Ex-Military | A Warhammer 40k Story 

This story reminds me of a fan-brew chapter called the Conservators. They are a successor chapter of the Imperial Fists they are in charge of protecting a series of Agri-worlds on the edge of Imperial space called the Ashen March. The agri-worlds are medieval in all levels of society cause they live out of the boonies of space. An ambitious plan was underway, however, to bring the worlds of the Asharn March into the Imperium proper, uplifting the tech levels of the worlds in question to produce more helpful tithes of men and material than corn and grain. This plan included the upgrading of a Mechanicum held world called Chiron IV to a true forge world, the establishment of trained PDF forces, and lastly the founding of a new Astartes chapter to act as the cornerstone of the March's defenses. They are badly equipped for an Astartes chapter due to refusing to abandon the human worlds against an Ork Waaagh!! when the local Forgeworld is asking for assistance. This proved to be a fatal choice cause the Adeptus Mechanicus got angry that the Forgeworld, Chiron IV, got ransacked and the Astartes didn't come to their aid. They cut off communications with the Chapter and refused to give any kind of aid be they giving weapons, armor, and technical help. An embargo was set to make sure this chapter suffers for choosing the peasants over the Mechanicum. Of course, the Conservators stayed despite the Imperium withdrawing any support from the failed modernization effort. So they try their best in defend the worlds. They are more pragmatic and would resort to some tactics other chapters would find dishonorable. They are so intertwined with the citizens of the March that they even live with the human communities much like the Salamanders. Indeed, the Conservators in general see themselves not as the stewards or defenders of the March, but rather as the citizens of the March who take the expected steps to defend their homeland. This of course has led to a much more relaxed view of the Astartes amongst citizens of the March. While in the early days they were seen as amazing figures from beyond the stars, almost two centuries of casual close contact have Conservators has all but entirely removed such sentiment. The Astartes are simply members of the community who have a special burden and responsibility to bear. They are to be respected and admired, but they are hardly looked upon with the fanatical devotion that other citizens might look at marines with. Being freshly formed when they took residence within the March, and primarily composed of native recruits due to the die off of initial members, this sentiment is shared by the Conservators, who are among the most humble of marines one might ever encounter. To a citizen of the March, there is nothing at all odd with seeing a hulking superhuman figure tending the bar at their favorite tavern, before he dons ancient power armor and embarks to fight aliens on a different planet. For them it's been a fact of life for generations.

SM1 : "wait that's your kid?! Brother we are sterile" RSM : "Did you check?"

“A farmer really? A man of your talents” “It’s a peaceful life”

Dark Angel: *whispers angrily* "Traitor!" Salamander: "Based."

To those wondering about the cliché of the soldier going to farming this is because it’s been proven that common tasks like this are very much liked by men who suffer severe trauma that are combat related All the way back to Ancient Rome...To him it is literally peace after a sea of hell

The Salamanders would probably just wonder why he chose to settle on anywhere other than Nocturne.

Dark Angel: "Really, a farmer? Even though you abandoned your oath and loyalty to the Emperor, someone with your talents like you chose such occupation?" The Fallen: "It ain't much but it's honest work."

Captain: Marine, why have you returned without his head? Astartes: There was nothing left of him to bring back. Captain: So he is dead? Astartes: I couldn't kill that which has already perished. Captain: Is this true? Astartes: Everything he once was is no more. Captain: Good work, praise the emperor. Astartes: praise the emperor...

I'd like to think that the Dark Angel let him live in peace and left him alone...but what with knowing Warhammer being Warhammer, chances are too slim

This reminds me of Star Wars The Clone Wars episode where Captain Rex met Cut Lawquane, a deserter of the Clone Army, who became a farmer and has a family with a hot Twi'lek woman and two half-Twi'lek kids.

"... Only in death does duty end..." the Dark Angel says... Then slowly... He lowers his weapon, resting it at his side... His hatred not gone, but... Cooled, redirected... Tamed... "And your duty is to them now" he gestures to the child "Ensure you serve them, as you would us... Brother"

Why did the rogue Astartes farmer get a new medal? Because he was out standing in his field!

Since there was no bolter round shot. The dark angel probably gave pause to the whole thing and took him to the Chaplin to be interrogated in efforts to give him a chance to return to the fold and in 40k fashion it was all in vain as interrogation is another word for torture chambers yet the dark angel didn’t know at the time. This single action will haunt him for the rest of his days.

If only all fallen were so compliant.

As I was listening to this, just as he told his child to leave and the Marine to kill him a clap of thunder rolled over head IRL

A good reminder that this is what many of the Astartes and even some Primarchs imagined their lives being once the Crusade was finally over. Ahriman of the Thousand Sons wanted to make beautiful vineyards. Primarch Bean Counter had lingering thoughts of becoming a farmer.

The great thing is that the former space marine is defying the chaos gods but simply choosing not to play the game. No war = no blood for Khorne. He wants nothing more than to be a family man, and while he does have a family, it appears to be only a single child (and in some lore, Space Marines are sterile, so he likely adopted this child). He is content. A lack of desire and lust means Slannesh doesn't get to have any fun. Tzeentch might gain something from a space marine making such a big change, but in the end, he is just a single man leaving an action-filled life for a humble one, and ultimately he will bore the god of change. The only one who might be powered by this man is Papa Nurgle, who would be pleased that a Space Marine is accepting that he will one day die and rot away to be one with nature. However, Space Marines live much longer than normal humans and know much about the universe. If this Space Marine is left alone, he will live beside generations of his newfound family, helping them tend to the farm, protecting them, and nursing their wounds and sicknesses. Simple peasant humans will live decades longer with the aid of their guardian angel, and his legacy will deny the chaos god the despair he craves. Emperor protect this man.

I was expecting it to end with the sound of a bolt gun firing, but it didn’t. Still, really good work dude! Keep it up!

His response will be. “Only in death does duty end…”

Interviewer: How much amount of milk does your squig produce? Alpharmerus: Which one, black one or white one? Interviewer: Black one Alpharmerus: 2 liters per day. Interviewer: And the white one? Alpharmerus: 2 liters per day. Interviewer: Where do they sleep? Alpharmerus: Which one? Interviewer: The black one Alpharmerus: In the Barn Interviewer: And the white one? Alpharmerus: In the Barn Interviewer: Your squigs look healthy...What do you feed them? Alpharmerus: Which one..black one or the white one? Interviewer: Black one Alpharmerus: Grass Interviewer: And the white one Alpharmerus: Grass Interviewer: (Annoyed) but why do you keep on asking if black one or white one when answers are just the same?? Alpharmerus: Because the black one is mine Interviewer: And the white one? Alpharmerus: It's also mine.

I was a 11B( Infantry) two tours in Iraq. And I tend crops, feed chicken and other livestock. Thier is something about creating something from nothing. And yes its helping me.

"Why should we care for a race so weak and frail?" the Astartes asked, turning their backs on the nameless trillions that bled and died for their honor.

He chose a life of honest labor, growing the food that will feed the people of the Imperium. Even in retirement, he’s still serving the Emperor.

"There is still war Brother. Worlds in the distant sky still burn, and millions still shout in agony. Why do you care so much for that one child, how could she be more precious than the whole of humanity, than the brothers you willingly lost. The duty we shared, and what you left on our shoulders to carry forth. There are children like yours... Slaving under alien masters, crawling through crumbled hives for a morsel of food, or holding the line against an abominal enemy. You were Missed brother. People in the galaxy prayed on every day that the Emperor's Angels may grant them deliverance. But you were not there, you were here tending to dry fields, covering in a broken hovel, and spending your talents for two humans only. Your life is the mark of Heresy. It might be a morsel of justice to make it all burn, and make you see it all burn... But I spent enough time to hunt you. My duties call me for a burning galaxy and a ravaged Imperium. Only in death, does duty end."

Astarties live a long time. The dude may of built a hut. In a field and started farming. Then people came to him for protection and leadership, he took them in.So in a hundred years a village is built around him. The occupants he considers to be his family. 10 years ago he finds a baby and looks after it. Now she considers him her father. Now after 110 years of peace he is discovered. He isnt as strong anymore the rigorous training regime he can not access, he has become accustomed to humans he is still a giant. But a more humanly proportioned giant.

“i fought in the unification wars, i fought in the great crusade, rangdan xenocides, the thramas crusade and the siege of terra, i could quite literally use this rake to kick your ass.”

I almost shed to tears dude, wonderful.

This reminds me of a fanfic called Like the Angel on Cold Open Stories, which is about this exact situation. And lore-wise there was also a 30K Smurf who was tasked by G-Money to stay behind on Sotha to guard the Pharos following the Heresy. When the Smurf Village remembered to come back for him, they found out that the locals think of him as a "mysterious mountain sage" and that he spent all his time just chilling (and getting free dairy from the villagers when his cow died). He was kind of a dick though. But that might just have been his Astartes autism. The short story is called The Aegidan Oath, part of the Scythes of the Emperor series.

The dark angels may forget the names of their men, but the Black Templars don’t. Their squads are their personal crusader squads of chosen comrades. Marshals takes hosts of personally chosen sword brothers into battle. The chaplains and initiates commit to memory the names of past Champions and marshals. Grimaldus will never forget the true heroes of Helsreach

yknow since the Farmer is a former Dark Angels marine. I actually wonder what would his Primarch feel about this? Would Lion spare the man and leave his son in peace? his son isn't a traitor and just left his Legion behind to live as a simple man? or would this be Lion the soldier, who would put his own son to the sword because he had gone AWOL? The video also asks the question of what will happen to the Astartes and The Primarch themselves once peace have finally settled?

Damn it's too bad this poor guy wasn't a salamander, I hear they don't just allow astartes to keep in touch with their families but they straight up encourage it.

"If you could show the cabbage that I planted with my own hands to your emperor, he definitely wouldn't dare suggest that I replace the peace and happiness of this place with the storms of a never ending war." -Renegade brother Diocletian M41.

1. I think the Dark Angel took the "Retired Marine's" progenoid glands and a rib as proof he killed him. 2. That specific Dark Angel would report this retired Marine to the Reasonable Marines just to keep an eye on him knowing they would not axe him and are good enough to keep secrets. 3. The Emperor would not damn him for refusing to fight further, but keep him as a possible course of what to do with Space Marines in the future, in part to let Marines earn some peace, falling back into a kind of reserve force, instead of being driven until they die or old age and/or fatigue. And bless him not to be troubled again until truly needed. "You duty does not end save only in death. So, I will burden you with a new duty. To live and love and build with the mighty hands I have gifted you and you earned so long ago. Serve your new homes as you have served me, come when called, for your duty has not yet ended. The challenges and struggles of a simple mortal life shall compete mightily with the challenges and struggles of the most pitch battles and desperate sieges. But always remain ready. Come when called. For your duty has not yet ended." -An Ecclessiarch, reciting "The Beyance of Just Retirement" to a small collection of marines.

He never left his duty he simply found another way to serve.

Dark Angel: If only you had a son. It would be ironic to induct a son of the Fallen into the Dark Angels.

"Millions die and here I farm"

Everybody asks where's the Fallen, but nobody asks how's the Fallen.

Damn the writing and voice acting is fucking top tire 👌

This is what we need more of in the 40K lore! Not that James-burp shop whatever do anything like this.

I will say this, it takes great strength to go beyond the call of battle but it takes even more strength to say “I’m done, I’ve had my fill of blood”. We are not machines, we are not gods, we are not always unstoppable, we have our limits and we must face them. It is not cowardice, for cowards would run at the first given chance. This arstartes before has done his job for the imperium and his family, he has stared down enemies that would frighten normal people and I can see those eyes as he watches us judge him for his “betrayal”. As a man who served in the guard, I to understand his case and I cannot in good judgment shoot this man for the case of living.

One of the Fallen wanting not to be forgiven, just to be forgotten

Honestly, I figured that if the Dark Angels really wanted that Fallen dead, they woulda sent the bone white Terminators against him. My interpretation of that image was more along the lines of the Chapter needing that former Astartes' skills in combat a lot more than they need a corpse, but they'll take the latter if they can't have the former.

This... This is what we need in 40k. I haven't read any of the novels, only seen/played the games. 40k lacks some deeply human elements, such as this. Space marines may be super human beings made only for war, but it takes a human to become a space marine, and somewhere, underneath all that.. there is a human. Its why Salamanders are so beloved, and the Lamenters mourned for. You can identify with them.

"Farming? A man of your talents?"

I love to see a story of a Marine wanting a better life for himself. Also something in the back of my mind is asking if the daughter is his stepdaughter or his biological daughter? Lore wise a space marine can't reproduce due to them being sterile though I'm not against the idea of him falling in love with a single mother. There is also the fact the sterilization method is "optional" example is the space wolves chapter who still have working parts lol.

I came for the lulz, did not expect the feels. Good job.

The only winners in a war like this, are the one's that finally put down the sword and take up a plow. Better a warrior in a garden, after all.

Imagine if a lot of chapters allowed their oldest marines to settle down and work with the populace. How much stronger the communities could become? Plus if some shit would stir, an old marine could still kick some ass and protect the people he lives with.

This video reminds me of a campaign idea my friend came up with. The idea was for a group of war-torn children to come across a badly wounded space marine buried alive, and, of course, the space marine forces the children across the planet to fight the forces of chaos.

This is simply beautiful, not everything has to be glory, war, riches or bloody competition, but compassion and understanding into working for something more than just the bunch that won't care for you, but for yourself and the ones you love close.

The bit about being remebered really makes me think about the line "you will not be remebred" from the original opening text all the way back from rogue trader, and I love it, great voice work and writing

“But farming... A man of your talents, really?” “It’s a peaceful life.”

God, imagine having an astartes as a farmhand. You wouldn't have work left.

A single bolter round and a startled muffle being another sudden silence over the field. The farmer stands, wiping the blood from his rake. He knew the old material from his thundersword would come in handy one day. It was true, this was not for a child to see. The rake needed a new shaft, one that would not break. The rake would be passed down to different farmers from that day. The shaft being made from the bone of an unknown beast.

"I am at peace, because I realized, I am only human."

“They can’t make you into a cool mini, brother.”

There was one StarWars the Clonewars episode where a Clone also quits his duty and becomes a farmer and founds a family. Its pretty simlliar just the Commander Rex spares his brother and gives him the life he had chosen.

Well technically hes fighting the ruinous powers in his own way they feed off extreme and negative emotions and I don't you will get many of those being a peaceful farmer

The Fallen : "Run, my child..." The D.A : " Oh, you think we are not going to kill everybody you ever met to keep our secret safe ? That's adorable."

>Former Astartes: "Well brother, grab a brush and joint in" >Dark Angel: " Gonna paint your wagon, gonna paint it fine..."

The Salamanders chapter do have families of their own on Nocturne that they live with whilst off mission.

"My child,Maria, run home and do not look back." Maria: nah, fam this bout to git gud.

"It is better to die for the Emperor than live for yourself, brother"

Okay, but imagine his generation turned out to be astartes level human, then later the whole planet inhabited by astartes farmer because their child keep reproducing with another inhabitant of that planet 💀

This makes me think how always the only alternative after leaving the Emperium seems to be joining chaos. More scenarios like this or marines joining the Tau or becoming rogue traders would make very interesting stories.

"Farming!? Really, a man of your talents?"

You know, when I was really into 40k this was the kind of story I was hoping for. Occasionally. Not in the mainstream, but on the side. A tale of humanity regained.

I hope the dark angel marine realizes that he has a 'choice' in this. As fucked up as they can be I do not think all of the Astartes of the dark angels are heartless they are still human.

Brother I am a farmer on Catachan, please tell me you brought more than just one bolter. I may accept my fate, but you won't be able to go back after leaving my garden.

Maybe the fate / choice of one of the lost primarchs. Decided not to join the emperor or possibly did but then regained on his choice. Deciding after seeing what the future was shaping up to be... possibly that primarch had the emperor's trait of cultivation / caretaker.....but then again probably not lol

The man clad in armour lowers his weapon and walks away without word.

"I came to this world, believing I had found evidence of The Fallen." "And?" "...No. There were no Fallen on that world. Only the Lost. And...I think he should stay that way."

"When I die my name will not be on a wall that no one reads, I will be missed." Wow.

"I found him, but he was already.....dead."

"Very good speech.. Now repent, Heretic!"

This hurt my soul man. In a good way though, you did a fantastic job with the voice acting, as well as the writing of the dialogue. I really enjoyed the cliffhanger, leaving it up to our minds to fill in the blanks.

The emporer hates him. The gods despise him. Yet he comtinues to loves himself.

"When I die I won't be a name on a wall no one reads." Goes hard, yet hurts so much.

A small amount of tweaking and this could be a conversation between games workshop and an employee who proposed “You know the Imperium would do better over time if it tried to remove grimdark elements of life of citizens and would even cost them less and make their war machine more efficient.” “You are a traitor and I am going to have to bolter you in the head.”

All it needed was a single distant boom of the bolter. Then this already great piece would be even better.

every non salamander: *fires two shots*

This guy should have joined the Salamanders instead.

I forgot if it’s Eisenhorn or a Gaunts ghost novel, but there’s a high commander that basically did the same thing, counting pigs every day and was threatened to not mess up the numbers.

I love this different perspective on the warhammer universe, it shows a side of humanity for the space marines that many don’t see or think isn’t there and I appreciate it as art of all kinds. :)

hearing beautiful oblivion in the background was an amazing touch.

And then he knocks the bolter aside with the rake, draws his gun and shoots the marine through the eye. "Yep, I sure am glad Maria didn't have to see that."

In a meadow beyond a cottage, two tall men stood. One clad in mighty armor, the other in simple cloth. The armored one has a gun, the other holds a mere tiller. A gun shot rings out and yet there are still two men. The armored one turns and begins to march away, but stops for a brief moment. The farmer barely had time to catch the gun flying at him, snatching it out of the air with instincts tempered in the fields of war. The armored one speaks. "You will never see me or any of our brothers again. But the forces of chaos still exist, and nothing is beneath them." The armored one gestures towards the cottage, his finger aligning with the window where the quaint sight of the young girl playing with her mother and two brothers can be seen. "Cherish your peace, brother. Cherish it before something else tries to take it away." The farmer looks to the warrior's finger and back, then nods in grim understanding. The two finally part, and the meadow is as silent and empty as it was in the beginning. The farmer welcomes his children with open arms, but was smart to hide the bolter in the logs before entering.

He died living a life of happiness.

The first Astartes with a working seed!

Outstanding. Outstanding. Bravo!! Exquisitly read, beautifully written and a big well done to the artist encapsulating it all in one frame. Brother Chaotic Voices you are destined for something big.

His death is certain. I only hope his brother spares the innocent as he had requested. They know nothing of this secret war and killing them accomplishes nothing. Astartes are often heartless and will sacrifice countless mortal lives for their mission, but killing for no reason would be a step beyond.

“I’m only human, I make mistakes. I’m just a man, I do what I can, don’t put the blame on me…..”

Beautiful. Truly Beautiful.

in the grimdarkness of the far future there is not just war

This is literally inspired by the magic the gathering card "swords to plowshares" which depicts a soldier who put down his arms for a simple life but not because he wanted that life, because he struggles to deal with the battles that he fought, the people he killed and the reasons he was ordered to kill.

You have to respect a man who can walk away from it all. He was bound by duty, propaganda, and genetic engineering yet he overcame all of it. He sounds like a glorious man. Others will know him as a coward who betrayed his brothers, but he remains honorable even in peace.

If only it was a Salamander that came for him, he might've stood a chance

I am honestly surprised at how The Space Marine had the patience to hear everything his brother had to say, and it surprises me the armor of the marine is green.. as I recall, Green is the armor of the Salamanders.. and if I remember correctly.. Salamenders are suposed to be caring over the lives of inocents

Wonderful work. Though if that was a Fallen saying that to the Dark Angel that kid isn't getting out of there alive ;-;.

"It is better to die for the emperor than live for yourself"