Editing Ciban IV (section)

===Ciban IV and other realms===
'''The Angels and the Republic'''

In the eyes of the Imperium, Ciban IV is a fief of the Void Angels and the Speaker of the Chapter is its absolute ruler.  In the eyes of its citizens, the world and its dependencies are a ruled by an elected Assembly, with the Speaker of the Void Angels serving as a military leader and interlocutor to the Imperium.  The truth lies somewhere between.  Although some Void Angels are impressive scholars of civics, the Marines have little interest in administering a civilian government.  However, debates over the expense of maintaining the Chapter are never more than formalities.  The Republic always assents to the Void Angels's requests.

The closest the Chapter and the Republic have come to a breach was during the so-called '''Nova Terra debates''' in 812.M31.  As the Imperium at large slumped into religion and dogma, Ciban IV was going through a cultural golden age highlighted by impressive artistic and engineering projects.  This disparity led to the "Third Earth Party" being formed and gaining traction in Ciban.  Third Earthers believed that Ciban IV was the logical successor to humanity's old centres of Terra and Mars.  Following the general election of 811.M31, Third Earth controlled a substantial minority in the Assembly and forced a series of debates on the future of Ciban IV.  Increasingly assertive positions were advanced, from the generally accepted view that the Republic had a special responsibility to protect its Sector and other parts of the Segmentum Pacificus to the dangerous view that the Republic ought to declare its independence and rally other worlds to the banner of a New Imperium.

Mai Dac Kien, then Speaker of the Void Angels, attended many of these debates but refused to speak.  This poured fuel on the fire.  If the Void Angels were prepared to consider the prospect of a New Imperium, then what did Ciban IV lack?  A Declaration of Independence was tabled in the Assembly and although Mai Dac Kien was late to the session, various Third Earthers rose to speak in its favour.  When the Speaker finally arrived, he was accompanied by a towering, hooded Space Marine.  Visibly nervous, Mai demanded the right to address the Assembly.  He gave a short, pointed speech, making clear not only that the Void Angels would not support the Republic in the event of a rebellion, but that even if they did the result would only be a further set-back for human culture.  The Imperium might be traumatised and damaged, but it was still mighty: Ciban and the Void Angels would be crushed and a precious refuge of the Imperial Truth destroyed.

The proposal was voted down as Mai Dac Kien and his escort departed the Assembly.  Third Earth collapsed, and Mai was never seen again.

'''Ciban IV and Al-Sherar'''

''I've heard it many times in this debate that our world's youth are already committed to war and that only the old and grey remain on Ciban.  Well, I am old and past grey, and the matter is clear enough to me.  If my neighbour's house is burning, it does me no good to stay at home and be glad I am not him.  The old book says, "the surest way to secure one's own safety is by protecting that of others," and by my reckoning  that maxim has done me more good than ill so far.  Any peril from here on out can draw against that balance.''

(Excerpt from Elaine Akh'Ultan's resignation speech to the Ciban Assembly, 016.M31)

The conclusion of the [[Al-Sherar Sector War]] brought the mighty Forge World [[Al-Sherar]] into Compliance with the Imperial Truth.  The Forge World paid little more than lip service to Mars, but was an enthusiastic contributor to the Great Crusade and firm ally of the Fifth Legion.  Although Al-Sherar's techpriests were initially dismissive of Ciban IV, seeing the world as nothing but an appendage of Gaspard Lumey's Space Marines, the events of the Heresy would bring the two closer together.

The Industrial World Nhà Máy was first settled late in the Great Crusade under the supervision of the Alim of Al-Sherar.  While the Al-Sherar Sector was untroubled by the Heresy, Nhà Máy was brutally exposed in 016.M31 when a splinter of the [[Gorgers]] Chaos Legion, accompanied by Imperial Army Traitors, attacked.  The Traitors appear to have landed with the intention of resupplying their fleet, fleeing from the resurgent Loyalist forces, but on seeing the weakness of the defenders they determined to sack the world thoroughly.  A desperate cry for aid from Nhà Máy found none of the depleted Space Marine Legions or Imperial Army formations in a position to respond.

A heated debate broke out in the Republic of Ciban, resulting in an unhappy compromise.  The Assembly judged that only volunteers could be dispatched, given the extent of Ciban IV's existing commitments to the Great Scouring.  Inspired by the example of 84 year-old Elaine Akh'Ultan, who laid down her place in the Assembly to re-enlist, a substantial body of volunteers, many of them veterans of past campaigns, formed up into new brigades.  They were joined by a small force of Void Angels Scouts, newly graduated from the Chapter's Collegium Majoris, and embarked for Nhà Máy.

Months of bitter fighting cost the lives of millions of Cibanese volunteers and hundreds of Void Angels Scouts.  Finally the campaign would be ended by the arrival of a force of Silver Cataphracts who dourly saw off the invading Traitors and unceremoniously departed.  The tech priests of Al-Sherar were greatly honoured by the sacrifices made by Ciban IV.  Trade and military ties would greatly deepen in the new era of the Imperial Reformation, and the two realms would enjoy a brief period of ascendancy until the apocalypse of WAAAGH!!! The Beast.