Red Scorpions - Chapter Combat Doctrine: The Red Scorpions are dedicated believers in their interpretation of the Codex Astartes. To these Space Marines, the text represents a divine mandate that instructs them in every phase of their existence. When preparing for battle, the sacred text must be appropriately interpreted, but its wisdom must never be questioned.Many of the Chapter's commanders use individual subsections to identify critical stages within every conflict. These individuals carefully identify the most relevant portions of the text as they prepare for and command a battle, immediately and definitively using the most appropriate responses to any numerical or strategic shifts in a given combat, such that the army's forces constantly adjust their strategic responses as the tactical situation changes.Of course, it is important to consider that the Codex Astartes is generally regarded as the most complete and advanced guide to warfare ever created by Mankind. While its insights and advice may not address every imaginable situation, its framework offers a method for methodically and appropriately identifying the most apt solution.By choosing to dogmatically follow the Codex in every possible way, the Red Scorpions are dependent upon a tactical treatise that is unparalleled. Ultimately, the appearance of orthodoxy and fanaticism does not functionally limit their combat effectiveness.The Chapter is organised into ten companies in keeping with standard Codex directive. Of the ten companies, there is only a single divergence. The Chapter maintains only its second through fourth companies as Battle Companies. Its fifth serves as an additional Reserve Company, like the sixth and seventh. Its tenth, Scout Company, is generally kept slightly under strength due to its inability to aggressively recruit while actively on crusade.In keeping with the Codex's teachings, the Red Scorpions excel at applying a combined arms solution to most tactical situations. For example, vehicles are used to support infantry units. Similarly, specialised infantry, such as Assault Marines, are carefully used only in those situations that are most easily overcome by their particular expertise.The Chapter's fleet resources may be used as necessary to soften a target well in advance of a ground-based offensive. Such approaches have been exercised in a consistent fashion throughout the Chapter's history.Part of the Red Scorpions' success is due to the intense level of discipline maintained throughout the Chapter. To a certain extent, this discipline is instilled through the use of their religious focus in every aspect of their lives. Unquestioning obedience is second nature for Red Scorpions battle-brothers. They firmly believe that their lives are dedicated to and directly guided by the God-Emperor. They trust in His guidance and the knowledge that if their lives are lost, they can enter the afterlife to enjoy His eternal blessings.This level of discipline enables the Chapter's commanders to execute strategies that might be highly risky when utilising troops that are not so thoroughly devoted to seeing a plan through to its completion. In spite of their obsession with orthodox Imperial Cult dogma, the Red Scorpions are more than capable of innovating novel solutions to unexpected problems. The creation of the Helios Pattern Land Raider is the best known example, but it is certainly not the only one. This particular success is best known because the vehicle went on to gain ratification as an official pattern by the Adeptus Mechanicus. Since its creation, several other Chapters have begun to employ the variant.Every battle fought against an unidentified opponent requires a warrior to first identify the foe's strengths and weaknesses. Only once these are known can strengths be avoided and weaknesses exploited. The Red Scorpions are adept at using a variety of different approaches against new foes in remarkably short order. Once a particularly effective tactic is identified, it is then used for as long as it remains effective. However, if no commonly known methods provide a necessary solution, these Space Marines do not hesitate to attempt to find an alternative.Though even in this methodology, purity must be maintained. While their Techmarines might develop minor innovations, they do not stray from the Omnissiah's path. Xenos designs or equipment that has survived from the Age of Technology remain anathema. The use of such devices could endanger a battle-brother's soul with the potential for contamination.Alternative tactical measures are considered, but only once evidence has been compiled that those dictated by the Codex are inappropriate. At times, this may require exhaustive and thorough analyses and discussions. Although fully capable of employing such tactics when needed (as proved by the Angstrom Incident during the Badab War), the Red Scorpions are known to have a profound dislike of covert operations in favour of meeting and defeating an enemy in open battle. They consider this secretive kind of warfare, as well as its attendant trappings, such as the use of camouflage and infiltration, as fundamentally dishonourable, and shun them unless strictly needed.The Red Scorpions are thus generally philosophically opposed to the use of covert techniques prior to and during a battle. They prefer to proudly demonstrate their presence and their markings. They firmly believe that their iconography and wargear are a crucial symbol of their allegiance to the God-Emperor. Anything that prevents their foes from seeing these insignia is a veritable affront to their faith.While they have been known to use Codex-standard camouflage patterns, even these are accepted only with reluctance. While initiates are first trained as Scout Marines, in keeping with the Codex standard, even they are seldom assigned to protracted reconnaissance missions. Instead, neophytes are generally deployed to either the main battle lines or held back from combat so that they may serve as a reserve force.