Dominion of Ultramar

The **Dominion of Ultramar** is a remnant nation comprising what remains of the 500 Worlds of Ultramar. Since the fall of the Imperium, it has dwindled in power, losing hold of many of its outermost worlds while consolidating power in the inner spheres of the realm. Its current leader is Lord-Commander Marius Gage, Master of the Crusading Legions and military dictator of the Dominion. Gage took power following a coup against the former leadership of Ultramar, the Macraggian Senate, whose weak and ineffective leadership led to the Dominion suffering a steep decline in power. Currently, the Dominion stands at 378 of its roughly 500 worlds, but through Gage's leadership has launched dozens of campaigns to reclaim these worlds in the name of Ultramar. Given its proximity to a warp route directly to Olympia, it has entered into a cold war with Perturabo's empire which increasingly threatens day by day to turn hot, though campaigns through the Charadon sector have facilitated diplomatic relations with the Solar Alliance and the Republic of Chemos including the primarchs Vulkan and Fulgrim.

## Society

The culture of the Dominion has since time immemorial been one of citizen service. The concept of equal contribution for a better society is ingrained in the people of Ultramar, whatever the citizen's occupation might be. Soldiers are the only occupation given more heed than others, and even this is more out of authority than militaristic zealotry. Industrial workers and agricultural workers, for example, are paid equally to an administrative worker or clerk. Universal pay is considered to be a level at which any citizen can support themselves and their family: enough to afford basic necessities and extra amenities such as medicine, recreational goods and education should it be pursued. Multiple individuals sharing their pay can afford to improve their household, promoting ideas of family units and unity.

Political expression is a point of contention within the Dominion. While it is permitted, and the peaceful protest of any matter is allowed, any violent expression is swiftly and ruthlessly crushed. To aid in facilitating communications between Astartes leadership and mortal populations, the Popular Council was established, which conducts censuses, votes, messages from citizens to the government, and local grievances. While not always effective, their work is considered vital in the civilian life of the Dominion.

## Military Forces

### Planetary Defense Forces

The Dominion of Ultramar is a vast realm of several hundred worlds, each serving its own purpose to the realm. While some serve as industrial or manufacturing centers, others are bustling ecumenopoli home to trillions. Whatever the case, one of the uniting features of each planet of the Dominion is the result of the Internal Security Act, which decreed that each inhabited planet would support their own militia, its strength dependant on the size, population, capabilities and strategic significance of the world in question. As a result, every planet in the Dominion could defend itself from external invasion, but these defence forces are not expected to travel beyond their homeworld, acting as both military forces and a humanitarian corps, providing widepsread disaster relief, containment of disease outbreaks, medical aid, and other forms of civil support.

### Ultramar Auxilia

While every planet supports its own militia, many go above and beyond, either out of service to the Dominion or by way of Senatorial demands. Whatever the case, these worlds provide their share of mortal soldiers, mostly volunteers, to serve in the dozens of ongoing campaigns at any given time to rebuild the Dominion so wounded by the Second Dark Age. The regiments shipped out by these planets are diverse in culture, tactics, training, equipment and motivations, but all share three traits: steadfast loyalty to the Dominion, courage in the face of insurmountable odds, and determination to see them through the most grueling campaigns. While they do not receive the glory of the Crusading Legions, the so-called Ultramar Auxilia are the backbone of every war fought by the Dominion, from compliance operations to grinding wars of attrition. It is this that gains the Auxilia a form of glory which rises above all others: the respect of the Astartes themselves, thanks to their steadfast resolve and consistent service since the founding of the Dominion.