What happens if the black carapace breaks.

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**samtheking**

I recently came across the realization that the black carapace is in fact attached to the skin of the marine which brings up the question. If the carapace is damaged beyond repair what does the chapter do? I assume it takes a little more than just a swap out.

thanks

**Arcsquad12**

Seeing as it is implanted under the skin, it ain't coming out. I don't think anything less than killing the marine himself would destroy the implant. It's not a carapace in the normal sense, but a network that allows the Marine to properly function within power armor.

**samtheking**

Its the last thing attached to the marine correct?

**Spetulhu**

I would imagine the marine is pretty much dead by the point his Black Carapace reaches the point of no repair.

**slade the sniper**

The carapace is cut into sheets and implanted under the skin where it hardens and grows connections to the nervous system IIRC. That being said, I would suspect the carapace has some self-repair capability, so it should heal up after some amount of time. Granted, it may be damaged, and there would probably be a way to replace damaged sections, but it would really suck to have to cut open a space marine's skin, remove the damaged chunks from the fascia and nervous system and overlay a new sheet. It is probable that this is what occurs, but it may cause lasting damage to the Marines ability to interface with the armor...but better that than no ability to use the armor at all.

-STS

**chromedog**

It's a sub-dermal implant.

I.E. BELOW the dermis, which is above the muscle. If it were a rigid shell, it would have a negative effect on the musculature and movement. So, in order for it to not render the marine immobile, it would need to be somewhat flexible, and this flexibility implies a certain resistance to damage.

It's also the final implant, but NOT the final stage of the marine transformation into the fully armoured enforcer of policy - as it is ONLY AFTER that this one heals that the contact nodes/connection sockets for the armour are implanted into it through the skin.

**Furyou Miko**

Like the Marine's other implants, the Black Carapace is grown, not made. It's organic in nature and will heal over time.

**Robinson92**

And if it is so damaged beyond repair those grizzled old veterans usually move onto chapter administration and training recruits if they are not fit for active service, this has been said many many times before across several resources.

Automatically Appended Next Post:
Or turned into a Dreadnought

**prophet102**

I always thought of it as more of a network of wires than an actual carapace. If my theory is correct it would be quite hard to destroy it with completely severing a limb or so on.

**Harriticus**

It can obviously be repaired. Every time a Marine suffers a bullet wound, the carapace is penetrated in that spot. However as for "beyond repair", that would pretty much mean death.

**chromedog**

It's nanotech handwavium.

Don't try to reconcile science/reality and 40k.
It always ends badly and that way madness lies.

**TermiesInARaider**

samtheking wrote:
I recently came across the realization that the black carapace is in fact attached to the skin of the marine which brings up the question. If the carapace is damaged beyond repair what does the chapter do? I assume it takes a little more than just a swap out.
thanks

I was under the impression that, since the Black Carapace is one of the Marine's gene-seed organs, it would heal like any other organ if it were ever damaged or injured.

**sierra 1247**

Do not question the Holy Emperors genetic sciences

**Pilau Rice**

Index Astartes:RITES OF INITIATION wrote:Phase 19 - Black Carapace. This is the last and the most distinctive implant. It looks like a film of black plastic when it's growing in the tanks. This is removed from its culture-solution and cut into sheets which are implanted directly beneath the skin of the Marine's torso. Within a few hours the tissue expands, hardens on the outside, and sends invasive neural bundles deep inside the Marine. After several months the carapace will have fully matured and the recipient is then fitted with neural sensors and transfusion points cut into the hardened carapace. These artificial 'plug-in' points mesh with features integral to the powered armour, such as the monitoring, medicinal and maintenance units. Without the benefit of a black carapace, a Space Marine's armour is relatively useless.

I think that if anything is going to get down enough to damage it, it is going to either kill the Marine or if a limb, require replacement.

**Blackcrusader**

That is a good question.