Equalizers

"Lo we stand, bolters in hand, to slay the foe, wherever he stands. May he hide up high or cower below, he knows our bolts, will find his soul. Lo we stand, bolters in hand, to defend those innocent of flesh, and pure of soul. Lo we stand, bolters in hand, grand equalizers, between xenos and man."- Equalizer mantra.

The Equalizers are a 24th founding successor chaper of Ultramarine stock. They were created to defend the ancient forge world known as Equius Prime and the wealth of archotech that lays buried benith the hive cities of that world.

They are a stoic and serious chapter, (though they are posessed of a dry humor) not ones for zelous fervor or foolhardy charges. They consider the defence of the Imperiums citizens thier duty and pourpose. They do not worship the God Emporor in any fasion. Though the Emporor is not worshiped, he is deeply reviered and respected as the greatest leader man has ever known, the Equalizers belive that the Emporors time is long since passed; and that it is his sons, the Space Marines, that must ensure humanites survival. Not to fight for glory or praise, but for Mankind.

The Equalizers tend to put an emphisis on ranged firepower over skill in hand to hand combat and as such have earned the ire of more traditonal chapters. They are cool and collected in battle, but have been known to fly into berzerker rages called "Episodes." They are Codex complient by the barest margin. Examples of this are found in thier use of Dreadnaughts, thier secret 11th "Wrath" Company.

The Equalizers consider xenos threats to be of thier greatest consern, as humanites victory against the traitors and heritics will be all for naught if they are overwhelmed by the alien hordes. As such this chapter maintains a close realtionship with Ordo Xenos and other like minded chapters.

Thier gene-seed suffers from various minor mutations, most are benifical, but rumors abound as to the cause of these mutations. (the most common being that the Ultramiarine gene-seed this chapter was supplied with may have been contaminated with traces of War Hounds, a.k.a World Eater, gene-seed) These mutations include incresed strength (which makes up for their lack of finesse in close quarters combat) incresed reflex speed, keener eyesight, (which has allowed this chapter to become unmached marksmen) and a predisposition to bouts of homicidal rage. These "episodes" of explosive violence are usually kept in check by the phenominal disaplen all Space Marines exibit but psykers of the chapter are more prone to these bursts of rage, so much so that they are kept hidden from the prying eyes of the Inquasiton and were formed into thier own Company, known as the 11th or "Wrath" Company.

They are also famous (or in the case of the Adeptus Machanicus, infamous) for the various modifications they make to thier wargear. They are also loathed by the Mechanicus for other reasons, such as the Chapters refusal to surrender archotech from thier world to the Mechanicus and the Chapters independance from the Mechanicus, as much of thier arms and armor are manufactured on Equius Prime witthout the consent of the Adeptus Mechanicus.

They also have a larger than usual number of marnies in the veteran 1st company and 10th Scout company. They also posess a sizable number of Dreadnaughts all bearing the Equalizers signature Equius Pattern Sarcopogus, which is larger and more heavily armored than standard Mars Patterns.

They have fought in many campainges against the threats in the Sagittarius arm and have acheived some renown amongst the peoples in those regions. They show a great deal of skill when combating xenos races, though they are more than capable of dealing with the Forces of Chaos.

Though the Equalizers are of Ultramarine stock, they maintain a distant relationship with thier proginators and fellow Ultramarines successors, prefering the company of the Salamanders or Space Wolves whenever possible. (as they respect the emphisis the Salamanders place on safegaurding citizens of the Imperium and love to hear the Space Wolves curse as they wach the Equalizers gun down the foe before the Sons of Russ can close ranks with the enemy)

Founding
The Equalizers were of the 24th founding and have served the Imperium with unflatering loyalty and dedication for centuries. They were origanally created to defend a hive world of great stratigic importance, Equius Prime. They were trained to be experts in urban warfare and close quarters engagements, but as they began recuiting from the ranks of the most ruthless hive gangs, they developed a taste for the use of ranged weapons in close quarters situations. (instead of clearing a roomfull of eneimes with a chainsword, the Equalizers prefer to empty a storm bolters clip into the contested area.) After a full millennium defending thier system from eight Ork invasions (all from the infamous Blackteef tribe) and one gastly Tryanid assault upon the world, the Equalizers built up thier numbers and set off into the Galaxy; beliving that they could be of use to the peoples of the Imperium elsewhere. (though they always keep a large homegaurd)

The Damoclies Gulf Crusaide
The Equalizers served with distinction during the Damoclies Gulf Crusaide, though thier exploits are largely unknown by the vast majority of the Imperium due to this chapters humble nature. Rather than boast about thier victories during the Crusaide the Equalizers hold quiet memorials to honor thier dead and remeber thier sacrifeces.

Tyranid Encursion
The Equalizers fought tooth and nail against the Great Devourer in the defence of thier homeworld. Though they suffered grevious losses the Equalizers stood thier ground against the Tryanids and ensured that Equius Prime's civilian population was safe and secure deep within the bowles of the hive cities and manufactorums. Following the Tryanid invasion, the Equalizers had begun to build up thier numbers, their Chapter Master beliving that now was the time for the Equalizers to aid in the defence of the Imperium as a whole. As the bulk of the chapter left thier belovid homeworld, they swore that so long as one Equalizer was still breathing, the xenos who preyed upon humanity would have a foe to fear.

The Judgment
Elements of the secret 11th Company were led into the scervice of Chaos by the Equalizer, Mindfang. Mindfang beilved the Imperium to be a courrupt and evil regime and refused to support it any longer, with that he turned half of the Wraths of the 11th Company, and over a quarter of the chapter to the Chaos God Malice. The Equalizers fought thier tainted brothers in total secreracy for three long Terran years until Mindfangs warband, now known as The Scales of Malice, retreated into the Malstrom. The civil war crippled the Equalizers and required thousands of Terran years of rebuilding before they were returned to full strength. The chapter now relentlessly hunts Mindfang "The Wicked" and his warband across the Galaxy, with the intent of making this tratior and bucher of the Imperiums people pay in blood.

Current Status
The Equalizers patrol the whole of the Sagittarius arm, on constant alert and poised to defend against any foe of the Imperium. They will awnser any call to action so long as the purpose is to defend the people of the Imperium. Any other requests are met with scrutiney and are rarely obliged, lest they come from Ordo Xenos.

Weapons and Tactics
The Equalizers are specialists in the use of long range firearms and urban firefights, as such they have gained fame as ledgandary marksmen, capable of stoping an Ork charge with noting more than thier Bolters and iron will. They prefer to keep the enemy at arms length that they may gun them down under a hail of well placed bolter rounds. They also make constant use of the skill known as Akimbo "The art of Dual Weilding " and are surpisingly accurate with two bolt pistols or simmilar one handed weapons though some members of the 1st Company have been known to dual weild Storm Bolters and simmilar weapons. This chapter dose posess deadly skill in hand to combat but its use is considered a last resort, as close combat greatly increses the odds of an "episode" of mindless fury.

They have a very large number of Dreadnaughts, and unlike other chapters who rarely awaken these ancient warriors, each company save the 10th and 11th companies deploy Dreadnaughts in every major conflict. As such many Dreadnaughts within the Equalizers are rarely put into stasis and are constantly functioning members of the chapter. Thier Dreadnaughts follow a uniqe pattern of design, known as the Equius Pattern, which is larger and more heavily armored than the standard Mars Pattern. These uniqe pattern Dreadnaughts are geared towards ranged warfare and are heavily armed with plasma weapons and auto cannons.

And should the need be dire, elements of the 11th "Wrath" Company are depolyed to totally destroy the foe.

The Equalizers Veteran 1st Company do not feild Terminator armor but instead advanced Equius Pattern Power Armor. Equius Pattern Power Armor lacks the signature backpack and instead has an unknown but much more potent power source, and as such the users strength is greatly incresed to mach that of Terminator armor and the shields are far more powerful, all without trading mobility. However, this armor is still not as durable as Terminator armor and lacks the added protection its bulk provides.

The Equalizers have a heavily modifed arsenal of bolters and plasma weapons and the prefered weapon amongst thier Devistators is the auto cannon, for the flexibility it provides. They also keep a very large stockpile of Power Weapons, with all but the 10th Company bearing power swords or axes. The Equalizers also make use of various types of exotic ammuniton, the most favored are Exicutioner rounds, as these self guiding bolts are weapons of mass destruction in the hands of a Equalizer sniper squad. There are a few weapons of note that are uniqe to the chapter.

The Equius Pattern Bolter- The Equius Pattern Bolt Rifle is a powerful and accurate tool, always fitted with armor peircing rounds or shrapnel bolts, and designed with a built in holographic sight, these "Blue Bolters" are the chapters signature weapons. Equius Pattern bolters are far more accurate and suffer from less recoil when compaired to the standard Godwyn Pattern Bolt Rifle. The Equius Pattern is also famed for its sheer stopping power, as a small force of Scout Marines armed with these bolters can level an Ork charge. However, the Equius Pattern Bolt Rifle fires at a much slower rate than standard bolters.

Equius Pattern Bolt Revolver- A standard side arm of the Equalizers, the Blot Revolver trades ammo capacity for sheer stopping power. These potent weapons are famous for thier relaibility and durability but are equally infamous for the meger nine bolts that can be fired before realoading. This weapons power is ledgendary and in the right hands can fell and Ork Warboss in one shot.

The Equius Pattern "Battle Bolter"- A hybrid of the Equius Pattern Bolter and the Stalker Bolter, the Battle Bolter exibits and extended barrle and a mid to long range holographic scope. This weapon is an icon for all the chapter stands for, precision, power, and of course range. The Battle Bolter is capable of rapid three round bursts or semi-automatic fire. This Bolter is by far the most powerfull and accurate utilzed by any chapter. However there is a price for such power, the weapon lacks a fully automatic setting and is woefully difficult to build and maintain. Regardless, it is often seen in the hands of the Equalizers scout and tatical marine squads.

The Equius Pattern Bolt SMG- Seen as sidearms amongst the chapters tactial squads and primary weapons in the hands of scouts, this rugged and potent weapon trades accuracy for a deep clip and vicous fire rate. The Bolt SMG also keeps the Equalizers trademark stopping power. This versitle weapon has saved many an Equalizer from the jaws of death. Unfortuantly this weapons angry recoil makes it difficult for the Equalizers, even with thier superhuman strength, to steady let alone aim and thus is only suited for close quarters firefights.

Equius Pattern "Oblivion" Anti-Material Rifle- This massive sniper rifle is only fit for the use of Space Marines, as the rifle itself would take a team of ordinary men to carry and special supports before fireing. The power and range of this rifle is as ledgandary as the marksmenship of those who use it, this rifle is capable of tearing a rampaging Khornate Berzerker in half and can even bring down a Squiggoth with one well placed shot. Obviously the Oblivion Rifle is ment for long distance engagements and has no place in mid or short range firefights. The rifles recoil (which would break a normal mans arm) means that it cannot fire rapidly, but in the hands of an experienced Equalizer this mighty weapon can destroy anything from tanks to aircraft as well as high value infantry targets.

Gene-Seed Mutations
The Equalizers gene-seed suffers from various minor mutations and the reasons for this remain unknown to all including the chapter itself. Many rumors have spread over the meillina but the most presistent is that the Equalizers gene-seed was tampered with by the Mechaicus, and that the Mechanicus contaminaited the geneseed with either Blood Angles or War Hound geneseed. Though this is unlikely as the Blood Angles "Black Rage" dose not subside like the "Episodes" and the War Hounds gene-seed would not explain the improvement in vison or refelx speed. In reality the mutations may simply be a natural mutations that have occured over time.

The various known mutations are as follows:

The "Episodes"- Every Equalizer suffers from bouts of explosive and uncontrolable rage, these events are rare but every Equalizer inevitably sucumbs to at the very least, one Episode in his long life. (during The Ordeal) Whilst in the grips of an Episode, the flow of time itself seems to slow down for the Equalizer and he is consumed with a blood lust the likes of which is only found in the Blood Angles Black Rage, an Equalizer during an Episode is capable of tearing a fellow Space Marine limb from limb. Thankfully, Episodes are usually only seconds long and subside with the destruction of the object of the Equalizers wrath. Unfortuantly, those few psykers who are recruited into the Equalizers find it far more difficult to hold back the Episodes and thier will eventually erodes and gives way to the bloodlust. Though these, "Wraths" can still determine freind from foe, all else is lost to violent urges. Outside of battle, Wraths must be in solitary confinement or in stasis, as they have pindrop tempers and will go on a berzerker rampage without any obvious provication.

Bulk- Equalizers are noteably stronger and burlier than most Space Marines, whilst this is a slight advantage, it compansites for the Equalizers sub-par (by Space Marine standards) skill in hand to hand combat. Whilst most Equalizers avoid close quarters combat whenver possible (as the likely hood of an Episode dramaticly incresses) they are brutal in hand to hand combat, decapiating foes with little more than thier combat knives or tearing limbs off with their bare hands. This is also why the chapter makes extensive use of Power Weapons, as these potent weapons augmented with thier above average strength makes them nigh unstopable juggernauts should the enemy colse ranks with the Equalizers.

Reflex- Equalizers have faster reaction times when compaired to other Space Marines, this trait is very helpful to the Equalizers as it is thier hair trigger reflexes that aids them in the almost impossible shots this chapter is famous for. It also keeps them alive in close quarters engagments with more skilled combatants such as Traitor Marines, who have had thousands of years to hone thier skills in the maddness of the Warp.

Eyes- The Equalizers have supremely keen eyesight, with some indviduals capable of seeing enemy ships on the edge of a given star system from the center of said system. (granted they need to be without any visual interferences such as atmosphere or light pollution) Though in normal cases an Equalizer is capable of making out a single rock on a mountain horizon hundreds of miles away. And thier superb depth preception allows them to gauge the distances and more often than not line up a spectacular shot. (of course the Equalizers constant use of target finding Exicutioner rounds is an immence advantage)

11th "Wrath" Company
The Equalizers Gene-seed reacts negitively with psykers and other Warp-sensitive individuals, as the likely hood and severity of "Episodes" increses throught the Equalizers life until it is impossible to resist the constant pull. Though these "Wraths" can still tell friend from foe, and are still dedicated to the Imperium, they are hardly sane enough to comprihend anything else. They are seldom used and are the Chapters closest gaurded secret.

The Wraths specialize in combating Chaotic forces, as they can root out Choatic taint with startling accuracy, and will act with immideate and shocking violence should they dedect any Chaotic presents.

Wraths are nigh unstoppable once unleshed unto the battledfeild, each weilds massive Relic Blades and Thunder Hammers, or dual weilding Power Axes and Power Swords. Thier psyker powers are also incresed by at least one level. Though they only instinctivly use thier powers usually it is to great affect.

There are few things that can bring a Wrath down, mostly massed heavy weapons fire or artliery strikes.

The list of abilites at a Wraths disposal are:

Wrath Hammer- The Wrath fires a ball of unstable Warp energy from his hand at the foe, the resultent explosion is enough to total most heavy armored vehicles.

Warp Sheild- The Wrath will summon a powerful sheild that will stop and deflect all but the most powerful of projectiles, however the shield suffers from the Wraths tunnle vison and dose not protect his rear or sides.

Warpfire- Wraths are capable of breathing massive jets of warp fire upon the foe, inceraiting thier very souls.

Wrathblast- The Wrath becomes so consumed with hate and rage that he charges deep into enemy lines where he selfdestructs in a massive explosion of Warp energy.

Wrath Wall- The Wrath exerts a huge gust of telekinetic force powerfull enough to rip flesh from bone and overturn main battle tanks.

Teleport- Wraths will move through the warp over short distances in order to surprise or ambush the enemy. They also use this ability to board enemy super heavy vehicles and to reach an out of range foe.

Sniper Squads
The Equalizers have squads of full fledged battle brothers who are the best shots in the chapter. These 6 man squads usually have three Marines armed with Battle Bolters and the other three are armed with deadly Stalker Bolters or powerfull Oblivion rifles loaded with Exicutioner rounds. These squads are usually deployed to whittle the enemy down or provide long range support.

Relations
The Blackteef Tribe- The Equalizers have fought these Orks since the begining and have sworn to end The Maastas life no matter the cost. The chapter was created to defend Equius Primes vast stores of archotech from the Blackteef and as such have become experts on Blackteef and Orks in general.

Orks- The Equalizers were created to fight Orks and as such are experts on the brutish beasts. They know Ork Klanz intrectly and understand each tribes history and "kultur", while many chapters debate wheather or not knowing every detail about these savage xenos is really necciary, the Equalizers believe that to defeat thine enemy you must know thine enemy.

Tau- This Chapter has done battle with Tau forces many a time but are content to leave them be, as thier are far more immediate and dire threats to the people of the Imperium.

Tyranids- Like all Ultramarine successor chapters, the Equalizers dispise the Tyranids with every fiber of thier being and will fight the Great Devourer at any oppertunity.

Inquasition- The Equalizers cannot stand most of the Ordos save Ordo Xenos, whom the Equalizers belive foucus on Mankinds true enemy. As such there are many Equalizers in the service of the Deathwach and some actually leave thier chapter to serve as Throne Agents for Ordo Xenos Inquisitors.

Raven Gaurd- These two chapters have rarely worked together but the chapters styles of warfare, when combined, make them an all but unstoppable force. The Raven Gaurd attack unseen and undetectable, whilst the Equalizers decimate the confused foe from afar.

Space Wolves- Though the majority Space Wolves consider the Equalizers a chapter of cowards who shirk away from glorious close combat, those who have seen an Equalizer during an Episode knows full well that the Equalizers are far from cowards. The Two chapters share an interesting relationship, as the Equalizers have been known to "tag along" with Space Wolves, though this arrangment is less than favorable to the Space Wolves tastes the Wolves admit that there is no more comfoting feeling than knowing that as you charge into the fray the Equalizer behind you will destroy all who hide in vantage points across the battlefeild. (Though the Space Wolves can barely stand it when the Equalizers steal thier kills from afar)

Ultramarines- The Equalizers maintain a distant relationship with thier proginators, but as any son of Guliman, should the Ultramarines or thier fellow successors call for aid, they will awnser with Blue Bolters at the ready.

Iron Krakens- The Iron Krakens saved the Equalizers 2nd company during the Sacking of Alsace, the two chapters have differing agedas and ideologies but after Alsace, should the Krakens call for aid, the Equalizers will respond without hesitation.

Salamanders- The Salamanders and Equalizers both place an emphisis on defending civilians and therefore work well together, both on and off the feild of battle.

Eldar- The Equalizers hunt the Eldar relentlessly, seeing the pompus and fickle xenos as a grave threat to the people of the Imperium. They have destroyied no less than three crafworlds at great cost to themselves.

Chaos- As any Space Marine chapter, the Equalizers hunt down and destroy Chaos wherever it rears its heretical head. They are mortal enemies with the Chaos warband that spawned from thier own ranks, The Scales of Malice. They also are on the constant lookout for the fabled Schola Chaotica, as a warband that robs humanity of future generations is shurely on this chapters top prioity.

Necrons- The chapter has rarely come into contact with the Necrons but has sworn that these souless machines will feel thier wrath for the untold millions of Impieral citizens the C'tans servents have slaughtered.

King-Goy- The Equalizers have sworn to hunt down and elimiante these xenos as the Goy have not only kidnaped and mudered citzens of the Imperium but because Ordo Xenos has deemed it a priority.

Drakul- The Equalizers have encountered the Drakul and are weary of the xenos, but at the moment do not belive them to be a threat to the Imperium.

Xellok- The Equalizers have tracked the Xellok across the Sagittareus Arm and have exterminated any that they have come across. It is a testament to the chapters skill that not one of these purges have required exterminatus.

Mutacrat-

Chapter Culture
The Equalizers have adopted many cultural practices from the peoples of Equius Prime.

Equius Prime is a run down forge world, having been nearly destroyed by nuclear warfare during the Age of Strife. When the Imperium rediscovered the world, the only humans left were vicous hive gangs and the wreched mutants they had resorted to eating as the only other alternitive was cannibalisem. However, large sections and of the deep manufatorums were in perfect condtion, and massive stockpiles of ancient weapons from the humanities Golden Age lay untouched.

The Equalizers were origanally Ultramarines but in time as thier ranks became flooded with recruites taken from the most deadly hive gangs they began to change as a chapter. Names like, Epsilon, North, Betuger, and Waidmen became common as the people of Equius had lost the traditon of family titles ages ago. The chapter took on the combat styles of the people they defended and interacted with on a daily basis, as many Equailzer scouts are used to defend the otherwise doomed tribes against mutants and other horrors, they had fought alongside these people and found that a bolt to the skull can fell even the mightest of foes. They became more reserved, as individual vicotries meant nothing on Equius Prime, the only true victory to the people of Equius was dieing of old age and leaving enough offspring to take up your meger estate.

And thus after a millenia fighting and dieing alongside the people of Equius Prime made the Equalizers into what they are today, a stoic but benevolent chapter, defenders of the Imperium and all its peoples. It is thier firm belief that this is what the Emporor, in all his great wisdom, created the Space Marines for.

Recruitment
The Equalizers only recrute from thier homeworld of Equius Prime and its surrounding moons ,Equius II, Equius III and Equius IV.

The usual asperents come from the worlds most successful hive gangs and tribes and are put through rigorus testing and training. But the moment of truth comes when the asperant undergose "The Ordeal".

The Ordeal is the final part of an asperents training, they are by now almost fully gene-seeded and thus are now capable of falling into an "Episode." The potental Equalizer is induced into an Episode by various naroctics and is expected to resist as long as possible. This test brings out the true nature of the asperant, if they embrace the power brought by the Episode then they are not worthy, but if they resist for at set amount of time they are accepted into the chapter. This trial teaches the successful asperant that they cannot deny thier rage, but as defenders of the Imperium they must resist no matter the cost, for they are the final line against madness and oblivion.

Chapter Master Epsilon
Epsilon is the third chapter master of the Equalizers and the 1st one to be native to Equius Prime.