The Imperium wouldn't permit it to happen. They would defend it only slightest less than Terra itself and actually might do just as much given the proximity.

Considering the Titan Legions, Skitarii, and hordes of Tech-Guard -- whatever crushed Mars could theoretically crush Terra. So my belief is the Imperium would launch the entire Battlefleet Solar, hundreds of Astartes Chapters, the Titan Legions, and billions of Imperial Guard to hold Mars -- no matter the cost.

Now if you're questioning what happens after the war and its assumed Mars is held but everything is utterly ruined -- the effects would be more techno degradation by the Imperium. A number of STCs would simply be lost along with the home bases for a number of titan legions. The production responsbility of Mars is rather high and this would be put additional strain on the entire Segmentum Solar to compensate.

Not to mention that the Sol System, already pretty much a fortress, would be doubled in size (manpower and ships) and be turned into a fortress even more. Mars would likely be rebuilt, Tech-Adepts brought from other of the more powerful Forgeworlds to restore it, but it'd never rival its old self.

In short, the Imperium would never recover completely from the damage. It would get to a nominal level of recovery, enough to keep the whole Mechanicus structure firm, but it would never be the same.

 

Not to mention the countless forbidden archeotech stuff buried there falling into enemy hands...

 

And if the Void Dragon is underneath the surface of Mars.....

 

now this would spark my curiousity. if the void dragon was there, perhaps this may bring some unwanted attention from the metal warriors. despite there being only one attempt as far as i have heard of the necrons even slightly breaching the mars defence... then again, it all depends on what army is initiating the main attack, and as to what army is even capable of doing so... my opinion, only 4 armies could ever hope to accomplish this:
CHAOS
TYRANIDS
ORK WHAAAGHS
and possibly the DARK ELDAR as they do not use either the material realm or the warp to travel, giving them the advantage of hit and run attacks... if all the kabels ever united for the sole purpose of a full on stealth attack on mars or terra, i can only assume that victory for either race will be very close indeed.

there is 2cents worth from a noob that is still learning alot from any army other than tau

they are smart enough to just sit and watch, as they will never ever have the power to overthrow the homeworld of the imperium

 

Why wouldn't anything happen?

It's not like the Void Dragon is enjoying his stay at Imperial Mars.

 

The void dragon can't really do anything. It was bound on Mars by the Emperor. So I think it is safe to say that it won't be going anywhere for a while yet.

 

Bound by what though? Psychic wards? Tech from the Dark Age of Technology?

Whatever the case, with Mars falling, whatever is imprisoning the Void Dragon will most likely stop working allowing it to escape.

I doubt the Emperor has been keeping tabs on the Void Dragon, a lesser threat on the grand scheme on things, while on the Golden Throne, he already has a lot on his plate.

 

Bound by what though? Psychic wards? Tech from the Dark Age of Technology?

Whatever the case, with Mars falling, whatever is imprisoning the Void Dragon will most likely stop working allowing it to escape.

I doubt the Emperor has been keeping tabs on the Void Dragon, a lesser threat on the grand scheme on things, while on the Golden Throne, he already has a lot on his plate.

What we do know about the Void Dragon (shard?):

1. It was somehow crawling around on medieval Terra, some tens of millions of years after the War In Heaven and the Eldar doing their galactic-ruler we own Necron thing (or were they just letting sleeping undead metal monsters lay?).

2. The Emperor imprisoned it long before the Dark Age of Technology, so whatever he used, be it his own power, arcane wards, or some form of xenos tech he magically got through his Emperory estra-dimensional travel since humans didn't even have the tech to get off the planet yet, he couldn't rely on anything that resulted from any extra-Terran human society/discovery (after they left the mother planet)... without us using some sort of homebrew fluff speculation.

3. With the Emperor's participation in the GC, his physical proximity to Mars doesn't seem to effect whatever is binding the Void Dragon in place. In this case, it wouldn't matter if Mars fell to an outside invader, unless they specifically detected and actively unearthed the poor old sod. In fact, when you consider that Mars went through 5,000+ years of absolute chaos (small c chaos) on the surface of the planet and no one is recorded anywhere to have found the Void Dragon, it lends support to the notion that only someone who knows what and where they're looking for would even have a chance of doing so. Given that the Emperor's Big Book of Void Dragon Secrets went missing at the start of the HH (in Mechanicum), now that's not such a stretch.

Oh fun...

 

Whatever the Emperor did to the void dragon to bind it hasn't really shown any signs of weakening in the millenia since he first imprisoned the thing on Mars. There surely would've been signs if whatever the Emp did to it was weakening. Someone wouldve noticed something. The void dragon shard isn't going anywhere for the time being. The Necrons would probably know how to free it. Nothing else though. Nothing else even knows about its existence on Mars in the first place as far as we know. If Mars fell to any other race, they wouldn't even know where to find such a place, and from the books description, the location is so far removed that the chances of someone randomly happening upon it without some sort of guidance is slim, as in .01% chance slim, to no chance at all.

Even though the Void Dragon is just a shard, i'd say it's more of a threat than the deamons currently assailing the rent that Magnus created. So the Emp is probably keeping tabs on it.

 

Whatever the Emperor did to the void dragon to bind it hasn't really shown any signs of weakening in the millenia since he first imprisoned the thing on Mars.

We don't know this. With the Golden Throne failing, Abaddon getting a foothold in Cadia, anything could be possible.

There surely would've been signs if whatever the Emp did to it was weakening. Someone wouldve noticed something.

I don't think even the Fabricator General knows about the Void Dragon. I doubt Mars would even notice the Void Dragon's absence seeing as how it subconsciously inspires those in its vicinity through dreams rather than direct communication.

The Necrons would probably know how to free it.

We don't know whether the Necrons wanted to free the Void Dragon, destroy it, or ensure that whatever is keeping it imprisoned is still working.

If Mars fell to any other race, they wouldn't even know where to find such a place, and from the books description, the location is so far removed that the chances of someone randomly happening upon it without some sort of guidance is slim, as in .01% chance slim, to no chance at all.

If the Orks captured Mars, their rampant destruction would most likely destroy or weaken whatever is holding the Dragon in place. It would not be necessary for them to find it or think of a way to free it.

Even though the Void Dragon is just a shard, i'd say it's more of a threat than the deamons currently assailing the rent that Magnus created. So the Emp is probably keeping tabs on it.

Nothing save Abaddon's upcoming crusade is as big a threat as the breach in the Imperial Webway. The C'tan can be defeated by psychic means. Chaos is a lot more complex.

 

Slightly off topic, but everyone seems so sure the Necrons went to Mars for the Void Dragon. What if they were trying to recover the forbidden Archeotech within Mars' vaults?

Further, as strongly defended as Terra and the Sol System appear to be, I would not be surprised to find that the weapons platforms and defenses are so poorly maintained that half fail to operate. Battlefleet Sol is likely fully operational but some of Terra's defenses date to the Heresy. And if the Tech Priests can't fix the Golden Throne ...

As for what happens if Mars falls. The recovery would be slow and vital resources would be drawn from the fringe worlds of the Imperium. This would see an outbreak of multiple new wars, further straining the Imperial War Machine. And aren't nearly all Servitors "grown" on Mars?

 

I doubt the Necrons would find anything useful with any human technology seeing as how they're the most technological advanced race in WH40k.

It's usually hives and PDF garrisons/Imperial guard troops that are poorly maintained/given junk tech but when it comes to battlestations protecting important areas, they are usually extremely maintained and use the latest tech from Mars.

Servitors can be built anywhere, they aren't that high tech. The actual servitors are simply convicts or unlucky people who get lobotomized and are implanted with control devices.

 

I doubt the Necrons would find anything useful with any human technology seeing as how they're the most technological advanced race in WH40k.

Certain Tech Lords are known to collect Xenos tech. It is certainly possible that the Martian vaults hold any number of advanced wargear that the Ad Mech have failed to reverse-engineer or otherwise study. True this is Heresy in the 41st Millennium but the Imperium once embraced the study of the arcane. There could be rare Necron tech.

It's usually hives and PDF garrisons/Imperial guard troops that are poorly maintained/given junk tech but when it comes to battlestations protecting important areas, they are usually extremely maintained and use the latest tech from Mars.

Latest tech? They are using STCs that are incredibly dated. True that front line battle stations are maintained. But that is a byproduct of use. When was the last time Terra's orbital defenses were used? In that situation, complacency sets in. I have no doubt they have maintenance cycles but given how much military hardware is orbiting Terra and the Imperial bureaucracy, some automated defenses may get overlooked and fall into disrepair. My statement of half not working was merely hyperbole. What is functional would still destroy almost any threat.

Servitors can be built anywhere, they aren't that high tech. The actual servitors are simply convicts or unlucky people who get lobotomized and are implanted with control devices.

Though I cannot find it now, a Tech Priest thinks about Servitors in Black Tide. His thoughts mention that many are basically clones grown on Mars. Of course things get muddled pretty quick as his thoughts refer to the former person as a donor. Maybe people do donate their body to become a Servitor but most are likely the clones, salvaged/unknowing dead and certainly convicts.

I hope I cleared up my musings and opinions. I have no desire to start an argument. Just looking for good discussion.

 

"Certain Tech Lords are known to collect Xenos tech. It is certainly possible that the Martian vaults hold any number of advanced wargear that the Ad Mech have failed to reverse-engineer or otherwise study. True this is Heresy in the 41st Millennium but the Imperium once embraced the study of the arcane. There could be rare Necron tech. "

One Necron lord in particular collects trophies and rare items/xenos tech, I forget his name.

The Necrons themselves however, unlike other races, haven't forgotten how to produce the weapons and technology they used in the War in Heaven.

The race as a whole has no need to seek out xenos tech for their own use because their tech is so advanced it borders on sorcery.

"Latest tech? They are using STCs that are incredibly dated. True that front line battle stations are maintained. But that is a byproduct of use. When was the last time Terra's orbital defenses were used? In that situation, complacency sets in. I have no doubt they have maintenance cycles but given how much military hardware is orbiting Terra and the Imperial bureaucracy, some automated defenses may get overlooked and fall into disrepair. My statement of half not working was merely hyperbole. What is functional would still destroy almost any threat."

Yes they use the latest technology made available to them by Mars. Whether or not the wider Imperium has access to the latest technology is another topic.

When was the last time Terra's orbital defenses were used? The Heresy probably. Simply because they haven't had their defenses breached since then does not mean the tech is poorly maintained or outdated. For obvious reasons Mars will guarantee Terra and other areas vital to the Imperium are given the best of the best.

"Though I cannot find it now, a Tech Priest thinks about Servitors in Black Tide. His thoughts mention that many are basically clones grown on Mars. Of course things get muddled pretty quick as his thoughts refer to the former person as a donor. Maybe people do donate their body to become a Servitor but most are likely the clones, salvaged/unknowing dead and certainly convicts."

Yes many are vat-grown clones. But not all. Even ork servitors can be produced.

 

You know you're in 40k when an ancient-beyond-reckoning demigod who will literally eat the Sun if it wakes up is a backburner problem.

 

Funny, but true.

 

Well, what do you mean Mars Fell? Like to an invasion? Civil War? Void Dragon Waking? Iron Men reborn? Genetic plague that kills all organics?

If it's an invasion, are we talking a sneak attack on Mars directly (and if they can do that, why not strike at Terra direct) or has the Army pushed it self into the Sol system and taken out all outposts leading to Mars?

 

According to the 3rd Necron codex, Abaddon apparently got a glimpse of the Void Dragon's tomb thanks to a daemon named Hrangore.

"A great chamber of basalt, around it towering machines of antique silver stretched endlessly upward. Set in the floor was a vast sarcophagus of adamantium and gold. From each of the machines in turn a flickering beam of unimaginable energy flowed in a glittering arc to the sarcophagus."

So the Void Dragon is imprisoned in a stasis-device.

But the daemon also says this about the Noctis Labyrinthus and its inhabitant:

''In the shade of Terra, beneath the mountains of mist there is a sacrifice of men, but the precious souls are not consumed, they are cast adrift. Many are the daemons that wait like carrion to feast on the leavings from this rich table."

It just adds to the confusion of what the C'tan actually consume but perhaps this has been addressed in the 5th Necron Codex. But I'm surprised I haven't seen these tidbits of information floating around the Necron/C'tan threads.

 

Honestly if mars were to fall it really wouldn't matter in the grand scheme of things because short of a self imposed accident if mars really was to fall that would mean Terra wouldn't be to far behind. That means The Imperium hour of reckoning is apon them, the defences of the Sol system have been breached and the imperium will either be destroyed or substantially reduced forever. Who cares about mars when the Golden throne is under threat.

Now what would be so strong as to potentially break the defences of Sol, destroy mars and threaten terra well Necrons who have proven capable already of entering sol undected and have the means to invade terra at moments notice and unless the lords intend to occupy the system nothing short of terras complete destruction would stop there march, Tyranids tho the fleets are still centuries away could sweep in similry to necrons but with no chance of mercy, Chaos should abbadon ever get his act togethor and the Void Dragon awakening. All 4 scenerios not only result in Mars destruction but also terras.

SO once again if mars fell It wouldnot matter because terra would not be far behind and after that the imperium as we know it atleast would cease to exist

 

Ghazkull potentially could threaten the sol system. Yarrick believes that he could unite the orks given his influence and power (capable of making orks stand in rank to see off a umie for a small example) Who knows what he could do. After all he brought armageddon to it's knees twice and tricked imperial forces into an ambush.

 

actually a might be a blessing for the emperium if Mars fell giving birth to a new technical renaissance

 

Except that the fall of Mars wouldn't create that. The Mechanicus exists beyond Mars, destroying Mars would gut their command structure but it wouldn't erase them. Plus, everyone who knows anything about technology works for the Mechanicus. If the Mechanicus ceases to exist than so does all knowledge of technology, so long as the Mechanicus exists there will be no innovation. It's kind of a catch-22 situation.

And of course all of that is ignoring that Mars is one of the three most important (and most heavily defended) planets in the entire Imperium. With one of those planets (Cadia) already partially in enemy hands the total destruction of another would spell the end for the Imperium. Any force capable of taking/destroying Mars is capable of taking/destroying Terra (as the biggest defender of either is the Segmentum Solar Fleet) and the loss of Terra is obviously the End. And looking at the massive losses incurred holding Abaddon at bay, especially in areas far removed from the direct invasion (the Tau 3rd Sphere for example) showing how thin the Imperium is stretched right now, and you have to realize that the Imperium simply cannot hold off two threats of that magnitude.

 

I am under the impression that the magos on Mars are the most powerfull and influential, however they are also the most secretive regarding sharing information and changing the hierarchic status quo. I fully agree that Mars gone will remove heaps of lore (although this lore is often not even known, just present), but might also remove the most dogmatic in terms of stalling research and development (although this does happen in the empirium). New and more enlightened magos might take their place.
I do not agree that if the mechanicus is gone, there is no innovation, there exist billions and billions of humans in the empirium, if I project the tech developement we had in the last 100 years on earth to a reality with 10^6 planets that can result in vast amounts of innovation.

 

I am under the impression that the magos on Mars are the most powerfull and influential, however they are also the most secretive regarding sharing information and changing the hierarchic status quo.

There are most certainly the most powerful, whether they are also the most secretive/dogmatic is never really stated. There exist cults of more innovative leaning throughout the Mechanicus, some of them are rather powerful and almost certainly represented on Mars. There are also many even more dogmatic groups, spread throughout the Imperium. Also, there's the possible backlash created by having the Mechanicus' upper echelons removed which could (depending on how it happened) push the Mechanicus even further into it's dogma, that's what happened last time Mars almost fell.

I do not agree that if the mechanicus is gone, there is no innovation,

Neither do I, hence why I never said that.

there exist billions and billions of humans in the empirium, if I project the tech developement we had in the last 100 years on earth to a reality with 10^6 planets that can result in vast amounts of innovation.

Sure, innovation is possible, even likely. The problem is that this innovation is starting from square one. Look at the Dark Ages following the collapse of the Roman Empire. The first acts of 'innovation' in the history you're recalling were re-inventing things we'd forgotten how to make. This, only so, so much worse, is what would happen if the Mechanicus ceased to exist. (Which of course is largely irrelevant as that can't really happen.)