Durus Quatinus Ferrum
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Codex Space Marines
Deathwatch
Killteam Article
BACKGROUND:
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Ferrum is a veteran from the Guardian Angels Chapter, formerly
serving with 6th Company in the Maelstrom sector.
With 6th Company he had plenty of experience with boarding
actions and naval warfare while guarding shipping lanes and
fighting against Pirates like Dark Eldar, Orks, and Red Corsairs.
Ferrum earned an honour medal and his crux during a particularly
vicious battle in the Fourth Quadrant War that was fought
against the Tyrant of Badab.
During this battle, almost half of 6th Company laid down their
lives for the Pax Imperialis, and Ferrum was one of the hard
fighting Marines that showed extraordinary, resilience, strength
and courage on the front lines.
In his many battles, Ferrum has been renowned
for his finesse and acrobatics in close combat, and his skill
has kept growing over the years. – He still fights with
the same Chainsword he used those long years ago, while fighting
what was to become the Red Corsairs.
Like any other former member of the Guardian
Angels, he is well trained in medicine, technology and science,
and also insists on special care for security around psychers.
- Still, where his real passion lies, is with the Bolter and
Chainsword.
Due to what happened to his Company many
years ago, he harbours a special hatred for the Red Corsairs
and once he was promoted as a veteran of the Guardian Angels
1st Company, he applied for service with the Legio B&C
so he could keep going after the Corsairs constantly.
During his service with the Legio, Ferrum
volunteered for the B&C's raid against a hidden base of
the Chaos Lord Tomax Hell, and was one of the honoured Marines
that helped take that enemy stronghold down. - But victory
came at a steep price!
Almost all the Legio Marines that went into the base, submitted
their bodies to take it apart, and Ferrum was no different.
During his war torn journey through the labyrinth-like
maze of the enemy-infested asteroid base, Ferrum ran afoul
of a double dealing deceiver of a Marine, later identified
as a traitor Astarte known only as Alpharius.
The battle between them raged from sound tactics through barbaric
rage and desolation.
In the end, Ferrum fell; his leg pierced through by a power
sword and his body cleaved near in two at the chest. - His
left arm was rendered useless as the power sword of the enemy
severed nerves, muscle and sinew. - His left primary lung
was torn, his chest plate raptured and as he lay there dying,
his lungs full of blood, the enemy stole his helmet, tore
apart his chest-armour and defiled him horribly by carving
a large, bloody A into his chest.
On that day, Ferrum laid his life on the
line and was almost taken to sit by the Emperors right side;
but as fate would have it, he would not be granted an audience
that easy.
As Ferrum lay there dying, the Honorary Legio
Brother "Fautor" came upon him and was able to stabilize
Ferrum's deteriorating condition with the med-kits they carried.
Ferrum himself, using his Guardian Angels medical training,
was with great effort able to walk Fautor through the necessary
steps to stabilize his critical condition; after which time
he went into the comatose state of suspended animation.
He was carried out of the enemy base by Fautor
as the base fell apart and exploded around them. They reached
their escape shuttle in the nick of time and blasted off while
the base crumbled below. - Through the efforts of Honoured
Brother Marine Fautor, Ferrum lived, albeit horribly wounded.
It was close to two weeks before he was awakened
again, this time floating in the oily, thick liquid of a medical
vat chamber.
Floating specks of memory is all he has from these moments.
- White coats in white rooms; liquid and blurred; long needles,
sharp pain and senseless periods of drug induced surrealism.
The Legio even reached out to the Guardian
Angels for medical advice and gene-seed information in these
days, and the courageous Marine's Chapter-of-Origin helped
as well as they knew how, including sending him a bionic left
arm.
Eventually Ferrum was awoken by the rhythmic
beeps of dual heart monitors and when he opened his eyes and
returned to the galaxy once more, the first thing that greeted
him was a white roof, a soft bed and the smiles of many concerned
Legio Brothers; his dear friend Fautor smiling broader and
prouder than all.
A few days later Ferrum was already in full
recovery, training hard to get back in shape.
Since then he has kept training every aspect of his being,
while meditating heavily to come to terms with his own failings.
Under guidance of medical personnel and the spiritual leadership
of the Chaplains, he has carved the stylized A from his chest,
and today a chest sized mark of the Aquila has taken its place
as both a sculpted scar and tattoo.
The wounds of Durus Quatinus Ferrum are now
all healed, but his armour has been replaced with another
from his parent Chapter.
His Ultima Pattern m.40 a.s.l. Bolter (Zoe) still remains
with him, as does his trusty Chainsword (Acer Mucroonis).
Ferrum's dexterity and acrobatics in battle
have not lessened notably due to his wounds, but he has still
to come fully to terms with his near senseless bionic arm.
Due to his incredible resolve to keep living
and fighting for the Imperium; his intense search for perfection
and due to his silent, cold-logical manner; Ferrum was awarded
with the "Valoris Imperator" after the mission code-named
"Legio Counterstrike" and has now been promoted
to the status of Sergeant within Legio B&C's "Light
of the Emperor" Great Company.
The members of his squad "Nexum"
are loyal to the core and like their leader, they have taken
to a logical mannerism and search for perfection in all things
martial. - Now, they read and support each-other perfectly;
their unit acting as of one mind.
PS!
The "CPN" On his knee stands for "Capitulus
Patria Nostra" - The Guardian Angels motto. = "The
Chapter our Fatherland" - meaning something like: Wherever
we go, we bring the might of the Imperium, and the Imperium
is our home, thus wherever we go, we are home.
His sword (Acer Mucroonis) also has writing
on it:
"Lux et Veritas" - "Light and Truth" -
In a way summarising both his Chapter-of-origin and his "Light
of the Emperor" Great Company.
His sword also has the writing "Imperator Defendo",
"The Emperor Protects" on it, which in a way has
become his personal slogan.