Soldiers of Christ

Property of Dominus001

History
For years a blood oath has been kept, a mysterious secret society, hidden in plain sight, until now.

Carefully embedding an idea into a select few, their followers have grown.

Within the very ranks of the Imperium, thousands of men and woman have been carefully putting a plan into place. With the Psychic Awakening occurring, Imperium forces are spread desperately thin. This secret few will wait, biding their time until the Imperium forces are triumphant, yet heavily weakened, then this secret society will strike, from within.

From the heart of the Imperium, they shall ignite, unitedly and coordinated attacks over dozens of vital installations, to cripple the remaining forces.

Once crippled, they shall overthrow the very halls of Terra itself. They shall, however, offer mercy to their defeated former allies, offering them salvation under the one true God, an ancient God, older than time itself. A God that is not just present in one universe, but also a parallel universe.

Years previous, the Chapter "Righteous Sword" invaded a distant ancient land, undiscovered by the Imperium, a beautiful realm filled with vast churches and grand cathedrals.

Chapter Master Benaiah lay siege, and in his deadly onslaught, he defeated the planets primary forces within one week. A terrible Guerrilla war broke out; however, Benaiah was impressed by the enemies fortitude.

Even defeated, they stood defiant to the bitter end. It was when he entered one of their capitals cathedrals, a grand place, that he was first shocked, even though it was in the slightest.

Men and women, unarmed, lined up to stop his powerful marines from entering. His men cut them down, though these people, these monks were unafraid.

It was madness, or something else, but Benaiah felt a tingle. Upon entering the palace, an eerie, chilling wind touched his grim leather face; it may have been nothing.

Down he went into the chambers below, along deep, long catacombs, then he entered a room. Ancient scrolls and leather books lay. He picked one up and scanned the old text, written in High Gothic, which he found strange.

His Praetor lifted his flamer "more heretic filth to burn sire." Beniah continued scanning the old book. "Sire," Beniah looked up, then gave a slight nod. Pretour Abel commenced his fury, burning the scrolls and books without a second thought.

Benaiah held the book; in thought, he placed the book inside his pouch.

Moments later, a gowned older man entered, somehow unnoticed. The man stood behind the Chapter Master and Praetor; quiet he remained. Seconds passed then both turned. Instinctively the Pretour raised his weapon to fire, however, somehow Beniahd raised his hand.

"You want to take him prisoner Sire," Beniah after a few moments, nodded again.

Back on board the "Unforgiven" flagship of the Righteous Sword, Benaiah lay in his chambers, reading over the ancient texts. "Bring the prisoner to my quarters Ensign" spoke Beniah over his comms.

The old man, thurst into a chair in front of Beniah, starred upon the Chapter Masters eyes; though no hated was found, only something unusual to the marine, the eyes of forgiveness.

Then he spoke, softly; "let us read together, son."

The events that occurred during and shortly after are unknown, only that Beniah learned of ancient faith and the hidden history of Terra.

What absolute is that the Chapters views changed. A secret oath was taken, the pledge of silence, until the day of reckoning is called upon, the day of the true crusade.

Over the course of a few years, several more Chapters banded including powerful Guard and Navy regiments including a Forge World with Titan capabilities. Unfortunately, by unknown means, the Righteous Sword was discovered. However, the vast majority remain hidden, silent and secret agents, living and working in plain sight.

Three of the Chapters were revealed and immediately deemed Excommunicate Traitoris. A Holy War has now commenced, and small skirmish battles have taken place. The secret majority, still under orders to remain still, until the day the enemies are obliterated, and the Imperium is weak enough to overthrow.

The Righteous Sword repainted their plates and renamed themselves the "Soldiers of Christ."

Their shoulder icon became a cathedral and their motto Deus Vult. Church spires stand tall from their power-packs, and their armour is fitted with gothic structures and books and scrolls attached.

Now hooded, gowned and ready, the Soldiers of Christ preach the ancient texts upon new worlds, and converting others.

Sons of the Lion, they now state they are sons of Christ in respect to his unyielding believe in forgiveness and dying for the sins on man.

Black armoured with Vets squads wearing white gowns and hoods, the Chapter is a force of short-ranged marksmen, specialising in fighting in built-up areas and deep striking into heavy combat.

Their primary tactical weapon is the Bolt Carbine or remoulded Bolt-shotgun, a superior combat shotgun. Flamers are their other standard weaponry.

One-thousand strong, their prime Companies consist of tactical paratrooper units.

The combat knife and Crusader Chainsword are their standard melee weapons.

Terminators are rare with five squads and five Officers. Due to their fighting style, heavy armour is also limited with a handful of Predators and artillery.

The Dreadnought is their main large fighting unit, typically deep-striked into combat with a Hurricane bolter and Heavy Flamer or Rocket barrage.

The marines also specialised in underwater warfare and explosives and were the Task Force that destroyed the Tau subterranean Recon base, hidden under an Imperium world.

The Soldiers of Christ recently came into a skirmish engagement with 1st Company of the McLeod Beasts, that were tasked with their eradication.

As the platoon on platoon battle took place, their efforts were hindered when a mutually threatening force of Genestellers accompanied by cultists that invaded the Ice Station of Geta-Two. The frozen tundra research world recently had a breakthrough in some mysterious arcane knowledge.

The two marine forces were forced to side until the hellish threat was subdued; however, the Soldiers of Christ managed to obtain the research and leg it.

Shortly after, Black Templars were sent into interrogate the research staff, believing there to be an inside man, or how else could the enemy have obtained and escaped so easily.

The two other Chapters discovered to be worshipping the ancient Terra faith are the Grail Excalibers, successors of the Ultramarines and the Holy Templars, successors of the Blood Angels.

It is unknown how many Chapters, or Agents the Church has, though it will be made clear when the time is right.

Given to one who studies the texts in great depth to pass onto others.

Specialist Ranks
Arch Bishop Chapter Master

Bishop Praetor, or similar level

Keeper Special guard of ancient texts, and knowledge.

Seeker Given to one who studies the texts in great depth to pass onto others.

Para-Commando Vets

Frog Specialising in underwater warfare

Force Scout Recon troops

Gunny Sergeant

Preacher Chaplains

Exorcist Librarian

Doctrine
Deep strike, or rappel from silent Blackrobin shuttles. Anti-terrorism & fighting in built-up areas, plus fast mobility and rapid response.

Specialist Vehicles
Landspeeder Fitted with a Las Baster.

Raven Dread The Dreadnought is their main large fighting unit, typically deep-striked into combat with a Hurricane Bolter and Heavy Flamer or Rocket barrage.

Fumigator Predator Heavy Flamer turret with Assault cannon sponsons

Culture
Preaching the word of God. Liberating worlds under Imperium rule.

Homeworld
Schoenstatt & Fleet based