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Hello dakka, is there any records of planets willingly joining the Imperium through diplomatic encounters?

Like, say a planet was being plagued by orks (or insert alien), the local leader makes a deal to join after the threat had been wiped out.
Or say the planet was under control by two governments that are at war, both offer to join if the other was wiped out.
Would the imperium set up a embassy, send diplomats? Or just wipe everyone out and start over?

Depends on how important the planet is, what resources it offers, the attitudes of the local sector command, and the cost of either conquering or bargaining.

Yes, all the time. Both the Koronus Expanse and the Jericho Reach have examples of worlds that were brought into the Imperium through semi-peaceful means. I bet most people don't even realize the Imperium has an entire diplomat corps that deals with many such worlds and even localized, intelligent xenos on occasion.

Impirium does do softer options and can talk, and work with existing planets infrastructure.

If it has valuable rescources, or is plain cheaper to do it that way than full invasion. Impirium is extreme but they do not waste resources and such when they can spend less in other means.

Bribing leadership and brining to the table, can be far cheaper than invasion.

jareddm wrote:
Yes, all the time. Both the Koronus Expanse and the Jericho Reach have examples of worlds that were brought into the Imperium through semi-peaceful means. I bet most people don't even realize the Imperium has an entire diplomat corps that deals with many such worlds and even localized, intelligent xenos on occasion.

So it wouldn't be far fetched to see Imperial embassies then.
I guess it would depend on the regiments and generals in charge, or Space marine chapter.

The 3rd edition Codex: Tau had mention of an Imperial embassy to a Tau world - an Adept of the Adminisatratum and an Imperial Fists captain - although they're only there to give the Tau an ultimatum - leave the contested planet before the Navy arrives to evict you.

There are no neutral worlds. There are only worlds up for grabs by rogue traders, forbidden planets and planets that are part of imperium.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
You might be interested in reading up on rogue traders
http://wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/Rogue_Trader

Rogue Traders are, essentially, Imperial Diplomats. They have a mandate to go out into the void beyond and secure resources and worlds for the Imperium.

Whether they do this by colonising empty worlds, making trade deals and establishing protectorate treaties with inhabited human worlds, proselytising the Imperial Cult so worlds join willingly, or just good old-fashion saturation orbital gunfire is entirely up to them.



But yes, there are also 'accredited diplomats' who the Administratum employs to talk to non-aligned worlds near imperial space that the Imperium hasn't the time or resources to conquer (normally because said worlds are in the vicinity of a major warzone against someone far scarier, like the Tau or a Chaos Renegade army).

If the planet is human, has valuable things you want.

You might try talking first.
If it goes into fold willingly, its far cheaper. Far press repairs and more prosperous faster. If willing, you need far less occupation forced, and again save cost. Use pre existing and adapt.

If you go invade, bomb and such, you have a repair period and bill before you ever even start to make a profit off it.

Why waste years rebuilding when you can bring in with a few months talking and dealing

Then there was the ambassadorial mission in Charles Stross' Monastery of Death - which included an Arbites Judge and an Assassin. The message there was fairly clear - we can do this the easy way, or the hard way ...

There are also missionaries. Transport a small number of missionaries to a planet. Missionaries preach, train up more missionaries. A few generations later? You've got a fifth column, ready and waiting for your orders. They can provide you with spies to help you plan an invasion, soldiers to aid you in battle, and loyal administrators to run the planet afterwards Wait a few more generations, and you might not even need an invasion.

It's entirely possible for the missionaries to be the only Imperial presence on a world, in which case the Missionarius Galaxia would be the ones advancing the Ecclesiarchy's political (and religious) agenda*. See Uriah Jacobus - not only did he convert over a dozen worlds, he also sometimes operated as a de-facto ambassador. He was often in the middle of nowhere, which meant he didn't have access to the Imperiums other negotiators (Rogue Traders, the Imperial Fleet, the Imperial Guard, etc). What did he do when he needed military backing to face down genestealers on a medieval planet? He united enough of the local rulers he was able to raise an entire frickin army, one that cleansed the corrupted kingdom. Quite the diplomat.

*Which is, of course, the same as advancing the Imperium's agenda ...

"Yo, Planetary Leader. S'up?"

"Nut'n. You from around here?"

"Nope, Imperial Diplomat. Wanna join the Imperium, it's dope?"

"Wut's up wit dat?"

"It's a breeze. Submit to Imperial control and administration. Purge with fire all mutants, pykers, and dissidents. Tithe 10% of your planetary GDP. Provide regiments to the Astra Militarum. Oh, and Worship the Emperor."

"What's the alternative?"

"Planetwide genocide."

"Hey, joining the Imperium does sound dope!"