D Company, 7th Mordion Regiment, during a lull in the Pacification of Flotis III: This picture illustrates the size and variety of an Imperial Guard Company. Just left of centre, on the jet bike, is Commander Evin Eldro, accompanied-as always -by Commissar Fidel Arden. Note the two devotional skulls on Arden’s collar. To the right of the jet bikes is the Command Section of the First Platoon, which, as usual, carries the Company banner. Behind the jet bikes is the Command Section of the Second Platoon, which includes Sanctioned Psyker Morin Dannel; it is unusual to see a Commissar standing so close to a psyker and Dannel’s downcast expression demonstrates his unease at the Commissar’s proximity.
Note the fist-and-knife emblem on the Rhino in the foreground and on various banners; this unofficial device is the symbol of the Night Rippers, the Hive World gang from which the Human strength of D Company was recruited. In the far left foreground are Thargadd’s Thumpers. Sergeant-Ogryn Thargadd, holding the Ripper Gun, served with considerable distinction in the Flotis campaign, destroying an Ork Dreadnought single-handed in close combat during the Battle of Blood Hill. It is said that Commissar Arden designed their banner personally in recognition of this valour. Thargadd and his surviving followers were posted to the 43rd Ivinia Regiment at the conclusion of the campaign.
Behind the Ogryns is the Fourth Platoon, consisting of the Company’s second Abhuman contingent: Beastman Attack Squads. D Company’s record in close assaults was considerably enhanced by the rivalry between Packmasters Org and Raakt, who invariably tried to outdo each other on the battlefield. The Company’s Abhuman complement is completed by the Ratling Sniper squad (on the Rhino to the right) known unofficially as Dunno’s Dead-Eyes.
Above the Beastmen on the valley edge are the Rough Riders of the Fifth Platoon, who played a decisive role in the skirmishing that accompanied the conquest of the rural province of Bencya. Because of the highly variable terrain on the third continent to which they were assigned, D Company was equipped with a diverse range of special equipment, including Rhino APCs, Rapiers, a Thudd Gun and a small force of Sentinels. The Sentinel force, led by Lieutenant Issen Siglo, proved invaluable in support of the Rough Riders during the assault on the forest region of Glimdrun.
To maintain the equipment and to control the Penal Batallion troops (in the upper right of the picture)- D Company was assigned Tech-Adepts Venker (left) and Rovitz (right). Four of their Servitors can be seen on and beside the Rhino at the right of the picture.
