//------------------------------// // 9. History Leason // Story: For Friendship and Adventure // by Jamis //------------------------------// The cupcakes were passed around as the giant and company continued their exchange of questions. Twilight spoke in a factual tone, "So to summarize. You are twice the height of a normal member of your species, your species are all omnivorous, but you can eat anything. These are the main differences?" The primarch munch on a muffin as he listened to the young alicorn, "Yes, but there is also the fact that I am immortal." the group grew completely silent at the statement. Sure they had some experience with the idea of immortality. Princess Celestia and Princess Luna were both as close to the definition as one could get. But to hear it said so calmly was a bit of a shock. "And unkillable." The second statement sent Twilight into mental frenzy, trying to parse the implications when Pinkie spoke interrupting her thoughts. "Aren't those the same thing?" the pink and happy pony having finished her distributing of baked goods set to eat those left over. A small chuckle at the mare's tone lead to a reply, "Immortal is to live forever, unkillable is to not be destroyed. One can live forever theoretically and still be killed despite that potential for lifespan. I will live forever, and regenerate from all damage." Twilight began to making furiously fast notes on her book when Rainbow Dash spoke, Twilight thought as she did, 'I really needed to learn to get my questions in faster.' The blue Pegasus bolted to a hover in front of the man's face, "Ah yeah? And how do we know your telling the truth, we've meet a lot of ponies who claim to be able to do a lot. Why should we believe you." the interrogation sparked doubts in the group mares. Given how strange the 'human' was they hadn't thought he was lying. The majority of the mares turned to their orange friend, her head and hat looked at all the expectant eyes before she sighed, "Imma be honest, I don't know why Y'all see me as a sort of lie detector." her accent hardened by minor frustration. "If I'm being completely truthful I think we can give the benefit of the doubt here, not like we can't just call em out if he was lying." The blue furred mare rolled her eyes and snorted, "Sure, that works for now." she returned to the cloud she had previously occupied. Finally seeing her chance to get back to her questions the lavender alicorn quickly jumped at the opportunity, "What can you tell us about your species, what is there social structure, where are they, how did you get here, what can you tell us about their history, whe-" her list reading was promptly silenced by a hoof. The princess looked at offending limb before she saw it lead to Rarity who had gotten up from her couch to stop the questions before they all drowned in words. The fashionista quieted the annoyance in the alicorn with her next words, "Dear, you need to give him a chance to answer." the giant let out a small chuckle before he responded. "Well, I will try my best to tell you. The first question is complicated but we are over all an empire. The Imperium of Man is vast, so vast in fact. That to answer the question of where we are from." the man pointed upward, "I would have to generalize and say millions of planets in the galaxy. I my self am from a planet called Nocturn, as for how I got here. I am not entirely certain but I suspect a great deal of complicated phenomenon caused my arrival." the six ponies quieted to an even further degree, it was one thing to claim to be immortal but another to claim to be from the stars. It was so ridiculous all those present simple sat and listened to the next words to come. Even Rainbow Dash had a hard time willing herself to make a rebuttal. Hard to rebut something you clearly can't understand. And the sheer size of a million planets was one of them. To be fair, for most beings, a planet was too big to fully grasp. "As for the history of the Imperium, it is too long to recount fully. That is over two thousand years alone. And the whole history of humanity even more so. After all that is over thirty two thousands years of history much of which is not entirely known to anyone but father." the ramblings brought forth a question almost automatically from Twilight's lips. "Who is your father? Some historian? Is he important, you said it was an empire. I don't know much about those since I know of only two. They were a lot like a kingdom except they were constantly attempting to expand. Was he some royal scholar in the Imperium's court?" the question made the man turn and listen through her monologue, "Also you introduced yourself as 'Primarch of the Salamanders' is that a noble title or something?" The human nodded at the inquiries, "Well, I suppose I could explain how the command structure works within the Imperium. At the bottom we have the citizens of the Imperium, the vast majority of humans fall here for obvious reasons, from simple laborers to scribes. These are also the people who volunteer for or are conscripted into the Imperial army. Each regiment is unique, usually based around a common planet of origin." The mares listened with interest. "My heart goes out to each person I meet, those who work or sacrifice as the common folk do. Above these are the rich and nobles of the Imperium, the only defining factor of these individuals or families are money, power and status. Many are horrid, and should never be allowed any responsibility over others lest they abuse their power. Others are in fact quite noble and worthy of respect." his words about nobles seemed to ring a cord with many of the ponies if their faces and slow nods were any indication. "Above even the elites are the planetary governors, each are different in their styles of ruling. And as the name suggests they rule over a planet. I have met many good and altruistic ones in my time. Many more who are simply selfish, though it doesn't always effect their people. And unfortunately I have met and deposed of a couple monsters who held the position." the group seemed to catch on that if he was deposing of people who ruled planets he was of higher station. "Next to planetary governs are various Imperial commanders. There are also the various organizations which comprise the Imperium. The Imperial army, Imperial Fleet, Officio Assassinorum, and Rogue Traders. At this level there is an automous branch of the framework which is the Adeptus Astartes. The Astartes are the most skilled and enhanced soilder the Imperium has to offer." the this talk of soldiers started to show just how military centric humans were to the ponies. "There were once twenty legions of Astartes, Space Marines as some call them. But now there are so many different smaller groups of space marines called chapters." a sigh escaped his lips, "That naming them all is impossible. Each Astartes is a human who is genetically enhanced by the gene seed of a Primarch at a young age. The Primarch's represent the peek of humanity, and as such are special." the word perked the ponies' ears. The group went to ask a question before he stopped them by holding up a hand, "Please, I am not done. Putting aside the Astartes who have their own unique rankings. The next rung in the Imperium is filled with various essential groups, including the Adeptus Administratum which encapsulates the previous rung. There is also the Adeptus Costodes who are the Emperors body guards. These two and the unnamed groups fall under the Adeptus Terra. Named after the home world of humanity." Twilight made note of that fact before the Primarch continued. "In this rung is the Adeptus Terra is joined by two others, the Adeptus Mechanicus being another. The Mechanicus is a semi-autonomous section of the Imperium, they are the manufacturers of almost all of the Imperium's weapons and tools since they have a high understanding of technology. Though to them its is a religion." the idea was odd but then again the ponies were silent due to the seer amount of information being displayed. It was Twilight heaven. "And the rather recent, at least to me addition to this tier is the Adeptus Ministorum. Despite the Long and complicated reasons the Emperor set atheism forth in law. Another equally complex history resulted in the ignoring of such laws. Which lead to the result of a state cult, the Imperial Cult worships the Emperor as a god. They do not get along with the Mechanicus, since they are different religions. Both worship the Emperor, but for different reasons, and very differently in practice." the idea of a 'god ruler' was quite familiar. Due mostly in part to their ruler, whom many in Equestria quietly worshiped. All respected her though, hard not to. Even Twilight found herself very formal withe the princess, despite the fact she was a lot like another mother to the alicorn... The fact that she was now so close to an equal with the princess didn't quite help with that. Both of those things being true didn't stop formalism it seemed. "The highest command in many of these organizations are members of the High Lords of Terra, twelve members, nine permanent seats. The only other branch from the Emperor is the new Inquistion. Whom I personally do not like, they are suppose to be watch dogs. But they are, to put it short, horrible most of the time." "The Emperor is of course at the top, his word was law and none stand above his station. He is an immortal shapeshifter and the most powerful Psyker in the galaxy. With a thought he does what you would see as magic, to the fullest extent. None surpass him, it is said he united Terra and concurred thousands of planets in the great crusade to unite Humanity again from its fall. He is currently incarcerated on 'the Golden Throne', due to a long and complex civil war. It acts as life support, though it is hard for me to say much more on that." the ponies seemed to realize that he was done with the hierarchy. The idea of such a powerful 'mage', and what was that about a fall? "Wow, that is more complicated then I was expecting." the understatement of the century by Twilight. If felt like reading an encyclopedia. Rainbow Dash was nearly asleep. And Ella was, since Fluttershy had been petting her the whole time. The blue Pegasus chose to but in again "So, you are important but low rung is that right? Since Your only above normals and nobles." "Rainbow Dash! That is insulting, I am sure Vulkan garners great respect even from others above him." the man had a full body laugh, it was a jolly thing. "Apologies I may have given you a misunderstanding. The rungs are just the various sub orderings of the groups under branch. The only thing that determines rank, is actual rank in your organization. A member of the Mechanicus would not be capable of commanding a member of another branch directly. And no Rainbow Dash." the pegasus met his eyes which held a light in them. "I suppose I was not clear on what a Primarch is. We use our genes to enhance our Astartes, our sons. But we are not just the best of humanity, there were eighteen Primarches before the civil war. Only nine remained loyal to the Emperor. Many of my brothers are dead, betrayed the Imperium, or both. I do not know where those who are still alive have gone. But if any of us we to resurface we would be given rule of the Imperium." the last sentence shook the ponies. "What?! Why, I get that you're 'the best of humanity' what ever that means. But how does that take precedent over the leaders of all those organizations. Don't they trump you?" Twilight seemed to speak for the group yet again. "Because the Primarches are the sons of the Emperor." the sentence surpassed the previous statements in shock value. "You’re a prince?!" Rarity was about to have a heart attack from the fact that this was just relieved.