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The 1st Company of a Space Marine Chapter is the elite company of Veterans.
These vastly experienced warriors have access to the very best of the
Chapter's weaponry and equipment and are the first to be supplied with
any new or modified wargear. They are also the only Space Marine troops
to wear Terminator Armour. These powerful armoured suits are a physical
embodiment of the Chapter's fighting spirit and history. The brother
Marines regard every one of these suits as a holy artefact.
Terminator Squads consists of a Sergeant and up to nine Brother-Marines.
The Sergeant is normally equipped with a Power Sword and Storm Bolter,
the Brother-Marines with Power Fists and Storm Bolters. The Squad also
has access to Chainfists, Assault Cannons, Heavy Flamers and Cyclone
Missile Launchers. Alternatively Terminator Squads may be equipped for
close assault with Thunder Hammers, Storm Shields and Lightning Claws
replacing their Storm Bolters and Power Fists.
The Terminator Squads are identified in a couple of different ways.
Each Squad within the 1st Company is numbered as in the other Companies.
This number is usually displayed on the right shoulder pad combined
with the Chapter icon but can be shown on the knee pads or helmets.
Additionally each of the Terminator Squads is known by its Sergeant's
name and this is displayed on the Sergeant's back banner. So Sergeant
Gaius leads Termiantor Squad Gaius. This practice can extend to other
Companies and Squads but is usually associated with Marines of Veteran
or other honoured status.
The left shoulder pad of the Terminator suit carries the large solid
stone icon known as the Crux Terminatus. This doubles as a tactical
symbol and as a revered honour badge. Each Crux is reputed to have bound
within its core a tiny fragment of the battle armour worn by the Emperor
during his epic duel with Horus the Arch-Traitor ten rhousand years
ago. The design of this ancient badge can vary considerably, even within
a single unit or Chapter. Sergeants' and officers' Crux tend to be more
elaborate and finely detailed than those worn by normal Battle-Brothers.
Terminator suits are revered artifacts of the Chapter and, as such
are likely to be festooned with all manner of battle honour or other
mark of distinction. The suit as much as the Marine inside carries these
honours, it being quite common for old suits to be recycled for use
by newly appointed Veterans. In this case the new wearer of the armour
regards it as very auspicious if the suit has already proved its worth
in battle.
Typical honour badges seen on Terminator armour include skull badges,
name scrolls, Imperial Laurels, Iron Halos, Purity Seals and miniature
versions of the Crux. These badges may appear on just about any part
of the suit. In addition to this individual sections of armour may be
decorated with bold patterns, Chapter icons or even fully painted scenes
of some ancient heroic action or legendary character from the Chapter's
dim and distant past.
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