Kill Team: Into the Dark launches us into the stygian depths of the Gallowdark as Imperial Navy Breacher teams battle the Kroot Farstalker Kinbands over the space hulk’s secrets... But who are these brave men and women of the Imperial Navy?
The Imperial Navy is the physical manifestation of the Imperium’s power. From hulking Emperor-class battleships to agile Lightning fighters, the vessels of the Navis Imperialis enforce the Emperor’s will and secure void supremacy across vast expanses. The Navy patrols interstellar shipping lanes, transports warriors to battle, and engages enemy starfleets – it can even destroy whole planets!
Make no mistake, the Imperial Navy is truly colossal – it has to be, with a whole Imperium to defend. The Navy splits its attention between five immense galactic regions known as Segmentae Majoris, each under the command of a High Lord Admiral. These great territories are then broken down into more manageable sectors and assigned a Battlefleet, each named after the warzone it’s sworn to protect, such as the renowned Battlefleet Gothic.
Battlefleets comprise scores of immense warships and countless support craft, from nimble frigates to massive battleships, and on each ship hundreds of thousands of souls toil under the harsh discipline of the Navis Imperialis. From command ranks and crucial specialists like Astropaths and Navigators down to the lowly gunnery ratings of a ship's crew, every voidfarer has a vital part to play.
It’s safe to say we’ve not seen many miniatures representing the dutiful crew of the Imperial Navy before. Long-serving veterans may remember a downed pilot as part of the Battle for Macragge set, but other than that unlucky crewman and some members of high command – and technically the pilots of the Aeronautica Imperialis, who fall under the Navy’s remit – that's about it.*
While famous boarding actions of the 41st Millennium usually focus on the Adeptus Astartes, the lion's share of ship-to-ship assaults fall on the broad shoulders of the Imperial Navy's Breacher teams. While they have been present in the rich lore of Warhammer 40,000 for decades, and we’ve seen some fantastic illustrations of the Imperial Navy, with Into the Dark we can now finally use them in our battles.
This fantastic new range truly does justice to the finest traditions of the Imperial Navy, showing not only their baroque-yet-functional styling but also demonstrating just how lethal these guys really are… stand aside, Space Marines. You won’t be needed on the Gallowdark.**
Clad in void armour to protect against the crushing vacuum or enemy fire, and armed with the finest weapons the Emperor – or at least, the quartermaster – can provide, the Imperial Navy Breacher team can be assembled in a variety of ways, to take on the enemy with the right tools for the job. Get up close and personal with shield and shotgun, or stealthily scout out the lie of the land with the help of a disposable C.A.T. unit.
With such a glorious legacy to uphold you can be sure that the Imperial Navy will fight tooth and nail for every inch of the Gallowdark.
* Of course there was the fantastic Battlefleet Gothic game that featured Imperial Navy warships… but you’d have had to squint really hard to make out the crew.
** Though a kill team of Intercessors may well thrive in narrow corridors and corners.