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{{infoBoxMilitaryCommand
| image = [[File:Shadow Division 40th logo.png‎|150px|Insignia of the 40th Shadow Division]]
| Designation = 40th Shadow Division
| Formed =
| Disbanded =
| Previous Designation =
| Nickname = Sariel's Conquerors
| Affiliation = [[Word of Blake]]
| Parent Command = [[Shadow Divisions]]
| Sub-Command =
}}

==Unit Description==
The '''Fortieth Shadow Division''' was the first of the [[Word of Blake|Word of Blake's]] "hidden" units. The unit was partially comprised of the Blakists' hyper-elite cybernetically enhanced warriors known as the [[Manei Domini]]. The Fortieth was known for its exploits in [[Sian]] Combat Theater and on Hesperus II during the [[Jihad]].

==History==
===Jihad===
Two [[Level II]]s of the Fortieth Division landed on [[Tharkad]], hunting down resistance cells. They fought the [[Royal Guards]] and [[24th Lyran Guards]] several times: Once in the ruins of Tharkad's main spaceport,<ref>''Jihad Turning Points: Tharkad'', p. 8</ref> in the Mako Valley,<ref>''Jihad Turning Points: Tharkad'', p. 9</ref> and again on the Taytana Islands.<ref>''Jihad Turning Points: Tharkad'', p. 10</ref> Though they were stationed on Tharkad between 3068 and 3071, they did not sustain many losses and were able to assist other elements of the Division in their tasks.<ref>''Jihad Turning Points: Tharkad'', p. 6</ref>

The Fortieth captured [[Hesperus II]] in [[3070]]<ref name=tro3050>''Technical Readout: 3050 Upgrade'', p. 210</ref> with the [[38th Division (Word of Blake)|38th Division]] as part of [[Operation STEEL HAMMER]]. This was made possible after other Blakist forces slowly weakened the planet's defenses after years of lightning raids. Due to the importance of the [[Defiance Industries]] facilities, the Fortieth remained stationed on the planet, becoming a conduit for replacement machines and weaponry to the rest of the Blakist militia.<ref>''Jihad Secrets: The Blake Documents'', p. 24: "Operation: Steel Hammer" - 40th and frails of 38th Division successfully take Hesperus II</ref><ref name=JTP:Hp7>''Jihad Turning Points: Hesperus II'', p. 7: "Fortieth Shadow Division [Word of Blake] (March 3068–December 3074)"</ref>

In May [[3073]], a large portion of the Fortieth traveled off-world to spearhead a raid against [[Arcturus]], backed up by the [[Burr's Black Cobras]] [[mercenary unit]] and elements of the [[2nd Word of Blake Division|2nd Division]], inflicting significant damage but not before suffering heavy losses of their own.<ref name=tpa10>''Turning Points: Arcturus'', p. 10</ref> The Fortieth disappeared after suddenly withdrawing from Arcturus, before finally returning to Hesperus three months later.<ref name=BD>''Jihad Secrets: The Blake Documents'', p. 103</ref> In September, elements of the Division linked up with the [[52nd Shadow Division]] in a strike on [[Caledonia]] which was to destroy the [[22nd Skye Rangers]]. The Division had returned to Hesperus II where it became fully operational in time to face [[Devlin Stone|Devlin Stone's]] Coalition force in November of [[3074]]. After month of fighting the Coalition force successfully took the planet.<ref name=JTPHIIp5/>

The Division's status was reportedly sketchy, estimating it being only at three [[Level III]] strength. It was not made clear if the division slipped away from the planet, or remained in hiding.<ref>''Jihad Secrets: The Blake Documents'', p. 104: "40th Shadow Division later exploits beyond 3073"</ref>

The last known location of the 40th was Hesperus II, where they held Maria's Elegy, the planet's capital where they held at bay [[Clan Wolf]]'s [[Delta Galaxy (Clan Wolf)|Delta Galaxy]] and [[Stone's Lament]], and retreated only after the fall of [[Defiance Industries]] complexes and mauling also a nighttime combat drop by the [[First Skye Jaegers]].<ref name=JTPHIIp5>''Jihad Turning Points: Hesperus II'', p. 5: "The Battle for Hesperus II"</ref>

The Division is reported as Missing in Action during the end of the Jihad.<ref>''Jihad: Final Reckoning'', p. 125: "Shadow Divisions Status"</ref>

==Officers==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! scope="col" width="220" style="background: #dedede;" | Rank
! scope="col" width="220" style="background: #dedede;" | Name
! scope="col" width="220" style="background: #dedede;" | Command
|-
| colspan="4" style="background: #efefef;" | '''Commanding Officers of the 40th Shadow Division'''
|-
| [[Precentor]] Omega||[[Sariel]]||February [[3068]] - December [[3074]]<ref>''Jihad Turning Points: Sian'', p. 6: "Combatants"</ref><ref name=tro3050/><ref name=JTPHIIp5>''Jihad Turning Points: Hesperus II'', p. 5: "The Battle for Hesperus II"</ref>
|-
|}

===Other Unit Officers===
* [[Phantom (Manei Domini Rank)|Phantom]] [[Demi-Precentor|Demi-Precentor Delta]] [[Laodices]], [[MechWarrior (pilot)|MechWarrior]] during the Jihad.<ref name=jtph2p18>''Jihad Turning Points: Hesperus II'', p. 18: "Death from Above"</ref><ref name=TRO75p180>''Technical Readout: 3075'', p. 180: "GLH-2D Galahad"</ref>
* [[Poltergeist (Manei Domini Rank)|Poltergeist]] [[Adept|Adept Omega]] [[Noelani Amisal]], [[aerospace fighter|aerospace]] pilot during the Jihad.<ref name=TRO75p100>''Technical Readout: 3075'', p. 100: "S-RSL-O Rusalka"</ref>

==Tactics==
Unknown.

==Composition History==
===3070===
*[[Level IV|Division]] (Elite)<ref name=JTP:Hp7/>

===3074===
* Estimated 3 [[Level III]] formations
:* Named Ones:
:** '''Creeping Death''' III-zeta<ref name=jtph2p12>''Jihad Turning Points: Hesperus II'', p. 12: "The Shadow Descends"</ref>

==Notes==
* Rules for the Fortieth Shadow Division can be found in ''[[Jihad Secrets: The Blake Documents]]''.<ref>''Jihad Secrets: The Blake Documents'', p. 142: "Rules Annex" - 40th Shadow Division special abilities</ref><ref name=tpa10/><ref name=JTP:Hp7/>

==Reference==
<references />

==Bibliography==
* ''[[Jihad: Final Reckoning]]''
* ''[[Jihad Secrets: The Blake Documents]]''
* ''[[Jihad Turning Points: Hesperus II]]''
* ''[[Jihad Turning Points: Sian]]''
* ''[[Jihad Turning Points: Tharkad]]''
* ''[[Technical Readout: 3050 Upgrade]]''
* ''[[Technical Readout: 3075]]''
* ''[[Turning Points: Arcturus]]''

[[Category:Word of Blake Commands|Shadow Division, 40th]]

40th Shadow Division - Revision history

imported>Fish at 09:40, 9 February 2025