Domnitor-class Siege Dreadnought

A Domnitor-class Siege Dreadnought of the Warmachines Chapter.

The **Domnitor-class Siege Dreadnought** is a formidable, non-standard sub-class variant of the standard Hellfire Dreadnought. Developed by the Adeptus Mechanicus of Chernokye and utilised exclusively by the Warmachines Space Marine Chapter, this walking mobile heavy weapons platform combines superior firepower with the flexibility and durability of a Dreadnought chassis.

The standard loadout for the Domnitor consists of a set of pair of Hellfire pattern missile launchers in lieu of the usual dreadnought close combat and medium-range weapons, changing its battlefield role from one of close or medium-range heavy support to a long-range fire support role for infantry troops. The Domnitor is also unique, as it also makes use of a Aiolos Missile Launcher, a large carapace-mounted missile launcher system. This ancient, bygone weapon system is rarely seen on the modern battlefield of the 42nd Millennium, being a product of the Great Crusade and Horus Heresy eras. The Aiolos Missile Launcher features a highly sophisticated targetting system that is capable of tracking enemy targets independently of the Dreadnought's primary weapons system and regardless of intervening terrain.

Deployed in limited numbers due to the rare components and archaic technology utilised in their construction, the few examples utilised by the Warmachines Chapter are treated as a specialist unit often held in reserve. They are only brought out of their clan company armories to face the most difficult or vexatious enemies encountered by the Chapter, worthy of only utter annihilation. Despite its survivability and destructive killing power, the Domnitor is highly resource intensive to produce and maintain, however, this is a trade-off the Warmachines are willing to accept in order to ensure the complete destruction of their foes.

## Background

The Domnitor-class Siege Dreadnought was developed some time during the dawning of the 42nd Millenium for use by the Space Marines of the Warmachines Chapter. This pattern was developed to help bolster the sorely depleted forces of the Warmachines following the severe losses in both battle-brothers' lives and irreplaceable war machines. With the destruction of the vital fortress-world of Cadia and the formation of the massive galaxy-wide warp rift known as the Cicatrix Maledictum, there was never a greater need for new, innovative technology than at the dawn of the 42nd Millennium, for the realm of the Emperor was beset by a myriad of enemies on all sides.

The Warmachines are a Space Marine Chapter comprised of consummate siege fighters and masters of ordnance. Unforgiving and merciless, this Chapter puts great store in the formulation of pre-battle strategy in detail and the use of massive, focused bombardment as a precursor to attack: the calculation of fields of fire, the use of high-intensity shelling, and the deployment of heavy armour and mechanised forces to spearhead attacks are the Chapter's stock-in-trade. However, after being effectively cut-off from the rest of the Imperium by the formation of the Great Rift and upsurge of turbulent warp activity, the Warmachines were forced to stand vigil over their own demesne, fighting against constant xenos raids, encroaching Chaos Warbands, and even daemonic incursions. The incessant fighting began to take a toll on the Chapter's numbers, and soon attrition began to take hold, making it difficult for the Chapter to replace their losses.

Convening amongst themselves, many of the Chapter's Siege Masters, seconded by the Master of the Forge and most of his Techmarines, believed they needed to formulate the means by which they might be able to continue waging war against the enemies of Mankind, despite their extensive loss in manpower. In conjunction with the Chernokye Mechanicus, the Warmachines helped develop a new weapon of destruction that would help tip the balance in their favour. However, this boon was not bought without paying a heavy price; the Chapter was forced to relinquish precious Standard Template Construct fragments containing information on the now-lost technology for the deadly Aiolos Missile Launcher, which had not been used since the bygone eras of the Great Crusade and Horus Heresy. These STC fragments were discovered by the Chapter nearly a millennium and a half earlier, during a routine patrol near the outskirts of the border of the Segmentum Obscurus. Reluctantly, the Chapter gave up this irreplaceable and incalculable prize, however, in return their Chernokye Mechanicus allies were true to their promises and help construct a new mobile heavy weapons platform - the Domnitor-class Siege Dreadnought.

## Armament

As a dedicated heavy support walker, the Domnitor is designed purely for ranged support. The standard loadout for the Domnitor consists of a pair of Hellfire Missile launcher arms, which carries up to eight krak missiles that are capable of causing severe damage to enemy vehicles, and unlike standard missile launchers carried by battleline formations of Astartes, is capable of being fired on teh move. The secondary weapon system is the rarely seen Aiolos Missile Launcher mounted atop the Dreadnought's carapace. Featuring a highly sophisticated Helical Targetting Array, this missile launcher is capable of tracking enemy targets independently of its Hellfire Missile weapons system, and can be fired on the move, regardless of the terrain. However, due to the Helical Array's delicacy and ravenous consumption of power, the Domnitor must be immobile while this system is in operation.

The Domnitor can also be outfitted with smoke launchers, a searchlight, and extra armour plating or armoured ceramite plating.

## Wargear

* **Venerable Dreadnought Chassis**
* **Pair of Hellfire Missile Launchers (Primary)**
* **Aiolos Missile Launcher (Secondary)**

### Optional Wargear

The Aiolos Missile Launcher can be replaced with the following:

* **Twin-Linked Heavy Bolters**
* **Twin-Linked Lascannons**
* **Twin-Linked Autocannons**

### Additional Equipment

* **Smoke Launchers**
* **Helical Targetting Array**
* **Searchlight**
* **Reinforced Armoured Ceramite Plating**