Overview of the Imperium of Man

The Imperium of Man has existed for nigh on 10,000 years. It is the largest given empire in all human history. stretching from the west of the Milky Way (and Holy Terra) to the Eastern Fringe, to the south and the Realm of Ultramar, and north to the Eye of Terror. Trillions upon trillions of human souls are born, and die every day within it's borders. Most work until they die, or fight in wars uncounted, but we still endure.
Birthed at the time of the Great Crusade, the Imperium was but a child at this time. Led by the Emperor, and his most glorious sons, the Primarchs & their legions of Adeptus Astartes, they threw back the darkness that had engulfed Mankind during the Age of Strife. That was all to change when His favoured son, Horus Lupercal, turned along with eight of his brothers, sundering the Imperium in what is now known as the Horus Heresy. Horus the Archtraitor was killed, overlooking the Siege of Terra,, but not after killing his brother, the blessed winged Sangunius, and laying the God-Emperor low. Now the latter sits on the Golden Throne directing us through the millennia from Holy Terra.
The traitors fled, to the Eye of Terra, and can still be found there today. From that accursed place they still prey on the Imperium, and cast a shadow over the worlds of Man. And they are not alone in this, for the mutant, and the heretic can be found everywhere. Hiding in our midst, covering their warped minds, thoughts and bodies awaiting us to seek them out. And that is not all....
From every side, and even in our glorious empire, the Xenos filth attack & corrupt all those that they can. The Alderi (known colloquially as the Eldar) weave their treacherous assaults upon us. Whether it is corsairs, the Craftworld Eldar, or their dark-kin, the Drukhari (Dark Eldar) from benighted Gomorrah, we watch where and when they will strike. The Orks too, are rightly feared. Hulking brutes of muscle, and seemingly useless weapon, strike like a tsunami against many of our worlds. Make no mistake, for all the Greenskins barbarity, their weapons of war work, and are willing to fight anyone at any time. As for the Tau, a bunch of upstarts in the Eastern Fringes, looking to mimic us. Expanding slowly, and having an aversion for melee, they prefer to stand back & shoot. If their technology weren't so advanced, and having exosuits of high quality for dirty xenos, they would have been wiped out centuries ago.
Many of these have plagued us for millennia, and now further threats have emerged. Besides the Tau, there is the Tyranids. The Great Devourer hunts for planetary biomass all along the Eastern Fringe delving deep into our territory, scouring thriving worlds clean. Their vanguard, the Genestealers, have plagued us for generations, taking over worlds from the inside. Also, the ancient Necrons, recently awoken machines that slept for millions of years are now awakening, trying to reclaim the galaxy from their Tomb Worlds.
On top of all this, rebellions are growing all across our domain, and the Gods of Chaos are urging their followers onward. When a rift opens the Neverborn minions of these gods spill through wreaking untold damage. The same traitors who followed them during the Horus Heresy spill forth to sow corruption where ever possible. Khorne god of battle & blood, Nurgle god of disease & decay, Tzeentch god of fate & change, and Slaanesh the dark prince of excess, pleasure & pain, all command huge swathes of the Warp, and mortal followers.
The Imperium of Man
Given the size of the Imperium, only the highest echelons of society can be found on Holy Terra. With our lord, the God-Emperor, bound to his Golden Throne (and acting as the psychic beacon for our ships in the Warp), the central rule of the High Lords of Terra are found here. Usually the Fabricator General of the Adeptus Mechanicus, the High Commander of the Astra Militarium, the Lord of the Ordo Inquisition, and the Supreme Patriarch of the Noblis Navigators are regular members. Others, such as the Lord of the Ordo Administratum, and the highest ranking member of the Ecclesiarch also serve. The rest is open, and usually include a powerful member of the Imperial Navy, lord of the Officio Assassinorium, a high ranking Adeptus Astra Telepathica, and a Chapter Master of one of the many Adeptus Astartes may also serve as & when necessary. The Astronomican leaders, the Adeptus Custodies, and the leaders of the Adeptus Arbites regularly have members present too.
The God-Emperor also is guarded by the gene-enhanced & deadly Adeptus Custodies, individuals dressed in the best armour we can afford, and answers only to the God-Emperor himself. A thousand psykers are also leeched of power by Himself daily as a sacrifice to help power His light in the Warp. The Astronomican, controls the Black Ships that collect psykers across the Imperium. Some are used for the God-Emperor, some are used in choirs a thousand strong to direct the psychic beacons used by Navigators (some are found in key points), and others are trained as Astropaths or other useful roles for psykers (including the military). Hundreds are killed as being of no use, and those used in beacons, burn out eventually only to be replaced. Astropaths are brought before the God-Emperor during their training and take a part of His power. This inevitably burns out certain senses due to the power, most becoming blind with hollow eye sockets. Their powers are enhanced though so this makes up for it, and they act individually or in choirs, sending messages across the galaxy using dream like logic, to be picked up by others. The Navigators are human mutants with literally a third eye in their foreheads. This sees into the Warp and allows them to guide Warp capable ships using the psychic beacons.
Three kinds of standard military structure is used by our blessed Imperium. The first is the Astra Militarium, or the Imperial Guard. Every world is expected to raise Planetary Defence Forces for it's first line of defence. From these, the core training is provided, and a percentage is expected to be turned over to the Astra Militarium for further training, and upgraded equipment, for use in major battlezones. Many are renowned for specific battle tactics, such as the Cadian tank companies, or the Catachan Jungle Fighter regiments. Specific sectors are controlled by their high command.
The second is the Imperial Navy. They are controlled by specific sector commands, and were split from the old Imperial Army. After some rebelled during the Horus Heresy, they were split into the Navy & the Imperial Guard. This was so that if one rebelled, the other would be inaccessible to them. Their battleships are almost like Gothic cathedrals and can bomb a planet to smithereens in moments.
The third is the Adeptus Astartes, commonly known as the Space Marines, and whispered by many as the Angels of Death. Rarely seen by the common masses. They were split from the old space marine legions down to chapters of 1,000 men, so if one of these rebelled, the rest could remain loyal. Bio-enhanced, clad in power armour, and given highly powerful weapons & fleets they go where the worse warzones are. They continually listen for the call of battle, and like the Imperial Guard, many have specialised traits, such as the Imperial Fists who are known to be siege experts. The Ultramarines are a group of marines who hail from Ultramar, and run it. Others, like the Blood Angels & Space Wolves hail from Death Worlds (Baal & Fenris respectively) and are savage close quarter fighters. Within their chapters they control a home world where they recruit from, have a fortress monastery, and many specialists (like Techmarines & Apothecaries), as well as serfs carrying out vital roles. They are usually the first to arrive at a warzone, striking hard & fast. Despite this level of autonomy and enhancements they are rarely a match for the Custodies, though the latter hasn't left the Imperial Palace in ten thousand years.
The Officio Assassinorium are a highly secretive bunch. Split into separate Temples, each specialises in a different form of killing, and chooses recruits from the orphanages throughout the Imperium. The Vindicares are superior snipers, killing at long range from unexpected vantage points, the Culexus assassins are psychic nulls (soulless humans who are anathema to psykers), the Eversor assassins are chemically enhanced violent killers who explode when killed, and the Callidus temple are primarily female who specialise in polymorphine & infiltration.

Purpose

The purpose of this document is to act as a historical overview of the Imperium of Man, and the threats posed by others to the Imperium.

Type

Study, Historical

Medium

Digital, Holographic