Seraphim

"They appear upon the fi eld of battle, the suns are their halo’s and their arms are the Emperor’s judgement. I welcome their arrival as the number of executions I must perform decreases signifi cantly."

- Commissar Cadet Vectili

Even amongst the highly skilled warriors of the Orders Militant, some Battle Sisters prove themselves to be exceptionally talented. These are organised into Seraphim squads and the Seraphim Sister Superiors teach them the ancient fighting techniques which have been passed on down the millennia since the Daughters of the Emperor were founded. Using a mix of pistols, predominantly bolt pistols and hand flamers, the Seraphim act as the roving hitand-run specialists of the Sisterhood, hunting heretics from the air and punishing them up close. In order for a Battle Sister to be accepted into the ranks, they must display close combat aptitude and be experienced warriors. Being a Seraphim is a great honour in that they are often lauded as the heroes among heroes, the ‘saviours’ of a battle as they dispense the Emperor’s wrath from the heavens.

Open only to the Orders Militant, those who join the Seraphim exemplify the willingness of the Sisterhood to pursue heretics wherever they hide. Their mobility on the battlefield makes them one of the most deadly assets a Canoness has at her disposal. Even among the Sororitas, their tactics and training are considered impressive. The are schooled in the ancient skills of their order. This includes methods of unarmed warfare, armed hand-to-hand combat, and the use of sophisticated equipment such as jump packs. Most importantly of all, the Seraphim are taught co-ordination and control to fire two pistols at once. In combination with their jump packs, this skill is deadly and means the Seraphim can strike almost anywhere, hitting hard and fast before moving onto another target.

The sight of the Seraphim has a very powerful influence upon friendly troops who bear witness to them descending into battle, often described as a feeling of being protected by a higher power. The angelic profile given by their jump packs is reportedly an unexpected benefit, though some have speculated that it was intentionally designed millennia ago to boost the morale of the devout and to strike fear in the corrupt. Thousands of battle-weary troops have reported that when the Seraphim arrived, they felt their spirits rise and became newly emboldened to fight their enemies. Many division commanders in the early holy wars of the Calixis Sector were known to time their assaults to coincide with the appearance of the Seraphim. To date, few wars have been lost when the Seraphim have been present.

Becoming a Seraphim
Only the Sisters of Battle with a clarity of purpose and exceptional talent take on the mantle of the Seraphim. These women are implacable foes to those who would blaspheme against the Emperor or his Imperium, and fonts of inspiration to those fighting on the Emperor’s behalf. The sight of the “avenging angels” has on more than one occasion provided the needed boost of morale to PDF and Imperial Guard troops disheartened by battle losses or more arcane forces. While many aspire to stay in the ranks of the Seraphim, the need for trained leaders in other combat-ready squads often pulls away from the Sororitas’ ability to retain veteran sisters in these units. Seraphim assigned to act with acolytes of the Inquisition or to work with other servants of the Ecclesiarchy are often younger Battle Sisters whose zealous pursuit of the enemy within is not tempered by experience.

Seraphim in the Calixis Sector
Seraphim have traditionally been in short supply in the Calixis Sector due to the demand for them to fight in holy wars elsewhere in the Imperium. The Calixis Ecclesiarchy has placed great faith in the Frateris Militia to manage alone, but with holy wars brewing in Protasia and 47 Kapella, this issue may be revisited. Only two of the Orders Militant currently have ready Seraphim squads: the Order of the Bloody Rose and the Order of the Valorous Heart.