The Deathwatch are uniquely organized in that the veteran Space Marines that make

up the Deathwatch are drawn from many different Chapters. They are then specially
trained in small units called Kill Teams to counter Xeno threats and are sworn to
serve an open-ended term with the Deathwatch. When they return to their Chapter of
origin, they take their knowledge, as well as supplies of specialist anti-alien
weaponry, with them.
The Space Marine Legions and subsequent Second Founding Successor Chapters
were bound by an ancient oath to provide troops to the Deathwatch. However,
particularly among some of the more radical Space Marine Chapters, this can be a
great test of duty, especially for those like the Dark Angels or the Black Templars
that see the Inquisition as corrupt and an enemy of the independence of the Adeptus
Astartes.
Although there is no question of any Chapter or Space Marine failing to fulfill their
ancient pledges, Chapters like the Iron Hands, Dark Angels, Space Wolves and
Blood Angels have a notoriously strained relationship with the Inquisition. It is not
unheard of for Radical Ordo Xenos Inquisitors to find the secondment of Deathwatch
troops to their command facilitated by aiding one of these Space Marines Chapters
against the political machinations of a Puritanical Ordo Heriticus Inquisitor.
Other Chapters such as the Ultramarines, Crimson Fists and Imperial Fists have a
far closer relationship with the Inquisition as a whole and the Ordo Xenos itself.
Marines from these Chapters are more frequently and in greater number inducted into
the Deathwatch, although a Kill Team may be made up of any variety of Marines as
the resources of the Ordo Xenos Chamber Militant are moved around the galaxy. The
Space Marines making up a Deathwatch Kill Team can vary hugely in philosophy,
culture and custom but are bound together by their loyalty to the Emperor and their
zealous hatred of the alien enemies of mankind. A Space Marine will remain with the
Deathwatch until the Inquisitor leading the detachment deems that necessary tasks
have been completed so that he may return to his Chapter with honor.

They operate in individual Tactical Squads, known as Kill Teams. Each Kill Team
will be led by an Inquisitor, Brother-Captain or Librarian.

The highly perilous and vital nature of their missions means that Deathwatch Kill
Teams have access to exceedingly rare or advanced equipment, such as Heavy Bolter
Gyro Suspensors, M.40 targeters, and numerous types of specialist ammunition, such
as the fragmentation Metal Storm shells or the high-powered Kraken penetrator bolts.
If the situation offers no alternative, they will utilize advanced alien weaponry and
equipment to accomplish their mission. The Deathwatch often utilises unconventional
means of insertion, such as teleportation, high altitude grav-chute drops and Demiurg
Termite tanks.
Sometimes, the situation may be more than even a dozen elite Space Marines can
handle, and because of this, Deathwatch Space Marines are able to freely requisition
any and all Imperial forces they deem necessary to complete their task, from
individual Brother Space Marines of other Chapters to entire regiments of the
Imperial Guard. A member of the Deathwatch speaks with the full authority of the
Inquisition and also possess the unlimited (in theory) authority of that organization
and its servants.

When a Space Marine is granted the honour of becoming a member of the

Deathwatch, he will ritually repaint his Power Armour black, regardless of the
original Chapter colour scheme. As it is believed to be an insult to the armour's
machine spirit if the armour is completely repainted, the shoulder plate bearing the
original Chapter's symbol is left untouched and is moved to the right shoulder. The
now vacant shoulder is covered with an ornate Deathwatch Chapter symbol (the
Inquisitorial I with a skull in its centre superimposed over lines of text) and the whole
of the left arm and shoulder guard are painted silver.