Space Marines

The Space Marines, or Adeptus Astartes, are the 'special forces' of the Imperium of Man, contrasting the regular-army Imperial Guard. While the Guard has many billions of personnel, there are only about a million Space Marines, though they are supported by additional non-combat personnel. Prior to the vast war led by the traitorous Warmaster Horus, Space Marines were the rank-and-file troops of the Imperium. Now their numbers are low, and any loss is grievous.

All Space Marines are genetically and surgically enhanced, receiving a range of implanted organs which boost their performance far beyond ordinary human levels. They are many times faster than baseline humans, can dead-lift tanks, and have a modified skeletal structure which allows them to resist even light autocannon fire. In addition to this, they wear robust personal armor-suits which further enhance their senses, durability, and offensive potential.

Typical weaponry for a Space Marine would include a heavy bolter (a support weapon by the standards of Imperial Guardsmen) and a chainsword, in addition to a sidearm such as a bolt pistol. Higher-ranking Marines may carry more specialized antique weapons, like plasma pistols and powerswords, which are much more powerful than the standard-issue weapons. Other weapons regularly used by Space Marines include missile launchers, flamers (high-intensity flamethrowers), and grenades.

Space Marines may be inserted directly into combat by way of special drop pods, from which they then emerge and immediately begin to fight. This can throw enemy forces into confusion, and has the added benefit of getting the Marines into melee range, where their augmentations have the greatest impact. Space Marines are however extensively trained to operate in a wide range of terrains and combat types.

Space Marines maintain their own unique ships and ground vehicles to suit their specialized mission profile, although they are fully capable of coordinating with Imperial Guard units when the need arises.

The Adeptus Astartes is divided into a number of Chapters. While many Chapters have either been destroyed or defected to the forces of Chaos over the millennia, enough remain to serve the Imperium in a highly valuable capacity. Each Chapter has or had its own traditions, rituals, color scheme, and combat philosophy, and Marines take great pride in such distinctions.

One Space Marine Chapter, the Grey Knights, is the only combat force in the Imperium with full knowledge of the nature of Chaos, and they are tasked with opposing it with every fiber of their being. They possess heightened psychic powers and advanced equipment designed to counteract the powers of Daemonic entities.

Record 1513 - group - Last update 14 Nov 2007, 09:43:35

Entry written by: Torvus

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