The Dark Ones

by Snake Staff

Small Breakthroughs

++Astropathic Choir Intercept ZX971, Kyne’s Fury 3.702.873.M39++
++Message to Inquisitor Tas Rovini++
++ Transcript Appended++
Thought for the Day: A fine mind is a blessing of the Emperor - It should not be cluttered with trivialities.

My Lord,

Three weeks. Three weeks I’ve spent “bonding” with that wretched xenos. My every instinct and all the religious knowledge I posses screams at me to hate it, to curse it, to destroy it in the Emperor’s holy name, and yet I must instead pretend to be its friend. This is a truly loathsome state of affairs. However, as is always the case, orders are orders. Feelings must give way to necessities. As per your wishes, I am doing everything I reasonably can to keep the creature intact and cooperative. I have been continuously engaging it in various innocuous activities for its petty amusement, humiliating as the task is.

After some time I was finally able to get it to reveal substantial amounts of new information. While I have conducted numerous sessions prior to the one whose transcript I now send you, they have not featured anything substantial beyond various play activities. I feel that with the innate slowness and unreliability of Astropathic communication, I should not waste your precious time with transcripts of truly inane games and childish rhymes, coupled with the occasional psychological breakdown. Of course, if my Lord Inquisitor feels that it should be otherwise, he need simply say so.

++Interrogation the Forty Sixth++

Setting: Cell 59XBA. Cell is still brightly lit. Xeno is lying on cot, apparently asleep.
Kylara: Hello Twilight! How are you feeling?
Twilight Sparkle: Oh, hi Ky! [The creature has nicknamed me. Does the degradation never cease?]
K: Are you feeling alright this morning?
TS: Yep!
K: Great. You know, I had a thought.
TS: Yeah?
K: Perhaps we could try playing a new game?
TS: Really? That’d be great! I mean, it’s not like Regicide and all the rest aren’t great and all, but…
K: You’re getting a little bored?
TS: Yep.
K: Then I think I know just the thing for someone as smart and curious as you. [The xenos appears to have been some sort of scholar, and had evidenced curiosity in prior sessions. It appears susceptible to flattery vis-à-vis its intelligence.]
TS: Go on.
K: It’s called the question game. I ask you a question that you answer as fully and completely as you can. Then you do the same to me. Then me again, then you again, and so on.
TS: I get to learn more about your species?!
K: Yes.
TS: Alright, let’s get started! Ask away! [How it has failed to make the connection between questions and its mental breakdowns is unknown, but this is a clear another indication of the inherent inferiority of xenos.]
K: What are you?
TS: I’m an alicorn pony. I was a unicorn pony until I ascended.
K mumbles inaudibly. [I accidentally almost blurted out what I thought about celebrating its own mutation. Of everything, that disgusts me most.]
TS: What?
K: Nothing. Please, go on.
TS: Alright. What are you?
K: I’m a human. What was your home called?
TS: I’m from Equestria, home of the ponies. I was born in Canterlot, but I lived in Ponyville. At least, until they came…
K: Stay calm, you’re safe. Stay with me.
TS: Where… where are you from?
K: I’m from the planet Damnos, part of the Imperium of Man.
TS: Imperium of Man?
K: Ah ah ah. You’ll have your chance in just a minute. Now, who were your rulers?
TS: Princesses Celestia and Luna. Who’s yours?
K: The God-Emperor of Mankind, and His regents the High Lords of Terra.
TS: God-Emperor…
K: What was your system of government?
TS: After Celestia and Luna defeated Discord, they took over leadership of Equestria, raising the sun and the moon. Unfortunately, Luna became jealous of the ponies shunning her night for Celestia’s day, and fought her sister as Nightmare Moon. With the Elements of Harmony, Celestia banished her sister to the moon for 1,000 years. During that time, she ruled alone. A few years ago, Nightmare Moon returned, but my friends and I… my friends…
K: Snap out of it!
TS: R-right, Ky. My friends and I managed to use the Element of Harmony to get rid of Nightmare Moon and bring back Luna. After that, she and her sister ruled Equestria… until they came…
K: Twilight! [What have I been reduced to? Playing nursemaid to an insane xenos?]
TS: Right, right. Who’s… I mean, what’s your Imperium like?
K: We’re an installer empire that stretches across one million worlds and more throughout the galaxy. We are united by our faith in the God-Emperor.
TS: A million worlds…
K: Yes, one million worlds, all unified beneath our Emperor in the name of humanity. [It felt good to see the xenos realize just how insignificant its backwater planet had been.]
TS: I just can’t even get my head around that. How could anypony possibly manage to do that? I-
K: It’s my turn now, Twilight. You’ve mentioned every member of your species was somehow magical. Can you elaborate?
TS: Earth ponies were the ones without wings or a horn. Their magic came from an inherent connection to the earth, making them stronger, tougher, and more able to grow plants than the rest of us. Pegasi had wings. They could physically touch and move clouds and such. They were able to control the weather. Unicorns had horns. They could make conscious use of their magic, though most only ever used minor telekinesis and perhaps a few showy cantrips. I was the exception. Alicorns had wings and a horn. They can use more powerful magic than any other pony, and had all the strengths of the other three as well. Their lifespans are much longer. [I guessed as much, if this Celestia truly reigned 1000 years before her apparent death or abduction.]
K: Thank you.
TS: No problem. Now, how in Equestria did your kind manage to get 1 million worlds? I’ve studied evolution, there’s no way humanity could have evolved spontaneously on all of them, but the sheer scale of population needed to even maintain a minimal presence on a planet… what drove you to it?
K: The Emperor commanded us to spread ourselves amongst the stars, to claim the galaxy for our own.
TS: Unbelievable…
K: What was your place in the social order? You mentioned you had been born a unicorn to unicorn parents, but now you are an alicorn. What happened?
TS: When I accidentally switched my friends’ cutie marks, I had to finish Star Swirl the Bearded’s final spell to undo that. When I created that new magic, combined with everything I learned up until then, Princess Celestia summoned me and told me that I was ready, and she helped me become an alicorn. [Star Swirl the Bearded? Celestia could create new alicorns? This raises so many questions.]
K: Interesting.
TS: Besides me, and…. them, have you met any other aliens while colonizing the galaxy?
K: Yes.
TS: Who? Where? What were they like?
K: Only one at a time, Twilight.
TS: Oh, right. Your turn.
K: You mentioned cutie marks? What are those?
TS: Like this here. They were marks a pony would get when they discovered their special talent. That would help a pony know what they wanted to do with their lives. They magically appeared whenever you found what you were meant to do. [Seems like the perfect system of social control to me.]
K: Really now.
TS: Yep. Now, my turn. What were the other aliens you found like?
K: Hostile, vicious, murderous, and bloodthirsty. They warred with us. [True in most cases, though not all. Xenos civilizations can hardly be permitted to exist either way.]
TS: R-really? [I suppose the failure to detect my deception means that the creature is not a telepath.]
K: Really. You’re the first I’ve encountered that didn’t try to murder me. [Not true, incidentally. But reinforcing the idea that our species alone is capable of reasoned conduct makes it more likely to divulge something useful about its attackers.]
TS: That’s horrible. I’m so sorry for you.
K and TS embrace
TS: Your turn.
K: Can you tell me something of what you know about whatever it is that ended your planet? [A risky question, but the xenos seemed most likely to give me what I wanted while in such an emotional state.]
TS: O-o-ok. It started with Z-Zecora. She lived out in the Everfree, we d-didn’t know she was gone for days. Next it was the… the… the Apple f-family. They were… they were… they were…
K: Focus, Twilight!
TS: They were taken! They were skinned! Their hides were left out in… No! No! NO! I beg of you.... Please… Please, please leave them alone! Don’t take them! Don’t take them! Don’t take them!
K: Please, just turn the damned thing off.

++Interrogation Ends++

++Thoughts++

My Lord, while there are many questions remaining, this particular interview has yielded much information on the nature of the xenos society, and in particular its leadership. We now know that the diarchs took power after deposing the previous ruler in a coup with some manner of mystical artifact called the Elements of Harmony. These appear to have played a reoccurring role in Equestrian history, enabling the defeat of Luna by Celestia, and later the second defeat of Luna by Twilight and her mysterious friends. If the descriptions of their powers are accurate, they possess both the powers of teleportation and imprisonment, as well as mind control.

The question of how these artifacts behave is a relevant one. In one case, these artifacts are described as banishing an individual to "the moon" (presumably Equis III's) for an entire millennium. In another, they are described as being used to "get rid of" the same individual's undesirable personality traits and reintegrate her into society. This of course raises the question that if this Celestia sincerely wished to rule with Luna in a diarchy, why did she use the Elements to banish her to the moon rather than simply purging the "wicked' elements of her sister to start with? Why send one's own sibling into exile for a thousand years, if other options were available to her?

No, the description of events leaves me with little doubt that Celestia was the real ruler. After disposing of her sister for an extended period, she was able to secure total power, politically, culturally, and religiously over her nation. Later, at a time and place of her choosing, she was able to manipulate Twilight and her companions into brainwashing her sibling into becoming a bulwark supporting her own throne. By doing this, she was able to present herself as a benevolent monarch to an adoring public while simultaneously eliminating the only viable threat to her power. A clever move, if I am being honest, much as it pains me to credit anything to a false xeno goddess. Many noble houses of the Imperium would be green with envy over such a deft feat of political maneuvering.

This theory of Equestrian history is further backed up by the subject’s choice of words with regards to her own ascension: Celestia, and Celestia only, is said to have dubbed her ready. Despite being nominal diarchs, Luna’s approval was neither mentioned nor apparently needed. If they were equals, would they not logically collaborate on events as important as the elevation of one of their subjects to apparent demigod-hood? That they did not is very telling. Combined with the xenos’ prior oaths to her as if a deity, and her place in their society becomes relatively clear. The xeno's apparent thoughtfulness at the mention of the God-Emperor thus takes on a new meaning.

The other valuable nugget from this process is a clue into the nature of the attack on this Equestria. Apparently, at least at the beginning, the process was slow and measured. The initial target, Zecora, is described as being far from civilization – in the Everfree, whatever that was. Presumably some sort of isolated or dangerous reason where a missing person would not be immediately noticed. The second target, the Apple family, shows us that the invaders had knowledge of, and appreciation for, terror tactics. The family was evidently abducted, murdered, and their flayed hides deposited by stealth in some sort of public area. The means and motivation for this are presently unknown. Still, such tactics are a start in our question to narrow down the source of the world’s destruction.

The modus operandi of the mode of attack described fits in well with the prior description of the attackers as "the dark ones." Certain enemies of the Imperium, such as the Night Lords Traitor Legion and Eldar Corsairs, are known to use such tactics while striking from darkness. This would explain the association between darkened areas and Twilight's attackers. In many cases, these forces also choose to wear dark-colored armor, a further point in this theory's favor. On the other hand, neither of these groups are known for picking a planet entirely clean - they prefer to leave survivors behind to spread the message to Imperial would-be rescuers. Certainly neither of them have been noted to be so thorough in destroying the opposition as to wipe out the entirety of a planet's non-sapient population with such a precise scalpel as seems to have been used.

Your servant,
Interrogator Kylara
++Message Ends++

Comments

[RainbowDragon]

You know what would be cool?
Chaos Orkz

[PrismShift]

3667162 But impossible. Orks, for whatever reason, can't be affected by Chaos so Chaos ignores them. No, I still put my money on Dark Eldar.

[Rakaziel]

3667162 Going by the title illustration, and the attackers' modus operandi, they were Dark Eldar.
CSM would have been more open and Orks would have left no skins.

[ThatRarityIsaSpy]

My money is on Dark Eldar.
Cover art anyone?

[Anubite Sentinel]

I would have to say Dark Eldar, because for it to be Orks they would have found a lot of scrap metal around, if it was Chaos they would still be there torturing everyone, if it was Necrons Twilight wouldn't have said that they found the apple family skinned alive mainly because the flayed ones would have taken the skins in the first place, and it isn't the Tau cause they don't do that kind of stuff. So all in all my money is on the Dark Eldar.

[Quanti]

It's Necrons. Dark eldar would have left some of the ponies alive to torture and entertain them. Chaos it would have begun in cities. Orks would still be living there. Empire didn't know of its existence. Tyranids would have eaten everything. Eldar don't concern themselves with "lesser races". Tau would have assimilated them.

[Bronzer]

Necrons also appreciate terror tactics. By the way, when the Imperium encounters a non-hostile species, it either mskes them a protectorate or ignores them. Sometimes an extra fanatical commander may exterminate them, but usually no. Of course, in times of great need, the Imperium will exterminate one or more of those species in order to colonize their planets. Especially after an Imperial world or several were recently destroyed and they need a location for vast numbers of refugees.

[Sponimoni]

3677350
http://beckjann.deviantart.com/art/Dark-Eldar-Incubi-2-323582408

[Alondro]

>>>[It felt good to see the xenos realize just how insignificant its backwater planet had been.]>>>

Seriously, I want to invite Davros to send the Dalek armada and teach this entire universe a lesson with the Reality Bomb.

I don't think the rest of the omniverse will miss it.

[Neverheardofhim]

has to be necrons. total life destruction, "flaying" the apples, total warp profile, must be

[StarChaser01]

4565202 It felt good to see the fools realize just how insignificant its backwater reality had been

[chrysoprox]

"installer" -> presumably it was supposed to be "interstellar"?

[Silver_Charmer]

4565202 Daleks would be utterly destroyed in the warhammer40k universe you fool, even the orkz could defeat them. ORKZ!!!!

[Handyman]

3765101 Seconding this.

The Imperium of Man, since the Great Crusade, made a habit of subjugating xenos who were non-hostile, unthreatening and/or useful to the Imperium in some way and that policy still stands in the modern Imperium. ESPECIALLY if they were a species such as the ponies who evidently were greatly inspired by human social norms and technology even if it is primitive. The psyker traits, understandably, are worth being wary about, but the subtle hints that Twilight's magic does not disrupt geller fields and indeed, possibly the cause for their silky smooth warp translation would be worth fucking worlds to the Imperium in pysker research and stabilization as well as more secure and safe warp travel.

Imagine how much more effective Imperial fleet movements and communications would be with that assistance? Millions of soldiers making it to their destinations on time with minimal to no warp incursion to deplete numbers or resources, vital communiques reaching their targets while they're still breathing/in a relevantly powerful position for it to matter. They wouldn't even need to give the technological stagnant mars priesthood the boot up the rear processor to see at least a 25-50% military effectiveness of the Imperium.

Also that little teasing nugget about the ponies being a possible result of the dark age of technology is just juicy: their entire species is a STC. There's a fic in that if this story doesn't make use of it already.

[corvusbray]

Was this before the attack on Tyrannis?

[Solo Wing of The Abyss]

4565202 Those foolish xenos trash cans will simply be crushed under the military juggernaut known as the Imperium of Man.

[King of Kings]

TS: They were taken! They were skinned! Their hides were left out in… No! No! NO! I beg of you.... Please… Please, please leave them alone! Don’t take them! Don’t take them! Don’t take them!

I'm calling it now. The Predators came to that planet, and, upon finding that the game there was able to defend itself, began the hunt.

[King of Kings]

7229283
Heh...well then, send in the Borg! Send in the Dominion! After a while, the Imperium of Man will either be assimilated by the Borg, or killed by the superior forces of the Dominion.

[King of Kings]

4705191
Yeah...he should have went with the Borg. They can at least adapt to the weapons there...

[darklight731]

Ah, the lore explanation is coming along nicely. I like it.