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The 79th Caducean Field Hospital

Homeworld: Caduceus VII, Hive world, Nex Subsector, Klepsydra Sector, Segmentum Tempestus

Military Specialty: Field Hospital

Order of Battle: 104 Chirugeons, 219 Apothecaries, 49 Phisikia Majoria, 305 Servitorised life support units, 250 sisters of the Hospitaller order, 15 Magos Biologis of the Adeptus Mechanicus, 400 support staff including lay-medics, gurneymen, loblolly-boys and barber surgeons.

Commanding Officer: Colonel Varhize

History/Summary: The Imperial Guard prides itself upon the efficiency of its field hospitals. It is a point of honour among Guard officers to ensure that the troops under their command receive the very best medical attention available, and a point of military necessity to ensure that injured soldiers can be patched up and rotated back to the front as quickly as possible.

While much of the Ars Technica of the dark age of technology has been lost, knowledge of the Ars Medicae remains widespread throughout the Imperium. Medical science within the Imperium can achieve wonders; resurrecting those on the cusp of death itself, reconstructing shattered limbs, replacing damaged or ruptured organs and extending lifespans into centuries.

One of the major advantages of entry into the Imperial Guard (other than the chance to achieve glorious martyrdom in the service of the God-Emperor) is the availability of medical attention of an extremely high standard. Imperial Guardsmen injured in the line of duty can expect to be nursed back to health in well-equipped field hospitals, enjoying a standard of medical care beyond the means of all but the wealthiest Imperial nobles and officials.

Injured Guardsmen can expect to receive new organs to replaced damaged ones (harvested from the bodies of deceased Guardsmen in other units), cosmetically ugly but robust augmetic replacements for amputated limbs and, in rare instances, rejuvenat treatment for elderly officers or specialists who are regarded as particularly useful to the Imperial military.

The 79th Caducean Field Hospital is a classic example of a typical Imperial military medical facility. Situated 75 miles behind Imperial lines, it currently operates from within Blackmoor House, a vast mansion constructed by an eccentric former planetary governor. This huge building-constructed in the high Gothic style from black basalt and glossy ebony-commands splendid views over the surrounding fenlands. Its grounds are now covered in prefabricated medicae centres and landing pads for medical Valkyrie landers, and its leaf spattered pathways echo night and day with the tramp of gurneymen ferrying the injured to and from the surgery wards.

The hospital can treat up to three thousand injured Guardsmen at any one time, though the actual number of patients varies tremendously depending upon the progress of the ongoing campaign. During lulls in the fighting, the hospital can become a very quiet place; with long, dark corridors lit by flickering candlelight, and vat-wards filled with glass and brass tanks brimming with the organs and limbs of the deceased, silently awaiting their chance to serve the Imperium once more.

Miscellaneous: recent events: An unusually high incidence of suicides has been noted among medicae staff serving within the facility. These have coincided with an increased number of anomalous deaths among patients. These happenings have coincided with quiet periods, and the facility’s commanding officer, Colonel Varhize, has concluded that such issues are best resolved by keeping his staff busy to avoid morbid thoughts. Varhize, like all Caduceans, is a breezy and efficient man, who has devoted his life to becoming adept in the medical sciences to best serve the Emperor. In the view of this political officer, he is not well suited to investigate peculiar happenings within his own facility.

Adventure Hooks: The players are shipped to the hospital to recover from wounds honourably obtained during combat with the Imperium’s enemies. Whilst recuperating, they observe strange events occurring within the dark corridors of Blackmoor House.

Patients and staff begin to die…at first, the deaths appear natural, the sad but workaday tragedies that happen within hospitals all the time. However, as time progresses, the deaths become stranger, more inexplicable, and bloodier. Why did a patient cut his own morphia drip and then his own throat? Why did a loblolly-boy disembowel himself with a scalpel? Soon the players begin to grasp that something is stalking the wards, slaying patients in strange and gory ways. Can they catch the culprit before whatever it is works events to a bloody and climactic finale?

RPG Notes: I have shamelessly ripped this concept off from the “100 Missions for Only war” thread. Number 90 on that list is a mission concept by a forum member, AluminiumWolf, that really grabbed my attention. I thought it was, without a doubt, the best mission concept on that whole thread: a haunted house/military adventure. I’ve embellished it a little here by creating a whole military unit and setting that could be used as the basis for AluminiumWolf’s excellent concept. I may well work this up into a full adventure at some point, but in the meantime this could still be used as the basis for a “downtime” encounter for your players!

Voidbound Freelancers

"Violence with Enthusiasm"

Homeworld: Various. The Freelancers are mercenaries recruited from any drop-capable unit including but not limited to the Harakoni Warhawks, Elysium Drop Troopers, the Protasian Swamp-Rats, Kasrkin, and members of the Storm Trooper Regiment.

Military Specialty: Drop Troops, specializing in XHALA jumps (extreme-high-altitude, low activation) from barely sub-orbital Halo Barges.

Order of Battle: The Freelancers are a mercenary regiment, recruited by Rogue Trader House Meridius, for deployment in his own personal Warlord-authorized Warrant of Trade. The Freelancers number roughly 900 troops and are organized into four battalions - 1st & 2nd for grav-chute assault, 3rd for Air, Ground & Recon support, 4th for Logistical support.

Commanding Officer: Technically, Colonel Anson Merikur is the CO of the Freelancers, however he is still in the chain of command below Lord Captain Meridius and his High Arch Militant.

History: Centuries past, House Meridius received affirmation that their Warrant of Trade had been amended to include authorization to draw mercenary troops from the IG & PDF, subject to stringent and arduous requirements. Over time, House Meridius has grown and expanded and frequently assists the Imperial Guard when storm troopers or drop troopers are unavailable. House Meridius has seen to it that the Freelancers are equipped with top-of-the-line equipment (including Hellguns as primary armament, Harakhukri warblades as melee weapons, & Storm Trooper Carapace armor for their line troops), making their effectiveness in battle of far greater import than ostentatious displays of wealth or power normally associated with Rogue Traders. Recently, the Freelancers assisted the Protasian Swamp-Rats overcome subversive internal conflict that was leading towards open civil war on Protasia. The nature of the conflict came to the attention of one Inquisitor Lord of the Ordo Xenos, who was compelled to induct a full platoon of Freelancers into his own retinue, rather than permit them to share what they discovered during the assault on the enemy stronghold. The Freelancers were also responsible for retrieving Lord Captain Meridius after he & his retinue were overcome by unknown Xenos psychic assault while investigating the enormous derelict battleship, the Lord of Light.

Miscellaneous: When not in operational armor, each member of the Freelancers wears sky-grey headdress, representing their home unit. Harakoni warhawks wear a wedge, former Kasrkin or Storm Troopers wear a beret, troops from Elysium wear a field cap, and Swamp-Rats wear a tilly hat. All wear the Crossed Star, the approved symbol authorized for use by the Freelancers.

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25th Cladius Void Guard

Home-world: Stenar Station / Asteroid / Cladius System / Segmentum Solar

Military Speciality: Celestial Assault Battalion

Order of Battle: 2000 heavy void infantry.

Commanding Officer: Icarius Johan Scraph

History/Summary: Claudius is solar system that suffered a huge trauma in its primordial past. Apart from 2 gas giants there are no planets in the system, just vast fields of asteroids. These asteroids give the system incredible mining potential. And there is a large number of stations in orbit around the gas giants facilities on the numerous planetoids. Unfortunately the plethora of mining opportunities also gives rise to vast number of pirates and bandits.
A strong PDF was raised to deal with these attacks, they became practised in combat in the blackest, coldest of space in void armour and in long forgotten mining bases.
Eventually they brought some level of stability to the system. With food and materials flowing more readily the systems wealth and power grew. With this increased power so did the systems tithe, and after the effectiveness of their Void Guard drew some notice from the Administratum the Governor was asked to raise Imperial Guard regiments. The Void Guard were an important part of the systems culture and history. Novels and holo-vids about these soldiers were popular and were sent far beyond the system. As such they formed a regiment in the finest gear they could lay their hands on and sent them out to battle foul Xeno's among the stars.
Unfortunately, beyond the fiction, the reality of life in the Void Guard is a harrowing ordeal that stretches the resolve of the most fanatical volunteer. Even training exercises in the hard vacuum are dangerous affairs, a single minor equipment malfunction or mistake can cost a life or consign a guardsmen to drift into the abyss until lack of oxygen takes their life. Add to that, the fact assaulting a facility from the lifeless void gives a huge advantage to the defenders. Booby traps, remote weapons, turrets and vulnerability to counterattack all add to make it incredibly dangerous and traumatic. The dark purple and grey armoured Void Guard are stoic bunch, extremely professional, but hesitant to get attached to one another and often psychologically damaged.

Miscellaneous: The Void Guard deploy from space going ships, often simply Argus Lighters but will have more advanced craft depending on Navel support. Wearing Void Sealed carapace armour with a respirator, com-bead and armed with Las Carbines and even Hell-guns, they are well supplied. They'll often bring shotguns entirely for use inside facilities, melta guns and demolition charges to effect and entry and flamers and grenade launchers to clear out the initial dug in enemy.

Adventure hooks: Hestor 12 is a planetoid with a massive hab, dock and mining station. However it has been held by heretic forces for several years. This is choking the system and a severe barrier to a successful war in the system. However the docks are massively well protected. The General staff devised a plan to attack from the other side of the planetoid where the defences are weaker. The Claudius 25th is leading the charge but vastly outnumbered by troops from other regiments in only the minimal void protection who will clear the station itself. The PC's are part of this force and will be playing the part of fish out of water until they can breach the station.

RPG system notes: Void Guard stats would be bonus Wp and a Fel penalty, due to aforementioned stoic, professional, distant demeanour. Secondarily might be bonus ballistic skill and a penalty to perception due to the rigorous training but the difficulties of fighting in restrictive void gear in soundless environments although they might have, or have access to Heightened Senses (Sight) as that is the only sense they can rely on in void combat. They would obviously not suffer penalties to movement in low and zero gravity, but may have additional penalties to movement in normal gravity. They would also have a random amount of insanity points, D5, possibly more.
 

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23rd Vytallian "Siege Breakers"

Homeworld: Vytal

Military Specialty: Shock Infantry

Order of Battle: 5,000 troops organized into 10 Brigades of 500 men each. Each brigade is comprised of 5 companies, which are subdivided into 4 platoons of 25. 

Commanding Officer: Colonel Aeson Vakkers

History: The 23rd Vytallian Infantry Regiment was founded in 936.M41. It was created in response to a Chaos-influenced rebellion on the Forge world Fleinten IX. In the early stages of the rebellion, word was sent out by the astropathic choir on the planet, just before it was overcome. The only words were "Iactarius the Mad". Iactarius was a known Chaos champion, and the Imperium acted unusually swiftly in its response, raising 12 regiments and sending them at the world.

The 23rd arrived at the planet in 938.M41, to a bloodbath. Iactarius had corrupted much of the ruling cabal of Tech-priests, as well as most of the planets Skitarii and nearly all of the menials. Those that had had not been corrupted had made a final stand at the Altusian Manufactorum complex, and had been decimated by wave after wave of tanks. The Chaos forces had beeen pushed back by the Imperial regiments, at horrible cost. 5 regiments had been obliterated, and a further 4 were not combat viable.

The 23rd were sent against the final stronghold of Iactarius. Under the supporting fire of the 434th Artilery regiment, Colonel Poliante Linthor and the entire regiment began to move in. Every strongpoint in their path was blinded by grenades so that the regiments flamers could get close, and then neutralized. Eventually, they arrived at the manufactorum which Iactarius had converted into a palace. In a ferocius battle that cost 600 Vytallian lives, including that of Colonel Linthor, Iactarius and his 1,000 strong bodyguard were overcome and killed. This action, which ended a 6 month long siege in 3 days, earned the 23rd the title of "Siege Breakers".

Misc.: Siege Breaker characters are often reserved, because of the hazards of close combat and shock warfare. The Siege Breakers wear full carapace armor, colored blue and black. Every helmet includes an integral micro-bead, as well as a lowlight filter. In addition, every platoon includes a flamer and a meltagun, as well as grenades for each trooper. However, due to the regiment's reliance on close range firepower, there is usually only 1 heavy weapon (lascannon) or sniper per company.

Adventure Hooks: Jawsoen V is a Chaos-held Fortress world. Due to its reputation, the 23rd has been sent in to break through an extremely well held defence line. Once through, the Siege Breakers must locate and kill the leader of the Chaotic forces. The PCs will be right in the vanguard of the attack, and must do their part to ensure victory.

RPG System Notes: Siege Breaker stats would include a bonus to BS, because of the regiment's focus on gunnery. However, due to the regiment's serious occupation and dour personality, there would also be a penalty to Fel.

(48) been a while…

42nd Imber Grenadiers

Home-world: Imber / Hive World / Segmentum Obscurus

Military Speciality: Hostile environment infantry.

Order of Battle: Approximately 6000 Heavy hostile environment infantry.
30 Infantry companies with a transport pool of light environmentally sealed trucks and environmentally protected Chimera.
10 Armoured Infantry companies with Adapted Chimera and Crassus Transports.

Commanding Officer: Knight Colonel Adephus Linnaeus

History/Summary: The world of Imber is one of the most dismal hive worlds in the Imperium. The ancient hives processing of polymers and chemicals has absolutely poisoned the atmosphere so that highly acidic rain and falls in torrential downpours. Unprotected people will painfully die of burns within a minute but even under cover the toxins released when when it falls and reacts are dangerous. Most of Imber is a poisoned wasteland, it's once abundant life scoured away. The rivers and seas are still running their course, albeit at a reduced, deadly toxic level.
The people of Imber live in constant fear of the rains. Maintaining the exterior of the hive is dangerous business and outlying areas and the underhive are often poorly maintained and dangerous. Leaks and floods can kill and wound hundreds in painful ways. With danger so ever present it is no surprise that gangsters, rebels and heretics and an ever present risk to the hive world. When rain water is a chemical weapon everyone is a potentially dangerous heretic.
The planets PDF are almost entirely occupied by maintaining the high security areas such as the upper hives and the water processing run offs. This would leave large portions planet free for heretics to gather, recruit and travel in. Thus the planet recruits and maintains a significant Imperial Guard force. The raising of these regiments helps ease the overcrowding somewhat but mainly it is used on near permanent offensive into the midhive, underhive and wastelands in search of Heretic cults and dangerous gangs.
The 42nd are a fairly Standard Infantry regiment, they spent the first 5 years of their existence patrolling the wastelands and undercities of Imber. They had a notable battle against the massive Jounist Heretic cult around the ruins of Trajan city. The climax of the battle was typically pragmatic and unnerving for such actions. The 42nd fought through the defences, which were littered with traps, snipers and dug in positions until they were able to breach the hermetic seals of the Heretics base using demolition charges. As it filled the rain literally flushed out heretics the 42nd waited killed or captured them. In many cases they were burnt horribly or suffering lung damage. In one action the regiment had gone from fresh faced conscripts to grizzled veterans. Their reward was to be thrown into battle against the forces of Chaos on other planets.

Miscellaneous: The Imber Regiments are equipped with heavy, sealed carapace armour with a respirator, under long hooded coats. Because the lures of heresy are so close to home they are brutally administered by the Commissariat. All contact with their former lives is cut off and they are encouraged to have painful induction rituals into the regiments. In the 42nd it involves a skull burned with acid on to their bodies.
The Imber troops prefer lasweapons as they are easily sealed against rain. However the Mechanicus on Imber is a significant power and have allowed it produce Imber proofed weapons of most types.

Adventure hooks: Imperial and Chaos forces clash on a dreary rain-soaked planet quarter of an industrial world. The players regiment is deployed alongside the 42nd Imber. This is practically balmy conditions for the Imberites many of whom have taken off their respirators, and are taking the battle to the enemy with gusto. Such gusto, that many of the populous are taking a beating from the 42nd. That might have been all well and good but the acid scared veterans in coats terrifying the locals and the disease pocked chaos cultists in robes that are terrorising the locals are perhaps risking more than the usual amount of friendly fire.

RPG system notes: I'm sad to say the 42nd Imber Grenadiers are another, cold, detached low fellowship regiment. I suppose, a lot of the good ones are. There's distinct similarities with the DCoKreig, I really came up with these as an excuse to model guard in the rain, but I'll never get round to that, would have been nice with the hostile environment Cadians from Forgeworld. Furthermore the brutal acid scaring could have even further penalties outside of the Guard but increased intimidation. I'd put toughness up. Give them survival. Perhaps additionally problems with the inquisition such as poor reputation. But enemy or hatred, of heretics (or cultists, whatever factions they have in this system).
 

1st Black Talon Battalion (Naval)

Homeworld: Black Talon Squadron, Gothic Sector, Segmentum Obscurus.

Military Speciality: Combined Naval Assault Operations.

Order of Battle: 2400 Souls, split into six heavy infantry companies numbered 2 to 7. 1st Company records expunged.

Commanding Officer: Master-at-Arms Commander Bendabiar Braxx (Navy)

History/Summary: The Black Talon Naval Battalion is a rather unusual arrangement that came about due to the nature of the Black Talon Squadron's planetary invasion support role. The three Firestorm class frigates that make up the Squadron have been designed to sit in high orbit above enemy worlds and provide fire support with their lances as well as handling Imperial communications with their greatly enhanced vox networks, working together the three ships can typically provide global communications. The ships are also retrofitted with hangers allowing for small scale carrier operations providing either air support or assault boats.

The Black Talon Naval Battalion as an independent military unit wasn't given official approval by the Sector High Admiralty until over 200 years after its unofficial creation, this was done in recognition of the efforts of the Battalion in various boarding actions, especially in capturing several, previously unidentified, orbital defence batteries over the secession world of Iosa. The batteries were taken before they were able to fully bring their weapons down on the rapidly approaching Imperial fleet, this action was cited as the Battalions first Battle Honour independent of its Squadron. The 200 years of previous unofficial history, technically according to the Navy, doesn't count.

The Battalion makes very effective use the Imperial Navy's Shark Assault boats and the Navy pilots for these vessels have now more or less been integrated into the Battalion, and rightly or wrongly, they see themselves as a cut above other pilots because of this. It is however still a highly dangerous tactic and if poor piloting or planning and good enemy point defence are combined it can result in the loss of hundreds within the blink of an eye. This was the fate of the First Company whose records are now expunged. Official records at the time, before being destroyed in the Name of the God-Emperor, indicated that the entire Company abandoned its post during a renegade attack at the Siege of Heria Minor. The Commanding Officer at the time [+++Record Deleted For Your Own Protection+++] ordered an ill conceived counter attack and boarding action on the renegade vessel, whilst his fervour was commendable and his zeal unflinching it still resulted in the annihilation of the First Company. Later [+++Record Deleted For Your Own Protection+++] argued successfully that they had abandoned their posts without leave and therefore he was not to blame. The fact that their post had exploded around them was not taken into consideration and the name of the First Company was forever blackened.

Equipment: Ratings and Officers of the Battalion are largely armed in a similar fashion to Imperial Guard forces, though this equipment is requisitioned from the Imperial Navy. Depending on the nature of their current role they can be armed with either low-velocity Shotguns for policing or Lascarbines for boarding actions. The decision to choose Lascarbines over Lasguns is one made purely because space is at a premium. Other weapons include Boarding Pikes, Meltaguns and Meltapistols. Void suits are issued however their survivability and effectiveness is questioned by most experienced members of the Battalion. Thick leather gauntlets, welding masks, heavy magnetic boots and various tools used by ordinary Ratings are usually in abundance too. A fully kitted out Armsman preparing to undertake a boarding action is seldom recognisable underneath all his equipment looking like a cross between a Naval Rating, an Enginseer and a Guardsmen all in one. In the greatest tradition of military personnel everywhere kit customisation is seen as key to survival and in helping the Battalion get 'the edge'. Whether its tearing off pockets that are considered useless, taping down straps on a safety harness, writing your name and number on your mag-boots, over clocking your lascarbine beyond recommended Departmento Munitorium standards or carrying half a dozen different knives and tools you stole … every Battalion Armsmen tries to optimise and learn from the experienced old hands.

Miscellaneous: All members of the 1st Black Talon Battalion are members of the Imperial Navy and therefore it is important to remember that their military precedence comes after that of the Imperial Guard. Furthermore within the Imperial Navy's own hierarchy the Battalion is ultimately subservient to a traditional Naval Officer. Conversely though when the Battalion is performing its typical policing duties amongst the crew the Armsmen have seniority to allow them to fulfil their duties. During combined operations they will often find themselves under the overall command of the Imperial Guard or a senior Imperial Navy officer.

DW