Ordo Xenos

Compassion is reserved for servants of the Emperor: aliens deserve only our scorn.
~Inquisitor Czevak, Teachings on the Unholy

The Ordo Xenos are one of the three Ordos of the Inquisition, faced with counteracting the threat of alien species. Their military arm is the Alien hunters who use the Deathwatch.

Foundation

The Ordo Xenos was set up by the Emperor shortly before the Great Crusade.

Role

They were created to investigate and study alien races, and destroy any that were deemed to be a threat to humanity. This jurisdiction has been expanded to any members of the Imperium that deal with aliens, trade in their technology, or seek to hide alien species from the armies of the Imperium. Inquisitors of the Ordo Xenos are devoted to their cause, and are amongst the greatest forces that can be arrayed against an alien species.

Armed with the best human and alien technology available, extremely knowledgeable about their foe, and filled with hatred for non-human species, the Ordo Xenos can respond to any alien threat. Their tactics vary depending on the situation and level of alien taint revealed. Where the threat is subtle they will use guile and stealth, wielding their power as if a scalpel used to cut out a cancer. When the alien menace is great, the Inquisitor can enlist the aid of entire regiments of Imperial Guard and Space Marines. When the threat is too great for even these to handle, the Inquisitor will call on the elite battle-brothers of the Deathwatch.

The Deathwatch

The Deathwatch is a unique force of Space Marines, except rather than a designated Chapter providing troops, single warriors from many different Chapters are requisitioned in order to make an increadably powerful fighting force.

Games Workshop has yet to release a Codex for the Deathwatch and as such they are not a common site on the battlefield. Eventually, the Deathwatch may form part of the Alienhunters Codex, in a similar way to the Adepta Sororitas with the Witch Hunters and the Grey Knights with the Daemonhunters.