Techmarine
In addition to being battle-brothers to their fellow Space Marines, Techmarines (Frater Astrotechnicus) also serve the role of mechanical technicians to their respective Chapters.1 They pledge allegiance to both the Cult Mechanicus and the Chapters from which they hail, and the scope of their duties are similar to that of a Techpriest Enginseer in the Imperial Guard.
Space Marine Chapters identify prospective Techmarines from within their own companies, favouring those who show the greatest affinity for machines. These aspirants are then sent to Mars for thirty years of training, where they are taught the machine lore.1 They learn how to divine the Runes of Engineering and study the Liturgy of Maintenance. This great body of lore must be fully understood and committed to memory by the novice Techmarine.
A great deal of the thirty years of instruction involves learning each of the many and intricate maintenance rituals and hymns1 by heart. The rituals furthermore have variations to cover every conceivable circumstance in battle. A fully-fledged Techmarine is expected to be able to "feel" the pain of a damaged machine and heal it. After completing the training, the Techmarine is ordained, and returns to his Chapter.2
A Techmarine's armour is modified to accommodate his cybernetic enhancements and his backpack is also upgraded with several servo-arms and mechadendrites. His armour wears the rust red colours of the Adeptus Mechanicus, but his Chapter badge is retained and displayed on one of the shoulder guards, so as not to disrespect the armour's spirit. Techmarines are able to wear full servo-harnesses, huge harnesses armed with servo-arms, plasma cutters, and flamers. Techmarines can also be accompanied by a retinue of Servitors; Gun Servitors, Combat Servitors, and Tech Servitors. They bear a power axe with the Adeptus Mechanicus symbol on the head, as both a symbol of rank and as a weapon.3
The highest position among the Techmarines is held by the Master of the Forge4.
Many Chaos Obliterators are said to be the former Techmarines of the Traitor Legions5.
Images
- Techmarine-sm.jpg
Techmarine
4th Edition Techmarine
Sources
- 1: Codex: Space Marines (5th Edition), p. 71
- 2: Warhammer 40,000: Compendium, p. 131
- 3: Codex: Space Marines (4th Edition)
- 4: White Dwarf 346 (UK)
- 5: Codex: Chaos Space Marines (4th Edition), p. 35
