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| - When the Dark Angels do undertake joint operations alongside other Chapters, it is quite common for them to do so with others amongst the so-called “Unforgiven”—the Successors of the original Dark Angels Legion. The Successors of the Legion maintain especially close relations, their officers all being members of the Inner Circle. This mysterious body provides a ready-made command network that the Unforgiven Chapters can utilise to great effect when coordinating their activities. There is no presumption that the leaders of the Dark Angels have any inherent superiority over those of the other Unforgiven Chapters. Rather, the leaders work together closely, and if needed elect one of their number as nominal commander for the duration of the campaign. In one matter, however, the officers of the
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| abstract
| - When the Dark Angels do undertake joint operations alongside other Chapters, it is quite common for them to do so with others amongst the so-called “Unforgiven”—the Successors of the original Dark Angels Legion. The Successors of the Legion maintain especially close relations, their officers all being members of the Inner Circle. This mysterious body provides a ready-made command network that the Unforgiven Chapters can utilise to great effect when coordinating their activities. There is no presumption that the leaders of the Dark Angels have any inherent superiority over those of the other Unforgiven Chapters. Rather, the leaders work together closely, and if needed elect one of their number as nominal commander for the duration of the campaign. In one matter, however, the officers of the Dark Angels have superiority over those of the other Unforgiven Chapters—the Hunt for the Fallen. When hunting those turncoat Dark Angels who escaped the Fall of Caliban, the Unforgiven operate under the auspices of the highest ranked member of the Inner Circle, and the very highest of these is the Supreme Grand Master Azrael himself—the Chapter Master of the Dark Angels. Through the machinations of the Unforgiven’s Inner Circle, its members are eternally vigilant, never resting in the hunt for the Fallen. Even though knowledge of the Fallen is withheld from the majority of the brethren, the results of post-battle debriefings and psi-induced stress-purges are fed back to the Inner Circle and any sign of the presence of a Fallen Angel analysed. In addition, the Dark Angels' Chaplains are permanently attached to a company, and this allows them to hear the confessions of their brothers and to keep a close watch for signs of the Fallen. When such traces are discovered, the Inner Circle moves without hesitation, redeploying Unforgiven forces wherever they happen to be and re-tasking them with their new target. In most cases, it is the Ravenwing that locates such activity and the Deathwing that delivers the killing blow, but on occasion, entire Dark Angels strike forces have been recalled from campaigns and committed to engage an enemy that only the highest-ranked of its officers have any true knowledge about. The Space Marine Legions were created long before the development of the Imperial Creed and the dominion of the Adeptus Ministorum in the 32nd Millennium. As a result, every Space Marine Chapter had its own cult practices and its own attendant priests. These spiritual leaders of the Space Marines are known as Chaplains, and for over ten thousand standard years, they have led the holy rites of their Chapters. The Dark Angels' Chaplains are the keepers of the Reclusiam, the central shrine within The Rock. They emerge to preside over ancient ceremonies -- inducting Neophytes into the Chapter with Rites of Initiation, steeling the hearts and minds of recruits and Veterans alike with the Vows of Intolerance, and leading all through prayers of dedication to battle, Primarch and Emperor. A Chaplain instills strict discipline in his brothers, armouring them within through tenet and catechism. The monastic Dark Angels are inundated with rituals, and it is the Chaplain's role to screen his brethren, watching for even the smallest failing in humility or mental fortitude. Chaplains are daunting figures, for their jet black livery is adorned with icons of battle and mysterious tokens of ritual. Their Skull Helms at once evoke the stern image of the immortal Emperor and the grim promise of death. In the midst of battle, a Chaplain is truly in his element, preaching the righteous work of warfare, chanting Liturgies of Battle and punctuating his sermons with deadly strikes from his blazing Crozius Arcanum -- the skull-headed cudgel that is both a Chaplain's badge of office and chosen weapon. If a Dark Angels Chaplain can prove himself through years of heroic service, he might be found worthy of acceptance into the Chapter's Inner Circle. After an arcane and convoluted ceremony in the Hall of Secrets, deep in the bowels of The Rock, the Chaplain is given the Test of Faith. Failures are led further into the dungeons and never seen again, but should he pass, he takes the solemn vow of the Deathwing and will henceforth be given the title of Interrogator-Chaplain. In addition to their previous role, it is the sacred duty of Interrogator-Chaplains to make any of the Fallen who are captured repent. This requires a will of unbreakable adamant, as the horrific acts of forcing repentance are not an easy burden to bear. Interrogator-Chaplains must weather heretical ranting and lies, discern insincere bleating and remain steadfast in their commitment to compel contrition from the lips of Traitors. The Fallen Angels who repent are rewarded with a quick death, whilst those who do not are shown ever more drastic measures that eventually lead to the same destination, but take considerably longer in the journey.
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