Editing Vael Donatus (Ultramarines) (section)

== History ==
While still in service with the [[:Category:Ultramarines|Ultramarines]], Donatus's Sternguard squadron once supported a Third Company strike force under the command of [[Chaplain Ortan Cassius]], during the liberation of the Imperial city of Skemarchus from the Orks. He was commended by both his squad, in particular his line officer Sergeant Tatianus, and by Cassius, for bringing down an Ork Mekboy wearing a very durable suit of Mega Armourwith only two shots.

He initially criticized Cassius for his seemingly reckless tactics when the Space Marinesattempted to secure the city's spaceport so allied Astra Militarum forces could land and fortify the area; Cassius favoured using the momentum of their initial insertion to push the greenskins away from the spaceport, whereas Tatianus wished to establish a firebase and break down the Orks' forces piece by piece. Ultimately, Cassius pushed on anyway and the Sternguard had no choice but to follow and support the strike force's commanding officer in an attack on a nearby factorium that the Orks were using to construct their war machines.

Donatus went on to save Cassius's life when he was pinned by rubble brought down by an Ork Gargant. Firing a single Dragonfire shell at a nearby fuel pump, he set off a chain reaction that resulted in the ground collapsing, causing the Gargant and many of the Orks to plunge into the lava river beneath Skemarchus. Despite Donatus's normally restrained temperament, Cassius stoked the fires of rage inside him and he went on to join the Ultramarines' push through the city. The Ultramarines were successful, but several were killed during the fighting for the city.

After being selected to join the ranks of the Deathwatch, Donatus went on to become a member of Kill Team Cassius, once more serving under Cassius's command. He was part of the Kill-Team when they were tasked with hunting down the Ork Warlord Drogg Mordakka after it escaped death following the defeat of Waaagh! Mek.

Arriving in the Vadol Majoris System aboard the Gladius Frigate ''Veritas'', the kill team received a distress signal from the Imperial station Port Cepheus as soon as they dropped out of the Warp indicating that the station was under attack by xenos life forms. Assuming that the distress call was referring to Mordakka, the kill team responded, only to find the station crew slaughtered and the facility overrun by Genestealers.

After repelling a Genestealer ambush, the kill team discovered that the Genestealers had arrived on the station by hiding aboard the freighter ''Pride of Ghosar''. Acting on orders received from Watch Commander Quovis Vaerion, Cassius split the kill team into two. Donatus remained with the main Kill Team Cassius, while Kill Team Excis left the station aboard the ''Pride of Ghosar'' to track the source of the Genestealer infestation.

In M41, Vael Donatus took part in the purging of a Genestealer Cult on Ghosar Quintus as part of Cassius's new Kill Team, assembled in secret at the urging of Watch Captain Seumas. Together, the Marines were able to avenge Kill Team Excis.

In more recent years Donatus undertook the process to become a Primaris marine, and continues to serve the Deathwatch as part of Kill Team Cassius.

[[Category:Adeptus Astartes]]
[[Category:Intercessor]]
[[Category:Ultramarines]]
[[Category:Kill Team Cassius]]