The Space Sharks

Shark/ Privateer inspired Space Marine Chapter

Origins

During the Great Crusade many Space Marine Chapters of the White Scar legion took on much of the scouting duties. They went far beyond the ever expanding boarders of known Imperial space to earmark discoveries for subsequent expeditions, and for escorting the Ambassadors of the Imperium to their discoveries. During the Heresy, the 296th expedition with attending White Scar’s escort where far out on the eastern fringe, and cut off from all communication. It was many years later before the expedition was to learn of the catastrophic events that had transpired in their absence. When the expedition returned home to rejoin their brothers, there they were informed of the break up of the legions and that each Chapter was to be singled out into its own autonomous army. It was these 'legion Chapters' of the 296th expedition that formed the first ‘Sharks’ Chapters (third founding), the first were the Space Sharks, and after a reorganising, the Blood Sharks and Iron Sharks soon followed.

Colours

Armour: Codex Grey armour, with lighter grey trim and a bright red stripe running down their helm. Suits of Mrk3 and Mark6 predominate.

Symbol: A face on Great White Shark with open mouth over a broad red stripe.

Home World

Originally the Space Sharks were not assigned a home world, but instead where attached to multiple Rogue Trader fleets. However, after the Badab War, they were given the Mantis Legion's home world. Those stationed on this home world paint their shoulder shark symbol black (mostly 6th Company 'Black Ops' reserve, with 'implant' tech).

Description

The Space Sharks are Privateers (sanctioned pirates) in the service of the Rogue Trader fleets they are attached to. They are there to provide the teeth to the fleet and perform raids into alien space, harry shipping and secure cargo.

When the Space Sharks fleet is out hunting it is divided up into lone Sharks (strike cruisers). These Sharks surprise attack/ ambush ships and outposts at long range before quickly sinking away before their victim can retaliate, only to reengage later. They like to hang out just outside a solar system and attack ships emerging from warp space into the warp zone. They use Librarians who can feel the approaching ships in the warp and know where it will emerge. If many targets are within an area they may attract more than one shark. Multiple Sharks engage as a loose skirmish unit (in that they remain 'independent' and maintain inter-ship communication silence at all times).

They employ this hit and run tactic until a swipe causes serious damage. If this happens they trail, and if they inflict enough damage, and a kill is imminent, many strike cruisers suddenly turn up for the 'feeding frenzy'. They knock down the target ships protection systems before launching an all out assault pod boarding action to take the ship intact.

In character the Space Sharks are laconic, and go about their work with a single mindedness. All they do is watch, hunt, raid and talk to other Space Sharks . They have communication with the Rogue Trader fleets, but usually only through blood relatives (primarily mothers and sisters).

Organisation

The Chapter is organised around their ships, with each ship housing a company. It is suspected that some of the larger ships have much larger companies than is considered codex, while some of the smaller ship have much smaller companies. The exact number of companies is not know, as they are not marked in order as the codex specifics, but by ship. Even their Chapter badge changes to represent a type of shark.

Mandate: The Imperium allows and encourages the Sharks to invade nearby Alien territories to reclaim technology and goods. These Marines as quite adept and obtaining technology and many carry scrolls of MCP (Mechanicus Certified Privateer), looking for specific gear to recover. STC is always high on the list, but alien tech always sells.

Tactics and gear: The Space Sharks are superb assault marines, though they do not use jump packs or dreadnoughts. They have very few Terminator suits, and make great use of scouts.

Favourite weapons are chain-swords, and chain-blade combat accessories. They also favour 'metal storm' bolt rounds/ and canister shot, as they inflict much damage on living beings, but far less on the ship. Gas weapons and red smoke grenades are also popular.

Specialist: The Space Shark's have an enhanced echolocation system, as they often hunt using the auto-sense's bio-sonar system (the big grill on the helm). The auto-sense system constructs the mind image as normal, so to the marine little is different. It is used to board cold ships (ones one power conservation mode), as visual and heat sensors are often useless. This gives the Space Sharks the classic 'dead eye' look of their name sake.

Ampullae of Lorenzini, are an adaptation not quite the same as a shark. It is a warp sig enhancer, Space Sharks can track the living. It is plumbed in through the Omophagea. Only the 'point man' is given this equipment.

Ships

The Fleet is all important to the Space Sharks , and the Space Sharks have there own naming conventions for their ships based of ancient shark names. All Ship names are double barrelled with the first name as the 'Class' and the Second as the ship's name.

Carcharodon-Carcharias 'Great White' (Class: Carcharodon (Battle Barge) Name: Carcharias)

Carcharodon-Megalodon 'Prehistoric Mega Tooth shark' (Class: Carcharodon (Battle Barge) Name: Megalodon)

Alopias-Vulpinus 'common thresher shark' (Class: Alopias (strike cruiser - type A) Name: Vulpinus)

HQ: I would imagine that the Megalodon would be the 1st company and perhaps a few others.

Successors

All the successor Space Marine Chapters follow a similar role as the Space Sharks : Blood Sharks, White Sharks, Black Sharks, Star Sharks, Iron Sharks, Sharks Encarmine, Sharks Sanguine. All sharks have close ties.

Beliefs

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