40K Loremaster: Chariots of the Battle Sisters
Today Loremasters we talk of the pious (and flameproof) armored vehicles of the Adepts Sororitas.
The Adepta Sororitas as the fighing arm of the Ecclesiarchy are well equipped and their Monasteries are spread across the Imperium. When they are called to battle, they have a vide variety of vehicles to support them.
Rhino
The Rhino is a common armoured troop transport produced by the Imperium. Its use is entrusted to only the most loyal of soldiers: the Space Marines, Sisters of Battle, Adeptus Arbites and the Inquisition.
The Rhino’s versatile design has allowed the development (mostly through the rediscovery of STC designs) of several variants, each fulfilling a different tactical role. Popular variants are the Razorback, Predator, Whirlwind and Immolator.
In addition to the Mk.IIc that they also operate, the Sisters of Battle have the exclusive use of the Mk.IIIa Mars-pattern Rhino. Based upon improvements made by the incorporation of the Immolator STC, this version is slightly taller, featuring a superstructure with vision blocks arranged for all-round observation of the battlefield from inside, as well as two large circular hatches that can serve as access and firing points, or mount an observation cupola (or a turret in the case of the Immolator).[2c]
Like the Space Marine versions, those Rhinos possess embarkation stations to which the passengers can connect their power armour, in order to recharge their motive core and exchange data. This version is generally held as superior to the Mk.II when used in dense terrain due to its viewports and fireports arrangement, at the price of an increased vulnerability to anti-tank weaponry due to its higher profile.[2c]
Some Adepta Sororitas Rhinos also are equipped with twin cannons next to the driver’s hatch instead of a storm bolter.
Immolator
The Immolator is a variant of the Rhino chassis and used exclusively by the Adepta Sororitas as a transport. The design specifications of the Immolator was first discovered within an ancient factory complex on Fornost, during the Icaria Crusade in M35. There a force of Frateris Templars captured an ancient factory complex intact, allowing an Adeptus Ministorum missionary team to freely explore its contents. Missionary Morben the Devout discovered databanks from the Dark Age of Technology and reported his findings to his superiors. knowing the value of this information to the Adeptus Mechanicus, the Ministorum used it as a bargaining chip for negotiations. Eventually the two organisations came to an agreement, the Fornosian Accords: the Mechanicus would have access to the databanks, and in exchange the Ministorum would have exclusive claim to any new technologies discovered.
After inspecting through the databanks, the only new design to be found was for a flame-thrower tank. Combining this knowledge with known STC designs for the Rhino, the Tech-priests of Mars came up with the Immolator and began exclusive production of it for the Ministorum.
Immolators are armed with twin-linked Heavy Flamers as their primary armament. ‘Sanctis’ pattern-variants replace these with twin-linked Heavy Bolters, while the ‘Justice’ pattern-variant replaces them with twin-linked Multi-meltas. Space taken up by ammunition allows the Immolator to only carry a squad of six Sisters of Battle, which they deploy close to their objectives and advances in support. However, the Immolator does carry slightly more armour than the Rhino. The main weapon system of the Immolator is sometimes referred to as an Inferno Cannon or Immolation Flamer instead of mere twin Heavy Flamers.
Repressor
The Repressor is a heavily armored personnel carrier, used by the Adeptus Arbites and the Adepta Sororitas. Repressors are a variant of the Rhino, converted to extend the transport compartment and adding firing slits for the passengers’ weaponry.
The Repressor was originally used as an armoured personnel carrier by the Adeptus Arbites as a means of crowd suppression. The Sisters of Battle first used the Repressor on the Cardinal World of Avignor during the Avignor Uprising, when agent-provocateurs of a heretical sect caused a crowd of a million pilgrims to riot. The local Precincts was overrun by the mob, and the Battle Sisters of the Sacred Rose Preceptory, currently guarding the Cardinal‘s Palace, offered their aid. They replaced the Repressors’ original non-lethal weaponry of water cannons and grenade launchers for the heavy flamers favoured by their order, then took to the streets to purge the heretics from Avignor.
For years only the Sacred Rose used the Repressors, causing anger with other Orders, until the 291st Synod Prioris of Terra where the issue was hotly debated. Eventually it was decreed that the victory on Avignor had been the Emperor‘s divine will, and that the Repressor should be included in the canon list of sanctioned vehicles.
The Repressor is armed with a cupola-mounted Storm Bolter and Pintle-mounted Heavy Flamer, with Dozer Blades as standard equipment. Its modified transport compartment allows all six passengers to fire with any type of weapon from within the protection of the vehicle. It can be further upgraded with Blessed Ammunition, Extra Armour, a Holy Icon, Holy Promethium, a Hunter-killer Missile, Laud Hailers, a Searchlightand Smoke Launchers.
Exorcist
Besides the Rhino, Exorcists is the oldest vehicle in service to the Adepta Sororitas. The first Exorcists were produced in the Age of Apostasy on Mars, of which some from that period, known as the ‘Prioris’ pattern, still survived. These machines are highly venerated, although their Machine Spirits are known to be temperamental and require constant work and prayer. Each vehicle is regarded as a work of art, as much a symbol of the Emperor as a provider of long-range fire support. While other patterns exist, such as the ‘Sanctorum’ and ‘Dominica’, they are not held in as high esteem as the original vehicles, blessed from the nearby divine presence of the Emperor when they were constructed. Adepta Sororitas never gave their Exorcists to another Imperium faction, like the Imperial Guard and the Space Marines, in fear that the machine spirits of this holy weapon would be tainted by non-believers and incure the displeasure of the Emperor himself.
The ancient, arcane technology of the Exorcist launcher is only vaguely understood by the Techpriests of the Adeptus Mechanicus. The missiles themselves are armour-piercing explosives and capable of annihilating enemy tanks or destroying squads of heavy infantry in a single salvo (assuming the launcher does not malfunction). Though potent, to the Sisterhood its primary purpose is to serve as a divine symbol of the power and glory of the Ecclesiarchy and serve as a mobile shrine for the Sisters of Battle. Each one is hand-crafted and unique. They may also be upgraded with Blessed Ammunition, Dozer Blades, Extra Armour, a Holy Icon, a Hunter-killer Missile, Laud Hailers, Pintle-mounted Storm Bolter, a Searchlight and Smoke Launchers.
~ Let your faith be a flame in the darkness. With it, destroy the shadows.
