Implants
The nineteen organs created by the ancient technicians of
the Emperor are described below. Each of these organs is
extremely complicated and because many of the organs
only work properly when another organ is present, the
removal or mutation of one organ may affect the exact
functioning of the others. For these reasons, implants must
be constantly monitored, and many Marines have to
undergo corrective surgery or chemotherapy to re-balance
their metabolism.
Phase 1 – Secondary Heart.
The simplest and most self-sufficient
implant. The secondary heart is capable
of boosting the blood supply or
maintaining full life functions even with
the destruction of the recipient’s original
heart. The Phase 1 implant
enables Marines to survive
low oxygen concentrations
and traumatic injury.
Phase 2 – Ossmodula.
This is a
tubular shaped organ
whose small size
belies its complex
structure. The
ossmodula monitors
and secretes
hormones affecting
epiphiseal fusion and
ossification of the skeleton.
At the same time, the
specially engineered hormones
encourage the forming bones to
absorb ceramic based chemicals
administered in the Marine’s diet. Two
years following implantation, this will have
caused considerable strengthening of the
long-bones, extreme ossification of the
chest cavity (caused by growth of the ribs
forming a solid mass of inter-laced bone plates)
and a general increase in the size of the
recipient’s skeleton.
Phase 3 – Biscopea. This organ is implanted
into the chest cavity. It is small, approximately
spherical and, like the Ossmodula, its primary
action is hormonal. The presence of the biscopea
stimulates muscle growth throughout the body.
Phase 4 – Haemastamen. This tiny organ is implanted
into a main blood vessel. The haemastamen serves two
purposes. It monitors and to some degree controls the
Phase 2 and 3 implants. The organ also alters the
constituent make-up of the recipient’s blood. As a result,
Marine blood is considerably more efficient than ordinary
human blood, as it has to be when you consider the extra
biological hardware a Marine carries inside him!
Phase 5 – Larraman’s Organ. This is a liver shaped, dark,
fleshy organ about the size of a golfball. It is implanted into
the chest cavity along with a complicated array of blood
vessels. The organ generates and stores special `Larraman
cells’. If the recipient is wounded, these cells are released
into the blood stream. They latch onto leucocytes in the
blood and are transported to the site of a wound. Once in
contact with air, the Larraman cells form a skin substitute of
instant scar tissue, staunching the flow of blood and
protecting any exposed wound area.
Phase 6 – Catalepsean Node. This brain implant is usually
inserted into the back of the skull via a hole drilled into the
occipital bone. The pea-sized organ influences the circadian
rhythms of sleep and the body’s response to sleep
deprivation. Normally, a Marine sleeps like any normal man,
but if deprived of sleep, the catalepsean node `cuts in’. A man
implanted with the node is capable of sleeping and remaining
awake at the same time by `switching off’ areas of the brain
sequentially. This process cannot replace normal sleep
entirely, but increases a Marine’s survivability by allowing
awareness of the environment whilst resting.
Phase 7 – Preomnor. The preomnor is a large implant which fits into
the chest cavity. It is a predigestive stomach which allows the Marine
to eat a variety of otherwise poisonous or indigestible materials. No
actual digestion takes place in the preomnor. Individual sensory tubes
assess potential poisons and neutralise them or, where necessary,
isolate the preomnor from the rest of the digestive tract.
Phase 8 – Omophagea. This is a complicated implant. It really
becomes part of the brain, but is actually situated within the spinal cord
between the cervical and thoracic vertebrae. Four nerve sheaths called
neuroclea are implanted between the spine and the preomnoral
stomach wall. The omophagea is designed to absorb genetic material
generated in animal tissue as a function of memory, experience or
innate ability. This endows the Marine with an unusual survival trait. He
can actually learn by eating. If a Marine eats a part of a creature, he will
absorb some of the memories of that creature. This can be very useful
in an alien environment. Incidentally, it is the presence of
this organ which has created the various flesh eating and
blood drinking rituals for which many Chapters are
known, as well as giving the names to
Chapters such as the Blood Drinkers, Flesh
Tearers etc.
Phase 9 – Multi-lung. This is another large
implant. The multi-lung, or `third’ lung, is a tubular
grey organ. Blood is pumped through the organ via connecting
vessels grafted onto the recipient’s pulmonary system. Atmosphere is
taken in by means of a sphincter located in the trachea. In toxic
atmospheres, an associated sphincter muscle closes the trachea and
restricts normal breathing, thus protecting the lungs. The multi-lung is
able to absorb oxygen from poorly oxygenated or poisonous air. Most
importantly, it is able to do this without suffering damage thanks
to its own efficient toxin dispersal, neutralisation and
regeneration systems.
Phase 10 – Occulobe. This small slug-like organ sits at the
base of the brain. It provides the hormonal and genetic stimuli
which enable a Marine’s eyes to respond to optic-therapy. The
occulobe does not itself improve a Marine’s eyesight, but it
allows technicians to make adjustments to the growth patterns
of the eye and the light-receptive retinal cells. An adult Marine
has far better eyesight than a normal human, and can see in low
light conditions almost as well as in daylight.
Phase 11 – Lyman’s Ear. This organ enables a Marine to
consciously enhance and even filter certain types of
background noise. Not only is hearing improved, but a
Marine cannot become dizzy or nauseous as a result
of extreme disorientation. Lyman’s ear is externally
indistinguishable from a normal human ear.
Phase 12 – Sus-an Membrane. This flat, circular
organ is implanted over the top of the exposed
brain. It then grows into the brain tissue until
completely merged. The organ is ineffective
without subsequent chemical therapy and
training. However, a properly tutored
Marine may then enter into a state of
suspended animation. This may be a
conscious action, or may happen
automatically in the event of extreme
physical trauma. In this condition, a Marine may
survive for many years, even if bearing otherwise
fatal injuries. Only appropriate chemical therapy
and auto-suggestion can revive a Marine from this
state – a Marine cannot revive himself. The longest
known period of deanimation followed by successful
reanimation is 567 years in the case of brother Silas
Err of the Dark Angels (d.321 M.37).
Index Astartes: Rites of Initiation
Phase 13 – Melanochrome, or Melanochromic Organ.
This organ is hemispherical and black. It functions in an
indirect and extremely complicated manner. It monitors
radiation levels and types bombarding the skin, and if
necessary, sets off chemical reactions to darken the skin
to protect it from ultraviolet exposure. It also provides
limited protection from other forms of radiation.
Differing melanochrome organ gene-seed from
Chapter to Chapter leads to variations in skin and hair
colour, and in some Chapters all of the Marines may
have identical coloration, such as is found in the albino
warriors of the Death Spectres Chapter.
Phase 14 – Oolitic Kidney. This red-brown and heart
shaped organ improves and modifies the Marine’s
circulatory system enabling other implants to function
effectively. The oolitic kidney also filters blood extremely
efficiently and quickly. The secondary heart and oolitic
kidney are able to act together, performing an emergency
detoxification program in which the Marine is rendered
unconscious as his blood is circulated at high speed. This
enables a Marine to survive poisons and gases which are
otherwise too much for even the multi-lung to cope with.
Phase 15 – Neuroglottis. Although the preomnor protects a
Marine from digesting anything too deadly, the neuroglottis
enables him to assess a potential food by taste. The organ
is implanted into the back of the mouth. By chewing, or
simply by tasting, a Marine can detect a wide variety of
natural poisons, some chemicals and even the distinctive
odours of some creatures. To some degree, a Marine is also
able to track a target by taste alone.
Phase 16 – Mucranoid. This small organ
is implanted in the lower intestine where
its hormonal secretions are absorbed
by the colon. These secretions
initiate a modification of the sweat
glands. This modification normally
makes no difference to the Marine
until activated by appropriate
chemotherapy. As a result of this
treatment, the Marine sweats
an oily, naturally cleansing
substance which coats the
skin. This protects the
Marine against extremes of
temperature and even offers
a slight degree of protection
in vacuum. Mucranoid
chemotherapy is standard
procedure on long space
voyages and when fighting
in vacuum or near vacuum.
Phase 17 – Betcher’s Gland.
Two of these identical glands
are implanted, either into the
lower lip, alongside the
salivary glands or into
the hard palette.
Betcher’s gland
works in a similar
way to the poison
gland of venomous
reptiles by
synthesising and
storing deadly poison. Marines are rendered immune to this
poison by virtue of the gland’s presence. The gland allows
the Marine to spit a blinding contact poison. The poison is
also corrosive. A Marine imprisoned behind iron bars could
easily chew his way out given a few hours.
Phase 18 – Progenoids. There are two of these glands, one
situated in the neck, the other deep within the chest cavity.
These glands are important to the survival of the Marine’s
Chapter. Each organ grows within the Marine, absorbing
hormonal stimuli and genetic material from the other
implants. After five years, the neck gland is mature and
ready for removal. After ten years, the chest gland becomes
mature and is also ready for removal. A gland may be
removed any time after it has matured. These glands
represent a Chapter’s only source of gene-seed. When
mature, each gland contains a single gene-seed
corresponding to each zygote implanted into the recipient
Marine. Once removed by surgery, the progenoid
must be carefully prepared, its individual gene-seeds
checked for mutation, and sound gene-seeds
stored. Gene-seeds can be stored indefinitely under
suitable conditions.
Phase 19 – Black Carapace. This is the last and the
most distinctive implant. It looks like a film of black
plastic when it’s growing in the tanks. This is removed from
its culture-solution and cut into sheets which are implanted
directly beneath the skin of the Marine’s torso. Within a few
hours the tissue expands, hardens on the outside, and
sends invasive neural bundles deep inside the Marine. After
several months the carapace will have fully matured and the
recipient is then fitted with neural sensors and transfusion
points cut into the hardened carapace. These artificial ‘plugin’
points mesh with features integral to the powered armour,
such as the monitoring, medicinal and maintenance units.
Without the benefit of a black carapace, a Space Marine’s
armour is relatively useless.
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