Tungsten Shields

Armorial utilised by the Tungsten Shields.

A Legionary of the Tungsten Shields.

### Specialty

Defending the frontier regions of the Imperium near the sources of Warp Storms (Maelstream)

### Colours

Grey and yellow (green)

The **Tungsten Shields** were an order of the Astartes that belongs to the rogue faction of Blackshields. They are the heir to the older Order of the Astral Claws, almost completely destroyed by the Carcharodons Chaos warband during the Badab War. Officially, they do not belong to any of the legions of Astartes, as they are descendants of the notorious Traitor Legion - the Imperial Fists.

### History

During the Dornian Heresy, some of the Imperial Fists were able to escape from Isstvan III to Terra and warn the loyal forces of the outbreak of the civil war that Rogal Dorn had unleashed. Before the siege of Terra, the loyal Astartes Imperial Fists fought alongside the Imperial forces to the end. A small handful of surviving Astartes after the Heresy was declared the Order of Black Shields "Astral Claws". As atonement for their Primarch's guilt, they had to keep an eternal guard around one of the galaxy's strongest Warp storms: the Maelstrom.

Presumably, the old Order of the Astral Claws was part of the 11th Founding and was created during the dark times of the Interregnum of New Terra, although some sources indicate other information. Few records have survived of this Founding, which was supposedly created in an attempt to stop the rapid disintegration and narrowing of the Imperium's borders at that time. In the few surviving records related to the Astral Talons, these warriors are described as crusaders traveling through the war zones to fight the enemies of humanity. Evidence of their existence can be found in the chronicles of the Departmento Munitorum, which deal with the Treacherous Wars and the anti-wolf pogroms of the Solar Lord Jurastid Macro, and further traces of the adventures of the Astral Claws can be found in the sanctuaries dedicated to the late battles against the New Terran troops during the Cataclysm of Souls.

### Badab War

During the Badab War, virtually the entire Black Shield Order was destroyed by the Chaos warband of the "Carcharodons", who invaded the Segmentum Ultima from the Maelstrom.

### Beliefs

For the Wolfram Shields, the priority is fortitude, courage, courage and determination, selflessness and willingness to sacrifice any of their goals for the good and prosperity of the Imperium.

Wolfram Shields consider their main goal to protect the population of the Imperium from the forces of Chaos, knowing the fate of their ancestors who became traitors, they hate everything connected with chaos. There are many powerful psykers in the ranks of the order. The other members of the order respect them as much as the master and the chaplains. The Wolfram Shields strictly abide by the Astartes Code, trying to make amends to the Imperium. In some places, their selflessness turns into suicidal rage (therefore, the order has units that are close to the "Death Companies" of the Blood Angels by their vocation).

### Organisation

The so-called codex orders, which strictly follow the requirements of the Astartes Code, consist of ten companies, each of which consists of a hundred Space Marines under the leadership of an officer with the rank of captain. Usually, the first company contains the best and most experienced veterans, and the second-ninth — ordinary soldiers. Some companies are specialized, such as support companies that contain a large number of Reaver squads. The Tenth Company is a Scout company that includes neophyte Space Marines who have yet to prove their mettle in battle. Each order also has its own librarium, arsenal, apothecarion, reclusiam, and fleet.

Each order is headed by a Master of the Order. In contrast to the Imperial Guard, the Adeptus Astartes don't have a rank higher than master. In addition, the Astartes also have no representative among the High Lords of Terra.

In addition to the Space Marines, each chapter has employees who do not take a direct part in the fighting — astropaths, navigators, slaves, and so on.

### Combat Doctrine

Tungsten Shields practice defensive tactics, waiting for the enemy to attack, and then launch a large-scale counterattack on the most vulnerable enemy positions.

### Vehicles & Equipment

The main personal weapon of a space marine is a bolter and its pistol version-a bolt pistol.

Also, a distinctive feature of all Space Marines is power armor. Power armor that they wear to battle. Some members of the first order companies are equipped with heavier Terminator armor. Scouts wear armor instead of power armor. There is also another type of armor, called skillful armor, which is possessed by the most famous and brave Astartes.

Over time, at the squad level, Tungsten Shields have developed significant differences in the dominant types of combat units. First, there is data on both a large number of units equipped for assaults, and on auxiliary formations with special weapons designed to destroy equipment and fortifications. The second notable difference was the heavy armament mounted on the equipment and carried by the legionaries, which was distinguished not only by its brute power, but also by its accuracy and adaptability on the battlefield. For example, a multi-purpose rocket launcher was preferred, perhaps, to a less multifunctional automatic gun, and a more accurate and long — range laser gun to a multi-melta with a limited range. They were also among the most active supporters of the development of tactical dreadnought armor, so they could bring into battle a lot of squads equipped with all kinds of so-called Terminator armor. It is worth mentioning that they were among the first who began to massively use "Indomitus" from the forges of Deimos. During the Great Betrayal, they were the only ones to field the Terminators with the prototype Absinia and Iliast assault cannons-modified and scaled-down versions of the Kheres, which proved to be such a powerful addition to the Contemptor Dreadnoughts.

Officers of any rank are able to make tactical decisions and are encouraged to act on their own initiative. Tungsten Shields combine units into flexible, balanced battle groups, each of which serves as a source of diverse threats to the enemy, and then strike so quickly that the enemy will be overwhelmed before they can react. Wolfram Shields have retained their traditional skills of urban and siege warfare since the Heresy, although they are quite ready to attack and beat the enemy in open combat and on any terrain. They are able to use fortifications and conduct a defensive battle, but only after all the more aggressive options are exhausted.