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From Warhammer 40k - Lexicanum
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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==
In combatTo outside observers, the Dark Angels fight according seem to follow the Astartes organization. It is in the organization of the Dark Angels' higher levels that the chapter deviates from the dictates of the [[Codex Astartes]]. At the highest level of the Chapter is the Inner Circle, though they are known to be unwilling to retreat even in which consists of a number of officers who stand apart from the most dire circumstancescompany organization, often winning battles other forces would have abandoned through sheer stubbornessand include the Chapter's Librarians and Interrogator-Chaplains. The Dark AngelsCompanies are each led by a Master, as who is part of the oldest Legion were also Inner Circle. The first two companies are uniquely organized. The first company is called the best equipped Legion [[Deathwing]] which fights exclusively in many respects and even their descendants field [[Terminator armour]]. The second is the [[Ravenwing]], which is a larger number formation consisting entirely of fast and array of complex weapon systems, highly mobile units such as plasma cannons [[bike]] and Dreadnoughts, when compared to most Chapters[[Land Speeder]] squadrons. The remainder of the Chapter is organized along Codex lines.
==Organization==[[Image:Darkangelsminiature.jpg|thumb|250px|right|A Dark Angel]]The Dark Angels have generally followed rebuilt their fortress-monastery on the [[Codex Astartes]] since its inception at asteroid that had borne the hands of Roboute Guilliman in old one, drilling deep into the aftermath of bedrock and rebuilding the Horus Heresyruins. The Chapter and its Successors deviate slightly in exclusively fielding the First and Second Companies new fortress is known officially as specialist Terminator and Fast Attack Companies respectively. The Chapter's other Companies follow the CodexTower of Angels, observing strictures such but is more commonly referred to as 10 man squadsThe Rock. The Rock has been equipped with warp engines, enabling faster-than-light transit through the use of bolter and chainsword as the primary weapons of the Astartes warrior and the use of Chaplains, Apothecaries and Librarians on the battlefieldImmaterium.<sup>1</sup>
Little is known about how warriors join However, even this group or their responsibilities or privileges. All that is known is that every senior Marine pales in the Chapter is a member of the Inner Circle and they are privy comparison to the secrets of greatest secret held by the Dark Angels, secrets that presumably include the reasons for the absence of the Dark Angels in the later stages of the Horus Heresy and an explanation for the destruction of Caliban. ===Beliefs===Little This secret is known of only to the beliefs of [[Watchers in the Dark Angels beyond their reverence for their Primarch ]], and to the Emperor and their zealous prosecution himself. Deep within the bedrock of Imperial foes. It the asteroid which is believed that their home there are differences is a solitary chamber. In this chamber, attended to by the Watchers in the belief systems of rank and file Dark Angels and the members of the Inner Circle, who if anything, exhibit even more zeal than their regular brethren in lies the performance sleeping form of their dutiesLion El'Jonson.
==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.
}}
==HomeworldHistory==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.
===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.
==Combat DoctrineOrganisation==Although 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[[Image:Darkangelsminiature. Even when they do form a unit for a specific objective, the jpg|thumb|250px|right|A Dark 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.Angel]]
===Headquarters===The point most often discussed ruins of Caliban are located in regard the Cadian sector, close to Dark Angel tactics however is their tendency the Eye of Terror. Prior to make puzzling the Great Crusade and unannounced moves in combat that have no obvious valuethe Horus Heresy, the planet of Caliban was covered with lush forests inhabited by creatures warped by Chaos. Dark Angels forces have been known to withdraw from crucial positions on The humans of the planet were a battlefieldproud, leaving their allies martial people forced to struggle on without them, live in pursuit great fortress monasteries of unknown objectives. It was noted that several such occurrences occurred during the 13th Black Crusade when forces allied to the mysterious figure known as Cypher appeared on battlefields involving the Dark Angels and their Successorsstone.
The Chapter's command structure warrens beneath The Rock are where the Dark Angels bring their fallen brethren to be redeemed by their Interrogator-Chaplains. It is also atypical of Codex Chapters, for alongside believed by the traditional chain of command sits a group Inquisition to hold many other secrets. One such secret is known as only to the Inner Circle: Luther is still alive, which consists imprisoned within the deepest cavern of a number of officers who stand apart from the company organizationThe Rock, where he still insanely mutters that one day, and include the ChapterEl's Librarians Jonson will return and Interrogator-Chaplainsforgive him. Companies are each led by a MasterThat day, who is part of so the Inner Circle. The first two companies are uniquely organized. The first company is called the [[Deathwing]] which fights exclusively in madman said to current Supreme Grand Master [[Terminator armour]]. The second is the [[RavenwingAzrael]], which is a formation consisting entirely of fast and highly mobile units such as [[bike]] and [[Land Speeder]] squadrons. The remainder of the Chapter is organized along Codex linesalmost at hand.
===Recruitment===
*[[Strike Cruisers]]: 10 - including ''Sword of Caliban'', ''Salvation''
*[[Rapid Strike vessel]]s: 8 - including 2 Nova class, 2 Hunter class
==Notable Dark Angels==
