Hans Menachem

**Hans Menachem** is the current Space Marine Captain of the Storm Zealots 6th Company (Sayeret Tsalal). Known for his master of stealth close combat and long range warfare. As well as his pragmatic mindset that led him to favour the ancient Imperial Truth over Jerasian Ark, Cult Mechanicus, or the Imperial Cult. Captain Hans Menachem is also one of the four youngest captain ever recruited in Storm Zealot chapter history of the 41st Millennia. He is often called as Pale Crow by his fellow brethern due to silent attitude, his pale skin, and a sigil house of Menachem necklace he wore from his childhood until his transformation and promotion.

## History

Born from a bastard of House Menachem, Hans was forced to live with his parents and brother at the Gesharet Sea City of Tel Hadera. At the age of 10 he witness assassination of his parents and brother by a mercenary paid by rival house Soros of Zebul Tribe. The young Hans survived thanks to his mastery of stealth (from hide and seek as well as exploring the sewers of Tel hadera) and with his father's Las Pistol, Hans shot two mercenaries. As Hans run away and finally cornered, he witness a tall figure man grabs the mercenary head and crush it as her bones cracked and her brain splattered the ground. The tall man then run towards the remaining two mercenaries and slay them with ease. Hans stood shock as the tall man open his hood and ask the young boy to come with him back to his place. When Hans asked, the tall man simply replied to make him strong as he is.

Thus Hans Menachem arrived at The Fortress Monastery of Golean Heights and begin his induction and training as an Aspirant. Over the course of time of his induction Hans is known for his agility and quick reflexes, able to dodge many blows given by his fellow aspirants, training servitors, or the Master of Recruits. At the end, Hans and 28 other aspirants succeed in becoming a Space Marine. The Chapter record wrote that Hans Menachem is experts in the usage of Sniper Rifle, Bolter, Missile Launchers as well as masters of using both Lightning Claw and Power Sword.

After a three and half decade serving in the Scout Company even promoted as a Scout Sergeant, Hans were assigned to the 3rd Company 3rd Assault Squad alongside brother Avishai Ben-Zion under leadership of Captain Jeremiah Chaim. Later on when his fellow battle brother and friend Avishai becomes the Captain of the 3rd Company, Hans Menachem is tasked in assassinating the near untouchable Archon Pyriel Bloodhands at the moon of Yue Lin. With only a squad of 10 man Assault Marines, Sergeant Hans Menachem hunt the Archon and his retinue. The Storm Zealots found themselves in an underground Drukhari fortress where a planet size torture chambers, slave quarters, and haemonculus lab. Expecting a loud straight forward charge, the archon set up ambushes and traps but the Space Marine Sergeant and his men are known masters of stealth and versatility unlike most Storm Zealots Astartes that prefers long range loud and heavy weaponry. Surprisingly Hans and his remaining 6 Astartes manage to enter the throne of the Archon and at the end, Hans Menachem and his 4 men evacuate all the human slaves out of the Drukhari fortress bringing with him the head and spine of Archon Pyriel.

During the infamous Damocles Crusade, Sergeant Hans Menachem and his squad is sent to aid the Raven Guard led by Shadow Captain Shrike against the Tau Empire. Being masters of stealth and guerilla warfare, he aid and while the same time learn the Raven Guard's art of stealth warfare under teachings of both Captain Shrike and Veteran Sergant Kaiden Arcovas. When Damocles Crusade end, the wounded Sergeant Menachem alongside his squadmate and fellow battle brothers return to Jeras for recover and replenishment. As Sergeant Menachem recovers, he receive a gift from the Raven Guard Veteran Sergeant Kaiden Arcovas, a Lightning Claw with a black blade that eminate energy said it was forged from the claws of a mighty xeno beasts found outside the Imperium beyond the Light of Astronomicon. The Black Lightning Claw named '*Alghurab*' become the signature weapon of Hans Menachem.

At the end of 995.M41, Veteran Sergeant Hans Menachem is promoted to become the Captain of the 6th Company after Captain Mahmoud Khalileh were interred inside the venerable dreadnought during the purification of Sangrius Prime where the Storm Zealots 6th Company came to aid the 89th Sangrius Skullgrinder regiment and the Order of the Blessed Laurel led by Canoness Commander Novynia Tyberis and Governor Militant Osferth Athelred against the infamous Black Legion led by Chaos Lord Arkmor the Pillager.

Through the advise and recommendation from veteran sergeant Avraham Brodinson and Librarian Matisyahu Zovar, Hans Menachem is promoted as an acting Captain of the 6th Company. Through his minds and experience in fighting through stealth and long range warfare he train the 6th Company followed by 89th Sangrius Skullgrinder Regiment to fight against the marauding Black Legion, performing a stealth and ambushes thinning the lines of Cultists and Heretic Astartes alike. While the 6th Company and the Sangrius Skullgrinder fought the Black Legion, Captain Hans Menachem and 5 of his Assault Marine led a rescue operation to rally the struggling Sisters of the Blessed Laurel and free Canoness Commander Tyberis from the Chaotic rituals to summon Abaddon the Despoiler's fleet to emerge from the warp to Sangrius Prime. The battle ended with Canoness Novynia Tyberis slay the Chaos Sorcerer Keldor Vlak'tar and Hans Menachem slew the Chaos Lord Arkmor the Pillager.

His role as an acting Captain of the 6th company following the internment of Captain Khalileh brought honor to the fallen captain and the chapter and his role as a captain of the 6th companies remained. Captain Menachem with all of his skill and experience then thought his company to adapt and assimilate the usage of stealth, sabotage, and silenced weaponries to combat the enemy. His action is approved by the Chapter Master Mordechai and for years to come the 6th Company Storm Zealots are renown for their masters of behind enemy operatives, stealth, and guerrila warfare as well as producing fresh candidates for the specialized unit from the Storm Zealots itself, the Storm Commando.

Aside from the assassination of Warbozz BoneChoppa, Captain Hans is also known to cooperate with the Raven Guard Shadow Captain Kyrin Solaq during the Siege of Dromunkhoor against the newly formed Genestealer Cult known as the Cult of the Soulrender. There the Storm Zealot Commandos and their tactical squad prove their worth by infiltrating the Central Hub of the Hive City Dromund. As the young Captain Menachem sought to assassinate the Magus Chloeza and Genestealer Primus Heervund Scholm, so does Shadow Captain Kyrin hunt down the Genestealer Patriarch. The quest ended in decisive victory as the two captain and his fellow brethern leave the Hive City and the Mining Complex of Dromund with the trophies of their hunt.

The bond between Storm Zealot 6th Company and the Raven Guard proved following the end of Indomitus Crusade where Captain Menachem with the warriors of Primaris Space Marine aid the Raven Guard led by now Liutenant and ascended Rubicon Primaris Kaiden Arcovas at the swampy world of Unobia III to counter the Drukhari incursion led by Archon Pydriel the Cruel as well as the newly emerge Necron of Dua'tekh dynasty. As the Raven Guard enact exterminatus on the doomed Unobia III to destroy the newly emerged tombworld, Captain Menachem with his remaining battle brothers and the Raven Guard Astartes evacuate the planet. While it seems a pyrrhic victory for the forces of the Imperium, Captain Menachem discovered that the transformation of the firstborn Astartes to become the Primaris Astartes is possible.

## **Primaris Space Marine Ascension**

Through recommendation of the wounded Liutenant Kaiden Arcovas, Captain Menachem sought Archmagos Garritos at Forgeworld Tetracis. There he receive approval order from the new Chapter Master Zerubavel to ascend as Primaris Space Marine. Captain Menachem, his firstborn officers and battle brothers were dissected from crown to toe and within 2 days of presumed death, he rose as a Primaris Astartes. over half of his firstborn Astartes failed but with the words of confidence from Primaris Apothecary Oder Halevi and Primaris Chaplain Weissman, Captain Menachem decide to built a memorial in his Strike Cruiser *Venerable Mordechai* to the fallen brothers that died on transformation to become the Primaris Space Marine.

Back at Jeras, Captain Menachem is welcome by his brethern and a guest. A Raven Guard Astartes Intercessor carrying a gift from their chapter. A unique Vanguard Mark X Phobos Armor with a modified jump pack complete with its grav chute enabling its user to fly, glide, and land smooth with complete silence. Captain Menachem then reforge his power claw *Alghurab* to fit his new power armor.

## Personality

"*I never doubt to serve the Emperor and his Imperium for it is a great honor and great happiness to fight and die for him. But I won't see him as a God you all serve and pray too, nor will I pray to him or to any saints that most Imperials venerate! You best remember that, Chaplain!*"
—Primaris Captain Menachem to Primaris Chaplain Weissman after Morning Prayers at Starfort Massada
Hans Menachem is known for his pragmatic personality. He never reads any book and is known to be illiterate, but his mind could absorb twice an intelligent Librarian through practical examples, from battle stances to theoretical oral presentation. He learned High Gothic and Low Gothic through frequent conversation with his fellow Battle Brothers and the Chapter Serve. His intelligent and great absorbption mind allows him to learn adapt and innovate in any circumstances. The adaptation of Raven Guard's Stealth Warfare brought his company and the chapter's name a great honor as the Storm Zealots speciality grew from a heavy support, search and rescue as well as long range warfare to a frequent usage of behind the enemy line operatives and stealth long range combat.

His pragmatic personality also makes him an atheist, who believe that the Emperor of Mankind is not a God but a great ruler, exemplar, and a perfection of what Space Marine should be. On the Rogue Trader's Space Station of Garlette, Captain Hans Menachem learn the Imperial Truth through lectures from a Terran Imperial Scholar Agustinus Wasyta. Thus he adhere the Imperial Truth and somehow show disgusts to dogmatic Imperial Cult and the Jerasian Ark that venerate the Emperor as a God of Mankind. With his pragmatic atheist personality brought concern to Reclusiarch Solomon Goren, Captain Hans Menachem is exempt from the Chapter's punishment but he must not preach nor explain or show disdain to the veneration of Emperor as God. Agreed and honoring the Reclusiarch's word, Hans Menachem will attend the morning, afternoon,and evening prayers as a token of respect and formality to remove all doubts to his brethern. His hatred of Gods and worships does bring a great positive impact when fighting the Forces of Chaos, as Menachem himself able to fuel his fury through hatred of worship and veneration of Chaos Gods.

## Appearance

"*Alright Pale Crow, you either become one of us, or failed in shame! Come and face me!*"
—Scout Sergeant Dror to Hans Menachem during his training.
Hans Menachem is a native to Jerasian Tribe of Reuben. Before his ascension as an Astartes, Hans stood 1.7 metre tall with thin frail bodies, pale skin, and ginger hair.After his ascencion, Hans stood at least 8.2 metre tall. Once Hans wore the standard Mark VII Aquilla Armor, later on during his promotion as Sergeant of the 3rd Company he is given Jump Pack and a chainsword. He switch to favor the Lightning Claw and prefer to use it onward following the end of Damocles Crusade and a gift of the Black Lightning Claw given to him by Raven Guard Sergeant Arcovas. He receive a rosarious from Reclusiarch Goren as a gift after his success in assassinating Warbozz BoneChoppa. When he cross the Rubicon Primaris and ascended as Primaris Space Marine, Hans Menachem favor the effectiveness and the versatility of Vanguard Armor and its squad. With another gift from Sergeant now Liutenant Arcovas he adorned the modified Mark X Vanguard Armor and reforge the relic power claw ''Alghurab'' to fit in the new armor. Like most Storm Zealots, Hans Menachem never remove his helmet in battle unless the war had ended. He had a large burn and acid wound across his left torso, a big horizontal scar on his gut, and stabbing wound on his neck, right shoulder, and below right chest. his right ear is disfigured due to extensive brutal training with Scout Sergeant Dror during his training days. Hans Menachem is called "The Pale Crow" due to his pale skin and the necklace sigil of House Menachem (Crow) he always wore.

## Combat Skills

Hans Menachem is master of both melee and range weaponry. He prefer the usage of silenced weapon and Sniper Rifles to slay his enemy. Towards the end of 41st Millenium, record has it that Hans Menachem scored 3rd highest in the chapter history as the longest kill confirmed headshot, with Chapter Master Zerubavel goes 2nd and Captain Khalileh at the 1st place.

Hans Menachem are known to possess great reflexes and speed over inhuman strength and frenzy. While most Space Marines prefer to charge or shoot their foe head on, Hans Menachem prefer to use his wits, agility, and versatility in combat against his foe.

His mastery of Lightning Claw and Power Sword is well known throughout the chapter. But the point of interest lies on his silence and speed that equally match with the Howling Banshees.

## Wargear

* ***Alghurab*** - Captain Menachem's signature Lightning Claw, a gift from the Raven Guard sergeant Arcovas. The Lightning Claw is known to be forge by Chapter Master Severax. The unique black blade comes from an unknown material forged together with adamantium creating a black metal that could carve Tyranid biomass and Terminator Armor with ease.
* **Artificer Vanguard Phobos Armor** - Another gift from Sergeant now Primaris Liutenant Arcovas. The Vanguard Phobos Armor is heavily modified and equipped with its unique jump pack only created in Deliverance. The Jet Pack enables the captain to fly, jump, glide, and land with precision and stealth. Captain Menachem forge the Crow skull on the armor's aquila to honor the Raven Guard and his noble House Menachem. The Power Armor is also comes with an adamantium Talon on its leg armor, enabling the user to walk, run, and hold its grip in mountains buildings and space hulks alike.
* **Silenced Heavy Bolt Pistol** - Standard issued Heavy Bolt Pistol equipped with extended barrel and silencer. Captain Menachem use this pistol to execute and close range snipe his foe.
* **Rosarius** - Though pragmatic and not religious. Captain Menachem received this rosarius as a token of honor to Reclusiarch Solomon Goren. The rosarius work like the Iron Halo, it emits a very strong gravitic Conversion Field around its wearer, which makes his armour even harder to pierce with enemy weapons.

* **Carbonnova Grenade** - Created by Techmarine Bezalel, this experimental grenade is used by both Captain Khalileh and Captain Menachem himself. The Grenade emits a heavy choking smoke that could make both man and xenos lie unconscious (does not affect tyranids). Can be fatal.