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The Crux Terminatus[Needs Citation]

The Crux Terminatus, or Terminator Honors, is a stone medallion set into the left shoulder plate of every Terminator armour,[2a]

It is said to incorporates fragments of the Emperor's Armour. During his struggle against Horus aboard the Vengeful Spirit at the climax of the Horus Heresy, the Emperor was aided by a squad of Terminators from the Imperial Fists chapter. In recognition of their act of valour, the mortally wounded Emperor ordered that his own suit of armour be taken off and melted down, and its shards incorporated into badges that all Terminator Captains should wear. Therefore all efforts are made to recover the suits of Captains killed in action as the loss of such a relic brings great dishonour to the squad and the Chapter.[2a]

This Honour appears most commonly as a skull set onto a cruciform shape of red iron or bone. Terminator sergeants often add crossed bones behind the skull, whilst lightning bolts behind the skull are often added for Terminators trained as Assault units wielding lightning claws and thunder hammers with storm shields. Variations include the size and dimensions of the skull and the removal of the crossed lightning bolts or bones or their scale in relation to the shape of the cruciform. The Crux Terminatus is almost always worn on the left shoulder pad, though it may also be worn on one knee pad (this is usually done only in combination with the shoulder pad, however).[1]

They vary from chapter to chapter; among the Space Wolves, for instance, the human skull is replaced by a wolf skull; or by a sword among the Deathwing of the Dark Angels.[2] While only the most precious Cruxes of most Chapters contain a shard of the Emperor's Armour, all those used by the Grey Knights have such an honor.[3]

Crux Argentum

The Crux Terminatus can be adorned with The Crux Argentum, a silver badge encrusted with gems, rewarding acts of extreme valour on the field. [2b]

See Also

Sources