Mustering for Vigilus: Medge's Adeptus Mechanicus, End of Month 2

The war was not going well...

Tech Priest Dominos Viir was everywhere and nowhere, his consciousness spread thin across the noospheric web surrounding the hidden Mechanicum facility on Kaelec's Bane. By his calculation it had been 75.8624 solar cycles since the enemy <Designation: Worldclaimer, Haarken> had proclaimed the coming of the Arch-Heretic <Designation: Abaddon, Colloquial: "The Despoiler"> to Vigilus. In that time he had received input telemetry from 62,128 individual Skitarii from across Kealec Bane; the constant stream of information his shield against the hordes of the enemy <Designation: Black Legion>. 

Of these 62,128 Skitarii units, he had been forced to take direct control of 72%, forcing them into engagements their usual subroutines would see them avoid or pushing their mechanical systems to operate after their biological systems had ceased function. 

Of those 62,128 he had lot approximately 89% over the course of the war. The death toll mattered not, but the inability to reclaim both the biological and technological material was frustrating (or would have been had the Tech Priest allowed himself to keep such an emotion). Viir had already had to re-purpose 68% of the salvage servitors to battle constructs, and was likely to require more in the coming days. 

Advanced reconnaissance by his long ranging Dragoon squadrons, coupled with the historical research programs he had enabled, suggested some Xenos technology was hidden out in the icefields. The Tech Magi of Pitar Tertius were no strangers to Xeno-tech, and Viir calculated the technology was likely of <Designation: Aeladari> origin; one of their so-called Webway protocols. Viir made a note to check the archives for prior evidence of Webway use by the Heretic forces when he could spare the processing power, and redirected his attention to the War; he could not allow himself to be distracted now. It was not going well...

A noospheric burst from Skitarii Ranger unit OVR-447 signified the enemy forces were readying for another attack, and Viir directed a portion of his conscious to the field of battle.
Astartes warriors in archaic and mismatched armour tore across the icefields, bellowing chants to the Dark Gods. Viir split his mind across the Skitarii units arrayed for battle; Vanguard units hurled blasts of plasma and arcs of lighting into the foe, Ranger units moved to the flanks and poured fire into the enemy from range whilst designated sniper specialists identified likely high-priority targets for neutralisation, Onagar Dunecrawlers braced against rock and steel and sent neutron blasts, eradication beams and streams of bullets and missiles into the advancing enemy lines.

Taking in the scene Viir calculated the odds of success... they were too low to risk. He pulsed a binaric command across the noosphere and pulled his attention back from the front - success was now guaranteed.

*****

Vanguard Alpha RU-3NR rose from the trench-cover and sent a stream of shots into the onrushing foe, his squad moving in perfect unison and adding more radium shells and plasma to his fusillade. A mob of black-clad Astartes fell. RU-3NR allowed himself to feel a moments pleasure - the burst of emotion would displace the Tech Priests, he thought, but it was one of the few elements of his humanity he wished to keep... the flesh was weak, but emotion could be useful, he mused.
A heavy thud shock the ice-trench, and RU-3NR's momentary burst of emotion was forgotten as a beast of flesh and iron came rearing forward. A creature of nightmare, and a blasphamy against the Omnissiah, the thing lumbered forward on eight mechanical legs, it's bulbous fleshy body sat atop it's mechanical legs. In one hand it held a colossal sword, it's other ended in a mechanical claw. The creature turned it's flesh head towards the trench and began to race towards it's new-found prey, sickly green pus drooling from it's mouth.

The Skitarii poured fire into the creature to no effect. RU-3NR ducked into the cover of the trench and gave one final blessing to the Omnissiah as he prepared to meet his end.

A war horn blared from behind the trench line and twin suns of fire burst across the creature's hide, searing deep holes in it's chest. 

The nightmare beast reared onto it's hind legs in pain as two more beams of fire tore across it, and the trench shook as a deep engine rumble cut through the din of battle.

A shadow passed over the trenchline, and RU-3NR looked up in time to see a Knight Gallant, resplendent in Emerald and white, bury it's Chainsword in the beasts chest and tear it to shreds.

Flanking the Noble Gallant strode two Armiger Warglaives, their thermal cannons steaming in the cold; squires accompanying the noble Knight.

As the Gallant and her companions finished the nightmare beast yet more explosions ripped through the enemy lines; fire and ice blasting in all directions. RU-3NR looked back through the imperial line to see another Knight, Crusader Class, braced and spitting death across the field of battle. It's gun-barrels glowed red-hot as high velocity shells and explosive ordnance poured from their mouths. 

Reinforcements had come to bolster the Mechanicum lines; the Knights of House Esmaral had arrived!

*****

Yes that's right. This month see's the forces of the Imperial Knights ride to war in defense of Vigilus. It's been a really impressive month for me as I've been able to complete not one, not two, but two and a half Imperial Knights!! (The half, of course, being an Armiger)

So please welcome the loyal sons and daughters of House Esmaral

These models actually represent a significant dent in my backlog too, all part of my #BashtheBacklog challenge!
The Armiger on the far right was painted a few months ago (after the release of Forgebane), with the second Armiger and the two Knight (both from the Imperial Knights: Renegade box) having sat for a while on sprue before this challenge helped me give them life.

I see the Knight Gallant, Baroness Laurel Verde, and the two Helverins operating as a pseudo-squad; the Baroness is quick to anger and so rides the most aggressive Knight chassis to War. Given her status she rides with two Knight Aspirants (the Squires 'Honest' Karl and Dallia) at her heels, providing her with some much needed protection but also allowing younger Knights to learn from one of the house's greatest pilots.

Laurel's shield bears her personal colours (dark green and white quarters) emblazoned with the green gemstone of House Esmaral atop a sword signifying her rank of Kingsword - Slayer of Tyrants.

Her Squires both show her personal colours on the shoulders to signify their place at her left- and right-hand  

King Mathius Esmaral rides to war in a Knight Crusader, favouring the long-range offered by Crusader as it allows him the best tactical view of the battlefield

Mathius's shield is emblazoned with his personal colours (red and white) and the Esmaral gemstone topped with a crown, illustrating his position as High King.

All knights also show their allegiance to Pitar Tertius by showing counter-changed purple/ white motif on their leg-plates and rear left shoulder

The right shoulder is emblazed with the half-cog on a field of red to denote their allegiance to the Adeptus Mechanicus as a whole, and the cradle-world of Mars

I've also added a few extra little embellishments to show allegiance to different factions, including a half-winged teardrop on a field of red to show their allegiance to my Blood Angels (my older 40k army)

Knight Gallant Mathius Esmaral also wears the Ultima on his right knee to show his allegiance to the Ultramarines forces fighting on Vigilus (after Neils army)

Both Mathius and Laurel wear custom tabbards.

Mathius's tabbard is black timmed in red, and shows the crowned gem of his office along with the words "Coronam Gemma Imperium Nihlus" or The Crown Jewel of the Dark Imperium

Laurel's tabbard, a simple dark green, shows crossed swords, the Esmaral Gemstone and a message in support of Vigilus.

I've also painted a freehand logo for the household on the right shoulder - the Esmaral Gem in a cog on a field of white-purple.

And on Mathius I've tried my hand at some heat bloom on the weapon barrels 

Overall... I think it's evident I really pushed myself with these guys. It's been a LONG time since I've tackled a massive project like this and I'm super pleased I did because personally I think they look awesome!

Last month I took a little trip to Warhammer World and picked up the Skitarii upgrade kit for the Securatii Hoplites. This month I plan on building up and painting those units because they look amazing! If I get time I'll also try and push through some Sicarian Infiltrators (some models from the box I bought at Christmas to start the project)

Those likely won't keep me too busy, so I imagine I'll make some headway on some other mini's too. Let's see what March brings!