Moria Copperheads

Copperheads regimental icon.

Moria Copperhead Soldier

"*You have no where to run! Surrender or my fist will crush your face! It's up to you!*"
—Copperhead Gladiator to a cornered Hive Ganger
The **Copperheads** are an Astra Militarum Regiment that hails from the Imperial hive world of Moria. This regiment specialises in Military Police Work and taking down Hive Gangs in Hive Worlds. They are also very proficient in urban warfare. They mainly do anti-riots and gang related work.

More than a military force, they act as a police force, but with the military authority. They like to use fear tactics and lead the enemy into a trap. They are also specialised in going undercover and getting important information. They are very effective in close quarters and melee combat.

## Background

The Moria Copperheads were at first a Hive Patrol, on the Hive World Moria. The were highly efficient and respected. They even were sent to Necromunda, to help a fellow Patrol, called the Crossbones.

Around M36 Moria was under Siege by the Warband Angels of Despair. The stationed Iron Drakes fought them off, but the seeds were planted. A thew decades later, a worldwide Chaos Hive Gang rose to the surface and started a planet wide war. Having no real defences at the time, it was up to the Copperheads to save the civilians.

Through genius strategic actions and efficient fighters, the Copperheads held back a massive Chaos Hive Gang, on a world vide scale. Before the Copperheads crumbled, the Iron Drakes came yet again o their aid and destroyed the Hive Gang.

And so the Copperheads were remade to a Imperial Guard Regiment and renamed into the Moria Copperheads.

## Home World

Moria is a Hive World, located in the Segmentum Tempestus. Many rich and noble People live there, under the protection of the 1st Moria Copperheads. After the Planet became a Hive World it nearly doubled in size. And only the first kilometre is populated by nobles. For the next three kilometres, it is all storage and container rooms. Here is were the most Troopers of the Copperheads are stationed. Downwards from there, it is the domain of the Hive Gangs, where only the Copperheads dear to venture.

## Regimental Organisation

### Ranks

#### Officer Ranks

* ***Lord General***
* ***General***
* ***Colonel***
* ***Major***
* ***Lieutenant***
* ***Sergeant***
* ***Corporal***

#### Soldiers

* ***Trooper***
* ***Gas-Trooper -*** Also known as Phantoms, the are the Troopers that use the Gas-Grenades and smoke out the enemies. They are those that strike first and strike unseen within the gas, which gives them the name Phantoms.
* ***Gladiators -*** The Gladiators are the Troopers that fight in melee and melee only. The only have guns as ranged weapons and fight in close quarters. They carry heavy clubs, known as Power Mauls, with them.

## Uniform & Equipment

What follows is a list of the most common items of wargear issued to the members of the Moria Copperheads regiments:

* **Ryza Pattern Lasgun**
* **4 Charge Packs**
* **Anti-Riot Shield**
* **Semi-Automatic Pistol**
* **Pistol Clips & Ammunition**
* **Grenades**
* **Gas-Grenades**
* **Knives**
* **Morian Pattern Helmet** - The standard Morian Pattern Helmet provides excellent protection to the vulnerable cranial area. The use of this helmet offers the best protection from exploding shrapnel and fragmentation. Each helmet has an integrated outer-shell and suspension system to provide a stable, snug fit and has an adjustable standard two-point suspension system and a headband. An integrated rebreather, made specifically for Copperhead troopers, provides excellent defence against most commonly-encountered toxic gases and pollutants encountered in the Underhives, as well as allowing the soldier to operate in airless environments for limited periods. It has also proven useful against biological plague weapons.
* **Morian Astra Militarum Uniform** - As a heavily industrialised world, Moria's manufactora are able to mass produce and equip its Astra Militarum forces quickly and efficiently. Typically, Moria Copperheads uniforms are made from hard-wearing fabrics designed to resist hostile environments and prove hardy in the field. The Morian uniform consists of a thickly woven pair of trousers, sometimes fitted with pockets for Lasgun charge packs or personal rations. Over this, a sturdy tunic shirt and uniform jacket is worn in the regimental colours. Morian regiments march to war in uniform patterns camouflaged in a manner most suited to the industrialised urban environments of their home world. Officers and squad leaders often wear a light brown uniform, to match the brown colour which is the most prominent on a copperhead snake.
* **Carapace Armour** - For the best protection available to mortal troopers, the Copperheads make exclusive use of carapace armour. This armour consists of large rigid plates of armaplas or ceramite-moulded to fit the bearer. Carapace Armour provides better protection than standard flak armour, but is bulky and heavy, intended for use when under the heaviest of fire, such as the Copperheads assault units that are involved in urban operations. This armour is coloured in reddish brown tones, which is the same brown as those of the spots on those of a copperhead snake.
* **Micro-Bead** - A micro-bead or comm-bead is a short range communication device worn in the ear, good for communication out to about one kilometre (depending on weather conditions and intervening terrain). Each fits discretely in the ear, with better crafted models nearly undetectable upon casual inspection.
* **Rucksack**
* **Entrenching Tool**
* **Basic Toolkit**
* **Medi-kit**
* **Mess Kit & Water Canteen**
* **Rations**
* **Grooming Kit**
* **Rechargeable Lamp-Pack** -
* **Dog Tags**
* ***Imperial Infantryman's Uplifting Primer*** - A standard-issue Imperial text that covers a vast variety of topics, this book is possessed by all members of the Imperial Guard as part of their standard-issue equipment. The Primer is a basic guide that details everything a Guardsman needs to know: principles and regulations of the Imperial Guard, issued arms, attire, apparatus, and equipment, basic battlefield policy and Imperial Guard organisation and structure, elementary battlefield medical instructions, and a detailed guide on the foes of the Imperium. No Guardsman should ever be found without possession of a copy of the Uplifting Primer for the punishment is severe.

### Optional Wargear

* **Power Maul** - This weapon is weighted towards the hilt, and as such is regarded by some Power Weapon connoisseurs as somewhat graceless. It is common in "second line" precincts (as they are locally known) where trouble is not particularly expected, or among vehicle crews who value its handy proportions. Like all true Power Mauls, it has energy settings which can be adjusted to the circumstances.
* **Combat Shotgun** - The Shotgun is an ancient Imperial weapon, much the same as the Heavy Stubber, which fires solid slugs that burst into submunitions to spread out over a wider area. The Copperheads utilise the shotgun for crowd control and urban conditions.
* **Riot Armour** - Toopers of the Copperheads regiment are often called to break up riots. When facing large, ill-disciplined multitudes armed with cobblestones, planks, or staves, the Copperheads will attach panels of protective cushioned wadding over parts of their Carapace Armour to protect against impact damage. These pads are often brightly coloured, and are designed not only to protect the Arbitrator, but to signal to rioters that they are about to be routed. Riot Armour is a simple, but encumbering, collection of cushioned pads that are attached to vulnerable parts of standard Carapace Armour when facing riots.
* **Suppression Shield** - Suppression Shields are common equipment for the troopers of the Moria Copperheads. The Suppression Shield is both a bulwark and a weapon, a heavy slab of ceramite large enough for the wielder to take cover behind. Each has a built-in arc-lumin at the top, and a powerful shock-plate in the shield's centre. If the wielder strikes with the shield, he can discharge the shock-plate on impact, delivering a powerful electrical blow. Suppression Shields have the ability to recharge, since the shock-plate takes time to build to dangerous levels. It can still be used as a weapon while it is still recharging.

## Notable Members

* ***Lord General, Logan 'Kobra' Odinson***
* ***Major, Frank 'Mamba' Markus***
* ***General, Amus 'Taipan' Aphius***

## Regimental Appearance

### Regimental Colours

The Leather is a light brown, just as the brown of the Copperhead and just like the spots on the snake, the armour is a dark brown.

## Notable Quotes

### By the Copperheads

"*You will be taken down! If you resist is your choice! One choice is just more painful than the other!*"
—Copperhead to Hive Ganger
### About the Copperheads

> *Feel free to add your own*
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