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this may seem like a silly question, but i seriously am wondering if a loyal space marine chapter took a traitor city would they kill everyone within not stopping with the children and noncombatants.i know when they bombard cities from space they don't seem to care who they kill, but when it gets up close and personal would they kill harmless children?

I don't think they would, but instead they would destroy the major concentration of heretics/ traitors, then the IG would do a clean up operation which may involve the slaughter of non-combatants (see 'The Killing Ground' for what I mean).

Remember, "Innocence proves nothing"

Define harmless.

If they where tainted by chaos without doubt, they'll do it, for it wouldn't be just killing them, but granting the Emperor's mercy.

Skulls for the golden throne!

Erm... that's not right :S

The Iron Hands certainly would.

''in the retaking of the Contqual Subsector, one third of the population was summarily executed after a successful campaign simply to demonstrate the price of weakness.''

Taken from Lexicanum.
And one third of a planetary population certainly includes children.

I believe they do not like to kill civilians.
But if it were mission,they do.

In Eisenhorn Book,
Inquisitor Eisenhorn order a Marine to kill a child(who were already "converted" by chaos.) who were come running at marines foots.
But Marine hesitated(cuz child look normal. But Eisenhorn is psyker he can feel it)
Then child explode and marine died.

So at least,Marine think "killing child is abnormal"

i can see how the need to purge chaos would force a marine to have to do such a thing i just was wondering how simple it is for them.

sir motor, that was a great thing to mention

They kill anyone they need to.

Yes they would. Space Marines are genetically enhanced, psychologically reprogrammed killing machines. Some chapters would even use the bodies for decorations. Although you could make a case for the Salamanders and Space Wolves refusing such an order. The other 998 chapters would do it without blinking.

Marines don't like killing children, they can even get in trouble for it. They don't get in too much hot water as long as they scream "Oh my god, its coming right for us!" before they shoot.

They do it all the time. Every single year, each Chapter would kill dozens, maybe hundreds, of specific children, who would be known to them. They'd know their names, their faces, their families even. What do you think happens to the ones who don't become Marines, and are too damaged to be Serfs?

However, in a battle, or a patrol - maybe? It might be dismissed as a waste of ammunition, but a Marine on a Search and Destroy clearance mission would have very few limitations.

The Marine in Eisenhorn, as I recall, was in the middle of a crowd of civilians he was trying to save - the request to shoot one was counter to the orders. If his mission was to clear a region of all inhabitants, shooting children becomes part of that mission.

On most missions they would probably ignore them, not due to feeling sorry for them or thinking it's wrong, but because it's a waste of ammo and time. The imperium aren't going to waste their elite soldiers on children. Any children (and most otehr civilians) can be dealt with by the IG perfectly well.

If they did have to kill a child for a mission I am sure most would do it without another thought. Compared to what SM have to do to entire populations one child doesn't matter that much.

Yes.

I don't see why not.

Look the Imperium kills Loyal Imperial Guard units that have defeated Chaos daemons and therefore may have been exposed to the taint. They wouldn't think twice about annexing "Little Jonny" or "Lisa", Space Marines don't really care all that much like the rest of the imperium plus exterminatus is used on daily basis! I don't think they would would kill civilians for sport, but i think they treat them like background, standfast a few notable exceptions (Was it the Salamanders on Armageddon that protected the Civilians? They get funny about saving women and children "TITANIC COMPLEX" going on)

Depends on the chapter

Salamanders, Wolves, Ultras probably not unless they were corrupted (again, see the killing ground)

Fists, BA, most chapters- situational, most likely if the mission depended on it

BT, Iron Hands, Marines Malevolent- without batting an eye

Killing everything is the basis of a Exterminatus. At the very least all Terminators should be capable of it without batting an eye.

I think this question arises from consideration that the Imperium are the "Good Guys", when, due to Grim/Dark, this is not even remotely the case. I think even the Ultramarines are capable of it without question if the mission or orders demand it.

If the question is straight up "Do Space Marines kill harmless children?" then I really have to say the answer is "No."

Seriously...

No the question should be do loyalist marines enjoy killing Children? answer No. Do they kill children? Yes. EMILCRANE good call on the BLACK TEMPLARS that lot are completely unhinged they would kill fellow loyalist marines for not being pious enough!

wizard12 wrote:Remember, "Innocence proves nothing"

Exactly.

No mind, whatever age, is immune to taint. They've all got to go.

As for if they "enjoy" it, I suppose that's entirely determined by if marines are capable of feeling joy.

Ailaros wrote: that's entirely determined by if marines are capable of feeling joy.

If they are that would be essentially a sign of corruption.

I think its all very situational whether or not they would. It even goes down to the individual marine, as contrary to popular belief they do have emotions and personalities.

In general my afore-posted list stands

EmilCrane wrote:contrary to popular belief they do have emotions and personalities

They do, but the entire purpose of the Space Marine organization, and indeed, the Imperium itself under guidance from the Emperor, is to eliminate this.

mwnciboo wrote:No the question should be do loyalist marines enjoy killing Children? answer No. Do they kill children? Yes. EMILCRANE good call on the BLACK TEMPLARS that lot are completely unhinged they would kill fellow loyalist marines for not being pious enough!

Hey now just because we burn a few planets and shoot first, question later doesn't mean we are crazy. Besides if a Templar smells heresy, by the emperor he smells it.

And as far as a Templar, yes if he had to he would use the appropriate force needed. Which more than likely is... Deadly force.

I don't believe compassion is a trait Space Marines would be taught, any further than looking out for their brothers and paying due respect to allied forces in a tactical situation.

Since they don't live in normal society, it doesn't make them 'crazed murderers' either... It's supposed to be ironic. The greatest defenders of mankind are far, far removed from the classical signifiers of humanity. Which is why when they do go bad...

Arctik_Firangi wrote:I don't believe compassion is a trait Space Marines would be taught, any further than looking out for their brothers and paying due respect to allied forces in a tactical situation.

I think they weren't called the 'Moral Marines' for a reason. Most Heck all Space Marines would have pretty much no qualms with killing men, women and children if they were actively fighting, in the way or obstructing the Emperors justice by being useless. Even Space Wolves and Salamnders aren't that cuddly.

Emperors Faithful wrote:

Arctik_Firangi wrote:I don't believe compassion is a trait Space Marines would be taught, any further than looking out for their brothers and paying due respect to allied forces in a tactical situation.

I think they weren't called the 'Moral Marines' for a reason. Most Heck all Space Marines would have pretty much no qualms with killing men, women and children if they were actively fighting, in the way or obstructing the Emperors justice by being useless. Even Space Wolves and Salamnders aren't that cuddly.

Though I still think it depends on the marine

Uriel Ventris or Logan Grimmnar wouldn't kill innocent civvies unless there was a good reason

Some chapters would kill non corrupted civvies if they got in the way of their mission (Marines malevolent, Iron Hands, possibly BT)

All Marines would kill civilians if they got in the way of their mission. It's just that some would actually bother to take steps to ensure they don't (or minimise damage).

It depends heavily on the marine. Space Wolves might see it as dishonourable, as a child doesn't really pose much threat to a marine. Other chapters like the Flesh Tearers would just do it and not care about the age of the person being killed.

"And remember, the Galaxy is big place and whatever happens you will not be missed"

Depends on the chapter and circumstances really. Though most would likely not hesitate if they had a shred of inclination that they were corrupt/a threat.