[[Image:Mk1power armorThunderArmour.JPGjpg|thumb|right|Mk.I '350px|A Captain in a mix of [[Thunder' pattern Armour]] and Great Crusade armour by [[Power ArmourJohn Blanche]] {{Fn|4a}}]]The '''Thunder Warriors''' (also known as the '''Thunder Legion'''{{Fn|7}} or '''Legiones Cataegis'''{{Fn|10a}}) were the genetically-engineered warriors of [[Terra]] created by the [[Emperor of Mankind]] to [[Unification Wars|unite the homeworld of humanity]] beneath His rule in the [[M30|30th Millennium]]. They were gene-enhanced warriors created by the Emperor and served as the precursors to the present-day [[Space Marines]]. Wrought to be living weapons, the Thunder Warriors were known to be physically stronger, more savage , and more potent in combat than the later Astartes, though they were not as long-lived.

Thunder Warriors were the elite super -soldiers that marched with the [[Emperor]] to conquer [[Terra]] in the [[Wars of Unification]]. The engineering that the Emperor used to create the Thunder Warriors, whilst creating superior fighters, was not as efficient as what was used later to create the [[Space Marine]]s{{Fn|3}}, nor was the technology as advanced or the geneticists as entirely willing.{{Fn|5a}} These proto-Astartes were organized in organised into twenty regiments of no more than a few hundred warriors, each named by the Emperor himself.{{Fn|44b}}

The Thunder Warriors battled throughout the Unification Wars and united Terra for the first time in millennia under the rule of the [[Emperor]]. According to myth, they were all killed during the final battle of the Unification Wars, the [[Battle of Mount Ararat]].{{Fn|2}} ===Organisation===Like the later [[Legiones Astartes]], the Thunder Warriors were organised into twenty Legions, each led by a [[Primarch]]. However, unlike the Astartes Primarchs, Thunder Warriors Primarchs were not physically different from the warriors they led. Instead, they were simply superlative warriors who were promoted to the position by the Emperor.{{Fn|10a}} The Legions of Thunder Warriors seem to match that of the Astartes. For instance, the 4th Legion of Thunder Warriors was known as the ''Iron Lords'' and specialised in siegecraft. This closely resembles the subsequent [[Iron Warriors]].{{Fn|10a}}

[[Image:TWMiniMk1power armor.jpgJPG|thumb|right|140px[[Space Marine Power Armour#Mark I "Thunder Armour"|Mk.I 'Thunder Warrior miniature{{Fn|6}}' pattern]] [[Power Armour]] ]]Thunder Warriors were large, greater in size than most [[Space Marine]]s. Even In their earliest days the Thunder Warriors wore metal armour with leather strappings and wielded [[Lasgun|Lasrifle]]s.{{Fn|10a}} Despite physical deterioration, the few Warriors that survived the end of the [[Unification Wars]] were easily more than a match for an Astartes and even the mighty [[Custodes]] in single combat. Even severely deteriorated Thunder Warriors were capable of fighting multiple Astartes at once.{{Fn|5b}}{{Fn|8}} They were made highly resistant to psychic attack, perhaps because of the sorcery they would regularly face during the [[Age of Strife]], with any attempts at mental attack causing severe pain to the psyker. {{Fn|8}} They had tremendous upper body strength thatwas considered to be unparalleled, which when coupled with their early model of [[Space Marine Power ArmorArmour#Mark_1_.22Thunder_Armour.22Mark I "Thunder Armour"|power armorarmour]], made them virtually unbeatable in close combat.{{Fn|2}}{{Fn|5b}}{{Fn|8}} The leg strength of even a heavily physically deteriorating Thunder Warrior made them capable of kicking completely through the torso of a normal human.{{Fn|8}} Their bones were thicker than that of an Astartes, with a Thunder Warrior capable of shattering the skull of an Astartes with a headbutt.{{Fn|2}} Their reflexes were also extremely enhanced, allowing a Thunder Warrior to dodge the shot from a [[plasma gun]], while already engaged in and focusing on fighting two other Astartes.{{Fn|8}} The Thunder Warriors' genetic template was unstable and they were prone to fits of bloodlust and instability. Short-lived and rife with both mental and physical health issues, Thunder Warriors were known to suddenly drop dead or stop following orders.{{Fn|10a}} Unlike the later Legiones Astartes, they lived as warlords and relished battle. Their human emotions were not expunged from them, and they were known for their dry humour.{{Fn|10b}}

Imperial history records that the Thunder Warriors had all died in the final battle of the Unification Wars, the Battle of Mount Ararat, and the [[Legiones Astartes]] were created to replace them.{{Fn|2}} However, according to a surviving Thunder Warrior, [[Arik Taranis]], the Emperor didn't replenish their numbers, or may have in fact massacred the hyper-violent and short-lived Thunder Warriors to make way for his stable, mass produced Astartes warriors, fabricating the tale of Mount Ararat as a cover-up, or using the battle to expend the last of the Thunder Warriors. The Thunder Warriors were suitable for conquering Terra, but did not fit the Emperor's vision of warriors who would take the entire Galaxy.{{Fn|2}} It is implied that the purges were carried out by the [[Custodian Guard]].{{Fn|7}} Another source states that upon discovering their short lifespans, the Thunder Warriors revolted against the Emperor, causing the Custodes to annihilate them.{{Fn|9}}

Early in ===Survivors===[[Image:TWMini.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Thunder Warrior miniature{{Fn|6}}]]Towards the end of the [[Great CrusadeUnification Wars]], a small group of at least two dozen surviving Thunder Warriors calling themselves the Dait'Tar were among the renegades under one of their Primarchs [[Ushotan]] took part in the [[Cerberus InsurrectionPalace Coup]]to seek revenge and death in battle. The Emperor dispatched rebels were all massacred by the early [[XII LegionLegiones Astartes]] (later known as the in their very first engagement, while Ushotan was slain by [[World EatersConstantin Valdor]]) to quell the uprising and punish the traitors. Despite their physical decline, and being severely outnumbered by one {{Fn|10b}} Bands of the greatest Space Marine Legions, the Thunder Warriors managed to slaughter four continued to five times their number exist in Astartes. The Insurrection was eventually stopped, hiding however, after several hours with some escaping off-world. These were later hunted down and destroyed by the [[First Legion]] of intense fightingthe Legiones Astartes.{{Fn|5b11}}

At least one Early in the [[Great Crusade]], a small group of surviving Thunder Warrior survived to Warriors calling themselves the '''Dait'Tar''' were among the time renegades of the [[Horus HeresyCerberus Insurrection]], . The Emperor dispatched the [[XII Legion]] (later known as the [[Arik TaranisWorld Eaters]], who had taken many names in ) to quell the uprising and punish the interimtraitors. Despite their physical decline, including Babu Dhakal. Taranis had learned some and being severely outnumbered by one of the techniques greatest Space Marine Legions, the Emperor had used Thunder Warriors managed to create him and tried slaughter four to make his own armyfive times their number in Astartes.{{Fn|2}} He suspected that the Emperor had deliberately engineered his kind with a limited lifespan, though he personally hoped it The Insurrection was simply a defect; Thunder Warriors that did not die in battle suffered from cellular degeneration or mental instabilityeventually stopped however, and often had relatively short lifespansafter several hours of intense close quarters fighting.{{Fn|5a5b}}

Eventually, after an encounter with a group At least one Thunder Warrior survived to the time of traitor Space Marines known as the [[Outcast DeadHorus Heresy]], [[Arik Taranis]] , who had taken many names in which the interim, including Babu Dhakal. Taranis had learned some of the techniques the Emperor had used to create him and tried to make his own army.{{Fn|2}} He suspected that the Emperor had deliberately engineered his kind with a limited lifespan, though he personally hoped it was simply a defect; Thunder Warriors that did not die in battle suffered from cellular degeneration or mental instability, and often had relatively short lifespans.{{Fn|5a}} Eventually, after another Thunder Warrior, [[Ghota]], killed encountered a group of traitor Astartes known as the [[Outcast Dead]] and slew one of its members, Taranis was able to cure the genetic instability of the Thunder Warriors, though not before suffering considerable degeneration himself. This along with his knowledge of creating Thunder Warriors means that some of these elite and ancient warriors of the Imperium, may still exist in the current age.{{Fn|2}}

4 of the Four Thunder Warriors had also survived on Terra to serve as gladiators in depths of The Maw , near slums known as the Swathe, for despite their physical deterioration they were still mighty warriors. They had been kept alive by '''Tarrigata''', a former [[astropath]], who served as their master and helped keep them alive through transplanting the organs of the deceased Thunder Warriors. One of them (Kabe) eventually died after being incapacitated in a gladiator battleagainst a [[Chrono Gladiator]], two before being ceremonially executed by a fellow Thunder Warrior. Another (Gairok) became mentally unstable and was slain when he attacked one of the other Thunder Warriors. The third (Vezulah Vult and Gairok) died fighting a demonically [[Possessed Marine|possessed ]] [[Alpha Legion]] warrior, after being blinded by the Astartes' acidic spit and the eviscerated. The last (Dahren Heruk) was given an honoured death by a Custodian , after he defeated the possessed legionaryand saved the Custodian's life. They were kept alive by '''Tarrigata'''{{Fn|8}} It is possible that the World Eater and later [[Blackshields|Blackshield]] [[Endryd Haar]] was a Thunder Warrior or another kind of proto-Astartes who was successfully transformed into a Space Marine. He was far larger, stronger, and quicker than other Space Marines; furthermore, a former he was extremely brutal and somewhat mentally unstable despite lacking the [[astropathButcher's Nails]], who served . Malcador singled him out as their master a special case. Haar himself confirmed that he had fought alongside the Emperor in the Unification Wars and helped keep them alive through transplanting called the organs of the deceased Thunder WarriorsDait'Tar "brothers".{{Fn|814}}{{Fn|15}}{{Fn|16}}

*[[Skand (Thunder Warrior)|Skand]]{{Fn|12}}*[[Ushotan]] - Primarch{{Fn|10a}}*[[Arik Taranis]] The Throneslayer.{{Fn|2}}*[[Ghota]]{{Fn|2}}*[[Dreams of Unity (Short Story)|Dahren Heruk]]{{Fn|13}}*[[Dreams of Unity Kabe (Short StoryThunder Warrior)|Kabe]]{{Fn|13}}*[[Dreams of Unity (Short Story)|Vezulah Vult]]{{Fn|13}}*[[Dreams of Unity (Short Story)|Gairok]]{{Fn|13}}

===Sources===

*{{Endn|2}}: [[The Outcast Dead (Novel)]] by [[Graham McNeill]], {{Cite This}}*{{Endn|3}}: [[The First Heretic (Novel)|The First Heretic]] by , Chapter 17*4: [[Aaron Dembski-BowdenCollected Visions]], Chapter 17:**{{Endn|4a}}: pg. 13**{{Endn|44b}}: [[Collected Visions]], pg. 17*5: [[The Horus Heresy Book One - Betrayal]] :

*{{Endn|7}}: [[Master of Mankind (Novel)]] by [[Aaron Dembski-Bowden]], Chapter 6*{{Endn|8}}Category: [[Dreams of Unity (Short Story)Unification Wars]]