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From Warhammer 40k - Lexicanum
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The Hive Worlds are estimated to comprise between 10-25% of the total quantity of Imperial planets. The exact numbers is difficult to establish due to the bureaucratic features of the Imperium itself.{{Fn|5}} Populations of every Hive World are enormous, and almost all food needs to be imported. A Hive World rendered temporarily inaccessible through [[Warp]] space will suffer a devastating famine within a very short space of time. It will become a vast catacomb of lunatics driven to excesses of anarchic, urban savagery by starvation and claustrophobia. Hive Worlds are dangerous, being too large to monitor safely, and their citizens are typically unbalanced, if not utterly crazed. It has been known for the [[Adeptus Arbites]] to cull these planets in order to bring their populations down to manageable levels.{{Fn|1}}
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==Overview==
Billions of people can live crowded together in a single [[Hive city]].{{Cite This}} Each of these Hive Worlders is a potential soldier for Imperial forces, including the [[Imperial Guard]]{{Fn|4a}} and the [[Space Marine]]s. Hive Worlds contribute the vast bulk of the recruits for the [[Imperial Guard]]. The violent [[gang]]land lifestyle which most residents are forced to live means they are already hardened and experienced in warfare. Almost every recruit will already know how to handle a gun. Hive Worlds also serve to populate newly discovered planets. Imperial citizens are gathered from various Hive Worlds (willingly or unwillingly) and shipped off to distant colonies. An example of this would be [[Medusa V]]. Hive Worlds have huge import/export ratios, exporting a vast range of materials, and relying on imports of food and water. In common with most other Imperial worlds, Hive World society has distinct classes, with a ruling class and a working class. Invariably the lower classes inhabit the lower and more decayed and polluted levels of the Hive.{{Cite This}}
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[[Category:Hive Worlds| ]]
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