User Guide
The Legiones Astartes
200
years after the Age of Strife the forces of Earth had cawed out
on Empire that stretched almost half
way
across the galaxy. This
vast broadening of the Imperium
was
known as The First Crusade.
The Legion Astartes (Space Marines) ore attributed with being
largely responsible for the victorious wars that put the Imperium on
the Galactic map during the time of The First Crusade.
The millenium directly prior to the beginning of the Crusade sow
a
vast research and development project start. During the volatile
warp storms that hod plagued Earth in the Age of Strife, superbly
equipped laboratories were constructed under the surface of the
planet. These laboratories, once finished, were turned over to the
Adeptus Mechanicus who had orders from the Emperor to bio-
engineer
a
fighting force so deadly that nothing could be its equal
-
an elite group of soldiers who’s strength and loyalty were
unflinching. These new warriors were organized into their own
units, known as Chapters.
In the beginning, the recruits were implanted with nineteen cultured
organs. These organs allowed the Space Marines to perform acts on
ordinary human would find difficult-even life threatening. For
example, the phase seven implant is on organ known as the
Preomnor. Having operated through the rib cage the preomnor is
placed in the chest cavity and connected to the Marine’s dietary tracts.
Once in place the organ acts as on advanced pre-digestive stomach,
annulling any poisons or toxins that the Marine eats. The result being
that
a
Space
Marine’s body con gain sustenance from almost any
material without admitting harmful substances into the blood.
The Chapters continue through the collection of
a
product known
only
as
gene seed. Without gene seed
a
Chapter has no future. The
progenoid gland (phase 18 implant) exists solely for this purpose.
After implantation the organ absorbs hormonal stimuli and genetic
materials from the other implants. When mature, each gland
contains
a
single gene seed for
each
organ that has been added to
the recipient Marine. The glands con be removed any time after
maturity. The progenoid must then be corefully prepared and the
gene seeds stored. When the need arises the gene seeds ore
cultured and form
a
new,
specialised
implant. And so the cycle
continues.
The whole ethos that surrounds the Space Marines stem from the
Chapters in which they ore organized. Distinctive names, armor
and insignia abound, fellow Space Marines ore known as Brothers
and loyalty to the honor of the Chapter is of the utmost importance.
The whole unit operates with
a
kind of religious zeal. Chaplains
instruct Marines in the way of the Chapter, ceremonies and rituals
ore
a
regular occurrence, the idea being that the Space Marines
must immerse themselves in the ancient teachings of the Chapter.
This loyalty is displayed in combat, where the one million warriors
of the Legion Astortes (regardless of Chapter) fight for and on
behalf of the Emperor. In many battles since their founding the
Space Marines hove saved the Imperium from certain defeat. In the
far reaches of the Imperium companies of Space Marines hold back
the forces of chaos from humanity
-
their courage and strength
upholding the peace of civilization.