"Protest! We want freedom!"
"Aliens have human rights too!"
"We cannot treat them like this!"
"Reject dictatorship! Resist violence!"
"We want peace! We must unite with aliens!"
"We can understand aliens!"
"We can even fall in love with aliens!"
"Protest! We want protest!"
At the gates of the temporary palace at Vortex Primus, Arcturus Mengsk stood silently, watching the sea of people crowding the streets. Thousands of individuals, most of them former citizens of the Human Federation, had gathered to voice their dissatisfaction. Inside the Imperium Caelestis, they felt the harshness of criminal laws far more severe than those of the Federation — laws that now touched their personal and social interests.
Executives from the Department of Justice stood in formation, holding long rifles, glaring at the protesting crowd with stern and unfeeling expressions.
Several overseers silently issued orders to the Arbiter, each wielding a chain sword that hummed faintly in their hands.
Thousands of Arbiter and additional personnel stood in formation, carrying blast shields and various types of weapons. They formed a sturdy barricade, one that would not be easily breached.
"Governor, we must kill them all and hang their heads above the palace gates! Show the greatness of the Emperor!" An Archbishop standing beside Arcturus Mengsk spoke passionately, his eyes alight with fanaticism.
"Truly blasphemous! Let's turn them into machine slaves and have them contribute to building the nest!" An Archmagos from Adeptus Mechanicus agreed coldly, his voice partially mechanical.
An aide suddenly approached, delivering a report:
"Governor, someone from the protestors has requested communication. They claim to want to share their truths with us."
"A towering Space Marine clad in pitch-black armor strode forward toward Arcturus Mengsk."
"Let them speak. Let's see what kind of deception they attempt."
"I will report this first to His Majesty, Emperor Kenthelion," Arcturus Mengsk replied, raising his hand to signal for them to wait.
The large screen displayed Arcturus Mengsk alongside Kenthelion. Behind Arcturus, stood the Mechanic Priest, his body heavily augmented, and the Ecclesiarchy Bishop, holding a religious tome, both standing as symbols of the Empire's power and dogma.
Kenthelion stared at the screen with a sharp gaze, his mind clouded with doubt and hatred.
"Are these people idiots?" he thought, frustration surging within him. "Do they have any idea what's happening out there? Those aliens are enslaving humanity—destroying everything we've fought for. And now they're talking about alien rights?"
Kenthelion gazed at them in silence, his anger simmering beneath the surface. Confusion and disbelief crept over him. "Is this some kind of joke? How can they be so deaf to the reality that exists out there?"
Finally, he exhaled heavily, shrugging with indifferent resignation.
"Do whatever you want," he said flatly, his voice cold and uncaring. "Send them to the Penal Legions. Let them experience the real battlefield. Maybe that'll open their eyes."
Kenthelion gave a thin smile, his face as hard as stone.
"As for their leader… just kill him. There's no place for those who don't understand the true meaning of war."
He turned to the communications officer.
"Connect me to their leader who wishes to voice his ideas. And send Nova Terra of the Ghost Division to their location."
Moments later, a large screen lit up before Arcturus Mengsk.
A white man appeared, dressed in the formal attire typical of the Protestant faction.
"I'm glad you responded to our call," he said. "On behalf of our people, we hope you will end this dictatorship and convey to His Majesty the Emperor that it's time for the Imperium Caelestis to become the Free Star Federation. We cannot generalize all aliens. There are friendly ones in this galaxy."
Arcturus stared at him expressionlessly.
"Are you done?"
The man straightened up proudly.
"Of course. We hope you and His Majesty will consider our proposal carefully. If not... we will storm your palace, Governor, and hang you."
There was a brief silence.
Then Arcturus raised his hand and made a throat-slitting gesture behind the man.
"I still have hopes for you..."
His voice trailed off. A cracking sound echoed, and the man's body was suspended in an unnatural position.
Nova Terra emerged from her camouflage, standing right behind the now lifeless body.
"Target eliminated," she said calmly.
Then she sat down facing the video screen of Arcturus Mengsk as if nothing had happened.
"All jokes are over. No need to hold back those who rebel—send them to the Penal Legions."
The religious priest of the Imperium Caelestis immediately ordered the personnel responsible to send the rebels to the Penal Legion.
"Soldiers! Fight them for a better future! Fight the dictators! Stop serving your own oppression!"
However, this protest was led by wealthy people who usually refuse to work and live arrogantly. In their eyes, work is not meant for them.
"Kill them!" the executive commanded, waving his hand.
Two heavy explosives installed on a high stage were fired at the crowd of protesters. They didn't expect Imperium Caelestis to actually dare to use brutal force to suppress the riots — something the Human Federation never dared to do before.
The puppet group they sent was mercilessly beaten until some lost hands and feet, and others became shredded pieces of flesh from high-powered bombs deployed by the Ministry of Justice.
Don't expect mercy even if they lose limbs — the Adeptus Mechanicus is ready to equip mechanical arms and legs for them, including replacing damaged internal organs.
Judges and investigators went door to door, arresting anyone who participated in or fled the unrest. They were ready to be sent to the Penal Legion.
There, they would tremble in the loving grip of the Inquisition, which was free to interrogate prisoners by any means deemed necessary — including all kinds of physical and mental torture.
The Ministry of Justice and the Inquisition are the most ruthless institutions in Imperium Caelestis, using every method to maintain their power.