![]() The Armies of the 41st Millennium |
The Adeptus Ministorum, or Ecclesiarchy as it is commonly known, is the official church of the Imperium. This massive organization is dedicated to spreading the worship and veneration of the Emperor as a living god throughout the galaxy. Founded by the fanatical Fatidicus, the Adeptus Ministorum continues to preach the edicts and ideals of the Imperial Creed wherever Imperial citizens may thrive. Transgressions against the church are considered heresy and no sin is too small to be punished in the dark future of the 41st Millennium. For nearly ten thousand years, the Ecclesiarchy has guided and focused the faith of countless billions of Imperial citizens. Through the efforts of its Missionaries, Preachers, and Confessors, it has ensured the continued worship of the Emperor as a divine being which holds the very fabric of Imperial society together. THE SISTERHOOD The Battle Sisters of the Orders Militant make up the military arm of the Ecclesiarchy. Made up entirely of warrior women, the Sisters of Battle are utterly dedicated to the protection of the Imperium from any threat. Trained from birth and equipped to the highest standards, these zealous servants of the Ministorum can be found fighting alongside other Imperial armies or pursuing their own Wars of Faith across the galaxy.
The bulk of the Sisters of Battle army is formed of Battle Sisters squads whose deep faith in the Imperial Cult provides them with the steadfast determination they need to combat any foes whether they be alien heathens or apostate humans.
In addition to eradicating threats from outside the Ministorum, Sisterhood forces are often employed as an internal policing force within the Ecclesiarchy. Woe be unto the Cardinal or Confessor who strays from path of the Emperor's grace as these steel-willed warrior women can easily remove any church official from power on their own or combined with the mailed fist of the Imperial Guard.
Sisters of Battle armies also contain other units which fulfill various tactical roles on the battlefield. Among these are Retributor Heavy Weapon Squads, the lightning-fast Seraphim, and the heretic melting might of the Immolator Tank.
Those Battle Sisters who show exceptional talent for close combat are inducted into the assault squads of the Seraphim. Here they begin to receive the intense hand-to-hand combat training that will turn them into the avenging angels of the battlefield. What makes them so feared is that they are equipped with jumppacks and two bolt pistols! While most assault troops are armed with a pistol and close combat weapon, the veritable hail of fire the Seraphim can produce is truly staggering.
The reliability, well-armored protection, and speed of the Rhino Armored Personnel Carrier (commonly referred to a Rhino) has led to its adoption as the transport vehicle of choice for both the Adepta Sororitas and Space Marine armies. The ability to transport up to ten Battle Sisters across rapidly and with relative safety makes this stalwart tank the perfect vehicle for deploying troops all across the battlefield. Whether it is transporting the slow moving Retributor squads into position, or moving the Battle Sister cadres to the front lines, the Rhino has served the Sisters of Battle well. A variation of the Rhino which is only used by Sisters of Battle armies is the inferno-spewing Immolator (shown above). Armed with a twin heavy flamer weapon pod known as the Inferno Cannon, one blast from this massive weapon is enough to send even the bravest troops running for cover. In addition the Immolator can also transport six Battle Sisters in its cargo bay, giving this fearsome vehicle a unit-shattering one-two punch that few others can withstand. |