Fulminators

Fulminators armorial with Chapter iconography.

Fulimnators Primaris Intercessor.

"*We have known storms such as this -- they raged when our Chapter was raised, on Mars the Red, and to them, we owe our name -- we are the lightning bringers. Such tempests hold no fear for the Fulminators.*"
—Reiver Sergeant Augustin, commenting on the storm on the world of Chevreuse
The **Fulminators** are one of the first Primaris Space Marine Chapters to be founded, raised in the early days of the 31st Millennium even as the last battles of the Great Scouring were still being fought.

The Aspirants selected were the best recruits heading into the Terran Guard, and they have been in stasis beneath the surface of Mars for nearly 8,000 standard years until awakened for the Ultima Founding by Archmagos Dominus Belisarius Cawl.

The Chapter was named for the electrical storms that rage over Mars, which were the worst seen in millennia at the time of their creation.

The Fulminators have joined the other Ultima Founding Chapters in reinforcing the Imperial war effort of the Indomitus Crusade.

## Chapter History

The Fulminators were founded during the Ultima founding at the end of the 41st Millennium, first being seen alongside other new Chapters of Primaris marines and unnumbered sons with the Indomitus Crusade. They have continued to serve as part of the Roboute Guilliman's retinue in Fleet Primus fighting out from Terra and the Segmentum Solar and as part of the Primarch's re-enforcement of Ultramar during the Plague Wars. At the culmination of this war, the Fulminators were gifted with the protection of the system of Galeris as part of Guilliman's reform of the Realm of Ultramar. Here, the chapter split its forces, with half returning to the Crusade to continue its mission of liberation and vengeance while the other half remain in Ultramar to assist with its restoration and security.

### Primogenitor Primaris

As the Horus Heresy drew to a close and the days of the Great Scouring began, the population of Terra was decimated. Billions were killed in the actions of the Siege of Terra while millions more died of starvation or injury in the years that followed. Such circumstances, though dire in nature, brought credence to the theory of survival of the fittest, and as such proved exceptional breeding grounds when Belisarius Cawl came looking for aspirants for his Primaris Project.

His eyes were drawn to the Regiments of the Terran Guard, who had defended Terra at the height of the betrayal and who had, despite their losses, defended the cornerstone of the Imperium in its moment of need. He was struck, and subsequently intrigued, by the plethora of young guardsmen within the reforming ranks of the regiments. In a world at risk of extinction, any and everyone of a fighting age, and younger, had been expected to fight and die for the Imperium. At the end of the siege, many remained in service to rebuild their home, many spurred on by a desire for vengeance against the betrayers.

The mass destruction brought about by the invasion had also resulted in a near collapse in the Guards chain of command where swathes of high and low ranking officers alike had met their end. Many of these gaps had been filled by younger members of the Guard, out of necessity and out of duty, who in turn had been forced to survive and prove themselves capable and battle hardened commanders. These individuals – had potential.

Cawl identified and collected these promising individuals in large numbers. Many of these were late teens and young adults and as such not ideal test subjects for Cawls plans. Many would not survive the experimental initiation rites, but such was their experience that it was a risk Cawl was more than willing to take.

In order to maintain secrecy the initiates were recruited under false pretences to join “Special Operations” branches where they thought they would be sent out on high-risk missions across the Segmentum to re-establish order and repel the forces of Chaos. Cawl expediently devised a network of procedures that moved his subjects to where he needed while hiding them under an intricate web of bureaucracy and elaborate paper trails that led any unwanted eyes entirely elsewhere. Indeed, those who looked into the movements of the initiates would have found legitimate training programmes and orders for critical operations that would lead them all to dead ends where the unit concerned were always wiped out prosecuting the Imperiums war. To Cawl, it was an amusing side project.

As he came to work on the specimen-batch, Mars was wracked by electrical storms on a scale not seen in millennia. The energy spikes produced by such storms caused an interference during the introduction of the new Primaris Sinew Coils implant, supercharging them throughout the initiates bodies. This caused many to overload and expire – however a curious discrepancy emerged. Those that survived the immense surge in electrical emerged with a resistance to electrical shock even at an extreme voltage. It was incident that gave the Fulminators their name.

### Ultima Founding

The Fulminators entered the 42nd Millenium not long after Guilliman emerged from the Throne Room of the Imperial Palace, having taken up the mantle of Imperial Regent and communing with Archmagos Belisarius Cawl to move the Primaris Project to its next stage. The 1000 strong, ready to serve Fulminators Chapter, still in sleep in their statis chambers, were transported onto the Zar-Quaesitor, Cawls flagship and mobile laboratory. The ship joined with the still-assembling Fleet Primus in the void around Terra where, still in secret, the Fulminators were roused from their millennia of slumber. After a short period of familiarisation and stabilisation, the Fulminators, along with thousands of other Primaris marines of new Chapters and unnumbered sons, were finally revealed to an onlooking Imperium. Thus was heralded by Guilliman himself as the Ultima Founding.

## Notable Campaigns

### Indomitus Crusade Phase One

The Fulminators had long been pre-determined to serve the Imperium as their own Chapter, adding to numbers required to safeguard the Imperium’s dominions whilst also retaining their self-sufficiency to avoid the follies brought about by Legion sized formations. As such, the Indomitus Crusade was the Fulminators first opportunity to not only prove themselves as worthy warriors of the Emperor, but also to work with other Astartes and Agents of the Imperium.

The Chapter was aligned to Fleet Primus and further allotted under Battle Groups Hastus and Vespisius where they were granted command of their vessels consisting of the Battle Barge, *Will of the Regent*, and 3 Strike Cruisers, *Guillimans Wrath, Indominata* and *Forth Unto Fire* respectively

### The Plague Wars

The Death Guard emerged from the Scourge Stars at the edge of Ultramar and the advent of the Great Rift. Spreading plague, disease, and desecration, they wrought havoc upon the Ultramar System wherever they appeared. Despite the best efforts of the local Auxilia; the forces of the Imperium were being driven back. Regional Astartes were minimal and everyday thousands and thousands of Imperial citizens died to the onslaught of the heretics. Guilliman’s hand was forced, and so, together with elements of his Indomitus Crusade, he returned to Ultramar to seek out and destroy his brother, Mortarion,

The Fulminators were a part of this draining campaign. Arriving with Fleet Primus, the Chapter first took to the Hive world of Ardium, in the Macragge System, where they repelled the Death Guard with the assistance of many other Primaris and firstborn marine Chapters. This was to be the first of many engagements between the Fulminators and the Death Guard. It was a success that was taken perhaps too lightly by the Fulminators, who came to underestimate their fallen opponents in the campaign to come.

Chapter Master Gaius Fenix was present at the Council of Hera on Macragge, where Guilliman resounded himself to return Ultramar to its former glory and reunite the 500 worlds. He had made an error in dissolving the small Empire in a bid to safeguard against another Heresy level event. He knew that the survival of the Imperium depended on a strong, united front. In re-establishing the realm, he re-introduced the Tetrarchs to each of the four sections outside of Macragge. He also established a total of 10 chapters to the protection of the Sector where previously the Ultramarines had held alone. The Fulminators were honoured with the duty of safeguarding the Galeris System in Ultramars northern regions.

#### Battle for Galeris

On entry to the Galeris system it became evident to the Fulminators how much more dire situation was than previously suggested. The planetary governors of the systems four worlds had been ignorant to the capabilities and tactics of the death guard, ignoring the warning signs and sickness and disease before being too proud to admit the full extent of their predicament to the Ultramarines.

Pantheon, the systems capital and shrine world, had all but been overrun when a warp rift in Lake Feridius was opened and subsequently contaminated, decimating the population and allowing the influx of the Great Unclean One, Chungus Humungus and his plague horde.

From here the Death Guard spilled out towards the Bastion World of Turbinis, a scarcely habited world containing the Castellum Maxima, a fortress armoury housing the sectors Northern Ultima Auxilia Headquarters, together with various tonnes of armaments, supplies, and weapons stockpiled for distribution across Ultramar.

Meanwhile on the civilised worlds of Tallium and Pessulum, the populations were under constant plight from pestilence, disease and poxwalker outbreaks that subsequently was prevented Galeris uniting its resources into a co-ordinated front.

Only Kestus, a mountainous, oceanic and sparsely populated world at the systems edge remained as of yet untouched, and it was here that the Fulminators organisation their base of operations to retake and restore Galeris.

## Chapter Home World

Following a combined victory against the Mortarion's Death Guard in the Plague Wars, much of the Ultramarian system of Galeris was left decimated by war, plague and disease. The outlying and inhospitable world of Kestus was spared such devastation. As the new protectors of this sector of Ultramar, the Fulminators began their next phase of restoring Galeris to its former state.

In recognition of their efforts during the Plague wars, Imperial Regent Roboute Guilliman granted the Fulminators guardianship of Galeris, naming them as one of the Protectors of Ultramar and bestowed upon the Chapter the right to claim a home world and begin its own traditions and future. Kestus, subsequently renamed Fulminis, became this world.

A rocky, mountainous planet, covered in large oceans, canyons, marshes and moors; Fulminis is largely untouched by mechanisation. The adverse weather of heavy storms permanently covering the planet makes such widespread industrialisation tricky and risky. The Fulminators, having been created on Mars during the fiercest electrical storms in the planet's history – drew from this a sense of belonging and further solidified their connection with storms and light. Such storms made traversal of the planet by air difficult for those not familiar with the territory and this too was seen as a tactical advantage to the Chapter.

### Fortress-Monastery

The Lux Capitis is the Fortress-Monastery of The Fulminators Space Marine Chapter. Founded at the culmination of the Plague Wars, The Lux Capitis is situated on the newly renamed planet of Fulminis – the outermost world of the Galeris system, where the Fulminators deployed as their initial base of operations when they arrived to liberate the system from the Death Guard several years earlier.

The Fortress-Monastery was forged on a peninsula of a western continent. Carved into the cliff edges themselves and sticking out into the ocean, the Fortress-Monastery is highly defended against any form of siege by traditional means, having protection both from the violent ocean and the volatile skies above. The mountainous regions surrounding the Fortress make for extremely difficult ground for all but the toughest of adversaries.

## Chapter Organisation

The Chapter is currently split across two fronts, with half serving with Fleet Primus in the Indomitus Crusade and the other overseeing the stabilisation of Ultramar. Deployed with Fleet Primus are the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Companies, supported by the 6th, 8th and 9th Reserve Companies. They are further supplemented by a demi-company of the 10th Vanguard.

In Ultramar, the 4th and 5th Companies are tasked with securing the systems borders against Xenos and Heretic threats with aid from the remaining 7th company. Additionally, Captains Cavallus and Brutus of the 4th and 9th act as the Chapters elected Consuls of Galeris, entrusted with the restoration and defence of their system.

### Order of Battle

#### Headquarters

***Chater Master – Gaius Fenix, Warden of Galeris***
**Chapter Champion – Andros Maxentius**
**Honour Guard**
**Chapter Equerries**
***Lyrus Merula, Master of the Forge***
**Techmarines**
**Servitors**
**3 Repulsor Executioners**
**15 Repulsors**
**10 Impulsor Transports**
**20 Rhino APCs**
**18 Storm Speeders**
**4 Redemptor Dreadnoughts**
**Drop Pods**

***Vesperus Falco, Master of Sanctity***
***Auriel Pelagius, Chief Apothecary***
***Archimedes Selvus, Chief Librarian***
**Epistolaries**
**Codiciers**
**Lexicaniums**
**Acolytum**

#### Companies

30 Terminators
20 Bladeguard Veterans
50 Sternguard Veterans | **Captain Tarquin Faustus**
3 Fire Support Squads
4 Close Support Squads | **Captain Horatio Tydeus**
3 Fire Support Squads
4 Close Support Squads | **Captain Quintus Cavallus**
3 Fire Support Squads
4 Close Support Squads | **Captain Ventidius Scarus**
3 Fire Support Squads

6 Battleline Squads
2 Fire Supprt Squads
2 Close Support Squads | **Captain Nero Proteus**
6 Battleline Squads
2 Fire Supprt Squads
2 Close Support Squads | **Captain Tiberius Ardant**
6 Battleline Squads
2 Fire Supprt Squads
2 Close Support Squads | **Captain Orton Brutus**
6 Battleline Squads
2 Fire Supprt Squads
2 Close Support Squads | **Captain Serventis Cyrus**
6 Battleline Squads

#### First (Veteran) Company

The 1st Company is comprised of the Chapters most decorated and battle-tested veterans. Rarely deployed in its entirety, the 1st Companies primary function is to support the main battle forces with highly skilled battle-brothers. Where there is a gap in the Fulminator structure in close quarters proficiency, it is often filled by the 1st Company.

#### Battle Companies

In line with the Codex Astartes, the 2nd through 5th Companies fulfill the role of Battle Companies, forming the bulk of most Astartes Strike Forces. While a Codex Compliant Chapter, The Fulminators differ from the standard battle company organisation. In order to fully support the aerial tactics employed in their doctrines, the Fulminators have adopted the following order of battle:

* 3 Battleline Squads
* 3 Fire Support Squads
* 4 Close Support Squads

#### Reserve Companies

The 6th through 9th Reserve Companies are usually deployed as part of larger strike forces to support one or two Battle Companies, though they are also self-sufficient as more infantry heavy battle companies should the need arise. They are the first posting for Caculi joining the Chapter, where they will continue to hone their training or be deployed as smaller strike teams to effect less pivotal combat missions. The Reserve Companies often rotate in and out of defensive roles within Galeris, fulfilling a custodian role while operating in the home system.

#### 10th (Vanguard) Company

The 10th Company comprises the Chapters scout and reconnaissance capability. Here, marines are used to support the battle companies, taking the fight to the enemy by dropping behind their lines, scouting ahead and building crucial intelligence, or for use in elite, small scale assaults and missions where overt practices are not deemed appropriate. Brothers chosen for the 10th are those whom, as Caculi, displayed an exceedingly above-average ability for stealth and guile.

## Chapter Fleet

### Battle Barges

* ***Lux Imperator*** - Chapter Flagship
* ***Son of Ultima***
* ***The Will of the Regent***

### Strike Cruisers

* ***Guilliman's Wrath***
* ***Scourge of Sicarius***
* ***Lucem Adferre***
* ***Iax Vindictus***
* ***Indominata***
* ***Forth Unto Fire***
* ***Tempest of Mars***
* ***Unrelenting Night***

## Combat Doctrine

The Fulminators are a Codex-compliant chapter, with a specialisation in aerial and drop assault tactics. Mimicking the violent and rapid strikes of the electrical storms of Mars, The Fulminators focus on backline deployment, with jump packs and drop pods often being fielded to and ultimately surround their enemies. In open combat, the Fulminators will often employ heavily armoured bolter lines as a frontline defence, aimed at slowing down or stopping an advancing enemy. Once this has been accomplished, and with the enemy suppressed, precision attacks into the enemy's rear lines with Inceptors, drop-pods and other aerial elements commence, targeting key enemy positions or securing other vital objectives

## Chapter Culture & Beliefs

It has been suggested that their time in stasis, coupled with the Chapters difficulty in acclimatising to the 41st Millenium, has rendered them to be perceived as detached or lacking in empathy, choosing to operate out of practicality or necessity to their higher objectives rather than in deference to the weak. Though dutiful and upstanding of their own defined sense of honour, the Fulminators can be compassionless in nature - often priotising mission success before contemplating the humanitarian cost, in contrast perhaps to that of their Ultramarine lineage.

As a Chapter of Primaris marines, forged in the days of the early days of the 31st Millennium, the Fulminators often see themselves as superior to their first-born counterparts of other foundings. They view themselves as genetically stronger and more enlightened than previous generations of Astartes. However, the world in which they have awoken, and the change therein, has filled many in the Chapter with a sense of grievance towards the modern Imperium and to those responsible for its decline over the years. This negativity has only been tempered by their sense of purpose to restore the Imperium to its former potential, their mission becoming even more important at the advent of the Era Indomitus.

The Chapter is currently undergoing a crisis of faith brought about by the disparity of the world they once knew and the world now before them. Those original Terran-born Fulminators still hold true the principles of the Imperial Truth - the concept that rationalist, scientific and pragmatic thought is the only true path to the Imperium’s prosperity. The dystopian fall of Humanity in the years since the rise of the Ecclesiarchy proving to be a bone of contention to the Chapter. The deluded, paranoid state of Imperium is a far-cry away from the triumph and potential brought about during the 31st Millennium.

The zealous and pious nature of the 42nd Millennium is a cause of great frustration to the Fulminators, who know in their hearts that only human struggle can bring deliverance - not god's or religion. Similarly, they cannot deny a sense of disenchantment, at least to some small extent.  The Dark Gods exist. The supernatural thrives. However, many Fulminators believe these to be merely descriptors – concepts that, in the Imperium’s incessant fixation of Belief, have not been duly investigated and explored in an attempt to unravel its mystery and, consequently, master. They believe that they must understand their enemy in its entirety to conquer them, and it is precisely this lack of knowledge that has held the Imperium back these many years. That said, there are those within the Chapter who also recognise the tactical advantages brought about by religious doctrine and practice, that there can be no doubt that the power of belief, rightly or wrongly, has kept the masses of the Imperium dutifully going for the last ten thousand years. The arguments for and against the Imperiums religious society is a source of great debate within the Chapters secluded halls within the Lux Capitis.

## Chapter Recruitment

There are yet many Terran-Born Fulminators hidden in stasis in vaults below the Fortress-Monastery on Fulminis. A stockpile of re-enforcements brought with Archmagos Dominus Belisarius Cawl as part of the Ultima Founding, these yet unwoken marines were set aside explicitly for the Fulminators Chapter at the outset of the Indomitus Crusade. When the Fulminators were named by Guilliman as a Protector of Ultramar and granted wardship of Galeris, Chapter Master Gaius Fenix knew that the Chapter must begin to seek new ways to continue their lineage away from their original breeding grounds on Mars.

As a direct result of the devastation of the Plague Wars, much of the suffered population of the system had in turn become battle-hardened or otherwise endured though determination, efficiency or other desirable traits. It was decided at the Council of Restitution that each of Galeris' three habitable worlds would supply aspirants to the Chapter in an annual tithe, the final list being signed and co-signed by the Chapter's two presiding consuls, the systems rotating overlords elected by the Chapter.

Those selected will be taken to Fulminis, where they will endure trials of nature to weed out the weak and unworthy in addition to undergoing the various surgeries required to implant the Chapters gene-seed. Those who fail and survive may be worthy of finding a place among the Chapter still as serfs in menial roles or as crewmen in the Fulminators Fleet. Where more specialised serfs are required, these are often recruited directly from the Colleges on Tallium and Pessulum from the families/descendants of failed aspirants as penance.

### The Trials Fulminatus

"*You have weathered the Storms Judgement and proven worthy. Arise, Brother Tiberius, for you are now Storm Born. Arise now, as son of the Primarch, a defender of Humanity, and Fulminator Astartes*"
—Chaplain Falco to Brother Tiberius at the culmination of his Reckoning
The Trials Fulminatus are a series of challenges that take place at the culmination of the gene-seed implantation. The challenges vary depending on the incumbent Chapter Master, but are aimed to test the implants to their maximum limits to demonstrate the full potential of the initiate both to them and the Chapter.

Regardless of what other tests or challenges there may be, the final test is always that of the Rite of the Tempest Reckoning. Here the initiate will climb to the Summit of Mount Tellisah across from the Lux Capitis over the Elyrian Sea. He will then, unadorned, kneel at the summit and await the Storms Judgement. The summit, the highest peak on Fulminis, attracts lightning strikes regularly and as such the test is aimed to prove the initiates resistance to electricity. Overseen by the Master of Sanctity and at least one Librarian, they watch as the initiate is repeatedly struck, scarring his flesh and testing his adapted sinew coils within that give the Fulminators their name and individuality. Those that fail, perish – and their coils are removed from the remains and buried under the summit. Those that live, arise as Storm Born, and are officially welcomed to the Chapter. The initiate then transitions to Caculi – a brother in training. Here he will be attested to one of the reserve or vanguard Companies to fully begin his service to the Imperium.

## Notable Members

* **Captain Cavallus** - Cavallus is a captain of the Fulminators Chapter.
* **Sergeant Augustin** - Augustin is a Reiver and sergeant of the Fulminators Chapter. He was tasked with rescuing the sacred remains of Saint Blaise on the planet of Chevreuse.
* **Ambrosius** - Ambrosius was a Reiver in the squad of Sergeant Augustin. During their mission to secure the remains of Saint Blaise on Chevreuse from the forces of Chaos, Ambrosius was slain when he was struck by the lightning produced by one of that world's powerful storms. His armour was undamaged, yet his body was completely vaporised.
* **Arnauld** - Arnauld was a Reiver in the squad of Sergeant Augustin. He met his end when he faced the Dark Apostle Pelagus, who led the forces of Chaos to destroy the holy remains of Saint Blaise.
* **Cornelius** - Cornelius is a Reiver in the squad of Sergeant Augustin.
* **Jansenius** - Jansenius is a Reiver in the squad of Sergeant Augustin.

## Chapter Appearance

### Chapter Colours

The Fulminators primarily wear blue Mark X power armour in honour of their parent Chapter, the Ultramarines. The Aquila or Imperialis on the chest is gold, as is the shoulder pauldron trim.
The inset of the right shoulder pauldron is also blue. Chapter markings and unit designations are white. The white squad specialty symbol -- battleline, close support, fire support, Veteran or command -- is displayed on the right shoulder pauldron, while the inset of the left shoulder pauldron is white and proudly displays the Chapter's iconography. The company number is displayed as a High Gothic numeral on the left knee plate or as a black High Gothic numeral placed in the centre of the squad specialty symbol on the left shoulder plate.

### Chapter Badge

The Fulminators' Chapter badge is a stylised winged lightning bolt. The lightning bolt itself is red, while the outspread pair of wings are black. This symbol is centred on a field of white.

[Source]

 White Scars Successors
 Space Wolves Successors
 Imperial Fists Successors
 Blood Angels Successors
 Iron Hands Successors
 Ultramarines Successors
 Salamanders Successors
 Raven Guard Successors
 Unknown Lineage

[Source]