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From Warhammer 40k - Lexicanum
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A Terminator captain is among the most highly skilled and experienced warriors humanity has ever produced. In recognition of their achievements, these Marines are allowed the honour of wearing a distinctive badge that incorporates fragments of the [[Emperor]]'s armour. During his struggle against [[Horus]] aboard the Warmaster's battle barge at the climax of the Heresy, the Emperor was aided by a squad of Terminators from the [[Imperial Fists]] chapter. In recognition of their act of valour, the mortally wounded Emperor ordered that his own suit of armour be taken off and melted down, and its shards incorporated into badges that all Terminator Captains should wear. Therefore all efforts are made to recover the suits of Captains killed in action as the loss of such a relic brings great dishonour to the squad and the Chapter.
They vary from chapter to chapter, but tend to incorporate the Iron Cross that is the standard Astartes Terminator recognition icon. Other variations include the replacement of the skull by a wolf's skull among members of the Space Wolves chapter, or the addition of a sword in Deathwing units.<sup id="fn_2_back">[[#fn_2|[2]]]</sup>.
This Honour appears most commonly as a skull set onto a cruciform shape of red iron or bone. Terminator sergeants often add crossed bones behind the skull, whilst lightning bolts behind the skull are often added for Terminators trained as Assault units wielding lightning claws and thunder hammers with storm shields. Variations include the size and dimensions of the skull and the removal of the crossed lightning bolts or bones or their scale in relation to the shape of the cruciform. The Crux Terminatus is almost always worn on the left shoulder pad, though it may also be worn on one knee pad (this is usually done only in combination with the shoulder
pad, however). Legend has it that the first Crux Terminatus ever crafted contained a tiny fragment of the Emperor’s own armour
within it. Whether or not this is true it means that ancient suits of power armour bearing Terminator Honours are considered
even more rare and precious to a Chapter as a result of their reputed connection to the Master of the Imperium.<sup>1</sup>
==Sources==
*[http://www.tearsofenvy.com ''TERMI-NATION The definitive on-line guide to terminator armour'', by John Blanche]
*<sup>1</sup>:[[Deathwatch: Rites of Battle]], pg 206-211
*<span id="fn_2">[[#fn_2_back|2]]: [[John Blanche]], {{Cite This}}
[[Category: Space Marine Honours]]
[[Category: Space Marine Honours]]
[[de:Crux Terminatus]]
