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{{Ambiguous|subject=genetically engineered imperial fighter elite|disambiguation=Space Marine}}
{{SpaceMarinesPortal}}
"''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 '''Adeptus Astartes''' (commonly known as '''Space Marines''', and colloquially as '''Angels of Death''') are the most elite and feared fighting forces of the [[Imperium|Imperium of Man]]. The primary unit of organization is the Chapter, a self-contained army fully equipped with its own transport, non-combatant support staff, etc. There are around a thousand Chapters, each comprising a thousand Space Marines. There are far too few Space Marines to form the Imperium's main military forces; instead they operate as highly mobile strike forces. They are entrusted with the most dangerous missions, such as lightning raids behind enemy lines, infiltration and tunnel fighting<sup>6</sup>. Through selection, training and conditioning, Marines are physically, mentally and spiritually superior to any other Imperial soldier.<sup>5</sup>[[Image:space marines deployments.jpg|thumb|right|Space Marine Deployments|250px]]
