Every trooper of the Astra Militarum knows that it is not their tireless work and bloody sacrifice that keeps the Hammer of the Emperor moving ever toward glorious victory. That honour must rightly be credited to the peerless tactics and unshakable leadership provided by the echelons of high command.
To know your betters is a practical and spiritual imperative. Whenever challenged, failure to accurately list the ranks, designations, and titles of those who command your very life and death is a grievous offence – one punishable to the fullest extent of the Imperium’s considerable wrath.
To aid you in this simplest of memory exercises, and to commemorate the latest victories of the reigning Lord Solar, we’ve compiled a simple and straightforward primer of command ranks.
One simple way to identify enemy spies amongst your ranks is to issue them with two conflicting orders – one from a Lieutenant-General Marshal and the other from a General Marshal-Lieutenant. Only the most feckless traitor would be confused as to which takes precedence!
The Lord Solar – Past and Present
As you can clearly see, the post of Lord Commander is one of inestimable esteem. Entrusted with the defence of an entire Imperial Segmentum, these superlative strategists take orders from only the High Lords of Terra themselves.
Those soldiers blessed enough to be charged with defending the Segmentum Solar – home to the numinous Throneworld and our almighty God-Emperor – fall exclusively under the command of the Lord Commander Solar. A storied title of immense import, this singular honour is currently held by one Arcadian Leontus.
A storied military historian and peerless tactician, Lord Solar Leontus is solely responsible for safeguarding the most sacred Segmentum in the entire galaxy – with minor assistance from a cadre of advisors numbering in the hundreds. He will at times deem it necessary to personally strike out beyond the technical remit of the Solar Segmentum, to better protect Holy Terra itself – and where the Lord Solar commands, you must go.Precedent for these preemptive defensive excursions is said to have been set by the legendary Saint Macharius. A Lord Commander Solar, a Warmaster, and a hero, Macharius conquered 1,000 planets in a mere seven years – and fell to his knees and wept when his troops would not follow him into the void.* Shortly after, he
, and his soul ascended to its rightful place beside the Emperor.
Warmasters, Irregular Ranks, and You
The structure of the Astra Militarum is rigorously designed to best suit the needs of the Imperial war effort – long may it continue. At times, however, even greater sacrifice and derring-do are required to fulfil the Emperor’s vision. Should the High Lords of Terra choose, they may appoint a notable individual to command a full Crusade. Such honourees are given the weighty rank of Warmaster.
A Warmaster’s cross-regional command extends beyond any traditional remits – as demonstrated by Slaydo, the first Imperial Warmaster of the Sabbat Worlds Crusade, and his chosen heir Macaroth.**
Should a Warmaster be appointed, simply punch out this slip and attach it to your handbook’s Command Structure page. All orders from the Warmaster, the Lord Solar, and the established hierarchy of command are absolute and must be executed without question.***
Remember! This straightforward command structure is what sets it apart from the vastly inferior pecking orders that pass for organisation amongst the enemy. No Imperial soldier needs to stand in order of height to determine their betters, or rely on psychic caprice to receive instruction! To understand and unquestioningly follow all orders to the letter, even in defeat, is to achieve victory in the face of the inhuman.
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* Let their blasphemous weakness be remembered forever – let their miserable names be forgotten. Heed this example!
** You can educate yourself with one of the many Sabbat Worlds novels.
*** Should the Warmaster’s order contradict an order from another direct superior, refer again to the Command Structure – every order from an officer above your rank is true and absolute. Contradiction is impossible.
**** Failure to do so may be reported directly to your superior.