The press

Impressment, known colloquially throughout the Imperium as "The Press", is the ages old tradition of crewing ships by compelling men to serve as Voidmen through persuasion or force. Carried out by heavily armed groups of Voidmen called Press Gangs, The Press officially targets "Eligible Imperial citizens of voidfaring habits between the ages of 15 and 40 years". In practice however, anyone caught in a Press Gang's net is fair game, and Able Voidmen can be rounded up along with common labourers, longshoremen, prostitutes, or anyone else unfortunate enough to be within the Press Gang's reach. As reviled by voidmen as it is loved by Admirals, Free Captains, and Rogue Traders, Impressment is seen as a necessary evil in voidfaring circles. While Press Gangs typically operate ashore on planets and aboard stations like Port Wander, Navy Captains and Rogue Traders desperate for men will often detain smaller, weaker ships and press thousands of men from their complement.