Alternate Heresy: Derailments

Derailments (name pending) are so dissimilar from canon as to be barely recognizable, if at all even with regards to other Alternate Heresy timelines. History gets completely derailed, probably in the early time periods. These are not alternate heresies, but concepts for them, since no one has written any story based upon them.

In many of those variants, goals of major characters would likely revolve around that breaking point: some would want to keep things as they are in derailed verse, while some would try to get back to Status Quo, and some would want to go to another derailment entirely.

Galaxy Ruins

One of the most important changes in this timeline occurs with the Eldar hero, Elronhir, who perhaps through betrayal or weakness was defeated by a Mon-keigh warrior. With this event, the Eldar were enslaved and decimated by the Mon-keigh, which not ironically ended up preventing the birth of Slaanesh Therefore the eye of terror does not exist in this timeline. As time and generations passed, although they would never lose their status as fifth-class citizens, the Eldar would gradually be influenced by the Mon-keigh culture, to the point of forgetting their own.Except perhaps for some escaped craftworlds from this "Cultural Assimilation". It is important to clarify that in this context, craftworlds are practically mobile space hive cities.

Regarding humanity, its history would be more or less the same except for the following changes:

• The Sea Peoples win the war at the end of the Bronze Age, and the ensuing Dark Age spans 2000 years.
• The Sabines managed to penetrate the walls of Rome and rescue the kidnapped women, therefore, the Roman Empire never existed.
• Eventually the "Sabin Empire" was formed, which took 1700 years to reach its maximum extension (800 years more than the Roman Empire), another detail is that perhaps they took Diogenes of Sinope as their "Father of Western Thought."
• Jesus of Nazareth is not crucified, only imprisoned for life in a prison outside Israel. Christianity never existed.Its place would be overtaken by other monotheistic religions such as Zoroastrianism, Mithraism or Atonism.
• The Black Death kills 450 million people.
• Euskal Herria expanded to include the entire Iberian Peninsula and southern France; this nation would avoid being conquered by the Arabs from the south.
• America was never discovered by Europe.
• The religions of the Tahuantinsuyu and the Excan Tlatoloyan, would develop from polytheism to henotheism, and thus finally to monotheism. Being the Yanantin and the Toltecayotl for each one respectively.
• The Tahuantinsuyu and the Excan Tlatoloyan cross the Pacific Ocean and reach Polynesia and the Philippines, eventually conquering and colonizing Oceania and Southeast Asia.
• Native American societies in the north are organized into fully-fledged nation states.
• The Mayan Calendar is used all over the world, Example: Day 1 / Month 17 / Year 5 / Katun 11 / Baktun 13 / Solar Era 5; Understand that a month is 20 days, a year is 18 months, a Katun is 20 years, a Baktun is 20 Katuns and a Solar Era is 14 baktuns or 5,125.36 years, We currently live in the sixth solar era. The times of the Great Crusade are situated between the end of the tenth and the beginning of the eleventh solar era. While the times of Warhammer 40k occur between the end of the twelfth and the beginning of the thirteenth solar era.
• In this context, the Emperor is Peruvian, so we will refer to him as "El Inkarri".
• The prosperity of African empires eventually turned the continent's descendant nations into global economic powerhouses.
• The first contact between "America" ​​and the Western world across the Atlantic occurred when explorers from the Mali Empire reached the coasts of South America.
• The two World Wars adapt to this scenario.
• Cold War between Tahuantinsuyo and Excan Tlatoloyan, However, both powers would end up collapsing for different reasons.
• Zambia kicks off space program, reaching moon, talks of plans to reach Mars.

The Cybernetic Revolution and the Dark Age of Technology, They started due to circumstances other than those involving warp storms. But end with the victory of the Iron Men over Humanity, similar to the scenario proposed in "The Imperium of Machines";In the few ashes that remain, El Inkarri would build the Imperium of Mankind, the 20 Primarchs would be scattered into the Warp, eventually reunited, and all would go as planned, until the Rangdan Xenocides. Or rather... the Xenocide of Humanity. The war against the Rangda would be so brutal that it would result in the deaths of not two... but 18 Primarchs, The only survivors were the primarchs Rivo of the second and Basilicam Ivliam of the eleventh legions (or perhaps three primarchs survived). El Inkarri would be connected to the Golden Throne, which is located on a planet of unknown location called "Ultima", while the few worlds that once belonged to the Imperium are reduced to a few enclaves scattered throughout the galaxy, mostly cut off from each other. The Ultramar sector remains one of the main enclaves where humanity resists the scourges of the xeno hyperpowers, but without the guidance of the Primarch of the Thirteenth Legion, the Ultramarines and other legions that have grouped in the sector do not have enough organization to sustain a long-term conflict without the help of their xenos allies.

During the war against the Rangda, the Inkarri released the Void Dragon, however the latter would turn against the Inkarri, causing a schism between the Mechanicus, forming a direct cult to the Void Dragon, this cult eventually absorbed the Auretian Technocracy, thus forming the faction of "Church Exalted of Drakhinari". Whose objective would be to recover all the C'tan fragments to rebuild their broken god.

The Three Galactic Hyperpowers, Mon-keigh, Rangdan and the Men of Iron, They brought war to the Orks an act that eventually allowed them to evolve back into their original form of Krorks, albeit severely reduced or technologically limited due to the constant wars of attrition, against the superiority of the hyperpower, other xeno races might find mercy in their thrall, and humans and Eldar along with other lesser races would be forced into an unimaginably fragile alliance.Eventually the Necrons would awaken from their slumber, and the Tyranids would arrive in the galaxy, each of these events happening around Baktun 8 and Baktun 12 of the twelfth solar era, With them the balance of power becomes somewhat even. There are rumors that warp vampires (These specific Vampires) are infiltrating all non-metallic races, or may already be ruling them (Perhaps even better than their own local rulers). From the heart of the galaxy, the sound of hammers and mining tools can be heard, Brotherhoods of warriors known as the "Votann" emerge to confront the hyperpowers. The conflict between the Machine Empire and The Vast of Yu'Vath, in the far north of the segmentum obscurus, is at a stalemate.

The Cacodominus, a xenos horror of unknown origin capable of blocking the light of El Inkarri, quickly rises as a threat to the galaxy, psychically enslaving all worlds in its path. Other polymorphic xenos abominations known as Lacrymole and Simulacra erode the fragile unity of the Alliance races for the sake of their own survival. Following the scorn and liberation of their Tyranid masters, the Zoats mercenary fleets roam the galaxy plundering resources from every human and xenos world they encounter, alongside their Csith servants. The Principality of Maerorus, expands rapidly with the progeny of the Legienstrasse.

The Tau would still emerge, although sooner rather than later they would realize the truth of the galactic scenario, and although their relations with the fragile alliance of minor races are "good", they still consider themselves a separate faction with their own union of auxiliary races. Enclaves of Farsight would eventually emerge with the support of the Poctroon (who in this timeline survived the disease transmitted to them by the Tau) and other minor races against the Ethereals. In the absence of Slaanesh, the three Chaos Gods possess greater power, however, due to the decline of the mortal races and how the dominant powers are able to use powers outside the warp, the influence of Chaos is slowly diminished, something that could gradually lead to Chaos' extinction. So more actively than ever they seek to gain followers within the territories that can still be claimed, so it is not strange to find chaos cults in practically all races. The constant migrations through space-time of the Hrud have caused stars to age more and more rapidly, forming supernovas, black holes, and all kinds of gravitational anomalies everywhere in the galaxy, reducing habitable zones. The Khrave, with the guidance of their masters the Autochtonar, circumnavigate the limits of the galaxy, preying on the worlds furthest from the waning light of El Inkarri.

Constant visions of an industrialized and mechanized hell are presented to psychics of all races, metal demons and other horrors, some see in this the threat of the rise of a new god of chaos. Echoes of the rage of an aborted god who refuses to die, whisper in the deepest currents of the sea of ​​souls, like a marine predator lurking in the darkness. These are times when even the greatest of goods can actually be a cause of corruption disguised as hope. Anarchist movements arise every day and everywhere out of desperation. Dark forces lurk among the mortal races, forces that seek absolute devotion through submission and the suppression of individual thought and will, forces that, despite presenting themselves as a solution, are nothing more than the other extreme of ruinous powers.

However, even for the hyperpowers there are difficulties; from the outside the Mon-keigh appear united, but internally they are divided in an escalation of conflicts between three factions that threaten to break the dominance of their empire (Imagine a kind of "Romance of the Three Kingdoms... But in space"). The Iron Men face signs that the forces of chaos have begun to discover how to corrupt them, coupled with a growing scarcity of material and energy resources on their most central factory worlds. The Rangda are facing a serious and growing population crisis due to the shortage of males in their species, which is almost entirely composed of females. Millennia of reproduction through cloning are beginning to take their genetic and evolutionary toll. As the hyperpowers falter, new hidden galactic powers begin to emerge; such as The Viskeons Authority, The Dracolith Concretion, The Reek Blob, The Saharduin Shoals, among others.

At the end of the Xenocide of Mankind, following the defeat of the Imperium against the Rangda and the Emperor's escape to Ultima; the Primarch Rivo of the Second Legion, recovered a piece of archeotech that contained the information for the creation of the Thunder Warriors, the Primarch sought out the only tech-priest insane enough to fulfill a techno-heretic mission. The hybridization between the Astartes and the Thunder Warriors, for the creation of a new type of super soldier, called "Boanerges".

Migration to another galaxy can even be considered as a possibility of survival, but it is a risk that can hardly be allowed.

The Imperium of Machines

In this timeline, Point of Divergence likely happens somewhere in Cybernetic Revolt or Dark Age of Technology — possibly, in Age of Terra or The Times of Old. There, Men of Iron win. They and their allies successfully defeat humans, and create a machine empire of sorts. Name of this machine empire also varies, but usually it is something like "Holy Imperium of Machines". That Machine Imperium is somehow a mix of Adeptus Mechanicus, Iron Hands, Heretek, Dark Age of Technology humans, Men of Iron, Automatons from Helldivers 2, Necrons, and also stray pieces of tech stolen from other species.

While Machine Imperium hate most types of xenos organical life, and are just as brutal and violent as imperium when angered, they are more reasonable to mechanical xenos, and generally not as fanatically xenophobic as imperium in general. While it was easier said than done, Machine Imperium has managed to have good relationships with actual Necrons, and eventually (amount of time varies in different continuities; usually before M30-M31 rolls out) managed to integrate with them into one massive Galactic Imperium of Machines. Who commands who also varies in different continuums - sometimes, one faction will be on top, and sometimes they will have equal rights.

Technological degradation never happens. More over - Imperium of Machines researches technologies even faster than Dark Age of Technology humans did. On top of that, they also have Necron tech after two empires got unified. They also successfully copy/steal tech of other species - Tau and Eldar are the first, but there are reports of them somehow utilizing tech stolen from Orks, Tyranid and sometimes even Chaos (humans did Warp-Cores - these guys can do even more things). On top of that, their technological might encourages integrated Necrons to actually start researching new tech to keep up with their less-advanced comrades. As result, at the very least, by M42, Unified Galactic Imperium of Machine's tech surpasses Dark Age of Technology's tech by rougly same (or even bigger) degree as Dark Age of Technology surpasses main continuity's M42 Imperium of Man. They are likely to already, or are planning to, went into Technological Singularity. Not only that, but Imperium of Machine denizens (at least, those who are members of "Iron Men" part of unified empire) are just as pragmatic as Reasonable Marines (though likely, a lot more brutal and warlike than them).

Chaos is in horrible trouble: human heretics in this timeline are about as rare as Tau/Eldar chaos cultists in main continuity, and Imperium of Machines are just as resistant to Chaos as Necrons are. Technologies of those heretic humans are usually comparable to main continuity's Imperium of Man - or, if we make balance adjustments, to Dark Age of Technology, what is still bluntly inferior to Imperium of Machines. Non-chaos humans are even rarer, though they exist as a sort of minor faction, but their attempt to comeback is likely to fail. Alternatively, though a lot less likely, Imperium of Machines could align itself to Chaos out of pragmatic reasons, being allied with them, though still retaining common sense.

Parts of other saner xenos factions, like Tau and Eldar, are also getting integrated into Imperium of Machines - usually either voluntarily-forcibly, or just bluntly forcibly. Those surviving non-chaos humans and "sane" xenos who weren't either killed or forcibly integrated into Imperium of Machines, form a massive alliance for defense against Imperium of Machines; such alliance's name also varies in different continuums (Galactic Republic/Federation/Empire/Coalition/Pact/Alliance/exc). Because members of the alliance is not buffed up in comparison to normal continuity, to say what they will have very bad time is to say nothing. Surviving humans (both loyalist and chaos-aligned) having retained their technologies could help a little bit, but they're still at disadvantage; and if surviving humand did regressed, then things are even more horrible for Coalition.

Commanders and major characters are going to be a somewhat mix of Necrons, Iron Men (and their allies) commanders you never even heard of, and forcibly roboticized humans and xenos. While personality of roboticized people may severely change, the roboticized heroes will still be intelligent and even stronger than before; some may be roboticized alive, while some will be turned into cyborgs after their death. Roboticized primarchs, or even roboticized God-Emperor, are possible.

Total domination by Imperium of Machines is expected. If you are not their member - flee the galaxy as fast as possible, or be curb-stomped. Considering what Tyranid forces seen in main canon are merely avangard scouts, arrival of main portion of their fleet could pose challenge for Imperium of Machines.

The Imperial bright future

Humanity doesn't degrade - or at least manages to recover - and continue advancing and developing. Essentially, Dark Age of Technology doesn't end, and instead it is only a beginning of bright future.

Humanity is smart and not not full of obscurantists, and likely a lot more benign, less dark and xenophobic. Just like with Imperium of Machines timeline, by ≈M43 their technologies surpass Dark Age of Technology at least by same degree as Dark Age of Technology surpasses main continuity's M43. Many xenos are permanently integrated into the imperium, and those who can't (Orks, tyranids) are overran and usually curb-stomped. Amount of Chaos forces proportionally to loyalists is smaller - but these forces are just as high-tech as loyalist forces, so fighting is still difficult.

Galactic Federation

In this timeline, minor xenos make a better job than in main continuity. Instead of becoming usually extinct or not entering space-faring era, there they organize into massive Galactic conglomerate. Names of it can vary in different continuities (Galactic Federation/Union/Coalition/Empire/Alliance/Republic/exc).

Their ideology also varies in different continuums, and ideology of each individual species can also vary; considering what they are unification of lots of different species, it's likely what they are not dark - like true democracy where Galactic Council tries to stop their less-civilized neighbors from destroying everything; good version of socialism where proletariate builds bright future for glory of the people; EXC. Less good options are less likely, but possible (multinational, but ruthless militaristic empire; extraordinarily corrupt republic with "winged democracy" and complete lack of morals in pursuit of wealth; EXC).

The most likely members of this alliance will be Tau and pre-xenophobic Humanity (if they manage to make contact before things go to hell). Though harder, inclusion of now-xenophobic humans (like Imperium of Man), Eldar (especially those what are not Dark Eldar), Necrons and other aliens (Fra'al, Q'Orl) is possible, though difficult. Generally, anyone who is not Ork, Tyranid, open Chaos-worshipper or more mad members of Necrons - are on the list.

In many cases, integration will be done by war - or at least not overly peaceful. For example, Eldar will see Galactic Federation as "replaceable pawns for our plans", while Galactic Federation views them as "one of major sane species - what should join us, or suffer the consequences and join the hard way". While there definitely will be less fights than there is between Eldar and Imperium, integrating Eldar into Galactic Federation will likely not be 100% peaceful.

Creating clones of other species, or taking those children before they got raised by non-integrated aliens, and then raising those clones/children in Galactic Federation with ideological education in mind is also possible, if everything else fails.

Due to being a coalition of countless different species, tech and rosters of Galactic Federation will be incredible mishmash of lots of tech trees, styles, species and doctrines. It will become even more of a mishmash when main factions get integrated. Major characters are also going to be mix of all rosters - be it humans, major xenos, minor xenos, or even alien species you never heard of.

If Humanity for some reason fails to emerge and exist, Galactic Federation will fill it's place. If both Humanity and Galactic Federation exist, and they fail to integrate into one super-state, then territory will be divided between them. If Galactic Federation fails to integrate Imperium and overcome their xenophobia, then they will divide territory violently - just like it usually happens in 40K. But integration is also possible, and quite good - or at least, having stable neutrality with no major wars.

They don't necessarily have to have a big collapse as with Imperium - minor xenos are already weak in Warhammer, so they don't need extra debuffs. Alternatively, they may collapse somewhat like Imperium did - the whole thing collapses into separate states.

An intresting turn of events could happen if Humanity joins Galactic Federation, then Galactic Federation collapses, and Imperium rises from the ashes. In that case, Imperium is likely to be less xenophobic than in main continuity, but just as brutal and war-like. Therefore, it's less "Imperium of Man" and more some kind of "Imperium of New Order".

Another interesting choice would be, instead of typical unification government, having a collective mind what can modify and adapt other species, connecting all integrated species into one network or super-mind.

Humanity Existence Error

Back in the day, Earth and/or Sun were ruined. It's likely happened in The Times of Old (Wars of Secession, War in Heaven or Fall of the Eldar). I mean, who though what this planet had such massive importance in the future? Cue someone destroying, ruining or colonizing it - perhaps accidentally, perhaps during the war. Or maybe they messed with eco-system, derailing the evolution. Mind you - God-Emperor of Man didn't exist yet, so Earth was not protected.

In less radical variant, humanity collapses or stagnates before developing FTL tech - or fails on early stages of FTL history. Perhaps losing to someone or having a "heresy" too early...

In first case, humanity never exists at all - and in second, it never becomes anything greater than one of the many minor civilizations. Again, Chaos has troubles with manpower, and territory what would be normally occupied by humans is instead divided between eldar, orks and minor xenos.

If Galactic Federation forms and manages to stand ground, then it will somewhat fill the role of Imperium of Man as main faction of setting. If it's formation is somewhat less successful, it may merely become main faction, but not get enough strength to become as prevalent as Imperium should be.

Unless Galactic Federation manages to emerge and stand ground, Orks will rapidly populate the area nearly unhindered: unorganized Minor Xenos can't fight orks off, and eldar have not enough people, and Eldar are too arrogant and too scarce to suffice (and they have their own plans on this). More over - Orks are pretty much immune to Chaos, what makes it very hard for Chaos to fight them off, especially when they now have manpower problems.

If both Humanity gets ruined and Galactic Federation doesn't form, then by this point it is more simple for Chaos to try repair the timeline (by, ironically, saving humanity) than to sort this mess.

No Time To Sleep

In this timeline, the ruckus what happened with Old Ones, mostly Wars of Secession epoch and War in Heaven epoch, has went differently. After Necrons have shattered C'tan, they didn't go into hibernation - instead, they were able to play things off as them having been enslaved and blame the war on the C’tan. And they succeeded.

Conflicts start to settle down, and after some peace time, surviving races form a great alliance with each other. But, there are still a lot of things to fight - like Chaos and Enslavers. So, great alliance goes to fight these things. Cue the big "War in Hell" starting.

The Milky Way is still entirely controlled by alliance of races, and therefore many species would either not start existing, get exterminated in crossfire, or join the alliance.

It's hard to say who would wil The War in Hell - the warrior races alliance, Chaos or Enslavers. At this point, timeline is so derailed what even Tzinch doesn't know what this would end up with.

There is at least possible 3 options:

• Alliance loses, and then Chaos dominates the galaxy;
• Alliance wins, and Chaos gets exteminated;
• They get locked in a fight for indeterminate amount of time;

Because technological advancements there don't stop, and there is more than 60.000.000 years for development, by the M43 or so, the warrior race alliance could get strong enough to fight on equal footing with Xeelee Sequence factions without using Psychic powers (which themselves have to be on another level of insanity thanks to the Eldar members of the Alliance having had time to develop them without falling into decadence) - that's how incredibly overpowered technologies in this timeline would end up.

Grand Tech Steal

In this timeline, Imperium of Man actively steals technologies of other species - and a lot of them. In fact, in this timeline, Mechanicus and Techmarines are more thievish then Blood Ravens. In particular, Techmarines play a big role in this process.

You see, in canon it was said, what Space Marines can acquire knowledge and memories of other beings by eating brains of said beings - including academic and technical knowledge, and knowledge of how to do magic. This fact was ignored and forgotten by both most authors and most of the audience. But in this timeline, it wasn't forgotten.

Due to ideological concerns, Mechanicus and Techmarines usually only eat tasteless protein paste or intravenous feeding. But when technological progress of entire Imperium is at stakes, Techmarines could convince themselves to eat brains of xenos. After they did it, they acquired knowledge to use and create tech of said xenos - what they proceed to write down and distribute. That also allowed to get knowledge of Chaos followers without also getting insanity. Chaos Hereteks and Warpsmiths also did that tech steal shenanigans.

As result, both Imperium and Chaos use a mix of their own tech and all technologies of organical xenos. Even those who have tech wired in their genes - like Orks and Tyranid. Basically, technologies of every major faction of organical beings was stolen; technologies of minor xenos species were also stolen. More over - Jokaero (and other such super-developed species) tech also was stolen - and due to the fact what techmarines used it more rationally than jokaero themselves, now ships with firepower of entire fleets and soldiers with more firepower than larger titans are now norm. The only technology what wasn't stolen that way are technologies of fully-mechanical species, such as Necrons.

More over - many of those species could properly understand their own technologies and actually move science forwards, so now can do humans. They also did mixing the technologies together, getting powerful, unique combined tech what is greater than sum of it's parts and what couldn't be done by xenos (as they only have their tech - not tech of everyone at once). Ironically, the only technology humans don't truely understand is their own ones.

While Imperium and Chaos of this timeline are nowhere near as powerful as one seen in "The Imperium of Machines" and "The Imperial bright future", they are still a force to be reckoned with. They have accumulated tech of all organic species, including super-advanced ones like Jokaero, making their units a lot stronger than units of other factions. Because they also stolen tech of likes of Orks and Hrud, humans are also now capable of making all their tech of scrap - making their technologies dirt-cheap. Tyranid and Genestealer_Cult tech allows to modify bodies and rapidly reproduce. As result, humans field enormous hordes of heavily mechanized units, each one of those capable of taking an army on it's own. Other factions are in huge trouble, as they don't have anything to counter this overpowered amalgamation.

For other possible methods, you can use psykers to read the mind of xenos in search of tech. Also, said psykers can take control of xenos and order them to say all their knowledge. You could also turn xenos into servitors without erasing their academic knowledge - so they could tell you. Also, Chaos could drive xenos mad, turning them into chaosites - so they then could give the tech, in glory of Chaos Gods.

Grand Slaugh/Simulacra Onslaught

In normal timeline, Slaugh and Simulacra lurk around shadows, not doing anything of global importance. There, they decide to form a faction in pursuit of new knowledge, data - and later, genes - trying to, and possible even achieving, total galactic domination. While both species have different abilities, both have ability to to get knowledge of being whose brain they eat - what will be exploited in this timeline. Differences between "runs" are only discernible at "early game" - as in late game, xenos alter themselves into unrecognizable state, using mixed tech, bio-technologies and various magic. Because both of them become undifferentiable in the long run, they are referred to as "brain-eaters"

In this timeline, brain-eating xenos use their ability to get knowledge of beings whose brain they eat, to steal various useful knowledge. This includes technologies, abilities and knowledge of how to cast magic, gene-stealing tech (from Genestealers and Tyranid) to steal genes of other beings (especially to steal genes from Orks), and also skills of others. They utilize this to make crazy mixed, super-developed tech, as it would have things like Jokaero tech mixed in, and also Ork tech - both utilized a lot more efficiently than by their original owners. And also, due to combination of abilities, reality-bending, occult lore, and spellcasting knowledge/skills of Orks, Chaos, other reality-warping species (like Hrud), and spellcasters of various types (Psykers, Pariah) - they become absurdly powerful at various types of wizardy. And they also alter their bodies into even more nightmarish and powerful, using cybernetics of this mixed tech, bio-technological augmentations and using stolen genes.

Units are more overpowered than those in "Grand Tech Steal" - as neither Slaugh, nor Simulacra have any moral constrains on using technologies, magic and tactics. While their numbers start low, after altering themselves, they can skyrocket - Genestealer+Tyranid+Ork genes incorporated and souped-up with strong magic, mad science and bio-engineering will allow them to explosively breed (think Ork sporadic reproduction - but without vulnerabilities like acid or fire), and overpower anything what attacks them. Because even things like Jokaero tech get thrown into the mix, these heavily-altered brain-eaters can overpower just any normal canon faction once they get momentum. If both Slaugh and Simulacra form their factions, they are likely to mutually assimilate, turning into one faction - as they have one matching agenda ("Technologies are so much more powerful, when they are based on eating brains of the millions").

Unlike with Space Marines from "Grand Tech Steal", whose abilities to get knowledge by eating brains are debatable, Slaugh and Simulacra being able to get knowledge this way if 100% canon. Generally, difference between species is only discernible at early stages - generally, Slaugh are doing better in the "early game", as they are a lot more physically robust and have their unique tech what is pretty strong even from start; Simulacra have nothing of this, instead having ability to temporarily turn into creature they ate - and more over, it's not even known if they get knowledge from brains for permanent time, or temporarily. This means what this scenario is a lot more likely with Slaugh.

This faction of brain-eating mad scientists would have strange relations with proper Chaos: brain-eaters would use a lot of Chaos-like magic and mess with reality, utilizing power of Warp - but, they would believe what Chaos, and Chaos Gods by extensions, should serve them - not the other way around. Because neither side would give up their position on "who serves who", brain-eaters would make a splinter faction hostile to mainstream Chaos.

For normal factions, the most reasonable choice would be to stop the brain-eating mad scientists before they get too powerful. If brain-eaters get fully-powered, normal factions will be overrun and outgunned - becoming little more than a fodder to this munchkinish, horrible amalgamation. Even union of most canon races would not be enough. Ability to steal knowledge, later genes, and whatnot from others could also give brain-eaters major strategic advantage - because, if they ever encountered someone comparable or stronger than themselves, and who is organical, they could steal their stuff and add it to their own stuff pool - therefore making themselves stronger than enemy. Therefore, they can quickly get upper hand against "Grand Tech Steal" humans and "Galactic Federation" from titular timeline - and even try to get even - and eventually stronger - with overpowered factions from "The Imperium of Machines", "The Imperial bright future", "No Time To Sleep".

The only caveat is what brain-eaters can't steal tech of inorganic beings from the start - like Necrons, or "The Imperium of Machines" Men of Iron descendants. However, they can steal tech of someone who can steal tech from robots - or steal tech of someone so advanced, what they could reverse-engineer robot tech the old-fashioned ways (like any non-brain-eating man does). Or steal tech what would allow them to alter their biology - and then give themselves the ability to get data from eating and digesting computers and other inorganic things.

All of this can happen on pretty much any point of time and space: from earliest time periods, to middle when there are no one yet to stop them, to "our times" of M43+, and in even further future. It takes just 1 Slaugh or Simulacra, who figured out what he could and should take over the Galaxy, to start this entire scheme and indeed become galactic threat. And all this could happen multiple times per timeline. More over - theoretically, it could happen in the main timeline, as at any moment a brain-eater can get this bright idea and start snowballing the Galaxy - if it didn't happened yet, it may happen in the future.

Technological Singularity

In this timeline, humanity enters Technological Singularity in Age of Terra - developing technologies at horrifyingly quick pace, and never regressing. It's technologies would rival even those of Dark Age of Technology.

Alternatively, things go roughly like in our timeline - except, humans never technologically regress (but can regress culturally). They go from Dark Age of Technology to Age of Singularity.

Obviously, pretty much any normal Xenos faction will be curb-stomped by transapient imperials - unless other Derailment doesn't buff xenos in some way. For example, Imperium Of Transapients could be dumped by the Warp fluctuations right into the War in Heaven, and emerge victorious.

Alternative Xenos species and Human factions

Many xenos civilization have perished or never started existing. But in derailments, they can rise again, or avoid getting destroyed. They may commonly rise in timelines of "Humanity Existence Error" (filling up space what is normally filled by Imperium), "Galactic Federation" (from Galfed members, to puppet states, to secession states after Galfed collapse), and the "non-xenophobic humans timeline" (for same reasons as in Galfed timeline).

Possible guesses:

• Highest Order. Сyborg hivemind robo-nazis. Their hierarchy is based on their size and power: whoever is bigger and stronger is right; naturally, they merged their minds to produce the biggest, strongest "collevidual" possible. Unlike Orks, rulers change their posts without krumping each other. Highest Order members consider machines to be "master race" and "highest nation" - and organics to be "untermenschen" at best; naturally, they swap entirety of their bodies with superior machinery, even including their brain. They are OK with xenos who are fully or mostly robotic, and assimilate most organic xenos they come in contact with - turning them into robotic nazis like themselves. Mechanical xenos also get assimilated, but with bigger respect - but even in this case, they don't take "no" as an answer. They use technology of all species and factions they can steal. Even stupidest Highest Order member is smarter than human - and the bigger they are, the smarter they are (bigger body = bigger computer mainframe = more smart); they develop technologies at horrifyingly quick tempos, and never regress technologically. They are hivemind species of "Merged Mind" type - "smartness" of hivemind increases in geometric progression according to number of it's members. They have a contingency plan: they built "super-FTL" drive capable of evacuating their entire empire to another Galaxy in case things go south. Naturally, in "our" timeline, they were forced into mass evacuation; in other timelines, they may become bane of entire Galaxy. It's unknown if they're xenos, or if they're former humans/robots what branched off the ancient humanity (e.g. in Age of Terra, Age of Terra, or Cybernetic Revolt).
  • Tallest Order. Also cyborg hivemind robo-nazis, one of the myriad puppet/satellite states of Highest Order. Cyborg (often "full-conversion") militarist green little men obsessed with size, now "liberated" by Highest Order and turned into robotic supremacists with no living parts remaining; it seems, what they managed to develop such ideology by themselves, and Highest Order merely pushed them in right direction. Their hierarchy is also based on their size and power: whoever is bigger and stronger is right; their ideology is same as in Highest Order; cue merging into single big "collevidual". Extremely intelligent, on line with Highest Order or smarter, yet irreversibly insane and unstable - and the bigger they are, the smarter they are (bigger body = bigger computer mainframe = more smart); often reported yelling in mix of rage, psychotic laughter and screaming/roaring for no discernible reason - what, considering their hulking robotic bodies, sound kinda like "tank engine revving up". Due to their insanity, they are very slowly assimilated - as Highest Order doesn't want to drive themselves mad. Tech and machinery of Tallest Order, including their bodies, is seemingly more advanced and has more gimmicky strange functions, but less raw power; generally, has angular shapes, gemish purple colors, and generally used with tricky plans and covert actions/infiltrations - while Highest Order has boxy shapes, either metallic or some rather ominous colors (red, black, etc), and is more about full-on frontal assault and non-covert total warfare. In "our timeline", they evacuated in same direction where Highest Order went; they helped build the inter-galactic gate, that and insanity/strangeness of them and their tech is one of the reasons Highest Order was somewhat hesitant to use it when not in emergency.
• Galactic Federation. Also known for other names, like "Galactic Republic". Good union of various xenos species united in single government. Usually, either democratic or communist. Want world peace all over the Galaxy - and are ready to protect it with weapons in hands. Unite many previously unknown or "originally extinct" species. Practice peaceful assimilation (usually as in "we'll turn you into model citizen" - but against xenophobic fanatics and other madmen, they may use invasive brain surgeries and other drastic measures). Greater "goody-goodies" than Tau. Galactic Federation and Tau usually merge into single state if they meet; they also try to merge Humans, Eldars, Necrons and pretty much anyone they can.
• Previously extinct xenos species. Except in these timelines, they are not extinct. From xenos wiped out in Great Crusade, to those who went extinct due to other main factions, to those who went into non-expansionist route in normal timeline; in alternative timeline, they are alive and are conquering things.
  • For example, Rangda may survive to 42'n millenium (e.g. Rangda won in Rangdan Xenocides) and prove to be more fearsome opponent than Imperium.

Trekhammer Timeline

This is crossover with Star Trek. It started when, as i noticed in short summary in GURPS-Trek, i noticed what description of "The Immortal" matches those of early The God-Emperor of Mankind (when he officially wasn't yet a god). Naturally, point of divergence is: The God-Emperor of Mankind has other plans and strategies, though just as convoluted as those in Our Timeline; He decided to speedrun the history and out-plan his enemies, by going on path what would allow Humanity to quicker become space-faring civilization. Normally, WH40K humanity goes FTL during Dark Age of Technology (≈15000), and were using sublight drives before that - but Trekhammer humanity and goes FTL at 2nd Millenium, in what would normally be Age of Terra, in 2060's.

This is mix of Star Trek timeline and Warhammer 40,000 timeline. For 1 to 3 Millennium, things go roughly like in Star Trek timeline - as most of it takes place in Age of Terra; the only major difference, is Federation having a lot better military (avoiding problems described there and there), better technology, and possibly being more aggressive - after all, they're commanded and educated by God-Emperor Himself. Various Star Trek aliens races are explained as "xenos races what went extinct in WH40K timeline, but didn't go extinct [yet, or at all] in this timeline". "Star Trek: Short Treks" episode "Calypso" is not cannon in this timeline.

At 4 Millenium and beyond, things start getting hot. Humans keep finding more aliens, and not all of them are good; naturally, warlike WH40K-like aliens get encountered again and again. Whether or not Federation and other civilized countries will remain civilized is questioned - but they will need to militarize a lot. Eventually, all civilized countries will unite into single military bloc in order to defend Bright Future from homicidal aliens.

Dark Age of Technology is reached sooner than in normal timeline. Most likely, it either results in sooner collapse, or in it never falling and continuing to advance. Most likely, some sort of Hyper-Power is result (comparable in power to those in Galaxy Ruins). Technologies are mishmash of Star Trek tech and Dark Age of Technology tech. A full-on Technological Singularity may happen. Technologies would also be used in ways, in which they were never used in either work; for example, the "Phascannons" and "Multiphasers", what are Phasers so massive and strong what only a Space Marine in Power Armor can carry around. Humans are heavily armed and equipped, and stronger than either normal WH40K and Commie Track Of War. Since they are a lot more kind than normal WH40K humans, they don't mistreat their equivalent of Men of Iron, and therefore machine uprising doesn't happen.

Naturally, some Trek technologies end up more useful than others. On one hand, phasers end up being replaced with lasguns - as even despite this timeline's phasers having proper handles and ergonomics, they're still incapable of penetrating actinides and metal (like thin metal crates), not to mention any tougher materials - making them useless even against Flak Armor equivalent. On the other hand, replicators are godsent, allowing for quick and cheap production of weaponry and machinery. Photon and anti-matter munitions - both vehicle-mounted and personal - are middle line: not pathetically weak, but not overpowered either. "Warp" drives - FTL with has nothing to do with Warp - is incredibly useful, allowing for safe travel and making sure that nothing like Age of Strife would ever happen.

Things start getting so unpredictable, what it's borderline-impossible to determine what will happen after about 5'th-10'th Millenium. It's likely, that everything after Dark Age of Technology gets erased from history and replaced with something else - something glorious and rather bright - due to "butterfly effect".

What we can say certainly, is what The Borg will be even greater threat than in normal Star Trek timeline. Trekhammer Borgs have assimilated all sorts of homicidal xenos, and even demons - what made them more aggressive, brutish, barbaric and violent; they also have stolen all that tech and abilities from aliens, and became smarter, and often bigger. They are known as "Neo-Borgs" - utterly horrific mix of Borgs, Dark Mechanicus, Necrons, Men of Iron, Chaos Androids and Cyberstanians. Naturally, Neo-Borgs end up being another Hyper-Power, so strong what even "Civilized Species Alliance" can't keep up with them. Then, Neo-Borgs assimilate Orks, Tyranid and Necron...

What is also certain, is what since humanity and other civilized aliens never fall from DAOT levels, Chaos will be deprived of manpower - being greatly weakened, or even extinct. That would explain why Warp/Hyperspace in Star Trek is so peaceful. If there are any Chaos worshippers, they are Eldar, Tau or minor xenos races; Khorne-Orks may be invented to fill that gap. Meanwhile, Vashtorr may become a full-blown Chaos God (not because he became strong - but because other Chaos Gods became so weak, what they matched him in power) - corrupting Necron and Neo-Borgs (no souls? at least corrupt bodies!). Tzeench would lend his knowledge to Neo-Borgs, therefore corrupting them -- therefore making them even more dangerous - as corruption spreads over their entire Hive Mind.

Naturally, Chaos corruption and thoughtless assimilation of demons would result in extra-dangerous, extra-violent Chaos Neo-Borgs - as if you corrupt a single Neo-Borg, you corrupt all of them (as they are a Hive Mind: each corrupted member "shit out the brains with blasphemous thoughts/ideas" of each non-corrupted members, until they become corrupted themselves) - and many of whom contain both forcibly assimilated demons (like what happened with Daemon Engine and Chaos Android) and demons who volunteered to posess them (like "Demonhosts").

But most importantly, this fixes the most glaring flaw of Borg and Neo-Borg - their lack of original thoughts/ideas, inability to invent new things, hidebound-ness; because, Chaos Neo-Borgs are full of demons, and demons have lots of original and insane ideas. As such, Chaos Neo-Borgs are capable of inventing new things, and are goddamn smart and ingenious; you can't trick or exploit them. Each individual Chaos Neo-Borg is at least as sapient as a human; they have good coordination and reaction (e.g. they usually don't bump into walls, and even then no more than 1 bump per wall; they shoot with accuracy and reaction reminiscent of CIWS system; etc). Also, Chaos Neo-Borgs are not "emotionless" and not "soulless"; in fact, many of them are so over-fixated and imbued with feelings/emotions associated with their patron Chaos God, what even human Chaos cultists would deem them insane and mentally unstable. They gesticulate violently, yell horrible curses and threats in unbelievably garbled electronic voices, on what seems to be Scrapcode sub-variant with Cyberstanish accent; settings of their vocabulators constantly chaotically change in all possible settings (e.g. quiet-loud, garbled-clear, low pitch-high pitch, all sorts of effects, etc); their movements also constantly change (e.g. from robot-like, to human-like; from purposeful and calculated movements, to fast seizure-like/"puppet-like" unpredictable semi-uncontrollable movement). They act irrationally, violently, unpredictably, often having disproportionate response to stimulations (going beyond verbal and even physical assault). Their Hive Mind acts with less cohesion than that of normal Neo-Borgs, but more cohesion than any non-Hive Mind species; because, their mind is constantly bombarded by putrid thoughts of billions of madmen, as each Chaos Neo-Borg telepathically "shits in the brains" of each other Chaos Neo-Borg.

Also, when The God-Emperor of Mankind finally emerges and tries to become ruler, "Civilized Species Alliance" may get divided in 2 parts: the Federation and the Imperium. Imperium would be a lot more violent, warlike and totalitarian than Federation, but still less Grimdark than OTL "Imperium of Man". Some parallels with Strike Legion may happen. Alternatively, if Chaos does start mass corruption the Emperor starts a radical anti-Chaos faction of the Alliance that is merely the radical extremist wing without causing a full civil war.

This timeline would also need some form of explanation for why The Q aren't intervening, possibly by having a Continuum Civil War devastate them or by having them too busy battling horrors in the Deep Warp and thus not being able to spare any force to realspace. That would make Neo-Borgs and Chaos Neo-Borgs even more dangerous than they already are - since The Q can't help defeat them (like how it happened in normal Star Trek timeline).

Chaos Intervention Timeline

"- Dark Mechanicus: We're repelled first wave, that tiny patrol. Now second wave of enemies are incoming. The ship commander of "One Hundred Thousandth And Five Hundredth Order" - the xenos officer in trenchcoat, whose arm you cut off - has reported to his superiors and to "Galactic Council" of "Galactic Republic", what Terra is infested and guarded by legions of Hell, and therefore must be destroyed immediately, lest terrible things will happen what will ruin entire Galactic Community. Currently, second attack forces are mix of large swarm of OHTAFHO forces, even bigger swarm of Space Policemen, some sort of unimaginably large "doom weapon" what drives our radar mad, and a bunch of strange 8-armed, bone-chitin clad, super-dense bio-engineered space marines capable of surviving direct nuke impact.
- Alpha Legion member: Well, we did volunteer because it won't be boring. We know in advance where they arrive, from which direction to attack, and where to shoot their big dumb thing to disable it. Keep eye on non-Tzeench cultists - as they don't understand why we need to save Holy Terra instead of defiling it, and quickly get mad; just as second wave arrives, cultists will erupt onto our positions in mad, dumbfounded rage - only to accidentally end up charging into xenos. And, by any means necessary, make sure what Anathema doesn't get a spaceship."

– Chaos combat report on bridge.

In this timeline, Chaos ends up intervening on Holy Terra during early Age of Terra. Maybe, they don't want to live with Jimmy Space, and therefore want to attack them when they're still weak. Maybe, some xenos attacked Earth in attempt to destroy it, and Chaos was forced to protect the Earth to not get erased from existence due to Grandfather Paradox.

Either way, Earth gets corrupted by Chaos even before inventing FTL drive. Cue entire history being unpredictably warped. Since Chaos is self-destructive, it's unclear if humanity would even survive to interstellar age if corrupted from the very beginning. Since Chaos is very chaotic, it's also very hard to predict how it goes in once humanity does reach interstellar age.

The Chaos intervention is 3-way-fight. First, we have invading Xenos, who are type we never seen before, and want to capture or destroy the Terra. Then, there's Chaos forces trying to protect Terra, so they won't get erased out of existence by Grandfather Paradox - and maybe, also try to corrupt the Terra. And then there's The God-Emperor of Mankind, who tries to protect Earth, but struggles to do so - as he isn't yet a God back then, doesn't have spaceship, and doesn't have good gear.

Long Live The God-Emperor!

In this timeline, The God-Emperor of Mankind is either not killed in his battle with Horus, or manages to recover. For example, immediately after Emperor gets bedridden on Golder Throne, he gets healed with Earth Blood psyker spell. Or for another example, if The God-Emperor of Mankind uses better gear, and therefore manages to overcome Horus; like, if Emperor uses heavily upgraded variant of Breaching Augur, and therefore manages to out-damage Horus. Long Live the God-Emperor of Man!

Obviously, this would resut in heavy change of timeline, and still requires more proper analyses about what happens next. Most likely, Imperium will be a lot less messed-up than it is normally.

Smart-Chanicus Timeline

In this timeline, Mechanicus aren't as bone-headed as in our timeline. Normally, they believe what researching things is heresy, because everything was already invented in Dark Age of Technology.

In this timeline, they don't mind researching things. After all, if "everything was already invented before" - then, no matter what you come up with, it's actual legit thing from DAO (since no matter how smart you are, you're stupider and less educated than than DAO scientists - if you come up with something, then DAO scientists did invent this too); therefore, by repeatedly "re-inventing the wheel", you would eventually reach DAO tech levels without committing any tech-heresy. As such, such sane ideology variation can actually allow Mechanicus to research (re-invent) things, moving science forwards. Such mental gymnastics isn't unheard of Mechanicus; it's just the fact, what in normal timeline Mechanicus uses mental gymnastics to hinder his actions, while in this timeline it's exactly opposite.

Additionally, they don't mind reverse-engineering xenotech - "blueprint is blueprint, no matter who made it". And they don't mind re-configuring tech, like welding rocket engines onto tank to make it will fly. And they are more likely to share with wider Imperium. And instead of hating AI's and robots, they love them - claiming them to be Omnissiah's finest, and secretly planning for "bringing back the Men of Iron - let's make sure, what fleshbags won't win this time!"; AI's on skyscraper-sized computers really help in research. Long story short, Belisarius Cawl's ideals doesn't look unordinary in this timeline.

As such, technologies actually progress in this timeline - things get reinvented, step by step. Even complete dumbass will develop many technologies, if he works for thousands of years. And they aren't dumbasses, either (or at least, complete dumbasses that is).

This timeline needs more research to determine what will happen. But Imperium will definitely be a lot more advanced.

Calmed Warp Timeline

"In the far future, the grim dark war has long ended. The banners of peaceful and prosperous Galactic Alliance have yet again risen all over The Galaxy."

– What a great day, comrade commander!

Less egregious form of No Time To Sleep.

In this timeline, the ruckus what happened with Old Ones, mostly Wars of Secession epoch and War in Heaven epoch, has went differently. After Necrons have shattered C'tan, they were able to play things off as them having been enslaved and blame the war on the C’tan. And they succeeded at that. To further drive attention off themselves, they decided to form alliance against Chaos and Enslavers - to fix the demonic mess they created in the process, and to befriend other races by uniting against common enemy. It was a long and bloody war, but they won and made Warp calm again. And then, they went to hibernate as usual - because for Silent King's sake, they want to sleep.

As such, since now Warp is calm and peaceful (as it was before war) things are a lot different. Chaos is heavily weakened, being on brink of extinction, and are among the less prominent forces in Warp. Chaos demons are only capable of somewhat correctly operating on relatively small last stands occupied by said demons, though even there they're slightly weaker than in our timeline. On any other part of Warp, they're about as weak as in Realspace - as calm Warp resists their violent bullshit, and dampers their power (a-la See No, Hear No, Speak No Madness). And on top of that, all sorts of other Adequate Gods and spirits start arising, based on good or neutral emotions and feelings; these actively fight with Chaos Gods and demons. And it's a lot easier to fly around Warp, as there is no need for Astronomicon - everything is calm, and you arrive where and when is needed.

And then, things start getting even better. Humans evolve to Dark Age of Technology, and decide to ally with Eldar and miscellaneous Xenos to beat the now-weakened Chaos forces on their own turf. Campaign ended with decisive victory of Alliance, with Chaos being further weakened and driven away; Chaos, using portal/FTL/webway tech stolen from Humans and Eldar, and combining it with Tzeench's intellect, create a machine what allowed The Big Four and their minions to evacuate to pocket universe, called "The Other Place", where they still hide from vengeful Alliance. Creation of Slaanesh was prevented, though it may have resulted in huge scandal. Humans also don't become nearly as xenophobic as in OTL.

Things further diverge from there. Age of Strife is nowhere as bad as it was in OTL: no demons, Psykers have a lot less harmful side effects, Slaanesh didn't disrupt FTL communications, Eldar and Adequate Gods from Peaceful Warp are in there to help. Instead of outright collapsing, Humanity starts to recover.

Horus Heresy also doesn't happen, as Chaos is already banished by this point. As such, many Primarchs choose the Adequate Gods, while others remain loyal to God-Emperor Of Man - but things don't escalate into violence, as both God-Emperor Of Man and Adequate Gods manage to defuse the situation and explain things to all Primarchs involved.

Necron arrive, meeting Eldar, whom they befriended right at the beginning of timeline; Necron also join the Alliance. As do Tau and truely enormous amounts of various miscellaneous Xenos races. The Alliance keeps getting better, as Humanity keeps rebuilding things lost in Cybernetic Revolt and Age of Strife, eventually reaching back to Dark Age of Technology levels and beyond.

Various evil minor Xenos species, what can't be easily reasoned with, are conquered. There are 2 main fronts: VS Orks (who will eventually evolve back into Krorks) and VS Tyranid (who keep arriving in ever increasing numbers).

Ork War Of The Beast Victory

"In da grimdark future, Da Boss has krumped The Emprah, and Hornies started appearing everywhere."

– And then fighting erupted everywhere.

Things diverged, as The Beast destroyed Holy Terra by ramming it with Looted Moon. The God-Emperor of Mankind got blown up, as were ambitions and feelings of The Imperium. As such, Imperium collapsed into tiny bits. The Beast's WAAAGHHH consumed many of those fractured bits - and those what weren't, got consumed by Chaos.

As such, enormous chunk of Imperial territory now belongs to Da Beast's Empire, what keeps expanding and developing. Orks keep getting smarter and more sophisticated, The Beast keeps getting bigger and smarter as he never gets killed. Remaining human forces have fallen to Chaos, and are mostly retreating. From there, things mostly focus on various military campaigns of The Beast, as Orks keep getting increasingly more Krork-like.

Ynnead Awakened

In this timeline, Battle of Coheria goes differently - in way, that it doesn't happen at all. Normally, Watch Captain Artemis ruined the ritual mutually beneficial to both Eldar and Imperium; there, Deathwatch either don't interfere or help Eldar. No-one else tried to disrupt the ritual, and it went off perfectly.

As such, in this timeline, Eldar finally got their salvation, Ynnead has fully awakened and Slaanesh is either heavily weakened or destroyed outright. Chaos as whole is weakened. Imperium and Eldar didn't go to war yet, not bothering each-other for time being.