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===Biology===
====Genetics====
The origins of the Navigator gene are shrouded in mystery and rumour,{{Fn|2f}}{{Fn|5}} even among Navigators themselves,{{Fn|6}} but firmly placed within the [[Dark Age of Technology]];{{Fn|2f}}{{Fn|5}} various sources date their introduction to [[M10]],{{Fn|7}} [[M15]],{{Fn|5}} [[M19]],{{Fn|8b}} or [[M22]],{{Fn|9}}{{Fn|21b}} in any case predating the re-emergence of [[psyker]]s in Mankind.{{Fn|5}} It is unknown whether they evolved on their own, or were manufactured by genetic engineering;{{Fn|2f}}{{Fn|10c}} even if the consensus pointed to the latter,{{Fn|7}}{{Fn|11}} either would appear to be a response to Mankind’s need to perfect [[Warp travel]].{{Fn|2f}} Since their appearance they began to extend their influence due to their crucial service within human society, forming noble houses that with waxing and waning times ultimately grew in wealth,{{Fn|7}} escaping the grasp of industrial and trading cartels,{{Fn|10d}} eventually establishing the Navis Nobilite well before the advent of the Imperium.{{Fn|12a}} It is of note that in M41 many held a belief that Navigator gene originated from the time just before [[the Great Crusade]] which took place between late [[M30]] and early [[M31]], manufactured by [[the Emperor]] himself.{{Fn|2f}} Some Ordos amongst the [[Inquisition|Holy Inquisition]] suspect that the ancient stasis vaults beneath the mansions of the [[Navigator's Quarter]] on [[Terra|Holy Terra]] contain records of the true origin of the Navigator gene.{{Fn|3e}} The aforementioned gene is easily lost through its recessive trait, and can only be saved for future generations through intermarriage, lost when bred with ordinary humans.{{Fn|7}}{{Fn|10c}}
[[Image:Dark Heresy The Lathe Worlds - Navigator's skull crossection .jpg|thumb|right|250px|Navigator's skull crossection, showing how the pineal eye connects to the brain{{Fn|52}}]]
Wider Imperial society generally shuns the [[abhuman]]s within their midst. While it's true that many are able to find their niche outside the scornful gaze of common men, the Navigators alone enjoy not only acceptance (albeit often begrudged), but nigh universal wealth among the [[mutant]]s of any kind.{{Fn|4b}} Many factions, political, commercial and private, strive to secure a deal with one of the noble houses of Navis Nobilite.{{Fn|2e}} Some are fortunate enough to enjoy complex bonds of honour, debts and patronage, like the [[Imperial Navy]] or naval aristocracies.{{Fn|20b}} [[Rogue Trader]] dynasties are often tied for generations to specific Navigator dynasties, creating lasting bonds of familiarity.{{Fn|12d}} Even if [[Warp Travel|Warp travel]] is vaguely possible without Navigators,{{Fn|2l}} their contracts are often one of the most valuable commodities after the spaceship, and a few mercantile powers of [[Imperial Commercia]] are known to maintain relations with some Nobilite families.{{Fn|2e}}
[[Image:Exterminatus 7 - Navigator.jpg|thumb|right|220px|Navigator participating in an on-board skirmish{{Fn|17b}}]]
Due to their status as a mutant, many Navigators lead sheltered lives, which their high status can allow.{{Fn|20a}} While some commoners react with hostility to the presence of Navigators,{{Fn|14c}} others respond either with amusement{{Fn|12c}} or indifference. This uncertainty leads many Navigators to try to hide their nature from the public,{{Fn|14a}} and even if the Imperium might tolerate them, those who don't are found in every corner of Imperial space.{{Fn|4b}} Some [[Space Marine]] chapters such as [[Black Templars]]{{Fn|2121a}} and [[Red Scorpions]]{{Fn|22b}} openly loathe contact with their Navigators; these intolerant groups would be directly opposed to the mutants' inclusion aboard their ships if it were not entirely necessary.{{Fn|2121a}}{{Fn|22b}} This behaviour is exhibited even among common men of the Imperium, and while many Navigators get a perverse pleasure from strolling down the corridors of ships on which they serve, on other vessels Navigators seclude themselves to their private spires, choosing not to interact with others;{{Fn|23b}} there is at least one instance of Navigator being forced to do so by overtly xenophobic crew.{{Fn|24}}
Notwithstanding the stigma of the mutant, the protégés of noble houses called [[Navis Scion]]s revel in attention, as it is their trade to be an approachable face of their lineage, and by truth or lie to improve the social connections with Imperial society, though often restricted to its higher echelons,{{Fn|12c}} with the intent of gaining reputation and thus more wealthy and influential clientele.{{Fn|3j}} In legal matters the whole Nobilite relies on the protection of the Paternova whose word is held in high esteem, often against that of any member of the Holy Orders of the Inquisition.{{Fn|3e}} As long as the Paternova does not brand a Navigator or their whole house as renegades,{{Fn|2g}} they may feel as safe as any high ranking noble within the Imperium can. While many Inquisitors hesitate to persecute even a single Navigator,{{Fn|4b}} some more radical Inquisitors{{Fn|4a}}{{Fn|25}} or [[Adeptus Ministorum|Ministorum]] members{{Fn|4b}} in their zeal to eradicate the heretic, the mutant and the witch are known to indiscriminately exterminate even those most vital to the workings of the Imperium.{{Fn|4a}}{{Fn|4b}}{{Fn|25}} Nonetheless, even if the ship's captain is found guilty of treason against the Emperor, the Navigator is granted immunity from any capital punishment that will be incurred on the rest of the crew in their shared guilt.{{Fn|26b}}
==Sources==
*{{Endn|1}}: [[Blood Reaver (Novel)]], Chapter 19
*2: [[Rogue Trader: Core Rulebook]]:
**{{Endn|2a}}: pg. 18-19
**{{Endn|2b}}: pg. 60-63
**{{Endn|2o}}: pg. 345
**{{Endn|2p}}: pg. 374
*3: [[Rogue Trader: The Navis Primer]]:
**{{Endn|3a}}: pg. 4
**{{Endn|3b}}: pg. 6
**{{Endn|3l}}: pg. 76-77
**{{Endn|3m}}: pg. 94
*4: [[Dark Heresy: Disciples of the Dark Gods]]:
**{{Endn|4a}}: pg. 168
**{{Endn|4b}}: pg. 172-173
*{{Endn|6}}: [[Sea of Souls (Novel)]], Chapter 3
*{{Endn|7}}: [[White Dwarf 140 (UK)]], pg. 59-60
*8: [[Warhammer 40,000 6th Edition Rulebook]]:
**{{Endn|8a}}: pg. 146
**{{Endn|8b}}: pg. 167-168
*{{Endn|9}}: [[Horus Rising (Novel)]], Timeline
*10: [[Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader]]:
**{{Endn|10a}}: pg. 132
**{{Endn|10b}}: pg. 148
**{{Endn|10d}}: pg. 272
*{{Endn|11}}: [[Warhammer 40,000 8th Edition Rulebook]], pg. 31
*12: [[Rogue Trader: Into the Storm]]:
**{{Endn|12a}}: pg. 28
**{{Endn|12b}}: pg. 76
**{{Endn|12g}}: pg. 229
**{{Endn|12h}}: pg. 242
*13: [[Deathwatch: The Achilus Assault]]:
**{{Endn|13a}}: pg. 10
**{{Endn|13b}}: pg. 85
*14: [[Wolfblade (Novel)]]:
**{{Endn|14a}}: Chapter Three
**{{Endn|14b}}: Chapter Six
**{{Endn|14c}}: Chapter Twenty-Three
*{{Endn|15}}: [[The Primarchs (Anthology)]] - [[The Lion (Novella)]], Part II
*16: [[Warhammer 40,000 Chapter Approved - The Book of the Astronomican]]:
**{{Endn|16a}}: pg. 2
**{{Endn|16b}}: pg. 28
**{{Endn|17c}}: pg. 8
**{{Endn|17d}}: pg. 12
*18: [[Dark Heresy Second Edition: Enemies Beyond]]:
**{{Endn|18a}}: pg. 21
**{{Endn|18b}}: pg. 95
*19: [[Rogue Trader: Stars of Inequity]]:
**{{Endn|19a}}: pg. 8
**{{Endn|19b}}: pg. 12
**{{Endn|19c}}: pg. 130
*20: [[Dark Heresy Core Rulebook]]:
**{{Endn|20a}}: pg. 159
**{{Endn|20b}}: pg. 255
**{{Endn|20c}}: pg. 285
**{{Endn|20d}}: pg. 326
*{{Endn|21}}: [[Deathwatch: Core Rulebook]], :**{{Endn|21a}}: pg. 39**{{Endn|21b}}: pg. 290*{{Endn|22}}: [[Deathwatch: Honour the Chapter]]:
**{{Endn|22a}}: pg. 20
**{{Endn|22b}}: pg. 36
*23: [[Rogue Trader: Battlefleet Koronus]]:
**{{Endn|23a}}: pg. 42
**{{Endn|23b}}: pg. 49-50
*{{Endn|24}}: [[Rogue Trader: Faith and Coin]], pg. 127-128
*{{Endn|25}}: [[Dark Heresy Second Edition: Enemies Within]], pg. 7
*26: [[Rogue Trader: Edge of the Abyss]]:
**{{Endn|26a}}: ''cover''
**{{Endn|26b}}: pg. 13
**{{Endn|26h}}: pg. 134
*{{Endn|27}}: [[Deathwatch: The Emperor Protects]], pg. 15
*28: [[Rogue Trader: Epoch Koronus]]:
**{{Endn|28a}}: ''cover''
**{{Endn|28b}}: pg. 8
*29: [[Dark Heresy Second Edition: Enemies Without]]:
**{{Endn|29a}}: pg. 29
**{{Endn|29b}}: pg. 31
*{{Endn|30}}: [[Only War: Core Rulebook]], pg. 319
*31: [[Rogue Trader: Hostile Acquisitions]]:
**{{Endn|31a}}: pg. 38
**{{Endn|31b}}: pg. 66
**{{Endn|31e}}: pg. 74
*{{Endn|32}}: [[The Inquisition (Background Book)]], pg. 61 - ''Teodor Minodya''
*33: [[Rogue Trader: The Koronus Bestiary]]:
**{{Endn|33a}}: pg. 116
**{{Endn|33b}}: pg. 119
*{{Endn|34}}: [[Rogue Trader: The Soul Reaver]], pg. 49
*{{Endn|35}}: [[Rogue Trader: Twilight Crusade]], pg. 23
*36: [[Deathwatch: Ark of Lost Souls]]:
**{{Endn|36a}}: pg. 61
**{{Endn|36b}}: pg. 126
*37: [[Rogue Trader: Forsaken Bounty]]:
**{{Endn|37a}}: pg. 17-18
**{{Endn|37b}}: pg. 21
*38: [[Rogue Trader: Citadel of Skulls]]:
**{{Endn|38a}}: pg. 7
**{{Endn|38b}}: pg. 26-28
*39: [[Rogue Trader: Lure of the Expanse]]:
**{{Endn|39a}}: pg. 36
**{{Endn|39b}}: pg. 73
*{{Endn|40}}: [[The Outcast Dead (Novel)]], Chapter 25
*41: [[The Emperor's Gift (Novel)]]:
**{{Endn|41a}}: Chapter 5, Part III
**{{Endn|41b}}: Chapter 5, Part V
*{{Endn|63}}: [[Hunt for Voldorius (Novel)]], Chapter 1
*{{Endn|64}}: [https://web.archive.org/web/20190703103748/https://www.warhammer-community.com/2018/11/07/7th-nov-blackstone-fortress-choosing-your-explorergw-homepage-post-1/ Blackstone Fortress: Choosing Your Explorer (posted 07/11/2018)] (saved archive page, dated 03 July 2019, last accessed 24 January 2025) Original link: https://www.warhammer-community.com/2018/11/07/7th-nov-blackstone-fortress-choosing-your-explorergw-homepage-post-1/
*{{Endn|65}}: [[Soul Hunter (Novel)]]:
**{{Endn|65a}}: Chapter II
**{{Endn|65b}}: Chapter IX
*{{Endn|66}}: [[The Lords of Silence (Novel)]] - , Chapter 3
[[Category:Abhumans and Mutants]]