Space Marines

"They shall be pure of heart and strong of body, untainted by doubt and unsullied by self-aggrandisement. They will be bright stars in a firmament of battle, Angels of Death whose shining wings bring swift annihilation to the enemies of Man. So shall it be for a thousand times a thousand years, unto the very end of eternity and the extinction of mortal flesh." - Roboute Guilliman, Primarch of the Ultramarines

The Space Marines or Adeptus Astartes are foremost amongst the defenders of humanity, the greatest of the Emperor of Mankind's warriors. They are barely human at all anymore, but superhuman; having been made superior in all respects to a normal man by a harsh regime of genetic modification, psycho-conditioning and rigorous training. Space Marines are untouched by plague or any natural disease and can suffer wounds that would kill a lesser being several times over, and live to fight again. Clad in ancient Power Armour and wielding the most potent weapons known to man, the Space Marines are terrifying foes and their devotion to the Emperor and the Imperium of Man is unbreakable. They are the God-Emperor's Angels of Death, and they know no fear.

Potential Space Marines are usually, but not always, recruited from the worlds where a Chapter has established its Fortress-Monastery, although some Chapters are known to recruit from a collection of different worlds in an area of space that they protect or frequent. Recruiting methods vary from Chapter to Chapter. Some select their initiates from feral tribes roaming the surface of inhospitable worlds, while others draw upon eager volunteers who have been groomed from birth to become an Astartes. Still others watch and kidnap potential warriors, turning them into Astartes whether they will it or not. Whatever the method, all Space Marine Chapters will only accept those who successfully pass the grueling initiation trials and prove themselves worthy of becoming a Space Marine.

How a man becomes a Space Marine is irrelevant: once his body has been forged into that of a superhuman Astartes, he must forever stand apart from the people to whom he was once kin and who he is now sworn to protect. Once a man becomes a Space Marine, he is no longer mortal; his genetic heritage is now that of the Emperor himself, and a spark of the same majesty flows in his veins.

There are approximately 1,000 Space Marine Chapters active in the Imperium of Man at any one time since the Second Founding in the 31st Millennium following the Horus Heresy when the First Founding Space Marine Legions were broken up; this number is far from exact and may fluctuate widely.

Origins
The Space Marines are the Imperium of Man’s supreme warriors. Genetically-enhanced to be the ultimate soldiers, they are far stronger and more resilient than ordinary human beings. Space Marines are organised into roughly a thousand Chapters, with each Chapter numbering approximately a thousand warriors organised into ten companies of a hundred troops each. Each Chapter is a self-sufficient Imperial army, equipped with its own spacecraft and capable of responding at a moment’s notice to any threat to the security of the Imperium. Every Chapter is fiercely proud of its history and achievements, and each one has its own distinctive colours and heraldic markings. These were established at the Chapter’s founding and are displayed with pride upon all of its armour and vehicles. All of the wargear of the Space Marines is painstakingly maintained, and many items are covered in lines of intricately rendered devotional script in High Gothic, each line detailing a battle honour won in a glorious campaign. A Space Marine is a towering warrior, his brute strength tempered by inhuman skill. He is armed with the fearsome Bolter, a blessed weapon that fires devastating, mass-reactive shells that explode within the flesh of the target. He is protected by a suit of Power Armour, shielding him from the fiercest of enemy fire whilst simultaneously strengthening his blows and allowing him to survive the most hostile of environments. He is the product of intensive training and genetic manipulation, which transforms mortal men selected from the deadliest warrior races in the known galaxy into the most lethal of superhuman killing machines in Mankind's arsenal.

Of the one thousand or more Space Marine Chapters thought to be in existence, a blessed few can trace their beginnings back to a time more than ten thousand years ago in the 31st Millennium, when the blessed Emperor of Mankind still walked among mortals. In those days, the Emperor created the Primarchs, twenty immortal superhumans who were to be his generals and closest comrades during the Great Crusade to reunite the scattered and long-isolated Human worlds after the end of the Age of Strife. The Primarchs wielded powers the like of which are not known in the Imperium today. The first Space Marines of the nascent Imperium were also the creation of that era, each made using the genetic inheritance of one of the Primarchs, albeit diluted a hundred times, for no merely human body could contain such power. Each Primarch led a Legion of Space Marines, each a formation considerably larger than the later Space Marine Chapters, numbering tens of thousands of Astartes. The names of many of the Primarchs echo down the millennia, and the tales of their deeds are legendary. Names such as Lion El’Jonson, Leman Russ, Rogal Dorn, and the angel-winged Sanguinius are spoken of with awe on worlds where Mankind dwells. They command a reverence second only to that afforded the Emperor himself. Other names are cursed wherever men gather, for many Primarchs rebelled against the Emperor and followed Horus, mightiest of their number, when he raised his standard against Mankind.

At the very height of the Emperor’s Great Crusade, Horus led his Traitor Legions against those who stood loyal at the Emperor’s side. Hundreds of worlds burned in the name of the Dark Gods, and a terror unlike any seen before was unleashed. Much of the truth of these times has been lost, obscured by the mists of time or embellished to the point where giants bestrode worlds with thunderous steps and the planets themselves cracked and split at their tread.

The traitorous forces of the rebel Warmaster Horus drove all before them, until those Astartes Legions still loyal to the Master of Mankind stood at bay upon the fortified walls of the Imperial Palace on Terra. The forces of darkness pressed in around the guttering flame of humanity, but desperate times called for desperate solutions. Sanguinius of the Blood Angels and Rogal Dorn of the Imperial Fists, together with their bravest warriors, would accompany the Emperor and take the fight to Horus upon his battle-barge the Vengeful Spirit, a mighty warship in orbit above Terra. The Emperor and his warriors teleported onto Horus’ battle-barge but found themselves separated and scattered throughout the corrupt vessel by means of the Warmaster's dark sorcery. The Emperor fought his way to the Warmaster but was too late to save Sanguinius, who Horus slew when the angelic Primarch refused to turn to Chaos. Yet, some maintain that Sanguinius inflicted a wound, however small, upon his erstwhile brother. Horus and the Emperor clashed in a battle of both flesh and spirit. Horus was filled with the power of the Ruinous Powers and dealt the Emperor a mortal blow, but in the end, the Emperor’s will was the greater, and Horus was struck down with the last ounce of the Emperor’s strength. The traitor was destroyed utterly, in body and soul and, with his death, the power of the Traitor Legions was broken. When Dorn and his warriors finally fought their way into the rebel Warmaster’s sanctum, they found the Emperor’s broken and ruined body, and it is said that their cries of woe were heard far below on Terra itself. Rogal Dorn, most determined and unbending of the Primarchs, bore his master’s body back to Terra and, under the direction of the crippled Emperor, bound him within the strange psychic augmentation device known as the Golden Throne to sustain his existence for all eternity with constant sacrifice and baroque machineries. The followers of the Ruinous Powers were defeated, but it was victory won at a terrible cost. The brotherhood of the Primarchs was sundered, and the Emperor’s vision for the Imperium and all of Mankind lay in ruins—the last, best hope of its fulfilment lost forever. The galactic empire for humanity the Emperor had forged was all but destroyed, and it was to take many more years of brutal warfare before all the Traitor forces were defeated and driven into the hellish chaos of the Eye of Terror. The death toll numbered in the billions, and uncounted worlds had been left as little more than corpse-haunted wastelands as the raging inferno of the Horus Heresy was finally extinguished, though Mankind still teetered on the very brink of extinction.

The Horus Heresy had revealed weaknesses in the gene-seed of several of the early Space Marine Legions, which had been exacerbated by the need to keep the huge formations up to strength in the terrible wars being fought during the Great Crusade. The insidious powers of Chaos had been able to manipulate this corruption to turn Horus and many of the Space Marines under his command against the Emperor. Once Horus was defeated, it was decided that the forces of the Imperium would be reorganised so that a similar catastrophe could not be repeated. The Space Marine Legions were divided up to create one Chapter of the same name as the founding Legion and a number of new Chapters with new names. This event was called the Second Founding, and over two dozen further Foundings have occurred in the ten millennia since. It is not known exactly how many Chapters were created in the aftermath of the Horus Heresy, as many of the Imperium’s records are incomplete or lost entirely, and whole Chapters have been created and destroyed in the millennia that have followed. What is known is that there are just over a thousand Chapters scattered across the Imperium, each a brotherhood of the very finest warriors Humanity has ever called to service.

The Codex Astartes
In the wake of the calamity that was the Horus Heresy, the foundations of the present-day Imperium were laid down. The first High Lords of Terra established the structure by which the Adeptus Terra operated, and described the feudal responsibilities and duties of the Planetary Governors. One of the most important accomplishments was the reorganisation of the Imperium's military forces. This was undertaken almost single-handedly by the Primarch of the Ultramarines Legion, Roboute Guilliman, who with his characteristic speed and efficiency codified the structure of the Imperial Guard, the Imperial Navy, and the Space Marines. Of all of his works, the most influential is the Codex Astartes, the great prescriptive tome that lays down the basic organisational and tactical rules for a Space Marine Chapter. The Codex Astartes decreed that Space Marines would be created and trained over a controlled period of time. The genetic banks used to cultivate the organ implants that turn a normal man into a mighty Astartes would be carefully monitored, and cultivated organs would be subject to the most stringent tests of genetic purity. Young Initiates would undergo rigorous trials of physical and psychological suitability before they were accepted, and only those of the highest calibre would be chosen. On Terra, the Adeptus Terra created genetic repositories to produce and store Space Marine gene-seed. These banks were used to provide new gene-seed for the creation of new Space Marines and, to prevent cross-contamination, the genetic material of each of the old Legions was isolated. Henceforth, the new Space Marine Chapters would receive gene-seed only from their own genetic stock. The gene-seed of the Chaos Space Marines' Traitor Legions was placed under a time-locked stasis seal, although at the time, many believed these dangerous stocks of tainted genetic material should be destroyed. By taking direct control of their genetic stocks, the Tech-priests of the Adeptus Mechanicus could ultimately control the Space Marines. Now they alone had the power to destroy or create Space Marine Chapters at will. The Second Founding of the Space Marines was decreed seven years after the death of Horus. The existing Space Marine Legions were broken down and re-founded as smaller, more flexible formations. Where the old Legions were unlimited in size, the new formations were fixed at approximately one thousand Astartes. This corresponded to the existing Astartes unit within some Legions called the Chapter, and in future the Chapter was recognised as the standard autonomous Space Marine formation. No longer would one man have power over a force as powerful as a Space Marine Legion. The existing Space Marine Legions were divided into new Chapters. One Chapter kept the name, badge and colours of the original Legion, while the remaining Chapters took on new titles, badges and colours. Most of the old Legions were divided into fewer than five Chapters, but the Ultramarines, being by far the largest of the Legions, were divided many times. The exact number of new Chapters created from the Ultramarines is uncertain: the number listed in the oldest known copy of the Codex Astartes (the so-called Apocrypha of Skaros) gives the total as 23, but does not name them. As a result of the Second Founding, the Ultramarines’ gene-seed became the favoured genetic stock of most subsequent Astartes Foundings. The new Chapters created from the Ultramarines are often referred to as the Primogenitors, or the "first born." All of the Primogenitor Chapters venerate Roboute Guilliman as their founding father and patron. The Codex Astartes further defines the tactical roles, equipment specifications, and uniform identification markings of the Space Marines. These guidelines have evolved over the centuries, and the Codex Astartes of the 41st Millennium is a highly developed treatise combining the wisdom of hundreds of military thinkers throughout history. Some of its contents seem petty and restrictive, hardly worthy of the great mind of a Primarch. Others describe actual battles together with comments on the tactics employed and the decisions of the commanders of the day. As such, the Codex Astartes is revered as a holy text of the Imperial Cult, and many Chapters regard its recommendations as sanctified by the Emperor himself.

The Chapters that rigidly follow the word of the Codex Astartes are sometimes referred to as Codex Chapters or Codex Astartes-compliant Chapters. These Space Marines adhere to the Codex as the model for their organisation, identification markings and tactical doctrine. Of all of the Codex Chapters, the most famous is the Ultramarines, the Chapter of Roboute Guilliman himself. Most Chapters, however, do not adhere so rigidly to the Codex patterns laid down for organisation, tactical roles, or other processes. Many Chapters are organised largely according to the Codex, but are further shaped by their homeworld and the personality of their Primarch. The Blood Angels and Dark Angels are prime examples of this. A small number of Chapters are vastly different from the Codex, and owe little or nothing to its prescriptions at all. The most famous of these non-Codex Chapters are the Space Wolves, whose strong-willed Primarch Leman Russ moulded his Chapter very much in his own image, irrespective of other influences. The Adeptus Terra has never decreed it necessary to enforce the Codex absolutely. Indeed, it is doubtful whether it could if it so chose. However, with subsequent Foundings, they have always favoured the Ultramarines’ gene-seed and created many new Codex Chapters from that genetic line. With the passage of time, some of these Chapters have subsequently strayed from the strict letter of the Codex, introducing new variations on their organisation or tactical doctrine but remaining broadly faithful to the principles laid down by Roboute Guilliman many millennia before.

The history of the Imperium since the Horus Heresy is not a continuous story. There have been periods of rebellion and anarchy, times when the balance of power has suddenly changed and history has quite literally been rewritten. Many of the subsequent Foundings of Space Marine Chapters belong to these troubled times, making it almost impossible to ascertain when some Chapters have been created. It is believed that of the one thousand or more Chapters thought to be in existence today, more than half are descended from the Ultramarines, either directly or through one of their Primogenitor Chapters of the Second Founding. It is not known how many new Chapters were created by the Second Founding. Many records were lost during the Age of Apostasy, a troubled time in the 36th Millennium that bestrides the history of the Imperium like an impenetrable wall. In all likelihood, some of the Chapters created during the Second Founding have since been destroyed, leaving no records of the deeds. Others have been lost in more recent times, and their names are now all that remains of them. Each of the Chapters into which the Legiones Astartes were subdivided consisted of roughly 1,000 warriors. A large section of the Codex Astartes is dedicated to structuring the organisation of these Chapters. A Chapter consists of ten companies each numbering 100 Space Marines. The warriors of these companies are organised into ten squads of ten men led by a Sergeant. In addition to this basic fighting unit, each company has its own Captain, Standard Bearer, Chaplain, and Apothecary. Every company, with the exception of the Scout Company, maintains a pool of Rhino transports for its squads and officers. The elite 1st Company is also equipped with Land Raider tanks to carry heavily-armoured Terminator squads. It is customary for Dreadnoughts to remain with their company, as their fearsome presence bolsters the company’s fighting strength.

Space Marine Recruitment
Each Chapter of Space Marines has its own methods of recruiting young warriors to fill its ranks. Many are based on a single homeworld and recruit solely from that populace, setting trials and tests for prospective candidates to weed out all but the strongest and the most faithful. These worlds are often technologically backward with strong militaristic societies, where male children who show potential are pushed harder and harder, that they may one day have a chance to join the ranks of the Space Marines, who are often known to such peoples as ‘star warriors’, ‘sky knights,’ or similar names. Because feral worlds are rough, primitive, and untamed, their inhabitants invariably provide excellent recruits. For true aggression and nigh-psychotic killer-instinct, however, few recruits can best the murderous city-scum that roam the darkest pits of the Imperium's many hive worlds. Driven to extremes of violence by the pressures of hive world living, these merciless killers are usually ignored by the authorities. They make ideal Space Marine recruits, and whole gangs of city-scum are sometimes hunted down and made to undergo the trials. Some recruits are drawn from the more civilised worlds of the Imperium, but not very many.

Those planets used by the Space Marines as recruiting worlds are observed closely by the Chapter’s Apothecaries and Chaplains. The population’s genetic purity must be maintained, in order to conserve those qualities that serve the Space Marines’ purposes best. Their spiritual health is also maintained, to ensure that no trace of the influence of the Ruinous Powers becomes manifest. Such observations are in general carried out from a distance, and it is rare for the society to have any direct contact with, or knowledge of, the Space Marines, or in many cases even of the Imperium. The Chapter’s officers might visit the culture once a generation and will be the subject of myth and legend. These mighty warriors from beyond the stars are figures of awe, and their word is law. The nature of the trials set by the outsiders vary enormously, but all are so arduous that only a handful pass them. Those who fail may be lucky to even survive, for many trials take the form of ritual combat, the hunting of a great beast, or the performance of incredibly dangerous feats of strength and bravery. At the conclusion of the trials, those few aspirants that have been deemed worthy are taken away, invariably never to see their people again.

It is always a great honour for a family to have a son chosen by the Space Marines, even for societies with little conception of the greater galaxy beyond their world. The Space Wolves are an example of this. The Wolf Priests of the Space Wolves scour the warring tribes of their homeworld Fenris for their strongest and bravest youths, while the Ultramarines traditionally draw their candidates from the elite training barracks of a whole group of planetary systems known collectively as Ultramar, the realm of the Ultramarines. Other Chapters have no single homeworld and travel the galaxy in gigantic fleets of battleships, recruiting either from a regular series of worlds or from the war zones to which they are assigned. The Black Templars are one such example of a fleet-based Chapter, as are the Dark Angels. Once accepted, the young aspirants become Neophytes and begin their regimen of training and biological enhancement. Each Chapter has its own traditions regarding the initiation of the recruit into its legends and secrets. This process often runs parallel to the bio-genetic treatments the Neophyte must undergo. As the physical transformation proceeds, spiritual change also occurs. Both are tempered by ongoing experience on the field of battle and the rituals in which the Neophyte must participate. The nature of such rites varies enormously from one Chapter to the next. Some are solemn affairs recalling the sacrifice the Emperor made for humanity. Others are raucous celebrations drawing on the culture and nature of the Chapter’s home world. Still more are bloody and barbaric involving ritual bloodletting, scarification, or amputation. All are vital to the arcane workings of the Chapter, and his participation is a prerequisite of the Neophyte’s acceptance by his would-be brothers-in-arms. Such are the rigours of the training that many do not survive. Whether he is crippled upon the battlefield, or found spiritually wanting during a particularly exacting ritual, a Neophyte may find himself cast out, his future with the Chapter curtailed. In some instances, the Neophyte may transgress one of the many articles of Chapter law, and injury at war may prove preferable to the punishment. Many possible fates await those who fall by the wayside in this manner. Most are mind-scrubbed and become Chapter serfs—manservants and menials. The less fortunate are transformed into living, cybernetic Servitors—mindless biomechanical automatons who exist only to assist the Chapter’s Techmarines in the operation of heavy and frequently dangerous machinery. A very rare few may yet rise to positions of relative power within the Chapter’s feudal household, yet even the highest-ranked factotum is but a lowly, nameless servant in the eyes of the full Battle-Brothers.

Gene-Seed
The gene-seed of an Astartes is the foreign genetic material originally engineered using one of the Primarchs' genomes as a foundation. The gene-seed develops into the special organs that are then implanted into a potential Space Marine's body. These gene-seed organs are responsible for most of a Space Marine's physical enhancements over baseline human capability. All Space Marine gene-seed was originally cultivated by the Emperor himself from the DNA of the Emperor's 20 genetically-engineered sons (each son being the Primarch of one of the 20 Space Marine Legions of the First Founding), and is a rare and precious resource for the Space Marines of the Imperium, even in death. The biotechnology necessary to create new gene-seed has long been forgotten or lost to humanity; therefore, it must be cultivated from dead/dying Astartes warriors and returned to the Chapter's Apothecaries, who will oversee the creation of new Astartes from the Chapter's raw recruits. The gene-seed is the very essence of a Space Marine Chapter and it carries each of the characteristics that are particularly unique to a given Chapter, be they mental, physical, spiritual, or martial.

Unfortunately, Space Marine gene-seed is vulnerable to mutations over time, which can phenotypically manifest in various ways. In addition, there are various genetic flaws that have developed in the gene-seed, the majority of which derive from the particularities of each Primarch's genetic code. It is these mutations that led to the flaws in the Blood Angels' gene-seed (specifically their susceptibility to the conditions known as the Black Rage and the Red Thirst), the "Mark of the Wulfen" for the Space Wolves or the rapidly increasing rate of mutation that afflicts the Renegade Soul Drinkers Chapter.

It must also be noted that the presently existing Space Marine Chapters are more numerous than the original 20 Space Marine Legions, excluding those two Legions that were removed from Imperial records. Only the original 9 Legions that remained loyal to the Emperor during the Horus Heresy produced the numerous Space Marine Chapters of the Second Founding who share traits with their founder Chapter, which is itself the remnant of one of the Loyalist Legions.

During the recruitment and enhancement process, some initiates may not survive the rigours of training and the later medical treatments one must undergo to become a full-fledged Battle-Brother of the Chapter. First and foremost, a potential Space Marine recruit must be male, as the gene-seed and the developing Space Marine organ zygotes are compatible only with male hormones and genetics. The three following requirements also apply:


 * Space Marine initiates must be adolescents or very young adults, as the implants must be able to coordinate with a human male's natural growth hormones during adolescence to stimulate the growth and development of the various unique physiological features of a Space Marine. In specific terms, the recruit must be about 10-16 Terran standard years of age.


 * Much like a blood transfusion or organ transplant, there must be genetic compatibility between the recruit and the implants; otherwise organ failure may result, causing the recruit to die or simply degenerate into a state of madness.


 * The mental state of a potential Space Marine must also be susceptible to the various training and psycho-conditioning regimes of the Chapter and cannot be tainted by the Ruinous Powers of Chaos.

These three main criteria bar all except a minuscule percentage of human males within the Imperium of Man from becoming Space Marines. If all the tests prove successful, the potential Space Marine transforms from an initiate into a Neophyte or Scout Marine, depending on the Chapter's individual organization. The recruit is then taken to live at the Chapter's fortress-monastery where he is instructed in the ways of battle and taught the values and history of the Chapter. At this stage, organ implantation, psycho-conditioning, and physical training begin. Each step in this stage has its own dangers, ensuring that only the truly worthy initiates become Space Marines. After several years of training, conditioning, and implantation surgeries the Neophyte becomes a full Astartes, undergoes his Rites of Fire in his first combat action, and becomes a true Battle-Brother of his Chapter.

Implantation of Astartes Organs
Nineteen genetically-engineered organs grown from the Chapter's gene-seed are implanted in a Neophyte's body to further bolster his combat and survival ability should he live to become a Brother-Marine. Each implant has a high margin of catastrophic failure and physiological rejection and so only a small number of Neophytes live to become Initiates. Many Chapters have lost the knowledge needed to culture some of these implants, and therefore, must ensure these are recovered from dead Brother-Marines. Amongst the crucial implants are the Black Carapace and the Progenoid Glands, without which a Chapter would die out fairly quickly.


 * Secondary Heart - This is the first and least difficult implant to install. The Secondary Heart increases blood supply and pumping capacity and is capable of taking over entirely should the primary heart fail. It may also pump steroids into the 1st heart to give the Marine an extra "rush" on the battlefield.


 * Ossmudula - This implant strengthens the skeleton of a Space Marine by inducing the bones to absorb a ceramic-based substance administered in a Marine's diet. Within two years after the surgery, the Marine's skeleton will be larger and exponentially stronger than a normal man's; and the rib cage will be fused into a solid bone plate.


 * Biscopea - Implanted into the chest cavity, this implant massively bolsters muscle development and fiber density throughout the Marine's body by unleashing a wave of hormones. This is commonly implanted at the same time as the Ossmodula.


 * Haemastamen - Implanted into a main blood vessel like the aorta, femoral artery or vena cava, the Haemastamen alters the Marine's blood composition to carry oxygen and nutrients more efficiently.


 * Larraman's Organ - This organ manufactures Larraman Cells. These serve the same purpose as the baseline human body's platelets, but act faster and more effectively. When a Space Marine is wounded, Larraman Cells are released, attached to his leukocytes. At the site of the injury, they form scar tissue in a matter of seconds, effectively preventing massive blood loss and infection.


 * Catalepsean Node - Implanted into the back of the brain, this implant allows a Marine to avoid sleep, instead entering an almost comatose trance where they "recharge". It also allows the resting of half the brain while the other remains alert, thus removing the need for total sleep. The longest known record of any Space Marine going without rest while on active combat duty is 319 hours by a member of the Dark Angels.


 * Preomnor - The Preomnor is a decontamination chamber inside the chest cavity. It is capable of chemically analyzing ingested materials and neutralizing most known toxins. The Preomnor enables the Marine to eat normally inedible substances and resist poisons.


 * Omophagea - Implanted into the upper spinal cord, this organ is designed to absorb information and DNA related to experience or memory. This enables the Marine to gain information, in a survival or tactical sense, simply by eating an animal indigenous to an alien world.


 * Multi-lung - The multi-lung is a third lung, able to absorb oxygen from environments usually too poor in oxygen to allow normal human functioning. Breathing is accomplished through a sphincter in the trachea, allowing all three lungs to be used at full capacity. In toxic environments, a similar muscle closes off the normal lungs, thus oxygen is absorbed exclusively by the multi-lung which filters out poisonous elements.


 * Occulobe - Essentially, this organ enhances a Marine's eyesight, granting him exceptional vision and the ability to see normally in a low-light environment.


 * Lyman's Ear - This implant renders a Marine immune to dizziness and nausea (seeCochlea), and enables a Marine to consciously filter out "white noise".


 * Sus-an Membrane - This implant allows a Space Marine to enter a catatonic or "suspended animation" state. It can allow a mortally wounded Astartes to survive his injuries, and bring the metabolism to a standstill. The longest recorded period of this state was with Brother Silas Err of the Dark Angels for 567 years.


 * Melanochrome - Linked to pigment cells in the skin, this allows the Astartes' skin to shield him from otherwise dangerous levels of radiation and heat.


 * Oolitic Kidney - This organ works in conjunction with the Preomnor, filtering the blood to remove toxins.


 * Neuroglottis - This organ implanted in the mouth allows an Astartes to assess a wide variety of things simply by taste. From poisons to chemicals to animals, a Space Marine can even track his quarry by taste alone.
 * Mucranoid - Altering the Astartes' sweat glands, this organ causes the secretion of an oily substance that coats the skin when necessary, protecting it from extreme temperatures and to some extent, even vacuum environments.


 * Betcher's Gland - Implanted into multiple locations inside an Astartes' mouth, these glands transform a Marine's saliva into corrosive, blinding acid when triggered. A Space Marine trapped behind iron bars would be able to chew his way out given a few hours.


 * Progenoid Glands - Implanted into both the neck and the chest cavity, these glands serve to collect and cultivate the gene-seed from a Space Marine's body, and to safeguard it for the continuity of a Chapter. The neck gland is removed after 5 years, and the chest gland after 10 years; both are then used to create new gene-seed organs for the development of the next generation of Space Marines by a Chapter's Apothecaries.


 * The Black Carapace - The last and possibly most important of all implants, this neuroreactive material is implanted directly under the skin in the chest area. Invasive fibre bundles then grow inward from the implant and interlink with the Space Marine's own nervous system. Points pre-cut into the Carapace are effectively connection points, allowing an Astartes to directly interface with his suit of Power Armour.

Conditioning
In addition to the extensive implantation process for the gene-seed organs, the Astartes Neophyte undergoes chemical treatment, psychological conditioning, and subconscious hypnotherapy, all the while spending every waking hour honing his combat skills with ceaseless battle training. Until his initiation as a full Battle-Brother of his Chapter, a Neophyte must submit to constant tests and examinations by the Chapter Apothecaries. The newly implanted organs must be monitored very carefully, imbalances corrected, and any sign of corrupt or deviant development treated. This chemical treatment is reduced after completion of the initiation process, but it never ends. Space Marines undergo periodic drug treatment for the rest of their lives in order to maintain a stable metabolism. To this end, Space Marine Power Armour contains extensive monitoring and drug dispensation equipment. As the super-enhanced body grows, the recipient must learn how to use his new skills. Some of the implants, specifically the Catalespean Node and Occulobe, can only function once correct hypnotherapy has been administered. Hypnotherapy is not always as effective as chemical treatment, but it can have substantial results. If a Space Marine can be taught how to control his own metabolism, his dependence on drugs is lessened. The process is undertaken in a machine called a hypnomat. Space Marines are placed in a state of hypnosis and subjected to visual and aural images in order to awaken their minds to their unconscious metabolic processes. A Space Marine is more than a human with extraordinary powers. Just as their bodies receive nineteen separate gene-seed implants, so their minds are altered to release the latent powers within. These mental powers are, if anything, more extraordinary than even the physical powers endowed by the gene-seed implants. For example, a Space Marine can control his senses and nervous system to a remarkable degree, and can consequently endure pain that would kill a normal man. A Space Marine can also think and react at lightning speeds. Memory training is an important part of the Astartes indoctrination as well. Some Space Marines soon develop photographic memories. Space Marines vary in intelligence as do other men, and their individual mental abilities vary in degree.



Path of a Space Marine
According to the Codex Astartes, Space Marines are organised into three main types of squad: Tactical, Assault, and Devastator. Each of these squads has a unique battlefield role and is designed to operate together to provide mutual support and maximum flexibility. In addition to these three squad types, the 1st (Veteran) Company can be formed into Terminator or Veteran squads, while the Scouts of the 10th Company are always fielded as Scout Squads. All Space Marine squad types, with the exception of the Scouts, normally consist of ten Astartes, but they can be divided into two separate combat squads in battle. This gives each unit a further degree of flexibility in action. A Neophyte accepted into the Chapter’s ranks will serve in many roles, starting out as a young Scout in the 10th Company and, if fate favours him, progressing through the ranks serving as Devastator, Assault Marine, Tactical Marine and, if he is exceptionally bold, eventually earning the honour of serving in the elite 1st Company. A favoured few excel even past this great honour and join the ranks of the Chapter’s officers, leading their fellows into the blood and fury of battle.

The first step along the path to becoming a mighty hero of the Chapter is service in one of the Scout squads of the Tenth Company. Scout squads consist of a Veteran Space Marine Sergeant and four to nine Scouts. The role of the Sergeant is to train the Scouts and lead them in battle. Only Sergeants of considerable experience and status are designated for this role. Scouts attend to every word their Sergeant utters, for it is said that he has forgotten more of war than many more senior officers will ever learn. Whilst serving as a Scout, a Neophyte learns the most subtle arts of war. In a range of infiltration and reconnaissance missions, he learns how to approach and observe the enemy. Information gathered in such missions is passed back to the main battle force. The Scouts get their first taste of combat by way of carefully placed ambushes, the Scout Sergeant drawing on centuries of experience to deploy his charges in such a manner as to teach them as valuable a lesson as the enemy. Unlike that enemy, the Scouts learn valuable skills in such combats—the enemy earns nothing more than a quick death, for even a Neophyte Space Marine is a potent warrior compared to a mortal man.

A Space Marine serving in a Devastator Squad may only recently have completed his service in the 10th Company and been initiated as a full Space Marine. It will be his first experience of fighting in Power Armour. When first assigned to such a squad, the Space Marine will bear a Bolter and grenades and fulfill a support role within the squad, providing close support to those Battle-Brothers armed with heavy weapons, identifying targets and being close at hand to proffer ammunition and to take up the weapons of any who should fall. Only when he has proven himself steady and reliable in battle will the Space Marine be entrusted with one of the Chapter’s mighty heavy weapons, which he will come to master over the course of several hundred battles. Devastator Squads consist of a Sergeant and nine Space Marines. Up to four Space Marines may be armed with heavy weapons, whilst the remainder will carry Bolters. This is the most heavily armed type of Space Marine squad, and they are deployed wherever overwhelming firepower is needed, especially when the Chapter faces enemy armour or fortified positions.

Having proved himself steadfast and disciplined in the Devastator Squads, a Space Marine will in time earn himself a place in an Assault Squad. Here the Space Marine comes to master the application of overwhelming force, taking the fight directly to the enemy’s strong points. He embraces the controlled savagery of close combat and looks his enemy in the eye as he deals him death. Assault Squads are specialists at fighting in hand-to-hand combat. Each squad consists of a Sergeant and nine Space Marines all equipped with Jump Packs and armed with a close combat weapon in each hand. Common armament consists of a Bolt Pistol and a Chainsword. Optionally, two of the Space Marines may carry Plasma Pistols. This combination is ideal for fast-attacking, close-quarter fighting assault troops.

Even though Tactical Squads are the most common type of squad in any Chapter, to earn a place in one a Space Marine must have proven himself both courageous and wise in battle. Throughout his service in the Devastator and Assault Squads, he will be proven adaptable in his approach to the arts of war and will have mastered a range of tactics and weaponry. Tactical squads are the most commonly fielded squad types in a Chapter. A Tactical squad is led by a Sergeant and includes nine other Space Marines. Of these, seven Battle-Brothers are armed with Bolters, whilst the remaining two can be armed with Bolters or, alternatively, one may carry a heavy weapon such as a missile launcher or a Heavy Bolter, and the other may carry a special weapon such as a Flamer or Meltagun. This combination is the most tactically flexible and offers a good mixture of capabilities within the squad.

After serving in hundreds of campaigns and thousands of battles, and having conquered the very worst the galaxy has to throw at him, a Space Marine is likely to be considered a Veteran. In most Chapters, such an honour is not measured by length of service, but in blood spilled, horrors overcome, and mighty deeds done. As a prelude to service in the elite 1st Company, many Space Marine Veterans fulfill the role of Sergeant, leading squads of all types in any of the other companies. Thus, many of the Space Marines of the Veteran company will be battle-proven leaders as well as highly experienced warriors. The warriors of the Veteran company are fielded in one of three squad types: Terminator Squads wear the uniquely powerful Terminator Armour, sometimes called Tactical Dreadnought Armour. This armoured suit is massive in construction, virtually turning a Space Marine into a one-man tank. Every Chapter has a limited number of Terminator Armour suits, and each is an ancient artefact crafted many thousands of years ago. Terminators are less mobile than other Space Marines and are primarily used in starship boarding actions or in extreme close quarters when heavy fire support cannot be easily brought to bear. So resilient is the armour that it is reputedly able to operate inside plasma reactors, within volcanoes, and inside highly irradiated areas of deep space. Legend has it that the armour can even survive the tread of a Titan. To wear an ancient suit of Terminator Armour is one of the greatest honours to which a Space Marine can aspire. Each suit bears on its left shoulder the Crux Terminatus, the unique badge of the Terminator. Each Crux is said to contain at its core a tiny fragment of the armour worn by the Emperor himself when he fought his final battle against the traitor Warmaster Horus, providing a direct link between the Space Marine and the Father of Mankind.

Despite its obvious benefits, Terminator Armour is not suitable for all missions. Most of the time, Veterans take to the field wearing ordinary Power Armour, albeit a suit inscribed with many hundreds of battle honours. When wearing Power Armour, Veterans are formed into Vanguard Veteran Squads or Sternguard Veteran Squads. By dint of their rank, Veterans have access to the most fearsome weaponry in the Chapter’s Armoury, including sacred blades and Artificer-crafted combi-weapons of uniquely masterful craftsmanship. Vanguard Veteran Squads go to battle equipped with the most lethal of close combat weapons, and often wear Jump Packs to bring them to bear before the enemy can even react. Sternguard Veteran squads carry a wide array of ranged weaponry and specialised ammunition, and are masters in its overwhelming application. Veteran squads are rarely deployed en masse, but are instead used to bolster the line, provide an unstoppable speartip or to act as a highly flexible and mobile reserve.

Each of the Chapter’s ten companies is led by a Captain. These leaders are second in experience only to the Chapter Master himself, and each is a warrior so deadly that he will rarely meet his match. Each Captain is an inspirational and determined leader, able to coordinate the Space Marines under his command whatever the opposition. In addition to leading Space Marines in battle, each Captain holds titles dependent on his other responsibilities with regard to the workings of the Chapter or its home world, such as Master of the Fleet or Master of the Marches.

Of the thousand awesome and terrifying warriors that comprise a Space Marine Chapter, there is but one Chapter Master, a leader with centuries of experience in the very crucible of battle. His own fighting skills will be unsurpassed, whether in the use of gun, blade, or bare hands. His very rank speaks of a past littered with the bodies of bloodied, beaten foes of the most terrifying and inhuman sort. It is not enough, however, for the Chapter Master to be its foremost warrior. He must also be a superb tactician, grounded in the teachings of the Codex Astartes and honed through countless decisions made in the maelstrom of close action. His warriors are also his brothers, and he knows that they will give their lives at his command. He must preserve these magnificent troops, but must also accomplish his mission and uphold the honour of his Chapter. He will be steeped in the lore of his Chapter and be sworn to keep its secrets and must conduct his diplomacy accordingly, for Space Marines maintain a web of time-proven oaths and honour debts and do not simply heed the commands of Imperial functionaries, no matter how impressive their title. Those who wish a Chapter Master to send his warriors into battle must give him good reason to do so. In addition to this, a Chapter Master will often be the ruler of his Chapter’s home world, a resource that is too valuable for him to ignore. Amongst the greatest risks facing a Chapter Master is the very power he wields, for a Chapter of Space Marines is a force capable of devastating entire worlds at his order. It is an Astartes' very power that can lead to hubris. And it is hubris that can so easily condemn even a Space Marine's soul to damnation as those dedicated to the protection of Mankind may come to believe they should rule it instead.

Scout Armour
This type of armour is usually only worn by Scout Marines. Given that their Black Carapace has yet to mature, they are still unable to interface with Space Marine Power Armour, so are instead allowed to wear a suit consisting of carbon-titanium composite plates. This is still capable of stopping the majority of small-arms fire. In times of relative peace, full Battle Brothers of certain Chapters may take to wearing Scout Armour during periods outside of battle. Scout armour is a carapace-built heavy armour that is also worn by Kaskrin Stormtroopers and Vostroyans.

Power Armour


Possibly the most prominent feature of the Space Marines is their Power Armour which is a synthesis of many technologies that pre-date even the Age of Strife, stretching back into the Dark Age of Technology. The suit is comprised of multiple custom-crafted ceramite plates with armored fiber bundles and servos that replicate the wearer's movements and enhances a Space Marine's already superhuman strength, as well as allowing them to easily withstand brutal attacks that would rip a normal human apart. The armor itself can also act as a self-containing environment for the suit's owner, protecting the Space Marine from anything in the environment, including the dark vacuum of deep space and the most toxic planetary environments that the universe can provide. The armor interacts with the Space Marine through the Black Carapace, a subcutaneous membrane grown from the gene-seed that allows the Marine's internal organs and nervous system to interface directly with the suit of power armor, making the armor in essence an extension of the wearer's body. The most current Space Marine power armor model is the Mark VII or Aquila pattern and remains the most mainstream suit of power armor in use by the Space Marine Chapters. However, it is not uncommon for parts of older armor models to be used to replace damaged areas of a Mark VII suit as this saves precious resources. An example of this type of retrofitting is that some Marines are known to have rivets on certain parts of their power armor. These pieces are from the Crusade pattern armor that dates back to the time of the Great Crusade ten millenia ago. These patched suits of power armor protect their wearers just as well as their updated counterparts since the only real change in power armor models are the auxiliary systems. What few know is that each Space Marine's suit of Power Armour is so specific to its wearer that it cannot be worn by 2 different Space Marines. So precious is his ancient suit of armour that each Space Marine swears solemn oaths to honor and maintain its individual Machine Spirit.

Terminator Armour
Tactical Dreadnought ("Terminator") Armour is one of the strongest forms of personal Power Armour in existence and it is the heaviest and most resilient model the Imperium of Man has to offer. It was developed for a mid-range of uses between Dreadnought armour and standard Power Armour. It is composed of a ceramite plasteel alloy exoskeleton with servo-assisted interfaces that link into the user's own neurological and muscular systems to enhance movement. It is able to withstand tremendous punishment, and serves as a solid heavy-weapons platform in open-field combat. Due to its size, it is best deployed in close quarters such as the corridors of a starship, where the standard-issue storm bolter can be most effective. The elite 1st Company of each Space Marine Chapter uses Terminator Armor, and only those Marines who earn the "Crux Terminatus" are permitted to wear this precious and rare model of Power Armour.

Artificer Armour
Artificer Armour is the name given to individualized and heavily modified suits of Power Armour provided only to Space Marines who have proven themselves worthy of the honour, such as company Captains, members of the Chapter Master's Honour Guard, or particularly skilled Veterans of the 1st Company or the various company Command Squads. Artificer Armour is a masterpiece of craftsmanship, offering its wearer nearly as much protection as Terminator Armour. Artificer Armour cannot, however, make use of weapons as powerful as those available to Astartes in Terminator Armour.

Chapter Master
To be a Chapter Master (some Chapters use other titles for their commanding officers) of the Adeptus Astartes is to be as a stern but kindly angel of death among men, as the Emperor is their God. A Chapter Master's personal combat prowess is unmatched, for his body is that of an Astartes, with hundreds of years of battlefield experience as a Scout Marine, Battle-Brother, Sergeant and finally as the Captain of a Chapter company. These experiences have taught him every facet of war, trained him in the tools of combat and honed his quick thinking to the level of primal instinct. Ranked high among the greatest heroes of the Imperium of Man during these dark days of what many fear are the End Times are the Chapter Masters of the Space Marines. Even in the 41st Millennium, a time of constant warfare between combatants like no others in human history, there are few amongst humanity's defenders that can claim such honour and renown as they, for in sheer scope of battles won and foes vanquished, the Masters of the Space Marines have no peers save among the dead heroes of the past. With the merest glance, a Chapter Master can appraise a warzone, can see every threat and opportunity presented by the shifting lines of battle and then determine how victory can be won for the Imperium. A Chapter Master stands firm where other men falter, advances without fear when other men flee and retreats when only a true incompetent or someone in search of a fool's death would fight on. By his example he inspires other men to their greater valour, not only the Space Marines under his command, but also Imperial Guardsmen and the Planetary Defence Force militia who often fight besides the Astartes. If a Chapter Master's personal might in the crucible of combat is unmatched, then the wider political power he wields is nothing short of epic. A Chapter Master is a noble peer of the Imperium, with the legal authority granted by the High Lords of Terra to act as he wishes according to his own judgment and answerable only to others of his rank among the Astartes. Even the Inquisition treads lightly around the Masters of the Adeptus Astartes. In addition to the thousand Space Marines at his command, most Chapter Masters also hold authority over star-spanning Battle Barges, Strike Cruisers, Navigators, Astropaths, Armourers and Planetary Defence Forces. Indeed, most Chapter Masters rule entire worlds, systems or even subsectors of space in the Emperor's name as Imperial Governors and Imperial Commanders in their own right. Such places are zones of relative prosperity and stability in a galaxy riven by war, their potent defences girded by the inestimable strength of a Space Marine Chapter and the political patronage of its Master. The Adeptus Astartes have access to some of the most powerful and rarest vehicles in the Imperium. They are all treated as holy relics, and lovingly maintained by the Chapter's Techmarines. Many vehicles are ancient STC designs, barely understood by the current knowledge available to the Adeptus Mechanicus.

Space Marine Captain
Each of the 10 companies in a Space Marine Chapter falls under the command of an officer called a Captain. Each Captain is a hardened Veteran, a master strategist who has proven his prowess in battle as a member of the Chapter's elite 1st Company, or through distinguished service in his own company as a squad sergeant prior to the death of his predecessor. In addition to his Chapter rank, each Captain also bears one or more honorific titles associated with the command of a particular company or responsibility. Some, such as Master of the Watch and Master of the Recruits, are common titles in use across almost all Space Marine Chapters. Other titles are products of a particular Chapter's history, culture and military specialties. The Captain of the White Scars' 4th Company is traditionally the Master of the Hunt, while the Aurora Talons Chapter, specializing in space warfare, maintains no less than five Master Bombardiers among their company Captains. Individual Captains can also be assigned to command missions that require the deployment of elements of the Chapter beyond their own company. In these situations an individual Captain takes on the temporary rank of Force Commander and gains precedence over even other Captains assigned to this mission. It is not enough for an Astartes Captain to be a skilled warrior - each Chapter boasts many such men amongst its roster - he must also have a superhuman grasp of military strategy and combat tactics, as well as the intelligence to employ them in the ever-changing arena of warfare. It is commonly said in the Imperium that in terms of raw military might, every Space Marine is easily worth a dozen or so Imperial Guardsmen. Under the command of an experienced Captain, this value can swell tenfold. A Space Marine Captain is not simply a master of warfare, he must also have the gift of diplomacy and political adoitness. While most Imperial Planetary Governors and Commanders are more than happy to receive aid from the Space Marines when in trouble, there are those whose arrogance must be carefully negotiated in order to prevent a battle's collapse into a true disaster for the broader Imperium through unnecessary political infighting. This is not to say a Space Marine Captain lacks for ultimate authority when dealing with hubris and failure to the Emperor - as Captain Kayvaan Shrike of the Raven Guard's 3rd Company once proved by executing a vacillating Lord Cardinal Dostok on the spot. That said, subtler methods of diplomacy are best employed in grim situations - the necessary punitive measures can be enacted after the threat had been ended. A Space Marine never bends the knee lightly to any non-Astartes, but the needs of the Emperor's realm must override any personal feelings. The mission is always all. Humanity shall be saved from its own petty failings, even if this must be done one world at a time.

Master of the Forge
The Master of the Forge is a Chapter's most senior Techmarine, charged with the maintenance of the Chapter's fleet of armoured fighting vehicles, such as Rhinos, Land Raiders and Predators. His knowledge of the arcane sciences has been refined over centuries of service, and rivals that of the senior Tech-priests of the Adeptus Mechanicus of Mars. The Master of the Forge is so skilled that he can tell what is wrong with a vehicle's Machine Spirit at but a glance. Such skills conspire to make the Master of the Forge something of an outcast in most Space Marine Chapters. Though he is always part of the Chapter Council, the Master of the Forge is an outsider to all save his subordinate Techmarines, whose company is shunned in all matters save those that pertain to his beloved mechanicals. Not all Space Marine Chapters treat their Master of the Forge in this way. Some, such as the Mentors, the Praetors of Orpheus and the Astral Knights, embrace the dwindling advanced technologies of Mankind without the usual superstition and, in the case of the Iron Hands, with an enthusiam nearly matching the Mechanicus. In these Chapters, the Master of the Forge is a personage honoured no less than the Chapter Master himself. Such cases are not common among Astartes. Indeed, for one Chapter to embrace the vision and purpose of a Master of the Forge is to invite suspicion from many of its more conventional brothers. In addition to his responsibilities to maintain the Chapter Armoury, a Master of the Forge is also tasked with the conservation of any arcane technological artefacts to which his Chapter is heir. The oldest and most famous Astartes Chapters have many such technological wonders from the time before the Horus Heresy locked within their Armoury's vaults. Like the other Techmarines who serve under him, the Master of the Forge is equipped with powerful bionic servo-arms called Mechadendrites that can be used for battlefield repairs or even put to use as another weapon. Masters of the Forge also sometimes wield an ancient pre-Heresy weapon called a Conversion Beamer, whose projectors fire a beam of anti-matter that induces a controlled subatomic reaction in the target, converting its mass into energy. The further away the target, the more deadly the blast, as the beam has time to grow in power.

Honour Guard
Veteran Space Marines with centuries of service and multiple commendations and decorations are sometimes awarded the chance to serve in their Chapter's Honour Guard. Every Astartes in a Chapter Honour Guard have proven themselves to be living exemplars of the Space Marine ideal that the Primarch Roboute Guilliman laid out in the Codex Astartes. Honour Guards are stoic and spiritually solemn individuals when at rest in their Chapter's fortress-monastery, but ferocious and unyielding in battle. Each has received the very highest honours that his Battle-Brothers can bestow, performing deeds the likes of which lesser men can only dream. Indeed, it is said that each member of a a Chapter's Honour Guard has earned more commendations and glories in a lifetime's service than a whole company of Space Marines from any other Chapter, and that each individual has slain more foes than an entire regiment of Imperial Guardsmen. So steeped are the Honour Guard in the art of war that their understanding of tactical and strategic combat commonly outstrips even the experience of the Chapter's company Captains. It is considered folly for even the Master of the Chapter to ignore the counsel of his Honour Guard. The most skilled member of the Honour Guard is usually selected as the Chapter Champion, whose duty it is to challenge any enemy commander to single combat. When this is not possible, the Champion directs all his effort in battle to killing the most elite individual enemy commanders to damage the opposing force's morale. An Honour Guard's wargear is drawn from amongst the most ancient relics of the Chapter, for such men above all others have earned the right to wield such weapons and bear the burden of leadership that accompanies them. Thus, it is common for a Chapter's Honour Guard to wear Artificer Power Armour and wield masterwork versions of standard Astartes weapons. Most Space Marine Chapters have only a handful of Honour Guard, enough to form a distinct and capable fighting unit surrounding the Chapter Master, but no more. A few of the older and larger Chapters like the Ultramarines can muster as many as two dozen Honour Guards, but it is rare even for them to fight as a unit. When in combat, the Honour Guard acts as the Chapter Master's bodyguard, responsible for the safety of their commander and hoisting aloft the Chapter's battle standard. These are sacred tasks and the Honour Guard fight for both ferociously, and never succumb to fear or rage which may cloud their judgment. Such courage and devotion has been the salvation of more than one Chapter Master's life. When a member of the Honour Guard is slain, his Battle-Brothers will take any action necessary to recover the body so that his gene-seed may be returned to the Chapter and his remains can be interred with full honours in the Chapter's Vault of Heroes.

Command Squad
A Command Squad accompanies high-ranking Space Marine officers, usually company Captains, on the field of battle. The exact nature and title of a Command Squad's members can vary, depending on a Chapter's organisation and the personality of a company's Captain. The most common members of a Command Squad are the Company Champion, the Company Apothecary and the Company Banner Bearer, and these Astartes can be found in almost all Command Squads. Even so, some Space Marine Chapters prefer other titles and positions for a Command Squad in accordance with their traditions, such as the Foeseekers of the Omega Marines, the Prognosticars of the Silver Skulls, the Terrorblades of the Death Spectres and the Pyre Wardens of the Fire Lords. Company Banner Bearers carry the battle-flag of the company in which they serve. Each standard is an ancient artefact, steeped in the history and the traditions of the Chapter. The company banner is the physical heart of the company on the battlefield, and every Space Marine, from the most inexperienced Scout Marine to the most skilled Veteran of the 1st Company, fights all the more valiantly when it is within sight. The Banner Bearer is trusted never to let the standard out of his grip while he still draws breath - to do otherwise is to invite the most terrible and shameful dishonour on both his company and the Chapter as a whole. The Apothecary is well-versed in the arts of combat first aid and triage as well as the more advanced arcane sciences of surgery, cybernetics and bio-engineering. He must also be a warrior of untold might and courage, for his place is in the bloody heart of battle. If an Astartes falls, the Apothecary can use his advanced biomedical aid kit, his narthecium, to tend the wounds, allowing his Battle-Brother to return to combat even after suffering grievous wounds. Yet some weapons are terrible enough to mortally wound even a superhuman Astartes. The Apothecary can then only calm the mind of the dying Astartes and prepare him for his eternal reward at the feet of the Emperor. Once dead, a Space Marine can live on through his gene-seed, as the Apothecary uses his reductor to remove the progenoid organs from the slain Astartes' corpse. From the genetic material held within these precious organs, the creation of new Space Marines and thus the continuation of the Chapter is assured. Company Champions are charged with defending the honour of their company, their Chapter and the Emperor himself. They engage the the greatest warriors and commanders of the enemy in single combat, leaving the company's Captain free to command the wider battle, rather than engage in a series of personal combats. Most Company Champions have key roles in the rituals and ceremonies of the Chapter, representing the Battle-Brothers of their companies in the Chapter's rites and rituals as honourably as they defend them on the field. Service in a Command Squad speeds promotion within the Chapter as most Captains fill their Command Squads with Astartes whose skills in combat are equalled by their demonstrated strategic intelligence. Captains and their Command Squads can invariably be found where the fighting is thickest and so a company Captain's successor is often named from among those Astartes of his Command Squad who have proven themselves again and again against the most terrifying foes of the Emperor.

Librarian
The Imperium of Man is eternally vigilant for the taint of mutation in its citizens, as mutation of the perfect human form is a terrible heresy against the will of the Emperor. The Chapters of the Adeptus Astartes are, if anything, even more careful to ensure that their gene-seed is not polluted. Apothecaries rigorously screen potential recruits for any sign of genetic deviation, but not all mutation presents itself in a purely physical manner. Psychic talent is a mutation too, and is at once the most dangerous and the most useful. Detecting and developing nascent psykers is one of the many responsibilities of a Chapter's Librarium. Very few normal Space Marine recruits survive the rigorous training, genetic enhancement and indoctrination. Amongst Librarians, this level of attrition is far worse. Not only must the recruit endure everything a normal recruit would, but he must be strong enough in spirit to withstand the moulding of his mind. A recruit must be taught how to hone and wield his powers, and how to protect himself from the perils of the Warp. A Librarian faces a thousand enemies before he ever goes to war - to the creatures of the Warp he is a choice prize, with sorcerous aptitude and strong flesh to contain a daemonic essence. If a recruit survives the testing he joins the Chapter Librarius as Lexicanium, rising through the ranks to become Codicier, Epistolary or perhaps even Chief Librarian. He will use his abilities to pierce the Warp, provide the means for interstellar communication and identify more of his own kind. A Librarian's talents set him apart from his comrades - after all, a Librarian wields abilities that every Space Marine is normally expected to abhor - yet their presence is always welcomed on the field of battle. Most Librarian battle-disciplines focus on strengthening and enhancing his already formidable combat prowess. He can unleash powerful energy bolts, prevent enemy machines from functioning, project force shields, increase his strength to near godlike proportions or even eliminate the barrier between the Warp and the physical realm, unleashing a devastating miniature Warp Storm. Even so, the most skilled Librarians can master more subtle and even more potent psychic gifts. Some can step outside the confines of linear time, sense the enemy's movements or redirect bullets with the power of their mind. In all of the Imperium there are few greater warrior-mystics, combining the prowess of the Adeptus Astartes with the steel discipline needed to contain and control their sorcerous powers.

Chaplains
Chaplains are the spiritual leaders of a Space Marine Chapter. They administer the rites, preserve the rituals and perform the ancient ceremonies of Initiation, Vindication and Redemption that are as important to a Space Marine Chapter as its roll of honour and skill at arms. Chaplains are daunting figures even for other Space Marines to behold. Their Power Armour is jet black and adorned with icons of battle and tokens of ritual and mystery; their skull helms are white, skeletal death masks that evoke the stern visage of the immortal Emperor decaying upon the Golden Throne. Every aspect of a Chaplain's garb serves to remind all who gaze upon him of the mortality that faces all Men and thus the importance of preserving the immortal soul. Beneath this stern visage is a man no less grim of aspect and manner. Chaplains are notoriously strict individuals. They are responsible for the spiritual well-being of their Battle-Brothers and renowned for their sense of duty. A Chapter's Chaplains are the keepers of the Reclusiam, the fortress-monastery's central shrine where prayer and worship is conducted. The Reclusiam is a place of great spiritual reverance, where battle standards hang from hallowed walls and the very stones echo with remembrance. Here are kept the Chapter's most holy relics: fragments of armour, banners from times of legend, and the raiments of ancient heroes who long ago passed beyond mortal service. Space Marine Chaplains care nothing for the ravings of the Ecclesiarchy and ignore the dictates of the Imperial Cult in favour of their Chapter's own ancient traditions, though they often carry a Rosarius as a symbol of their faith in the Emperor like the priests of the Ministorum. The first Space Marine Chapters were founded many centuries before the development of the Imperial Cult and the dominion of the Adeptus Ministorum over the Imperium. Whereas the Adeptus Ministorum has gradually extended its influence over the many thousands of individual cults of Emperor-worship that once existed throughout the galaxy, it has never been able to influence the cults of the Astartes, which remain as stubbornly individualistic today as they ever were in the past. When war calls, a Chaplain fights wherever the conflict is fiercest, leading from the front and rejoicing in the slaughter of the enemy as one doing righteous work, punctuating his praise for the Emperor with strikes from his Crozius Arcanum - the skull-headed staff that is both a badge of office and his chosen weapon of war. By his example and his piety, the Chaplain exhorts his Brother-Marines to the pinnacle of dedication, so that they might conquer with valour that which would resist all else.

Dreadnought
The greatest of Space Marines who fall in battle with grievous and often life-threatening wounds that cannot be repaired using standard bionics or medicae treatments are placed into a cybernetic Dreadnought shell that allows the interred Astartes to continue to live through a sophisticated array of life support machines. The pilot of the Dreadnought is hooked straight into the Dreadnought's systems to preserve him and allows the Marine to control the Dreadnought as if it were his own body. It is a great honour to be deemed worthy enough by one's Battle-Brothers to be interred in a Dreadnought so that one can keep fighting in the Emperor's name for many more millenia, as the knowledge to create new Dreadnought shells has been lost over the long centuries. Some Marines that have been placed in the great Dreadnoughts have been around since the Emperor himself still walked among his people during the Great Crusade. When the Dreadnoughts are not needed by the Chapter, they are placed back into the Chapter's chapel to sleep away the centuries until they are needed once more.

Rhino
A fast troop transport, a Rhino APC (Armored Personnel Carrier) can hold up to ten Space Marines, not including the two Astartes crew members who drive and operate it. The chassis of the Rhino is very versatile, and serves as the basis for many of the other Space Marine vehicles. The Rhino can be outfitted with pintle-mounted weapons.

Razorback
A Razorback is a variant of the Rhino chassis that sacrifices some troop capacity for additional firepower. Razorbacks are commonly mounted with twin-linked heavy bolters or twin-linked lascannons on a single turret on the chassis, and are excellent for firepower to smaller squads. They can, however, also utilize Assault Cannons, or Multi-Meltas. With the addition of the turret, troop capacity is limited to six Marines.

Predator
The Predator is a heavily-armoured Rhino variant that is used as a light tank by Space Marine Chapters. With the added weapons it offers there is no space remaining for troop transport. Armed with either an autocannon or twin-linked lascannons on its main turret, it can also have heavy bolters or lascannons mounted on sponsons to either side as well. The Blood Angels Chapter has been known to field a "Baal" variant of the Predator. The Baal Predator is equipped with a twin-linked Assault Cannon on its main turret and single Heavy Flamers or Heavy Bolter mounted to either side on sponsoons as well.

Whirlwind
Intended to be used as an elite, highly mobile force, the Space Marines normally have little need for heavy artillery pieces. However, when the use of heavy firepower is called for, they can utilize the Whirlwind, another variant of the Rhino chassis armed with a long-range missile pod, that can bombard enemy positions in preparation for an Astartes offensive. Whirlwinds use two types of ammunition in the form of Frag and Krak missiles, the use of which is determined by the nature of the threat they will engage. As with the Predator, there is no room left inside these vehicles for troop transportation after they are outfitted with the new weapon configuration.

Vindicator
When attacking heavily fortified enemy positions, Space Marine Chapters use a Vindicator, another Rhino variant, which fills nearly the entire Rhino chassis with the massive, snub-nosed "Demolisher Cannon" that is capable of blasting through the thickest of walls. This weapon has proven so effective that the Iron Warriors Traitor Legion makes it a point to scavenge these Imperial machines for their own use whenever possible.

Land Speeder
Incredibly fast, the double-seated Land Speeder anti-gravity vehicle is used by the Astartes to attack enemy fortifications and heavy weapons from the air. Although it is well-armed, it possesses little armour and relies on its speed and rapid strikes for protection.

The Land Speeder's other variants include:


 * The Tornado: The Tornado Pattern Land Speeder mounts twice as many heavy weapons as the basic Land Speeder and can also choose from a wider variety of weapons, able to mount an assault cannon or a heavy flamer.


 * The Typhoon:The Land Speeder Typhoon is extraordinarily effective at anti-personnel actions on the battlefield. The Typhoon mounts a twin-linked Typhoon Missile Launcher. The Typhoon Missile inflicts a hard hit at long range and rarely misses since it is twin-linked. The Typhoon Land Speeder variant's only real drawback is its lack of versatility - the Typhoon Missile Launcher is excellent at destroying infantry or light vehicles, but almost useless against even medium armour such as the Eldar Falcon or Tau Devilfish.


 * The Tempest: Sporting better armour, an assault cannon, and a twin-linked missile launcher, the Tempest is among the most feared versions of the Land Speeder. The Tempest has a difficult combination of weapons - the assault cannon has a medium range while the missile launcher fires out to a decently long range in comparison. Better frontal armour means that the Tempest can usually get in close to enemy troops without much worry. A maximum of only three Tempests are normally fielded in a standard Space Marine force. However, the twin-linked firepower of the Tempest's missile launcher and its heavier armour than the standard Land Speeder make the Tempest a force to be reckoned with.


 * The Storm: The latest of the Landspeeder variant patterns to be introduced by the Imperium, the Storm is a transport vehicle for the exclusive use of the Astartes Scout Marines. It sports a larger cargo compartment for the accommodation of five of the aforementioned Scouts, as well as a Jamming Beacon and a Cerberus Launcher. As a trade-off, it can make use of only one weapon, rather than the usual two, and has fewer choices as to which weapon it will use.

Land Raider
The Land Raider is one of the most powerful main battle tanks at the Imperium's disposal, and also one of the rarest in use by Imperial forces since only a few Imperial Forge Worlds still possess the secrets of its manufacture. A Space Marine Chapter is lucky if it has more than five at its disposal. The Land Raider can transport troops into battle, carries enough weapons to blast its way though nearly any defense, and has armour plating thick enough to withstand massive amounts of firepower. The normal Land Raider pattern is called the Phobos. It carries a hull-mounted, twin-linked heavy bolter able to turn light infantry into sludge. It also carries two twin-linked "Godhammer" pattern Lascannons in its two side sponsoons, making the Land Raider an extremely formidable foe for armored vehicles, able to stand up for itself in any fight against another vehicle, and come out victorious almost all of the time. Land Raiders are also equipped with a "Machine Spirit", an Artificial Intelligence crafted by the Adeptus Mechanicus. The Machine Spirit is smart enough to move the tank and fight even without a crew. It enables the tank to move even when the crew has been stunned, and is able to operate one weapon of the player's choice, to shoot at a target. However, the artificial intelligence of the machine spirit is nothing compared to the battle-hardened Space Marine crew of the Land Raider, and as a result, accuracy suffers considerably.

Land Raiders were once used by all the branches of the Imperium's armed forces at the time of the Great Crusade. During the Horus Heresy, the Emperor of Mankind ordered that their use be restricted to the Space Marines, as they were the Imperial forces at the forefront of that terrible civil war. The popularity of this mighty war engine was so great, that an entire Forge World, Anvilus 9, was entirely converted solely to Land Raider production. But, at the beginning of the Horus Heresy, Anvilus 9 was overrun by Chaos-corrupted Tech-priests from the Dark Mechanicus. Other Forge Worlds of the Imperium also ceased to function, either suffering the same fate as Anvilus 9 after being captured by the Forces of Chaos, or chose to become neutral in the struggle to see which side emerged triumphant, leaving only a small number of Loyalist Forge Worlds still producing goods for the glory of the Emperor. As a result, Land Raider production suddenly slowed to a trickle. With Horus' forces threatening to overrun Terra, the heart of the Imperium, the Emperor decreed that all Land Raiders still on the Loyalist side were to be for the exclusive use of the Space Marines, who were always at the forefront of the Imperium's cause. Once the Horus Heresy had been crushed following the sacrifice of the Emperor, the decree of exclusive use of the Land Raiders by the Adeptus Astartes remained in place, as none dared to revoke the Master of Mankind's most holy commandments. Thus, the decree has remained in place for the last ten thousand years.

Land Raider Crusader
The Land Raider Crusader is nearly identical to the standard Land Raider pattern, but is armed to provide short-ranged, anti-infantry support. The Crusader was originally developed by the Black Templars Chapter but was eventually authorized by the High Lords of Terra for use by other Astartes Chapters (who, it should be noted, had already been using them for some time beforehand.) All Chapters are now only allowed to have 1 in their Armoury, except for the Black Templars. The Land Raider Crusader is armed with a hull-mounted twin-linked Assault Cannon turret, and sponson-mounted Hurricane Bolters (essentially six standard bolters fire-linked together). It is also equipped with a Multi-Melta to burn through armored walls, and its front is studded with fragmentation launchers to assist the troops disembarking from its front ramp. The removal of the lascannon sponsoons allows for greater troop capacity. The Crusader may transport 8 Space Marines in Terminator Armor, or 15 Astartes in standard Mark VII Power Armour.

Land Raider Redeemer
The Land Raider Redeemer is an evolution of the Land Raider Crusader variant, created by the Salamanders Chapter. The Redeemer retains the assault cannon and frag launchers of the Crusader, but replaces the Hurricane Bolter sponsoons with flame projectors. These Flamestorm Cannons are able to purge even a well-defended bunker complex in seconds.

Land Raider Terminus Ultra
The Land Raider Terminus Ultra Pattern is one of the Imperium's most potent main battle tanks. It is a Land Raider with 2 side-mounted twin-linked lascannons, 2 side-mounted single-linked lascannons, and a twin-linked lascannon on the roof. The only downside to this vehicle's capabilities is that it cannot transport troops, yet its sheer firepower fully makes up for this minor shortcoming.

First Founding
The Space Marines were originally divided into 20 large Legions, each Legion filled with Space Marines whose gene-seed was based on genetic material from one of the original Primarchs. When 18 of the Primarchs were rediscovered during the Great Crusade, they became the leaders of the Legion genetically related to them. During the Horus Heresy half of the Legions turned traitor to the Imperium and swore themselves to the Ruinous Powers of Chaos.

Loyalist Chapters
Those Astartes Legions that remained loyal to the Emperor during the Horus Heresy were known as the Loyalists. They were subsequently each split up into smaller Chapters of only 1,000 Space Marines each, one of which retained the name of the original Space Marine Legion.

Traitor Legions
These Space Marine Legions sided with Horus and the Forces of Chaos in the Horus Heresy. After their defeat they fled into the Eye of Terror and became the primary forces of the Chaos Space Marines. Note: The Traitor Legions' homeworlds were later destroyed in a purge by Imperial forces to eliminate all traces of Chaos corruption in the Imperium following the Horus Heresy, with the exception of the Alpha Legion's homeworld, which was never discovered.

The Unknown Legions
There are two other First Founding Legions whose names and histories are totally unknown. Following the Horus Heresy, all historical records mentioning these Legions were revised or destroyed, in order to erase them from Imperial history. Given the current authoritarian nature of the Imperium, it seems likely these Legions were completely removed from all historical records for being particpants in or affected by some sort of castrophe such as a mass mutation event which couldn't be controlled, turning to the worship of the Chaos Gods earlier than the other Traitor Legions, etc.

Second and Later Foundings
After the Horus Heresy, it was determined that the Legions were too powerful and dangerous to the stability of the Imperium to be controlled by any one man. In what is known as the Second Founding, the remaining Loyalist Legions were broken up into the separate 1,000-man Chapters which remain the primary organization of the Adeptus Astartes to this day. In the multiple subsequent Successor Foundings that have occurred since, the Imperium has created many new Chapters of Space Marines, using gene-seed sampled by the Adeptus Mechanicus from the existing ones. Many of these Successor Chapters still keep the memory of their progenitor Legion or Chapter alive in their rituals and regalia, and maintain the same methods of operation and battle, as well as their overall defining cultural and genetic traits.

Examples of Successor Space Marine Chapters include:

For a list of all the known Space Marine Chapters see List of Space Marine Chapters.
 * Astral Claws: A Chapter led into service to Chaos by their traitorous Chapter Master, igniting the Badab War. They currently form a group of rebel Traitor Marines known as the Red Corsairs, who ruthlessly attack supply lines in the name of Chaos.
 * Black Templars
 * Crimson Fists
 * Doom Eagles
 * Executioners
 * Fire Hawks
 * Flesh Tearers
 * Howling Griffons
 * Lamenters: An unfortunate Chapter who fought on the losing side in the Badab War, before being devastated by the Tyranids.
 * Mantis Legion
 * Marines Errant
 * Marines Malevolent
 * Raptors: Successors of the Raven Guard who specialize in jungle warfare.
 * Relictors: A radical Chapter that utilises the weapons of Chaos to destroy the minions of Chaos themselves. This brings them into conflict with the Puritan members of the Inquisition but ironically also finds them favour with Radical Inquisitors.
 * Scythes of the Emperor: A Chapter of Space Marines who were all but destroyed by the Tyranids. Their armour was black and yellow, with a yellow scythe symbol on the shoulder panels.
 * Sons of Guilliman: A Chapter that originally was a part of the Ultramarines.
 * Soul Drinkers : A Chapter loyal to the Emperor, but not to the Imperium which they view as unalterably corrupt; the Chapter is afflicted with mutating gene-seed.
 * Subjugators
 * White Consuls
 * Iron Snakes: A newer Chapter of Space Marines created by novelist Dan Abnett

Purity Seal
The Purity Seal is often awarded to Marines who show themselves to be "morally pure" by their words and deeds. Also, before a campaign, the Chapter's Chaplains will mark certain individuals with litanies. Each seal has a different blessing or invocation from one of the Chapter's Chaplains and is often replaced with a more permanent electrum casting of the seal after battle.



Marksman's Honor
This device is the Marksman's Honor. Acts of remarkably accurate shooting or consistent performance with targeting are honored with this award. The Codex Astartes insists that those warriors who prove their accuracy in combat should be singled out so that their skill may be instantly commanded when necessary. The badges themselves are believed to have been constructed by taking gold bolter shells cases, fired in battle from the boltgun of Roboute Guilliman himself, and encasing them in the award.



Imperial Laurel
The Imperial Laurel denotes Veteran status and is awarded to Space Marines who perform "acts of valor leading to great victory" or "an act of extreme bravery". It is often sculpted onto the helmet or worn as a crown; the Wreathed Skull is another common design variation. The Codex Astartes states that all Company Standards be carried into battle by warriors who have proven themselves, so all bearers must first wear the Laurels.



Terminator Honors
The Crux Terminatus, or Terminator Honor Badge is given to Marines who have been trained in the use of Terminator Armor. Sergeants and officers wear variations of the badge to signify their rank. It is said that each of these badges has a fragment of the Emperor's own power armor within it.



Skull and Motto
In Imperial iconography, the skull is incorporated into many devices, representing the Emperor's sacrifice for humanity. The Skull and Motto is one example. It is used when the other specified honor badges would be inappropriate, and often the motto is simply one word. The badge can be found on shoulder pads, banners, leg armor, and even vehicles.



Imperialis
The Imperialis was originally the campaign badge used by the Loyalist Space Marine Legions during the Horus Heresy. Over time it has evolved into the "honor of righteous victory" and is awarded to any Space Marines who has participated in an honoured victory for his Chapter. Instead of being presented as a medal or badge, it is most commonly carved into the deserving Space Marine's chest armor, replacing the armour's standard Imperial Aquila symbol. It can also be seen engraved on the weapons of Marines who have earned the badge, but can also be found on banners or atop their heraldry finnials. It is intended to represent both the Imperium as a whole with the wings of the Aquila and the Emperor's sacrifice for humanity, which is embodied in the skull icon



Iron Skull
The Iron Skull is the Codex Astartes insignia for the Sergeants who command Space Marine squads, and is displayed on the helmet and/or shoulder pad of the Marine as a sign of his rank. Generally accepted convention is that a red skull device is used to represent it. It is awarded for the display of true leadership.



Iron Halo
The Iron Halo is awarded to Marines that show "exceptional initiative". It is the Codex Astartes insignia for Squad leaders, and is displayed on the helmet and/or shoulder pad of the Marine as a sign of rank.



Prime Helix
The Prime Helix is the symbol of the Apothecarion, worn by Marine Medics. The design represents the Gene-seed DNA, and the scarlet color of the Helix represents the ultimate sacrifice that every Marine is willing to make.

Machina Opus
This is the mark of a Tech-priest Adept. It is awarded to each Techmarine as he completes his mysterious training with the Adeptus Mechanicus on Mars. Bearers of the Machina Opus are accorded great respect by the Tech-priests and are alloweed free passage through the Ring of Iron and into the great workshops of the Martian Hive. Only a Chapter's Techmarines and their equipment are permitted to display this sacred icon of the Machine Cult.



Service Studs
These are small metal rivets that are attached directly to the Marine' cranium to record his years of service to his Chapter. A single stud records 10, 50 or 100 standard Terran years of service depending on its design and the Chapter's traditions. The awarding of service studs is described in the Codex Astartes but is not set out as an official requirement or regulation of the Chapter. In rcent centuries the awarding of service studs has been on the decline as a tradition and fewer Chapters continue the practice.

Tattoos
Tattoos are not official Chapter honours but traditional markings derived from the Chapter's ancient practices. Some tattoos may even be vestiges of of pre-Space Marine tribal markings or hive city gang affiliations. Space Marines are recruited from hundreds of different human cultures across the galaxy so it is no surprise to see this diversity reflected in some Marines retaining the tattoos, scarification or warpaint of their homeworld.