40th Shadow Division
Sarna News
| |
| Fortieth Shadow Division | |
| Disbanded | December 3074 (missing)[1] |
| Nickname | Sariel's Conquerors[2] |
| Affiliation | Word of Blake |
| Parent Command | Shadow Divisions |
Unit Description[edit]
The Fortieth Shadow Division was the first of the Word of Blake Shadow Divisions, composed of the hyper-elite, cybernetically enhanced Manei Domini. The Fortieth is known for its exploits on Hesperus II and Arcturus during the Jihad.
History[edit]
Two Level IIIs of the Fortieth landed on Tharkad 3068, hunting down resistance cells. They fought the Royal Guards and Twenty-fourth Lyran Guards several times: Once in the ruins of Tharkad's main spaceport, in the Mako Valley, and again on the Taytana Islands. Though they were stationed on Tharkad until 3071, they did not sustain many losses and were able to assist other elements of the Division in their tasks.[3]
The Fortieth captured Hesperus II in 3070 with the Thirty-eighth Word of Blake Militia Division as part of Operation STEEL HAMMER.[4] This was made possible after other Blakist forces slowly weakened the planet's defenses after years of lightning raids. Due to the importance of the Defiance Industries facilities, the Fortieth remained stationed on the planet, becoming a conduit for replacement machines and weaponry to the rest of the Blakist militia.[5][6]
In May 3073, a large portion of the Fortieth traveled off-world to spearhead an attack against Chandrasekhar Kurita's mercenary coalition on Arcturus, backed up by Burr's Black Cobras, elements of the Second Word of Blake Militia Division, and the Opacus Venatori, inflicting significant damage but not before suffering heavy losses of their own.[7] The Fortieth disappeared after suddenly withdrawing from Arcturus, before finally returning to Hesperus three months later.[2] In September, elements of the Division linked up with the Fifty-second Shadow Division in a strike on Caledonia which was to destroy the Twenty-second Skye Rangers. The Division had returned to Hesperus II where it became fully operational in time to face Devlin Stone's Coalition in November 3074. After a full month of fighting the Coalition forces successfully took the planet.[8]
The last known location of the Fortieth was Hesperus II, where they held Maria's Elegy, the planet's capital, against Clan Wolf's Delta Galaxy and Stone's Lament, and retreated only after the fall of the Defiance Industries complex and mauling also a nighttime combat drop by the First Skye Jaegers.[8]
The Division's status was reportedly sketchy, estimating it being only at three Level III strength. It was not made clear if the division slipped away from the planet, or remained in hiding.[2]
The Fortieth Shadow Division vanished after the loss of Hesperus II and was listed as missing in action by the end of the Jihad.[1] Later accounts suggested that the Fortieth may have followed Berith into exile on Obeedah and Taussen, to carry on the legacy of the Master and Jerome Blake beyond the Jihad era.[9]
Officers[edit]
| Rank | Name | Command | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commanding Officers of the Fortieth Shadow Division | |||
| Precentor | Sariel | 3068 – 3074[4][8] | |
Other Officers[edit]
- Demi-Precentor Pravuil, XO of the Fortieth in May 3073.[10]
- Phantom Demi-Precentor Delta Laodices, MechWarrior during the Jihad.[11][12]
- Poltergeist Adept Omega Noelani Amisal, aerospace pilot during the Jihad.[13]
Tactics[edit]
Unknown.
Composition History[edit]
3070[edit]
Fortieth Shadow Division (Division/Elite)[6]
- Creeping Death III-zeta[14]
- 4-5 Level IIIs
3073[edit]
Fortieth Shadow Division (c. 3 Level III/Elite)
3074[edit]
Fortieth Shadow Division (Division/Elite)[2][6]
Notes[edit]
- General rules for the Fortieth Shadow Division can be found in Jihad Secrets: The Blake Documents.[16] Additional campaign-related rules can be found in Jihad Turning Points: Tharkad, Jihad Turning Points: Hesperus II, and Turning Points: Arcturus.[3][6][7]
- The unit was rated with A for its Equipment.[16]
References[edit]
- ↑ a b Jihad: Final Reckoning, p. 126: "Shadow Divisions Status"
- ↑ a b c d Jihad Secrets: The Blake Documents, pp. 103-104: "40th Shadow Division"
- ↑ a b Jihad Turning Points: Tharkad, pp. 6-10
- ↑ a b Technical Readout: 3050 Upgrade, p. 210
- ↑ Jihad Secrets: The Blake Documents, p. 24: "Operation: Steel Hammer"
- ↑ a b c d Jihad Turning Points: Hesperus II, p. 7: "Fortieth Shadow Division"
- ↑ a b Turning Points: Arcturus, p. 9: "Fortieth Shadow Division"
- ↑ a b c Jihad Turning Points: Hesperus II, p. 5: "The Battle for Hesperus II"
- ↑ Ghosts of Obeedah, pp. 59–60: "Aegaeon's Truth"
- ↑ Turning Points: Arcturus, p. 2: "Introduction"
- ↑ Jihad Turning Points: Hesperus II, p. 18: "Death from Above"
- ↑ Technical Readout: 3075, p. 180: "Notable Pilots"
- ↑ Technical Readout: 3075, p. 100: "Notable Pilots"
- ↑ a b Jihad Turning Points: Hesperus II, p. 12: "The Shadow Descends"
- ↑ a b Turning Points: Arcturus, p. 7: "Protecting the Hidden"
- ↑ a b Jihad Secrets: The Blake Documents, p. 142: "Rules Annex"