Title: Rogue Traders and the Imperium: The Art of War in the 41st Millennium
In the grim darkness of the far future, there is only war. But there’s more finesse to it than wholesale slaughter. In this multi-part series, we’ll uncover the complexities and subtexts of the varied wars raging within the Warhammer 40,000 universe. Today, we’ll dig deeper into the roles of the freewheeling Rogue Traders, the Imperium’s wars of faith, and the brutal xenocide campaigns.
The Rogue Traders, intrepid explorers and merchants, operate on the fringe of the Imperium. They’re not typically conquerors. Wars of conquest tend to chain these spacefaring entrepreneurs to a single location, forcing them into sedentary, ground-based roles like reconstruction, defence, and subjugation. This is anathema to many Rogue Traders, who prefer the bridge of a void ship to the halls of government. Instead, they often play ancillary roles in other factions’ wars, supplying weapons, providing monetary or temporary military backing, and establishing logistics chains. Smuggling, too, has made many a fortune during larger conflicts.
Religious wars or ‘Wars of Faith’ are perhaps the most common reason to wage war throughout the Imperium of Man. These wars, often beginning with the phrase “the God-Emperor wills it,” are draped in zealous piety. In these wars, atrocities and crimes are not only justified but also called for by the God-Emperor himself. The reasons behind them rarely matter even to the generals and Admirals commanding the vast Imperial military forces. For them, it is enough that the God-Emperor wills it, and so it shall be done.
In the face of such fervour, the Imperium reserves a special hatred for one foe: the forces of the ruinous Powers. These wars are often faster and more intense, their goal being destruction more than conquest. After the aggressors have either wiped out the heretics, converted them, or taught them a harsh lesson, they leave behind religious officials and missionaries to ensure their work sticks. Religious wars are popular among Rogue Traders, who often take an active and enthusiastic role in them, proving their piety by killing the enemies of the God-Emperor.
Another facet of warfare in the 41st millennium is xenocide. This involves waging war with the sole objective of completely eradicating an intelligent alien species. Within the Imperium, xenocide is not only accepted but also advocated as a religious imperative of humanity. Many Rogue Traders are tasked with such missions by their warrants of trade. However, away from the Imperium’s vigilant oversight, many pragmatic Rogue Traders have chosen to abandon human settlements besieged by xenos when the cost of aiding them outweighs the benefits.
Lastly, we touch upon defensive wars, fought in response to an aggressive attack. While many claim their wars are defensive, justifying their aggression with real or imagined threats, a genuine defensive war aims to deny the enemy territory or resources. Examples include the ongoing defense of the Cadia Gate against the Black Crusades of Chaos and the recent War on Damis against Ork invaders.
In our next installment, we’ll delve further into the art of war in the 41st millennium, uncovering more about the roles of Rogue Traders, the Imperium’s crusades, and the intricate politics of war in the grim darkness of the far future.
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