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Juventia

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The Juventia are part of Macragge's Ultramar Auxilia and are composed of young males, that are the last line of defense for the Realm of Ultramar's Capital World.[1]

Description

They are led by Troop Masters who train the Juventia to be young warriors, by following a syllabus that contains lessons on combat drilling and history. When the Juventia later come of age, their training is complete and they leave the group to undergo the trials needed to join the Ultramar Auxilia. Also because of the level of their training, the Juventia are the first place the Ultramarines go to in search of Aspirants for the Chapter.[1]

History

During the Plague Wars, one Troop Master led a number of Juventia astray after he joined a group of rebels that were staging violent protests against Macragge's strict rationing. He then became the leader of a cell of at least one hundred and thirty two rebels, which consisted of the Troop Master's Juventia and a number of older males who had failed the trials to join the Ultramar Auxilia. The rebel group would then launch sixteen attacks on the Capital World and the Troop Master's cell was among them, as they stormed the Museo Illyricus museum in Macragge's Illyrian region. Once the building was under their control, the rebel cell informed the Capital World's government, that they had a biological device that could thousands should it be activated. They said they were protesting Macragge's rationing and wished to talk peacefully about increasing the food available to the world's population and slowing the recruitment drive for the Auxilia.[1]

Once he learned of this, the Ultramarines' Chapter Master, Marneus Calgar, took personal charge of dealing with the rebels and brought a group of the Chapter's Space Marines with him, including Terminator Sergeant Julio's Fourth Squadron. Despite the Capital World's Vigil Opertii wishing to deal with the threat themselves, as they were with the other rebel attacks across Macragge, Calgar refused to do so. While he was charged with defending the whole of Ultramar, by Lord Commander Guilliman, the Chapter Master could not ignore an attack on the Capital World, especially one done by its own people. Adding to this, he knew it was the agents of the Death Guard's Daemon Primarch Mortarion, who had influenced the formation of the rebels and were also the instigators of their attacks. As Calgar watched the museum, though, he became disappointed by the rebel cell's defensive disposition within the building. He thought their uprising was shamefully executed and it reflected poorly on the Juventia's training, especially since the Ultramarines look to them first for Aspirants. Once the rebels were dealt with, the Chapter Master stated he would meet with the local Troop Masters and have the the Juventia's syllabus' revised to have more drilling and less history lessons.[1]

Calgar then tasked Sergeant Julio's squadron with dealing with the rebel cell, but ordered the Sergeant to spare the lives of the Juventia. This was because the young men had been all been led astray by the words of their Troop Master and the youths's deaths could inspire others to join the rebels' cause. Julio agreed that the Troop Master was responsible for their actions and he would enjoy making an example out of the traitor. However, while Calgar wanted the rebel Juventia to be given the chance to redeem themselves, he would not allow them to leave unscathed for their attack against Macragge. They would be taken to the Massalis Penal Station for assessment and re-education and those who tested well would be sent to the Penal Battalions. Those Juventia that would not recant, meanwhile, would be publicly mindwiped and converted into Servitors. No such mercy would be granted to the Troop Master and the others, however. With these orders given, Julio led his squadron into the museum and easily defeated the rebel cell, despite their superior numbers. Efforts then began to safely deal with the cell's biological device, as the survivors were led out and the Juventia were separated from the other adult rebels. Julio had also kept his promise, as the Troop Master was not among them.[1]

Shortly after the attack was ended, Calgar received word that Lord Commander Guilliman had returned and brought with him enough forces to take the fight to the invading Death Guard. While the Chapter Master rejoiced at this, he also felt like a failure, as Calgar had been unable to defeat the Traitor Legion and keep the Realm of Ultramar safe from their attacks. As he prepared to leave and meet with Guilliman, Julio asked the Chapter Master what should be done with the surviving adult rebel members. With his feelings of failure still resonating within him, Calgar ordered the Sergeant to execute them as he left the area. The Terminator Sergeant and his squadron carried out their orders and the adult rebels' cries of panic where quickly silenced by the roar of bolter fire.[1]

Notes

The Dark Imperium (Novel) does not state the age requirements needed to join or graduate from the Juventia. The rebel members that appear in Chapter 17, contains a mixed age group of between eleven and twenty years old.[1]

Sources