Captain-General Konstantin S. Molotov
General Officer Commanding, 17th Army

Konstantin Svyatoslav Molotov was born in Heidenhoch, on the planet of Manteuffel, in the Ultima Segmentum. Born into a respectable family with a history of service in the PDF, Molotov entered a military school at the age of eleven.

At nineteen, he entered the Planetary Defense Forces as an officer in a Medium Infantry Regiment. Just two months later Manteuffel was required to raise regiments for the Imperial Guard. Molotov entered into the Emperor's service as part of the 20th Manteuffel Infantry, and shipped into action on a nearby industrial world against an Orkoid horde. Molotov was wounded during the fighting, but re-entered active service only four months later. During the latter stages of the campaign, Molotov lead an attack on an Orkoid position, annihilating the Greenskins and gaining a promotion to Captain.

Following this, the 20th Medium Infantry went on to serve in several different campaigns and Molotov enjoyed various different posts, climbing steadily up the command structure until he was appointed the commanding officer of the 20th Manteuffel Infantry.

At the age of 44, Molotov and a corps of Manteuffel troops were assigned to the Abraxis Crusade. They were placed under the command of Captain-General Tomias "The Hammer" Hearn, the much-decorated CO of the Emperor's Own Terullian Hellrifles, and the 19th Imperial Army.

The Manteuffel troops were a dedicated and certainly very capable part of the 19th Army, conducting several decisive campaigns on Skalansburg. Molotov took part in defensive operations, conducting counteroffensives that tied down traitor forces. Amid heavy fighting, he collapsed from exhaustion due to over-work, refusing to leave his troops. For his effort he enjoyed a promotion to Major-General, and became commander of the Manteuffel corps.

He conducted a staunch defense against the chaos counter-offensives and took part in severe fighting. He was wounded in the back by a chaos air attack against the corps HQ but continued, battling throughout the scarred landscape of Skalansburg. Recovering from his latest injury, he re-captured the city of Haugesholv, saving the Emperor's Own Terullian Hellrifles, encircled by enemy forces. The action won him a personal commendation from Captain-General Hearn, who began to take a personal interest in the Major-General's career.

As the 19th Army refitted, Molotov and the Manteuffel troops requested and received a transfer. Molotov was transferred into the 17th Imperial Army under the command of Captain General Faenerg. The Army conducted a campaign on Feddar, whilst the 19th Army went on to be assigned duties elsewhere. When news reached High Command that the 19th had turned to chaos on the surface of Gensal, the 17th Army mobilised to combat the new threat. The Manteuffel troops, depleted, remained on Feddar to assist the war effort and refit. The newly-promoted Lieutenant General Molotov was assigned a duty as a Corps commander in Operation Invictus, going on to become IV corps commander. When Capt. Gen. Faenerg died in a speeder crash during Operation Divine Retribution, Molotov became the new Captain General, swearing to bring peace to Beltane and divine retribution to his former mentor, Tomias "The Hammer" Hearn.

Lieutenant-General Mosovic Akritedes
General Officer Commanding, I Corps

Born on the desolate wasteland of Galach, Akritedes grew up in a mining family, with a brother and a sister. Despite the hazards of his parent’s workplace, family trauma and work hazards spared them from anguish.

At the age of 8, drawn in by the devotional sermons of the priests, he joined the PDF training program. For the next eight years, he alternated harsh physical training with assisting his parents in the mining complex, leaving little time for rest or prayer. His brother Stalinos was two years ahead of them, and the competition between the two was fierce, although tempered by brotherly love. When Stalinos joined the 96th Galach Light, Mosovic knew what his life’s course would be.

At the age of 20, with the physique of a professional racer, he graduated from the training program and joined the recently formed 34th Galach Heavy Infantry as a Sergeant. Within another eight years, he was a Captain in charge of the 3rd Battalion. Five years after that, he became the Lt. Colonel in charge of the regiment. During the action on Farathau Tertius, a rebel assault managed to smash its way through to the 34ths HQ elements, and the LT. Colonel was killed in the fierce fighting that followed. The 96th Light came to his rescue, with Stalinos leading the charge to rescue his younger brother.

Akritedes was selected to take charge of the regiment as they headed to their posting in the Abraxis Sector. After the bitter fighting in Skalansburg, where the 34th somehow managed to avoid heavy casualties, they deployed to Gensal to begin the cleansing of the world. Adroitly leading his men through the conflict, he was wounded during the assault on Terhampton by the so-called “Emperor’s Own Terullian Hellrifles”. Despite his protestations, the Medicae took him off active duty, and the then General Molotov assigned him to the strategic section with a promotion to Major-General. He has only recently recovered and taken charge of I Corps with Lt. General Callaway’s mysterious illness. His hatred of the 1st Terullian has spurred him into several unwise decisions and resulted in the effective destruction of the 55th Heres, 284th Torando, and 19th Port Veilan. Despite this, he continues to command I corps, and has recently taken joint command of V Corps with the infamous Commissar Van Saar.

Lieutenant General Martus Svenal
Commanding Officer III Corps 17th Army

Martus Svenal was for all intents and purposes a normal run of the mill child, excelling in math, with nominal grades in everything else. Thus far he had lived a life of relative ease within the higher social echelons of Avellorn, a hive world dominated by the characteristic towering habs and accompanying layers of habitation. He had never before set eyes upon anyone any worse off than himself, even feeling sorry for his situation that he was not rich or powerful enough to excel in any way. It was at this time he first began his journies into the lower levels of the hab.

At first it was simple foray's into the unknown, that were often met with awe and suprise both from himself and the inhabitants who seemed beyond shocked to see anybody from the higher hab in their domain. He soon learnt that these lower areas were run by the very people he called friends, although never directly, instead through various bought out gangs and extortion rackets. Needless to say, he was appalled beyond belief that anybpdy could subject people to this amount of suffering and depridation and call it protection. Protection from what? He was sure it had everything to do with profit.

He began to visit the underworld whenever he could, though now disguised so as not to arouse as much interest or suspicion, gradually learning the intricate web of deceipt that had entagled intself within not just his own hab, but his homeworld. Resolving to help in any way possible, he bought a commission in the planets PDF forces and applied to a posting at the hab higher court where he would glean as much information as possible and bide his time. It was not to be, moving with a heavy heart he took the only posting offered to him guarding a supply facility half way around the planet.

He found that he soon grasped military life and began to excel, finding a new purpose and feeling of belonging. His men adored him as he rose through the ranks gradually gaining prestige in various actions against political untouchables that found themselves compromised by unassailable evidence. Quite how Svenal achieved these seemingly impossible arrests is uncertain, but he maintains to this day a network of contacts throughout high and low Avellorn society.

He was given command of the southern continents PDF forces not ten years after his initial posting to the supply facility and finally began preparations to change his planet for the good. All was well and evidence began to accumulate on many of the most high ranking officials, who began in turn to pressure for Svenal's removal. Eventually they had their way, although not in the way they would have liked. Svenal was posted off world with the Imperial Guard, taking command of VI corps of the 17th army operating in the Abraxis crusade.

So far from home Svenal knew it would be many a year before he would even see his home again. He only hoped others would carry on the fight.

During operations on Beltane, Svenal had a steep learning curve in large scale military combat. At first his urban experience and polotical know how handed him defeat after defeat, yet he stood firm as others crumbled around him, taking the remnats of III corps into his own, assuming the corps title of III corps. As the Imperial retreat ground backwards he continually found himself cut off and at the mercy of the enemy. Only his men's determination as well as some gutsy Navy lifts ensured the survival of his corps to the city of Strutham.

During the retreat his corps had changed utterly with units simply disappearing in days. There was some hope however, as two PDF units named the 12th and the 13th Gensal had shown they were not prepared to give in easily, exceeding his wildest dreams in combat. They were promptly merged into one and given full Imperial regimental status. they would go on to provide the backbone of Svenal's role in the defence of Strutham, doomed to failure from the start.

As Imperial forces fell back from Strutham and in turn from Beltane, Svenal wished he had been allowed to die honourably amongst the many thousands of Imperial soldiers who had given there all and failed. He was ashamed to be leaving them behind.

For all its dogged determination and survival against all the odds III corps has been nicknamed the "underdog" corps, a bame which Svenal is quietly proud of. He dislikes men or units that think themselves above others within his corps but has a different view at army level, adopting Lt. General Volgin as a good friend after many weeks sharing the disaster that was SOCOM upon Beltane.

Major-General Rasmussen Benedict
Commanding Officer VI Corps, 17th Army
Birthplace: Cathedria
Age: 48
Appearance: A tall, gray haired, and bearded officer. Usually wears a simple battle dress uniform with few accoutrements pointing to high rank.

Major-General Rasmussen Benedict was born on Cathedria nearly five decades ago. Given his planet of origin his devotion to the Emperor is without question and his adherence to the Imperial Cult beyond reproach. Benedict attends Mass regularly, and encourages his men to do the same. For all that Rasmussen is open-minded about variations of the Cult that do not conform to Cathedrian standards. "Each serves the Emperor in his own way," is one of Benedict's favorite sayings.

When Benedict was completing his secondary education in the Ecclessiarchal Academy of Massalia he had no intention of becoming an Imperial Guard officer. Benedict was studying to become a professor of religious theology. The young Cathedrian had even considered the priesthood, but did not feel he was worthy enough. He did, however, greatly enjoy all aspects of the Cult and so thought he could best serve by teaching its principles.

It was not a war or great peril that brought Benedict into the Guard. It was merely a matter of faith. As Benedict neared the end of his schooling the Spirit of the Emperor placed a great conviction upon the young man's heart. Benedict spent night after night in deep prayer as he attempted to discern the Emperor's Will. Soon the Designs of the Emperor were made manifest as Benedict's uncle, a Guard officer, visited his sister's family. The noble Cathedrian officer made such a profound impression upon Benedict that he could not help but see the answer to his prayers. So it was a few days later that Rasmussen Benedict entered the Cathedrian Planetary Defense Forces with the commission of second lieutenant.

Initially Benedict was assigned to the 23rd Cathedrian Infantry Regiment. The 23rd was a light infantry formation designed for operations in dense terrain. Rasmussen soon proved himself as an able and competent junior officer. He received high marks from all his commanding officers. When the 23rd Cathedrian was assigned to the Harbinger Crusade it went with great zeal. The men of the 23rd had great faith in their Emperor and their commander, the newly comissioned Colonel Rasmussen Benedict.

It was on Gensal that Benedict was to see his first combat operations. He fought in several engagements against Blood Pact and 19th Army forces before being withdrawn with the rest of 17th Army. Benedict learned a great deal on Beltane both of his enemy and of the Skaxon. Rasmussen spent a great deal of time training local Skaxon forces for Imperial services. He is convinced that the natives will make excellent Imperial citizens once they are all converted to the Imperial faith.

Above all Benedict, now commanding VI Corps, strives to be a good example for his men and a brave leader. He believes in the divine mission of the Imperium. Furthermore he believes the Emperor himself has selected him to be a leader in the Imperial Guard. For what purpose the Cathedrian does not yet know. While he does not wish to be a martyr he would not shrink from such a duty.

Lieutenant-General Yorien "Rekai" Volgin
General Officer Commanding, XIII Corps

Yorien Volgin was born in the city of Neralex on the planet of Jant Normanidus Prime. Yorien was born into a well respected middle class family with a long and glorious history of service in the Imperial Guard. Eager to uphold his family’s age-old tradition, Volgin was sent to a military academy very early in his life and after graduation at the age of seventeen, he signed up for the Imperial Guard and joined the 866th Jantine Patrician Heavy Infantry Division. Despite just coming into the Guard, the Patricians recognized Volgin’s nearly spotless record from the Jantine Military Academy and he was immediately made into a Lieutenant. For nearly the next ten years, the 866th Jantine took part in many cleansing operations and other battles.

Volgin’s first serious engagement was against the Tyranid menace in the Sepratus system, more specificly the hive-world Sepratus Epsilon. It was on in the ice-wastes of Epsilon where Volgin was given many field promotions for courage under fire and outstanding leadership, landing him the rank of major. Consequently, Volgin received his first true test of leadership when his CO, Colonel Briceas, ordered him to take his battalion and lead an assault on the flank of the advancing Tyranids to stop them from swarming into one of the planet’s six hives. Volgin’s assault easily penetrated the Tyranid’s ranks after he had ordered that the heavy weapon teams “take out the big ones”, and was considered a complete success. However, after returning from his victory, Volgin found out that Colonel Briceas had taken a fatal wound in the fighting and had died just moments before Volgin had made it back to the line. His last wish was that Volgin be made into Colonel of the 866th Jantine Patricians.

Another decade past and the 866th Jantine Patricians continued to distinguish themselves. During the engagements on Sepratus Epsilon, Volgin and his regiment gained a solid reputation as having a love for bringing overwhelming force to bear against an enemy, as well as being exceptionally aggressive even when on the defensive. Colonel Volgin, who had somehow gotten the nickname of “Rekai” from some unknown place, was greatly respected and liked throughout the regiment for the care he shows for his troops and his strong sense of courage and honor.

Perhaps the most important engagement of Volgin’s career was on the cathedral-world of Vhredd 772, where mass insurrection had overthrown Imperial hold on the whole system in a matter of weeks. The fighting there was extremely brutal, and the 866th Jantine was stationed on Vhredd 772 to help defeat the hordes of enemy cultists. The heavy infantry of the Jantine crushed wave after wave of attacks on their lines, destroying several division sized enemy units and advancing further into the corrupted cathedral cities then any other guard regiment. Their glorious advance was stopped dead in its tracks when two whole regiments of Vhredd GPDF and the 35th Infantry, who were moving as reserves just behind the 866th Jantine, suddenly sided with the cultists and attacked the Patricians. Being the iron-willed and stalwart commander he was, Volgin managed to breakthrough the traitor Guard lines and retreat with barely two battalions of his regiment left. When it was found out that Lieutenant-General Haleswarth had been behind the sudden rebellion, Volgin did not hesitate to literally show up personally outside of the traitor’s command tent backed by the remains of the 866th Jantine and burn Haleswarth alive. Afterwards, the 866th Jantine was shipped out to refit and Volgin went his separate way from the regiment as a newly promoted Lieutenant-General for the initiative he had shown on Vhredd 772, and some would say a whole different man indeed.

Since the mass betrayal on Vhredd 772, Volgin has grown considerably more grim and unforgiving, offering absolutely no mercy to those who have turned their backs on the Emperor and mankind. His attitude has lead him to conduct extremely short interrogations where he orders those under his command to ask for useful information once, before killing the enemy soldier. As Volgin is often caught saying when people question his methods, “Interrogation is the job of the Commissariat and Inquisition. I’m but another soldier…”. However, Volgin still prefers his usual style of combat, bringing excessive force to the front whenever possible and using aggression to keep the enemy off balance.

Since he has been transferred to the 17th Army in Beltane, Volgin has shown great ability to plan terrorist operations against enemy units. It was also noted by the last Captain-General of the 17th army that Volgin sometimes didn’t show the proper etiquette when addressing his superiors or in their presence and that he seems to be distrustful of those around him. All who know him can also conclude that Volgin has an intense hatred for political affairs, and seems to enjoy going up against formidable opponents. Whether he does for glory or for the good of mankind is unknown however. Lieutenant-General Volgin has shown on numerous occasions that he can still pull his weight in a battle as well, some of these events include the battles for Terhampton, Strutham, and the Gothic Line.

Brigadier-General Tocarous Washington
General Officer Commanding, XC Corps

Tocarous Washington, 33 years of age, is an athletic man, he joined the army as a volunteer because he felt that it was the right thing to do. His viewpoint hasn't changed since however, and he still get's the same rush when he drops from a lifter that he got when he first jumped. Born on Raddigan, he joined the army while he was in his 20's with a bunch of old friends. However as the training continued two of them died to unsuccessful jumps and the other two died later in the Harbringer Crusade mistake. It seems so long ago that he last remembered them, and now that he is a commanding officer he has no time to dwell on the past. His first duty is to his men, and he always considers that first and foremost. However he feels that his men have the ability to accomplish great things, even with a lack of experience and always tries to volunteer himself for the challenging parts of any mission.

Tocarous Washington never forgets that he is a volunteer, and will quickly state that to anyone that he talks to. He joined the 43rd before Patton died in fact, he'd trained for quite a while with the man. It was a horrible freak accident that had killed Patton, but it had nothing had ever shaken Washington so much. The fact that he was supposed to jump down from a lift or Valkerie with just a grav-chute and nothing between him and the ground was just a shock. He suffered for a while with a secret fear of jumping. Though when the time actually came for his next chute down, he conquered his fear and has since taken over as Commanding Officer of XC Corps. Washington now commands troops that are incredibly green, and he himself is no better. They have the training, the ability, but Washington knows that as soon as they hit battle, all of that doesn't mean anything, especially considering who they're going into battle against, and he can't afford messups. If one soldier get's distracted, one moment is enough to doom a regiment. To help his men prepare for such tasks he often makes his thoughts public and is very personal with his men. As such he always takes care of punishments personally, and would feel quite disappointed if he had to do anything during this operation.

Washington has prepared his men for their latest mission, and believes they'll do very well with the exceptional training they have. He's confident in their ability to accomplish any task, but he isn't stupid, he realizes that they have little support and that if alone, they will be snapped like a twig and scattered into the wind. XC is afterall, just airborne infantry, with a slight amount of artillery support. It's a thought that makes Washington grasp his good luck charm at night.

Captain-General Marcelo de Laguna
General Officer Commanding, 13th Army

History: Marcelo was born to hard-working parents and studied hard between the various odd-jobs required to help support his family. His efforts soon landed him a spot in the Miphan Imperial Military Academy. He was good, but not that good. He graduated in the top third of his class, not quite high enough to be able to choose his own assignment. His first assignment had him transferred to a Savlar unit and their 'resourcefulness' endeared the men to him. After a few successful skirmishes with the unit in which they proved their adaptability to signature Miphan cunninng, they participated in victories in two stunning battles. However, the men being Savlar, their contributions were downplayed and de Laguna returned to his homeworld an 'above average officer candidate' with some degree of 'initiative'. His men weren't even recognized in the casualty figures. Disgusted with the hierarchy he had had to suffer under, Marcelo took to his subsequent assignments with a furious disdain for officers out to decorate their own chests with medals and commendations won with the blood and sweat of the men they sent to the meat grinder. He is a no-nonsense kind of officer and has earned his men's respect and loyalty. He tends to over-analyze, weighing the benefits of any operation against the cost in manpower and material. It's not that he doesn't share the Miphan traits of daring and ingenuity, but more that he isn't willing to risk lives recklessly. Marcelo takes internal security very seriously and, in contrast to many other (career-minded) staff officers, constantly wears the same battle dress as his men (body armor, helmet, full kit, lasgun, extra ammo, et cetera), never letting his guard down except in secured areas. He knew Lt. Gen. Calloway and is eager to meet his old friend... (uh-oh)

Despite an impressive record, de Laguna was found to be totally unfit for command of an Imperial Army and was removed from command five days into Operation Imperator. His vague commands, lacklustre performance and complete inability to provide any sort of plan seriously let down Imperial forces. For his inability to command, de Laguna was removed from command by the order of Chief Commissar Seekore. De Laguna was 'promoted' to a new 'command,' in effect a nothing command going nowhere. It's main job was administration of locally recruited Imperial Guard units from Gensal...

Lieutenant-General Ivan Ibraxim
General Officer Commanding, 742nd Corps
Birthplace: Kandorion XVII, a hive world
Age: 38 standar imperial years
Apperance: Tall, muscular and has a face which seems to be constantly aware of his surroundings.

Personality:
It is very hard not to notice that Ivan has been raised in a family continually fighting for political power, and where other people see nothing, Ivan sees opportunities (His uncle kept saying, "That boy could make a fortune selling lies to the Inarxians, hahahaha") But the command he has been given has been a thorn in his side and is influincing how he cooperates with other generals, he knows his corps are usually the worst and most hated, but despite this he tries to make the best out of every situation. Ivan has however become deeply distrustfull of orders from higher generals, and has a conviction bordering on fanaticsm that every other general is plotting his downfall, and therefore often has several plans of retribution laid out in his head. Thanks to his deep distrust of higher commanding officers he is also likely to stretch directly given orders to the limit, always accomplishing his main goals, but avoiding what he sees as obvious traps to cause his and his corps downfall. Ivan has also no sence of humor whatsoever, if told a joke he will analyze the message to try to figure out the meaning of what you said so he can use it against you rather then laugh.

Background:

Ivan was born into a world of politcal intrigue, since his family has been involved in politics for the last 900 years, and has had several top politicians, but success in politics creates many enemies. The Ibraxim family has had a tradition of sending the second born son to the military, recieving education fit for future generals.

Ivan looked forward to the miltary service though, much thanks to his bodyguard Elkam, a decorated ex-pdf officer who told many tales of famous battles. When the time came to start his military education he was placed at Kandorions most prominent officer school, where he first was educated in both the history of the empire, and the history of his local PDF force (as well as being thought unflinching loyalty to the emperor). As his first year of education was complete, he was subjected to several tests to see if he was fitting officer material, and he passed all the tests. The next three years consisted of learning the ways of commanding before he was assigned his first command.

Ivan though has been born in a time where the Ibraxim's political influence has been weakened, and therefore he was assigned to the Hun'Over Ogryn "Special" force thanks to his familys enemies instad of leading true imperial forces. At first Ivan was insulted by being given command of Ogryn forces, and was not at first a succesfull commander, His disdain of being charged with commanding such inferior creatures, unworthy of fighting under the imperial army influenced to much his skills and knowledge causing high losses and low morale among his troops as a result: In the battle of Ivoria though, Ivan learned that even these forces have hidden strenghts, and was surprised that his forces could hold the enemy at bay for 6 days before reinforcements arrived. After this battle Ivan had a change of attitude towards the command he had been given, and instead of wasting his troops, he begun to explore and try to understand the background and motivation of the Ogryns forces fighting for the glory of the emperor. Ivan has learned that most special forces does not simply fight for the emperors undying glory, but for each other, and are willing to go to great lenghts to save the necks of their fellow soldiers.

Although he and his force recieves no recognition for the efforts they make for the emperor, the Hun'Over Ogryns have many times been instrumental in turning the tide of battles and Ivan has become a capable commander, seeing the strenghts of the Hun'Over Ogryns rather then their weaknesses, and though unrecognized for their efforts, they have become a heated subject of debate. It is unthinkable for many commanders that special forces can have a future in the imperial army, instead of being eradicated like all mutants and alians.Ivan has become quite frustrated with his commanders, and when another "special" force was sent to the abraxis his families political enemies once again pulled threads to have Ivan assigned as their general.

For Ivan this will be his last campaign, before he starts a career in the politics, so though most likely his efforts will be unrecognized, and his role in the campaign downplayed, Ivan will do his best to see as many as his men safe through this campaign as he can manage. After being wounded by heretics shortly after taking command of the Hun'Over Ogryn, Ivan assigned the most promising Ogryns as his bodyguards, and surgically enhanced their intelligence , they make look dumb, but they have the intelligence of a human, and are loyal only to Ivan.

Ivan is an average commander, although he has a quite good grasp of situation he tends to use lot of time planning, and making backup plans. As a commander skilled with handling special forces, he is strongly against sending them straight into combat, and preffer to have a while to learn about their strenghts and weaknesses, even sometimes utilizing his familys contact network to get this "learning time". Since Ivan has a long history of commanding the Hun'Over Ogryns, he sees them as "his" unit, and is unwilling to sacrfice them. The outcasts of the imperium has captured a place in his heart and he has a council of advisors from the different units which he discusses strategy and organisation with, and as a result of this his tactics are often viewed as crazy and homocidal (but who really cares? its only mutants after all) but instead they are well planned with advices from his council.

Lieutenant-General Darkath Smith [KIA]
General Officer Commanding, 35th Corps
Age: 31 standard years
Command: 35th Infantry Corps, 13th Imperial Army
Homeworld: Bavak

History: Originally enlisted at an early age into the15th Bavak Medium Infantry, the Redcaps, as a Lieutenant. He was found to be a very good tactician, and an even better fighter, and was moved fairly quickly up the ranks. However, as he was such a good fighter, the promotions slowed to keep him in the actual battles. However, he was then a few years later almost killed in a battle against chaos in the [classified] sector in an action which saved his squad from the traitors, after which his arm had to be amputated, and then had to be replaced with a bionic arm. He now harbours a hate for traitors above all, although few are allowed to find out.
After his most recent promotion to Lieutenant General of the entire 35th Corps, he has only led them on two occasions, both of which where successful, one against more traitors, another against orks. The Redcaps, who took great inspiration from him and fought impressively, helped these wins. Recently the 119th Kassirine Dragoons and 16th Joridan Medium Infantry where also transferred to his command, and then was commanded to join up with the rest of the 13th army and provide help on Beltane, where the loyalists were being defeated by chaos. He eagerly accepted, hoping for another chance at defeating the traitors he hated.

This commander was assassinated by Blood Pact Commandos during Operation Imperator. He and his bodyguard were ambushed while travelling and although they fought to the death, they were overwhelmed.

±

Brevet Marshal Horace McBride
Soon to be Marshal if he can swing it
General Officer Commanding, 1st Army Group, i.e. God-Emperor's 2IC on Gensal as far as you are all concerned

A long-serving veteran of the Imperial Guard, Horace McBride joined the Umridge Cavaliers while a teenager, compelled to make this career choice in order to avoid a life sentence at hard labour in a penal colony - this dire fate stemming from the getting the mayor's daughter pregnant. A mayor with powerful political connections. Brought up in a very rich, but unpopular family, Horace has had all the benefits of the best education that could be bought and enjoyed using his family's positions and wealth to get anything he wanted - friends, new toys, teenage girls, anything. He surrounded himself with sycophants and spineless worshippers and he took this into the officer's clubs and messes of the Umbridge Cavaliers regiments.

Although an excellent officer, he also enjoyed the ruination of the careers of those who weren't part of his circle and he enjoyed every single seduced wife or lover of his fellow officers, seeing them as natural extensions to the list of conquests an officer must make. It went without saying he generated a lot of enemies and fellow officers either sought to enter his circle or worked their hardest to bring it down. Needless to say, that didn't happen and Horace McBride continued to win victories on and off the battlefield and rose through the ranks. His aim was set very high.

Unsurprisingly he enjoyed he camaraderie of the military and he repeatedly distinguished himself both on the battlefield and in bed and soon reached the top of the Umbridge military often by having his 'forces' well-placed with the top brass' wives and lovers as well as his many military successes in conventional warfare. He was noted as being a bully and a ruffian at his boarding school and this has certainly carried over, even increased, in the Imperial Guard as he has gained higher and higher ranks.

His greatest success so far have been the destruction of three whole enemy corps with the 44th Army on Skalansburg, the successful defence of Hivern City from the forces of the Jarnell Insurgency and the meteoric rise to the top he's had. On all accounts he's worked hard for the Imperial cause and is steadfastly loyal to the Imperium, but he is much more interested now in furthering his own cause and has gathered one of the biggest circles of sycophants that the Imperium has ever seen. He has successfully dabbled in nepotism and has several proteges - all wreaking havoc in careers of fellow officers.

An astute, intelligent, cunning, ambitious, over sexed man and thoroughly hated (or loved depending on your point of view) man in his late forties, McBride has been posted to the TF Congress as a reward not only for his military successes, but his political ones as well. Recent infighting amongst the Congress has meant that McBride has been posted to the backwater world turned meatgrinder, Gensal to try and effect victory for the Imperial cause - but mainly to get him out of the way.

He would describe himself as loyal, highly intelligent, brave and dashing, others would refer to him as 'arrogant,' 'cavalier,' 'a bully,' 'an adulterer' and 'a thoroughly nasty piece of work.' Despite this primadonna air about the Captain-General he definitely has supporters in the right circles and he is relishing the new environment where he can test his skills...

This is Silent's character.

Lieutenant-General Freedek Simpson
General Officer Commanding, 704th Corps

Age: 42 Terran Standard Years
Place of Birth: Miphan
Command: 704th Infantry Corps, 13th Imperial Army

Born into a lowly working class family on Miphan, Freedek was never brought up to believe he would get high in life. His family was however religious and the regular attendance at Imperial sermons filled the young boy with images of fighting for Emperor in His Holy Imperial Guard. Scrapping what money he could together and support from his Ecclesiarchy preacher, he managed to get himself into the local military college at the age of 23.

Being of a lower class education, instructors found him slightly lacking in book learning, and consequently came fairly low in comparison to the rest of his class (although still quite good against most standards, just not Miphan). As a result, he was given the post of lieutenant in logistic battalion. While this would be considered a dubious assignment by most, Freedek accepted his lot, seeking to do as well as he could, in the service of the Emperor. It seemed he would be doomed to spend the rest of his life as a soldier behind the desk, even with the promotion to battalion commander after 6 years.

However, Fate had something else in mind for him. While the 83rd Miphan Infantry was holding the line against Chaos forces, an infiltrating heretic managed to blow up the HQ detachment during an orders group where the most senior battalion commanders and the regimental colonel were present. The bomb blast killed all of them, and as the most senior officer left in the regiment, Freedek was suddenly thrust into combat command of the 83rd. He performed surprisingly well, the years he spent in lower ranks and in logistics giving him a large reserve of practical experience of soldiering, and with this, he managed to hold his regiment together, holding off Chaos till the attacking forces were gathered and gave valuable support to the advance.

With his success in his regiment, Freedek gained the confidence of his subordinates and credibility in the eyes of other COs. He led the 83rd for several more years until a chemical gas attack left him incapacitated. Despite his condition and his ‘internment’ in a field hospital, he still managed to direct the actions of his troops for a week before he entered a critical state. When he came back around, his regiment had reached success, completely wiping out the Chaos forces. He was still in an unhealthy state, and was taken off active service for a year, his regiment now led by a new colonel.

After his recovery, he was placed in command of the newly formed 704th Corps of the 13th Army. His reputation for steadfastness and level-headed style of command gave him a level of fame within Miphan circles, both within the command echelons and the common troops, the story of the logistics major turned lieutenant general being the story of the heroic underdog within the rank and file. His most recent performance was to gain him a large amount of respect, especially for the length of time he commanded from his sickbed. He has yet to lead his corps in a significant action, only having served with his corps along the Stonewall Plains on the planet Beltane, but it can be imagined that he will lead them as competently as in any previous engagement, and will hopefully serve the 13th Army well.

Freedek is slightly more conspicuous from the majority of Corps commander, being anything up to ten years older than the others. As a result of the injuries of the gas attack, he’s suffered a few scars to his face and left his hair thinning rather rapidly. His left leg is also slightly weaker, which he’s tried to hide by using a slightly ornate swagger cane as a walking stick, and for the most part is able to pull off looking professional with it. Freedek’s face is fairly unassuming and gives him an approachable air to his subordinates.

He’s a stable commander, who prefers not to rush ahead into the enemy if it results in casualties that are not worth the objective (or at least in his eyes). Some say this will lead him to not take the initiative when needed, but he is as capable as most Corps commanders in an advance. His general strategy gains a lot of favour from other Miphans, who respect a cautious commander. He has a slight disdain for officers who try to advance their careers, especially those that are willing to throw the lives of their men away in doing so. He however is aware of not stepping on people’s toes and keeps his mouth shut if absolutely necessary.

Chief Commissar Vanessa Seekore, 13th Army
Vanessa Seekore served as a Stormtrooper in the 51st Stormtrooper regiment during the Jarnell Insurgency. Raised in an Imperial orphanage and trained from an early age in all aspects of the Imperial military, Vanessa Seekore, was quick to adapt and applied her high levels of intelligence well. Rising quickly through the ranks and marked during her early military career age as being destined for greatness, no one was surprised when she led her squad in several difficult and hazardous operations with great precision and discipline. With her talent and her innate ability to quickly get to the heart of personal, personnel or morale issues she found herself on the fast track to a Commissariat assignment. Idealistic and energetic, Seekore was a veritable bundle of energy, constantly out in front, striving herself and others onward in a continuing quest for self-improvement.

Seekore completed her training quickly, efficiently and almost with ease, impressing her instructors with her intelligence and self-initiative. She began her career in the Commissariat with a low-level posting to the 1076th Malazar Supply Battalion a non-descript logistics unit, assigned to III Corps in the 17th Army but was quickly transferred out of the unit once her abilities became known. Singled out for her ability to motivate flagging troops, Seekore was posted to the 78th Chi Tan Lo Light Infantry Commissariat detachment where she wielded considerable enthusiasm in bolstering the lacklustre morale of the unit. Known more for her ability to motivate troops and restore morale rather than her inspirational ability when in the field, Seekore was posted to the Royal Terullian Military Academy to oversee ethical instruction for young Terullian Officer Cadets. Her immediate superior was the now late Commissar Von Neumann.

Commissar Von Neumann seemed to bear an almost pathological hatred for women and Seekore suffered under his supervision. Up until this point her service rating reports had always been of the highest order but under Von Neumann they began to seriously suffer. Despite her best efforts she found that she was being increasingly ostracised by the overwhelming male members of the Commissariat detachment. The tiny minority of female Commissars were bullied and harassed by Von Neumann and other male Commissars of the detachment. Often they were harassed to the point of requesting a transfer, but Von Neumann always extracted a heavy price to allow such transfer requests to continue. Such personnel after paying the price at either the hands of Von Neumann or another of the male Commissariat staff, would often leave the detachment with wrecked careers, tarnished reputations or psychologically broken. Seekore did not escape this bullying either. Consistently and constantly harassed she was often forced to do the unthinkable just to receive slightly positive service reports from Von Neumann and she began to break under the strain.

With teaching standards slipping at the planet’s most esteemed military academy, the command staff of the academy had an investigation launched targeting the educational standards of the Commissariat detachment’s staff. A commission formed with a mixture of Terullian Military Personnel and Imperial Guard and Navy representatives was headed by Commissar A. Van Saar. His commission found more than slipping educational standards; they found rampant bullying, sexual harassment, incompetence, favouritism and the exchange of services for favours. The commission moved quickly and the Commissariat detachment was broken up and reassigned with Von Neumann coming under personal sanction. Von Neumann however survived punishment as he called in favours he had cultivated with one of Captain-General McBride’s inner circle, Nillius Hector and won assignment to a Corps Commissar position.

Seekore was devastated as her tormentor escape justice and her parlous psychological state completely broke. A Commissariat assessment left her no blame for her involvement in the RTMA detachment, but also noted that at present she was not fit for a Commissar position at any level, until she had recovered. Seekore was posted to a quiet supply depot on Terullia, home to a reservist Terullian logistics unit. Morale seemingly maintained itself at the hands of a small group of NCOs and Seekore was left to her own devices as she maintained a cold stony silence when in the presence of the unit’s personnel. She soon became lonely, withdrawn and inward looking and was utterly friendless and forgotten.

She spent a lonely year in the position before being befriended by a young officer in his mid-twenties. As he slowly overcame the barriers Seekore had set to protect her, she slowly began to show more and more of herself to him. She began to find that she was made welcome at the unit’s social activities and various events the more she returned to her old energetic self. Though tinged by sadness, Seekore began to smile once more and she began to show great signs of her former, submerged character. She had suspected that the intentions were romantic from the Captain, but after several months she recognised what it was; friendship. She grappled with the rage she felt towards Von Neumann and knew that her hatred was eating her up from inside and as she turned to the Emperor to grant her the strength to forgive, she felt the hatred lift from her heart and shoulders. When her personnel file was updated, her assessor recommended for her reinstatement in a line unit and it was with a heavy heart that she bade farewell to the unit that had become her home for some time.

Holding the plaque the unit had presented her as she was packing her transfer orders arrived. Reading the data-slate she noted that her new unit was an infamous den of criminals, cut-throats and petty thieves, or known on official channels as the 104th Herun of XCI Corps (Independent), attached to 8th Army. Seekore was determined not to let this get her down and as she arrived at her new unit as the new commander of the 104th Herun Commissariat Detachment as it was preparing for reassignment to Gensal, she immediately went about setting up her authority with a new energy. She virtually took no prisoners and managed to get some of the worst defaulters and criminals out of the unit and sent to a Penal Legion. What remained in the unit was a hard core of criminals intelligent enough not to attract any notice and a whole swath of petty crooks. Continuing with any further transfers to the Penal Legion would have left the unit with very little personnel left, so Seekore and her small team of Commissars went about keeping a close an eye as they could on the regiment while they deployed to Lammas Tertius – their new warzone it seemed.

Seekore was self-assured that the 104th Herun would perform as required and watched the CO of the unit, Colonel Reddings like a Hawk. Her confident world was almost shattered when she met the Corps Commissar of XCI Corps, Commissar Van Neumann at meeting of regimental commanders and commissars. Van Neumann tried to corner Seekore at the earliest opportunity to see if he could extract the same favours that he once had. Van Neumann sidled up to Seekore to try to continue his bullying but found that Seekore was no longer an easy target. She confronted him and as he tried to grope her, she kneed him squarely in a sensitive region that left him grasping at the affected area with both hands and groaning loudly. Seekore ended the humiliation by accidentally dumping her plate of food on his face while hastening to help him with his fall. Van Neumann never went near her again.

Deployed to Lammas Tertius the 104th Herun performed as expected, i.e. badly, but not enough to warrant any immediate executions or sudden transfers to the Penal Legion. However, Corps Commissar began to target the regiment and herself in a petty vindictive campaign. She was transferred to the Corps HQ where Van Neumann could safely try and bully her once more, but with a few cronies to back him up. In her position, Seekore did not back down and on at least two more occasions, left Van Neumann mewling on the ground holding his most sensitive area. It also became obvious that Van Neumann was thoroughly corrupt in his dealings with Major-General Nillius Hector with the Major-General using the Commissariat Detachment as his own group of enforcers.
Trying to bully his way into the 104th Herun with the Corps Provost Company to retrieve ‘stolen supplies’ and look for ‘archenemy sympathisers,’ Van Neumann met an end he didn’t fully expect: his timely and fortunate death. Seekore could have told him how the Herun would react but chose instead to ride in the last vehicle of the column as it drove into the Herun main area. Seekore stood well back when Van Neumann confronted Colonel Reddings and exchanged a few words with the Commissars who had remained behind with the regiment. The first charge was definitely true, but the second was merely an excuse to crack some heads.

The ensuing confrontation swiftly descended into a firefight. Seekore ordered the Commissars to stand down as the Provost Company headed by Van Neumann exchanged fire with Colonel Reddings and his hand picked inner circle backed up by even more Heruns. Van Neumann was gunned down and the entire Provost Company wiped out. Seekore merely nodded at Reddings, checked to make sure Van Neumann was dead and returned to the Corps HQ glad that justice had been done.

It was there, that upon the news of Van Neumann’s death that Seekore was appointed as Corps Commissar. Tensions slowly rose as the Commissariat detachment was refocused to its true task and all of Van Neumann’s underlings disposed of with postings to the 104th Herun. Nillius Hector’s incompetence became more and more apparent and when the Corps deputy commander finally moved to take command with the support of the Commissariat, Nillius Hector’s guards were ordered to ‘take care of matters personally’ in the command bunker. Again, another firefight finalised the matter and as Seekore gunned down the last Umbridge Cavalier, Commissar Blake dragged Nillius Hector out of his hiding place by his hair. With the removal and imprisonment of Nillius Hector, XCI Corps completed its mission and was returned to the administrative control of 8th Army.
With her reputation as a hard-hitting Commissar begun, a vacancy in 13th Army turned up. A vacancy into which she was transferred personally by Captain General Horace McBride…

Personality Profile: Although Chief Commissar Vanessa Seekore has been scarred by the crimes committed against her during her posting to the Royal Terullian Military Academy she still remains an effective, efficient, loyal, motivated and able individual. She has abhorrence for bullies, any form of harassment, she dislikes those who try to extract services for things they should ordinarily receive and she has a certain need to maintain justice. Her experiences have left her a little darker than earlier psychological assessments suggested and she has a burning faith in the Emperor that few can match.

This is Drakk's character

Lieutenant-General Hannah Oderstein
General Officer Commanding, 333rd Corps
Birthplace: Hamek's Landing
Age: 32 standard imperial years

Appearance: Still dressed in her old uniform from the 16th, the only concessions Hannah gave herself were a slightly-more-adorned cap, the pips and badges, and a new camouflage coat which she prefers much more than a formal dress attire. Of average height, she sports a dark-brown mane that falls down to beyond her shoulders. Dark eyes, framed by her wide-brimmed glasses and dark hair, make her soft features stand out.

She looks a bit like... a nerd.

Personality: Cynical, pessimistic, but very given to pomposity in certain events. Hannah is pretty confident in her skills, but she is mostly un-prepared for her command, which is a good reason for her to be sulky these days. She doesn't trust people in higher ranks than hers, or at least not many, simply because she sees most of them as power-hungry "civilized" people. Unlike her, who got the job through sheer... "mis"-fortune.


Background: Hannah was born in a family of the minor nobility, which meant that while she received a good education, she was not spoiled. Inmediately, she showed an innate skill at calculus and mathematics that was her family's pride... until some trouble at college had her expelled.

Because of her need to wear glasses, and her affinity with mathematics, Hannah was deemed a "nerd", and pretty much despised and picked on by the more ambitious students, the envious, and the jocks. Specially, one of the sports captains, who made it an habit to trip her in the corridors. Her revenge was as swift, as elegant. Supposedly, she had calculated the trajectory of a bucket of tomatoes thrown at a distance of 50 meters, the impulse and angle necessary to throw it and provided by an improvised catapult, and just how to get her victim in the right spot to have the vegetable ammunition hit him with a great splat. Then, she pointed him out to everyone nearby, and led the ensuing humiliation process.

Needless to say, she became the most popular student in college for weeks, despite her being expelled the day after.

However, Hannah was not that phased by it, much to her family's chagrin. And what was worse, a friend had joked about a new artillery regiment being formed and how she would fit right in... and Hannah had taken it more seriously than she should have. She enlisted the 16th Lady Brassey Bombardiers, and off she went, as she said, "with nothing better to do".

The first training at firing Self-propelled artillery said much about her innate skills at hitting distant targets. Ninety-four out of a hundred targets, the second best mark in the regiment. This meant a quick promotion to tank commander, more specifically a Bassilisk. Further revision of her skills, and some honing to adapt it to military matters, saw her rise to platoon leader.

It was at this moment when her pompous and somewhat-more-extroverted nature showed itself, a prolongation of the incident at college. Hannah enjoyed and celebrated in silence each and every target destroyed, and was soon known as "the Emperor's Right Hand", being her right hand the one she used to gesticulate wildly about her successes.

When the regiment saw battle in Abraxis, her tank platoon was by far the one with most hits, and when her company leader perished, she was the one to succeed him. It was at this point when her confidence started wavering, but still held. As much as she liked to be praised for her success, being promoted was not in her plans, and she suffered a kind of fear of responsability. She did accustom to this, of course... and her skills at directing artillery still saw her getting the highest marks in the regiment.

A second accident helped (although she wouldn't consider that "helping") go further into hte Imperial Guard ranks, when the battalion CO had to be sent away because of grox meat in bad state, which he had tried to hide hoping to remain in command. Again, because Hannah had the best average marks, and her company was having excellent results, she was promoted to battalion CO. Her confidence was starting to get uncomfortable with all of this. Besides, at this point, she stopped having direct control over the battalion's artillery, meaning her skills were not as much use as before from this point on.

Things still went somewhat smooth, despite there being no-one who could take the blame for any failure from then on. Until the regiment's Colonel died of a heart-attack, and Hannah was promoted yet again. For someone who doesn't like having responsabilities, fate was being a... well, it was being quite ironic.

When the regiment saw battle at Strutham, Hannah's skills, picked up here and there in the few years she spent in command positions, helped her keep the 16th active despite the dangerous situations developing in Gensal. And this was noted by High Command, despite the fact that her experience doesn't amount to a lot. Granted, she has a streak of ingenuity every now and then, but... she can't rely on it to get her through every single trouble.

Like, for example, if the Lieutenant-General on command of the 333rd fell victim of a flu that has been wreaking havoc in the 13th Army. In normal circumstances, Hannah would have been the last one in the steps to the rank of Lieutenant-General, but it just so happened that nobody can expect to perform well where others failed...

... and so it was that many letters were sent reccomending Hannah Oderstein to the position of Lieutenant-General. Thing is, if the one who took the decision to choose her for this job had known her, he wouldn't have chosen her. But her profile is more or less clean and good.

Needless to say, Hannah has never been this sulky, spending hours after hours locked up in her room, tent, or wherever she slept, barely groaning answers to questions, and only drawing some satisfaction out of taking care of a black stray cat she found in Strutham.

She named him "Griff", since apparently that was the vehicle she had really wanted to direct when she entered service.

Rank: Group Captain
Name: Leon Dumont
Age: 42

Bio: Group Captain Leon Dumont is a quiet, sullen and reticent man whose thin frame does not properly fill his uniform but which hides a wiry strength. His chiselled features bear aging before his time and his hair is a mottle of grey. Soft-spoken he carries an uncertain reputation with him as he refuses to be drawn into conversation on anything other than the task at hand or general tactics and strategy. Even more unusually for a man of senior rank his pedantically neat uniform bears no accolades, combat or operational awards or insignia and even innocuous inquiries have met administrative blocks.

Those under his command have found little cause for complaint although they have been heard to comment that he lacks the human touch that can endear a staff to their commander. A creature obsessed with duty above all else Dumont does not spare the rod and can be a harsh disciplinarian at times putting his full support behind even the most drastic actions of the Commissariat. However, despite the frequent visits that may suggest close terms with the Commissariat it is rumoured that he has no friends there but, rather, that he fears them.

His head still hurt, the same dull, persistent pain he’d had for… a day? Two? The dim electric light of his cell deep within the cruiser Volonte allowed little knowledge of the time of day and as yet no food had appeared although he had slept twice. Not that it had been restful, the memories of a waking nightmare were still too fresh for that. Hungry, thirsty Leon lay back on the metal cot, struggling to generate some saliva to moisten his mouth, however briefly. Why didn’t they just get it over with?
…

The command bunker of the Richesse main airfield was busy as the continual close air support sorties screamed out and back to rearm and the transports crowded in more and more desperate, silent civilians. Despite the complete destruction of the Tyranid ships near the planet the Imperial Guard were losing the fight against the forces already on the ground. Badly. Everyone knew it was only a matter of time before it became a military evacuation in addition to civilian, an Armageddon armed ship was rumoured to be on the way to condemn the whole planet. Everyone knew, but only Wing Commander Dumont and Commissar Reading had received the orders to cease combat operations and abandon those civilians left behind, now drinking a final whiskey in Dumont’s private office.

“Yes, I agree.. it is… it is… unfortunate, but…” Commissar Reading stammered, looking at his whiskey glass. “What… have you…?” he managed before slumping in his chair, the glass rolling to smash on the concrete floor.

Peering at the unconscious Commissar before him Dumont hoped the drugs would last long enough. Standing to straighten his uniform before marching out he ordered the HQ to silence. “Our final orders have come through gentlemen. All forces are to join a final defence to extend the civilian evacuations. All combat craft and ground crews are to operate continuously in air support. All ground defence personnel, logistics, signals and HQ staff are to join the battle, the HQ is to be demolished. It has been an honour to serve with you all and in this final hour I hope you may yet see further days and that you will discharge your duty with the aplomb I have come to expect. May the Emperor protect us.”
…

That was days ago. The fighting, a nightmare running battle watching men torn limb from limb, has been far more gruesome than anyone had been prepared for. Slaughter was a better word than battle in truth but the slaughter had delayed the enemy for a few hours and thousands more civilians had escaped as a result. In a final rout the decimated Imperials had swarmed onto the last transports muttering prayers for those still in the city and someone had dragged an exhausted, bloodstained naval officer with them. An officer greeted by a displeased Commissariat upon docking with the Volonte.

Since then Leon had been lying here in his filthy uniform with all his insignia torn off waiting for the execution he knew was coming. He knew he wasn’t a brave man, the idea of death scared him and here, away from his men and his duty he had wept and screamed and raged. It wasn’t fair. Duty, it was always about duty, and he had done his as he thought best but that moment of passion and watching all the men he knew torn to shreds had broken him. Leon Dumont was a shell of his former self both physically and mentally. The approaching echo of footsteps in the corridor broke the reverie though and Leon sat up to look at the opening cell door. Commissar Reading entered carrying a dataslate, his face crinkling briefly at the smell of the room.

“Is that how you greet the Commissariat today?”, he demanded, “GET TO YOUR FEET!” The ringing command was obeyed as quickly as his tired muscles would allow. “Although I have come on official business a personal matter needs to be addressed first”. A gloved backhand blow staggered Dumont off balance, when he began to stand again another strike knocked him to the floor. He did not attempt to rise a second time, slumping against the metal wall.

“I see you have learned your place, in the time that remains it will serve you well to remember it. On a more official note I must offer you my congratulations, Wing Commander Dumont is an Imperial hero”, Reading announced as he tossed the dataslate. It showed a picture of a group of men in naval officer uniform, one of whom looked much like Dumont, and was captioned ‘Wing Commander Dumont is awarded by Naval command for his bravery’. Dumont looked up from the dataslate confused.

“Symbols are powerful things and useful things, tools and weapons to be used like any other. In the recent fighting a group of Naval staff distinguished themselves conspicuously and although only one survived their efforts have created a stir among civilian and military people. Heros can be useful symbols as I have said”, Reading paused to look at Dumont, “The oddest thing is that the orders had been to withdraw, rather than fight but this leads to another difficulty. The orders were certainly sent but it seems no acknowledgement of their receipt came back from the airbase, as if the HQ was abandoned, and there are no surviving HQ staff to say what happened. It is difficult to execute heros as traitors in such a situation”. Commissar Reading paused to glare at Dumont again. “You have been the cause of much… discussion… in the past 48 hours. When you ordered my medical evacuation you must have known you were throwing away your career, if not your life. Wing Commander Dumont exists now as our symbol for the survivors being resettled and naturally I argued that it was better, safer and more just that you should be removed. However, it seems command was disposed to unusual leniency”, again the Commissar paused, pulling a small red box out of a pocket and rolling it in his hand as he continued, “It was argued that the Empire needs to use all the available tools, even if flawed, and you are thus to be allowed to continue to have the honour of service although such service will be watched I assure you. Your history, military and personal, is to be sealed to everyone outside the Commissariat and needless to say, you are not at liberty to discuss anything. Furthermore, to avoid… complications… you are to be reassigned to where no-one has ever heard of the names Dumont or Richesse, specifically to the distant area known as the Abraxis Sector.”

Commissar Reading opened the red box, a scowl passing over his face as he examined the contents. “Finally, it has been decided that given your long command and the potential for confusion with multiple Wing Commander Dumonts you are to be promoted which also gives a neat reason for your reassignment. You will not be in a direct command position though, that is certain. Congratulations Group Captain”. The command pips in from the box clattered on the metal deck as they were tossed to the floor.

Name: Lieutenant-General Kalzick Coridias
Age: 47

Appearence: Kalzick is a long men, with his 2 meters he easily looks over most of his collogues and officers. He has hair the falls about ten to fifteen centimeters down from his head, it's dark blond color, marking him as a member of Coridias Family. His eyes have a far lighter color than is common on his family, still his father says that is due his grandmother, who had the same eyes. His face is scar less, still there run several large ones across his arms, and chest.
In combat, he wears a Carapace Amour similar to the standard flak amour the 16th Joridian uses. On his left side hangs a scabbard with a longsword in it while on the right side there is a holster for a bolt-pistol.
When not in combat he wears mostly a simple flak jacket, also similar to the 16th Joridian outfit. Decorated with the Macharian Cross.

Background: Kalzick is a Joridian, born as the eight son of a low noble man, he had no real future in sight. Still he enjoyed the profits of his heritage. He got lessons in many subjects, still his true love was sword fighting. At young age, he proved to be a good swordsman. When he reached the age of 10, he and his father went on a hunt, as was tradition amongst his clan. It was here that he got his first marks of battle. They were on the trail of several large cats, the hunters were fast and daily more marks of the slow moving feral hunters were seen. Nevertheless, they were not prepared for what they found. At the 12th day of their hunt the caught up with the predators. Still they where all dead, in the midst stood their new prey, a bear, at least 2 meters in height. It was a hard battle, and a battle that lasted long. For how long they have fought, Kalzick does not know, as in the end of the battle he passed out, pushing his sword in to the hearth of the creature.
When he awakened he still lay underneath the might creature, his father was unconscious and lay nearby. He forced him self to get underneath the massive creature and so saved his and his fathers life. It took them a week to recover enough to return home, during this week Kalzick personally flayed the bear and took the pelt with him home. It took them a whole month to return. They where presumed dead and their arrival home was celebrated highly.

After this adventure Kalzick was highly respected by his family members, still there was no future at home, and everyone knew that. When the Imperium began recruiting on Joridian he was one of the first to apply. For the first time in his 18th years, his heritage helped him. He got an officer-position as major in the 12th Joridian Medium Infantry. This unit was send to the Feudal world of Bask, a world that was similar to Joridian. The populace had joined the Ruinous Powers and 65% had already been killed in mass sacrifices. Still the surface was not tainted yet, its glorious plains would become useful for the Imperium in future crusades. It was decided that world would be cleansed. A large army group landed on its main continent and a long war commenced.
The young Kalzick and his battalion of proud soldiers landed on an island, a paradise wasn’t it for what awaited them. Along with two other regiments they where tasked with its cleansing. Still from the moment they landed, it was clear that they would loose. Thousands of Heretics had made their home on the Island and wave after wave they came down from the hills.
It seemed everything was against them, the weather was horrible, sight never came further than twenty meters, and the terrain seemed only to be uphill and was covered in dense woods. Kalzick and his men were ordered with a simple task. Get to the top of the hill and eliminate any resistance you meet. Simple as it sounded it was unachievable. Twenty minutes after landing they already had lost a hundred men. Enemies poured down from the hill. At the end of the day they only had advanced a hundred meter from their landing site. The next day the nightmare begun again. It took them five days to get up the hill, the only tactic possible was to move forward and do not look back. Casualties were never as bad as the first day, luckily. Still moral was low when they reached the top, and still enemies came from all sides. All request for reinforcements where denied, and the rate in which supplies came in was low, very low.. When finnaly the Headquarters of the regiment was destroyed Kalzick ordered complete retreat. He gather the remaining units on the island, only eight battalions of the originally 24 remained and all where without a proper Headquarters. In one large attempt to survive he ordered all units to retreat to a small peninsula on the island. Setting up a defense, they tried to survive against the horde of crazed and drugged cultist. Each request for transports was denied due the weather. Sixteen days after their initial landing they left the island, a total of 2000 soldiers remained, all heavy equipment was left behind. There were less than 700 Joridians left.

These seven hundred were placed in the 11th Joridian Medium Infantry. Kalzick remained in command of his battalion and was gifted with the Macharian Cross. After the 'Mellikan Island Massacre' Kalzick came under special attention of the Commissariat, as he had ignored orders. It was only that he saved 2000 soldiers of the Imperium that stopped the Commissar from executing him immediately. Still, as his success continued the attention of the Commissariat slipped away and went over to other unlucky officers and soldiers.
His most successful action was against a traitor force three times his large. He and his soldiers were the last men in a small city, ordered to defend it against an upcoming assault. Still waiting for the call to retreat they dug in. As the first traitors appeared, it was clear these where trained soldiers who know what they where doing, not the foolish cultist they had fought before. And next to that they where heavily armored. As the lasgun began to unleash their deadly ammunition, Kalzick ordered flanking movements from his battalion of veterans, in a 14-hour lasting battle both sides gave no ground, than the finally the chaos lines began to crumble. The brave Joridian jumped out of their trenches and entered the no-men land under the lead of Kalzick, who lead the charge personnaly. Later appeared the Chaos Force had deployed Disruptors to make it impossible for the usage of VOX-Channels, the orders where given 16 hours before the end of the battle, and all of the Joridian where expected to be killed.

The war on Bask ended twenty-three years after Kalzicks Recruitment. When he returned home was promoted, from major to Colonel. Assigned with the task of controlling, and later on commanding, a new Joridian regiment for the upcoming tithes. He was given the command over the 16th Joridian, over 7000 fresh recruits who could be shaped in the perfect unit. After five years of training, they were shipped out, towards the Abraxis Sector. Being deployed on the planet of Gensal they expected to be in combat any time soon. Nevertheless, during Operation Divine Retribution they never saw real combat. Their Lieutenant General kept the entire corps in reserve and the 16th Joridian only dug in. After this Operation Kalzick was promoted to Major-General and took place in Lieutenant-General Smith’s Command Squad. For the course of Operation Imperator he would function as Brevet-Lieutenant-General.

Rank: GOC CXLIV corps
Name: Leroy Firth
Age: 32 years

Appearance:
About 5 foot 6 inches tall and slightly built Leroy is not the most imposing of men. His blonde hair sits atop a picturesque face and his green eyes still gleam with a child like enthusiasm.

Background:
Born to one of Gotham's wealthy industrialist families, Leroy was well on his way to following in his fathers footsteps, However at the age of twenty four Leroy’s fortunes changed. When defending his fiancé in a bar fight, he killed a man and was taken to jail. His parents used their wealth to buy him a pardon after 6 months. However, Leroy’s ‘criminal’ past now meant that he would no longer be able to follow in his fathers footsteps and so his parents bought him a commission in the imperial guard and shipped him off to the Terullian Military Academy.
Whilst at the academy Leroy exhibited a talent for siege warfare and was given command of the 13th Midderax regiment whose officer core in particular had suffered heavy casualties as part of Warmaster Macaroth’s Sabbat Crusade. Leroy’s talent for siege warfare came to the fore when his superior, General Remuf fell ill and Leroy was was appointed to carry out the siege.
The enemy city fell comparatively quickly and with minimal imperial losses, Macaroth himself commented on Firth’s abilities.
When Remuf heard about the praise he was fearful for his own position and recommended Leroy for a ‘promotion’ to a specialist siege unit. Macaroth approved and Firth was transferred out of the crusade and given command of CXLIV corps as it was on route to the Abraxis sector.




(i can add more if you want)

It's an interesting idea having your character go through the Terullian Military Academy on Terullia. Your character would probably have a few Terullian military contacts which in the Task Force is a bit of a double edged sword! It's also this association that has probably had your character 'dumped' into the quite possibly the worst command slot ever! Nobody really trusts Terullians in general and as far as many are considered you might as well be one of them... however, your Terullian contacts could be beneficial if you ever serve on a war front where there are Terullian units.