3rd Company (Avenging Sons)
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The Third Company of the Avenging Sons Chapter was a Space Marine Company before becoming an independent Renegade Space Marine warband in 970.M41.[1][2] The company's rebellion is regarded by the Avenging Sons as a great stain on their honor.[2]
Contents
History
Turning traitor
The Third Company was deployed on Archimedon, where they were charged with preventing a vital space port facility from falling into the hands of an army of heretics. Captain Gessart, guided by a vision from the Company's Librarian, Zacherys, decided to destroy the space port rather than attempting to defend it, believing that he and his Marines would not survive. Although many under his command supported his decision, the Chapter's commanders disagreed and sentenced the Company to a penance patrol.[1]
At one point during their penitence, the Third were asked for assistance from the Imperial authorities on the planet Helmabad. A group known as the Apostles of the Awakening had started an uprising against Imperial Commander Mu'shan. By the time the Space Marines arrived, however, they discovered that the reported "small insurrection" had expanded considerably - over three quarters of the population had rebelled against the Imperial government in a civil war that had raged for eight years. Undaunted, the Space Marines committed to the surface of Helmabad.[1]
Over forty days later, the Third had been ground down from 103 to a mere 30 Marines against the rebel forces. Supplies had run low and a Warp veil around the Helmabad system had cut off the planet, preventing any hope of resupply or reinforcements. Making matters far worse, Zacherys had sensed that the rebels were trying to open a warp rift over the planet. With seemingly no hope of an Imperial victory, Captain Gessart decided on a withdrawal from the warzone, abandoning the planet to its fate. Herdain, the Company's Chaplain, on the other hand, wished for the disgraced company to avenge their honour by sacrificing themselves for an honest cause.[1]
Gessart, valuing the Marines' survival over throwing away their lives for the corrupt government of a backwater world, chose to forsake the Imperium. He killed Herdain, along with any of the Avenging Sons who opposed his plan, before contacting the rebel forces with a deal. In exchange for leaving the planet unopposed, the Marines would open the gates to the Imperial Commander's underground redoubt. The rebel forces agreed to the bargain, storming the Commander's bunker and publicly executing Mu'shan as the former Avenging Sons returned to their Strike Cruiser Vengeful in orbit.[1]
Renegades
The Vengeful was barely able to escape the system as the warp rift opened, with the renegade Marines heading for sanctuary in the Eye of Terror.[1] Zacherys was forced to act as the company's ad-hoc Navigator, and soon partially possessed by a Daemon known as "Messenger". In the meantime, the group's Space Marines were quick to assert a strong individuality, modifying their armour and removing old signs of the Imperium and the Avenging Sons. Gessart also ordered his fighters to oversee and forcibly ensure the loyalty of the Vengeful's crew which had not yet been fully informed of the company's treason.[3]
The renegades next stopped in the Geddan system where they raided a merchant convoy led by Sebanius Loil for supplies. After boarding the merchantmen, the company was surprised by three Aeldari Corsair warships loyal to Iyanden. In an attempt to both keep the captured supplies and draw the Aeldari into an ambush, Gessart ordered the Vengeful to move out of firing range. He and the other Space Marines stayed on one of the merchant ships. As he had hoped, the Aeldari boarded the ship and were then forced to confront the Space Marines in close quarters. As both sides fiercely battled, the renegades began being whittled down, losing four Astartes in various clashes with the Aelderi. They then were informed by the Vengeful that an Imperial Navy force had entered the system. Gessart was then contacted by the Aeldari leader, Aradryan, who offered a truce and negotiations. The captain agreed, and made a deal with the Xenos: The renegades would take the merchant ships' supplies, while the Aeldari took their crews as slaves. In the next two days, the 3rd Company brought the supplies onto the Vengeful, while the Imperial Navy force drew closer. Just before leaving the Geddan system, however, Gessart decided to betray the Aeldari, ordering the Vengeful to shoot at and cripple one of the Xenos ships before jumping into the Warp.[3]
Between 996.M41 and 998.M41, the company was sighted near the Cadian Gate, moving toward the Eye of Terror. At this point, the company's armour was adorned with symbols of Chaos.[2]
Notable Battles
- ???.M41 — Fighting against orks on Caraphis.[1]
- ???.M41 — Archimedon action.[1]
- 970.M41 — Helmabad rebellion.[2]
- 970.M41 — Raid in the Geddan system.[3]
Company Elements
Fleet
Known Members
Command
Specialist Departments
- Tylo — Apothecary. Renegade.[1]
- Herdain — Chaplain. Loyalist, killed by Gessart when the Captain went renegade.[1]
- Zacherys — Librarian. Renegade.[1]
Battle-Brothers
- Freichz — Renegade.[3]
- Gerhart — Renegade.[3]
- Gundar — Renegade.[1]
- Hechsen — Loyalist. Executed by the renegades.[1]
- Heynke — Renegade.[1]
- Hurstreich — Renegade.[1]
- Johun — Renegade.[3]
- Karlrech — Loyalist. Executed by the renegades.[1]
- Lehenhart — Renegade.[1]
- Nicz — Renegade.[1]
- Ruphen — Loyalist. Killed during the short skirmish against the renegades.[1]
- Rykhel — Last surviving Loyalist Marine of the Company following the war on Helmabad.[1]
- Tyrol — Renegade.[1]
- Vanghort — Renegade.[1]
- Willusch — Renegade.[1]
Other Personnel
- Kholich Beyne — Shipmaster of the Vengeful.[1]
Notes
Presumably, the Third Company was reformed by the Loyalist members of the Chapter some time after Gessart and his followers rebelled.
Sources
- 1: Renegades (Short Story)
- 2: Imperial Armour Volume Thirteen - War Machines of the Lost and the Damned — Chaos Infernal Relic Predator
- 3: The Rewards of Tolerance (Short Story)
