Actions of the Umathron Ur-Wodan Confederacy in the War of the False Primarch
Ultimatum
As the conflict between Partisan and Orthodoxy forces escalated to planetary level slash-and-burn campaigns and wanton genocide, and the front reached ever-closer to their Heliopolian Void home, the Umathron Ur-Wodan Confederacy determined that a stance on the war must be chosen.
A gathering of its Peer-representatives, drawn from all the allied and associated groups that made up the Confederacy, was convened upon Ochag Cya. There, fierce debate raged for a week. Always a dominant political grouping within the broader Confederacy, the full force of the Umathron’s political power was exerted into the tribunal of war. Ultimately the opposition – championed by the quietly Partisan-leaning Kurganians and supported by a number of other minor groups – was outmanoeuvred by the majority of the Confederacy, and the final result known well before the week's end. So was decided, and so was declared, the Ultimatum of Peace and Orthodoxy.
The Umathron-Ur Wodan Confederacy would cease all non-essential trade and mercantile activities during the conflict, and its full capability would instead be ceded to its military powers. Under its own direction, and beholden to none, it would fight until the Partisan cause was defeated.
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| [//Ochag Cya {chronident: 4.827.897.33M+] [//nathan_s/@natedungeon+] |
***
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| [//nathan_s/@natedungeon+] |
Military power
In the lead up to – and during – the Sorrowful Years, the Umathron built up their reserves and massively expanded their available fleet. While the void clans lacked true war vessels of significant displacement, their array of ships was large and possessed of extensive unusual strengths and capabilities. Their void-born instincts twinned with cultural inculcation and lives spent amongst the many environments and celestial phenomena of the Heliopolian Void made them an underdog to not be taken lightly – even for the Astartes.
Void clans' armies typically favoured rugged, simple, but effective weapons such as autoguns, shotguns and stubbers; supplementing them with the tools of their trade such as mining lasers, mole mortars – and even pickaxes. Their industrial power base, coupled with the high quality of material available to the Umathron, also allowed them to equip even their base clanners with armour, ammunition, and gear of all varieties made from adamantine, diamantine, uranium, and the fabled umathrite or 'nebula black' to which only the Umathron held the secret.
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| [//Umathron sapper team using a mole mortar mounted C.A.T. unit to harass Partisan convoys on the Rust Plateau of Teo Sentimental. + 7.496.812.33M +] [//nathan_s/@natedungeon+] |
The Umathron were selective in those outside of the Confederacy with whom they would operate. Most commonly they served as auxiliaries to the numberless regiments of the Imperial Guard or Naval forces, but they were also fielded in support of the Astartes Chapters of the Pentarchy Rose.
***
As a result of the ill-reputation founded on their numerous atrocities, the Umathron Clan-Regiments avoided, wherever possible, those conflicts that would site them alongside those Chapters that drew their lineage from distant holy Baal. Likewise, the Red Talons saw them as little better than bait.
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| [//Alliances with the Red Talons were ill-favoured amongst the Confederacy forces owing to disproportionately large casualty figures.+] [//almir_h/@count.hodo+] |
They did, however, find a close operational rapport with the Death Eagles (II), to whom the Confederacy offered a large auxiliary force who were more reliable, capable, or simply more manoeuvrable than the greater mass of the Extinction Fleets. The lumbering, grinding mass of the Imperial Guard and Navy were slow to shift their crushing inertia, while the hordes of the Ecclesiarchy were wildly unpredictable.
The void clans of Heliopolis were none of these. Independent, knowledgeable, and reliable, they were the perfect ally for the balanced and adaptable Chapter – most notably helping to prevent the defeat on Cmit Black from becoming a rout.
***
Deployment
Whether alone or in combined operations, their primary role was the harassment of Partisan supply lines. Their capabilities in void faring made them a constant nuisance – or, at other times, a dangerous predator that would broker no mercy. Umathron fleets would operate attacking from ambush, or in support of larger militarized fleets. One ship would engage at close range, take a bite out of its target, and continue past disengaging as another came in from a different vector. Their strategy was to hinder supply lines by bleeding as many ships as possible bit by bit, and whenever possible fully engaging and claiming possession of vessels, or if necessary, their sundered carcass. If their profit would be hurt, they would do everything in their power to recoup what this schism had cost them.
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| [//The infamous Riven Lords ship, the Arhunt's Gavel, which became a totem of the Partisan forces near Wegerer Space, was encountered four times by the Umathron Ur-Wodan Confederacy during the war. The Riven Lords and Void Barons – both experts at void-warfare – were the Partisans' counter to the Confederacy's strengths.+] [//cole_c/@sharkamanderminis+] |
Using void hardened pressure suits the Umathron would board ships interior, and exterior. Instead of seeking the command deck, or main engine room, they would seek out secondary systems. It doesn’t matter if communication, and command operate or the lights are working when purified air ceases, loss of pressure/gravity, or antenna cease to function effectively blinding the ship. The void suits also allowed them some degree of durability when boarding the more dangerous astartes vessels.
'Slippery things, were the Umathron. Tidy enough in a brawl – just don't play cards with 'em. Or leave 'em to look after your coat. Best, in fact, to keep one eye on 'em.'
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| [//Riven Lords clash with Umathron Ur-Wodan forces in a counter-assault+] [//mikl/@duckcalledsue+] |
The Umathron also used their geological knowledge as a vital tool in bleeding Partisan resources, and infrastructure. This was where they made the most renown for themselves in non-void operations. As sappers, and saboteurs their reputation was notable as while not elite trained kill teams their results in the right environment were not arguable. Through use of mole mortars, high load industrial lasers, and shape charges all forms of infrastructure, roads, rail lines, bridges, and dams were routinely wrecked. The work could be done at a distance, or if close work was necessary, done at an industrious pace.
While not as widespread amongst the century long conflict as the Umathron were, the myriad forces of Ur-Wodan comprised the strongest of the Confederacy’s armed forces.
'From very capable bondsmen, and the mechanical legions one would expect of a world dedicated to the cult of Mars. To the esoteric power of the ruling electro cult, and it’s oath bond knight household. The military power of Ur-Wodan was more often heavily deployed to large scale events such as the battles on Coldforge, Rust Plateau, and the Machinedeath on Null. The further identity or task of the pictured subjects is unknown.'
[//Remarks, Cassar Illiatauri of the Chamber Borealis+]
There was continuous tension with some within the Orthodoxy that began before the Confederacy had entered the war. The void clans made the best of the increasing conflict quickly by claiming salvage rites whenever possible irregardless of loyalties. While primarily void craft, it spread to terrestrial equipment, and infrastructure as the war escalated into its final stages.
***
Privateers
'Pirates. Nothing better than jackals. Worse, for jackals lack the gall to ransom your craft back to you.'
[//Admiral Vanti+]
The group gained an ill reputation for their privateering activities with the backing of Orthodoxy command. They would waylay vessels and confiscate vast sums of cargo, primarily between the bustling warp routes along Coldforge, Moreaumunda, and Lark’s Opus, and spirit it away to the orbital city of Tezhotl. The brooding presence of supporting Death Eagles II picket vessels usually gave a lustre of officialdom to the 'requisition', though owing to the lack of records, it seems little reparation found its way back to its original owner once the war had ended.
The Umathron would thus come to be referred to by some as the vulture clans, the void vultures, carrion confederacy amongst other still less complimentary terms.
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| [//In contrast to their strained relations with other Orthodox forces, the mercenary Umathron found operations alongside the Death Eagles II almost congenial; the Chapter's Codex Astartes-led modus operandi helping to coordinate Astartes and human operations. + [//matt_t/@spacedhulk+] |
***
Throughout the rising hostilities as the Confederacy entered the war It made itself recognized. While ultimately a minuscule proportion of the strength of the Orthodoxy, the crossover of its power of commerce and industry wielded as weapon, coupled with its primary military power of the Wodan techno barbarian tribes, and electro-cults made them a unique power in the conflict.
Perhaps most importantly, the Wodan had access to a relative glut of Navigators – a critical resource that Volnoscere's actions had made scarce.
The Umathron would not let the war hinder their entrepreneurial drive. Salvage, and what amounted to tacitly sanctioned piracy became the clans' primary mode of enterprise. Though they could be fierce fighters, devotion and revenge were not their drivers: profit was always the primary focus.
Whether fighting, as the majority did, alongside the Orthodoxy, or in support of the Partisans, they would not be drawn in to the idealism of the Primarch. With neither the fervour of the Ecclesiarchical demagogues, and their mobs not devotion to the High Lords, the Umathron void clans simply fought to survive – and profit.
***
Disposition during the War of the False Primarch
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| [//Umathron clansmen along side their ATLA rover. Initially operating as scouts for the Red Talons vanguard on Null, the Umathron were later redeployed to escort a Legio Validus maniple during the great march. +] [//nathan_s/@natedungeon+] |
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| [//An Umathron Ur-Wodan Confederacy mining town comes under attack from Partisan forces during Operation Gauntlet. {chronident: 6.369.805.33M}+] [//nathan_s/@natedungeon+] |
Post-Null
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| [//Harrower Gyrwain of the Gilded Arm+] [//thrones_arcane+] |