Torchbearers - Organisation: The task forces and battle groups of the Indomitus Crusade bear to war immense and often extremely varied armies capable of subduing entire star systems and even sub-sectors. By contrast, the armed forces of Torchbearer fleets are commonly more compact, elite and focused.The Emperor's bodyguards of the Adeptus Custodes are found amongst the majority of them. Of all the Custodians' Shield Hosts, the Emissaries Imperatus are the most commonly represented, although Custodians belonging to other shield hosts are not unknown. The presence of the Adeptus Custodes serves to enforce the receipt of the Primarch's Gift and is seen by some Chapters as a guarantee of its bonafide or even divine nature.The Adeptus Mechanicus maintains a widespread tech-priest presence aboard Torchbearer ships, though there are relatively few martial or zealous followers compared to the retinues of Tech-Priests Dominus who accompany crusade fleets. The expertise of numerous creeds oftech-priests is essential to the safety of the Primarch's Gift throughout transit and the successful transfer of their priceless cargo should the mission be successful.Many Torchbearer task forces are joined by an Inquisitor and their retinue of Acolytes. Some of these investigators oversee security and sequestration protocols of the sensitive technology. Others provide local knowledge of the star systems the fleets travel through, their reputation and clearances helping to secure passage through suspicious planetary governments.Astra Militarum forces do not often see service with the Torchbearers. Those that do are typically elite special forces such as Tempestus Scions. Otherwise, they are hardy veterans skilled in defending against boarding actions, the requisitioned retinue of some senior officer, or perhaps a regiment whose past dealing with the target Chapter might engender some goodwill towards theunusual Primarch's Gift.Other forces known -- at least to the Officio Logisticarum and certain Inquisitors -- to travel within or alongside a Torchbearer fleet are cadres of Sisters of Silence, demi-brotherhoods of Grey Knights, Adepta Sororitas missions as well as Rogue Traders and their diverse, colourful retinues. Sleek warships, redirected from their usual commissions to serve Torchbearer fleets, often carry small armies of experienced Navis Imperialis boarding parties, many of whose members are brutal, Voidborn veterans.The Torchbearer fleets comprise small numbers of fast, powerful and resilient warships. They typically boast more than enough firepower to dissuade piratical raiders from attacking. They require the belligerent muscle to break out of enemy encirclements and the speed to outpace more dangerous fleets. The Office of the Paternoval Envoy selects expert and adaptable Navigators under a discreet accord Roboute Guilliman brokered with the Paternova himself.Specialist local knowledge of the Warp in those regions the fleet passes through is no longer the boon it once was -- having become more unpredictable -- and only those Navigators able to guide voidships through the most hazardous Warp Storms and rift quakes are sequestered for Torchbearer service.Command of a Torchbearer fleet is commonly vested in the highest ranking officer aboard. Usually, this would be the senior Custodian, though some fleets are commanded by a sinister Sister of Silence, the lordly Noble of a Knight household or the ranking Navis Imperialis officer. Among the Adeptus Astartes being transported by the fleet to their intended Chapter, their senior officers offer advice and tactical expertise, usually only taking up acommanding position during rare battles the fleet becomes embroiled in.On occasion, some fleets are accompanied by small contingents of Space Marines hailing from Chapters other than that sought out. These are often representatives from brotherhoods known to have established ties with their target, and they act as another way of reassuring their allies once found.