A recent debate on BoLS main was in response to a Goatboy post about the fluff and how it ought to progress. On comment from a person responding to me was about how it would be nice to see the Imperium kick arse - go on a serious offensive and whup some xenos scum.
Now this got me thinking.
Is the Imperium really in retreat on all fronts? Is there no more expansion and merely a long term rearguard action?
Personally think this is unlikely. I can think of several events that counter this off the top of my head. Did the Hive Fleet which did Macragge not get a slapping? Did the Hive fleet of this current tranche of invasions (with the Inquisitor Kryptman fluff) not get spanked as well? Macharian Crusade? Badab War? Have the Ultramarines not slapped the Tau into submission? Is the crusade referred to in GG not slowly succeeding?
I could see it being the case that you only hear about Imperial defeat or close things as this is interesting. A rampant resurgent Empire never in strife makes for poor reading. I know that traditionally an Empire is only seen as strong when it is growing, but is survival without expansion not an awesome achievement in the face of such odds?
Just thought I would throw this thought out there - as a last thought if the Eldar can hang on so long as a dying race when their race is a mere fraction of the power of the Empire of Man, surely that implies some longevity for the Empire?