A Light in the Grim Darkness

                                                    WARNING!

This chapter contains rather graphic violence: you have been warned.

Over the course of the next week, things became extremely hectic for Ian.

Things started to become so when Techpriest Makuroe’s diagnostic came

back that the ancient teleporter was dormant, and would only take a few

weeks of repairs for him to have it up and running. Thankfully, the news

of the laboratory’s discovery had reached his master on Formosa very

swiftly and Lord Coteaz had gotten in touch with Segmentum Command.

A report from his mentor informed Ian that multiple regiments of the

Imperial Guard were en route and would arrive within three weeks at the

very latest. The discovery of the ancient text in the lab also aided Ian in

finishing his preliminary report to the High Lords of Terra and his master

as it was indeed the Emperor’s own words written on parchment. Ian

suddenly found himself being appointed The Imperium’s ambassador

to Equestria and Equis Prime by the High Lords.

While his subordinates and Equestrian friends saw this as reason for

celebration; Ian felt a crushing weight upon his shoulders. His nights

were more restless than ever; his nightmares more frequent and

unsettling. Upon being appointed ambassador to Equis Prime, his first

major diplomatic mission was to secure the landing of Imperial troops

in Equestria. While Princesses Celestia and Luna were more than

ready to give the Imperium military access, the other nations would

not be so easily swayed. A press conference had announced to the

Equestrian public the possibility of more humans arriving. Ian had told

the press that it was the way that the Imperium protected its allies

from any potential threats from space. As flimsy a claim as this was,

many Equestrians accepted it as the only human they had actually

seen was Ian who was very friendly and kind to them. As Ian fed the

press this story he wanted to cut out his own tongue for the lies he

was forced to tell.

The truth was that lost technology from 10,000 years ago had

turned up in their peaceful home: which could very well be used

to topple the Imperium if said technology fell into the wrong hands;

and worse yet there was a possibility that the servants of the dark

gods of Chaos may or may not know of said technology’s existence

and location; which would inevitably bring them to Equestria. That part

would come out in the meeting however: No press was allowed; and

Ian now had only to convince the leaders of the various nations of

Equis Prime that the landing of hundreds of thousands of human

soldiers armed to the teeth with advanced technology and devastating

heavy artillery on their planet was not a threat; but he also had to

convince said leaders to fight beside these soldiers against an enemy

that few of them knew even existed. While the leaders of Equestria’s

client states were all but guaranteed to give their approval; Ian knew

that the Diamond Dogs and Changellings would be the sticking points.

As for the other nations: only time would tell. As Ian sat in the meeting

chamber he saw the familiar faces of the many ambassadors he had

met a few nights previous; but they were not alone.

The rulers of every nation on Equis Prime were present; including the

emperor of the Holy Griffon Empire, The Diamond Dog king, Queen

Chrysalis of the Changellings, and Princess Cadence of the Crystal

Empire with her husband Shining Armor; who had just recently

relinquished his position of Captain General of the Solar Guard of

Equestria and now held the title of Prince Consort of the Crystal Empire.

Ian had not expected to see Princess Cadence, as she was due to give

birth to her and Shining’s first child within the month. Princess Twilight

was representing Equestria, while Ian and Admiral Korsnetzov

represented the Imperium. This had been the first time Ian had seen

the old admiral. Vasilli Nikolayevich Korsnetzov had been born on

the Imperial ice world of Valhalla before joining the Imperial Navy

and had built quite a reputation in the Segmentum Pacificus. He was

known for his loud booming voice; his bushy gray moustache, which

was always waxed to perfection; and his rather foul temper. While

many of the men under his command found him a fair man who

rewarded honest work and knew when to turn a blind eye, they

knew better than to annoy or lollygag in the presence of the almost

seven foot tall bear of a man.

Within five minutes of Ian and Admiral Korsnetzov’s arrival, the meeting

was called to order with Princess Luna presiding over the meeting as the

chairpony.

“The chair recognizes the representatives of the Imperium of Mankind.”

said Luna simply. Ian stood from his seat and moved to the front of the

amphitheater while Admiral Korsnetzov began passing out file folders

before joining Ian at the front of the room.

“Esteemed rulers of Equis Prime: I thank all of you for arriving on such

short notice; however the matter at hand warranted the inconvenience.

As you may have noticed in the news papers and over your radios; a

number of Imperial soldiers and personnel have landed on Equis Prime

over the past week and a half. While an embassy has been set up here

in Canterlot, this is not the reason. If you will look in the files that have

been provided for you it will explain why we have established such a

presence here so rapidly.” explained Ian as the various rulers opened

the files and looked at the pictures contained within them.

“About one week ago, an Equestrian archeological team unwittingly

unearthed an ancient and perfectly preserved Imperial laboratory

constructed by our Emperor himself nearly 10,000 years ago. Within

was contained an ancient device from mankind’s Dark Age of Technology

known as a teleporter. It is an ancient machine; and while we have them in

the Imperium, this one is rather different, and teleports directly to the

Imperial capital on Holy Terra. While it may be ancient the device can still

work: thus if an enemy captured this machine; it would prove a lethal threat

to the Imperium and its subjects.” Ian paused to let the information sink

in and heard some murmuring amongst the gathered crowd, which lasted a

few seconds until Luna pounded her gavel to bring silence back into the

chamber.

“My superiors have made arrangements to send multiple regiments of the

Imperium’s main military force; The Imperial Guard; to secure this site from

incursion by the enemies of the Imperium who would seek to employ this

device to cripple our empire so severely that it would literally collapse. I

have been instructed to tell your esteemed majesties that this is a purely

defensive force that will not leave equestrian soil unless provoked to do so.

I would like to break to give all of you an opportunity to ask any questions you

may have.” said Ian. At first there was silence, but then a talon was raised by

the Grand Duke of the Hippogriffs.

“Yes your grace?"responded Ian.

“How many men are in one of your regiments?” asked the elderly hybrid of

eagle, lion, and horse.

“It varies from world to world, however it can reach into the hundreds of

thousands or higher.” replied Ian. The chamber burst into argument at the

mention of the sheer numbers involved.

“And why pray tell Inquisitor Ludones would you need so many troops!?”

asked the Diamond Dog King standing from his seat with an angry expression.

Ian then proceeded to explain to the golden coated canine monarch the

strategy of area denial, this however did not put the king’s mind at ease.

“And just who are you worried about attacking this machine!? It is years

beyond the understanding of any nation on this planet! Besides if this

thing is such a threat, why not destroy it and be done with it?” retorted

the king.

“I do not worry about any of these fine nations seizing it: I worry about

threats from factions not of this world. The Imperium is a large entity and

rules over a million worlds: believe me when I say we have more enemies

than friends. Also, destroying a piece of technology that old would be fool

hardy. While we do have teleporters, they are short distance; this one

could allow us, if replicated, to respond to threats to our planets with

lightning speed. Moving such an ancient device could also damage it,

so the only option we have is to keep it here. ” answered Ian with a sigh.

Arguing exploded within the chamber. Luna pounded her gavel until the

head flew off. Ian sat down next to Admiral Korsnetzov and leaned over

to whisper to the old admiral.

“You may want to plug your ears.” said Ian plugging his own. The admiral

followed suit, and in perfect time as well; for no sooner did Korsnetzov put

his fingers in his ears when Princess Luna cut loose with the Royal

Canterlot voice.

“ENOUGH!” she yelled, bowling over two of the ambassadors who were

arguing on the floor in front of her podium. Silence filled the chamber and

all eyes stared in muted terror at the princess of the night. “Look at yourselves!

Squabbling like spoiled foals! What is this madness?! This man has given this

request in courtesy to you, rather than simply landing an army down here,

and besides, if the Imperium wished to invade us, they would have done

so by now rather than send a representative. I am calling an hour recess

that we may all cool our heads and get some food, and when we return,

I expect a much more civilized debate.” she said with a cross look that

made many of the monarchs and their ambassadors feel like children

who had just been scolded by their mother.

The meeting adjourned for a late; and most of the delegates left except for

Luna and the two humans; who sat and talked.

“Ian, Admiral Korsnetzov; I wish to apologize for the poor behavior they are

showing you.” said Luna. The old admiral smiled kindly.

“Please your majesty, call me Vasilli. No need for formality.” he said in a

gruff but friendly voice while offering his hand; a gesture which Luna

returned by offering her hoof.

“Please, call me Luna.” she replied.

“It is alright Luna, its not your fault; nor can I blame them. My reaction

would have been similar: on that note, nice attention getter.” said Ian

with a smile.

“Indeed, you would make one hell of an admiral with a voice like that!”

said Korsnetzov with a chuckle that got a small laugh from Luna herself.

Princess Twilight, Princess Cadence and Shining Armor returned with

their food and also joined in the conversation.

“How are we going to get them to agree to allow the troops here? They

did not exactly seem thrilled.” said Shining raising a skeptical eyebrow.

“I am going to inform them that I sensed the taint, and if that does not

work, I happen to have a set of holo tapes with me that will most likely

make them change their minds rather swiftly.” replied Ian dryly.

**********************************************************************

1 hour later.

As the ambassadors and their monarchs filed back into the room, the

sun had begun to set in the sky and Twilight took over the meeting as

Luna went to meet her sister and raise the moon. Equestria was

represented by one of the more down to Equis nobles that Ian had

briefly met; a unicorn by the name of Fancy Pants. Twilight called the

meeting to order and Ian was allowed to continue his explanation.

“Aside from the aforementioned reason to have Imperial troops

garrisoned here, a disturbing development made itself known at the

dig site. I assume all of you have heard of the reign of Discord? a

simple nod of the head will suffice.” Heads nodded up and down

before Ian continued. “While he was the avatar of disorder, he was

not truly a servant of chaos; he was merely a creature wielding

immense power. The true powers of chaos exist in a realm parallel

to ours known as the Immaterium, or the Warp. Time there has no

meaning; the nightmares of all living sentient beings are made reality,

and it is filled with foul daemons that are constantly looking to claw their

way into reality and feast upon our very souls.” Ian gave his words a

few moments to sink in before moving on.

“The chaos gods make discord look like a cute teddy bear in comparison,

and they are horrendously blood thirsty. It is the job of the Holy Inquisition

to root them out along with anyone who aligns themselves with them.

That night a week ago when we discovered the lab, a bat flew in; but what

was odd about this creature was that I did not notice it visually. In the

Imperium, some individuals are born with certain psychic gifts; which are

similar to magic, but are not magic: I am one such individual.  I sensed in

it the taint of Chaos.” said Ian.

Instantly, the claw of the young Griffon Emperor was raised.

“Yes your majesty?”

“And how pray tell did you know it was tainted by this Chaos as you called it?”

asked the Emperor with a look of curiosity on his white feathered face.

“Whenever the taint of Chaos is near, I can literally feel it; it is like an immense

pressure upon my mind, and I also taste a coppery and or sulfuric taste at the

back of my mouth when those without psychic abilities do not. For every psyker

the warning signs are different, but that is how I know, as every time I have

encountered the adherents of Chaos in the past, these are the sensations

present.” replied Ian.

“So you are saying that because of a headache and a bad taste in your mouth

that we should allow you to land Celestia knows how many soldiers in Equestria,

which they could use as a launch pad to invade the entire planet?” the emperor

asked mockingly; drawing many laughs from around the room save from

Equestria and her client states.

“What’s more, we have no intention of invading anyone here; and yes, I know

how to recognize the taint of Chaos, because I have fought them before on

many occasions.” replied Ian with some annoyance.

“Sir, I believe your tale is fabricated; there is no creature more vile than Discord,

everyone on Equis knows that.” spat the Diamond Dog King pointing a golden

furry claw at Ian.

“Perhaps a little evidence would suffice then?” asked Ian fiddling with one of

the brass buttons on the suit that Rarity had made for him.

“Indeed, please do present us with some.” answered Queen Chrysalis of the

Changellings who had sat silently watching the meeting the whole time.

“Very well, though I must say that what you are about to see is extremely graphic.”

said Ian setting up his holo projector in the center of the floor and inserting a holo

tape. “Admiral, if you would kindly hit the lights please?” asked Ian. The Admiral

got up and turned the lights in the room off and Ian used the remote to activate

an image that showed a mass of security troopers in light blue Cadian style flak

armor and dark gray fatigues kneeling at a stone wall with auto guns and shot

guns at the ready.

“This footage is from a security camera in what was once one of multiple

colonies on the surface of the world of Viltoria XIII: a mineral rich ice world.

A mining team had unearthed marble cube just outside of the colony and as the

cube was being lifted, one of the straps around it snapped. The cube smashed

open, releasing the essence of a greater daemon that had been sealed there

millennia ago. The creature killed everyone at the site, but not before they sent a

distress calls warning the colonies. The daemon then opened a tear in the fabric

of reality and lesser daemons began flooding in. Despite all of this, the colonies

refused to work together due to long standing rivalries. This footage is from the

last colony to fall on Viltoria.” explained Ian pushing the start button and the film

began.

The security troopers had their auto guns ready and an officer walked up and

down the line trying to calm the obviously frightened men.

“Steady boys, steady.” said the officer. Suddenly, reality warped in front of them

and ripped open. Weapons discharged as thousands upon thousands of

nightmarish horrors spilled out of the rend in reality. Hundreds of the vile creatures

succumbed to the very accurate shots that the troopers were firing, but there were

just too many. Ian heard the horrified gasps of the delegates as a trooper was torn

in half in a shower of gore in full view of the camera by a monstrous horror that Ian

not even knew the name of. He heard retching from the ambassador of the

Changelling Empire as one of the daemons began eating a trooper’s innards while

he was still alive and shrieking in agony.

The daemons then swarmed over the breastworks and into the colony out of the

camera, and the sounds of gunfire and screaming civilians soon filled the air,

followed by the tearing of flesh and spilling of blood and organs. The camera was

still holding the images of the dead troopers, whose mutilated corpses lay still

twitching on the ground in pools of blood and viscera. The camera soon cut out and

the admiral turned the lights back on. Luna and Celestia both had quietly slipped in

and were wearing looks of sadness upon their faces: in looking into the universe

with their magic, they had seen such horrors before. Princess Twilight and the

Changelling Ambassador stood at a nearby trash receptacle both losing their dinners

into the large trash can; and Princess Cadence and her husband held each other

whilst shuddering in horror at the film they had just seen. Everyone else simply stared

slack jawed at where the image had been.

“That is why we are sending so many troops: if they show up, we will need every trooper

we can get; and the forces of chaos also use more than just daemons to do their bidding.

Vile is too kind a term for the beings that serve them. If they find this place, they will

unleash that upon this planet; and that is what we must prevent. There is no reasoning

with them, no talking, no silly treaties: they will kill you if they cannot turn you, and even

if they turn you, they may kill you.” said Ian very seriously.

“Ian, what happened to Viltoria XIII?” asked Shining shakily.

“When the nearest Ordo Malleus task force finally arrived a week later; there were no

survivors, and the taint was still strong on that world: We withdrew our personnel, and

burned that frozen hell hole to ash before the taint could spread to the surrounding

worlds and bring more horror and death to the billions who lived in that system. It was

the only way to be sure.” said Ian somberly.

“So, exterminatus?” asked Twilight wiping her mouth with a handkerchief.

“Aye, exterminatus.” replied Ian turning to the assembly. “I shall allow you to deliberate

on this, but know that if the High Lords tell me to, I will land these troops, weather it is

approved by you or not. The moment that the artifact was discovered; the situation

was out of my hands. Our entire civilization will be threatened should it be discovered by

our enemies, so this I ask of you: do not make us into your enemy when we desire

peace with you. We have enough enemies in the galaxy and we do not wish you to be

among them.” said Ian finishing his speech. Princess Celestia took over as chairman

while Luna took over representing Equestria; and Twilight, Ian, and Vasilli stepped out

of the room to allow the rulers of Equis some time to speak amongst themselves and

weigh their nonexistent options.

“Do you think that they will accept the Imperium’s demands?” asked Twilight.

“After the little educational footage I showed them; I certainly hope so. That footage and

the bit I told is very real. I hope that they will even work with us to create trust and

friendship.” said Ian.

“I hope you are right too.” said Twilight.

*********************************************************************

Another hour rolled by before the doors opened and Princess Luna brought the three of

them back into the room. The decision had been reached that the other nations would

not interfere with Imperial interests in Equestria or her client kingdoms but that the Imperium

would not occupy any nation that did not wish for Imperial troops within its borders.

While the Imperium was interested in garrisoning the whole planet; the High Lords had told

him in one of the communications that the nations outside of Equestria were optional. If they

did not wish to accept Imperial protection then so be it; this just freed up more troops to

protect more valuable areas closer to the teleporter. The nations that had refused Imperial

protection were the Hippogryph Duchies, The Holy Griffon Empire, The Diamond Dog

Kingdom, and the Changelling Empire.

“Thank the Emperor for small victories.” said Admiral Korsnetzov.

“Amen to that.” replied Ian. As the delegates filed out of the room, Admiral Korsnetzov

took his leave and headed out to the waiting Valkyrie gunship to be taken back to the

Aurora. Meanwhile, Ian was approached by Luna, Celestia, Twilight, Cadence and

Shining Armor.

“Well that was… enlightening.” said Shining.

“Sorry; I had really wanted to avoid showing that footage.” said Ian honestly.

“So now that this is all over, what are you doing Ian?” asked Twilight.

“Well, I am going to be headed back to Ponyville to finish the missive. My

preliminary report was only an outline of what it is like here. Plus, I made a

promise to a certain apple farmer that I would be in town for Hearts and

Hooves so she wouldn’t be alone.” said Ian with a smile.

“Yeah, she had mentioned that. She seemed really excited about it too.” said

Twilight with a smile. Ian was about to respond when Cadence’s eyes went

wide.

“Oh dear!” said the pink Alicorn with a nervous look.

“Is everything alright Cadence?” asked Shining Armor with some concern

“I think my water just broke!” replied Cadence. With that everyone present

scrambled to get Cadence to the palace hospital.