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I'm a Xenos guy who is only recently diving into the fluff of 40K, and thus I do not know the answers to these questions.

Who is the ultimate protector of the Emperor? While the Imperial Fists are for all intents and purposes from Terra, they are typically out and about doing space marine things. The 1993 GW book Codex Imperialis talks about the Adeptus Custodes as being the guards of the Eternal Gate, it also says they number only 300. Being that the Palace, let alone Terra, is not a small place and that it is full of important things such as the Space Marine Geneseed and the Emperor himself, it would make sense that a larger force or a force the quality of Space Marines would be trusted for the sacred task of keeping the Emperor's body safe. Are Imperial Fists garrisoned nearby in case danger strikes the emperor, are the Custodes that baller that they can handle it, or is their some other defense?

Second, I would enjoy hearing your guy's take on the Illuminati Cult and their role in the Administration. There is very little in the fluff about them and their Star Child theory outside a brief mention in the Black Library book Harlequin. As important as if this is a valid part of the fluff, would it ever be possible for a Space Marine Chapter to be formed/converted to join this cult?

On the point of the Emperor's bodyguards:

The only bodyguards of the Emperor are the Adeptus Custodes. I think their exact number is unknown, but it probably significantly higher than a SM chapter size.
Within the Adeptus Custodes, there is an elite core of 300 warriors called the Companions, that stand guard in the Throne room at all times.

There are virtually no SM on Terra. During the last years of the Great Crusade, the Imperial Fists did become the Emperor's extra bodyguard and served as a Terran garrison force, but since the HH, they became a fleet-based chapter and fight the enemies of the IoM like any other chapter.

Presence of SM on Terra is neither required or wanted for the moment. The Adeptus Custodes are perfectly capable of protecting the Emperor. In addition, since the HH, the population of Terra has kept a deep and terrible fear for SM (due to the atrocities committed by Horus' legions).

An SM chapter probably wouldn't join the cult but their actions may be influenced by it...
The cult is highly secretive and actively hunted by the Inquisition however they probably hold high level positions in Imperial bureaucracy.

As Laodamia has said the elite group of Custodes, the Companions, are always at the Emperors side, but they are described as a 'small elite' within the ranks. S o it can be assumed that the actual number of Custodes is far higher.

The Imperial Palace is also constantly guarded by Titans and is 'studded with defensive weaponry'. There are also Imperial Navy space ports within the Sol System and loads of space defences. Overall space marine chapters are not needed on Terra and are not suited to the type of assignment.

I recall reading somewhere that the Palace has it's own Imperial Guard regiment. They were all Terran, subjected to rigorous training and purity tests, and were armoured similar to the Custodes but obviously not in power armour. It makes sense considering the size of the Palace. The Imperium is so protective of the Palace now that its highly likely there could be several tens of regiments worth of IG just guarding the Palace, with the Custodes guarding the inner parts and gates. I know Terra itself produces hundreds of regiments for general use in defence of the Imperium, but this force was definitely different.

As for the Illuminati, it would be interesting to see how much inflouence they have from within the Imperium, instead of as an outside force, for example, are there any Inquisitors who are members of the Illuminati? Do they have any connection to today's Illuminati conspiracy? How close are they to actually achieving their goal of gathering the Sensei? As for a Space Marine chapter as being influenced by the Illiminati, it would be a great piece of fan fluff or conversion opportunity to create a Chapter that is secretly devoted to the Illuminati. I actually left my computer on standby for a few hours accidentally and decided to create some background for it. All I got so far is that they recruit only from other prospective members of the Illuminati (not full members). To join, other than the usual initiation rites for other Chapters, you must survive Daemonic Possession both as a normal human, and as an Astartes. To join the first company, you have to banish a more powerful Daemon and serve as a member of the Deathwatch. They have a more open relationship with the Grey Knights although they don't reveal their initiation process or true purpose. They have a close relationship with certain Inquisitors that are Illuminati and with the Ordo Hereticus in general (keep you're enemies close). They have a large network of roving scout squads. Recruitment is also open to the Sensei, who often become captains or even the Chapter Master in the past. Their Librarium Core is small, very powerful and nearly entirely made up of Sensei Astartes. It's not that numbers of Sensei recruited by the Chapter are extremely small, but that they have a tendency to disappear into the Warp. Sensei are not allowed contact with non-Illuminati Inquisitors.

Most of the troops recruited on Terra stay on Terra kinda like PDF+1

And while its a tightly held secret (to the population of 40k, not players) the Grey Knights do make their home in the sol system on Titan, which is just a hop, skip and a jump away from Terra.

minigun762 wrote:And while its a tightly held secret (to the population of 40k, not players) the Grey Knights do make their home in the sol system on Titan, which is just a hop, skip and a jump away from Terra.

True, a force of the ultimate Daemon hunters living next door is pretty handy in a crisis.

Custodians, while apparently less armoured, are way more powerful than space marines. They stand something like 9 feet tall and have laser weaponry fitted to their standard power weapons. No body pushes them around.

I once categorized all the defenses one could find on Terra:

-Battlefleet Solar. The strongest fleet in the Imperium, this thing is going to be front line of defense and the chief obstacle for any invading force. A standard Battlefleet consists of ~75 warships if I remember, so expect Terra's to be several times larger then that. I would estimate at least 5-10 times that if you consider not only the importance of defending the system but also the fact that the Segmentum Fortress is located on nearby Mars, defending merchant fleets, managing pilgrimages, and so on. In addition to lots of Battleships and so on, expect a ring of orbital defense stations.

-The Moon has been transformed into a giant military base, any invading fleet is going to have a fun time taking that thing. Expect lots and lots of planetary defense lasers, surface-to-air missile silos, and so on. You can not take Terra until you take the Moon, so the battle against Battlefleet Solar and the invasion of Luna will be the largest, bloodiest, and most important affairs.

-Adeptus Custodes, ~10,000 around the Imperial Palace complex. Despite being the toughest soldiers on the planet, they're not going to leave the Palace.

-Imperial Fists garrison, probably a decent size given the planets significance to the Chapter. The Phalanx would probably be on call to arrive at Terra on short notice as well.

-Terran PDF. At least several billion soldiers that are likely well-drilled and equipped. A very large number would be needed to keep a planet like Terra secure. I imagine they lack experience however. Also since I recall there being Terran Imperial Guard Regiments on Armageddon, it's likely their best fighters are conscripted and sent off on campaign.

-The Adeptus Arbites would naturally maintain a huge presence on Terra, so there's another army to consider, one that runs into the high millions.

-The Adeptus Mechanicus. These guys are probably the most important asset to Terra's defense after Battlefleet Solar and Luna. Mars probably matches Terras defenses in size and scope alone. Expect billions of Skitarii and combat servitors, the crack Titan Legions that defend the planet with its grandest machines (i.e., lots of Imperators), and legions of robots from the Legio Cybernetica that are probably kept in stockpiles on the planet. They'd also pull out the big gun, from Ordinatus' to Titan Legions such as the Sinister. The Adeptus Mechanicus would also maintain a huge fleet around the planet.

-The Convent Prioris of the Sisters of Battle is based on Terra, so there are going to be a substantial number on Terra, and they're going to fight fanatically.

-The Inquisition's Headquarters. Supposedly located under the South Pole. As the center of the Inquisition, these guys are going to have a lot of veteran Inquisitors, Inquisitorial Stormtroopers, nasty captured Xenos/Daemon weapons, and so on.

-As the center of the Imperial Cult, the Ecclesiarchy has an untold number of facilities and churches on the planet as well as a massive palace that is going to be heavily guarded. The Ecclesiarchy presence on the planet will be perfect for organizing and calling up a massive army of Frateris Militia, easily going into the billions as soon as they whip the population into a big enough frenzy.

-The Officio Assassinorum's headquarters and training school are on Terra, and while most of their operative are spread across the Galaxy there will be a presence on the planet, including not only bodyguards of the Grand Master but also veteran assassins and the most dangerous alien weaponry in the Imperium that the Officio maintains in some vault. Every kind of crazed experimental super soldier they've dabbled in is likely going to be unleashed as well.

-Grey Knights. Based on Titan, they are only a short distance from Terra by Galactic standards. They could be there quickly and in numbers to **** **** up.

-The Headquarters of the Adeptus Astra Telepathica is on Terra, expect a large force of very powerful Psykers. Such Psykers are at their HQ for training purposes, to control new Psykers, and to oversee those sacrificed to the Emperor.

-The bodyguards, security forces, and servants of the untold billions of Adepts, Administrators, Noblemen, and Bureaucrats that work on the planet.

-Hive Gangs. Just as any Hive World Terra's lower Hive areas are probably lawless and controlled by gangs. These gangs can wield some defensive power, and I recall hive gangs cooperating with Imperial forces for the sake of mutual survival (such as on Armageddon, where they fought off Orks).

There's also the issue of reinforcements, as soon as enemy forces enter the Solar System every Space Marine chapter in the entire Segemtum would probably bolt for Terra ASAP. Expect the same overtime with Imperial Guard, Imperial Navy, Tech Guard, Sisters of Battle, Inquisition, and so on.


So yeah it's pretty impenetrable.