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|Chapter Strength=~1000 marines
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==Homeworld==
The Dark Angels Homeworld, [[Caliban]], was destroyed in the aftermath of the [[Horus Heresy]], no information on how or why the planet suffered this fate has ever been forthcoming from the Dark Angels or their Successors. 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 Unforgiven Chapters maintain strictest security around the remains of Caliban so no Imperial force has ever been able to examine the wreckage in order to deduce any reason for the destruction. Even during the Despoiler's recent [[Black Crusade]] when Unforgiven forces were sore pressed in the Caliban system they refused offers of aid from any and everyone.
The ruins of Caliban are located in the Cadian sector, close to the Eye of Terror. 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.<sup>1</sup>
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. One such secret is known only to the Inner Circle: Luther is still alive, imprisoned within the deepest cavern of The Rock, where he still insanely mutters that one day, El'Jonson will return and forgive him. That day, so the madman said to current Supreme Grand Master [[Azrael]], is almost at hand.
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.
==History==
===The Great Crusade===
[[Image:PhDarkAngel.jpg|thumb|right|Pre-Heresy Dark Angels Space Marine with jump-pack]]
The Dark Angels can go for years without hearing any rumours that might lead them to one or more of the Fallen. When they do, however, and their mission is a success, those Fallen that are captured are taken back to the Fortress-Monastery. Deep inside its dungeons, [[Interrogator-Chaplains]] attempt to make the Fallen repent. Occasionally they do, and in return for their confession their deaths are made quick and painless. More often than not, though, the captured Fallen refuse to acknowledge their wrongdoing, and so their souls are purified by extreme suffering, before an agonising death at the hands of the Interrogator-Chaplains.
==OrganisationCombat Doctrine==[[Image:DarkangelsminiatureAlthough the Dark Angels follow the Codex Astartes in most respects, they do deploy their forces in a slightly unorthodox manner. Unlike many Chapters which draw squads from various Companies to create the most appropriate task force, the Dark Angels look upon their Battle Companies as self-contained commands and rarely mix units from multiple Companies into one command.jpg|thumb|250px|right|A Even when they do form a unit for a specific objective, the Dark Angel]]Angels tend to draw the force from a single Company where possible. Unusually the Dark Angels are more apt to place such forces under the authority of senior personnel outside the chain of command than other Chapters and it is not uncommon to see a Chaplain or Librarian leading a Dark Angels force into battle. In combat, the Dark Angels fight according to the dictates of the Codex Astartes, though they are known to be unwilling to retreat even in the most dire circumstances, often winning battles other forces would have abandoned through sheer stubborness. The Dark Angels, as the oldest Legion were also the best equipped Legion in many respects and even their descendants field a larger number and array of complex weapon systems, such as plasma cannons and Dreadnoughts, when compared to most Chapters.
===Headquarters=Organization==[[Image:Darkangelsminiature.jpg|thumb|250px|right|A Dark Angel]]The ruins Dark Angels have generally followed the [[Codex Astartes]] since its inception at the hands of Caliban are located Roboute Guilliman in the Cadian sector, close to aftermath of the Eye of TerrorHorus Heresy. Prior to The Chapter and its Successors deviate slightly in exclusively fielding the Great Crusade First and Second Companies as specialist Terminator and Fast Attack Companies respectively. The Chapter's other Companies follow the Horus HeresyCodex, observing strictures such as 10 man squads, the planet use of Caliban was covered with lush forests inhabited by creatures warped by Chaos. The humans bolter and chainsword as the primary weapons of the planet were a proudAstartes warrior and the use of Chaplains, martial people forced to live in great fortress monasteries of stoneApothecaries and Librarians on the battlefield.
The Dark Angels rebuilt their fortress-monastery on Chapter's command structure is also atypical of Codex Chapters, for alongside the traditional chain of command sits a group known as the asteroid that had borne Inner Circle, which consists of a number of officers who stand apart from the old onecompany organization, drilling deep into and include the bedrock Chapter's Librarians and rebuilding Interrogator-Chaplains. Companies are each led by a Master, who is part of the ruinsInner Circle. The new fortress first two companies are uniquely organized. The first company is known officially as called the [[Deathwing]] which fights exclusively in [[Terminator armour]]. The Tower of Angelssecond is the [[Ravenwing]], but which is more commonly referred to a formation consisting entirely of fast and highly mobile units such as The Rock[[bike]] and [[Land Speeder]] squadrons. The Rock has been equipped with warp engines, enabling faster-than-light transit through remainder of the ImmateriumChapter is organized along Codex lines.<sup>1</sup>
===Recruitment===
*[[Strike Cruisers]]: 10 - including ''Sword of Caliban'', ''Salvation''
*[[Rapid Strike vessel]]s: 8 - including 2 Nova class, 2 Hunter class
==Geneseed==
The geneseed of the Dark Angels is pure and unadulterated, and alongside the geneseed of the Ultramarines is considered the most stable. Thus it is puzzling that so few Chapters have been raised using Dark Angel geneseed. This has led to speculation that the High Lords of Terra know more about the first Legion's secrets and that some part of that knowledge has made them reluctant to use the seed of El'Jonson to raise new Chapters.
==Notable Dark Angels==