40K: The Greatest (Active) Imperial Commanders
The Imperium is going through some literal dark times. Here are a few of the heroes who might lead them through it.
It’s no secret that the Imperium of Man is in some dire straits. With the Cicatrix Maledictum cutting the galaxy in half(ish) and an emboldened Chaos resurgent across the Immaterium, with Necron Dynasties reawakening to full strength while the Ynnari kill everyone. Well. Not any more, it seems, but you get the idea. Things do not look good for Homestarrunner.
But when times are tough, there are a few who really step to the forefront to show us all the mettle of their pasture. Here’s a look at some of the greatest still-active Imperial Commanders.
Roboute Guilliman
Aka Bobby G aka Big Blue aka the reason Hellblasters are gross aka Blast from the Past aka Boboute Guilliman. The Primarch of the Ultramarines, Boboute is responsible for kicking the Imperium into gear. After coming back from being only mostly dead, Boboute has steadily been cleaning house.
Whether it was kicking it the corrupt High Lords of Terra, definitely not letting Cypher kill the Emperor, definitely not being Mind Controlled by a now freed Emperor, or launching the Primaris initiative and the Indomitus Crusade, Boboute’s been busy. An empire boost through and through, when he was found on Konor, he turned it into a jewel of a world after straightening out the ruling class.
He’s a matter strategist and a hero the likes of which the current Imperium has never known, and though his ways are strange, he seems to be fitting in well.
Belisarius Cawl
Aka Belisarius Cawl (me maybe), this Carly Rae Jespen lyric in hiding has been the mastermind of a plan 10,000 years in the making. And though a plan that takes 10,000 years to complete sounds like the sort of thing an Eldar would do, and Cawl is on record saying he’s not sure if his mind is his own, and Bobby G was only bright back through the grace of the Eldar who have been going out of their way to keep him safe–this definitely isn’t some kind of Eldar scheme, so you should stop asking.
He has helped the Imperium immeasurably, taking the Geneseed of Marines, and turning that towards building even biggerer and betterer soldiers. He’s also a master strategist who was instrumental in the Terran Crusade. Now he continues his work with Mars at his back, it’s only a matter of time before he becomes Fabricator General. Though Guilliman distrusts Cawl because he created a definitely-not-an-AI version of himself out of servo skulls.
Dante
Aka The Old Man. Dante is a Space Dracula of the finest caliber. He’s been Chapter Master of the Blood Angels for over 1,100 years, and is looked up to by the veterans of other chapters who remember his heroism from when they were just scouts.
As the oldest living–or at least non-Dreadnaught–marine, Dante has a lot going for him. He’s basically seen and done it all. Twice. And bought the T-Shirt. Man, myth, and legend, his victories on Armageddon are known throughout the Imperium. He cut Skarbrand in half. He killed the Swarmlord. People say he’s the Chuck Norris of 40K, but really, Chuck Norris is our pale imitation of Dante.
Commissar Yarrick
Aka Old One-Eye but not THAT Old One-Eye. Yarrick is legendary throughout the Militarum. He saved Armageddon, which is a weird sentence to type out. But Yarrick’s use of brilliant strategies and endurance beyond reason have made him one of the only humans that Gazghkull respects, and cemented his position in Imperial Lore.
Having somehow managed to survive the events surrounding the fall of Cadia and Guilliman’s return, it’s only a matter of time before Yarrick takes the center stage again and saves the day.
Knight-Commander Pask
Speaking of Cadia, though, we’d be remiss if we left out ol’ Two-Orders Pask, the tankinest Cadian to ever command a Tank. Master of the Leman Russ, Pask has a storied and distinguished career. With a reputation as a Cadian among Cadians, his Steel Tithe of raw recruits drill and train and drill some more until their worthy of ‘being trained by a Cadian.’
Creed
But wait, you might be saying, spittle flecking your keys as outrage rises, Creed is stuck in Trazyn’s vault. Well, if you think that wasn’t Creed’s plan all along, you’re a fool. After all he no doubt wanted to be caught to rally the other imperials heels within. I can picture Creed calmly informing Trazyn that it is the sworn duty of all officers to try to escape. If they cannot escape, then it is their sworn duty to cause the enemy to use an inordinate number of troops to guard them, and their sworn duty to harass the enemy to the best of their ability.
It’s only a matter of time before he makes his great escape.
It’s Commanders like these who will doubtless guide the Imperium out of Darkness.
