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The Imperial Navy is one of the armed forces of the Imperium of Man. While the Imperial Guard represents the Imperium's ground forces, the Imperial Navy is responsible for the fleets of starships that maintain order between the stars and planets in the Imperium, for all space and air support provided to the infantry of the Imperial Guard, and for transporting those Guardsmen across the galaxy to the Imperium's myriad warzones. The battlefleets of the Imperial Navy are constantly engaging threats both inside and outside the Imperium's borders.

The Imperial Navy is represented in the Senatorum Imperialis by the Lord High Admiral of the Imperial Navy. This officer is elected by the Admiralty of Terra, which consists of the senior Naval officers from the Sectors surrounding Terra. While not a permanent member of the twelve High Lords of Terra, the Lord High Admiral is frequently seen in one of the three non-permanent seats of the High Twelve.

Battlefleet Deus[]

Battlefleet Deus is a fleet of Imperial Navy vessels charged with the protection of the Sector Deus. Battlefleet Deus is one of the Frontier Fleets that defend the Northern Galactic reaches of the Imperium of Man. It is a part of the massive Warfleet Obscurus which operates in Segmentum Obscurus.

Battlefleet Deus itself is split into five Battlegroups, each one under the command of an Admiral and assigned to certain subsector/s.

Battlegroup Chief Anchorage(s) Commanding Officer Flagship
Core Worlds Athena Prime Lord Admiral Tyrel Hagen Emperor-class Battleship Unbreakable
Adamantis Praetor IX Admiral Cyra Xerant Mars-class Battlecruiser Prosecutor
Tyranus Malta Admiral Amos Hefin Retribution-class Battleship Alexios Komnenos
Cryptus / Meridian Gradburg / Volitair Admiral Ona Pelial Mars-class Battlecruiser Hoplite

Ionium / Dominus / Aeternus (IDA)

Sygma-477 / Emperors Rest Admiral Agemmar Tenso Overlord-class Battlecruiser Pillar of the Righteous


Current composition of Battlefleet Deus[]

  • Emperor Class Battleship Unbreakable
Flagship of Battlefleet Deus. The Unbreakable dates back to the reclamation crusade in M37 where it served as Saint Belisarius' own flagship, and has nobly served the Sector ever since. Among its more famous endeavours is the prosecution of the Xo'nad worlds, where its waves of attack craft and long-ranged macrocannons engaged the Xenos fleet at such a distance that their own plasma-based weapons were ineffective. More recently the Unbreakable desolated a Dark Eldar pirate fleet that had been harrying the Sector in the Battle of Kallemuth. To defend the Unbreakable against fast raiders and attackers when her Attack Craft complement is far off, the Unbreakable is always accompanied by a heavy escort squadron of two light cruisers, the Endeavour-class Erudite and the Endurance-class Eminent. She is currently commanded by Lord Admiral Tyrel Hagen and her current Flight Marshal is Captain Keryl Mardon.
  • Retribution Class Battleship Alexios Komnenos
A truly ancient vessel that was transferred to Sector Deus in late M38 after Battlefleet Solar mothballed it in favour of a freshly made hull. Earliest records of this ships exploits date back to M34 where it served in the Pacification of Atheca and the scouring of the Gek homeworlds. Since its transfer to Battlefleet Deus the Komnenos has served as the flagship of Battlegroup Tyranus and over the centuries has claimed dozens of capital-ship class kills and hundreds of escorts seeking to escape The Grave. The scions of chaos across Deus and its neighbouring sectors curse the name Alexios Komnenos. She is currently commanded by Admiral Amos Hefin, guided by Lord Navigator Ellaria Jaenar, and her first company of Naval Stormtroopers is led by Tempestor Prime Johann Shrike. In battle she is commonly accompanied by the Dominator-class Cruiser Malleus, whose nova cannon softens up closing enemies before her substantial broadside contributes to the battleship's own.
  • Vengeance Class Grand Cruiser Stellaris
The Stellaris has served in Battlefleet Deus since the reclamation crusade, and has avoided being mothballed like many Grand Cruisers due to the relative shortage of new capital ships in the sector. During the crusade itself it served as an escort for the Unbreakable, and in the millenia since has led Tyranus Patrol Group Primus, the chief guards of the Grave who constantly patrol the rim of the warp storm. Stellaris has claimed few capital ship class kills as their detection usually signals an impending attack on Malta, so the patrol group returns to the rest of the fleet to report. But to any escort-class ships trying to escape the grave their ultimate fear is encountering the Stellaris and its wingmen, and the long-range macrocannons of this Grand Cruiser are covered in escort-class kill markings. Tyranus Patrol Group Primus is currently commanded by Commodore François Chatelíon.
  • Vengeance Class Grand Cruiser Spear of Destiny
This Grand Cruiser was originally owned by the Belisarian Dynasty and guarded their palace on Tachion Primaris for millenia, but when the dynasty fell from power the remnants sold the vessel off to the Imperial Navy before moving permanently to Templos. The Spear of Destiny continues to guard the Sector capital to this day, maintaining orbit above the hive world and driving away any who would dare venture close without authorisation. It is currently under the command of Commodore Seyshan Ursus of the Ursus Dynasty.
  • Mars Class Battlecruiser Prosecutor
The Prosecutor is a venerable vesel that has served as the flagship of Battlegroup Adamantis for millenia. This ship has defended the galactic rim from Cygnus cluster xenos since before the M37 Reclamation Crusade, and has claimed an incalculable number of the esoteric xenos' voidcraft over its long service as its nova cannon & bomber squadrons - currently led by Commander Dana Loria - cause havoc among their relatively small ships. The Prosecutor is always accompanied by Shield Squadon, composed of 5 Cobra-class Destroyers, and is currently commanded by Admiral Cyra Xerant.
  • Mars Class Battlecruiser Hoplite
Hoplite is the flagship of Battlegroup Cryptus/Meridian and has primarily seen duty against the Ork empires near the subsector rim. Amongst its greatest exploits was in early M39 when the greenskins deployed a ramshackle battleship from Drohia. Hoplite chipped away at the colossal vessel from afar with its nova cannon as its escorts held off ork attackers, and once the orknoid battleship was crippled the Hoplite closed-in and obliterated the vessel with waves of bomber craft. The Hoplite is currently commanded by Vice Admiral Kavan Stowford, though Admiral Ona Pelial takes command of her for true fleet battles.
  • Armageddon Class Battlecruiser Reverent Spirit
The Reverent Spirit was originally a Lunar-Class Cruiser that was hulked during the Third Ionian Crusade and rebuilt with a superior plasma reactor and upgraded weapons systems. It found little use as a patrol ship due to the vessel's now-cramped conditions, and remained as part of Athena Prime's defence fleet for several decades before the Iron Monks managed to install a Captain loyal to them abord the Battlecruiser. Haran Dreifus took advantage of this Captain's loyalty and convinced him to take part in the Betrayal at Varda. But Dreifus lost the battle and fled with the Reverent Spirit, remaining fugitive for almost ten years before the Ghosts of Retribution tracked him down. Easily siezing the vessel from it's demoralised crew (whose mutiny had only been staved off by the religious rhetoric of the skilled orator Dreifus), the Chapter arrested Dreifus and sold the Battlecruiser back to its original owners, the Imperial Navy. She currently serves once again in Athena Prime's defence fleet ready to respond to any threat, as the Armageddon-class is ill suited to patrol work.
  • 5 Overlord Class Battlecruisers
    • Iron Will - Part of the Core Worlds Battlegroup. Currently on permanent assignment to Oskea under the command of Captain Tangent Grey.
    • Forthright Intervention - Part of Battlegroup Tyranus, and commanded by Vice Admiral Van Daur. Was involved in heavy conflict with Styrian Triarchy forces near the Kruun system, where she hulked an enemy capital ship and five enemy escort squadrons with her wingmen. Was heavily damaged and was docked until 361.M41 for repairs.
    • Pillar of the Righteous - Flagship of Battlegroup Ionium/Aeternus/Dominus (IDA). Admiral Agemmar Tenso commands from her bridge.
    • Arcus Imperia - Part of Battlegroup Adamantis. Arcus Imperia is a relatively new addition to Battlefleet Deus, making her maiden voyage from her drydock over Nestorium in 306.M41. Currently commanded by Captain Helmacht Ursus.
    • Conqueror - Part of Battlegroup Cryptus/Meridian. A young vessel that set forth from her drydock in only 370.M41, Conqueror has been stationed above the newly reclaimed Triot to maintain security near this new and vulnerable part of the Sector border.
  • 5 Regent Class Orbital Assault Ships
    • Admiral Sulanor - Part of the Core Worlds Battlegroup. This large vessel won fame for leading the invasion force that reclaimed Axis Mundi during the First Ionian Crusade, destroying an entire quadrant of orbital defence batteries with its bombardment cannons whilst simultaenously deploying over a million guardsmen to the surface in a matter of hours.
    • Fortis Mater - Part of Battlegroup Tyranus. Fortis Mater's most important operations over the millenia have been delivering troops onto Malta in the middle of major attacks from The Grave. Most of the rest of the time it is positioned above the Aressar Plateau on Malta, so its bombardment cannons & attack craft can target any enemy forces that could have made an undetected approach and landed upon the surface. It is also vital for redeploying large forces in response to unexpected Grave excursions which could target any other planet in the Subsector.
    • Saint Luripedes - Part of Battlegroup Adamantis. This vessel is named after Adamant Prime's most famous hero, and has served honourably for millennia in leading counter-invasions against Cygnoid incursions. She is currently commanded by Commodore Alysia Xerant.
    • Tempest - Part of Battlegroup Cryptus/Meridian. The Tempest is an old vessel that took part in the Belisarian Reclamation Crusade, leading the reclamation of the worlds of Subsector Meridian.
    • Ballaenus - Part of Battlegroup IDA. This ship spends a lot of its time in Subsector Aeternus, leading the attack & annihilation of pirate havens discovered amongst the warp routes of the subsector. The current Flight Marshal of the Ballaenus is Commander Regus Locke of the Locke Dynasty of Sygma-477.
  • 3 Styx Class Heavy Cruisers
    • Furor Eternum - Part of Battlegroup Tyranus, Furor Eternum has defended the worlds of the subsector with its attack craft for millennia. She is currently commanded by Captain Karolyn Halcor.
  • 4 Hades Class Heavy Cruisers
    • Drakovich - The origins of this ancient heavy cruiser have been lost to the dark mists of time, but it has served the Core Worlds Battlegroup since the reclamation crusade. Its high speed often sees it assigned to pirate hunting and the numerous pirate havens that it has reduced to cinders over the centuries has given the Drakovich a dark reputation. The Drakovich is currently commanded by Commodore Strant Marsdan.
    • Cataphract - A powerful warship in Battlegroup Tyranus, the Cataphract is a heavy patrol vessel that circuits around the Grave to protect the dangerous trade routes. She was lost in battle over Malta in 850.M40, and her burning hulk drifted into the void where it became a part of the enormous space hulk Sins Everlasting. Howevr in 352.M41 the Rogue Trader Antonius Celentis found her and recovered her, before she was refitted and pressed back into service.
  • 16 Lunar Class Cruisers
    • Battleborn - Patrol ship in Battlegroup Ionium/Dominus/Aeternus (IDA). Currently commanded by Captain Havern Locke.
    • Lux Adamantis* - Cruiser in Battlegroup Adamantis. Currently on a long patrol around the Subsector's trade routes under the command of Commodore Nadia Xerant.
    • Laodicea - Cruiser in Battlegroup Cryptus/Meridian. Famed for its actions during the Ork invasion of Triot, where she decimated several squadrons of ork escorts and thus provided safe passage for dozens of evacuation craft. Many saved by Laodicea would go on to name their children in her honour, resulting in 'Laodicea' or variations thereof becoming a common name in Subsector Meridian.
    • Perdition's Herald - Cruiser of the Core Worlds Battlegroup. Gained fame during the thirteen rebellions for single-handedly hulking the entire System Defence Fleet of Karn Dereg, the Commander of which had staged a coup and was trying to force the planet to secede from the Imperium.
    • Righteous Ascent - Cruiser in Battlegroup Adamantis. The original Lunar-class Righteous Ascent that was lost in the warp in 654.M40, and its ruined hull was discovered within Sins Everlasting in 352.M41 and its command rod recovered. The rod was installed within an as-yet unnamed Lunar hull under construction which became this new Righteous Ascent - seen as a spiritual continuation of the old vessel.
  • 5 Gothic Class Cruisers
    • Vorpal - Line cruiser in Battlegroup Adamantis. Was originally a Lunar-class but was retrofitted into a Gothic-class in the early 350s.M41. She is currently commanded by Captain Andreus Storr.
    • Luminary - Cruiser in Battlegroup Tyranus. The Luminary is well-known for defeating a group of flanking Chaos escorts in defence of Malta during a large-scale incusion from The Grave in 850.M41. The Luminary braved massive close-range firepower to plow between the escorts and unleash both broadsides, hulking several escorts in a single salvo and taking heavy damage in the process.
    • Dawnbringer - Cruiser in the Core Worlds Battlefleet.
  • 3 Tyrant Class Cruisers
    • Deflagrator - Cruiser in Battlegroup Cryptus/Meridian. The Deflagrator is famous for - during a border skirmish with orknoids over Volitair in 281.M41 - blowing a kill kroozer to pieces with its short range weapons batteries while simultaneously destroying a ramship that was about to make contact with the Hoplite with its long range plasma macros. In reward for her skill the Deflagrator was subsequently equipped with full broadsides of Mars-pattern plasma weapons salvaged from an old Murder-class cruiser hulk.
  • 5 Dictator Class Cruisers
    • Korgrim's Spirit - Cruiser in the Core Worlds Battlegroup. Named after Lord Admiral Korgrim, who was the first Lord Admiral of Battlefleet Deus after Saint Belisarius' reclamation crusade.
    • Silver Dragon - Commissioned from Jupiter itself by the public funds of Emperors Rest and delivered to Battlefleet Deus in 367.M41. This stalwart vessel is named after the first vessel to colonise Emperors Rest in the dark mists of its founding, and brings the people of Emperors Rest great pride.
    • Kallemuth - Cruiser in Battlegroup IDA. Built and named to commemorate the 346.M41 Battle of Kallemuth in which Lord Admiral Tyrel Hagen won a great victory for the Imperial Navy against Dark Eldar raiders.
  • 3 Dominator Class Cruisers
    • Malleus - Cruiser in Battlegroup Tyranus. Malleus is famed for the accuracy of her machine-spirit and by extension her crew. She is most well-known as the primary wingman of the Alexios Komnenos, sniping enemy ships at long range with her Nova Cannon and softening them up for the Battleship's tremendous firepower to finish off.
  • 7 Endeavour Class Light Cruisers
    • Harmony's Roar - Convoy escort in Battlegroup Tyranus. Harmony's Roar helps defend vital supply convoys that travel between Malta and the Freya System. She is famous for landing the crippling blow on a Murder-class Cruiser that dared to attack one of her convoys, driving it away.
    • Erudite - In concert with the Endeavour-class Light Cruiser Eminent, the Erudite serves in the core worlds battlegroup as a heavy escort for the Unbreakable.
  • 3 Endurance Class Light Cruisers
    • Eminent - Along with her sister ship, the Endeavour-class Light Cruiser Erudite, the Eminent keeps the Unbreakable defended from would-be attackers.
  • 32 Dauntless Class Light Cruisers
    • Blade of Vengeance - Patrol ship of Battlegroup Cryptus/Meridian and favoured ship of Admiral Ona Pelial. Blade of Vengeace's archeotech plasma drive and energistic conversion matrix (an archeotech power relay that funnels power to the engines from the warp drive when it is not in-use) give her a tremendous speed, eclipsing even most Raiders.
    • Starfury - Lead ship of patrol group Starfury in Battlegroup IDA. Accompanied by Starfury Squadron of 4 Sword-class Frigates.
    • Victoria - Patrol group leader in the Core Worlds Battlegroup. Victoria has claimed many raiders foolish enough to attempt piracy upon convoys within the Core Worlds, snapping raiders in two with her prow lance as her wingmen - the Victoria Squadron of 5 Cobra Destroyers - sweep in fast to shatter wolfpacks with their torpedoes. She is currently commanded by Captain Magnus Stormvald.
    • Lex Imperator - Patrol group leader in Battlegroup Tyranus. Lex Imperator gained famed for destroying the Slaughter-class Cruiser Gutwrencher as it attempted to escape the Grave, with the assistance of the Lex Imperator Squadron of 4 Sword-class Frigates.
    • Jackal - Patrol group leader in Battlegroup Adamantis. Jackal is a deep space patrol vessel, venturing beyond the sector rim into the Halo Zone to scout/assess the region and serve as an early warning for any threats emerging from the galactic rim. She is accompanied by Jackal Squadron of 4 Sword-class Frigates.
    • Lord Belisarius - Patrol group leader in Core Worlds Battlegroup, and named after the Sector Governor when she was laid down in 040.M38. The Lord Belisarius is a consummate predator who has pursued marauders across the sector and beyond to ensure their destruction, and she is most famous for striking the killing blow upon the chaos Hades-class Heavy Cruiser Storm of Blood after hunting the near-crippled vessel over a thousand lightyears coreward. She travels with the Belisarius Squadron of 4 Firestorm-class Frigates, giving patrol group Belisarius a fearsome frontal lance profile.
    • Danam's Lance - Leader of patrol group Danam in Battlegroup IDA and named after the then-Planetary Governor of Erba where she was constructed. Danam's Lance patrols the extensive intersecting warp routes of Subsector Aeternus with Danam Squadron of five Cobra-class Destroyers, and has apprehended countless smugglers and fugitives over her service.
    • Augustus - Patrol ship in Battlegroup Adamantis. Named after Lord General Augustus Xerant, Governor of Adamant Prime, who had died shortly before the vessel was laid down.
    • Vigil I & Vigil II - These two Dauntless' make up patrol group Vigil of Battlegroup Tyranus, dedicated to patrolling the Grave and crushing any small raiding parties trying to escape. Vigil I's vicious lances & launch bays and Vigil II's devastating torpedo tubes & macrocannons are a potent array of weapons, and they have claimed many escorts and light cruisers between them.
    • King Aurelian - Patrol ship in the Core Worlds Battlegroup. She was built over seven years in orbit above the feudal world of Dirr from materials harvested by the primitive natives, and named after the then-planetary governor. Accompanied by Aurelian Squadron of 4 Sword-class Frigates.
    • Upon Swift Tides - Patrol ship in Battlegroup Cryptus/Meridian. A recently built hull, Upon Swift Tides travels with Swift Squadron of four Sword-class Frigates and has been assigned to patrol the space around Triot.
  • 85 Escort Squadrons
    • Amber Squadron - Patrol squadron of Battlegroup IDA that took part in Operation Wild Hunt. Composed of 4 Sword-class Frigates.
    • Starfury Squadron - Squadron of patrol group Starfury in Battlegroup IDA. Composed of 4 Sword-class Frigates.
    • Pouncer Squadron* - Cruiser escort squadron in Battlefleet Adamantis. Currently accompanying Lux Adamantis on its patrol. Composed of 4 Sword-class Frigates.
    • Blaze Squadron* - Rapid response squadron in Battlefleet Adamantis. Spends most of their time above Praetor IX awaiting distress signals to respond to. Composed of 4 Firestorm-class Frigates.
    • Shield Squadron - Cruiser escort squadron that accompanies the Prosecutor in Battlefleet Adamantis, protecting it from marauding ordnance and rapid strike vessels. Composed of 5 Cobra-class Destroyers.
    • Hand of Saint Luripedes Squadron - Extended operations squadron in Battlegroup Adamantis. Gained fame for hunting down a wolfpack of chaos reavers from The Grave in a tireless seven month game of cat & mouse. Composed of 6 Sword-class Frigates.
    • Pilium Squadron - Offensive fleet squadron in Battlegroup Tyranus. Notable for hulking the chaos Murder-class cruiser Voracious in a daring flank attack. Composed of 4 Firestorm-class Frigates.
    • Ragnarok Squadron - Torpedo squadron in the Core Worlds Battlegroup. The highly trained Ragnarok Squadron is kept equipped with powerful torpedo variants and seeking guidance systems. They are most famous for dealing a crippling salvo to the Orknoid battleship Dakkalord, their melta torpedoes burning deep into its hull. Composed of 6 Cobra-class Destroyers. The current leader of Ragnarok Squadron is Captain Bernarde Sauvac.
    • Harrier Squadron - Torpedo squadron in Battlegroup Cryptus/Meridian. Harrier squadron has conducted hit & run attacks on orknoid raiders around Ord, Remgar, and Drohia for centuries, acquiring an impressive kill tally. Composed of 5 Cobra-class Destroyers.
    • Executrix Squadron - Offensive squadron in Battlegroup IDA. This highly rated unit is led by Captain Mischa Broque, daughter of the Regent of Sygma-477. Composed of 4 Firestorm-class Frigates.
    • Children of Faith Squadron - Cruiser escort squadron in Battlegroup IDA. Defended the Pillar of the Righteous from suicidal heretic attack runs during the Third Ionian Crusade. Composed of 4 Sword-class Frigates.
    • Vengeance Squadron - Offensive fleet squadron in Battlegroup Cryptus/Meridian. Christened in the wake of the fall of Triot in the shpyards of Gradburg, the machine spirits of Vengeance Squadron are said to have a hatred for orknoid vessels, and have hulked many during their service. Composed of 4 Firestorm-class Frigates.
  • 20 Viper Class Scout Sloops
    • Starcatcher - Scout sloop in Battlegroup Tyranus. Named for the (unproven) rumour that she can catch a shooting star, Starcatcher runs long solo patrols around The Grave. This dangerous duty has alerted the Imperial Navy to innumerable chaos incursions, and because of this Starcatcher is a much-beloved vessel despite her lack of battle honours.
    • Eye of the Almighty - Scout sloop in the Core Worlds Battlegroup. Eye of the Almighty serves mostly as a pursuit vessel, tracking pirates and raiders to their hides before calling the Drakovich to destroy them utterly. Due to this sightings of the Eye of the Almighty are considered very bad omens amongst merchant (and sometimes navy) crews in the Core Worlds.
    • Queen Orelai - Scout sloop in Battlegroup Cryptus/Meridian, and named after a planetary governor of Doria IV. The Queen Orelai was vital in scouting the orknoid waaagh that fell upon Triot and locating every outlying vestige of its fractured fleet for the Navy to crush piecemeal.


Current Composition of Battlefleet Deus Transport Fleet[]

  • 4 Universe Class Mass Conveyors
    • Unfathomable - This colossal transport is one of the oldest vessels in the sector, and its deep forgotten bowels contain societies of countless thousands. These bilge-dwelling savages are occasionally recruited by Imperial Guard regiments as they travel aboard the Unfathomable.
  • 220 Heavy Transports
    • Wages of Labour - As much a mobile prison as it is a fleet resupply ship. Wages of Labour is almost entirely crewed by massive banks of enslaved criminals, mostly pirates or navy ratings found guilty of severe crimes. The existence of hellish prison slaveships like Wages of Labour serves as a deterrent to those who might defy Imperial & Naval law. She is currently commanded by the tyrannical Commander Frederick Anaheim.
    • Void Marcher - A troop transport, the Void Marcher has a reputation as an exceptionally reliable ship. Not once in her fourteen hundred year history has she suffered a warp mishap or had a critical system fail. Many consider the ship blessed, and regiments travelling aboard her maintain far higher levels of morale and discipline during their voyage.
    • Syranus - A fuel transport, Syranus helps keep the Imperial Navy's ships & machines fuelled whilst they're on long patrols. She gained fame during the Second Ionian Crusade for supplying fuel to the Unbreakable's attack craft launch bays in the middle of battle, braving intense amounts of enemy fire.
  • ~500 Standard Transports
    • Leatherback - This unassuming Jericho-class Materiel Hauler is famous for ramming and destroying an Iconoclast-raider that was harrying her convoy whilst escorts were distracted by other threats.
    • Anabelle - This apparently Vagabond-class Troop Transport is in fact a Q-ship that has claimed a large number of enemy would-be raiders, ranging from chaos reavers to orknoid raiders.


Notable former vessels of Battlefleet Deus[]

  • Endeavour-class Light Cruiser Austere Sacrament - Former fleet cruiser in battlegroup Cryptus/Meridian. Austere Sacrament has gone toe-to-toe with orknoid vessels around Volitair for centuries. She is currently commanded by Captain Sylvia Armande, who captained her with honour for several decades. However in early 349.M41 Capt. Armande - following a fierce void battle with orks - fled the system with her vessel and has not been seen since. Assumed renegade, Armande has been declared a mutineer and her ship stricken from the rolls of honour until it is reclaimed by a loyal crew.
  • Mars-class Battlecruiser Spear of Penthesilea - This venerable ship played a vital role in the Third Ionian Crusade, being the only capital ship to escape the initial ambush of Ionian forces at Faith's Rock and warn the rest of the Sector. She was reduced to a drifting hulk during the final naval confrontation over Astrobel and disappeared into the void before she could be recovered.
  • Murder-class Cruiser Bloodrager (formerly the Fellhanded) - An ancient vessel that served Battlefleet Deus during the infancy of the Imperium, in early M34 her crew turned to chaos and fled into The Grave - but not before destroying her own unsuspecting escort squadron to the last ship. The subject of a hundred oaths of vengeance, the Bloodrager has been encountered in battle on several occasions, always escaping back to The Grave just before its deserved fate can be met. It is believed to currently be under the control of the Sworn Sons warband.
  • Hades-class Heavy Cruiser Troya's Razor - This powerful warship was once a mainstay of Malta's defensive fleet, but some time during the long storm of M36 it went missing. In M38 it was found in the company of a fleet of chaos ships from the Grave and has been among the most powerful chaos ships in the the Grave ever since.
  • Lunar-class Cruiser Schwermacht - This ship was only 70 years into her service when - in 266.M41 - she was attacked en masse by a fleet of unified pirate wolfpacks while on patrol and stolen. For several years the Schwermacht was a severe threat to Imperial shipping despite the best efforts of the Imperial Navy, but - as expected - the unity of her commanders did not last. The Shcwermacht was last seen in 272.M41 in the deep void near Tartarus, in flames as multiple pirate squadrons fought over her.
  • Slaughter-class Cruiser Raging Valour - One of the few in her class to end their career honourably, the Raging Valour served Battlefleet Deus for almost three millennia until - in M39 - she helped engage a vast chaos fleet in the Malta system. With the battle turning against the Imperials, the Raging Valour used her tremendous speed to roar into the middle of the enemy fleet, letting fly with her close-ranged weapons before emergency activating her own warp drive. Raging Valour and several chaos capital ships were immediately lost to the warp, and even the chaos Relictor-class Battleship Piety's End was severely damaged and forced to retreat.
  • Dauntless-class Light Cruiser Opus Celeri - This light cruiser gained fame during the fall of Triot. Even as the planet reeled from the initial invasion of roks, ever more ships of the great waaagh continued to arrive in increasing numbers. The Opus Celeri worked tirelessly against long odds to stall the vast ork fleet as long as possible, conducting countless hit & run attacks on kill kroozers and attack ships and buying Triot itself a lot of time. Ultimately the Opus Celeri met her end after a kill kroozer got lucky with its 'eavy gunz and shattered the Dauntless' hull. With grim determination the Opus Celeri rammed a nearby battlekroozer, detonating the plasma drives and consuming both ships in a mighty conflagration of flame and steel.
  • Murder-class Cruiser Isabella's Sword - This venerable ship was at the forefront of Saint Belisarius' Reclamation Crusade and lead the fight to reclaim dozens of worlds, before serving Battlefleet Deus honourably for many centuries. She met her end in 395.M40 when Isabella's Sword alone stood between a large wolfpack of Chaos Reavers and the agri world of Tagranus. The Murder-class Cruiser attacked without hesitation and obliterated the swarm of enemy raiders, but not before taking unsustainable damage in return. With the hulk drifting into the deep void beyond the system edge the crew of Isabella's Sword evacuated to Tagranus but her shipmaster - Captain Thorbjorn Knudsson - refused to abandon his beloved ship and went with her into the void. She has never been seen since.
  • Overlord-class Battlecruiser Stormcaller - This vessel was fresh from the drydock when she was drawn into the Belisarian Reclamation Crusade and conducted herself admirably as the Unbreakable's wingman, defending the vast carrier with long range weapons and torpedoes. Unfortunately the young Stormcaller met her end before her time, intercepting a salvo of torpedoes meant for the Unbreakable that shattered her into a burning hulk. Despite the best efforts of the Imperial fleet the battle could not be concluded before the Stormcaller burned out, and the young battlecruiser was lost to the void.


Aeronautica Imperialis[]

The Aeronautica Imperialis is the branch of the Imperial Navy that oversees and undertakes atmospheric operations. In practice Aeronautica wings are attached to Imperial Guard deployments much like any other regiment would be, but technically they are part of the Imperial Navy command structure.

Each Aeronautica wing is completely self-contained much like Imperial Guard regiments, with not just pilots and aircraft but also ground crew, communications operators and techpriests all required to build, maintain and operate an air base.

Aeronautica wings vary in purpose just like Imperial Guard regiments as well. Fighter wings place emphasis on Lightnings & Thunderbolts, Bomber wings will have squadrons of Marauders, and Ground Attack wings will operate Avenger Strike Fighters and Marauder Destroyers.

In addition, Imperial Guard Drop Regiments will have a number of Aeronautica personnel in their structure to operate their Valkyries & Vultures. The officers of these units follow Imperial Guard rank structure to maintain uniformity throughout the regiment.


Attack Craft Corps[]

Also known as the ACC, the Attack Craft Corps is similar in structure and operation to the Aeronautica save that they operate the void-capable attack craft launched from voidships for use in space combat. Whilst they operate different squadrons of different machines there is a lot of mobility for personnel between the ACC and the Aeronautica, and oftentimes a voidship's Attack Craft pilots may pilot atmospheric craft when the situation demands it.

The craft used by the ACC are invaraibly much larger and more powerful than atmospheric craft in the Aeronautica, so ACC squadrons are smaller in craft number though have more personnel in them. This results in a rank inflation in the ACC where each Sub-Lieutenant commands a single craft rather than both their own craft & wingman.


Naval Transport Fleet[]

The Imperial Navy - including Battlefleet Deus - also maintains its own fleet of transports, used primarily for transporting Imperial Guard troops, materiel and other Departmento Munitorum services, as well as providing resupply services to Imperial Navy patrols that may not make port for many months at a time. Though much smaller than the colossal Merchant Fleets the Imperial Navy operates a higher proportion of heavy transports for more reliable mass-transportation, and their convoys are well-guarded.

New officers are usually posted to the Naval Transport Fleet in order to prove their competence in a non-educational environment, before being allowed to transfer onto a warship. This means that the officers of the transport fleet tend to be much more junior and less experienced, with a very high proportion of Ensigns. Of course some officers may not transfer out of the transport fleet at all, preferring to spend their entire career in these boring but stalwart, reliable craft. The downside of this of course is that there are very few chances to distinguish themselves and earn a high rank.


Personnel[]

The vessels of Battlefleet Deus are crewed by millions of Ratings, NCOs and Officers who come from worlds all over the Sector.


Officers[]

The duties of a ship's officers vary as much as the functions aboard a ship do. The junior officers will each oversee a single 'section' of a ship commanding anywhere between a few dozen and several hundred NCOs and Ratings. They in turn will be commanded by mid-level officers who control entire branches of the vessel's functions. The number of levels of mid-level command varies depending on the size of the ship, with Escorts rarely having more than one level between the Captain and their junior officers but Battleships having potentially a dozen links in their chain of command between the Captain and their ratings. Such a labyrinthine command structure requires a high level of competence and coherency so the Imperial Navy puts officer candidates through Naval Academies & rigorous testing before allowing them command. Conversely a small number of officers may instead be enlisted navy ratings who impressed their superiors enough to earn a 'fleet commission' to the rank of Ensign (any additional education they may require would be provided on-the-job).


The Naval Academy[]

The Navy-run school where officer candidates receive their advanced education & training. There are a large number of academies throughout the Sector, but the largest Naval academies can be found on the worlds of InariaPraetor IX and Emperors Rest. Many academy students are upper/middle class citizens with the education & motivation required to pass the academies' entrance exams, while many others are members of the Nobility who felt a duty to further the Emperor's glory (or their own, as a commission in any military branch is considered a great boon to the status of any dynasty). The Schola Progenium also supplies a healthy number of skilled officer cadets to the academy, and especially talented members of the Chartist Fleets may choose to transfer their skills to the Imperial Navy by enrolling at the Naval Academy (this is a symbiotic link, as the Chartist Fleets are also a popular place for discharged Navy officers to find less stresful, less dangerous (usually) employment).

There are three main courses in the Naval Aademy:

The Fleet Officer course is for those who will become section officers aboard the voidships of the Imperial Navy. This course is considered the most prestigious & important, and emphasises leadership, discipline & personal combat skills alongside void strategy & tactics. Those who pass the course with flying colours are often posted as an Ensign directly onto a navy warship, while those who achieve only a satisfactory pass must instead serve in the naval transport fleet for some time to prove themselves. Minor failures may be given the chance to reattempt their course, while severe or repeated failures are expelled from the academy in disgrace.

The Flight Officer course is for those who will enter the Aeronautica or the Attack Craft Corps. This highly specialised course focuses on commanding & piloting the myriad aircraft employed by the Imperial Navy, from Arvus lighters to Starhawk bombers. After a foundation period where the basics of all imperial aircraft is taught, the cadets are divided up into specific courses for different aircraft classes (ie void fighters or atmospheric bombers etc.) that best suit their skills. They then receive advanced training in the piloting of that specific class of aircraft. Upon graduation the new Ensigns usually undergo a period serving as a copilot or reserve pilot before being given full command of a valuable aircraft (in the case of the prodigiously expensive ACC aircraft, they must reach Sub-Lieutenant rank before being given full command as pilot).

Finally, the Port Officer course is the most attended and largely considered to be the easiest & least prestigious (though still much more respected than civilian employment). This course gives training in logistics, naval economics and entire books worth of naval regulations, in order to train the veritable army of officers that are needed to man naval ports & dock to ensure the correct supplies, personnel, and materiel are available & distributed when & where they are needed. The course itself is more like higher civilian education than a military academy and so Port Officers command little respect from Fleet & Flight Officers (unless said Port Officer is a former Fleet/Flight Officer who transferred due to age or injury), but if a ship wants to voyage into the void with the supplies & ammunition it desperately needs they are subject to the whims of the Port Officers.

Of course following graduation none of these courses are binding, and an officer can transfer between them provided they prove they have the required skills or undergo the required training. In practice however transferring into either Fleet or Flight Officer positions is a rarity, whereas older and/or wounded Fleet/Flight Officers transferring into Port Officer positions is fairly common.


NCOs and Ratings[]

The NCOs and ratings are the manpower upon which the voidship of the Imperial Navy run. They perform any number of the many tasks aboard a voidship that need performing, most if which is largely unskilled. These masses of labour can be recruited from any source but the most popular are space stations & orbital docks where the inhabitants already have experience living and working in the void. In times of need pressganging is also practised by shipmasters of the Imperial Navy, though volunteers are much preferred ("Better one volunteer than three impressed men" is a common saying among naval offcicers).

Among this motley and overwhelmingly-male collection the toughest and most competent will be given the opportunity to become one of the ship's armsmen (roughly 10% of an Imperial Navy ship's crew are armsmen). Armsmen maintain order aboard their ship and defend the vessel from enemy boarding actions, as well as board other ships should the situation call for it. Given the dangerous nature of their work the armsmen are paid substantially more than their crewmen comrades and have much shorter terms of employment before being discharged, as such the majority of mercenary groups in the Sector are made of former Naval armsmen.

Naval Stormtroopers / Tempestus Scions[]

These elite soldiers are trained at specialised academies to the same grade as Imperial Guard Scions but with extra emphasis on close-quarters battle and void actions, and like their Imperial Guard counterparts they come under the authority of the Officio Tempestus of the Administratum. The only Naval Stormtrooper academy in Sector Deus is located on Emperors Rest, and suitable graduates of the Schola Progenium are brought here in the same way as their Imperial Guard counterparts. Once their training is complete Naval Stormtroopers are second only to Astartes when it comes to boarding actions and highly proficient in ground operations as well. All Capital Ships in the Sector have at least a few squads of Stormtroopers on board, but the largest ships like the Unbreakable contain entire companies of the elite soldiers to defend their precious vessel.

Naval Stormtroopers follow the same independant heirarchy as all Tempestus Scions, found here. Similar to their Imperial Guard counterparts, Naval Stormtroopers are put under the sole command of the Captain of the ship they are stationed on and no other can supersede their orders. However unlike their Imperial Guard counterparts Naval Stormtroopers are only formally arranged up to Company size, rather than up to Regimental scale.  

Techpriests[]

Another primary division of a ship's crew are Techpriests. Generally anywhere between 1 and 2 percent of any ship's crew will be techpriests, enginseers & tech-adepts and in Battlefleet Deus the majority of these come from Nestorium as part of the forge world's tithe. The scions of the machine-god usually keep to themselves aboard the ship, rarely leaving the region around the engines and reactor which they typically make their own. The techpriests concern themselves only with the wellbeing of their ship and keeping it running, and show general disinterest in the rest of the crew with the exception of the Captain, who speaks with the authority of the Omnissiah as well as the Emperor to all aboard.


Navigators[]

Finally, no ship would be warp-capable without a Navigator. Every warship in Battlefleet Deus has at least one Navigator, and most Capital Ships also carry additional Navigators in case the first is rendered incapable. These mutants always travel with a bodyguard of House Serfs, trained servant-soldiers who tend to the needs of the Navigator House they serve and defend their masters should the need arise. The Navigator/s and their serfs occupy quarters around the base of the ship's navigation spire/s, and when the time comes to enter the warp the Navigator will ascend the spire a where they can see the entirety of the warp before them and guide the ship through safely. When at warp every soul aboard the ship is at the whims of their Navigator so they are considered the ultimate authority - above even the Captain - when inside the immaterium. Battlefleet Deus sources the majority of its Navigators from House Jaenar.


Slaves[]

Also among the crews of many Navy ships (mostly their transports) are vast banks of criminal slaves made up of deserters, captured pirates and crewmen convicted of some terrible crime. They perform the most menial of labour aboard the ship such as hauling supplies, unskilled maintainence and generally doing any task a passing officer or NCO demands of them. Such ships tend to keep a much larger complement of Armsmen to maintain order among the prisoner-slaves.


Heirarchy & Notable Personnel []

Officers[]

  • Lord Admiral (LAdm) - The leader of all Naval assets in a given large sector. Notable Lord Admirals of Sector Deus:
    • Tyrel Hagen - The current Lord Admiral of Sector Deus.
    • Nikolai Korgrim (deceased) - The first Lord Admiral of Sector Deus following the Beslisarian Reclamation Crusade of M37.
  • Admiral (Adm) - The leader of all Naval assets in a given subsector or subsectors (with the exception of the Core Worlds, for which the Lord Admiral holds direct control), or the entirety of a small sector. Notable Admirals of Sector Deus:
    • Amos Heffin - The current Admiral of Battlegroup Tyranus and almost ancient by mortal reckoning (born approx. 020.M41). Heffin began his Naval career as a lowly Maltan rating, but after many years as an NCO he almost miraculously managed to best a Chaos Space Marine in close combat during a boarding action and was given a commission for his heroism. The prestige from this almost-legendary feat sent him soaring up the ranks, and at almost a century of age he found himself as Admiral. Heffin has commanded the sizeable fleet that watches The Grave for over two further centuries since and as a native Maltan he sees containing the foul forces that dwell within as his ultimate duty, as such he declined several offers for promotion to Lord Admiral as it would drag his attention away from the warp storm. He commands from the Retribution-class Battleship Alexios​ Komnenos and among his greatest achievements is leading the defence of Malta's orbit from a massive renegade fleet and destroying it before any ship could make planetfall, with the Komnenos personally destroying or hulking a renegade Grand Cruiser, two Heavy Cruisers and half a dozen lesser capital ships.
    • Cyra Xerant - The current Admiral of Battlegroup Adamantis and a member of the Xerant Dynasty. Cyra oversees the defence of the galactic rim with his fleet constantly patrolling the edge of the sector. On occasion some scouting party of marauding xenos that occupy the rim will be detected, but Xerant's swift response quickly sends them running or destroyed. Cyra holds special hatred for the world of Haven, its independent nature making it a breeding ground and base for pirates that are a constant thorn in his side. But pacifying Haven would require an enormous investment of resources the Sector needs elsewhere.
    • Ona Pelial - The current Admiral of Battlegroup Cryptus/Meridian. As an orphan in the Schola Progenium Pelial showed exceptional aptitude for naval command which was quickly picked up on by her Drill Abbess. She was transferred to the Naval Academy on Praetor IX and graduated as the best-in-class, earning her a presitgious commission in the Imperial Navy where she earned several promotions in quick succession. As commander of a patrol group in the space around Tartarus Pelial was responsible for relieving over a hundred Chartist vessels under attack by pirates, sending the raiding scum fleeing at the first sight of her light cruiser and its augmented engines with many ending up captured or destroyed. Over the course of thirty years Subsector Cryptus saw a 58% drop in piratical activity thanks to her efforts and Pelial was promoted to Admiral in response, making her the highest ranked female officer in the sector (which number roughly a fifth of all naval officers). She still usually commands from her modified Dauntless-class Light Cruiser Blade of Vengeance, which with 40% extra engine output is by far the swiftest capital ship in the Sector, and many a foolish raider has attempted to outrun Pelial only to find her ship actually overtaking them before disgorging waves of armsmen onto their hull to kill or capture the criminals within. Though for true fleet battles she transfers to Battlegroup Cryptus/Meridian's flagship, the Mars-class Battlecruiser Hoplite
    • Agemmar Tenso - The current Admiral of Battlegroup Ionium/Dominus/Aeternus (IDA). Tenso hails from a minor dynasty of the Nobility from Emperors Rest, and he was most of the way through training to become a Naval Stormtrooper when his strategic acumen was noticed and he was put into the naval officer academy instead. The highly-trained infantryman was uneasy in the classes of theory and politics and during duelling classes he became infamous for 'fighting dirty', never hesitating to knee the crotch or jab the throat of his opponent if it gave him the upper hand (just as he was trained to by the supremely pragmatic stormtrooper school). Nevertheless Agemmar's sheer talent could not be denied and he graduated exceptionally. After serving time as a junior officer in a painfully mundane border patrol ship, Tenso refused a promotion in exchange for a transfer to Subsector Tyranus in a risky gambit. However once he was a junior officer aboard one of the Lunar-class Cruisers patrolling the grave he proved his exceptional mettle and skill-at-arms, always volunteering to lead boarding parties and the first to the defense when his ship came under attack by raiders from the grave. Such fearlessness and skill earned him the respect of his commanders and Tenso rocketed up the ranks until he was Commodore and Admiral Heffin's XO/Master-at-Arms. When Admiral Sanforth, former commander of Battlegroup IDA, retired to govern Emperors Rest in 345.M41 Tenso was promoted to replace him on Heffin's recomendation. Thus far the only action his subsectors have faced is minor piracy in Dominus, but Tenso has refrained from simply obliterating Caseblanco as it would scatter the pirates there into a number of different bases and make them harder to detect and patrol against.
  • Vice Admiral (VAdm) - This rank is held by the second-in-command of a given Battlegroup, Vice Admirals are trusted subordinates of their Admirals who are dispatched to command the most vital operations that do not involve most of the Battlegroup (for which the Admiral themselves would command). Notable Vice Admirals of Sector Deus:
    • Sagon Van Daur - Second in command of Battlegroup Tyranus under Admiral Hefin. Van Daur commands from the Overlord-class Battlecruiser Forthright Intervention. Following the battle he was commended and befriended by the Ghosts of Retribution (with the help of a substantial wealth gift) and he helped train the crew of the Strike Cruiser Pax Sepulchrum to a high degree.
    • Kavan Stowford - The current Vice Admiral of Battlegroup Cryptus/Meridian under Admiral Pelial. Stowford commands the Mars-class Battlecruiser Hoplite.
  • Rear Admiral (RAdm) - Commonly known as Air Marshal (Air Mshl) in the Aeronautica. There are two kinds of Rear Admiral. The most common is essentially a postion of semi-retirement for veteran officers who are approaching an elderly age, yet not qualified for a full Admiralty position (or one is not available). These Rear Admirals mostly occupy static, rearline positions commanding major naval bases and anchorages, where bureaucratic skill and experience with naval logistics is the priority. The other, rarer type of Rear Admiral is typically only seen in large scale naval operations such as crusades, where entire Battlegroups will be engaged. A promising younger officer (such as a Commodore or Captain) will be promoted & appointed Rear Admiral of the operation, and they will be in charge of coordinating the rearline operations such as transport convoys and reserve forces.  In the Aeronautica, Air Marshal is the highest rank and typically only held by those who oversee an entire militarised planets' air forces or as advisers amongst the staff of Admirals, Lord Generals and higher. Notable Rear Admirals of Sector Deus:
    • Ulrik Sallay - Commandant of Steelhaven Anchorage over Athena Prime.
    • Kawlis Rawne - Commandant of the Volitus Anchorage over Volitair.
    • Genevieve Broque - Regent of Sygma-477.
  • Commodore (Cdre) - Commonly known as Air Commodore (Air Cdre) in the Aeronautica. This rank is held by Captains who - either through long service or exceptional skill - have proven themselves more skilled and capable than their fellows. Small forces consisting of multiple capital ships and/or escort squadrons will be led by a Commodore. The commandants of major static naval installations are often given the rank of Commodore as well, so they may wield authority over docked Captains. In the Aeronautica the rank of Air Commodore is primarily administrative, overseeing major installations or serving as strategic advisers/liaisons to an Imperial Guard General Staff. Notable Commodores of Sector Deus:
    • Nadia Xerant* - Serves under her father Cyra in Subsector Adamantis. Currently commands the Lux Adamantis as flagship of a heavy patrol group that guards the trade routes of the Subsector.
    • Strant Marsdan - Commander of the Drakovich and its escorts in the Core Worlds battlegroup. Cdre Marsdan is grim & determined just like his vessel and has little mercy upon raiders whenever he finds them.
    • François Chatelíon - Commander of Tyranus Patrol Group Primus, Chatelíon oversees the patrol group from the bridge of the Stellaris.
    • Tanner Arliss - Commandant of Shield Stations Quartus & Quintus. Cdre Arliss is a fiercely devoted officer who works tirelessly to keep raiding parties from The Grave contained.
    • Seyshan Ursus - A young member of the Ursus Dynasty who rapidly gained rank thanks to his name and was installed as commander of the Spear of Destiny by Sector Lord Larion Ursus.
    • Alysia Xerant - The third daughter of Lord General Militant Lucas Xerant. She commands the Saint Luripedes.
  • Captain (Cpt) - Commonly known as Group Captain (Gp Cpt) in the Aeronautica. Rank held by those who command either a single capital ship or a squadron of escorts. In the ACC and Aeronautica units a Captain/Group Captain will be in charge of multiple Wings, known as a Group. Notable Captains:
    • Tangent Gray - Experienced shipmaster hailing from the distant world of Elysia. Commands the Overlord-class Battlecruiser Iron Will.
    • Havern Locke - Major contributor to the defense of Artoria in Operation Wild Hunt as Captain of Amber Squadron, Locke was given command of the Lunar-Class Cruiser Battleborn as reward for his conduct.
    • Keryl Mardon - Commander of the Unbreakable's Attack Craft complement, Keryl Mardon is one of the most feared attack craft pilots in the Sector. His Fury Interceptor is lined with impressive kill tallies that even include dark eldar Raptor space fighters.
    • Bernarde Sauvac - Current commander of Ragnarok Squadron. Sauvac is a highly talented hunter with an instinct for stalking and ambushing larger enemies. However he is a nobleman from a long line of naval officers and carries a not-inconsiderable amount of arrogance along with his skill.
    • Andreus Storr - The current shipmaster of the Vorpal, Cpt. Storr is a dependable captain with a strong loyalty to Lord Admiral Hagen.
    • Karolyn Halcor - The current shipmaster of the Furor Eternum. Cpt. Halcor hails from the world of Noctis and is a skilled carrier vessel shipmaster, having served aboard carrier vessels for the entirety of her career.
    • Magnus Stormvald - Shipmaster of the Victoria and a member of the Stormvald Dynasty from Mormark. Magnus is a skilled, fearless captain and a physically imposing man. He prefers to lead boarding actions personally and has a collection of swords, cutlasses and other weapons claimed from pirate captains he slew himself.
    • Mischa Broque - Leader of Executrix Squadron, Captain Broque is the daughter of the Regent of Sygma-477, Rear Admiral Genevieve Broque.
    • Sylvia Armande - Shipmaster of the Austere Sacrament. Armande was a young but skilled officer with an impressive orknoid kill tally before she chose to go absent without leave with her vessel in early 349.M41. Assumed renegade and mutineer, Armande's name is no longer spoken in respectable circles save to express disgust, and many naval officers would dearly love to hunt her down.
  • Commander (Cdr) - Commonly known as Wing Commander (Wg Cdr) in the Aeronautica. This rank is held by those who command an escort or are executive officer of a capital ship. Among the transport fleet Commanders usually hold authority over the entire convoy of up to twenty or more transport ships. In the Attack Craft Corps each full Wing (~4 launch bay decks) is led by a Commander. In the Aeronautica each full Wing (4-8 squadrons) is led by a Wing Commander. Notable Commanders:
    • Dana Loria - Current Attack Craft Corps leader on the Prosecutor. Commander Loria is an ace pilot and she is equally capable of downing enemy fighters in a Fury or bombing enemy capital ships in a Starhawk.
    • Maxwell Sabacus - Current commander of Hand IV, the fourth ship of the Hand of Saint Luripedes Squadron. Cdr Sabacus earned notability among his peers when - during a wide sweep of multiple systems by the squadron - Hand IV encontered three raiders. Under Cdr Sabacus' skilled command Hand IV bested its opponents single-handedly, turning almost certain defeat into victory.
    • Frederick Anaheim - The current commander of the Wages of Labour and the numerous other transports that travel with it. A notoriously cruel and vicious man, Cdr Anaheim has styled himself more like an Arbites Warden as he lays orders & punishments upon his criminal crew.
    • Shen Tenso (deceased) - An ancestor of Admiral Agemmar Tenso. Shen Tenso served as the executive officer of the Pillar of the Righteous for many decades in early M40, earning herself a reputation as a skilled, competent officer. However the noble beauty's penchant for risque socialite behaviour was very unbecoming of a Naval officer and saw herself come close to dishonourable discharge multiple times. She would eventually redeem herself in the eyes of her superiors (and indeed the entire sector) when - during an attack by a large orknoid fleet - Cdr Tenso volunteered to personally lead a platoon of Naval Stormtroopers on a raid to disable the plasma drive of a massive orknoid battlekroozer. The raid was a success though Cdr Tenso was severely wounded by a Nob in the process, requiring three limb replacements and extensive reconstruction. Following this she was given an honourable discharge and would go on to use her reputation to greatly increase the wealth of the Tenso Dynasty.
  • Lieutenant Commander (Lt Cdr) - Commonly known as Squadron Leader (Sqn Ldr) in the Aeronautica. These are senior officers. Usually executive officers of escorts and section heads on capital ships. Among the transport fleet Lieutenant Commanders are shipmasters of individual transports. In the Attack Craft Corps each launch bay deck is led by a Lieutenant Commander, and this typically equates to one squadron of fighters and one squadron of bombers. In the Aeronautica each full squadron is led by a Squadron Leader.
    • Hideo Nishura (deceased) - The voidmaster of a Lunar-class cruiser during the Second Ionian Crusade. Following the deaths of his commanding officers after an unlucky hit to the bridge Lt Cdr Nishura assumed command and directed the stricken ship deep into enemy battle lines, inflicting a terrible toll upon the rebel fleet before being destroyed. Lt Cdr Nishura remained behind as what remained of the crew evacuated, piloting from the helm to the end.
  • Lieutenant (Lt) - Commonly known as Flight Lieutenant (Flt Lt) in the Aeronautica Experienced officers who on capital ships command multiple sections of ratings, such as an entire macro-broadside or a battalion of several hundred armsmen. While on escorts Lieutenants serve as section heads, such as Master of Ordnance or Master of the Vox. In the Aeronautica and ACC each 'flight' (~3-6 aircraft) is commanded by a Lieutenant/Flight Lieutenant.
  • Sub-Lieutenant (SLt) - Commonly known as Flying Officer (Fg Off) in the Aeronautica. Typically given the same commands and responsibilities as Ensigns, a promotion to Sub-Lieutenant is a recognition of a degree of operational experience and competence. In the fleet Sub-lieutenants are typically given command of a large section such as a full weapon component of an escort or a large cluster of broadside guns on a capital ship, or any number of administrative & logistical positions. In the ACC each attack craft is typically piloted by a Sub-Lieutenant. In the Aeronautica Flying Officers pilot single- and multi-seat aircraft, and when piloting single-seat aircraft are often paired with an Pilot Officer who is their wingman.
  • Ensign (Ens) - Commonly known as Pilot Officer (Plt Off) in the Aeronautica. This rank is awarded to those who graduate the academy and are finally given a real command. Ensigns are junior officers who usually command a single 'section' such as a block of turret operators, a cluster of guns, a company of armsmen, or many other operational units within a ship such as the plasma stoking crews or mess crews. Many Ensigns serve in the transport fleet to prove themselves at least vaguely competent before being transferred to a warship, as such much of the transport fleet's officer corps consists of Ensigns. In the Attack Craft Corps they often serve as co-pilots, while in the Aeronautica they pilot single-seat aircraft (typically paired with Flying Officers as wingmen).
  • Midshipman (Midn) - The rank held by cadets in Naval officer academies and other situations where an officer is not yet considered qualified for command.


NCOs & Ratings/Armsmen[]

  • Warrant Officer (WO) - Also known as Master Chief Petty Officer (MCPO). In the Fleet they are overseers for masses of ratings who enforce discipline through lash, charisma, intimidation or any combination thereof. Warrant Officers are those rare few experienced ratings that officers trust to maintain control and command over large numbers of other ratings by themselves. Warrant Officers are invariably tough & grizzled members of the Imperial Navy who have seen countless patrols and combat actions, and it is a foolish rating who crosses a Warrant Officer. It is also Warrant Officers who are in charge of the appointment and promotion of Leading Voidsmen and Petty Officers beneath them. In the Aeronautica and ACC however Warrant Officers have quite a different role. The Vulture & Valkyrie pilots attached to Imperial Guard drop regiments will mostly be Warrant Officers, a rank which is bestowed upon enlisted personnel who apply for the role and pass the training course. Meanwhile in the ACC the secondary crew of the large craft (ie navigators, bombardiers) will be WOs & CPOs  (also enlisted personnel who have undergone the appropriate training and promoted accordingly).
  • Chief Petty Officer (CPO) - Known as Flight Sergeant (Flt Sgt) in the Aeronautica. Experienced NCOs who know all the ins and outs of naval life and duties. Chief Petty Officers are typically in charge of several Petty Officers and their respective teams of ratings, or will accompany a single junior officer at all times. It is this CPOs duty to assist & advise the potentially-inexperienced officer in their duties as well as protect them from any unruly ratings. In the ACC secondary crewmembers will mostly be WOs & CPOs, and Valkyrie Crew Chiefs in Drop Regiments are usually of this rank. In the Aeronautica Flight Sergeants serve as senior groundcrew personnel or secondary crew on large aircraft.
  • Petty Officer (PO) - Known as Sergeant (Sgt) in the Aeronautica. Each Petty Officer commands a team of Voidsmen/Armsmen (both Able and Ordinary). While the size of this team can vary depending on the task they are responsible for, it is usually somewhere between 20 and 30 ratings. In the Aeronautica and ACC the lowest level crewmembers such as Valkyrie door gunners and starhawk turret gunners are usually of this rank. The pilots of auxiliary craft such as lighters are often of this tank as well, as these small craft are found in large numbers aboard any voidship. In the Aeronautica Sergeants lead groundcrew teams or serve as secondary crew on large aircraft.
  • Leading Voidsman/Armsman - Known as Leading Airman (LArm) in the Aeronautica. A Voidsman who has shown a strong proficiency for their role and attained a good level of experience will be promoted to Leading Voidsman, denoting that they can be trusted to perform their duties without oversight and instruct newer Voidsmen. In the Aeronautica they are members of Wing groundcrew with some degree of experience.
  • Able Voidsman/Armsman - Known as Airman (Arm) in the Aeronautica. Voidsmen with experience in a skilled role (generally meaning anything other than labour gangs) are given the rank of Able Voidsman, valued as much for its higher pay as for the fact that it makes a Voidsman a less expendable commodity. In the Aeronautica Airmen are the lowest rank of enlisted personnel, primarily serving amongst the extensive groundcrew complement that Aeronautica Wings require to function.
  • Voidsman - The lowest official rank on an Imperial Navy ship. Voidsmen are usually completely new recruits who have yet to learn how to perform a skilled role. Voidsmen assigned to unskilled labour such as labour gangs may never leave this rank at all and usually consist of lowlife transients who frequently jump ship, using Naval service as a way to escape previous circumstances.
  • Slave - An unofficial rank and the lowest of the low aboard an Imperial Navy vessel. The general treatment of slaves is extremely poor but the armsmen assigned to prevent any mutinies among them also serve to keep them somewhat safe from predations of the ships own crew. This only remains true for slaves who were once Naval personnel such as deserters, those who struck an officer or killed another rating. Slaves who were once pirates garner no such protection from their guards, and angry ratings raiding the slave pens to beat, abuse, and sometimes just murder former-pirates is far from rare.

Special Positions & Titles[]

While a rank may signify raw superiority, they are very general classifications and there are many positions aboard an Imperial Navy vessel that require specialised oversight. Because of this there are several official positions & titles that may be bestowed upon Imperial Navy personnel when they assume the corresponding position of responsibility.

Ship's Captain[]

The master of the entire vessel. This position on an Escort ship is usually held by an officer of Commander rank. Whilst on a capital ship it may be held by an officer of rank Captain or higher. In the transport fleet shipmasters could be Lieutenant Commanders or even mere Lieutenants. It is customary to always refer to the master of a ship as "Captain" regardless of their official rank, unless their official rank is higher than the rank of Captain.

First / Executive Officer[]

A vessel's second in command. On an escort ship this position is usually held by a Lieutenant Commander, whilst on a capital ship it is usually held by a Commander. In the transport fleet this position is often held by a Lieutenant.

Voidmaster[]

A bridge officer rank, the voidmaster is responsible for stellar navigation and piloting of the ship itself through realspace. On an escort ship this position is usually held by a Lieutenant, while on a capital ship it is usually held by a Lieutenant Commander. In the transport fleets this is usually a Lieutenant but could equally be a competent Sub-Lieutenant. Every Voidmaster will have a few reserve Voidmasters under their command, who are more junior officers that have shown a talent for realspace navigation.

Master of Ordnance[]

A bridge officer rank, the Master of Ordnance is responsible for overseeing the ship's weapons. On an escort ship this position is usually held by a Lieutenant, while on a capital ship it is usually held by a Lieutenant Commander. In the transport fleets this is usually a Lieutenant but could equally be a competent Sub-Lieutenant. They are responsible for maintaining the readiness of the ship's weapons and gun crews, and will often be a talented gunner themselves. Under their direct command on the bridge will be a number of Chief Gunnery Officers, more junior officers who are each responsible for aiming, commanding, and ultmiately firing a single weapon battery each.

Master of Etherics[]

A bridge officer rank, the Master of Etherics is in control of the vessel's augur and external communications sytems. On an escort ship this position is usually held by a Lieutenant, while on a capital ship it is usually held by a Lieutenant Commander. In the transport fleets this is usually a Lieutenant but could equally be a competent Sub-Lieutenant. They are responsible for the scanning of space, planets and ships with their vessel's augurs, and the communication of what they see with their own ship and allied vessels. They are also responsible for relaying orders between other ships and their own. Each Master of Etherics will be assisted by a small number of Etherics officers, more junior officers with noted skills for the job.

Master of the Vox[]

A bridge officer rank, the Master of the Vox is in control of the vessel's internal communications systems. On an escort ship this position is usually held by a Lieutenant, while on a capital ship it is usually held by a Lieutenant Commander. In the transport fleets this is usually a Lieutenant but could equally be a competent Sub-Lieutenant. They are responsible for disseminating the orders of the shipmaster throughout the vessel, and for relaying any reports from section officers back to the shipmaster. Each Master of the Vox will command a small bank of Vox officers who help them sort through the massive amounts of communications traffic that occurs upon a voidship.

Master-at-Arms[]

A bridge officer rank (though in practice they spend little time on the bridge itself), the Master-at-Arms is in charge of all the ship's armsmen, and is responsible for the tactics & strategy of all personnel in the event of boarding actions or security breaches. On an escort ship this position is usually held by a Lieutenant, while on a capital ship it is usually held by a Lieutenant Commander. In the transport fleets this is usually a Lieutenant but could equally be a competent Sub-Lieutenant. Often experienced fighters themselves, the Master-at-Arms is expected to organise the defence of their vessel if boarded and lead the attack of other vessels when boarding. They will have a number of Armsmen Officers under their command, more junior officers of martial persuasion who lead large units of armsmen each.

Flight Marshal[]

This position is only found on ships with attack craft launch bays. The Flight Marshal will be the ship's most senior Flight Officer, and their official rank will depend on how many squadrons operate on board (typically a Commander for 2-4 launch decks, or a Captain for more). It is the Flight Marshal's responsibility to ensure their launch bays & attack craft are properly maintained and supplied, and may often lead their squadrons into battle personally at the helm of an attack craft.

Ship's Master[]

Not to be confused with shipmaster, the Ship's Master is the most senior Warrant Officer on the vessel, and is responsible for keeping the ship's log and overseeing the state of the vessel's stores & supplies. Ship's Masters are often old and incredibly experienced Voidsmen, who usually know more about voidborne life than their captains.

Gun Captain[]

The title for the commander of a single gun crew. This rank is usually held by a Chief Petty Officer or Warrant Officer. Each battery may contain dozens of individual guns, and each gun could have a crew that numbers in the dozens or hundreds. The Gun Captain is responsible for the maintenance, supply, and operation of a single gun, and are usually well versed in every individual task on their gun.

Sergeant-at-Arms[]

The title for a Petty Officer in charge of a squad of armsmen. The Sergeant-at-Arms is responsible for maintaining the standards & discipline of their squad and maintaining the security of whatever section of the ship they are posted in. The Sergeant-at-Arms holds the keys for their section's weapons lockers, and are responsible for arming both their squad and local voidsmen if necessary (such as in a boarding action). The local Sergeant-at-Arms is also the main foe of any small-scale mutiny aboard a naval ship, or any other disobedients.

Other Local Battlefleets[]

Battlefleet Morrux[]

The protectors of Sector Morrux. Battlefleet Morrux is a vast fleet consisting of over a hundred capital ships, including five battleships, and holds dominion over a large region of space at the centre of the demi-segmentum. Ships of Battlefleet Morrux are also assigned to patrol the vast regions of space that lie between Sector Morrux and its many neighbours, keeping the vital inter-sector warp routes secure.

Battlefleet Brachau[]

The Naval forces of the Brachau Crusade in Sector Brachau, mostly drawn from Battlefleet Morrux though including elements from several other nearby Battlefleets. It is the most heavily engaged Battlefleet in the region and consists of around fifty capital ships, including thirty full cruisers and two battleships, though this number is always in flux as ships are lost in battle and reinforcements arrive.

Battlefleet Paxia[]

Battlefleet Paxia serves and protects Sector Paxia. Due to the Sector's nature, only a dozen cruisers comprise the fleet's battle line, while the vast majority of the fleet is comprised of light cruisers and escort squadrons. It is not uncommon for Battlefleet Paxia to answer calls for aid from neighboring sectors with a swarm of escort squadrons led by a light cruiser.

Taskforce Corgus[]

Seconded from neighboring Battlefleet Paxia, Taskforce Corgus serves and protects Sector Corgus.

Notable Vessels of Battlefleet Obscurus[]

Some vessels become so significant that they hold relevance to multiple Battlefleets throughout their local region. The following are just a few of those non-Battlefleet Deus ships that are well known in Sector Deus.

  • Oberon-class Battleship Custodes - This mighty vessel is constantly engaged in a vast patrol along the edge of the Halo Zone, encompassing almost ten degrees of the galactic rim. It has served in this duty for almost two thousand years, ensuring that no foe from within or beyond the Halo Zone is able to encroach upon imperial space without being noticed. Custodes is always accompanied by at least three escort squadrons, and often intervenes in any conflicts it passes by on its eternal patrol.
  • Mercury-class Battlecruiser Ahnadre's Revenge - To know the story of Ahnadre's Revenge one must first know the story of her master, Captain Asher Griefe. A line of Naval Officers that stretched as far back as imperial history could record, the Griefe Dynasty's sector was plunged into bedlam when pirates & reavers from across the demi-segmentum descended upon them in a coordinated strike to maximise their plunder. Lawless scum plagued the starwaves, their great numbers even allowing them to prey upon Naval vessels in hit & run attacks that outmaneouvred the Navy's heavier tonnage, and in the chaos Asher lost his parents and their parents - naval officers all - to marauders. Asher travelled to Cypra Mundi itself to petition the High Admiral for the construction of the ship he needed, a fast battlecruiser that could chase down raiders like a frigate but also have the firepower to best them when amassed. Asher's efforts were successful, and the Ahnadre's Revenge - named for Asher's mother - set forth from Cypra Mundi in 362.M39. For almost ten years Captain Griefe hunted relentlessly, cleansing the starwaves of his sector and destroying dozens - perhaps hundreds - of raider vessels. Still unsatisfied, Griefe and the Revenge set forth across the demi-segmentum to hunt raiders wherever they reside. For many years the Revenge was a symbol of dread terror to all lawless voidfarers but this would end in 387.M39 when Griefe pursued a fleeing wolfpack deep into the Halo Zone, and was never heard from again. In the centuries since tales have abounded of crazed voidsmen found drifting in the Halo Zone in savior pods and lighters, rambling about a decayed battlecruiser and its ghostly crew who mercilessly destroy all they encounter.
  • Nemesis-class Fleet Carrier Indomitor - Flagship of Battlefleet Morrux. The Indomitor is several thousand years old and capable of deploying an enormous amount of attack craft, supporting fleet battles while serving as a massive command & control centre with its large bridge complex.
  • Retribution-class Battleship Valkyrie - The flagship of Battlefleet Brachau. Valkyrie has served on the front line of the Brachau Crusade since its inception and has claimed dozens of kills with its powerful guns.
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