Chapter 88 37:
The white, as the primordial color of the Empire, transcended its merely aesthetic function to embody the principle upon which Viltrumite identity is founded.
It represented genetic purity in its highest expression, the very essence of what it means to be a "child of Viltrum." In short, this caste as such serves as an identification for every Viltrumite, embodying the moral and symbolic authority of Viltrumite civilization.
The red faction, contrary to what one might suppose, was not represented as the military pyramid system.
This was, for all intents and purposes, a political and administrative caste. Although at present it is strongly associated with military culture and consequently, war, within Argal's original structure, red was intended for civil governance and imperial administration.
Red, as the color of authority and political power, was conceived by Argal to constitute the bureaucratic and administrative apparatus of the Empire.
This caste assumed responsibility for territorial management, interstellar diplomacy, tribute collection, administration of justice, and supervision of the colonies.
Its domain was politics in all its manifestations: from treaty negotiations, crisis management, economic planning, or resource administration.
These civil rulers worked in close collaboration with the military caste and the medical caste to maintain the functioning of the Empire, but their authority was theoretically superior in non-military matters.
After the Great Purge, the red caste suffered a significant transformation. The fragmentation of the Empire and the rise of military warlords eroded its authority, and many of its members perished in the conflicts that devastated Viltrumite civilization. Unification under Thragg partially restored its status, but the new imperial order considerably tilted its favor toward the gray caste, reflecting the militaristic nature of the Regent's regime. Practically speaking, they were absorbed by the military caste without resistance on their part (not that it would have done much good anyway).
Despite this loss of relative influence, the red caste remains essential for the functioning of the Empire, being responsible for territorial administration and the management of subjugated races.
The gray faction, to this day, is the military caste par excellence within the Viltrumite system. Every soldier is identified through that color, regardless of rank.
Whether warriors, officers, field commanders, or generals, they always maintained their distinction among their own people.
This faction was also the one that currently held the political and administrative power of the Empire through the red faction.
Gray, as the color of war and combat, was conceived by Argal to constitute the armed branch of the Empire. This caste, possibly the most numerous and certainly the most visible on the imperial frontiers, assumed responsibility for territorial expansion, pacification of conquered worlds, and defense of the imperial borders.
Its domain was war in all its conceivable forms; from the planning of interstellar strategies to hand-to-hand combat.
They were also very demanding regarding supply logistics and military intelligence.
The internal organization of the gray caste was a strong supporter of genetic hierarchy, as its largest proprietors within the Empire.
With higher-class generals commanding legions composed of lower-ranked soldiers, this pyramidal structure ensured that military command fell upon those Viltrumites with the highest genetic purity, while Viltrumites of lower classes were left with military service as the most viable path toward recognition and limited social mobility, mating rights and the formation of offspring, change of status and classification through merit.
The natives of the Dorymathos received their gray fauld upon completing their basic training and being considered soldiers, marking their transition from recruits to warriors.
In fact, only Viltrumites graduated from the dorymathos had the right to wear it; an average Viltrumite soldier would probably take an entire lifetime to be considered worthy of carrying such an honor, therefore, generally they only possessed the prized insignia of the imperial flag in gray over their right shoulder.
This faction is the sword of the Empire, the force that materializes the Regent's will and extends Viltrumite dominion throughout the galaxy.
The berserkers, at least within this faction, represent an extreme subcategory inside the gray caste. Although they are officially part of the same system, these warriors have transcended the limits of conventional military discipline, surrendering themselves to a destructive fury that turns them into weapons of mass devastation.
The equivalent of the Empire's nuclear bombs. If you dropped one onto a planet, it was likely that for the next 3 segments (hours) the entire surface would be incinerated due to acceleration through the atmosphere; and only if the berserker decided to be merciful.
The influence of the gray caste reached its highest point during the Great Purge, when military warlords fragmented the Empire and fought for power for centuries. This period of military domination had lasting consequences for the Viltrumite political structure, eroding the authority of the red caste and establishing a precedent of governance based on strength that Thragg would consolidate following his unification.
Yellow, associated with healing and biological knowledge, was designated by Argal to manage every aspect of Viltrumite health and genetic optimization, not to mention that they possess all knowledge related to intelligent atoms, which remains heavily guarded in extremely primitive archives to prevent the leakage of information.
This caste, although less visible than the red one, was and continues to be fundamental to maintaining the genetic purity system that sustains the entire imperial order; they supervise the gestation process in incubation chambers, evaluate the genetic purity of newborns, and determine the classification of each new member of the species.
The structure of the medical caste was notably hierarchical, with the highest-ranking physicians (with three bars on their chest) supervising entire sectors of imperial healthcare. These elite doctors not only possessed exceptional technical knowledge, but also exercised considerable authority, being able to determine the fate of natives who failed to meet the required standards of purity.
Their role in implementing the genetic purity system helped maintain the racial homogeneity that characterized the Viltrumites, but it was also responsible for the elimination of individuals who, although genetically "impure," could have contributed diversity and resilience to the species.