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| “ | "There is no truth in flesh, only betrayal." "There is no strength in flesh, only weakness." "There is no constancy in flesh, only decay." "There is no certainty in flesh but death. |
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| ~ Credo Omnissiah |
The Adeptus Mechanicus also known previously as the Mechanicum, are recurring protagonists in the Warhammer 40,000 franchise. They are a Loyalist Imperial adept responsible to provide the Imperium with its scientists, engineers and technicians, as well as safeguarding the Imperial technology they revered as sacred according to their religious doctrine known as the Cult Mechanicus.
Within the Imperium of Man, the tech-adepts of the Adeptus Mechanicus serve as the primary custodians of sacred technological knowledge. This elite caste of Tech-priests fiercely protects the secrets necessary for maintaining and building the Imperium's advanced technology.
Prior to the current Age of the Imperium and the conclusion of the Horus Heresy, the Adeptus Mechanicus was known as the Mechanicum. In 012.M31, the Council of Terra formally separated the Adeptus Mechanicus from the larger Martian Mechanicum after Mars fell under the control of the "Dark Mechanicum" – Hereteks loyal to the Warmaster Horus.
While recognizing the Emperor of Mankind as the Imperium's ruler, the Mechanicus does not adhere to the Imperial Cult or the Ecclesiarchy. The ancient Treaty of Mars grants them significant political and religious independence within the Imperium. Effectively, the Mechanicus functions as an empire within an empire, and its objectives generally align with those of the wider Imperium, though not always.
History[]
Unlike other Imperial organisations, the Adeptus Mechanicus originated before the Imperium, then called the Mechanicum of Mars and focused around the Cult Mechanicus. While the Treaty of Mars (or Treaty of Olympus Mons to the Mechanicum) formally incorporated them into the Imperium around 800.M30 at the start of the Great Crusade, the Adeptus Mechanicus maintains a unique level of independence from the Adeptus Terra.
The Treaty of Mars secured the Mechanicus' self-governance, shielding its Tech-priests from the Imperial Truth's atheistic tenets and preserving their dominion over Forge Worlds colonized during the Age of Strife. As a reciprocal agreement, the Mechanicus pledged its resources to construct vast fleets and offer vital technical support, essential for the Imperium of Man's launch of the Great Crusade.
Almost all Imperial citizens adhere to sects of the Imperial Cult, worshipping the Emperor as the God-Emperor, but the Adeptus Mechanicus practices the distinct Cult Mechanicus. This separate faith, potentially heretical in the eyes of the wider Imperium, is tolerated due to the Adeptus Mechanicus' crucial role in the Imperium's survival and their unwavering loyalty to the Emperor, demonstrated through countless acts.
The Adeptus Mechanicus plays an essential role for Humanity, as the Imperium—despite its highly advanced technology—lacks a profound scientific grasp of how its machinery truly operates. This shortfall has further entrenched the dominant Imperial perspective that constructing and employing sophisticated devices is akin to a mystical or sacred ritual, filled with stringent ceremonies and unbreakable protocols.
Possessing an intimate connection to the Machine Spirit and the Machine God, the Adeptus Mechanicus effectively controls the vast majority of Standard Template Construct (STC) designs and other sophisticated Imperial technology. This dominion over technological knowledge grants the Mechanicus immense power within the Imperium, positioning them as the indispensable source for manufacturing, maintaining, and repairing nearly everything, from simple agricultural tools to advanced interstellar vessels.
