[Hans Rancke-Madsen]

Originally Posted by combatmedic

A very brief, and necessarilly incomplete and imperfect, summation of 'Imperial Values' as seen in the late/modern Imperium-

I've had a closer look at this list, and here is my version:

• Honor to the Emperor!
  
• The autocratic powers of the Emperor are as necessary and just as the autocratic powers of a starship captain.
  
• An Emperor is necessary to run an interstellar state the size of the Imperium. Hence #2 above.
  
• Social equality of ranks and station is a contradiction in terms; hierarchy is natural and good as long as social mobility allows the gifted to rise. Inequality before the law, OTOH, is a Great Evil. Nobles should not be able to misbehave and hide behind their rank. And they're not allowed to. No, really! We don't stand for that sort of thing, ever! Well, hardly ever...
  
• Training and education allow nobles to shine in their role as caretakers of the Imperium. The few bad apples are invariably removed by an administrative system that has been honed for over a millenium. Well, almost invariably.
  
• Personal loyalty is tremendously important.
  
• A man's word is his bond.
  
• Cowards are despicable. Scoundrels are disreputable. Brutes are brutal. Savages lack culture. Etc. etc..
  
• Duelling is a fine old tradition when not abused.
  
• A gentleman always pays his debts.
  
• The profession of arms in an honorable one.
  
• The Imperium stands for equality between all races. Humans are a majority in the Imperium, so it's no more than natural that they dominate it. Nothing questionable in that. Really. Other races have just the same chances as humans to make it in the Imperium. No, it's true! Humans don't have any special advantages. Nope! None at all!
  

Hans