Warhammer 40K Fan Fiction...

The creation of a new armoured vehicle for the Adeptus Astartes
CLASSIFICATION: RED/ALPHA
DATE: 708.M41
AUTHOR: Brother Techmarine Kavador, Mentors Chapter
SUBJECT: Project Fire-Wolf
RECIPIENT: The Grand Magus of the Adeptus Mechanicus of Mars

My Lord Magus, as you are aware Project Fire-Wolf has commenced, the primary tests of these new Astartes vehicles have so far exceeded our expectations and we are prepared to officially announce the arrival of these new experimental assets within our force. There is concern though amongst my senior commanders that the primary weapon is not powerful enough, it does not reach the distance required to cause any major impact within the field of battle, and therefore we request that this is rectified should the vehicle see active service.

It is of course hopeful that it will indeed see service within the Adeptus Astartes, though I am sure to begin with it will be with limited numbers. Until the testing of this new weapon is complete, I and my senior Commanders will continue to respond with reports of the prototypes capabilities. The High Lords of Terra are indeed impressed with our progress, and are prepared to place a commission of 100 vehicles for some of the Chapters interested after viewing the prototype.

There is one other thing to add to this, that we have discovered a slight discrepancy within the programming of the specialist equipment on board, and due to the nature of the vehicle, it would be an ideal opportunity to rectify this situation as far as possible. So far the results have been promising, if not a little surprising, but if all goes well with the requested alterations and adjustments mentioned in the above, we should be able to proceed with the creation of units for many Space Marine chapters.

Your loyal and trusted servant and ally.

Brother Techmarine Kavador, Mentors Chapter

Project Fire-Wolf: the creation of an Astartes “Pyromancer” (a brief history)
Compiled by Brother Techmarine Radolphus of the Ultramarine from early reports of the Mentors Chapter secretive experiments

During the Ceres campaign it became clear to the forces of the Imperium that due to the large entrenchments created by the forces of the Ruinous Powers, some of their tanks could not perform as would be expected on the field of battle. It was decided by the Adeptus Astartes, to petition the High Lords of Terra for the construction of a new vehicle designed specifically to fight within the confinements of trench warfare, thus a new vehicle was born, under the title of Project Fire-Wolf.

Project Fire-Wolf is a secret building programme involving the construction of a battle tank for the Adeptus Astartes dubbed the Predator Inferno, combining the strength of a Predator, but the fire power of an Imperial Guard Hellhound. The turret of the prototype is armed with a twin linked Inferno-cannon (hence the name of the Predator) taken directly from a Hellhound tank, and welded onto the turret of the Predator.

Unlike the Imperial Guard variant, the Promethium tanks are placed inside of the vehicle, thus removing its troop carrying capabilities, because of this, the Predator Inferno is heavily armoured with additional armour taken directly from the Vindicator. Due to the vehicle being designed for trench warfare, it was decided that the side sponson weapons would also have to cater for punching a hole through deep-rooted enemy lines.

Thus it was decided to take the weapon sponsons and replace them with Mortar Launchers attached to the rear on each side, an unusual type of weapon for a Space Marine tank, let alone the fact Mortar Launchers are not really used by the Astartes as a hand weapon. But in primary stages of testing, the weapons of the tank proved themselves beyond the expectations of the inspecting Space Marine Commanders. The early stages first of all proved though that the main weapon (the Inferno Cannon) would have to be greatly improved beyond its capabilities usually found in the Imperial Guard variant.

The Grenade Launchers punched more holes through the test trenches than most Heavy Bolters found on Destructors, or Lascannons on Predator Annihilators, plus it outmanoeuvred the Imperial Hellhound as well as out ranging it. The first period of active service saw its use against the oncoming Tau Empire, where it caused devastating damage upon the entrenched xeno.

The Ordo Malleus along with the Ordo Xenos have also taken interest with the vehicle, and though they have yet to commission a variant for their own purposes, but it is not yet too late for this offspring of the Predator to make a viable impact upon the very Imperium it was created to help defend.

historical records scan complete, Report Ends.

Brother Techmarine Radolphus Ultramarines Chapter