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Galaxy

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Map of the Galaxy

The Galaxy is the realm in which Warhammer 40,000 takes place. It is a vast spiral, ninety-thousand light years across and fifteen-thousand light years thick, containing hundreds of billions of stars.1: p.306 It appears to be the Milky Way galaxy put into the far far future, as it shares the same shape of a spiral and the same location of Earth (Terra) as the real Milky Way galaxy.

Territory

The Imperium

Segmentums of the Galaxy

The Imperium is the largest empire in the Galaxy, centred around Terra in the galactic west, consisting of at least a million worlds which are dispersed throughout the entire Galaxy. Space ruled by the Imperium is divided into five fleet zones, known as Segmentums:

Space is then further divided into Sectors, which typically cover seven million cubic light years equivalent a cube with sides almost 200 light years long; Sub-sectors, which usually comprise between two and eight star systems within a ten light year radius; and systems 1: p.315. Imperial planets are categorised into several broad classes according to their function, type of civilisation and technological level.

There remain vast areas, in fact the majority of the stars in the Galaxy, that are unexplored, uninhabited, inaccessible by the Warp, or are controlled by alien empires. These areas are known by various names including wilderness space or wilderness zones.1: p.306

The Fringes surround the galaxy and are outside the light of the Astronomican and so beyond easy reach of the Imperium. They are known to contain human planets settled in ancient times as well as many alien worlds.1: p.306 The Eastern Fringe is the largest fringe area located to the far galactic east boarding the Ultima Segmentum.

Beyond the Fringes lie the Halo Stars - very ancient stars ringing the Galaxy, the majority almost extinguished and circled by long-dead worlds.1: p.306

The forces of the Imperium are recruited from and posted to defend the many worlds of the Imperium. The immense armies of Imperial Guard are recruited from every single Imperial planet and regiments are shipped across the Galaxy to the frontlines of warzones 2: p.138-139. The elite Space Marines typically operate from a Chapter Planet, although some Chapters maintain their base on space-bound fleets, space stations or asteroids 2: p.132. The Imperium can also call upon the pious warriors of the Adepta Sororitas2-p120, the fleets of the Imperial Navy2-p103, and the mighty god-machines of the Collegia Titanica2-p121 to come to its defense.


Chaos

The forces of Chaos such as the mighty Chaos Space Marine Legions keep hidden lairs within Warp storms, notably the Eye of Terror. Warbands exist on ships hiding in the wilderness zones between Imperial sectors or on hidden bases.2: p.144-145 The Lost and the Damned can emerge from fallen Imperial forces to plague the Galaxy. Chaos Daemons exist in the Warp but are capable of invading realspace through means such as breaking through the tear in realities opened by the unprotected mind of a psyker, or being ritually summoned by followers of Chaos 2: p.150-151.

Eldar

The Eldar, whose Empire once spanned the Galaxy, survive mostly on vast ships known as Craftworlds. A Craftworld contains Webway gates which connect to other Craftworlds or to hidden gates throughout the Galaxy, providing a means for their war parties or spacecraft to travel the Galaxy. A minority of Eldar also inhabit Exodite Worlds or Maiden Worlds, wander the Galaxy as Eldar Outcasts or Corsairs, or travel the Webway as part of the Harlequins.3

Dark Eldar

The Dark Eldar live in Commorragh, a city located within the labyrinth of the Webway, with hidden Webway gates leading to points all across the the Galaxy, allowing them to emerge and strike from seemingly nowhere and vanish again before any significant resistance can be mobilised.

Necrons

Necrons are scattered all throughout the galaxy, awakening from Tomb Worlds where they were buried in stasis for centuries. They are finding the Galaxy a changed place, infested with younger races to be harvested.2: p.178

Orks

Orks are spread everywhere throughout the Galaxy, in fact possibly outnumbering every other race. However due to their aggressive and warlike nature, the Ork race wars amongst itself and is split into hundreds of tiny empires. Only when a great Waaagh! is called do an uncountable number of Orks unite and channel their need for battle towards conquering planets, systems and other races.2: p.160-161

Ork Activity

Tau

The Tau control an upstart Empire located near the Eastern Fringe and are expanding into the Eastern Fringe, bringing them into conflict with the Imperium and other races.2: p.170-171

Tau Planets

Tyranids

The Tyranids are invading the Galaxy from beyond its borders, the majority of Hive Fleets having attacked from the Eastern Fringe. Though new Hive Fleets are emerging from the galactic north and south, most notably Hive Fleet Leviathan.2: p.166

Tyranid Incursions

Other Civilizations

The Ulumeathic League, Church of Dracolith, Draxian Hegemony, and Reek Worldweave are other emerging alien empires which are beginning to challenge the might of the Imperium2-p119 while Hrud migrations are a constant bane to any civilization.4

The Slaugth sport extremely advanced technology, even compared to the Eldar, and are currently infiltrating the Calixis Sector. They are able to disguise as humans, but most of the time they use human agents, bribed or threatened into service. Their long-term goal is to gain political influence and then to conquer the Calixis Sector by military means. Then they could openly feast on the human populations there.5,6

There are dozens, if not hundreds of minor alien civilizations in the Galaxy.2-p119

Galactic travel

Main article: Warp jump

Inter-stellar travel around the galaxy is dependent on Warp jumps, a form of faster-than-light travel by means of entering the warp, a parallel psychic dimension, and re-emerging to a new location in real space light years away from the starting position.1: p.310-312

Other galaxies

The distances between galaxies are so vast as to make inter-galactic travel unfeasible even with advanced warp jumps. Being thrown drastically off-course by a Warp storm can result in emerging outside of the galaxy, or stepping through an ancient portal of the Webway.

The Imperium has no established presence outside the galaxy. Although, it is known that alien life exists out there - the Tyranids come from somewhere beyond the galaxy.

Related articles

Sources