WH40K what if: Leman Russ returns

[Peptuck]

And even then, it still doesn't rule out the xenophobia that was encouraged (I'm sure there were still cases of even harmless aliens being purged.. the Imperium doing more than one thing at oncec is hardly unprecedented given its largely decentralized nature.)

The Laer in Fulgrim are probably a good example here. They were relatively limited in size and scope, and strategically unimportant, but Fulgrim went ahead and wiped them out because he felt they were a "threat to the perfection of humanity."

[Cykeisme]

Also, to maintain the sacred status quo, the forces of the Warp would probably go batshit and send epic numbers to Terra to kill the Emperor, and as they finish killing the last resistance and head towards the Emperor, the warp-rift would begin to close, leaving them only enough time to revert the powerful psyker back to his crippled form.

They couldn't do it ten thousand years ago, they couldn't do it in the interceding ten millenia he was enthroned. If He's up and walking, why would they suddenly be able to do it now?

Or is your response intended to be a non-SoD what-if on how GW would handle it? This RAR is quite clearly within SoD, however..

[white_rabbit]

And even then, it still doesn't rule out the xenophobia that was encouraged (I'm sure there were still cases of even harmless aliens being purged.. the Imperium doing more than one thing at oncec is hardly unprecedented given its largely decentralized nature.)

The Laer in Fulgrim are probably a good example here. They were relatively limited in size and scope, and strategically unimportant, but Fulgrim went ahead and wiped them out because he felt they were a "threat to the perfection of humanity."

I have this vague thought that they'd probably have been on the Kill-list anyway, I can't imagine why....

[Keevan_Colton]

And even then, it still doesn't rule out the xenophobia that was encouraged (I'm sure there were still cases of even harmless aliens being purged.. the Imperium doing more than one thing at oncec is hardly unprecedented given its largely decentralized nature.)

The Laer in Fulgrim are probably a good example here. They were relatively limited in size and scope, and strategically unimportant, but Fulgrim went ahead and wiped them out because he felt they were a "threat to the perfection of humanity."

I have this vague thought that they'd probably have been on the Kill-list anyway, I can't imagine why....

Slanesh worshippers? They're going splat eventually...

[Zablorg]

Also, to maintain the sacred status quo, the forces of the Warp would probably go batshit and send epic numbers to Terra to kill the Emperor, and as they finish killing the last resistance and head towards the Emperor, the warp-rift would begin to close, leaving them only enough time to revert the powerful psyker back to his crippled form.

They couldn't do it ten thousand years ago, they couldn't do it in the interceding ten millenia he was enthroned. If He's up and walking, why would they suddenly be able to do it now?

Here's how I imagined it; during his un-comatose days it just wouldn't be feasable for daemons to kill him, as you said. Now, I recall reading a bit of material that says for the most part, daemons really don't give two shits about the IoM, and after the Emperor settled down into his nap, they probably just didn't care about him anymore.

The daemons might decide once they have been alterted to the Emperor's groggy awakening that now would be the opportune time to assassinate him.

Probably not though, now that you think of it....

[Bob the Gunslinger]

Here's how I imagined it; during his un-comatose days it just wouldn't be feasable for daemons to kill him, as you said. Now, I recall reading a bit of material that says for the most part, daemons really don't give two shits about the IoM, and after the Emperor settled down into his nap, they probably just didn't care about him anymore.

Where did you get this from? The fluff is rife with examples that contradict you--everything from Eye of Terror to the Black Crusades demonstrated that the Chaos gods fell their most dangerous enemy, their mortal enemy, is the Emperor, and by extension his worshipers. Whenever we get a daemon's viewpoint, such as in Eye of Terror or Grey Knights or the Horus Heresy, particularly if it's a Tzeenchian daemon, the entire focus is on harming the Emperor or his Imperium. It's the only endeavor that all 4 Chaos gods united on and poured their power into a single vessel, even though they would have been much safer had they sent Horus after the Necrons and stopped their Great Warding.

The daemons might decide once they have been alterted to the Emperor's groggy awakening that now would be the opportune time to assassinate him.

Probably not though, now that you think of it....

I can't even think of a way for powers of Chaos to strike at Terra, let alone 'assassinate' a conscious Emperor. The Great Crusade was their best chance and they blew it. They might have gotten lucky during the Age of Apostasy, but Chaos simply doesn't have the kind of influence in Segmentum Solar that they would need to come anywhere near the Emperor.

[Crom]

In some ways, the IoM is actually more powerful than the Heresy. The Chapters are, in a sense, compartmentalized and aware of the threat of the Warp to a greater degree than the Legions were. The Inquisition and the Grey Knights are both in place an entrenched. The forces of Chaos are primarily bottled up in the Eye of Chaos.

As it stands I doubt Chaos could really strike out at the Emperor directly.

[PeZook]

In some ways, the IoM is actually more powerful than the Heresy. The Chapters are, in a sense, compartmentalized and aware of the threat of the Warp to a greater degree than the Legions were. The Inquisition and the Grey Knights are both in place an entrenched. The forces of Chaos are primarily bottled up in the Eye of Chaos.

As it stands I doubt Chaos could really strike out at the Emperor directly.

Plus, Chaos bleeds all the time. It is no less beset on all sides than the Imperium, with Eldar and Necrons constantly fighting them, and Eldars trying to kill one of their gods, and the Imperials putting the smackdown on their black crusades.

[Maxentius]

In some ways, the IoM is actually more powerful than the Heresy. The Chapters are, in a sense, compartmentalized and aware of the threat of the Warp to a greater degree than the Legions were. The Inquisition and the Grey Knights are both in place an entrenched. The forces of Chaos are primarily bottled up in the Eye of Chaos.

As it stands I doubt Chaos could really strike out at the Emperor directly.

Plus, Chaos bleeds all the time. It is no less beset on all sides than the Imperium, with Eldar and Necrons constantly fighting them, and Eldars trying to kill one of their gods, and the Imperials putting the smackdown on their black crusades.

I would be rather unsurprised if the Imperial Palace is also protected by some kind of quasi-gellar field-esque device. I haven't heard of any such thing, but Eldar fluff is more my forte - then again, you might think that The Emperor could just waste any demon silly enough to try and possess someone within the palace.

[The Grim Squeaker]

In some ways, the IoM is actually more powerful than the Heresy. The Chapters are, in a sense, compartmentalized and aware of the threat of the Warp to a greater degree than the Legions were. The Inquisition and the Grey Knights are both in place an entrenched. The forces of Chaos are primarily bottled up in the Eye of Chaos.

As it stands I doubt Chaos could really strike out at the Emperor directly.

Plus, Chaos bleeds all the time. It is no less beset on all sides than the Imperium, with Eldar and Necrons constantly fighting them, and Eldars trying to kill one of their gods, and the Imperials putting the smackdown on their black crusades.

I would be rather unsurprised if the Imperial Palace is also protected by some kind of quasi-gellar field-esque device. I haven't heard of any such thing, but Eldar fluff is more my forte - then again, you might think that The Emperor could just waste any demon silly enough to try and possess someone within the palace.

Well, Eisenhorn mentioned that Inquisitor (Among other things) Gained renown for destroying "A Nurglite cult" in "One of Terra's" palaces or subpalaces.

[The Grim Squeaker]

Dammit, I could have sworn I typed out "Inquisitor Quixnos"

[NecronLord]

It's worth remembering that the Imperial Palace goes on for hundreds of miles in every direction. The throne basement may be ultimately protected - and indeed, it is, if only by its master. That hardly means the rest of it is so.