From: Lord General Marcus Augustus van Dorn, 84th Theraxian Siege Regiment
To: Sector Command, Departmento Munitorum
Classification: Command Level Distribution
FORMAL COMPLAINT REGARDING SPACE MARINE TACTICAL NON-COMPLIANCE
Campaign: Hive Tertius Pacification
Location: Forge World Theraxis IV
Date: 847.M41
I must formally register my strongest protest regarding the conduct of the Blood Wolves Chapter during the current campaign. Their refusal to follow proper Imperial battle doctrine has severely disrupted our strategic deployments and undermined the chain of command.
INITIAL DEPLOYMENT
Upon arrival, the Blood Wolves' Captain Validus Stonehammer and his Chaplains reviewed our battle plans for the siege of Hive Tertius. Rather than taking their assigned positions in the front line as befits Space Marines, they raised immediate objections to what they termed "inefficient use of specialized forces."
TACTICAL DISAGREEMENTS
The Blood Wolves refused to:
• Maintain static defensive positions
• Engage in war of attrition as planned
• Support frontal assault doctrine
• Deploy in company strength to main battle lines
Their objections centered around claims that:
• Their chapter "wasn't designed for attrition warfare"
• Their "war beasts detected patterns we couldn't see"
• Extended deployment would risk corruption and gene-seed loss
• Their Chaplains "required mobility to maintain spiritual health"
INSUBORDINATE ACTIONS
Instead of following commands, they:
• Deployed in small hunter-killer teams
• Conducted unauthorized infiltration missions
• Redirected forces without command approval
• Withdrew from positions without orders
Most egregiously, they:
1. Abandoned their assigned fortress position after only two weeks of siege
2. Conducted unauthorized deep strikes into enemy territory
3. Refused to commit more than 20 marines to any single engagement
4. Withdrew their forces entirely when their Chaplains claimed "spiritual necessity"
RESULTS OF ACTIONS
I am forced to acknowledge that their unauthorized actions resulted in:
• Enemy leadership decapitation
• Critical supply line disruption
• Multiple enemy strongpoint neutralizations
• Significantly reduced Imperial Guard casualties
However, their success does not excuse their complete disregard for proper Imperial battle doctrine and chain of command.
COMMAND DISRUPTION
Their actions severely undermined my authority when:
• Other units began requesting Blood Wolves' tactical advice
• Guard officers started questioning attrition doctrine
• Support units diverted resources to Blood Wolves operations
• Several units attempted to copy their "hunt and kill" tactics
SPIRITUAL CONCERNS
Their Chaplains repeatedly interfered with operations, citing:
• Need for "ritual maintenance"
• Concerns about "corruption risks"
• Requirements for "gene-seed preservation"
• War beast behavioral warnings
When ordered to disregard these concerns and maintain positions, they simply withdrew, their Chapter Master citing "spiritual authority superseding tactical command in matters of chapter preservation."
NOTED RESULTS
I am required by regulations to note that the campaign objectives were achieved:
• Enemy forces neutralized
• Hive reclaimed
• Civilian casualties minimal
• Imperial Guard losses below projections
However, this success does not justify their methodological insubordination.
FORMAL REQUESTS
I hereby request:
1. Official censure of Blood Wolves Chapter
2. Mandate for compliance with Imperial battle doctrine
3. Requirement for integration into proper command structure
4. Restrictions on independent tactical decisions
RESPONSE TO MECHANICUS OBJECTION
The Forge World's Fabricator-General has formally objected to my complaints, citing:
• Minimal infrastructure damage
• Preserved manufacturing capability
• Protected gene-seed stocks
• Maintained productivity levels
I maintain these results do not justify tactical insubordination.
FINAL NOTATION
While I acknowledge the campaign's success, I cannot endorse their methods. The Blood Wolves' refusal to engage in proper attrition warfare sets a dangerous precedent. Their insistence on "hunting" rather than proper battle line deployment undermines millennia of Imperial military doctrine.
I await your response regarding this serious breach of tactical protocol.
For the Emperor's Glory,
Lord General Marcus Augustus van Dorn
84th Theraxian Siege Regiment
[Appended: Multiple rejected tactical plans and denied deployment orders]
[Document bears Imperial Guard Command Seals and multiple "Complaint Noted" stamps from various administrative offices]
ADMINISTRATUM RESPONSE NOTATION:
Complaint filed. Tactical success noted. No action required.
MECHANICUS ADDENDUM:
Forge World productivity maintained. Blood Wolves tactical doctrine noted as optimal for industrial zone warfare.
INQUISITORIAL NOTATION:
Complaint reviewed. Chapter operating within established parameters. Case closed.
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