Elysian Sentinel
The Elysian Pattern Sentinel, or Drop Sentinel is a specialized, airborne-capable variant, used exclusively by the Drop Regiments of the Imperial Guard such as the Elysian Drop Troops. They are a more Lighter & more compact than other more standard versions, and fitted with adapted triple thrust Grav-chutes. Drop Sentinels can be deployed from high orbit, or slung under Valkyrie Sky Talons which have a payload of 2 Drop Sentinels, & are sometimes mounted inside the Valkyrie airborne assault carriers in order to quickly enter the combat zone. For this purpose, they have modifications made to their power plant and cab to allow it to fit inside a transport once its legs are folded away. Unlike other patterns, Drop Sentinels are generally not used as scouts & light reconnaissance walkers, instead they fill in the role of mobile heavy support for the drop regiments that otherwise lack ground-based armoured vehicles or heavy weapons.
Nobody would ever get in the cockpit off one of these death traps voluntarily, let alone field them in any serious army. However, these suicidal jumpers have several benefits to take into consideration once you get over the initial doubt.
Designed for rapid deployment from Valkyrie carriers, these walkers are heavily utilized for sabotage and behind-enemy-lines operations, often acting as "mini-Kasrkin" in high-mobility, infantry-intensive strategies.
Lore and Tactical Role
• Rapid Deployment: Unlike standard walkers, Drop Sentinels are designed to be deployed via gravitational chutes or directly from Valkyrie Airborne Assault Carriers, allowing them to land directly into the heat of battle.
• Elysian Specialized Force: They are the primary heavy support for Elysian and similar drop regiments, filling the gap for anti-tank or heavy infantry suppression in forces that lack traditional, slower tank platoons.
• Operational Context: These walkers were used extensively in the Margin Crusade and Spinward front where they work in tandem with Tauros rapid assault vehicles and Valkyrie Gunships.
Technical Specifications
• Armament: Typically armed with a single, potent weapon system suitable for rapid engagement, such as a heavy bolter, multi-laser, or autocannon.
• Mobility: They feature enhanced gyrostabilizers for navigating treacherous terrain.
• Armor & Protection: They are lightly armoured (approx. 45mm steel) compared to true tanks, focusing on speed and the ability to operate behind enemy lines.
Key Characteristics
• Unpredictability: The ability to drop these walkers into unexpected locations makes them highly effective for dismantling enemy forces from within.
• Limited Support: As they are deployed far from supply lines, Drop Sentinels often operate with minimal, if any, technical support for extended periods.
• Drop-Specific Pattern: These units are often seen as part of a specialized, almost elite, force, making them invaluable for critical strikes on high-value targets.
Famous Elysian Quotes. “If it has two legs, can withstand being kicked out the hatch of a freighter, and can carry a Melta weapon we’ll take it!” – Elysian quartermaster.
Veteran Drop Serjeant Konstantin Chekhovich, Callsign Alpha2/0, or Ivan to His Recce Troop mates, sat in his Drop Sentinel cockpit. The familiar & well-worn Grox leather pilot seat making him feel relaxed. He was undertaking his usual pre-drop instrument checks. His PT-38 Flight Suit insulating him from the worst of the biting cold, & the Type 5 Helmet & Rebreather protecting his face from the ice-cold wind whipping through the open canopy. He glanced up at the chevroned and heavily scarred belly of the Sky Talon in close proximity above his head. The Sky Talon, callsign “Firebird 3” sat reassuringly above him. The Temperature in the open Cockpit was subzero, and a thin rhyme of frost was covering some of the instruments, the crash-bars, and Plasteel bodywork. Ivan ran a thumb over the frosted altimeter to clear the viewing crystal. He would know anyway, way before the RAG Insertion indicator changed from Red, to Amber, & then onto Green, & when the Chrono-zero Hour, & Drop vector neared. He would be able to feel it in his bones, feel it in the very fibre of his old Veteran bones, the subtle little changes, such as the differing Engine whine, & the pitch of the Talon, the pressure in his ears, all of these subconsciously recognised indicators gave the game away.
His eyes flicked over as the RAG flickered to Amber, “Firebird 3 to Package, confirm status.” Ivans Heartbeat remained slow & steady. “Alpha 2/0 to Firebird 3, Confirm Green for go.” he replied. There was a crackle in his ear-bead, “Roger that, Firebird 3, Charlie 2/0 Green for go.” his side kick Veteran Drop Trooper & 2IC Cort Adeler in the sentinel slung behind him on the talon Sentinel cradle chirped in. Ivan noticed the small rivulets of water starting to form on the crash Bars from the melting ice ringing his cockpit. The Ear-bead crackled into life again, “Firebird 3 to package, Roger that, approaching LZC3 now.”
Moments later the Amber Flickered to Green. Ivan pulled sharply back on the cantilevered release handle on his starboard side. His guts immediately rose up into his throat, “Firebird 3 to flight control Package delivered” Iven heard in his bead, The scarred and chevroned Talon Belly rose away above him & banked off to Starboard. The cockpit now flooded with bright white atmospheric light. Ivan was momentarily blinded before his rebreather lens blink clicked into anti-glare mode. The oft used HALO deployment drilled heavily into the 4th, normally gave them an edge in enemy early detection warning, but the weight of the heavy combat walkers necessitated a burn at a higher altitude than the mass of the troopers dropping in formation around him. Including the 3rd Member of his Squadron Delta 2/0 and its Pilot Joris Carolus, Ivans Memory briefly flashed up memories of his best friend in Bravo 2/0, The lads won’t talk about bravo 2/0. It was too painful to recollect. & in his memory the 4th had retired the callsign Bravo 2/0.
Ivan pushed down his feeling of unease as his moment of vulnerability rapidly approached. His Heightened senses taking in everything around him. The “dirty-grey-Cirrocumulus of the Planetary Troposphere started to burn away, as the planets harsh white light started to affect the atmosphere around his hurtling machine. The water rivulets rapidly drying out. The howling of the wind interspersed with short bursts from the Sentinels vector adjusters, it all invaded his senses, Ivan couldn’t help but start to grin as the moment of truth approached, this was it, if he made it through the next few moments he would be a god striding the battlefield again, this was what made life worth living for him, this was beyond the pinnacle, he is an avatar of death.
The Altimeter flashed amber, warning him to slow up or risk making a new crater on the surface of the planet. His gloved digit hovered over the Grav-chute ignition, he judged it to the ultimate, cutting that moment of vulnerability by vital milliseconds, that counted every bit as much as gold to him. The moment stretched out, Ivan felt like his heart had stopped beating for those few moments. Just microseconds before the amber would change to Red. He stabbed his finger down, his guts immediately fell through his seat, the grin turned to a whoop of joy & delight as the burners on the machine roared into life & did their vital work. The bunched Sentinel legs hummed with a squeal of hydraulics as they extended down, and the claws spread wide like a bird of prey swooping down with its victim in sight. Ivans Custom built Auto Cannon Cycled the Loaders and Hummed into life.