Genetor

"Subject species “Ork,” height is 218.6cm, 25.56cm above observed mean. Mass is 163.15kg, consisting mostly of dense skeletal structure and musculature, and 31.4% above observed mean. Epidermal layer is thick and lacking in nerve endings compared to the human norm. Pain response is... less than anticipated, demonstrating extreme tolerance for discomfort. Previous test has awakened subject, and it now attempts to free itself. Muscle relaxant administered to reduce disruptive motion, at 460% of human standard dosage—tolerance for chemical influences is considerable. Preparing to open chest cavity..."

- Genetor Aurelius Thoze, Adeptus Mechanicus Xenobiologist

Essentially geneticists, a Genetor is an Adeptus Mechanicus scholar who studies all matters genetic and biological. Sometimes referred to as the Magos Biologis, Genetors number alongside the Logis, Artisan and Magos ranks of the Adeptus Mechanicus as members of its ruling Priesthood, possessing access to knowledge and resources far beyond that of the lesser Enginseers and Lexmechanics. A Genetor's field of study makes him distinct from the majority of Tech-Priests, their professional obsession with organic life often making them seem strange to their more mechanically-inclined brethren. For the most part, Genetors differ little from other Tech-Priests -- they bear the same manner of implants, venerate information and understanding as the manifestation of divinity, and engage upon the Quest for Knowledge in much the same way. The difference is that they are not so quick to judge flesh and blood as inferior to steel and plasma, seeing living creatures as extremely complex and adaptable machines. Where some are content to make this observation distantly, others embrace it, seeking to improve their forms not with steel, but with better flesh and better blood. To an unknowing observer, a Genetor may appear little different to any other Tech-Priest when swathed in their robes. However, where most Tech-Priests’ mass is derived from steel reinforcement and implanted armour plate, a Genetor may have augmented himself with vat-muscle, toughened skin, and organic-reinforced bones instead.

Their interest in the organic not only pertains to the human form, but to the study of xenos life as well. The study of alien genetics, intended to better understand them and thus how to better slay them, falls to a sub-sect of Genetors collectively known as the Xenobiologists. The study of alien genetics, to understand how they function so as to slay them the better, is a common field of study for Genetors. Such knowledge is dangerous, and many Genetors have been condemned as heretics for claiming the superiority of a particular xenos’ biology to that of humans. Regardless, the presence of a Genetor, particularly a Xenobiologist, is seen as an asset by Explorator Fleets and Rogue Traders alike, as their knowledge of human and inhuman forms allows them to discern the nature of a newly-encountered Xenos or indigenous species, or categorise a new strain of Abhuman found on a far-flung world. Genetors are also known to introduce common Imperial animals to a new colonial ecosystem, such as the Grox, a large reptilian animal that serves as a common food source on many Imperial worlds.

The difference between a Genetor and a more conventional Tech-Priest is one of training, aptitude and focus. As is so frequently the case in the Adeptus Mechanicus, understanding begets power, which in turn begets knowledge, and only those who possess the will and the wit to understand that knowledge can properly obtain any form of status amongst their kind. A particular and unusual disposition is required to become a Genetor; the tendency to view organic life as a form of machine in its own right, rather than as the weak fleshy shell many Tech-Priests view it as. Beyond this, however, it takes mainly dedication and research for an Explorator to become a Genetor, using his knowledge of the organic sciences to aid in the exploration of the realms beyond the Imperium.

Genetor Philosophies
Within the Calixis Sector, Genetors have a particularly illustrious history - Xenobiologists in great numbers joined with the Angevin Crusade to study the aliens native to the region as their realms were shattered by the forces of the Imperium. Since that time, they have remained a noteworthy, if often overlooked, element of Cult Mechanicus politics within the Lathes and beyond, and they gather in significant numbers to join expeditions into the Koronus Expanse, seeking to be the first to new life to dissect and analyse. Over time, three distinct philosophies emerged amongst the Calixis Sector’s Genetors:
 * Primus Humanum - The first and oldest of the three philosophies espouses the purity of the human form as a vessel for knowledge, viewing the Emperor’s form as that of the ideal.
 * Apexists - The second and presently most dominant amongst the Genetors of the Lathes are collectively known as Apexists, believing that adversity breeds strength in the organic, and that the perfect organism is the one that has overcome every rival and every challenge; the philosophy itself is an adaptation of the writings of an ancient pre-Imperial scholar. human and that of the perfect vessel for knowledge.
 * Vogelists - The third philosophy, currently gaining favour amongst more widely travelled Genetors and causing concern amongst more traditional Genetors, is espoused by the Companions of Vogel, whose leader, Heydrich Vogel, returned from a century-long expedition into the Koronus Expanse and began preaching a creed of forced genetic and biological augmentation in order to strengthen humanity for the troubles ahead. Some believe that Vogel’s ideology verges upon heresy, and its suggestion that humanity is somehow insufficient in its current state is seen by many as being a blasphemy in its own right.