Difference between revisions of "Steel Confessors"

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The '''Steel Confessors''' are one of the many [[Space Marine]] [[Chapters]] descended from the eighteen recorded [[First Founding]] chapters who took part in the [[Horus Heresy]].
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{{IronHandsPortal}}
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{{Loyalist Chapters
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|Marine=Steel_Confessors_Space_Marine.jpg
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|Marine Px=200
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|Name=Steel Confessors
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|Symbol=Steel Confessors Chapter Symbol.png
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|Founding Chapter=[[Iron Hands]]{{Fn|8a}}
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|Founding=[[M36]]{{Fn|8a}}
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|Chapter Master=[[Protonus]]{{Fn|5}} possibly also named "Proteus"{{Fn|7}}<sup>[[Steel_Confessors#Conflicting sources| [Conflicting sources]]]</sup>
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|Homeworld=''
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*[[Kalevala]] <small>([[Librarium]], [[Gene-seed]], & [[Manufactorum]])</small>
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*[[Fleet Based]] <small>(''de facto'')</small>
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*[[Kracsis IV]] <small>(formerly)</small>
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|Fortress-Monastery=''
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*Kalevala <small>(possibly)</small><sup>[[Steel_Confessors#Notes| [See Notes]]]</sup>
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*Unnamed Kracsis IV Fortress<br><small>(formerly)</small>{{Fn|8c}}
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|Colours=''
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*Gunmetal grey and white/bone{{Fn|1}}{{Fn|4}} or blue steel{{Fn|11}}{{Fn|12}} <small>(possibly)</small><sup>[[Steel_Confessors#Conflicting Sources| [Conflicting sources]]]</sup>
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|Miniature=Steel Confessor Mini Standalone.png
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|Miniature Px=100
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|Specialty=Infantry tactics; anti-tyranid operations{{Fn|8e}}{{Fn|9}}
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|Battle Cry=Destroy the Weak{{Fn|8a}}
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|Strength=Crippled{{Fn|4}}<sup>[[Steel_Confessors#Notes| [See Notes]]]</sup>
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}}
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The '''Steel Confessors''' are a [[Space Marine Chapter]]{{Fn|3}} created by the [[Adeptus Mechanicus]] with [[geneseed]] provided from the [[Iron Hands]].{{Fn|8a}}
  
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The Steel Confessors chapter gained notoriety at the Gamesday & Golden Daemon event at the NEC, Birmingham, England, in 2005, when they were featured in the Warhammer 40,000 mega-battle, "The Battle of Kalevala"; also displayed were a life-sized statue of a Steel Confessor [[Tactical Marine]], a [[Terminator]]'s helmet and a [[Bolter]].
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===Overview===
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As [[Iron Hands]] Successors, the Steel Confessors were not created in the [[2nd Founding]] as many others were, but are a relatively new chapter. Supplied with [[astartes]] [[gene seed]] after longstanding support, the [[Adeptus Mechanicus]] would create their own chapter, able to act as a rapid response force to defend Mechanicus holdings to the rim of the known [[Galaxy]].{{Fn|8a}}
  
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==The Battle of Kalevala==
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The Steel Confessors bear a particular hatred towards the [[Tyranids]], seeing them as their preferred enemy, and have become especially skilled at killing them.{{Fn|9}}
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The Battle of Kalevala is summarised here, as fought at Gamesday 2005. The world of Kalevala was home to the Steel Confessors' [[Fortress Monastery]], as well as a large manufactorum complex, and as such, was deemed important enough to defend in open battle against the [[Tyranid]] [[Hive Fleet]] which landed ground forces on the planet (as opposed to [[Exterminatus]] from orbit). The battle was colossal and brutally straightforward, each of the ten companies of the Steel Confessors taking up defensive positions around the manufactorum and fortress monastery while the Tyranid horde attacked unrelentingly in an attempt to overwhelm the firing lines.
 
  
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Despite the incalculable number of Tyranids present on Kalevala, the disciplined regimen of volley fire from the Tactical Marines and [[Devastators]], combined with surgical counterattacks by [[Veteran Squads]], [[Assault Squads]] and officers, with [[Land Speeder Squadrons]] flying between battlefield locations to lend their firepower to struggling companies thinned the Tyranid horde while minimising Space Marine casualties, and the Tyranids literally exhausted their own numbers throwing themselves into the teeth of the imperial guns.
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They are also referred to as the ''"crippled Steel Confessors Chapter"'' and [[Talos Valcoran]], the ''Soulhunter'', had taken a salvaged replacement thigh guard for his own damaged [[Space Marine Power Armour|power armour]] from a suit of Steel Confessors armour.{{Fn|4}}<sup>[[Steel_Confessors#Notes| [See Notes]]]</sup>
  
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At the end of the battle, the eighth and tenth companies of the Steel Confessors had been destroyed to a man, the First company was a 40% operational strength, the third and sixth companies remained at 60%, while the rest of the companies were between 40 and 20% operational strength.
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===History===
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====The Battle for Tarvor====
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In [[M36]], the [[Barrus System]], an important Mechanicus [[Forge World|Foundry]] and research system, had fallen to the Overlord [[Barhoth]], a [[Chaos Renegades|Chaos Renegade]] able to call upon a [[The Lost and the Damned|legion of followers]]. With the aid of the [[Dark Mechanicum]], the system had been overrun and its [[manufactorum]]s turned to supplying the Overlord's war efforts. Initial attempts by [[Skitarii]] with [[Imperial Guard]] assistance to recapture the system were repulsed with heavy losses. Despairing the loss of their facility to the [[Chaos|dark powers]], the Mechanicus would call upon the [[Iron Hands]] for aid - a chapter which had aided them in the past and shared many of their ideals. In response, the [[Iron Council]] would send three full [[Space Marine Company|companies]] of Space Marines under the overall command of [[Venerable Dreadnought]] [[Grixus]] of the [[Gravehold]] [[Iron Hands#Clan Companies|Clan Company]], to aid the Skitarii and Guard forces in retaking the system.{{Fn|8a}}
  
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==The Steel Confessors in game terms==
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The campaign would prove harsh, with neither the Imperials nor the traitors expecting any quarter. The Iron Hands proved a godsend to the battered Imperial forces, attacking the Overlord's forces without warning before redeploying once resistance would stiffen. Skitarii and Imperial Guard forces would then move in to tie up enemy reinforcements sent to the area. Within months the foothold on [[Barrus III]], the main foundry of the system, would grow until 75% of the planet had been retaken. The three companies would also begin operations to retake other planets within the Barrus System. Within five years, the majority of the system was once again in Imperial hands, with the Overlord's last holdout being the planet of [[Tarvor]]. Tarvor was a planet that specialised in the research and manufacture of [[Force Field|shielding]] technologies, and was heavily defended. The Imperial forces expected heavy losses in the upcoming fight to recapture the planet.{{Fn|8a}}
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The Steel Confessors could be represented after the battle of Kalevala by a Space Marine army with a combination of the following codex divergences:
 
  
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The Steel Confessors (Stern):
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Iron Hands [[Strike Cruiser]]s, alongside ships of the [[Imperial Navy]], would proceed with a long bombardment of Tarvors planetary [[void shield]]s. Eager to be at the forefront of the assault, and sensing an end to the campaign was near, the Iron Hands would commit all three of their companies. The marines were loaded in [[thunderhawks]], sent through a hole in the shields created by the bombardment. The Overlord had anticipated this, and laid a trap for the Iron Hands. He had aimed the planet's defence batteries where the shields were weakened, before loosing fire upon the Iron Hands aircraft once they were inside.{{Fn|8a}} Realizing the dire situation, Grixus ordered a retreat, hoping to reorganise and strike elsewhere.{{Fn|8a}} Before they could return through the breech, all communications with the Iron Hands fleet in orbit were cut, and the hole in the void shields resealed. With no other choice, Grixus ordered the thunderhawks to turn about and head towards the planet, knowing fully well they were surely entering another trap. Forced to push through the fire of the defence batteries, by the time they made planetfall only half of the three companies were left alive. Having taken the planet's spaceport, Grixus would try to organise a defence there hoping to hold out long enough for relief to break through the planetary shields and arrive.{{Fn|8b}}
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Advantages:
 
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-Cleanse and Purify
 
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-Suffer not the alien to live (Tyranids)
 
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-No mercy, no respite-
 
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Minor drawback:
 
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-Faithful unto death-
 
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Major drawback:
 
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-Aspire to glory
 
  
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==Chapter Colours==
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In orbit the ships of the Iron Hands and Imperial Navy concentrated their efforts to break the shields once more. [[Space Marine Captain|Captain]] [[Ullenear]] of the strike cruiser ''[[Omnissiah's Might]]'' would signal the Iron Council and request additional aid. Unfortunately, the nearest force of Iron Hands able to be dispatched was at least a month away. Sensing that three entire companies were facing annihilation, it was the Iron Council's turn to request support of the Adeptus Mechanicus, reminding them of their shared ties of loyalty.{{Fn|8b}}
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The Steel Confessors wear silver power armour with bone shoulderpads featuring their motif; a black cross surmounted in the middle by a lightning bolt in a red circle.
 
  
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==See Also==
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The response was swift and forthcoming. Forces from all surrounding systems, including those from recently retaken planets in the Barrus system, were deployed en masse. A vast armada of over 500 ships of the [[Adeptus Mechanicus Fleet]] joined the fleet already in orbit, their combined firepower now rent the previously impregnable shield. A force of over 100,000 Skitarii and 4 [[Warhound Titan]]s were deployed into the breaches, concentrating towards the spaceport where communications had been restored with the beleaguered Iron Hands. The scene they arrived to was one of devastation. Of the 300 marines deployed, 126 had died in the air alone, and of the remainder that made planetfall, only 11 were now left alive. The Overlord had committed his finest troops to their destruction, combined with the loss of maneuverability, had very nearly annihilated them. The Skitarii would secure the spaceport and drive back the traitor forces, as the planetary shields collapsed and the rest of the Mechanicus would deploy on world. This allowed what was left of the Iron Hands to secure the precious [[geneseed]] of the fallen that would be needed to rebuild their shattered companies, and take stock of their losses. All three clan [[Space Marine Captain|company commanders]] were slain, including Grixus himself, having held out until mere hours before the arrival of reinforcements.{{Fn|8b}}
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*[[List of Space Marine Chapters]]
 
  
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In honour and recognition for having committed such a force to relieve the embattled clan companies, the Iron Council would agree to provide the Adeptus Mechanicus with the chapters own geneseed, sampling from each of its Clan Companies and some of its greatest heroes, so that they might build their own rapid response force. In return, the Mechanicus would send their most revered artificers to aid in the rebuilding of the companies, and dedicate three entire forge worlds to their rearmament.{{Fn|8b}}
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====Founding of the Steel Confessors====
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It would not be long before the [[Inquisition]] and the [[Ordo Hereticus]] would learn of these events. Questioning the Mechanicus' motives for founding an unsanctioned chapter, they would petition for its termination{{Fn|8b}} for only the [[Senatorum Imperialis|High Lords of Terra]] were to have the power to create Space Marine Chapters.{{Fn|6}} Upon review, the High Lords opted to ratify the chapter, so long as they obeyed all ties of fealty required of every chapter (such as submitting geneseed to the great gene vaults on Terra for testing and storage).{{Fn|6}}{{Fn|8b}}
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Feeling that they were being forced to follow unfair guidelines and overly scrutinised, the Adeptus Mechanicus opted to name the new chapter "The Steel Confessors."{{Fn|8b}}
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[[Avonis]] would become the first [[Chapter Master]] of the Steel Confessors, and their first [[Adeptus Astartes Homeworld|homeworld]] would be the [[Forgeworld]] of [[Kracsis IV]]{{Fn|8c}}
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====The Fall of Kracsis IV====
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Kracsis IV was the original home world of the Steel Confessors. Located in a "quiet" [[sector]] of the [[galaxy]], as a forgeworld it specialised in the manufacture of small arms, had a sizeable population, and was loyal both to the [[Imperium]] and the Adeptus Mechanicus. This made it an ideal [[Adeptus Astartes Recruiting World|recruiting world]] for the Steel Confessors. It was centrally located among the rest of the Mechanicus holdings in its [[sector]], ideally placed to allow the Steel Confessors to deploy with ease where they would be needed. The presence of the chapter could even be kept secret, thanks to a cloaking device taken from Tarvor that could make the planet appear as a barren rock to orbital [[auspex]] scans. This, in addition to its relatively backwater location, allowed the newly minted chapter the secrecy and time to hone in their skills.{{Fn|8c}}
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The chapter's skills would soon be put to the test, as the [[Tyranids]] of [[Hive Fleet Behemoth]] made it rampaging debut across the Imperium in the wake of the [[First Tyrannic War]]. The Steel Confessors were at the very forefront of the war in that sector, buying time for the Mechanicus to evacuate its other planets of essential material and personnel from the jaws of the Great Devourer. The Steel Confessors cared not where they fought, so long as they could serve their Mechanicus master's faithfully. This absolute loyalty would prove their undoing, as spread so thinly, and believing its homeworld safe beneath its cloaking shield, active [[Chapter Master]] [[Protonus]] did not consider the Tyranids a threat to their homeworld. When a hive fleet suddenly appeared at the edge of the system, Protonus had only half of the first company at his disposal.{{Fn|8c}}
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Chapter Master Protonus immediately sent out messages recalling the third, fifth, sixth, and the ninth companies, the ones closest to at that time, and turned to the defence of the planet. The battle for Kracsis IV lasted for three months, as the companies would arrived to stand beside their brethren already on world. The Steel Confessors made the Tyranids pay a horrendous cost for every meter of ground taken, but for every single tyranid slain it seemed fifty were ready to take its place such were their overwhelming numbers. Sensing that the battle was lost, Protonus gave the order for the transports be made ready for planetary evacuation and to make ready to salvage anything that could be. As if also sensing victory at hand, the tyranids renewed their assault and finally breached their way into the chapter's [[Fortress Monastery]]. While those survivors still left made their way for the transports, Protonus would lead the remnants of first company in a rear guard action. After a vicious struggle, the first company were able to fight their way to the transports, bearing the body of the Chapter Master who had suffered grievous wounds, having slain a [[Hive Tyrant]] himself to stall the tyrannic advance. Kracsis IV was left to its fate, and the surviving marines made to regroup with the rest of the chapter.{{Fn|8c}}
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After the loss of Kracsis IV, the chapter became [[fleet based]], with one exception. On the planet of [[Kalevala]], the Steel Defenders would place their [[librarium]] as well as inter Avonis in a [[Stasis field|Stasis]] tomb, held there until such a time that the chapter needs him. The Steel Confessors swore an oath to defend that planet against any threat.{{Fn|8c}}
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====The Battle for Kalevala====
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[[Image:Protonus White Dwarf 317 pg 106.jpg|thumb|right|275px|[[Chapter Master]] [[Protonus]]{{Fn|7}}possibly also "Proteus" <sup>[[Steel_Confessors#Notes| [See Notes]]]</sup>]]
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By the time of the [[Third Tyrannic War]], Kalevala was still an important world of the Steel Confessors. The planet would host a [[Psychic Choir]] designed to boost the signal of the [[Astronomican]] to allow Imperial shipping to continue to navigate through the psychic miasma of the [[Shadow in the Warp]]. It would also hold the chapter's Gene Seed, as well as a vast Manufactorum. [[Hive Fleet Leviathan]] would launch an invasion of the world and, honour-bound, the whole of the of the Steel Confessors chapter{{Fn|3}} under now Chapter Master [[Protonus]]{{Fn|7}} would fight a battle to repel them{{Fn|3}}. By the time of this battle, the chapter had still not completely recovered from its defeat at Kracsis IV. Even with allied Mechanicus support, only limited recovery had been made for the chapter's vehicle complement, much of it lost centuries ago during Kracsis IV's fall in the first Tyrannic war. What few vehicles remained had to be carefully rationed for only the direst of circumstances in the battle for Kalevala.{{Fn|8d}}
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The Steel Confessors had a poor reputation when working with other Imperial forces, particularly due to perceived weakness sometimes resulting in the Steel Confessors even firing upon them.{{Fn|8e}} For the Battle of Kalevala, they had no allies to call upon, and would have to defend the planet themselves.{{Fn|9}}
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For the Steel Confessors, if they were to lose this battle, it could very well spell the death of the entire chapter.{{Fn|3}}<sup>[[Steel_Confessors#Notes| [See Notes]]]</sup>
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===Combat Doctrine===
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Like their progenitors the Iron Hands, the Steel Confessors bear an uncompromising hatred of weakness in any form;{{Fn|8d}} their battlecry being "destroy the weak."{{Fn|8a}} Given their close ties with the Mechanicus, [[bionic]] augmentation is the chapters norm. All their marines have an affinity with machinery, and this is a requirement for all of their [[aspirants]]. With such emphasis on replacing weakened limbs and organs with bionics, marines of the chapter regularly undergo testing to ensure their minds remain strong.{{Fn|8d}}
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All Steel Confessors are required to undergo a period of training and indoctrination on [[Medusa IV]] under a  [[Iron Hands#Clan Companies|Clan Company]], as part of an agreement between the Iron Hands and the [[Magos|magi]] of the Mechanicus. During this training, they learn the history of the Iron Hands. Unlike their forebears, the Steel Confessors do not have [[Iron Father]]s, keeping the role of [[Chaplain]] and [[Techmarine]] separate. Instead, every company captain is trained as a Techmarine and an artificer, and is simultaneously responsible for both roles as proof of his blessing by the [[Omnissiah]].{{Fn|8d}}
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Like their forebears, the Steel Confessors advance relentlessly, giving their foes little time to reorganise as they throw themselves into nigh berserk combat. They have a full complement of [[Terminator Armour]], maintained both by themselves as well as by magi seconded to them by the Adeptus Mechanicus. The suits are typically seen at the forefront of their engagements, providing inspiration to the chapter as a display of devotion to the never ending struggle.{{Fn|8d}}
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Although they share close ties to the Mechanicus, the Steel Confessors have not fully recovered from their vehicular losses during the fall of Kracsis IV. What few vehicles there were to spare would have to be rationed with utmost care.{{Fn|8d}}<sup>[[Steel_Confessors#Notes| [See Notes]]]</sup>To adapt to the lack of the means to easily equip and train themselves in the heaviest of equipment, they compensate by focusing on specialised infantry techniques and prevail through the superior fighting qualities of their marines.{{Fn|9}}
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===Organisation===
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As part of an agreement between the Mechanicus and the High Lords, the Steel Confessors are a [[Codex Astartes#Organigram of a Codex Compliant Chapter|Codex compliant]] chapter. Their first company is almost entirely equipped with [[Terminator Armour]] and will rarely deploy in normal [[power armour]]. As per the [[Codex Astartes]], the 2nd through 5th are [[Codex Astartes#Battle Companies|battle companies]], with the 6th and 7th as [[Tactical Squad|tactical]] companies, the 8th is an [[Codex Astartes#Reserve Companies|assault company]], the 9th is a [[Devastator Squad|devastator]] [[Codex Astartes#Reserve Companies|company]].{{Fn|8d}}
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Unlike the Iron Hands, there is less infighting among the companies, and instead the Steel Confessors encourage strong ties between each company and close-knit teamwork. Indeed, with the exception of the [[Codex Astartes#Veteran Company|1st Company]] of [[Veteran Squad (Space Marines)|veterans]] and the [[Codex Astartes#Scout Company|10th Company]] of [[Space Marine Scout|scouts]], it is common for marines to move between the various companies to learn from the different company commanders and build up a wealth of experience. This results in a high degree of autonomy, regardless of the rank of the individual marine.{{Fn|8d}}
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The Chapter Master of the Steel Confessors makes all major decisions, but will typically gather a council of all company commanders to gather their opinions prior to making such a decision. The position of Chapter Master is decided upon by a vote of each company commander, chaplain, and [[dreadnought]] in the chapter. In the rare event of a tie, the five longest serving [[Space Marine Sergeant|sergeants]] of the veteran first company will cast their votes.{{CME}}
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The Steel Confessors combine the roles of company commander and Techmarine.{{Fn|8d}} Their Techmarine Captains often augment themselves to be durable above and beyond the normal, such that they can sustain more grievous wounds than others.{{Fn|9}}
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===Chapter cult===
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The Steel Confessors are a [[Chapter#Theist Chapters|theist chapter]], adherents of both the [[Cult Mechanicus]]{{Fn|8d}} and strict beliefs in the idea of a '''Divine Trinity'''.{{Fn|8e}} This trinity consists of:
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*The [[Omnissiah]] - The Spirit that provides succour to all things, and who rewards all those who seek the [[Cult Mechanicus#Beliefs|Quest for Knowledge]] and improvement.
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*The [[Emperor]] - The physical embodiment of the Omnissiah and knowledge incarnate, there to crush the weak. His  ascension to the [[Golden Throne]] being his final step on the path to omnipotence.
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*The [[Primarch]] [[Ferrus Manus]] - The messenger of the Omnissiah, the bringer of light, as close to the Omnissiah as a mortal can get and an inspiration to the Chapter
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As with the Iron hands, the Steel Confessors have an unreasoning hatred of weakness, particularly that of physical weakness, and tolerate no weakness even among their allies. Indeed, other Imperial Forces have refused to fight alongside the Steel Confessors, having been fired upon by the chapter for perceived weakness. The chapter is currently under Inquisitorial scrutiny following their destruction of the [[Tallarn 54th]] [[Regiment]] for "failure to achieve objectives."{{Fn|8e}}
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The Steel Confessors' [[chaplain]]s ensure adherence to the teachings of the Cult Mechanicus as well as reverence paid to the Divine Trinity, extolling the virtues of constant struggle and intolerance for weakness.{{Fn|8d}}
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The chapter's ties with the Adeptus Mechanicus are closer than even that of the Iron Hands, and at any given time there are no fewer than three [[Magos|magi]] accompanying each company, to oversee their equipment and ensure the blessings of the Omnissiah.{{Fn|8e}}
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===Geneseed===
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The [[geneseed]] of the Steel Confessors is particularly pure, and indeed the only feasible genetic-flaw that may exist is an unreasoning fear of weakness turned into unreasoning hatred and anger, a phenomenon they share with the Iron Hands. As with the Iron Hands, this supposed genetic mutation is seen as perfectly acceptable due to the improved combat abilities it affords the chapter in battle.{{Fn|8e}}
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===Heraldry===
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The Confessors adorn and embellish themselves and their vehicles with trophies of their most hated enemies: the [[Tyranid]]s.{{Fn|9}}
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====Chapter Emblem====
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The chapter's emblem appears as a flanged cross, with a lightning bolt in its centre over a red bar. Seemingly, the chapter's vehicles sport this emblem over a white circle while its infantry contingent does not.{{Fn|2}}{{Fn|11}}{{Fn|12}}<Sup>[[Steel Confessors#Miniatures|See Miniatures]]</Sup>
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The large mannequin has a winged cogwheel over its chest with a lightning bolt inside it.{{Fn|1}}
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===Images===
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<gallery widths="200" heights="250" mode="nolines">
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File:Steel confessor.jpg|Steel Confessors Tactical Marine mannequin{{Fn|1}}
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Steel Confessors Tactical Marine side view.jpg|Steel Confessors Tactical Marine mannequin{{Fn|2}}
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Steel Confessor Mannequin.jpg|Full height of the Steel Confessors Tactical Marine mannequin{{Fn|11}}
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Steel Confessors Terminator Helmet.jpg|Steel Confessors [[Terminator]] mannequin{{Fn|2}}
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</gallery>
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====Miniatures====
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<gallery widths="200" heights="250" mode="nolines">
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Steel Confessors Event Image 4.jpg|Chapter Master [[Protonus]] standing before the various [[Terminator]]s of the [[1st Company]], as well as [[Land Raiders]] of the Chapter and company commanders. Observe that one of their dreadnought's appears to be customised with elongated legs.{{Fn|11}}
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Steel Confessors Event Image 2.jpg|(Front Profile) Note what appears to look like a [[Land Raider Helios]]{{Fn|11}}
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Steel Confessors Event Image 1.jpg|Various [[Tactical Marine]]s and [[Assault Marine]]s of the chapter in front of chapter's [[Land Speeder]]s. Note the tyranic trophies adorning the dreadnought.{{Fn|11}}
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BattleForKalevala.jpg|''Battle for Kalevala'' gaming table as published in a [[White Dwarf]] magazine. Observe the bunker and the tyranid structure matching the image previous from a different angle.{{Fn|5}}
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Steel Confessors Miniatures Box1.png|Various Steel Confessors miniatures from the [[Games Day]] 2005 event, preserved in a container box.{{Fn|12}}
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Steel Confessors Miniatures Box2.png|Various Steel Confessors miniatures from the [[Games Day]] 2005 event, preserved in a container box.{{Fn|12}}
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Steel Confessor Mini.png|A Steel Confessors [[Tactical Marine]] Miniature{{Fn|12}}
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Steel Confessors Landspeeders.jpg|Steel Confessor [[Landspeeder]]s{{fn|2}}
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</gallery>
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===Trivia===
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{{Trivia}}
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*The '''Protonus''' model was made by [[Ben Counter]].{{fn|7}} He has some commentary on the making of the model on his art page here - '''External Link:''' [https://www.coolminiornot.com/118873 Ben Counter's Art Page]
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* The Steel Confessors Chapter gained notoriety at the [[Games Day]] & [[Golden Demon]] event at the NEC, [[Birmingham]], England, in 2005, when they were featured in the Warhammer 40,000 mega-battle, ''The Battle for Kalevala''; it was during this event that a life-sized statue of a Steel Confessor [[Tactical Marine]], a [[Terminator]]'s bust and a [[Bolter]] were also displayed (see gallery below).{{Fn|2}} The event was announced as "complete with Index Astartes background, a full size Space Marine in chapter colours, and a painting workshop".{{Fn|3}}
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* There is an [[Index Astartes]] Steel Confessors{{Fn|3}} in the form of a ''Games Day 2005 Battle for Kalevala'' leaflet{{Fn|8}}. For many years it was not possible to verify the actual content of this leaflet, therefore the information claimed to have been included in this disappeared leaflet was not able to shown in this article. It was made accessible via a [[Talk:Steel Confessors#The Steel Confessors .28unverified version.29|link]]. Much of the information at the time was not verifiable.
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** On October 7, 2025, a fan by the name of Guy Hammour would provide some of the very first online photographs of the ''Battle for Kalevala'' leaflet on the Lexicanum Discord, providing a means to verify much information that previously could not be. He would continue to provide additional images that he had taken of the event, including various memorabilia. The images can be found [[Steel Confessors/Sources|here]].{{Fn|8}}
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* On October 8, 2025, a different fan (who wishes to remain anonymous) posted various images of Steel Confessors miniatures they had obtained after the event from a Games Workshop store, having also attended the event themself. The miniatures presented match and appear to be corrobrated by those provided by Guy Hammour.
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** According to anecdotal report of same anonymous fan who attended the event and provided images of miniatures from the event, Chapter Master Protonus had a personal customised land raider by the name of ''Thor'' using then available 4th edition vehicular customization rules. Supposedly the land raider had the heavy bolter on its sponsons replaced with [[lascannon]]s, two additional lascannon sponsons mounted, and a [[Predator Annihilator]] with twin lascannons attached atop. This feasibly would make it a prototype of the [[Land Raider Terminus Ultra]], which would not appear until later in [[White Dwarf 334 (UK)]] in 2007. Verification, or a published image of this supposed land raider is yet to be found. (See [[Steel Confessors/Sources]])
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* As of 1 November 2025, no published record as to the outcome of the ''Battle of Kalevala'' mega-battle is currently available. On 25 May 2006, the very first Lexicanum entry on the Steel Confessors was created. This would be less than a year after the Games Day event on 25 September 2005{{Fn|10}}. The entry purported that the outcome of the battle was a victory, detailing a general summary of the battle and exact force survival percentages. '''<u>The information in this entry is currently unverified</u>''', but can be found [https://lex.124811.xyz/mediawiki/index.php?title=Steel_Confessors&oldid=13098#The_Battle_of_Kalevala here].
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** In the preview to games day battle on the [[Games Workshop]] website, it was noted that defeat could mean "the death of a chapter."{{Fn|3}}
 +
** Talos Valcoran refers to the chapter as the "crippled" Steel Confessors chapter.{{Fn|4}} Whether this is in reference to their status after the fall of Kracsis IV, or perhaps that they won the battle of Kalevala and survived but in a weakened state, is not clear. The book was published 5 years after the games day event, and there is no indication it is meant to take place before the battle of Kalevala.
 +
* The fate of Steel Confessors first Chapter Master [[Avonis]], being placed in a stasis chamber until such a time he is needed, is similar to what occurred to [[Roboute Guilliman]] after the [[Horus Heresy]] - also placed in a stasis chamber after his wound by [[Fulgrim]], with the chapter believing he would also return [[Roboute Guilliman#Awakening|at a time when the chapter needed him]]
 +
 +
====Notes====
 +
*While the planet of Kalevala holds the chapter's Librarium, the stasis tomb of Avonis, its geneseed and a manufactorum the chapter was pledged to defend, it is not explicitly stated if this is meant to represent the chapter having a new [[Fortress Monastery]] on this world.{{Fn|8c}}
 +
*Although nominally the chapter trait ''Flesh Over Steel'', as described in [[Codex: Space Marines (4th Edition)]], would limit the chapter to only one instance each of a [[Land Raider]], [[Predator]], and [[Whirlwind]], and each of the standard pattern (even presuming they had such available at all), based on images of the event it would appear that this was being handwaved by the Games Workshop event hosts for the day of the battle.
 +
 +
====Conflicting Sources====
 +
*The colour scheme used by the Steel Confessors is unclear:
 +
**During the Games Day event, a large mannequin was displayed with a Tactical Marine in gunmetal grey, with white coloured shoulder pads trimmed in dark green (it is unclear if this was intended to mark the company or to be the trim for the whole chapter) with knee pads in bone colour.{{Fn|1}} This was reiterated in the novel ''[[Soul Hunter (Novel)|Soul Hunter]]'' where [[Talos Valcoran]] notes a salvaged thigh guard from a suit of Steel Confessors power armour to be gunmetal grey.{{Fn|4}}
 +
**Demonstratively, this is in contrast to the way the miniatures were painted for games day, with multiple photographs giving them a more bluish hue, with some marines sporting a red knee cap.{{Fn|1}}{{Fn|11}}{{Fn|12}}<Sup>[[Steel Confessors#Miniatures|See Miniatures]]</Sup> The Terminator mannequin on games day also a sported red stripe with white trim.{{Fn|2}} An anecdotal 2014 fan report alleges that their local game store which participated in painting the miniatures used "mithril silver mixed with a spot of blue ink for a blued steel armour". This is corroborated with the available images of the miniatures thus far.{{Fn|13}}{{Fn|12}}
 +
**The reason for this discrepancy is not clear, though may have a simple explanation: "Space Wolf Grey", a GW paint colour and typically used to represent the [[Space Wolves]] official chapter colors of grey on their official miniatures is, subjectively, somewhat blue.{{Fn|14}} It is feasible this loose definition of "grey" was being applied by the painters of the Steel Confessors miniatures.
 +
<gallery widths="100" heights="150" mode="nolines">
 +
File:Space Wolf Grey.png|Space Wolf "Grey"{{Fn|14}}
 +
Wolfguard4.jpg|Space Wolf "Grey"
 +
Arjac-Rockfist2025.jpg|Space Wolf "Grey"
 +
</gallery>
 +
 +
*In [[White Dwarf 317 (UK)]] the Steel Confessors' Chaptermaster is given two names: "Proteus" and "Protonus". It is unclear if this is a publishing error, or meant to reflect the development of a character, or something else.{{Fn|7}}
 +
 +
==See also==
 +
*[[Loyal Space Marine Chapters (List)]]
 +
*[[Space Marine Forces (List)]]
 +
 +
==Sources==
 +
*{{Endn|1}}: [https://web.archive.org/web/20070703153027/http://uk.games-workshop.com/gamesday/2005season/3/ Games Day & Golden Demon 2005 Review - The Arena (archive page)]  ''(Full-sized Steel Confessor Space Marine, images not archived; last accessed 21/04/2019)''
 +
*{{Endn|2}}: [http://www.ifelix.co.uk/gamesday2005/index.htm Felix's Gaming Pages - Games Day 2005]: some rare photos
 +
*{{Endn|3}}: [https://web.archive.org/web/20051129144108/http://uk.games-workshop.com/gamesday/2005-preview/1/ Games Day & Golden Demon 2005 Preview] ''(saved archive page, dated 19 November 2005, last accessed 10 October 2025, original link: http://uk.games-workshop.com/gamesday/2005-preview/1/)''
 +
*{{Endn|4}}: [[Soul Hunter (Novel)]], Chapter IX
 +
*{{Endn|5}}: [[White Dwarf 313 (UK)]], pg. 17, ''Games Day & Golden Demon 2005 - On with the show''
 +
*{{Endn|6}}: [[Codex: Space Marines (5th Edition)]], pg. 8
 +
*{{Endn|7}}: [[White Dwarf 317 (UK)]], pg. 106
 +
*8: [[Steel Confessors/Sources|Battle for Kalevala leaflet]]:
 +
**{{Endn|8a}}: pg. 1
 +
**{{Endn|8b}}: pg. 2
 +
**{{Endn|8c}}: pg. 3
 +
**{{Endn|8d}}: pg. 4
 +
**{{Endn|8e}}: pg. 5
 +
*{{Endn|9}}: [[Codex: Space Marines (4th Edition)]], pgs. 43-45
 +
*{{Endn|10}}: [https://web.archive.org/web/20251011190208/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/warhammer-40000-glory-in-death Warhammer 40,000: Glory in Death - Games Workshops UK Games Day showcases Warhammer 40,000®: Glory in Death™ on the N-Gage Platform] ''(saved archive page, dated 23 November 2005, last accessed 11 October 2025, original link: https://www.gamesindustry.biz/warhammer-40000-glory-in-death)''
 +
*{{Endn|11}}: [[Games Day]] Birmingham 2005. ''(Images provided by fan Guy Hammour on the Lexicanum Discord. See [[Steel Confessors/Sources]].)''
 +
*{{Endn|12}}: Images provided by a fan attendee of the event who wishes to remain anonymous. (See [[Steel Confessors/Sources]].
 +
*{{Endn|13}}: [https://web.archive.org/web/20251102214942/https://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/578748.page Help With Steel Confessors Space Marines] ''(saved archive page, dated 08 February 2014, last accessed 2 November 2025, original link: https://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/578748.page)''
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*{{Endn|14}}: [https://web.archive.org/web/20251102220929/https://www.warhammer.com/en-US/shop/Space-Wolves-Grey-Space Wolves Grey] ''(saved archive page, dated 2019, last accessed 2 November 2025, original link: https://www.warhammer.com/en-US/shop/Space-Wolves-Grey-2019)''
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[[Category:Iron Hands Successor Chapters]]
 
[[Category:Later Foundings]]
 
[[Category:Later Foundings]]
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[[de:Steel Confessors]]

Latest revision as of 18:09, 2 April 2026

Steel Confessors
 Steel Confessors Chapter Symbol.png
Steel Confessors Space Marine.jpg Steel Confessor Mini Standalone.png
Founding Chapter: Iron Hands[8a]
Founding: M36[8a]
Chapter Master: Protonus[5] possibly also named "Proteus"[7] [Conflicting sources]
Homeworld:
Fortress-Monastery:
Colours:
Specialty: Infantry tactics; anti-tyranid operations[8e][9]
Strength: Crippled[4] [See Notes]
Battle Cry Destroy the Weak[8a]

The Steel Confessors are a Space Marine Chapter[3] created by the Adeptus Mechanicus with geneseed provided from the Iron Hands.[8a]

Overview

As Iron Hands Successors, the Steel Confessors were not created in the 2nd Founding as many others were, but are a relatively new chapter. Supplied with astartes gene seed after longstanding support, the Adeptus Mechanicus would create their own chapter, able to act as a rapid response force to defend Mechanicus holdings to the rim of the known Galaxy.[8a]

The Steel Confessors bear a particular hatred towards the Tyranids, seeing them as their preferred enemy, and have become especially skilled at killing them.[9]

They are also referred to as the "crippled Steel Confessors Chapter" and Talos Valcoran, the Soulhunter, had taken a salvaged replacement thigh guard for his own damaged power armour from a suit of Steel Confessors armour.[4] [See Notes]

History

The Battle for Tarvor

In M36, the Barrus System, an important Mechanicus Foundry and research system, had fallen to the Overlord Barhoth, a Chaos Renegade able to call upon a legion of followers. With the aid of the Dark Mechanicum, the system had been overrun and its manufactorums turned to supplying the Overlord's war efforts. Initial attempts by Skitarii with Imperial Guard assistance to recapture the system were repulsed with heavy losses. Despairing the loss of their facility to the dark powers, the Mechanicus would call upon the Iron Hands for aid - a chapter which had aided them in the past and shared many of their ideals. In response, the Iron Council would send three full companies of Space Marines under the overall command of Venerable Dreadnought Grixus of the Gravehold Clan Company, to aid the Skitarii and Guard forces in retaking the system.[8a]

The campaign would prove harsh, with neither the Imperials nor the traitors expecting any quarter. The Iron Hands proved a godsend to the battered Imperial forces, attacking the Overlord's forces without warning before redeploying once resistance would stiffen. Skitarii and Imperial Guard forces would then move in to tie up enemy reinforcements sent to the area. Within months the foothold on Barrus III, the main foundry of the system, would grow until 75% of the planet had been retaken. The three companies would also begin operations to retake other planets within the Barrus System. Within five years, the majority of the system was once again in Imperial hands, with the Overlord's last holdout being the planet of Tarvor. Tarvor was a planet that specialised in the research and manufacture of shielding technologies, and was heavily defended. The Imperial forces expected heavy losses in the upcoming fight to recapture the planet.[8a]

Iron Hands Strike Cruisers, alongside ships of the Imperial Navy, would proceed with a long bombardment of Tarvors planetary void shields. Eager to be at the forefront of the assault, and sensing an end to the campaign was near, the Iron Hands would commit all three of their companies. The marines were loaded in thunderhawks, sent through a hole in the shields created by the bombardment. The Overlord had anticipated this, and laid a trap for the Iron Hands. He had aimed the planet's defence batteries where the shields were weakened, before loosing fire upon the Iron Hands aircraft once they were inside.[8a] Realizing the dire situation, Grixus ordered a retreat, hoping to reorganise and strike elsewhere.[8a] Before they could return through the breech, all communications with the Iron Hands fleet in orbit were cut, and the hole in the void shields resealed. With no other choice, Grixus ordered the thunderhawks to turn about and head towards the planet, knowing fully well they were surely entering another trap. Forced to push through the fire of the defence batteries, by the time they made planetfall only half of the three companies were left alive. Having taken the planet's spaceport, Grixus would try to organise a defence there hoping to hold out long enough for relief to break through the planetary shields and arrive.[8b]

In orbit the ships of the Iron Hands and Imperial Navy concentrated their efforts to break the shields once more. Captain Ullenear of the strike cruiser Omnissiah's Might would signal the Iron Council and request additional aid. Unfortunately, the nearest force of Iron Hands able to be dispatched was at least a month away. Sensing that three entire companies were facing annihilation, it was the Iron Council's turn to request support of the Adeptus Mechanicus, reminding them of their shared ties of loyalty.[8b]

The response was swift and forthcoming. Forces from all surrounding systems, including those from recently retaken planets in the Barrus system, were deployed en masse. A vast armada of over 500 ships of the Adeptus Mechanicus Fleet joined the fleet already in orbit, their combined firepower now rent the previously impregnable shield. A force of over 100,000 Skitarii and 4 Warhound Titans were deployed into the breaches, concentrating towards the spaceport where communications had been restored with the beleaguered Iron Hands. The scene they arrived to was one of devastation. Of the 300 marines deployed, 126 had died in the air alone, and of the remainder that made planetfall, only 11 were now left alive. The Overlord had committed his finest troops to their destruction, combined with the loss of maneuverability, had very nearly annihilated them. The Skitarii would secure the spaceport and drive back the traitor forces, as the planetary shields collapsed and the rest of the Mechanicus would deploy on world. This allowed what was left of the Iron Hands to secure the precious geneseed of the fallen that would be needed to rebuild their shattered companies, and take stock of their losses. All three clan company commanders were slain, including Grixus himself, having held out until mere hours before the arrival of reinforcements.[8b]

In honour and recognition for having committed such a force to relieve the embattled clan companies, the Iron Council would agree to provide the Adeptus Mechanicus with the chapters own geneseed, sampling from each of its Clan Companies and some of its greatest heroes, so that they might build their own rapid response force. In return, the Mechanicus would send their most revered artificers to aid in the rebuilding of the companies, and dedicate three entire forge worlds to their rearmament.[8b]

Founding of the Steel Confessors

It would not be long before the Inquisition and the Ordo Hereticus would learn of these events. Questioning the Mechanicus' motives for founding an unsanctioned chapter, they would petition for its termination[8b] for only the High Lords of Terra were to have the power to create Space Marine Chapters.[6] Upon review, the High Lords opted to ratify the chapter, so long as they obeyed all ties of fealty required of every chapter (such as submitting geneseed to the great gene vaults on Terra for testing and storage).[6][8b]

Feeling that they were being forced to follow unfair guidelines and overly scrutinised, the Adeptus Mechanicus opted to name the new chapter "The Steel Confessors."[8b]

Avonis would become the first Chapter Master of the Steel Confessors, and their first homeworld would be the Forgeworld of Kracsis IV[8c]

The Fall of Kracsis IV

Kracsis IV was the original home world of the Steel Confessors. Located in a "quiet" sector of the galaxy, as a forgeworld it specialised in the manufacture of small arms, had a sizeable population, and was loyal both to the Imperium and the Adeptus Mechanicus. This made it an ideal recruiting world for the Steel Confessors. It was centrally located among the rest of the Mechanicus holdings in its sector, ideally placed to allow the Steel Confessors to deploy with ease where they would be needed. The presence of the chapter could even be kept secret, thanks to a cloaking device taken from Tarvor that could make the planet appear as a barren rock to orbital auspex scans. This, in addition to its relatively backwater location, allowed the newly minted chapter the secrecy and time to hone in their skills.[8c]

The chapter's skills would soon be put to the test, as the Tyranids of Hive Fleet Behemoth made it rampaging debut across the Imperium in the wake of the First Tyrannic War. The Steel Confessors were at the very forefront of the war in that sector, buying time for the Mechanicus to evacuate its other planets of essential material and personnel from the jaws of the Great Devourer. The Steel Confessors cared not where they fought, so long as they could serve their Mechanicus master's faithfully. This absolute loyalty would prove their undoing, as spread so thinly, and believing its homeworld safe beneath its cloaking shield, active Chapter Master Protonus did not consider the Tyranids a threat to their homeworld. When a hive fleet suddenly appeared at the edge of the system, Protonus had only half of the first company at his disposal.[8c]

Chapter Master Protonus immediately sent out messages recalling the third, fifth, sixth, and the ninth companies, the ones closest to at that time, and turned to the defence of the planet. The battle for Kracsis IV lasted for three months, as the companies would arrived to stand beside their brethren already on world. The Steel Confessors made the Tyranids pay a horrendous cost for every meter of ground taken, but for every single tyranid slain it seemed fifty were ready to take its place such were their overwhelming numbers. Sensing that the battle was lost, Protonus gave the order for the transports be made ready for planetary evacuation and to make ready to salvage anything that could be. As if also sensing victory at hand, the tyranids renewed their assault and finally breached their way into the chapter's Fortress Monastery. While those survivors still left made their way for the transports, Protonus would lead the remnants of first company in a rear guard action. After a vicious struggle, the first company were able to fight their way to the transports, bearing the body of the Chapter Master who had suffered grievous wounds, having slain a Hive Tyrant himself to stall the tyrannic advance. Kracsis IV was left to its fate, and the surviving marines made to regroup with the rest of the chapter.[8c]

After the loss of Kracsis IV, the chapter became fleet based, with one exception. On the planet of Kalevala, the Steel Defenders would place their librarium as well as inter Avonis in a Stasis tomb, held there until such a time that the chapter needs him. The Steel Confessors swore an oath to defend that planet against any threat.[8c]

The Battle for Kalevala

Chapter Master Protonus[7]possibly also "Proteus" [See Notes]

By the time of the Third Tyrannic War, Kalevala was still an important world of the Steel Confessors. The planet would host a Psychic Choir designed to boost the signal of the Astronomican to allow Imperial shipping to continue to navigate through the psychic miasma of the Shadow in the Warp. It would also hold the chapter's Gene Seed, as well as a vast Manufactorum. Hive Fleet Leviathan would launch an invasion of the world and, honour-bound, the whole of the of the Steel Confessors chapter[3] under now Chapter Master Protonus[7] would fight a battle to repel them[3]. By the time of this battle, the chapter had still not completely recovered from its defeat at Kracsis IV. Even with allied Mechanicus support, only limited recovery had been made for the chapter's vehicle complement, much of it lost centuries ago during Kracsis IV's fall in the first Tyrannic war. What few vehicles remained had to be carefully rationed for only the direst of circumstances in the battle for Kalevala.[8d]

The Steel Confessors had a poor reputation when working with other Imperial forces, particularly due to perceived weakness sometimes resulting in the Steel Confessors even firing upon them.[8e] For the Battle of Kalevala, they had no allies to call upon, and would have to defend the planet themselves.[9]

For the Steel Confessors, if they were to lose this battle, it could very well spell the death of the entire chapter.[3] [See Notes]

Combat Doctrine

Like their progenitors the Iron Hands, the Steel Confessors bear an uncompromising hatred of weakness in any form;[8d] their battlecry being "destroy the weak."[8a] Given their close ties with the Mechanicus, bionic augmentation is the chapters norm. All their marines have an affinity with machinery, and this is a requirement for all of their aspirants. With such emphasis on replacing weakened limbs and organs with bionics, marines of the chapter regularly undergo testing to ensure their minds remain strong.[8d]

All Steel Confessors are required to undergo a period of training and indoctrination on Medusa IV under a Clan Company, as part of an agreement between the Iron Hands and the magi of the Mechanicus. During this training, they learn the history of the Iron Hands. Unlike their forebears, the Steel Confessors do not have Iron Fathers, keeping the role of Chaplain and Techmarine separate. Instead, every company captain is trained as a Techmarine and an artificer, and is simultaneously responsible for both roles as proof of his blessing by the Omnissiah.[8d]

Like their forebears, the Steel Confessors advance relentlessly, giving their foes little time to reorganise as they throw themselves into nigh berserk combat. They have a full complement of Terminator Armour, maintained both by themselves as well as by magi seconded to them by the Adeptus Mechanicus. The suits are typically seen at the forefront of their engagements, providing inspiration to the chapter as a display of devotion to the never ending struggle.[8d]

Although they share close ties to the Mechanicus, the Steel Confessors have not fully recovered from their vehicular losses during the fall of Kracsis IV. What few vehicles there were to spare would have to be rationed with utmost care.[8d] [See Notes]To adapt to the lack of the means to easily equip and train themselves in the heaviest of equipment, they compensate by focusing on specialised infantry techniques and prevail through the superior fighting qualities of their marines.[9]

Organisation

As part of an agreement between the Mechanicus and the High Lords, the Steel Confessors are a Codex compliant chapter. Their first company is almost entirely equipped with Terminator Armour and will rarely deploy in normal power armour. As per the Codex Astartes, the 2nd through 5th are battle companies, with the 6th and 7th as tactical companies, the 8th is an assault company, the 9th is a devastator company.[8d]

Unlike the Iron Hands, there is less infighting among the companies, and instead the Steel Confessors encourage strong ties between each company and close-knit teamwork. Indeed, with the exception of the 1st Company of veterans and the 10th Company of scouts, it is common for marines to move between the various companies to learn from the different company commanders and build up a wealth of experience. This results in a high degree of autonomy, regardless of the rank of the individual marine.[8d]

The Chapter Master of the Steel Confessors makes all major decisions, but will typically gather a council of all company commanders to gather their opinions prior to making such a decision. The position of Chapter Master is decided upon by a vote of each company commander, chaplain, and dreadnought in the chapter. In the rare event of a tie, the five longest serving sergeants of the veteran first company will cast their votes.text-middle[Help]

The Steel Confessors combine the roles of company commander and Techmarine.[8d] Their Techmarine Captains often augment themselves to be durable above and beyond the normal, such that they can sustain more grievous wounds than others.[9]

Chapter cult

The Steel Confessors are a theist chapter, adherents of both the Cult Mechanicus[8d] and strict beliefs in the idea of a Divine Trinity.[8e] This trinity consists of:

  • The Omnissiah - The Spirit that provides succour to all things, and who rewards all those who seek the Quest for Knowledge and improvement.
  • The Emperor - The physical embodiment of the Omnissiah and knowledge incarnate, there to crush the weak. His ascension to the Golden Throne being his final step on the path to omnipotence.
  • The Primarch Ferrus Manus - The messenger of the Omnissiah, the bringer of light, as close to the Omnissiah as a mortal can get and an inspiration to the Chapter

As with the Iron hands, the Steel Confessors have an unreasoning hatred of weakness, particularly that of physical weakness, and tolerate no weakness even among their allies. Indeed, other Imperial Forces have refused to fight alongside the Steel Confessors, having been fired upon by the chapter for perceived weakness. The chapter is currently under Inquisitorial scrutiny following their destruction of the Tallarn 54th Regiment for "failure to achieve objectives."[8e]

The Steel Confessors' chaplains ensure adherence to the teachings of the Cult Mechanicus as well as reverence paid to the Divine Trinity, extolling the virtues of constant struggle and intolerance for weakness.[8d]

The chapter's ties with the Adeptus Mechanicus are closer than even that of the Iron Hands, and at any given time there are no fewer than three magi accompanying each company, to oversee their equipment and ensure the blessings of the Omnissiah.[8e]

Geneseed

The geneseed of the Steel Confessors is particularly pure, and indeed the only feasible genetic-flaw that may exist is an unreasoning fear of weakness turned into unreasoning hatred and anger, a phenomenon they share with the Iron Hands. As with the Iron Hands, this supposed genetic mutation is seen as perfectly acceptable due to the improved combat abilities it affords the chapter in battle.[8e]

Heraldry

The Confessors adorn and embellish themselves and their vehicles with trophies of their most hated enemies: the Tyranids.[9]

Chapter Emblem

The chapter's emblem appears as a flanged cross, with a lightning bolt in its centre over a red bar. Seemingly, the chapter's vehicles sport this emblem over a white circle while its infantry contingent does not.[2][11][12]See Miniatures

The large mannequin has a winged cogwheel over its chest with a lightning bolt inside it.[1]

Images

  • Steel Confessors Tactical Marine mannequin[1]

  • Steel Confessors Tactical Marine mannequin[2]

  • Full height of the Steel Confessors Tactical Marine mannequin[11]

  • Steel Confessors Terminator mannequin[2]

Miniatures

Trivia

TriviaScrollTrans.png

The following information is not to be regarded as officially sanctioned and/ or is not written from an in-universe point of view. A detailed explanation of the term "Trivia" as used in the Lexicanum can be found here.

  • The Protonus model was made by Ben Counter.[7] He has some commentary on the making of the model on his art page here - External Link: Ben Counter's Art Page
  • The Steel Confessors Chapter gained notoriety at the Games Day & Golden Demon event at the NEC, Birmingham, England, in 2005, when they were featured in the Warhammer 40,000 mega-battle, The Battle for Kalevala; it was during this event that a life-sized statue of a Steel Confessor Tactical Marine, a Terminator's bust and a Bolter were also displayed (see gallery below).[2] The event was announced as "complete with Index Astartes background, a full size Space Marine in chapter colours, and a painting workshop".[3]
  • There is an Index Astartes Steel Confessors[3] in the form of a Games Day 2005 Battle for Kalevala leaflet[8]. For many years it was not possible to verify the actual content of this leaflet, therefore the information claimed to have been included in this disappeared leaflet was not able to shown in this article. It was made accessible via a link. Much of the information at the time was not verifiable.
    • On October 7, 2025, a fan by the name of Guy Hammour would provide some of the very first online photographs of the Battle for Kalevala leaflet on the Lexicanum Discord, providing a means to verify much information that previously could not be. He would continue to provide additional images that he had taken of the event, including various memorabilia. The images can be found here.[8]
  • On October 8, 2025, a different fan (who wishes to remain anonymous) posted various images of Steel Confessors miniatures they had obtained after the event from a Games Workshop store, having also attended the event themself. The miniatures presented match and appear to be corrobrated by those provided by Guy Hammour.
    • According to anecdotal report of same anonymous fan who attended the event and provided images of miniatures from the event, Chapter Master Protonus had a personal customised land raider by the name of Thor using then available 4th edition vehicular customization rules. Supposedly the land raider had the heavy bolter on its sponsons replaced with lascannons, two additional lascannon sponsons mounted, and a Predator Annihilator with twin lascannons attached atop. This feasibly would make it a prototype of the Land Raider Terminus Ultra, which would not appear until later in White Dwarf 334 (UK) in 2007. Verification, or a published image of this supposed land raider is yet to be found. (See Steel Confessors/Sources)
  • As of 1 November 2025, no published record as to the outcome of the Battle of Kalevala mega-battle is currently available. On 25 May 2006, the very first Lexicanum entry on the Steel Confessors was created. This would be less than a year after the Games Day event on 25 September 2005[10]. The entry purported that the outcome of the battle was a victory, detailing a general summary of the battle and exact force survival percentages. The information in this entry is currently unverified, but can be found here.
    • In the preview to games day battle on the Games Workshop website, it was noted that defeat could mean "the death of a chapter."[3]
    • Talos Valcoran refers to the chapter as the "crippled" Steel Confessors chapter.[4] Whether this is in reference to their status after the fall of Kracsis IV, or perhaps that they won the battle of Kalevala and survived but in a weakened state, is not clear. The book was published 5 years after the games day event, and there is no indication it is meant to take place before the battle of Kalevala.
  • The fate of Steel Confessors first Chapter Master Avonis, being placed in a stasis chamber until such a time he is needed, is similar to what occurred to Roboute Guilliman after the Horus Heresy - also placed in a stasis chamber after his wound by Fulgrim, with the chapter believing he would also return at a time when the chapter needed him

Notes

  • While the planet of Kalevala holds the chapter's Librarium, the stasis tomb of Avonis, its geneseed and a manufactorum the chapter was pledged to defend, it is not explicitly stated if this is meant to represent the chapter having a new Fortress Monastery on this world.[8c]
  • Although nominally the chapter trait Flesh Over Steel, as described in Codex: Space Marines (4th Edition), would limit the chapter to only one instance each of a Land Raider, Predator, and Whirlwind, and each of the standard pattern (even presuming they had such available at all), based on images of the event it would appear that this was being handwaved by the Games Workshop event hosts for the day of the battle.

Conflicting Sources

  • The colour scheme used by the Steel Confessors is unclear:
    • During the Games Day event, a large mannequin was displayed with a Tactical Marine in gunmetal grey, with white coloured shoulder pads trimmed in dark green (it is unclear if this was intended to mark the company or to be the trim for the whole chapter) with knee pads in bone colour.[1] This was reiterated in the novel Soul Hunter where Talos Valcoran notes a salvaged thigh guard from a suit of Steel Confessors power armour to be gunmetal grey.[4]
    • Demonstratively, this is in contrast to the way the miniatures were painted for games day, with multiple photographs giving them a more bluish hue, with some marines sporting a red knee cap.[1][11][12]See Miniatures The Terminator mannequin on games day also a sported red stripe with white trim.[2] An anecdotal 2014 fan report alleges that their local game store which participated in painting the miniatures used "mithril silver mixed with a spot of blue ink for a blued steel armour". This is corroborated with the available images of the miniatures thus far.[13][12]
    • The reason for this discrepancy is not clear, though may have a simple explanation: "Space Wolf Grey", a GW paint colour and typically used to represent the Space Wolves official chapter colors of grey on their official miniatures is, subjectively, somewhat blue.[14] It is feasible this loose definition of "grey" was being applied by the painters of the Steel Confessors miniatures.

  • Space Wolf "Grey"[14]

  • Space Wolf "Grey"

  • Space Wolf "Grey"

  • In White Dwarf 317 (UK) the Steel Confessors' Chaptermaster is given two names: "Proteus" and "Protonus". It is unclear if this is a publishing error, or meant to reflect the development of a character, or something else.[7]

See also

Sources

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