Rubicon Primaris
The Rubicon Primaris is a name given for an extensive operation that allows Firstborn Space Marines to be reborn as Primaris Space Marines.[1] The procedure is also called the Calgarisian Rites or the Calgar Procedure in honour of Marneus Calgar.[27][18c]
Overview
When the Primaris were revealed and introduced into the Adeptus Astartes Chapters, a debate began as to whether it was possible for a Space Marine to become one. And if so, was it morally right to do so and would the transformed Space Marine still retain his personality and experience? While the creator of the Primaris, Archmagos Cawl, confirmed the operation could be done, the data he had amassed suggested there would be a 61.6% failure rate until the process could be perfected. The lords of the Ultramarines Chapter decided that to ease the transition from centuries of Imperial tradition to a new order brought about by the Primaris the hypotheticals of the debate would have to be put into practice. Chapter Master Marneus Calgar then volunteered to be the first test subject of the Rubicon Primaris operation, which proved to be a success. This put an end to many debates about the procedure, as Calgar was still the warrior he always was, but now had the new strength and abilities of a Primaris.[1]
Any Space Marine who undergoes the the Rubicon Primaris must prepare for an extensive and agonizing operation. It is conducted by many surgeons and medical Servitors who will cut open the Space Marine from his crown to his heels. His ribcage will then cracked apart and – at the climax of the operation – the Space Marine's healing physiology suppressed to the point that his life will slip away. All this is done so that the three extra organs a Primaris contains can be safely implanted within the Space Marine's body. This includes the Magnificat, which is buried deep within the brain to stimulate growth and to intensify other organ functions, the Belisarian Furnace, which releases a burst of hypersteroids and corticostimulants when a mortal blow is dealt, so the Primaris may fight on, and the Sinew Coils, cable-like lengths of durasteel that encase every tendon and sinew in a metallic sheath that gives tremendous resilience and strength. When the organs are successfully implanted, the now deceased Space Marine's body is left rent and open to the air as his wounds are stitched closed. When the surgeons are done they electrify the Space Marine's heart in order to cause it to beat once more. If the Space Marine is then able to claw his way back from death his Belisarian Furnace will activate and awaken him as a newly created Primaris Marine.[1] Sinew Coils can simply be manufactured, as they are durasteel cybernetic implants, but the Magnificat and Belisarian Furnace are genuinely geneseed organs in their own right; it has never been clarified where the surgeons acquire compatible organs to implant in the patient.
By the last years of the Plague Wars, the procedure had become much safer and it was considered unusual if high-ranking Firstborn chose not to undergo the Rubicon Primaris.[18a][18b]
Space Marines known to have undergone the Rubicon Primaris
Aurora Chapter
Black Templars
- Helbrecht - High Marshal[19]
- Grimaldus - Reclusiarch[19]
- Galan Mauger - Marshal[20]
- At least one Emperor's Champion[19]
Blood Angels
Dark Angels
Imperial Fists
Iron Hands
Mentors
Raven Guard
Salamanders
Sons of Medusa
- Morn Graevarr - Atropos War Clan Iron Thane[17]
- Vaylund Cal - Atropos War Clan Iron Thane[21]
Space Wolves
- Ragnar Blackmane - Wolf Lord[12]
- Brega Ironfist - Battle Brother[15]
- Sigvald Deathgranter - Wolf Lord[28]
Tome Keepers
- Nasiem bal Tergu - 3rd Company Captain[13]
- Abhis bal Narath - 5th Company Captain[24]
- Kae bal Zhune - 3rd Company Ancient[16]
Ultramarines
- Marneus Calgar - Chapter Master[2]
- Varro Tigurius - Chief Librarian[2]
- Uriel Ventris - 4th Company Captain[3]
- Maximus Epathus - 6th Company Captain[5]
- Julianus Theldor - 1st Company Battle Brother[14]
- Titus - Lieutenant - former Captain[22]
White Scars
Sources
- 1: Imperium Nihilus: Vigilus Defiant, pg. 77 - Forces of War: The Rubicon Primaris
- 2: Apocalypse Mega-battle and Warhammer 40,000 Preview! (Last accessed on 3 August 2019)
- 3: The Death of Uriel Ventris (Short Story)
- 4: Spear of the Emperor (Novel), Chapter 20
- 5: Codex Supplement: Ultramarines (8th Edition), pg. 17 - The 6th Company
- 6: Warhammer Community: Breaking News: Sisters, Psykers and Skeletons (Posted 29/8/2019) (Last Accessed 29 August 2019)
- 7: Warhammer Community: Coming Next Week: Iron and Shadow (Posted 08/09/2019) (Last accessed on 8 September 2019)
- 8: Warhammer Community: Fists and Fire – New Miniatures Revealed (Posted 9 September 2019) (Last Accessed 9/18/2019)
- 9: White Dwarf September 2019, pg. 28 - Index Astartes: Dark Angels
- 10: Warhammer Community: Mephiston (Re)Reborn! (posted November 20 2019) (last accessed 11/20/2019)
- 11: Psychic Awakening: Ritual of the Damned, pg. 42 - Dark Angels: Datasheets
- 12: Warhammer Community: The Fight of the Millennium (Posted on 03/03/2020) (Last accessed on 9 March 2020)
- 13: White Dwarf 455, pgs. 84-85 - Organisation of a Chapter
- 14: Codex: Space Marines (9th Edition), pg. 59 - War Zone: Damnos
- 15: Codex: Space Wolves (9th Edition), pg. 23 - The Blackmanes
- 16: White Dwarf 458, pg. 54 - Index Astartes: Tome Keepers
- 17: White Dwarf 460, pgs. 58-59 - A Tale of Four Warlords
- 18: Dark Imperium: Godblight (Novel)
- 19: Warhammer Community: Grimaldus, the Relic-Saving and Ork-Smashing High Chaplain of the Black Templars, Is Back (Posted on 27/09/2021) (Last accessed on 27 September 2021)
- 20: Codex: Black Templars (9th Edition), pg. 66 - Crusade Army
- 21: White Dwarf 470, pg. 48 - A Tale of Four Warlords: The Sons of Medusa
- 22: Focus Entertainment Youtube page: Warhammer 40,000: SPACE MARINE 2 – World Premiere Reveal | The Game Awards 2021 (Posted on 09/12/2021) (Last accessed on 9 December 2021)
- 23: Warhammer Community: Azrael Revealed – Unwrapping A Chapter Master Cloaked in Secrets (Posted on 25/12/2022) (Last accessed on 25/12/2022)
- 24: White Dwarf 483, pg. 53 - Heroes and Villains
- 25: First Founding (Background Book), pg. 145 - Imperial Fists: Heroes of the Chapter
- 26: Warhammer Community: The Legendary Commander Dante Crosses the Rubicon Primaris (Posted on 16/03/2023) (Last accessed on 16/03/2023)
- 27: Spear of the Emperor (Novel) Chapter 19
- 28: Enter the Lair of the Fellwyrm With a Custom Scenario on Warhammer+