Changes

The '''Space Marines''', aka '''Adeptus Astartes''' and also as '''Angels of Death''', are , without any doubt, doubtl the best warriors of mankind. They are the best of the best, immensely stronger, quickerfaster, and hardier than an average human. During the [[Great Crusade]] full twenty [[Space Marine Legion]]s, each one of them sporting more or less 10,000 battle-brothers, re-conquered many thousands of Human worlds, saving Humanity from all but certain extinction. Their efforts, struggles, and sacrifices established the [[Imperium]] as the dominant power-faction of the galaxy.

However a full half of these legions turned against humanity, forsaking their oaths of loyalty towards the [[Emperor]]. Following their [[primarch]]s , these traitors pledged themselves to the [[Chaos Gods]] and nearly destroyed the Imperium.

To this day the loyal Space Marines continue to protect Humanity from aggressive alien species, like the barbaric [[Ork]], the mysterious [[Eldar]] and their renegade kin the piratical [[Dark Eldar]], the technological and idealistic [[Tau]], the ever-hungry [[Tyranids]] and the ancient [[Necrons]], besides many other [[Xeno]] races. But they most fervently oppose the traitors within, and most especially their former brothers, the [[Chaos Space Marines]].

There are presently said to be between 989 and 1,021 Space Marine Chapters. As of 765.[[M41]], 13 chapters have been lost to the [[warp]], 21 destroyed through irrecoverable battle losses, nine destroyed by [[gene-seed]] failure, four by [[Inquisition|inquisitorial]] purges and 16 lost through other circumstances.¹

As the [[Emperor|Emperor of Mankind]] began to plan the ''[[Great Crusade]]'' he felt the need for faithful lieutenants who could lead his forces throughout the galaxy. Even the Emperor could not be everywhere at the same time, and accordingly he created twenty ''Primarchs'' using his own DNA. However while the foetal primarchs where still maturating inside of womb-vats, the [[Chaos Gods]] somehow managed to spirit them away. Unable to destroy them, they still were able to scatter the primarchs in the galaxy. However not everything was lost, and using samples collected previously from the primarchs the Emperor was able to create ''Space Marines''. In the creation of a particular legion he only used the material of a single primarch. This created twenty distinct ''Space Marines Legions'' which he lead into the Great Crusade.

During the Great Crusade, the Emperor who felt and knew , sensing that the primarchs had managed to survivewere still alive, searched and eventually found his 'sons', one by one. Upon discovery the single primarch would be evaluated, and if found worthy - all of them were - recieved the command of his respective legion. His homeworld would also become the new homebase of the Space Marine Legion in question. The first to be found was [[Horus]], who would become the most trusted 'son', second only to the Emperor.

Eventually, the Great Crusade reached a point where the Emperor felt that his Primarchs could continue without him. He returned to [[Terra]] to begin to re-organise his Empire into a unified whole. He left Horus in command of all forces, naming him [[Warmaster]]. Alas, under mysterious circumstances Horus fell to [[Chaos]] and betrayed his loyalty, planingthe Emperor's trust, planning and beginning waging a terrible civil-war later to be known as the ''Horus Heresy''.

During the [[M31|31st Millenium]], Horus was afflicted by a disease and took refuge on a [[Feral World]] named [[Davin]]. It seemed was after his healing that the locals could heal him but from then on it seemed Horus had the intention of overthrowing the Emperor's attitudes began to change. During his illness he was inducted into a Warrior Lodge, becoming a Brother of the lodge rather than an outsider. This seemed to increase his rate of change, and could have been rife with the power of further drew Horus to Chaos. Once Horus was well again, he was sent to brought his forces [[Isstvan III]] to put down a local revolt. After arranging for marines whose loyalty was more to the Emperor than to himself to lead the assault, Horus proceeded ordered his fleet to [[virus bomb]] the entire planet, destroying the entire populationand most of the Marines on the surface. This marked was Horus's first overt act of treachery. Only one ship, the end Eisenstein, commanded by a captain of the good Horus and the beginning Death Guard legion, managed to escape with word of the Chaos Horuswhat had happened.  Horus then moved his forces to [[Isstvan V]] where he set up his command base. He was met by seven legions sent to bring Horus back to Terra to face the Emperor in an investigation of his actions of Isstvan III. Four of these Legions turned traitor and, of the remaining three, only a few Space Marines managed to escape to warn the Emperor. Horus had shown his true colours and began a civil war which would end with the [[Battle of Terra]].

The Battle of Terra involved many Space Marine Legions and culminated in a battle of wills between Horus and the Emperor. Horus had baited the Emperor into teleporting onto his [[Battle Barge]] by simply lowering his void shields. The Emperor, [[Sanguinius]], [[Rogal Dorn]] and several Space Marines teleported onto the ship but were somehow scattered throughout the ship. Sanguinius was the first to reach Horus, where he was offered a place by Horus' side, which he refused. Horus concluded by killing Sanguinius. Just as Sanguinius died, the Emperor found Horus' command centre and the two became locked in a fight of an epic proportionsbattle, using both physical and psychic strength. The battle ended when the Emperor realised that he could no longer save his son from Chaos, and that he had to die. He unleashed a massive psychic barrage which killed Horus almost instantly, but in his last dying moments, the Emperor saw Chaos leave Horus and felt him return to sanity, if only for a moment.

Horus had died. However, however during the great combat the Emperor had taken several mortal wounds and Rogal Dorn found him on the deck of the ship, where he received the designs for the [[Golden Throne]] on which the Emperor now resides.

When the Emperor ascended to the Golden Throne, the structure of the empire he had built collapsed and it was left down to the Space Marines to hold it together. Over the coming millenia, the Space Marines fought off the enemies of the Emperor and put down heresies which would have destroyed the empire and eventually it was formed into the Imperium. During this period, it was primarily the [[Ultramarines]] who kept back the enemies of the Imperium due to their posting far from Terra during the Horus Heresy. Their Primarch, [[Roboute Guilliman]], wrote a tome known as the [[Codex Astartes]] which designated how Space Marines Legions should be broken down into far smaller Chapters. This would become the founding principle of most of the Space Marine forces created from then on. It was designed to prevent any one person from gaining so much power as Horus had. It would prove to be very successful, if somewhat disliked by several Primarchs, most notably [[Leman Russ]]. Eventually, in the name of unity, all Legions save the [[Space Wolves]] were broken down into the roughly 1000 strong forces we have today. (The Space Wolves did grant their great companies increased autonomy, thus complying with the spirit of the Codex if not the letter)

The principle of the Codex was to re-organise the huge Space Marine Legions into [[Chapters]], smaller units one tenth of the legions original size. The Chapters consisted of, at maximum, 1,000 standard Space Marines as well as their accompanying commanders and assistants. Each Chapter has its own unique heraldry and traditions, primarily drawn from the original Space Marine Legion. Most Chapters tend to follow the [[Codex Astartes]], notable exceptions being the [[Black Templars]], [[Blood Angels]], [[Space Wolves]], and [[Dark Angels]].

The Space Marines are a force in high demand throughout the Imperium but there are by no means sufficient numbers to go around. This led to the creation of the 'Founding System' to run in conjunction with the Codex Astartes. The creation first twenty Space Marine Legions would become known as the '''First Founding'''. The [[Second Founding]] saw the creations of chapters and the re-organization per the Codex Astartes. Since then there have been 26 foundings. The creation of new chapters can only be ordered and allowed by the [[High Lords of Terra]].

The Adeptus Custodes are a secretive force created to protect the Emperor. They always follow the Emperor and have not left Terra since he ascended to the Golden Throne. The early Custodes may have originally been the prototypes for the Space Marines and their Primarchs.

The creation of a Space Marine requires several methods and stages and takes a good deal of time. A young, usually pre-teen, healthy recruit is the basic requirement for a Space Marine. Also a sample of the Chapter's [[gene-seed]] is required for implantation. Implantation goes hand-in-hand with chemical treatment, psychological conditioning and subconscious hypnotherapy. All of these are essential if the Marine is to develop properly, and acquire full use of the implants.

'''Chemical Treatment''' - Until his initiation, a Marine must submit to constant tests and examinations. The newly implanted organs must be monitored very carefully, imbalances corrected, and any sign of maldevelopment treated. This chemical treatment is reduced after completion of the intiation process, but it never ends. Marines undergo periodic treatment for the rest of their lives in order to maintain a stable metabolism. This is why their Marine power armour suits contain monitoringequipment and drug dispensersto aid in this.

'''Hypnotherapy''' - As the super-enhanced body grows, the recipient must learn how to use his new skillsabilities. Some of the implants, specifically the phase 6 and 10 implants, can only function once correct hypnotherapy has been administered. Hypnotherapy is not always as effective as chemicaltreatment, but it can have substantial results. If a 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]]. Marines are placed in a state of hypnosis and subjected to visual and aural images stimuli inorder to awaken their minds to their unconscious metabolic processes.

'''Indoctrination''' - Just as their bodies receive 19 separate 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 described above. For example, a Marine can control his senses andnervous system to a remarkable degree, and can consequently endure pain that would kill an ordinary man. A Marine can also think and react at lightning speeds. Memory training is an important part of the indoctrination too. Some Marines develop photographic memories. Obviously,Marines vary in intelligence as do other men, and their individual mental abilities vary in degree.

'''Implantation''' The 19 implanted organs are very complicated, and because several of them only work properly or work at all in the presence of another of the implants, the removal, mutation or failure of one organ can affect the exact functioning of the others.² Because of this and the fact that each Chapter's gene-seed belongs to that Chapter alone, different Chapters display different characteristics and use different sets of implantsand methods of implantation. Listed below is the complete set of implants used:

'''Phase 3 - Biscopea''' - This small, circular organ is inserted into the chest cavity and releases hormones that vastly increase muscle growth throughout the marine's body. It also serves to form the hormonal basis for many of the later implants.

'''Phase 5 - Larraman's Organ''' - A liver-shaped organ about the size of a golf-ball, this implant is placed within the chest cavity and connected to the circulatory system. It generates and controls 'larraman Larraman cells' which are released into the blood stream if the recipient is wounded. They attach themselves to leucocytes in the blood and are are carried to the site of the wound, where upon contact with air they form a near instant patch of scar tissue, sealing any wounds the Space Marine may suffer.

'''Phase 6 - Catalepsean Node''' - Implanted into the back of the brain this pea-sized implant influences the circadian rhythms of sleep and the body's response to sleep deprivation.² This allows a Space Marine to rest parts of his brain whilst awake. This means that a Space Marine needs no more than 4 hours of sleep a day, and can potentially go for 2 weeks without any sleep at all.

'''Phase 11 - Lyman's Ear''' - Not only does this implant make a Space Marine immune from dizziness or motion sickness but also allows Space Marines to consciously filter out and enhance certain sounds. It The Lyman's Ear completely replaces a Marine's original ear. It is externally indistinguishable from a normal human ear.

'''Phase 12 - Sus-an Membrane''' - Initially implanted above the brain, this membrane eventually merges with the recipient's entire brain. Ineffective without follow-up chemical therapy and training, but with sufficient training a Space Marine can use this implant to enter a state of suspended animation, consciously or as an automatic reaction to extreme trauma, keeping the Marine alive for years, even if he has suffered otherwise mortal wounds. Only the appropriate chemical therapy or auto-suggestion can revive a Marine from this state. The longest known period spent in suspended animation was undertaken by Brother Silas Err of the Dark Angels, who was revived after 567 years. It should also be noted that Talonmaster Zso Sahaal of the Night Lord's legion spent nearly ten thousand years in suspended animation when his ship was entombed in the warp by the Eldar, however time in his ship may not have passed at the same rate as in normal space.²

'''Phase 13 - Melanochrome''' - This implant allows a Space Marine to control the amount of melanin in his skin. Exposure to sunlight will result in the Marine's skin darkening to the appropriate level, changing the Marine's skin colour. It also protects the marine from other forms of radiation.²

'''Phase 15 - Neuroglottis''' - This enhances a Space Marine's sense of taste to such a high degree that he can identify many common chemicals by taste alone, a marine . A Marine can even track down his target by taste.

'''Phase 16 - Mucranoid''' - This implant allows a Space Marine to sweat a substance that coats the skin and offers resistance to extreme heat and cold and can even provide some protection for the marine in a vacuum. This can only be activated by outside treatment, and is common when Space Marines are expected to be fighting in vacuum.

'''Phase 17 - Betcher's Gland''' - This allows a Space Marine to spit a poisonous and corrosive acid that can eat through iron bars. It is generally accepted that marines ahve Marines have a coating of some kind in their mouths and digestive tracts to prevent the acid from eating away at their insides.

Space Marines have very organised daily routines including combat duty, prayer and indoctrination sessions with very little free time. This lends itself well to the organised mind of a Space Marine. They also spend very little time resting, made possible by the training and implants and many Chapter-Masters prefer to randomise schedules to keep the brethren constantly alert.

'''0400 - Morning Prayer''' - Led by the Company [[Chaplain]] the Space Marines renew their oaths to [[The Emperor]] and the company relics are displayed. This time is also used to give out orders, announcements and other administrative tasks.

'''1315 - Tactical Indoctrination''' - This can take many forms, from information on a new alien species or technology to strategy. A debrief of the morning's battle is common as well.

The Space Marines have their own [[Space Marine Honour Badges|badge system]] separate from the rest of the Imperium, much like other sections of the running of the Space Marine chapters.