Valhallan Ice Warriors

"As inexorable as the winter cold, as ruthless as the bitter frost, as certain as death—the Valhallans fight only for victory and the Emperor. All else is but a prelude."

- Colonel Kasteen of the 597th Valhallan Ice Warriors Regiment

The Valhallan Ice Warriors are the famous Imperial Guard regiments which hail from the frozen and desolate Ice World of Valhalla located in the Segmentum Ultima. The Valhallan Ice Warriors have a long and glorious history of victories against the Orks and other enemies of the Imperium. Famed as some of the toughest regiments ever deployed by the Imperial Guard, these grim and tenacious troops never retreat and refuse to surrender. They are particularly successful at cold weather combat and are often used by the Imperium when a campaign of attrition must be fought on an Ice World that is similar in climate to their frigid homeworld or when an operation involves combat against Orks.

History
The desolate Ice World of Valhalla is the birthplace of the famously valiant Imperial Guard regiments known as the Valhallan Ice Warriors. Located in the Segmentum Ultima, Valhalla was once a verdant paradise. However, the planet's destiny was a harsh one -- not long before the end of the Age of Strife, a rogue comet entered into a collision course with Valhalla's surface. The planet's defence lasers fired at the comet, but only succeeded in breaking it up. Later, it was found that the comet was made of almost pure iron, explaining why the large defence lasers had proved so ineffective. The comet impacted in Valhalla's vast planetary ocean, but a mile-wide fragment impacted the northern continent, creating vast plumes of dust which proceeded to cover the planet in a blanket of dirt. To make matters worse, the planet's orbit was altered by the ferocity of the impact, moving it on a course that forced it into a new orbit farther from its sun. This change in the amount of incoming warmth and light altered Valhalla's ecosystem permanently, reshaping the planet into an icy wasteland. The Valhallan people struggled to survive in this new environment, fearing famine due to a lack of viable farmland, until they carved out new homes for themselves in massive subterranean caverns deep beneath the ice.

Unfortunately, this was not the end of Valhalla's troubles. The comet strike had been a catastrophe, but was not to be the end of the Valhallan people's suffering. Not long after the comet strike, a damaged Ork warfleet descended on the planet and proceeded to fight the Valhallans for every gram of the precious food they had stored. The Valhallans held out bravely for a long time in their vast hive cities beneath the ice but were ultimately pushed right back to the food vats. Eventually they destroyed the Orks by using ice boring machines to strategically strike at the heart of the mob, burning and melting most of the Orks and scattering the rest. Even this Greenskin invasion proved unable to blunt the Valhallans' indomitable spirit. Their grim refusal to surrender, despite overwhelming opposition, had won them a historic, if bloody victory. After destroying the Ork invaders on their own world, Valhallan Planetary Defence Force regiments, in an act of vengeance, joined with other Imperial Guard armies to cleanse their sector of the hated Greenskin menace. The Guard proved so impressed with the combat ability of the Valhallans that the Departmento Munitorum soon turned to Valhalla as a prime source of new Imperial Guard regiments. After being raised as Imperial Guardsmen themselves, the Valhallans continued to display the same stoic determination that they had shown in defence of the ice-cities of their own homeworld. To this day, the courage and tenacity of the Valhallans in battle continue to earn them the respect and admiration of other regiments from all over the galaxy.

Word of Ice
Valhallans stubbornly refuse to acknowledge their hardships, but their world is not a forgiving one. In the wake of the comet strike and the subsequent Ork invasion, life on the planet of Valhalla has only flourished underground. The population of Valhalla exists entirely in vast subterranean caverns carved out from the rock and ice beneath the planet’s surface, warmed by the planetary core. These underground habitats are woefully overcrowded, packed with citizens so thickly that human life on Valhalla is considered inconsequential and cheap. To sustain the peoples' hunger, nutrient slime is cultivated on the cavern walls by generations of ceaseless toil and sacrifice. Due to the overcrowded conditions within the subterranean habitats on Valhalla, life is considered cheap. Even the most petty crime carries with it the harshest of sentences: death. Only those citizens who volunteer for the Imperial Guard escape such an existence, but such service is considered an honour. The Valhallans have a long and proud history as a prime source of providing regiments for the Departmento Munitorum, and many regiments of Valhallan Ice Warriors have earned considerable renown for their heroism and steadfast refusal to given in when lesser soldiers would surrender and lesser regiments would collapse beneath the weight of their impending doom.

Over the millennia, the Guardsmen of Valhalla have fought for the Emperor across thousands of worlds. Their steadfast valour and casual disregard for their own lives has built a legend that inspires countless citizens across the Imperium. Stern and uncompromising, the Valhallan Ice Warriors are valued and admired by many Imperial Guard officers in need of reliable troops. Often, the Valhallan Ice Warriors are deployed in warzones infested with Orks in order to take advantage of the regiments' intimate knowledge of Ork tactics and to channel the troopers undying hatred for the Greenskins who invaded their home so long ago. Similarly, Valhallans are commonly positioned where their dogged resolve can bolster surrounding allies and hold the line where other armies might fall back when faced with certain death.

Valhallan Ice Warriors in the Spinward Front
Valhallan regiments in the Spinward Front are commonly placed into warzones where their experience fighting Orks can be best employed. Additionally, Lord Marshal Ghanzorik seems to favour the Valhallan's fighting style, and the Ice Warriors have often been deployed into battlefields with the harshest environmental conditions. The Ice Warriors have made planetstrikes on Maesa and have suppressed a mutant uprising on Sisk, but many of the Valhallan senior officers believe that Ghanzorik's future plans for the regiment involve a direct strike at Avitohol. Given the failure of the last assault on that world, it is very likely that the Valhallans will simply be one part of a much larger attack force, but there is a sense of quiet pride amongst the Valhallan Ice Warriors that they would be considered for the honour of taking the fight to Grimtoof himself. These formations are generally concentrated into large batteries of heavy artillery -- usually Basilisks and Manticores -- supported and defended by robust infantry forces. Several Ministorum priests from the Calixian synod have joined with the Valhallan order of battle, and the Ice Warriors consider themselves blessed to face the Orks and the Severan Dominate well supported by the Imperial Creed.

Notable Campaigns

 * Defence of Valhalla (Unknown Date.M31) - When the Orks invaded the frozen world of Valhalla, the 222nd Valhallan Regiment was quickly formed and soon proved instrumental in the valiant defence of their homeworld. It has remained in continuous service for almost 10,000 standard years, providing it one of the deepest regimental cultures and histories in the entire Imperial Guard.
 * Soldane Campaign (Unknown Date.M38) - The 93rd Valhallan Regiment fought in the Imperial campaign on the world of Soldane sometime during the 38th millennium.
 * Defence of Corania (931.M41) – The Tyranids attacked the Imperial world of Corania without warning, forcing every Imperial Guard regiment on the planet to resist ferociously for nearly a year before a fleet from the Imperial Navy, the Valhallan 296th and 301st Regiments and several companies drawn from both the Swords of the Emperor and the Reclaimers Space Marine Chapters turned the tide. The remnants of both Valhallan regiments were later merged to form the 597th Valhallan Regiment.
 * Defence of Cressida (Unknown Date.M41) - The 319th Valhallan Regiment was part of the Imperial force that responded to the invasion of the Imperial world of Cressida by the Forces of Chaos. They formed the rearguard when the planet was evacuated prior to being virus-bombed.
 * Eastlight Nebula Wars (Unknown Date.M41) - The 1212th Valhallan Regiment, the "Cold Bloods" was raised for service during the Eastlight Nebula Wars, but the regiment's first battle was amongst its last. With their supply and logistics lines overstretched, only one in every three Guardsmen in the 1212th were issued a Lasgun. Their first mission saw a forced-march across the frozen and toxic wastelands of Triox against a larger force of Traitors. Despite their cold-weather survival skills, only half the Ice Warriors made it across the plains to assault the Traitors' flank. Once again displaying the sheer tenacity of the Ice Warriors, many of the Valhallan Guardsmen recovered weapons from the fallen and in the end decisively defeated the enemy forces.
 * Sallan's World Campaign (Unknown Date.M41) - The 8th Valhallan Armoured Regiment is known to have fought in the Imperial campaign on Sallan's World.
 * Gravalax Incident (Unknown Date.M41) - The 14th Valhallan Armoured Regiment took part in the Gravalax Incident under the command of Lord General Zyvan.
 * Adhara Campaign - Retreat to the Auriga Parallel (Unknown Date.M41) - The 28th Valhallan Armoured Regiment is known to have taken part in the Retreat to the Auriga Parallel during the Imperial campaign on the Ice World of Adhara.
 * Defence of Canaan's World (Unknown Date.M41) - The 193rd Valahallan Armoured Regiment took part in the Imperial campaign during the Defence of Canaan's World.
 * Siege of Kotrax (Unknown Date.M41) - The dour and obstinate Commander Kubrik Chenkov's actions during the year-long Siege of Korax bring about a swift, if bloody, end to the conflict when he assumes command of an Imperial battle group and orders the Imperial Guard regiments to storm a heavily defended citadel without armoured support or dedicated siege weapons. The conflict cost ten million Imperial Guardsmen their lives but Chenkov received the High Merit of the High Lords for his achievements in liberating Kotrax in such a short span of time.
 * Battle of Goyan Valley (996.M41) - Under their stern taskmaster Commander Chenkov, the Valhallan 18th Regiment, the "Tundra Wolves," wipe out the vanguard of Hive Fleet Jormungandr at Goyan Valley. The swarms of the Tyranids are crushed under the metal treads of Chenkov's armoured brigades and the thundering boots of over a million Guardsmen, driven into the xenos horde by ruthless Commissars.
 * Defence of M'khan (997.M41) - The Valhallan 812th Regiment defended the Imperial Forge World of M'khan from the siege of the Iron Warriors Traitor Legion. Though they sustained heavy casualties, they ultimately achieved an Imperial victory.
 * Emrah Campaign (997.M41) - During the campaign on the world of Emrah, the mysterious Emrah battle-fortress is reactivated by forces unknown. Under Commander Chenkov's command, platoons of Valhallan Guardsmen were ordered to draw enemy fire, to prevent the valued demolition crews attempting to breach the Emrah battle-fortress from being discovered. However, the 1st Army Group's wave is ultimately annihilated. Cadian super-heavy detachments are recalled from the Vidar System to lead the second wave and engage the threat.
 * Ksatella Campaign (997.M41) - The infamous Valhallan Commander Chenkov orders the flushing out of the Chaos Renegades that infest the Fortress World of Ksatella. He eventually secures victory only after the bodies of the millions of men he has sent to their death clog up the River Vitus, poisoning the planet's principal water supply.
 * 13th Black Crusade (999.M41) - When Abaddon the Despoiler and his Forces of Chaos launched the 13th Black Crusade in 999.M41, the 54th Valhallan Regiment answered the call to arms to defend the Cadian Gate from the massive Chaos incursion.

Regimental Organisation
"The Valhallans hate the cold as much as the rest of us, they're just taught that carpin' on about it gets the Commissars all riled..."

- Mosstrooper 'Riev' Daggat of the 17th Drookan Fenguard after serving alongside a regiment of Valhallan Ice Warriors

Through combating Orks in the defence of their homeworld, the Valhallans have become adept at fighting Greenskins, and are often deployed to fight those Imperial conflicts where this talent for killing Orks can be best put to use. The Ice Warriors are stoic and unwavering when on the defensive, resolutely holding their ground against fearful odds when most other human troops would consider it a good idea to flee. Enemies have often found that Valhallan defending forces need to be completely destroyed to capture the held ground. Valhallans are trained to fight in dense formations to support their morale. When on the offensive, Valhallans combine massed artillery barrages with follow-on infantry wave assaults. The morale of regiments is often backed up by attached Adeptus Ministorum priests. All Valhallans are equipped with standard-issue Imperial Guard Lasguns and Flak Armour but certain Guardsmen in the Valhallan Regiments are armed with special or heavy weapons. The uniforms of the Valhallan Ice Warriors are made to endure the rigours of colder climates, and include heavy great coats as part of the ensemble. Valhallan infantrymen favour the use of Flamers and Mortars in combat.

Training
On the attack, Valhallan regiments often combine furious barrages of artillery with wave after wave of stoically advancing infantry. Many Valhallan officers, such as the famous Commander Chenkov, have expertly used these tactics to grind the enemy down and wrest victory from even the most hardened of objectives. In defence, Ice Warrior regiments are known for stubbornly fighting to the last man. Many Valhallan regiments incorporate Ministorum Priests into their order of battle, relying upon pre-combat blessings and exhortations of valour in the Emperor's name to bolster their righteous hatred of the foe.

Valhallan Ice Warriors Wargear
The Ice Warrior regiments are renowned for their ability to survive and fight even in harsh extremes of climate. Each Valhallan warrior is issued a thermally-insulated greatcoat and helmet, gear that is absolutely necessary to survive the harsh arctic surface of their home world. From canteens to extra articles of clothing (such as socks and scarves), the Valhallan Guardsman is expected to carry into battle every last item he may need to survive. The Departmento Munitorum has kept the Valhallan Ice Warriors regiments well-supplied with such wargear, and it is very rare for Valhallan troops to face an environment for which they are not at least marginally prepared. Additionally, the Valhallan battle tanks and artillery units commonly use camouflage patterns suited to the frozen tundra their home planet to paint the hulls of their vehicles. The Valhallan regiments' pride does not end there, either -- the name of their home world is placed reverently onto the surface of each vehicle to identify its origin.

The following is the standard regimental kit carried by troopers of the Valhallan Ice Warriors:
 * M36 Lasgun - The Lasgun can be produced in a multitude of different styles and patterns and can be found on almost every world of the Imperium. The M36 Pattern is one of the most ubiquitous variants of the Lasgun in use by the Imperial Guard across the galaxy. The Valhallans' weapons are adapted to extreme cold weather conditions.
 * 4 Charge Packs - Charge Packs are powerful capacitor batteries used almost exclusively by Imperial laser weapons. The Charge Pack's size and make varies depending on the class of the weapon. In all cases, it provides shots equal to the weapon's full clip value and can be recharged when emptied.
 * 2 Frag Grenades - Frag Grenades use a combustible charge and special fillers of shrapnel fragments which make them potent anti-personnel weapons. Imperial Frag Grenades are roughly the size of a clenched fist and covered with a heavily notched shell, both to increase the shrapnel produced and provide a more secure grip for throwing.
 * 2 Krak Grenades - Krak Grenades have powerful concentrated explosives designed to punch holes in armoured targets such as vehicles or bunkers. While stronger than Frag Grenades, Krak Grenade detonations do not produce a blast effect and their more focused explosion makes them less practical for use as anti-personnel weapons.
 * Flak Armour - The most common type of armour used by Imperial Guard forces is Flak Armour, and it is standard-issue combat gear to the countless millions of Imperial Guardsmen who fight on the Emperor's behalf across the galaxy. Many layers of ablative and impact absorbent material go into making each suit, enough to deflect or negate most low-level attacks such as small arms, shrapnel, and proximity blasts. Solid hits from high impact weapons can generally negate it, but given that it is relatively lightweight, cheap to produce, and dependable in most combat situations, many veterans keep using it even when offered something better.
 * Combat Knife - This one-handed melee implement is the ubiquitous back-up weapon for warriors all across the Imperium, be they lowly hive scum or the elite soldiers of a Planetary Governor. Some, such as the Catachan Fighting Knife, are designed for a specific purpose, whilst others are more generic in nature.
 * Valhallan Ice Warriors Imperial Guard Uniform - Each Guardsman raised from Valhalla is equipped with a thermally-insulated greatcoat and helmet. Their greatcoats are often worn buckled up to the neck, and a similarly thermally-insulated helmet with flaps is secured to protect the soldier's neck and ears from the environment. Additional fatigues include a basic set of trousers and an undershirt, although specifics vary between regiments. These items are signature kit for the regiments, and a Valhallan would go to great lengths to secure his greatcoat and helmet rather than go without. Given the harsh environment of their home world, it is likely that Ice Warriors consider losing either item as an eventual sentence of death. The thermal insulants for both items render the wearer nearly immune to the elements commonly encountered by Imperial Guardsmen.
 * Respirator - A simple breathing mask that covers the nose and mouth or entire face, these offer much better protection than filtration plugs and are used by the troops of the Ice Warriors in toxic environments or during attacks by chemical or even biological weapons.
 * Poor Weather Gear
 * Rucksack
 * Basic Toolkit
 * Mess Kit & Water Canteen
 * 2 week's Rations
 * Blanket & Sleeping Bag
 * Rechargeable Lamp Pack - Sturdy and reliable, glow-globes illuminate many an Imperial paveway and cathedral. Most portable ones are roughly the size of a clenched fist and can shine strong, yellowish light a dozen or so metres in width, lasting roughly five hours before their power pack needs recharging or replacing.
 * Grooming Kit
 * Dog Tags
 * Imperial Infantryman's Uplifting Primer - A standard-issue Imperial text that covers a vast variety of topics, this book is possessed by all members of the Imperial Guard as part of their standard-issue equipment. The Primer is a basic guide that details everything a Guardsman needs to know: principles and regulations of the Imperial Guard, issued arms, attire, apparatus, and equipment, basic battlefield policy and Imperial Guard organisation and structure, elementary battlefield medical instructions, and a detailed guide on the foes of the Imperium. No Guardsman should ever be found without possession of a copy of the Uplifting Primer for the punishment is severe.

Infantry Regiments

 * 18th Valhallan Regiment, "Tundra Wolves" - At its founding strength, the 18th Valhallan "Tundra Wolves" Regiment consisted of over 120,000 Guardsmen.
 * 23rd Valhallan Regiment - The 23rd Valhallan are known to wear steppe fatigues and are often deployed to service on worlds characterised by large swathes of grasslands and other steppe terrain.
 * 28th Valhallan Regiment - Formerly commanded by the brilliant Colonel Scheja, the 28th Valhallan was seconded to the famous Inquisitor Hector Rex during the Judgement of Hellanus, an operation which made Colonel Scheja's reputation and catapulted him from a mere prospect as the regimental commander of the Valhallan 28th into the upper ranks of the Imperial Guard's overall command structure.
 * 54th Valhallan Regiment - The 54th Valhallan Regiment is known to have fought against the Forces of Chaos during the 13th Black Crusade in 999.M41.
 * 93rd Valhallan Regiment - The 93rd Valhallan Regiment fought in the Soldane Campaign in the 38th Millennium.
 * 222nd Valhallan Regiment - The 222nd Valhallan Regiment was first formed during the Ork invasion of Valhalla and proved instrumental in the valiant defence of their homeworld. It has remained in continuous service for almost 10,000 standard years, providing it one of the deepest regimental cultures and histories in the entire Imperial Guard.
 * 296th/301st Valhallan Regiment - The Valhallan 296th and 301st Regiments both fought with the Reclaimers and the Swords of the Emperor Space Marine Chapters against the Tyranids at Corania and later merged to form the 597th Valhallan Regiment.
 * 319th Valhallan Regiment - The 319th Valhallan Regiment was part of the Imperial force that responded to the invasion of the Imperial world of Cressida by the Forces of Chaos. They formed the rearguard when the planet was evacuated prior to being virus-bombed.
 * 442nd Valhallan Regiment - The Valhallan 442nd is a relatively fresh arrival in the Spinward Front, having fought with distinction alongside numerous other Imperial Guard forces during the final liberation of the planet Volistadt from Ork invaders. As hardened veterans of the bitter combat on Volistadt, it was expected that the Valhallans would be assigned to a reserve force rather than being thrown immediately back into the front lines. However, the outbreak of WAAAGH! Grimtoof heralded a new requirement for Imperial Guardsmen, and so the 442nd Ice Warriors were assigned to spearhead an assault on the world of Maesa. The Valhallan's objective was to secure vital strategic locations and relieve other forces badly needed in other warzones. Unfortunately, the Ice Warriors suffered a number of setbacks during their first assault, as organisation failed at nearly every level. The Valhallans were forced to fall back in confusion until their higher officers could restore proper discipline and order. A shocking revelation uncovered the reason behind these incidents; it was soon discovered that several squads in the regiment had been infiltrated by shapechanging aliens of unknown origin. The xenos shapeshifters had succeeded at assassinating numerous senior officers and squad leaders, afterwards assuming the identities of the slain and using their authority to cause as much havoc as possible. Only the discipline of the Valhallans kept unit cohesion and morale at acceptable levels, preventing disaster during these disruptions. The regimental Commissars immediately put into action a purge to rid the Ice Warriors of the alien threat, and the ollowing operations on Maesa were conducted with the Valhallan's customary zeal and precision. After this narrowly-averted catastrophe, the Valhallan 442nd found a chance to redeem itself on the Ork-infested Space Hulk Death's Door, a massive mining station pulled into the Warp and fused with the hulls of lost vessels from across the Koronus Expanse and beyond. When the Space Hulk appeared near the world of Ceprysk, the Valhallan 442nd were sent to purge it of the Greenskins who had taken up residence there before they could threaten the main hive of Garhive. The Valhallans relished the opportunity to spill the blood their ancient foes, but the bloody reunion was cut short when several marauding pirate vessels disabled the transports used to deliver the Valhallans. Without immediate extraction available, the Valhallans dug in to weather the storm of both Chaos pirates and Orks. To the credit of their commanders, when several Imperial Navy frigates arrived to dispatch the renegades and search for any survivors, they found the Valhallan forces largely intact, slowly but surely grinding away at their enemies through the artificial trenches and corridors of Death's Door. Somewhat reluctantly, Colonel Rusk agreed to abandon the defensive position they had established and have his forces extracted that they might serve the God-Emperor elsewhere in the Spinward Front.
 * 597th Valhallan Regiment - The Valhallan 597th Regiment was formed from the merger of the 296th and 301st Valhallan Regiments in 931.M41, and was famous for being the home regiment of the notable Commissar Ciaphas Cain for many years.
 * 1212th Valhallan Regiment, "Cold Bloods" - The "Cold Bloods" were raised for service during the Eastlight Nebula Wars, but their first battle was among their last. With their supply and logistics lines overstretched, only one in every three Guardsmen in the 1212th were issued a Lasgun. Their first mission saw a forced-march across the frozen and toxic wastelands of Triox against a larger force of Traitors. Despite their survival skills, only half the Ice Warriors made it across the plains to assault the Traitors' flank. Once again displaying the sheer tenacity of the Ice Warriors, many of the Valhallan Guardsmen recovered weapons on the fallen and in the end decisively defeated the enemy forces.

Armoured Regiments

 * 8th Valhallan Armoured Regiment - The 8th Valhallan Armoured Regiment is known to include Leman Russ Demolishers and fought on Sallan's World. The regiment also possessed a Leman Russ Executioner which fought in the advance on Sallan's Point. This armoured regiment also includes a Destroyer Tank Hunter which was put on sentry duty defending a fuel or ammunition dump during the Sallan's World campaign.
 * 14th Valhallan Armoured Regiment - The 14th Valhallan Armoured Regiment took part in the Gravalax Incident under the command of Lord General Zyvan.
 * 28th Valhallan Armoured Regiment - The 28th Valahallan Armoured Regiment is a highly honoured unit amongst Imperial Guard armoured regiments, and is allowed to display a red Aquila symbol. It includes at least one Leman Russ Vanquisher which is the second vehicle of the first squadron of the 1st Company. The 28th Armoured also includes a Leman Russ Exterminator as the third tank, fourth squadron, 4th Company. Also, the regiment possesses a Leman Russ Conqueror which has subtle camouflaging unlike the other tanks in its company or squadron. The 28th Armoured is known to have taken part in the Retreat to the Auriga Parallel on the Ice World of Adhara. The Valhallan 1st Heavy Tank Company is attached to the 28th Armoured.
 * 58th Valhallan Armoured Regiment - There is little recorded information on this armoured regiment in current Imperial records.
 * 193rd Valhallan Armoured Regiment - The Valhallan 193rd Armoured Regiment includes a Stygies VIII Pattern Leman Russ Vanquisher and took part in the Defence of Canaan's World.
 * 1st Valhallan Heavy Tank Company - The 1st Valhallan Heavy Tank Company includes a Mars Pattern Shadowsword super-heavy battle tank, which is the third vehicle of the company. The company is normally attached to the 28th Valhallan Armoured Regiment.

Notable Valhallan Ice Warriors

 * Lord High Commander Otto Ivan Gustavus - Lord High Commander Gustavus was granted supreme command of the Taros Campaign to take back the desert Mining World of Taros from the ever-expanding Tau Empire. He had a long and steady rise through the upper ranks of the Imperial Guard. In his youth, Gustavus first served as a Lieutenant commanding an Armoured Fist platoon, eventually rising to command his regiment, and then being promoted beyond field command into the ranks of the Imperial Guard High Command staff. Wounded in action several times, and still proudly bearing the scars, his personal experience and bravery is undoubted. Gustavus was the supreme commander of the Tau Campaign. Though he commanded no actual forces in the field, he had the power to sanction or veto any plans his staff made. Gustavus' rotund appearance and loud, bellicose manner hides a razor-keen political mind. These were the skills he drew heavily upon during the invasion of Taros.
 * General Jenit Sulla - Jenit Sulla spent her long career with the Valhallan 296th Regiment and its successor regiment, the Valhallan 597th Regiment, under the command of Colonel Regina Kasteen. She also served alongside Commissar Ciaphas Cain in the 597th Regiment and was later promoted to the rank of General.
 * Colonel Regina Kasteen - Colonel Kasteen was the commanding officer of the 597th Valhallan Regiment in the 930s.M41.
 * Staff Colonel Scheja - The brilliant Colonel Scheja was seconded from his regiment, the Valhallan 28th, to act as the top intelligence officer in Lord High Commander Gustavus' High Command staff for the Taros Campaign. He utilised his own staff officers to study and collate information from all sources; Imperial Guard regiments in the field, Imperial Navy reports, scouting Titans, any and every source the Imperium had at its disposal. With this available information, Scheja had an overview of the wider strategic situation, not just the fighting on the ground on Taros. He was Gustavus' spy-master, a secretive individual operating in the shadows, with a greater degree of independence than other Imperial commanders involved in the campaign. Scheja had previously worked with the famous Inquisitor Hector Rex, as part of his personal retinue during the Judgement of Hellanus, an operation which made the Colonel's reputation and catapulted him from a mere prospect as the regimental commander of the Valhallan 28th into the upper ranks of the Imperial Guard's overall command structure, despite still bearing only the rank of Colonel.
 * Commander Kubrik Chenkov - Kubrik Chenkov served as the commander of the Valhallan 18th "Tundra Wolves" Regiment.
 * Gunner Ferik Jurgen - Gunner Jurgen served for decades as Commissar Ciaphas Cain's tireless aide. Originally assigned to the Valhallan 12th Field Artillery Regiment, he would later go on to accompany the famous Commissar throughout the remainder of his career, including his retirement on the world of Perlia. Jurgen proved a competent and capable aide but did possess a fierce body odour which assaulted Cain's and anyone else's senses in his nearby vicinity.

Trivia
The Valhallan Ice Warriors are based on the appearance and tactics of the Soviet Red Army during the frigid winter campaigns of the Eastern Front during World War II.

Gallery
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