Sentinel Guard Squad

Sentinel Guard Squads were formation of ancient Legio Custodes Hyanatoi - the main body of the Custodian Guard - which specialised in fighting as an unbreakable bulwark against enemy attack. This formation existed during the Great Crusade and Horus Heresy eras during the 30th and early 31st Millennia. It is unknown if this particular formation is still deployed by the Adeptus Custodes of the 41st Millennium.

History
Sentinel Guard Squads were the defensive formations of the Legio Custodes, designed to function as a mobile bulwark to protect emissaries on hazardous ground and hold defensive lines against the most grievous onslaught in open battle. In order to achieve this, they were equipped with energy field-reinforced 'Praesidium' shields -- a precursor technology to that later employed by the prototype Legiones Astartes Storm Shields -- which were able to resist the heaviest weapons fire.

When deployed outside the walls of the Imperial Palace, their charge was often to protect key aspects of allied detachments and resources liberated from the enemy. However, it had been witnessed during large scale sudden assaults that their close formations also served to disrupt enemy lines. While they still retained the loose unit structures of the Legio Custodes, the Sentinel Guard by their nature utilised a greater synchronicity between warriors in service to the various phalanx formations that could be required of the squad at any given moment.

Unit Composition

 * 3-10 Sentinel Guard

Wargear

 * Custodes Armour
 * Sentinel Warblade
 * Close Combat Weapon
 * Refractor Field
 * Praesidium Shield
 * Plasma & Krak Grenades

Optional Wargear
The entire Sentinel Guard Squad may be equipped with any of the following:
 * Melta Bombs
 * Arae-Shrikes
 * Teleportation Transponders

Any member of the Sentinel Guard Squad may replace their Sentinel Warblade with the following:
 * Solerite Power Gauntlet or Solerite Power Talon

One member of the Sentinel Guard Squad may exchange their Praesidium Shield for the following:
 * Magisterium Vexilla

Dedicated Transport
A Coronus Grav-Carrier may be chosen as a dedicated transport for a Sentinel Guard Squad if they number six Custodians or less.