Voidmen

Voidman is the catchall title for the men and women who crew the massive voidships that ply the immaterium. They are analogous to common sailors and seamen in surface navies, and are the most common crewmen found aboard ships. Voidmen are rated by their skill and experience and come in three broad categories: Voidman Recruits, Ordinary Voidmen, and Able Voidmen.

Voidman Recruit

Voidman Recruits are the bottom of the ladder with virtually no rights and only the responsibility of doing what they're told. Hive worlders are most favored as recruits due to their familiarity with technology and being inured to the worst of the noise and claustrophobic conditions found on ships. However, a Captain sometimes has to take what he can get so a crew can become an eclectic mix of men and women from thousands of different cultures by the time a commission is over.

Ordinary Voidman

As Voidman Recruits become integrated into shipboard life and learn their trade, they are promoted to the rank of Ordinary Voidman. This rank comes with a small ration increase and some kind of collar flashes, arm badge or other visible uniform change. By ancient tradition, it’s the responsibility of Ordinary Voidmen to abuse newly arrived recruits and 'beat them into shape'.

Able Voidman

Able Voidmen are those Voidmen who have served for decades and have fully learned the ins and outs of the voidman's trade. They tend to be competent, unshakable, reliable void sailors who are living repositories of voidmanship knowledge, legends, tall tales, and traditions. Like the step to Ordinary, being promoted to Able Voidman comes with many perks, greater responsibility, and more uniform decoration. Many Captains require rigorous examinations for a Voidman to achieve the Able rating, while others simply bestow it as an honourific for time served onboard.

It is important to note that Voidmen are either professional void sailors with years of experience or Pressmen who have worked hard to improve their status and taken up voidmanship as a career. They are not to be confused with Landsmen, Penal Conscripts, or Servitors who will never rise above their station.