Difference between revisions of "Fire Hawks"

From Warhammer 40k - Lexicanum
Jump to: navigation, search
m (→‎Notable Battles)
m (→‎Notable Battles)
Line 24: Line 24:
  
 
==Notable Battles==
 
==Notable Battles==
−
The '''Fire Hawks''' have also long been notably embroiled deeply in the wars of the [[Age of Apostasy]].  In one of their first actions they fought alongside the [[Black Templars]], [[Imperial Fists]], [[Soul Drinkers]], and the Martian [[Skitarii|Tech Guard]] against [[Goge Vandire]].  They did not escape unscathed, as during the battles their homeworld of Zhoros was destroyed by [[Thermal Bomb|thermal bomb]]s. At the conclusion of the [[Age of Apostasy]] they were rewarded for their actions in his support by [[Sebastian Thor]] himself, who issued them with the right to use the [[Great Crusade]]-era mobile void-fortress, ''Raptorous Rex'' as their [[fortress monastery]]. The '''Fire Hawks''' became a [[fleet-based]] chapter as a result.<sup>1a</sup>
+
The '''Fire Hawks''' have also long been notably embroiled deeply in the wars of the [[Age of Apostasy]].  In one of their first actions they fought alongside the [[Black Templars]], [[Imperial Fists]], [[Soul Drinkers]], and the Martian [[Skitarii|Tech Guard]] against [[Goge Vandire]].  They did not escape unscathed, as during these battles their homeworld of Zhoros was destroyed by [[Thermal Bomb|thermal bomb]]s. At the conclusion of the [[Age of Apostasy]] they were rewarded for their actions in his support by [[Sebastian Thor]] himself, who issued them with the right to use the [[Great Crusade]]-era mobile void-fortress, ''Raptorous Rex'' as their [[fortress monastery]]. The '''Fire Hawks''' became a [[fleet-based]] chapter as a result.<sup>1a</sup>
  
 
They were also the first loyalist Chapter to become engaged in the [[Badab War]] after one of their vessels, the ''Red Harbinger'' was attacked and captured by the [[Mantis Warriors]] in 904.[[M41]].  The '''Fire Hawks''' Chapter quickly became fully engaged in the conflict, with an effective frontline brethren fighting strength of 86% of projected Chapter maximum at the start of the war.  But despite the power of their fleet, the '''Fire Hawks''' suffered terrible losses in the early years of the war, both in terms of battle-brethren and vessels.  Eventually casualties reduced the Chapter's effective strength to an estimated 22% by the war's third year, and Lazaerek was forced to bow to Loyalist command pressure to withdraw his remaining forces or risk his Chapter's extinction.  The Chapter was relegated to the sidelines until the very closing stages of the war until Lazaerek successfully petitioned the Loyalist Command for his Chapter's involvement again in the fight, and the star-fortress ''Raptorus Rex'', the single-most powerful warship in the [[Maelstrom]] Zone, was used as a lynchpin of the Angstrom blockade.<sup>1b</sup>
 
They were also the first loyalist Chapter to become engaged in the [[Badab War]] after one of their vessels, the ''Red Harbinger'' was attacked and captured by the [[Mantis Warriors]] in 904.[[M41]].  The '''Fire Hawks''' Chapter quickly became fully engaged in the conflict, with an effective frontline brethren fighting strength of 86% of projected Chapter maximum at the start of the war.  But despite the power of their fleet, the '''Fire Hawks''' suffered terrible losses in the early years of the war, both in terms of battle-brethren and vessels.  Eventually casualties reduced the Chapter's effective strength to an estimated 22% by the war's third year, and Lazaerek was forced to bow to Loyalist command pressure to withdraw his remaining forces or risk his Chapter's extinction.  The Chapter was relegated to the sidelines until the very closing stages of the war until Lazaerek successfully petitioned the Loyalist Command for his Chapter's involvement again in the fight, and the star-fortress ''Raptorus Rex'', the single-most powerful warship in the [[Maelstrom]] Zone, was used as a lynchpin of the Angstrom blockade.<sup>1b</sup>

Revision as of 14:08, 30 October 2011

Chapter Summary

Fire Hawks
 Firehawksnewbadge.jpg
Firehawksmarine.jpg Firehawksmini.jpg
Founding Chapter: Ultramarines1
Founding: M36 (Cursed) 21st Founding1
Chapter Master: Stibor Laezaerek (last recorded)1
Homeworld: Zhoros (destroyed)1/Cousteau XI (Rendered Uninhabitable)1
Fortress-Monastery: Raptorus Rex1
Colours: red/yellow
Specialty: Unknown
Strength: Lost/Unknown

History

The Fire Hawks were a loyal Space Marine Chapter who came to a disastrous end. The Fire Hawks have long been a byword for devastation and wrath. In their history they have seen great victories, bloody deeds and terrible reversals, being one of only a very few Chapters on record known to have survived the destruction of two separate home worlds, and being brought back from the brink of extinction many times.

The Chapter itself claims antecedence from the renowned Ultramarines gene-seed, although certain defects and variations in the samples held in the archives of the Adeptus Terra speak against this, and the Lords of Macragge have never publicly acknowledged kinship.1

Notable Battles

The Fire Hawks have also long been notably embroiled deeply in the wars of the Age of Apostasy. In one of their first actions they fought alongside the Black Templars, Imperial Fists, Soul Drinkers, and the Martian Tech Guard against Goge Vandire. They did not escape unscathed, as during these battles their homeworld of Zhoros was destroyed by thermal bombs. At the conclusion of the Age of Apostasy they were rewarded for their actions in his support by Sebastian Thor himself, who issued them with the right to use the Great Crusade-era mobile void-fortress, Raptorous Rex as their fortress monastery. The Fire Hawks became a fleet-based chapter as a result.1a

They were also the first loyalist Chapter to become engaged in the Badab War after one of their vessels, the Red Harbinger was attacked and captured by the Mantis Warriors in 904.M41. The Fire Hawks Chapter quickly became fully engaged in the conflict, with an effective frontline brethren fighting strength of 86% of projected Chapter maximum at the start of the war. But despite the power of their fleet, the Fire Hawks suffered terrible losses in the early years of the war, both in terms of battle-brethren and vessels. Eventually casualties reduced the Chapter's effective strength to an estimated 22% by the war's third year, and Lazaerek was forced to bow to Loyalist command pressure to withdraw his remaining forces or risk his Chapter's extinction. The Chapter was relegated to the sidelines until the very closing stages of the war until Lazaerek successfully petitioned the Loyalist Command for his Chapter's involvement again in the fight, and the star-fortress Raptorus Rex, the single-most powerful warship in the Maelstrom Zone, was used as a lynchpin of the Angstrom blockade.1b

Disappearance of the Fire Hawks

The beginning of the end came when the Fire Hawks were called to the Crows World subsector in 963.M41 to deal with Dark Eldar or Eldar Pirates. The entire chapter fleet, as well as the Raptorus Rex, attempted a warp jump from the Piraeus system, 120 light years from Crows World. The space fortress, five ships, over 800 brethren and 2,000 other personnel were expected to reach Crows World within no more than 12 hours. They never arrived.2

In 983.M41 the chapter was officially declared lost in the warp and assumed destroyed. The Bell of Lost Souls tolled a thousand times, and it is said that the Emperor himself ordered a black candle be lit in the Chapel of Fallen Heroes.2

Rumours fed by a long line of coincidences have been said by conspiracy theorists to implicate the Officio Assassinorum in the loss of the Fire Hawk's fleet, though nothing has ever been substantiated.5

Fate

Main article: Legion of the Damned

As many as two hundred members of the Chapter may have survived and renamed themselves the Legion of the Damned.4

Timeline

Canon Conflict

Original Fire Hawks heraldry.

The Fire Hawks' colour scheme and insignia have changed between their first appearance3 and the current edition of the background; the dominance of yellow and red has been switched and the mushroom cloud symbol has now become one more relevant to the chapter's name.

In addition, the Badab War book places the second siege of Terra at 378.M36 - almost a hundred years after the date implied by the Witch Hunters codex (circa 287)

Related Articles

Sources

Retrieved from "https://lex.124811.xyz/mediawiki/index.php?title=Fire_Hawks&oldid=160789"