Hetaeron Guard Squad

"The Hataeron are with the Emperor. They alone see Him with mortal eyes. Once inducted into the brotherhood, they never leave His side. And so the first step is greatest. Take it, and witness the most profound sphere of duty."

- Tribune Heracleon, Adeptus Custodes Hataeron Guard

A Hataeron Guard Squad are a part of the elite inner circle of the Adeptus Custodes, known as the Hataeron Guard or the Companions of the Emperor. The Hataeron Guard serve as the Emperor's closest protectors, aides and in ancient times, confidants, leaving His side rarely but for the direst of circumstances. Since ancient times there has been only 300 of these elite Custodians that serve as the personal guard of the Emperor. They are charged with the eternal vigil over the the Emperor's Sanctum Imperialis chambers within the Imperial Palace at all times and are privileged to always be in His physical presence. Only now, with the destruction of the Fortress World of Cadia by Abaddon the Despoiler during the 13th Black Crusade, and the unleashing of the galaxy-wide warp rift known as the Cicatrix Maledictum and subsequent sundering the Imperium, have the Companions been charged with the unthinkable -- to leave His side and strike against those who would see the Master of Mankind dead.

Background
The Hataeron Guard serve as a part of the Hykanatoi, the main strength of the Adeptus Custodes which comprises this role at any given time. They are charged performing the role as the personal bodyguard of the Emperor and the executioners of any who would offer threat or opposition to His will. The Companions of the Emperor are the most skilled fighters among a force of warriors whose martial skills are already beyond human. During the earlier years of the Great Crusade, when the Emperor still walked amongst Mankind, the Hataeron were a regular feature upon the worlds deserving of His attention. Yet as His actions were turned elsewhere, His inner guard would follow too, becoming almost a myth in their absence. Originally, members of this elite cadre were selected individually for their service by the Master of Mankind Himself, but following his battle with the Warmaster Horus during the Battle of Terra and subsequent internment within the Golden Throne, they were chosen through prescient dreams believed to have been sent to one of their own by the God-Emperor Himself. Dreams did not mean the same to Custodians as they did to average mortals, for their minds were irrevocably changed by what they had become during their transformation into the elite guardians of the Emperor. Whatever purpose dreaming had for the mortal psyche was made redundant by their alteration.

But there were exceptions -- legendary ones. These prescient visions were spoken of carefully, reverently, for it was in the form of dreams, long ago, that His will was made most clearly manifested to the Custodians. There are accounts, written in arcane script and buried in the deepest vaults of the Inner Palace, that tell of detailed testimony from the oldest of Custodes' order, now all long dead. The greatest of them all -- Diocletian Exemplar, Thanassar, even Constanin Valdor himself -- were said to have had dreams in which knowledge was given.

The Companions were never more than three hundred strong. It was the highest honour to be chosen for duty within that brotherhood. There would be sacrifice, of course, but that counted as nothing besides the opportunity to serve in the most profound way imaginable.

Adeptus Custodes Hataeron Guard Squad Composition

 * 3-10 Hataeron Guard

Wargear

 * Guardian Spear
 * Misericordia
 * Custodes Armour
 * Refractor Field
 * Plasma & Krak Grenades

Optional Wargear

 * Melta Bombs
 * Arae-Shrikes
 * Teleportation Transponders
 * Sentinel Warblade
 * Solerite Power Gauntlet
 * Solerite Power Talon
 * Pyrithite Spear
 * Adrasite Spear
 * Paragon Blade

One member of the Hataeron Guard Squad may exchange their Guardian Spear for one of the following:
 * Magisterium Vexilla and a Master-Crafted Power Weapon
 * Magisterium Vexilla and Sentinel Warblade
 * Magisterium Vexilla and Praesidium Shield