Praetoria, a densly populated makropole world close to the imperial space fleet base Bakka. An overpopulated world with miserable living conditions, a de-generate society and harsh environment. Home of some of the hardest underworld gangs in the galaxy. Where people work like slaves in gigantic factory complexes, producing goods which are traded throughout the galaxy. Not only is a gigantic merchant fleet required to handle the logistics, a good army for its protection is essential. What better place to recruit from than from the underworld gangs and with the living conditions being what they are, there is no shortage of volunteers. Yes the gangers are wild, but with iron discipline and unforgiving training they can be moulded into the best infantry the imperium has ever seen.

The praetorians are renowned for their iron discipline and dreadnought bravery, leading them to stand their ground even when facing impossible odds. Although praetorian training methods seem exceptionally harsh to off-worlders, it is only the threat of instant and drastic reprisal for the smallest of deviations that can mould the inhabitants of praetoria into a fighting force capable of carrying out any orders it is given. No matter what people may think of their brutal training methods, the praetorians can be relied on 100% to carry out any task they've been called upon to do.

Gram Broker's Own is one of the many regiments set up with private funding. There are of course many rich traders on Praetoria who have set up their own private armies to protect their holdings and trading fleets. Over the course of the centuries most of these regiments, although still privately funded, have come to realise that they are more effective against alien incursion when they band together and fight as larger units. Now brought under the control of the imperium, all the regiments fight as a single army and, although still financed with the wealth of private traders, they are often found throughout the galaxy, wherever the imperium requires their assistance in the fight against chaos. Of course, each regiment still retains its original name and many look back on a renowned history and long list of battle honours.

The highest award a soldier can earn is the Praetorian Cross of which no fewer than 586 have been awarded, many of them posthumously. This award not only distinguishes the holder as showing unmatchable bravery in the face of the enemy and allows him to use the title 'Gram' (Grand Magnate) , but also offers the bearer a leisurely retirement in the top ten levels of any of the hive cities the bearer would care to choose. To date no winner of the P.C. has ever accepted the offer of retirement.

Gram Broker's Own has distinguished itself many a time off-world and although in some battles the regiment has been wiped out to a man, there has always been sufficient funding and willing recruits to refresh the ranks when the need arose. The regimental history includes such episodes as the Balkai Incident of Waelches IV, The Tenant War , The Reardon Claim and Hergiss Roundel and has earned no fewer than 47 praetorian crosses. Gram Broker himself earned no fewer than 3 P.C.s, refused retirement and founded his own regiment with the financial rewards received in its stead.

Building an IG Army