the Archangels could do except to try to save what they could and flee. Everything the Archangels had known for millennia was gone. The Archangels fleet regrouped and took stock of their fleet assets, troop dispositions and chapter resources – and as ever, vowed to continue the fight.
Chapter Organization
As one of The Unforgiven chapters, they are organized nearly identically to the Dark Angels. Their first company, donning silver colored terminator armor, are known as the Dreadwing and the Archangels second company, the Raven's Flight, wear the regular chapter livery but also follow the same structure as the Dark Angels’ Ravenwing.
Companies 2-5 are structured as standard Codex battle companies. Companies 6 & 7 are battle-line reserve companies whilst companies 8 & 9 are assault-heavy and devastator-heavy reserve companies respectively. Company 10 is organized as the chapter's initiate company and as such, the numbers of recruits varies widely at any given time.
Since the destruction of their homeworld of Fortis-Angelius, the Archangels quickly adopted and embraced the Primaris structure and nearly all marines of the Chapter have crossed the Rubicon Primaris thus ensuring the Archangels continued survival.
Due to the vast size of their chapter fleet, Archangels’ task forces tended to be very autonomous and can operate for extended periods with little contact with the rest of the chapter. Most task forces are made up of demi-companies supported by elements of the 1st, 2nd and 10th companies.
Combat Doctrine
Planetary Assaults - The Archangels have always preferred to let their massive fleet weaponry do most of the serious work of pummeling their foes from orbit. After prolonged bombardment, the Archangels will then employ ground forces to mop up. Criticized as being heavy-handed at times, this doctrine has served the Archangels well for millennia but only recently has become a necessity. When deploying their ground forces, the Archangels prefer to make extensive use of Land Raiders, Impulsors and Razorbacks transported by Thunderhawk Transporters. Dreadnoughts arrive by drop pod and pummel the enemy from behind their lines as the Land Raiders, Impulsors and Razorbacks race forward. First Company Terminators are then teleported onto the surface to decapitate enemy leadership assets or seize a vital objective.
Space Combat – Ship to ship combat seems to be a forte of the Archangels. They excel at boarding actions by employing Caestus Assault Rams and Boarding Torpedoes after intense bombardment by Archangels’ vessels. Teleport homers are rapidly placed by boarding Astartes and First Company Terminator squads appear inside to quickly overwhelm and subdue the enemy. The Archangels rely heavily upon their Librarius and Navis Nobilitae assets. Operating such a vast fleet over such a large expanse often at the edge of the Segmentum has taught the Archangels how to operate, navigate and communicate efficiently despite being cut-off from the Psychic Beacon at times. Nearly every task force includes a number of Librarians who are critical to prosecuting successful operations at the edge of the Segmentum Obscurus.
Chapter Beliefs
The Archangels are virtuous and noble and utterly unflinching in their duty to defend the Imperium of Man. The Archangels feel that the mission of defending the Imperium comes before all else. Even hunting The Fallen takes a back-seat to campaigns the Archangels may be prosecuting.
Perhaps it is their unflinching devotion to the Imperium that allays any suspicious Inquisitorial investigators have towards them as one of The Unforgiven chapters. But the Archangels do adhere rigidly to The Unforgiven structure and do partake in missions alongside their parent Dark Angels Chapter to hunt The Fallen even if only rarely so.
The destruction of their Home-World has left an indelible mark on the psyches of the Archangels. Though considered lucky by many to have survived with most of their critical Chapter assets intact, the Archangels have become even more dour and determined to pursue the Emperor’s foes. Interrogator-Chaplains have had to increase their spiritual ministrations to ensure that newer recruits, sourced from worlds outside the destroyed Angleius system, blend as seamlessly as possible within the Archangels’ ranks.
Geneseed
As with most Dark Angels successor chapters, the Archangels have near flawless gene-seed. Typical characteristics are the dour, grim faced aspects shared by most of the Dark Angels kin. Millennia of recruiting from within the Angelius system has fostered a sense of honor and humility not found in many chapters today.
With the galaxy virtually ripped in two by the Cicatrix Maledictum, the destruction and corruption of their home-port of Fortis-Angelius has compelled the Archangels to begrudgingly embrace the newly established Primaris gene-stock technology, but a lack of raw recruits has caused the Archangels to have only a handful of operational Primaris units. Nearly all surviving Archangels have undergone the transformation to Primaris Astartes by crossing the Rubicon Primaris and even though the Archangels maintain their complete stock of geneseed, their struggle to find enough suitable initiates hampers the effectiveness of the Archangels Chapter. The “Battle Companies” are always kept at full strength, but the reserve companies are dwindling in numbers with an inadequate number of replacements for their losses.