Wonaby

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Wonaby (沃那比)
Alias(es)	Great Serpent of Old Terra 98
Species/Race	Astartes / Space Marine
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Forged Steel Brethren / Forged Steel Chapter (formerly, as an undercover operative); Hydra Legion / Alpha Legion
Occupation/Role	Captain; Peter’s second-in-command; First Company Commander
Status	Expelled from the Forged Steel Chapter; departed aboard the Great Ajax for the Eye of Terror with his loyalists 357
First Appearance	Homeworld 2

Background / History

Wonaby served beside Peter from their time within the Iron Warriors Legion. They fought together against a Sons of Horus warband, later joined the brothers who chose to leave the Legion, and continued to fight side by side during the First Black Crusade. He was among those who helped extract the gravely wounded Peter from the Traitor King’s Cage. 357

His apparent Iron Warriors identity concealed a deeper mission. Wonaby was a Hydra Legion operative sent to infiltrate the Iron Warriors and approach Peter in order to gather intelligence concerning humanity’s future. A Servitor trigger later restored his suppressed memories, revealing that ten Hydra Legionnaires, including Apothecary Dioscorides, had infiltrated the warband. 98

After his memories returned, Wonaby learned that Peter’s expedition to the Traitor King’s Cage was connected to an Imperial hope for the future. He remained wary of cooperation with Eldar and Necrons, but accepted his Legion’s position that opposition to Chaos justified the alliance. 98

Wonaby’s identical Hydra Legion twin subsequently donned his armour and assumed his identity for a covert mission. This impersonation complicated Inquisitor Dorian’s dealings with the warband: Dorian could not distinguish the two outwardly, but recognized a difference in their conduct. 98 174

Peter eventually uncovered Wonaby’s true gene-seed lineage and the network of Alpha Legion operatives embedded throughout the Chapter. Wonaby admitted that his original approach to Peter had been mission-driven, but insisted that his years of brotherhood with Peter and the Chapter had become genuine. Peter could not bring himself to execute him, instead expelling Wonaby and his loyalists. 355 356 357

Appearance

Wonaby is a bald Astartes whose face, voice, height, and armour can be replicated exactly by his twin. 98 174

• Wore silver-grey Forged Steel Brethren armour during his service in the warband.
• Used Assault Pattern Power Armour while commanding First Company operations. 299 308
• Trained and fought in Ironclad Pattern Terminator Armour. 106
• His Terminator loadout included a Power Sword and Chainfist. 106 107

Personality

Wonaby is disciplined, calm under pressure, and notably capable at communicating with both Astartes and mortal troops. His command style combines decisive orders with tactical flexibility; he adjusts quickly to changing conditions and earns followers through encouragement and personal attention. 93

He is also politically pragmatic. Early in the warband’s history, he believed mortals were expendable assets and saw potential utility in controlled Chaos worship among them, though he agreed that the battle-brothers themselves should avoid corruption. 5

Despite his covert allegiance, Wonaby developed sincere loyalty toward Peter and the Forged Steel Brethren. His confession frames his divided loyalties as a genuine conflict: he believed his Legion’s mission protected humanity’s future, while also regarding his fellow warriors as brothers. 356 357

Abilities & Skills

Astartes Combat Skill

Wonaby is an agile and technically skilled close-combat fighter, favouring speed, feints, reach, and positioning over direct contests of strength.

• Circles opponents to create openings and uses his Power Sword’s reach to pressure them. 107
• Demonstrated enough speed and precision to kill an Ork sentry with a Chainfist strike to the head during the B-002 flagship raid. 82
• Swiftly killed an Ork guard after the Terminator squad’s teleportation mishap. 81
• Trained newly promoted First Company veterans and identified a 0.3-second delay in their reactions. 356

Terminator Armour Operation

Wonaby showed unusual natural aptitude with Terminator Armour despite limited initial training.

• Moved comfortably in Ironclad Pattern Terminator Armour, leading Peter to judge that he possessed greater natural piloting talent than Peter himself. 106
• Used real weapons during sparring, with reduced Disintegration Field output as a safety measure. 107
• Activated the armour’s built-in shield generator to block a melta blast. 121
• His speed and familiarity with the armour initially pressured Peter, though Peter ultimately defeated him through a defensive counterattack. 107

Primarch Blood

Wonaby carries a modified incisor containing the blood of Primarch Alpharius. Breaking the tooth releases the blood and temporarily enhances him. 124

• Greatly increases his strength, speed, and perception. 124
• Allowed him to read and counter Zarakarniel’s attacks in close combat. 124
• Used the enhancement to break the Greater Daemon’s leg, drive his Chainfist into her abdomen, and behead her while protecting the poisoned Peter’s evacuation. 124

Command and Tactics

Wonaby is regarded as an all-round commander whose combat ability, organisational skill, and rapport with troops make him suited for higher command. 93

• Commanded a Rhino-mounted flanking force against Chaos cultists. 30
• Jointly directed the cleanup of an Ork resource point with Thor and Benjamin, coordinating Astartes breaches with Mortal Auxiliary consolidation. 93
• Took command after Peter’s incapacitation and ordered Anthony and Filon to evacuate him while he held off Zarakarniel. 124
• Directed the fleet’s orderly Warp withdrawal after the Traitor King’s Cage operation. 136
• Planned for First Company to decapitate the Ork Boss during the B-002 sterilization operation. 192
• Converted the collapse of Ork morale after Grugger Big-Claw’s death into an artillery-supported counterattack on the Ork fortress. 193
• Led First Company veterans in repelling Word Bearers Terminators boarding the Holy Fury Hammer. 245

Covert Operations

Wonaby is an Alpha Legion infiltrator trained to maintain a false identity and act through concealed networks.

• Lived within the Forged Steel Brethren as an apparent Iron Warriors veteran. 98 357
• Operated as part of a ten-member Hydra Legion cell within the warband. 98
• Worked with his identical twin to enable an armour-and-identity substitution. 98
• Used deliberate investigative detours while accompanying Inquisitor Dorian in order to conceal the true objective of their mission. 147

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Power Sword — primary close-combat weapon, used in Terminator training and against Zarakarniel. 106 124
• Chainfist — used for breaching and anti-armour strikes; its monomolecular teeth disabled Zarakarniel. 82 124
• Assault Cannon — expended while holding a junction against daemonic forces. 123 124
• Ironclad Pattern Terminator Armour — includes a built-in shield generator. 106 121
• Assault Pattern Power Armour — worn during later Chapter service. 299 308
• Modified incisor containing Alpharius’ blood — activates his temporary Primarch-blood enhancement. 124

Relationships

• Peter — Longtime battle-brother, warband lord, and later Chapter Master. Wonaby served as Peter’s trusted second-in-command, saved him during the Traitor King’s Cage operation, and later betrayed Peter by revealing his Alpha Legion allegiance. 98 124 357
• Anthony — Fellow senior warrior. Wonaby ordered Anthony to evacuate the incapacitated Peter and received Anthony’s Power Sword before confronting Zarakarniel. 124
• Filon — Fellow senior warrior and Voidsmith. Wonaby ordered Filon to help evacuate Peter during the daemon attack. 124
• Dioscorides — Apothecary and fellow Hydra Legion infiltrator; one of the ten Legion members embedded in the warband. 98 355 356
• Unnamed twin — Identical Hydra Legion Astartes who replaced Wonaby’s armour and identity for a covert mission. 98
• Inquisitor Dorian — Covert associate and chess opponent. Wonaby argued that Peter would ultimately return to Imperial service, while Dorian outmanoeuvred him in Emperor’s Chess. 172
• Major General Adonis — Naval commander whom Wonaby shielded from a Word Bearers Terminator attack during the boarding assault on the Holy Fury Hammer. 233
• Luoyu — Captured xenos whose prophecy Wonaby judged worth bringing before Peter rather than immediately executing. 343

Story Role / Major Arcs

• Founding of the Forged Steel Brethren — Leaves the Iron Warriors alongside Peter and other survivors, becoming one of the warband’s senior officers. 357
• Limnos III and early warband campaigns — Supports Peter’s decision to establish Limnos III as the warband’s homeworld and commands mobile forces during the fight against Chaos cultists. 2 30
• B-002 Ork War — Participates in the Ork flagship decapitation raid, directs ground operations, and helps turn the Orks’ loss of leadership into defeat. 81 82 93 192 193
• Traitor King’s Cage — Acts as Peter’s second-in-command, trains in Terminator Armour, protects Peter from Zarakarniel, and temporarily assumes command after the mission. 106 124 136
• First Company Command — Becomes First Company Commander and is repeatedly entrusted with Chapter-wide command responsibilities during Peter’s absences. 187 344
• War against the Word Bearers — Defends Major General Adonis during a boarding action and coordinates with Peter through psionic communications as the Imperial fleet falls into danger. 233 246
• Shadow Starport — Leads First Company warriors in the capture of Councilor Luoyu and supports Peter’s decision to investigate her prophecy. 342 343
• Exposure and expulsion — His Alpha Legion gene-seed and covert network are uncovered; after confessing his divided loyalty, he leaves the Chapter with his followers. 355 356 357

Notable Quotes

“I remember.” 98

“No, it's not like that. I did come with a mission from the Legion, but our brotherhood is not fake.” 356

Trivia

• Wonaby was considered the most outstanding of Thor, Benjamin, and himself during the Ork cleanup operation, particularly because he combined combat prowess, command ability, and troop morale. 93
• Peter initially wanted Wonaby to remain behind during the Traitor King’s Cage expedition because he was the warband’s most trusted rear-area commander, but Wonaby insisted on joining the mission. 106
• Inquisitor Dorian considered the two identical Hydra Legionnaires distinguishable only through a subtle difference in politeness. 174