For a Space Marine Chapter to have a future it must carefully protect and preserve the organic implants that turn an initiate into a Space Marine. The genetic history of a chapter is carefully monitored and recorded, no effort being spared to remove weaknesses and ensure that only the healthiest gene-seed is used to create new Space Marines. Each Space Marine carries two replicating organs known as progenoid glands. They absorb genetic material from the Space Marine's other implants and store them for later removal. If the Space Marine dies, the progenoids can be extracted and used to grow fresh implants. In this way, even in death, a Space Marine gives life to his Chapter. Apothecaries are charged with the critical task of maintaining the genetic purity of the Chapter and recovering the progenoid glands of the fallen brothers. Whenever a Chapter goes into battle, the Apothecaries go too. They are formidable warriors in their own right as their sacred duty requires them to go into the midst of combat and defend themselves while they work. Should a Space Marine fall, an Apothecary will quickly attend him. Apothecaries are skilled medics and carry a wide variety of equipment, such as a reductor and narthecium. A narthecium is a largely automated unit complete with sensors, probes, druges and chemicals. With its aid the Apothecary can perform battle surgery with a good chance of success, particulary give the superhuman resilience of a Space Marine. If the Apothecary's best efforts are insufficient to save a fallen comrade, he will confer the Emperor's Mercy on him to end his sufferingbefore using the reductor to extract a fallen warrior's progenoid glands that he might live on through the creation of another Space Marine. (I simply couldn't resist banging out another texture for Obiwan's Space Marines. I'm still undecided on this texture though. Part of me thinks it's a bit more cartoonish than the others I have created so far, but there is something about it I like. The floating shoulder pad is displaying the Genetic Chain of the Apothecaries. The Power Axe, also from Obiwan's Space Marines, is sporting my new Power Axe texture. Hope you all like. Comments are always welcome, especially if your familiar with WH40K so you can let me know if I got close to "The Look" of the Apothecaries.)