Editing Skitarii (section)

==Overview==
Under the Treaty of Olympus Mons (commonly known as the Treaty of Mars outside the Adeptus Mechanicus) [[Forge Worlds]] are not required to give manpower over to the [[Imperial Guard]] under the [[Imperial Tithe]], so they are allowed to raise, train, and equip their own [[Planetary Defense Forces]]. Since they don't have to provide an endless supply of cannon fodder offworld and have access to the lion's share of the Imperium's industrial and technological capacity, the Forge Worlds of the Mechanicus can afford to field soldiers with gear beyond the bare minimum of acceptability. Standing somewhere between the Guard and the [[Space Marines]] in terms of ability, the Skitarii have access to absolutely ''everything'' the Adeptus Mechanicus can create.

The only things they don't use are the [[Land Raider]] (which is due to a decree by the [[God-Emperor of Mankind|Emperor]] reserving it for the Adeptus Astartes during the <s>[[Great Crusade]]</s> [[Horus Heresy]] - like that stops the [[Inquisition]]...) and [[Dreadnought]]s (though in theory they could, they just prefer carving up your brain and making you a servitor instead). Like the Guard, there is little standardization among Skitarii units. For example, they can't quite seem to agree if the greater unit is called a cohort or a brigade. Additionally, Skitarii will vary from simple gun-[[servitor]]s under a few commanders to gene-enhanced augmented humans with major equipment.

[[File:Image Skitari.jpg|thumb|left|Skitarii artwork from the <s>upcoming</s> mothballed [[Imperial Armour]] volume: Fires of Cyraxus]]Having existed since at least the Great Crusade, a Skitarii brain is altered to maintain their loyalty and obedience. Some are just psycho-surgically or biochemically altered, while others are full-on lobotomised. According to recent lore, one way the Tech Priests control legions of Skitarii are by messing with their brains from SPEHHS, firing off signals to make each and every one of those little bastards think they're being manipulated by the [[Omnissiah]] [[HERESY|himself]]. On the plus side if, after their "indoctrination", they have anything resembling a working brain left, it'll usually be capable of some high level multitasking: a Tech-Guard officer will proficiently dual-chainsword-duel with you, while happily chatting with his fellow Skitarii on the [[vox]] in binaric cant, simultaneously catch up on his unread messages, recompiling the kernels in his cybernetic implants and trolling all the boards of future-#chan at the same time. So yeah, they're different than their service/slave counterparts.

Speaking of differences, Skitarii from different forge worlds don't always share the same look. Some prefer the classic "red-robe-with-hood" Martian style, while others wear Imperial Guard-like uniform, and some could be purely functionalist with no clothes beside armour - just name the style, and somewhere in the galaxy there is a forge world with similarity dressed Skitarii (except for THAT style, you sick fuck). One of the most popular styles the Skitarii employ is to wear fabulous fur coats, fang talismans and grisly trophies, commonly associated with [[Death World|Death Worlders]] and [[Space Wolves]]; these are intended to terrify opponents. As if half-robot/zombie soldiers aren't terrifying enough. They can appear so terrifying that loyalist Skitarii are indistinguishable from their Dark Mechanicum counterparts to the casual observer.

They are generally the first line of defence on Forge Worlds and other Mechanicum installations. However, they also serve as marines (in the traditional sense) for some Explorator ships, and act as dedicated infantry and vehicle support for Titan Legions when they are deployed. Because the Mechanicum also likes to make friends and has allies, and Forge Worlds, everywhere, the Skitarii also serve as mercenaries or allies in many Imperial armies and crusades. Additionally, most Space Marine chapters can call on Mechanicum support should need arise. This is double so for the Grey Knights, as Titan is orbited by the former natural satellite of Mars turned into a minor forge world, Deimos, where all of Grey Knights' gear is made, and it has its own Skitarii contingent.

Much like early depictions of the Arbites, the depiction of ANY armed Mechanicus troops in early fluff were referred to as Skitarii, regardless of context, so take such depictions with a pinch of salt.

Also, they can be played on the tabletop, like a weird hybrid of Tau, Necron, Craftworld Eldar, and <s>guardsma... ahem.. ASTRA MILITARUM Imperial Guard</s> THE WALL OF GUNS, and seem to be the 40k equivalent of the Skaven, except that they're not fucking furries! Who needs Emprah loving humies/post-humie/heretic/xenos scum anyway?! Everyone knows the Omnissiah is where it's at!