Unit and Formation Structure within the Legion

As has been noted, the Vth Legion has never adhered closely to the strictures of the Principia Bellicosa, that great treatise that informed the basis of most of the early Legions, organisation and structure. Lacking in the numbers that allowed many of?the other Legions to operate as fully-fledged war hosts, the Vth Legion was originally organised into small Pioneer Companies, each operating as a separate and independent force. This independence of operation and command was both a necessity due to the size and mission of the early Vth Legion and a legacy of the fierce spirit of its original recruits. Each Pioneer Company operated as an augmented line company, comprising perhaps 1,000 Legionaries and a varying array of specialist detachments, with each unique in its exact configuration and total fighting strength. Over the first century of the Great Crusade, these companies continued to deviate from the standard organisational pattern of?the Principia Bellicosa, in part due to the increasing difficulty of resupplying them. The rediscovery of Jaghatai Khan on Chogoris brought an end to this era of?independent operations and saw the Legion go through a complete re-organisation.

就像我們記錄的那樣，第五軍團從未嚴格遵守過基礎(chǔ)軍典——這套偉大的著作影響了絕大部分早期軍團的組織結(jié)構(gòu)基礎(chǔ)。第五軍團缺乏兵力，這使得他們無法像其他許多軍團那樣作為成熟健全的戰(zhàn)爭群體進行運作。他們最初是組建成小規(guī)模的先鋒連隊，每個連隊都是一支分散獨立的部隊。這種運作和指揮上的獨立性是必要，這與早期第五軍團的規(guī)模與責(zé)任有關(guān)，也是軍團最初的新兵們兇狠激烈的性格所致。每個先鋒連隊都是作為一個強化版的戰(zhàn)線連進行運作，包括大約1000名軍團戰(zhàn)士和各種各樣的特殊分遣隊，每個先鋒連隊的具體配置和全部作戰(zhàn)兵力都是獨一無二的。在大遠征的前一百年中，這些連隊持續(xù)偏離基礎(chǔ)軍典的標準組織模式，部分原因是由于重新補給他們的難度越來越大。在巧高立斯上與察合臺可汗的重逢終結(jié)了第五軍團這段獨立運作的時期，并見證他們進行了完全的重組。

By 865.M30, there were approximately 70,000 warriors in the Vth Legion, which would later increase to around 95,000 at the peak of?the Legion's strength shortly before 007.M31. The Great Khan reformed these warriors into a number of Hordes, a formation that stood above the Brotherhood in the Legion's structure. In creating his new Legion, the Great Khan was careful to split up the old Pioneer Companies, mixing warriors of differing origins together with new recruits from his home world of Chogoris to constitute the new Hordes. Most documents dating to that time place the number of?original Hordes at five, although some accounts place the number as high as seven. The exact number is difficult to ascertain due to the irregular size of these formations, as both the original Hordes and those that would follow varied wildly in size, with the smallest numbering little more than 5,000 warriors and the largest as many as 20,000. The difference in size did not appear to indicate any tactical or strategic speciality, but rather was tied to the will of the Horde's commander, known in the newly re-organised White Scars as a Noyan-khan. Indeed, the various Hordes often fluctuated wildly in size during the transition from one Noyan-khan to another, with warriors transferring between Hordes, or even splitting off to form new Hordes at the whims of?either the Noyan-khan or Jaghatai himself .This process seems to have been intended to allow each individual commander to operate efficiently within the bounds of their ability and strategic preferences, rather than enforcing a strict organisational system upon them.

第五軍團在865.M30的人數(shù)是大約70,000 名戰(zhàn)士，等到軍團兵力在007.M31之前不久達到巔峰時，這一數(shù)字增長到大約95,000。大汗將戰(zhàn)士們重組為數(shù)個數(shù)個部落——這些編隊在軍團結(jié)構(gòu)上高于兄弟會。在創(chuàng)建他的新軍團的過程中，大汗小心地拆分了舊有的先鋒連隊，將不同來源的戰(zhàn)士和征召自故鄉(xiāng)巧高立斯的新兵們混編到一起來構(gòu)成新的部落。在大多數(shù)源自這一的記錄中，最初的部落數(shù)量是五個，但也有某些報告稱數(shù)量是七個。由于這些編隊的規(guī)模并不規(guī)則，所以我們難以確定其具體數(shù)量。最初和之后組建的戰(zhàn)團有著各種各樣的規(guī)模，其中最小的僅有略超過5,000名戰(zhàn)士，最大的人數(shù)則有20,000之眾。規(guī)模的差異似乎沒有表明任何戰(zhàn)術(shù)或戰(zhàn)略上的特征，而是與部落指揮官的個人意愿有關(guān)——這些指揮官在新重組的白疤軍團中被稱為諾延汗。事實上，在從一個諾延汗到另一個諾延汗的轉(zhuǎn)變過程中，各個部落的規(guī)模經(jīng)常劇烈變化：戰(zhàn)士們會在部落間轉(zhuǎn)移，甚至還會在諾延汗或者察合臺本人突發(fā)奇想時被抽調(diào)出來組成新的部落。這一過程的意圖似乎是讓每位指揮官都能在他們的能力和戰(zhàn)略偏好范圍內(nèi)有效地指揮部隊，而不是在他們身上強制施加一個嚴格的組織系統(tǒng)。

Whether this is the spectre of the old Pioneer Companies and their independent spirit, or part of?the Great Khan's Chogorian heritage is unknown, but its effectiveness when combined with the free-spirited nature of the Vth Legion has been demonstrated in battles beyond count. It has, however, caused a number of difficulties with both their brother Legions and with the logistics and command echelons of?the Divisio Militaris. A number of Great Crusade operations have encountered problems properly classifying White Scars detachments, both for purposes of resupply and of?properly gauging the threat level of?opposing forces. On Algeron VII, where two Hordes of White Scars were deployed for harrowing operations against renegade human enclaves, Great Crusade Divisio Logisticus supplied munitions and supplies for two standard Legiones Astartes Chapters, only to find this insufficient for the two over-sized Hordes sent by the White Scars. On Therona Secundus, an Ultramarines grand task force besieging a Fra'al stronghold requested reinforcement by a similar-sized force of?the Legiones Astartes, only for Divisio Strategists to mistakenly assign a nearby White Scars Horde to the conflict. The Horde, numbering half the strength of the Ultramarines force, fought bravely as a part of the assault force, but its relatively low strength forced the Ultramarines to endure higher casualties than their strict protocols would allow. The warriors of?Ultramar, always dubious of those who chose to disregard the logic of the Principia Bellicosa, saw this as a failure of the White Scars, one among a number of one-sided grudges - for the White Scars marked the Therona conflict as a great victory against adversity and spoke highly of?the Ultramarines' fortitude.

我們不知道這種模式是先鋒連隊及其獨立精神的遺存，還是大汗巧高利斯遺產(chǎn)中的某一部分，但當(dāng)與第五軍團自由奔放的本性結(jié)合在一起時，它的效力已經(jīng)在無數(shù)戰(zhàn)役中得到了證明。但是這也讓白疤軍團和兄弟軍團以及軍務(wù)庭的后勤與指揮官員們產(chǎn)生了諸多齟齬。在大遠征時期的許多次行動中，帝國都在正確分類白疤分遣隊上遇到了問題，既有在補給方面的的，也有在正確評估對方軍隊威脅水平方面的。在Algeron VII世界上，兩個白疤部落被派去鏟除叛亂的人類飛地，大遠征后勤司為他們提供了兩個標準的阿斯塔特戰(zhàn)團所需的彈藥和補給，結(jié)果發(fā)現(xiàn)這批物資無法滿足白疤軍團派出的兩個超規(guī)格部落的需要。而在Therona Secundus世界上，一支負責(zé)圍攻法拉’阿爾異形種族據(jù)點的大規(guī)模極限戰(zhàn)士特遣隊要求帝國派出一支規(guī)模類似的阿斯塔特軍團部隊進行增援，只是軍務(wù)部的戰(zhàn)略家們錯誤地將附近的白疤部落指派去參加這次沖突。該部落的人數(shù)只有極限戰(zhàn)士部隊的一半，盡管他們作為進攻部隊的某一部分英勇奮戰(zhàn)，但他們相對較少的人數(shù)迫使極限戰(zhàn)士承受的傷亡損失高于他們的嚴苛信條所能允許的。奧特拉瑪?shù)膽?zhàn)士們通常會對那些選擇無視基礎(chǔ)軍典戰(zhàn)術(shù)邏輯的人表示懷疑，他們將此視為白疤軍團的失敗，不過這只是第十三軍團諸多一廂情愿的怨恨中的某一項——白色傷疤軍團將Therona 之戰(zhàn)標榜為一次突破困境的偉大勝利，他們也對極限戰(zhàn)士們的堅韌勇氣評價頗高。

The only other main organisational unit within the White Scars was the Brotherhood, a unit roughly equivalent to the standard company. Just like the larger Hordes, each Brotherhood varies in size quite widely, with some being formed of less than a few hundred warriors and others up to several thousand. Again, this disparity is rarely directly linked to the tactical role of the Brotherhood but rather the preferences and charisma of the Khan who led it. That being true, many Brotherhoods also tended to favour a specific mode of engagement, with the majority being outfitted and trained to operate as skirmish forces and rapid strike units. These most typical Brotherhoods were almost always mechanised units, in that the entire force of the Brotherhood was either mounted on jetbikes or supplied with other forms of?rapid transport. Brotherhoods specialising in either long range combat or siege work were in a distinct minority and often among the smallest of these formations. This left the White Scars at something of a disadvantage in some combat theatres, forcing them to either rely on their own innate versatility to make do or to draft auxillia units into their line of battle to cope with specialised combat situations.

白疤軍團中僅有的另一種組織單位是兄弟會，它大致相當(dāng)于標準連隊。就像更大型的部落那樣，兄弟會的規(guī)模彼此相差很大，某些兄弟會僅由數(shù)百名戰(zhàn)士組成，其他的則多達數(shù)千名戰(zhàn)士。同樣，這種差異也很少直接與兄弟會的戰(zhàn)術(shù)職能相關(guān)，而是與領(lǐng)導(dǎo)兄弟會的可汗的喜好和個人魅力有關(guān)。事實上，許多兄弟會也傾向于一種特定的交戰(zhàn)模式：將部隊中的大多數(shù)戰(zhàn)士都裝備和訓(xùn)練成小規(guī)模戰(zhàn)斗部隊和快速打擊部隊。那些最為典型的兄弟會幾乎通常都是機械化部隊，整個兄弟會的戰(zhàn)士們都騎乘著噴射機車或由其他形式的快速運輸載具提供支援。專職于長距離作戰(zhàn)或攻城戰(zhàn)的兄弟會明顯是少數(shù)派，而且他們的編隊規(guī)模往往是最小的。這使得白色傷疤軍團在某些戰(zhàn)場上會處于不利地位，這迫使他們要么依靠自己天生的多才多藝來彌補，要么將輔助部隊抽調(diào)進入他們的戰(zhàn)線以應(yīng)付專門的戰(zhàn)況。

Within each Brotherhood the exact roster of units varied considerably and rarely adhered to standard company structures seen within the other Legions. Though each Brotherhood was a unique formation, most were formed of a core of?jetbike-mounted troops, although these were sometimes known to fight dismounted in the style of more standard tactical units. In addition to this core of?highly mobile strike troops was a number of?more specialised units, of?which the exact nature is highly variable. Most common among the various Brotherhoods were reconnaissance cadres or close assault specialists, roles which held particular value within the Chogorian traditions that sat at the heart of the White Scars doctrines. The inclusion of units that fall outside of these preferences, most especially static heavy weapons support units, was rarer but far from unknown. Indeed, some Brotherhoods were composed almost entirely of?such units. Such specialised Brotherhoods were not pariahs among their swifter brethren, but often honoured for their role in the Legion's victories and their willingness to sacrifice the thrill of?the hunt for victory. Most Brotherhoods also included what the White Scars referred to as a Keshig, which indicated a body of?troops somewhere between a life guard for the Khan and an elite reserve intended to bolster both the fighting spirit and tactical firepower of line troops. Given the aggressive nature of?most White Scars tactics, these units often formed the forefront of any assault, and most often contained the most skilled and experienced warriors within the Brotherhood.

在每個兄弟會內(nèi)部，單位的確切種類相差很大，而且也很少會遵循我們在其他軍團中所見到的標準化連隊結(jié)構(gòu)。盡管每個兄弟會都是一支獨一無二的編隊，但大多數(shù)都是由騎著噴射機車的核心部隊組成的，不過他們有時也會以更為標準化戰(zhàn)術(shù)單位的風(fēng)格步行作戰(zhàn)。除了這些高度機動化的核心部隊之外，兄弟會中還有許多更為專業(yè)化的單位，他們的具體特性彼此差異很大。各種兄弟會中最為常見的部隊類型是偵察兵部隊和近距離突擊專家們，在居于白疤軍團信條核心的巧高利斯傳統(tǒng)習(xí)俗中，這些角色有著特殊的價值。那些并不符合這種偏好的單位，尤其是那些靜態(tài)重型武器支援部隊雖然很少出場，但也絕非是不存在。事實上，某些兄弟會幾乎完全由此類單位組成。這些專業(yè)化的兄弟會們并不會被自己那些更為迅捷的兄弟們視為遭遺棄者，而是經(jīng)常因為他們在軍團勝利中所扮演的角色以及他們（主動）犧牲追逐勝利快感的意愿而受到表彰。大多數(shù)兄弟會中也都包含被白疤們稱為“怯薛”的部隊，這個稱謂表明這些人的身份介于可汗衛(wèi)隊和旨在增強前線部隊?wèi)?zhàn)斗精神和戰(zhàn)術(shù)火力的精英預(yù)備隊之間?？紤]到大多數(shù)白疤軍團戰(zhàn)術(shù)那富于進攻性的特征，這些單位通常會組成攻勢的先頭部隊，大多數(shù)怯薛部隊也都包含了兄弟會中技藝最精湛且（戰(zhàn)斗）經(jīng)驗最豐富的戰(zhàn)士們。

Among the more extreme deviations from standard practise within the White Scars Legion were their so-called weather-witches. These were the Librarian-adepts fielded by the Legion during the earliest days of?the Librarius experiment, their training and role dictated as much by the superstitions of the Chogorian tribesmen as by the standardised training coda of the fledgling Librarius. They quickly came to fill the role of?mystics and advisers to the Khans, more akin to primitive shamans to outside eyes than to the ideal of the warrior-scholar of the more orthodox Legions. Yet beneath the veneer of their shamanistic heritage lay a surprisingly complex position, serving their brethren as counsellors and mediators as well as shields against aetheric menace, and with a deep understanding of the Warp rooted in both Chogorian mysticism and the scientific studies of the Imperium's greatest scholars.

白疤軍團中還有一類更為離經(jīng)叛道的單位，即他們所謂的“氣象巫師”。他們是軍團在早期的智庫制度實驗中派出的智庫修士，而在他們的訓(xùn)練和職責(zé)方面，巧高利斯部落民們迷信觀念的影響就和剛剛起步的智庫員標準化培訓(xùn)的最終部分的影響一樣多。他們很快就開始成為可汗們手下的秘術(shù)師和顧問，而在外界看來，他們更像原始的薩滿，而非那些更正統(tǒng)的軍團中理想的戰(zhàn)士學(xué)者。然而，他們在薩滿遺產(chǎn)的外表下有著令人驚訝的復(fù)雜身份，他們擔(dān)任著兄弟們的精神顧問和調(diào)解者，也是軍團抵御以太界威脅的堅盾。他們對于亞空間的深刻理解植根于巧高利斯的神秘主義理念和帝國最偉大學(xué)者的科學(xué)研究。

In many ways, the studied respect these early adepts displayed for Warp phenomena showed a wiser approach than that of more secular scholars whose approach was rooted in science and often dismissive of?the real threat concealed within the aether. In battle, the Stormseers stirred the Warp to aid their brethren, preferring more subtle applications of psychic power than crude bolts of power. They obscured the advance of the White Scars with fog, wind and rain, and impeded the foe with relentless flurries of hail or foul monsoons. Many of the Vth Legion's victories are founded on the cunning application of?both the Stormseers’ psychic power and their sage advice. Despite their abilities, the Stormseers were most often judged on their appearance, which to the more stringent adherents of?the Imperial Truth harkened back to the dark days of?Long Night on Terra and superstitions of religion which the Emperor Himself had condemned. Among their most vocal opponents was Mortarion, whose innate hatred of the psyker was only exacerbated by the positions of influence the Stormseers held within their Legion, but he was not alone in questioning their loyalty to the tenants of the Imperial Truth and the Great Crusade itself

在許多方面上，這些早期智庫修士們對亞空間現(xiàn)象表現(xiàn)出了一種刻意的尊重，相比世俗學(xué)者那些植根于科學(xué)，而且通常對以太界中隱藏的真正威脅不屑一顧的研究手段，這種方法更為明智。在戰(zhàn)斗中，風(fēng)暴先知們會攪動亞空間來幫助自己的兄弟們，他們偏好以更微妙的手段使用靈能力量，而是（直接）野蠻地射出能量箭矢。他們用霧、風(fēng)和雨掩蓋了白疤戰(zhàn)士的前進蹤跡，并用無情冰雹和猛烈的季風(fēng)來阻礙敵人行動。第五軍團的許多勝利都是建立于對風(fēng)暴先知的靈能力量和他們睿智建議的巧妙運用。盡管暴風(fēng)先知的能力卓越，但人們通常還是根據(jù)外表來評判他們，對于帝國真理更為刻板的追隨者來說，這些靈能能現(xiàn)象讓他們回想起在泰拉長夜時代中的黑暗歲月，以及遭到帝皇本人譴責(zé)的宗教迷信。莫塔里安就是他們最為聒噪的反對者之一，風(fēng)暴先知們在第五軍團中所擁有的影響地位加劇了莫塔里安對于靈能者與生俱來的仇恨，但莫塔里安也并非是唯一質(zhì)疑風(fēng)暴先知們是否忠誠于帝國真理和大遠征的人。

Among the various specialised units common within Legiones Astartes ranks, there were some rarely seen among the White Scars. Most prominent amongst these were the assault troops known as Destroyers, dedicated to the deployment of proscribed weaponry and the utter annihilation of?the foe. The tactics employed by these cadres in other Legions were considered anathema by the White Scars, whose joy in open combat and reverence for the unspoiled wilderness of many frontier worlds was ill at ease with such wanton destruction. Destroyer cadres did exist within the Legion, but in limited numbers. Known as the Karaoghlanlar, or the Dark Sons of Death, their armour was painted a dull black and festooned with shamanic charms to ward off the evil spirits that followed in their wake. These grim warriors, often considered deranged and as omens of evil tidings by their fellows, did not serve with any single Brotherhood but were instead placed under the direct supervision of?the Stormseer Council, only deployed when both Khan and seer agreed they be set loose. This apparently pagan superstition appeared to serve simply as a tool to vilify the use of the extreme measures represented by the Destroyers, a choice known to have originated with the Great Khan himself who held little respect for those who resorted to such measures too frequently.

阿斯塔特軍團部隊中有著各種常見的特殊單位，但我們在白疤軍團里幾乎看不到其中的某些。這一現(xiàn)象在被稱為“毀滅者”的突擊部隊中最為明顯——此類部隊致力于使用被禁絕的武器和徹底滅絕敵人。白疤認為這種被其他軍團所使用的戰(zhàn)術(shù)是可憎的，他們喜愛公開戰(zhàn)斗，也對許多邊疆世界未被破壞的荒野懷有崇敬，這種肆意的破壞令他們感到不悅。白疤軍團中也存在毀滅者部隊，但他們的有限。他們被稱為卡剌喀蘭剌爾，或“死亡黑暗子嗣”，他們的動力甲被漆成深黑色，上面裝飾著薩滿咒語，以抵擋跟在他們身后的惡靈。這些冷酷的戰(zhàn)士通常會被同伴們認為是精神錯亂者和不祥的預(yù)兆，他們不在任何一個兄弟會中服役，而是由風(fēng)暴先知議會的直接監(jiān)督，只有在可汗和風(fēng)暴先知們同時答應(yīng)釋放他們的情況下，他們才會被部署。這種明顯的異教迷信似乎只是一種工具，用來貶低蔑視以毀滅者為代表的極端措施的使用，據(jù)說做出這一選擇的正是大汗本人，他并不怎么尊重那些過于頻繁地采用這類手段的人。

Another notable exception within the ranks of the White Scars was the almost complete lack of any kind of position dedicated to the enforcement of military law. The White Scars never operated any kind of disciplinary corps, the officers known as consul-opsequiri in the Principia Bellicosa. Despite this, they also recorded one of the lowest rates of internal dispute and other infractions under Divisio military law. Some claim that this record is due to the White Scars' insular nature and unwillingness to properly report their activities, while others note that the White Scars maintain a complex code of honour, with several units that might be described as penal units by outsiders. Of these, the most well-known is the Kharash, a temporary body of warriors filled by volunteers whenever the need for diversionary or shock assault tactics occurs. Though assigned duties considered near-suicidal by many observers, the Kharash never lacked for volunteers, with?those seeking to expunge some perceived sin equally matched by those seeking advancement through the honour attached to serving with the Kharash and surviving.?

白疤部隊中的另一個顯著特征是：他們幾乎完全沒有任何負責(zé)強制執(zhí)行軍事律法的職位。白疤軍團從未組織過任何維持軍紀部隊——此類軍官在基礎(chǔ)軍典中被稱為“憲兵長”。但盡管如此，根據(jù)記錄來看，白疤軍團也是發(fā)生內(nèi)部糾紛和做出違反軍務(wù)庭律法行為比例最低的軍團之一。某些人聲稱白疤能保持這樣的記錄是由于他們生性孤僻，不愿意適當(dāng)?shù)貓蟾孀约旱幕顒?；其他人則表明白疤軍團維持著一套復(fù)雜的榮譽準則，某些單位可能會被外人描述為懲戒部隊。在這些單位中，最著名的就是卡拉什贖罪小隊——當(dāng)軍團需要轉(zhuǎn)移敵軍注意力或使用突擊戰(zhàn)術(shù)時，志愿者們就會組成這種臨時戰(zhàn)士組織。盡管許多觀察者認為贖罪小隊被指派的都是近乎自殺的任務(wù)，但這支部隊中從不缺少志愿者，那些試圖抹去一些被察覺的罪孽的人，與那些試圖通過與贖罪小隊一起服務(wù)并幸存來獲得榮譽以尋求進步的人，在贖罪小隊中進行著平等的競爭。