User:Thisarmysucks/Scarlet Skulls

Basic Information
Name: Scarlet Skulls

Founding Chapter: Unknown

Founding: Unknown

Chapter Master: Lord Master Hobart Morgan

Home-world: Several Battle Barges and Strike Cruisers, in addition recruiting takes place in the hidden Dagos system.

Fortress-Monastery: Emperor’sVengeance

Main Colors: Black, red, and steel

Specialty: Pirate hunting, ship boarding siege.

Motto: No Quarter Asked, No Quarter Given.

Battle Cries: The dead speak not, Where there are stars, there are pirates, For the Emperor, and First to the fore.

Estimated strength: Estimated 1000 Marines

Background
The Scarlet Skulls are a chapter shrouded in Mystery who has served the imperium of man for millennia. The first documentation of the chapter was right after the Seventh founding. Although no records exist of their creation in the seventh founding, or any other founding for that matter. Their tradition holds that they are a second founding chapter, but of their primogenitor chapter there is no mention. They are a chapter who keep their secrets closely guarded from all outsiders and even within the chapter secrets are kept from all but the highest ranks. Another unusual aspect to the Scarlet Skulls is their close ties to units of the Imperial Guard. The 307th Expeditionary Force, based out of Darkuk has longed worked with the Scarlet Skulls. Several regiments from the force are assigned on permanent duty to the Skulls fleet. Infect the Red Skull is a badge awarded to guardsmen in the 307th for their service to the skulls. In addition the Skulls maintain their own personal unit who serve aboard their ships in various duties such as intelligence gathering and missions unsuited for an Astartes known as the Red Guard.

The Scarlet Skulls are a fleet based chapter who primarily target space pirates with special focus given to pirate fleets of Dark Eldar and Chaos Space Marines. They specialize in boarding actions and raids but also have mechanized companies for protracted ground battles. The Skulls have gained a reputation for ruthlessness, and deception. They have never shied away from any kind of devious tactic that would allow them to get the upper hand in battle. Despite this, they have worked with several other chapters on campaigns who esteem them to be brave and stead fast warriors unquestionably Loyal to the Emperor. The exception o this is the Ultramarines and many of their successors. There has been no love lost between these Chapters. One account actually claims that two Captains from the Ultramarines and the Scarlet Skulls actually came to blows after an argument over how to conduct a campaign against the chaos uprising on Seclorum IV. The report says that Marines from both chapters pulled the two apart before things got too nasty, and the Ultramarines departed the world soon after.

Organization
The Scarlet Skulls is loosely follows the guidelines of the Codex Astartes, but differs widely in some aspects. The First Company is the veteran Company as per the codex; however the skulls divide it into two parts: Honor, and Valor. Honor Mans the Chapter Flag ship, Commanded by the Lord Commander, while valor joins the other company in the field and is led by the First Captain.

Each Company within the chapter is designed to be self sufficient. 2nd through 7th Companies are codex battle companies. 8th Company is the only reserve company. They man the Fortress-Cathedrals that the Scarlet Skulls have founded on each of their recruiting worlds. 9th company is based around fast attack and assault. All of the chapter’s bikes and land speeders as well as their veteran Assault Marines are housed in this Company. Often squads from the 9th are tasked out to other companies and very rarely does the 9th operate as a whole.

The tenth company is the scout and recruiting company as per codex. Each Fortress-Cathedral has Senior Sergeants assigned to the 10th who are constantly recruiting and training new marines. As the different companies visit the recruiting worlds the new marines are immediately transferred over. There is no command staff for the tenth instead they fall under control of the Lord Black. In addition there is an 11th company which is entirely mechanized and responsible for all of the vehicles as well as the keeping of the sacred war gear for the chapter. Often they are tasked out to other companies but they insure that they keep a strong core together in case they are ever called on for ground assault.

Recruitment
The Scarlet Skulls have no homeworld but do have several recruitment worlds which they watch over and protect. The majority of all of their Astartes come from these worlds. The known recruitment worlds are Darkuk, Mosmarra, Dagos IV, Dagos V’s moon Covaas and Dagos IX. The 307th Expeditionary Force is responsible for the protection of these worlds and work closely with the Skulls to insure they are compliant. The 307th also has a history of campaigning along side of the Skulls and on several occasions guardsmen of the 307th have gone to become Astartes in the Scarlet Skull chapter.

Appearance
Chapter Insigniais a red skull on a silvery field. The Chapter banner is silver with a blood red stripe down the length of the right side and a red skull centered on the black. In addition each company has its own unique banner. When worn on armor the insignia is worn on the left shoulder pad; a red skull on unpainted steel with black trim. Often on campaign a design is added behind or below the skull, sometimes even the shape of the skull is changed and this becomes the army badge. Heroes of notable campaigns often choose to continue to wear the design for the honor.