Darion Sector War

[Warboss_Waaazag]

A Brief History of the Darion Sector
304.M35 The fleets of Warmaster Asteron breach the Gossamer Veil - a vast nebula 6 light years across - and enter a region of space not seen by human eyes since the dawn of the Golden Age. All contact with the Astronomicon is promptly lost. The Asteron Crusade soldiers on regardless, winning countless battles against the most depraved and degenerate alien species.

309.M35 Admiral Soross leads the second fleet into what will become the Persyon subsector and, beginning with the temperate river world that would later bear his name, proceeds to carve out a swath of newly conquered worlds.

311.M35 Lord Admiral Octavian Sorgun, aboard the Battleship His Divine Will, lumbers into the Tetrion system with 17 ships of the line in tow. They have received extensive damage in engagements with an unknown foe and have retired to what augurs had determined was a mineral-rich system. Here they discover a pre-Imperial, system-wide human kingdom under the technological guidance of the University world of Turhko. Peaceful negotiations allow His Divine Will and all its 17 cohorts to repair and refit before returning to reinforce Warmaster Asteron as he battles the increasingly resistant alien Cephalon empire in and around the planets of Khskaya, Chiaktur, and Tzinkvala.

312.M35 Another pre-Imperial human planet is discovered, the boiling world of Xtarko. Along with numerous, warring hive-nations, Xtarko’s dense and steaming atmosphere hides the remnants of an Adeptus Astartes Fortress Monastery. The Aeonic Legion Space Marines Chapter has left behind partially altered stewards who have been awaiting the penitent chapter’s return for over six centuries. After a lengthy ground campaign, Xtarko is eventually brought to heel and in 320.M35 begins supplying Imperial Guard Legions to Lord Asteron’s dwindling Crusade.

327.M35 The Cephalon race is finally defeated and driven to ground beneath the chaotic waves of Khskaya. Two whole Legions - the all-female “Red Widows” Artemis 614th and the Valhallan 96th Mechanized - are retired and given settlement rights on Khskaya, establishing a strong martial heritage that will later serve them as an Astartes recruitment world.

335.M35 The Battleship Asteron’s Legacy takes up permanent orbit around a rainy, temperate world in the newly established Astero Sector. The planet’s largest moon - christened Bishop - has extensive fortresses built across its surface. This becomes the Sector Capitol. The Adeptus Administratum begins to establish order.

337.M35 The last of the second fleet, under the command of recently promoted Admiral Leeshii, attempts to escape the Gossamer Veil and return with news of triumph to the Imperium of Man. They are never seen again.

412.M37 For more than two whole millennia the Astero Sector and its subsectors - Persyon and Tet - flourish under an Imperium-like rule, but without the guidance of the Astronomicon order begins to deteriorate. Finally, from across the void, comes a new Crusade. This, under the guidance of the Bishop of Dianna, has come from the recently established Teme Diocese to the Galactic Northwest. The Age of Apostacy has reached Astero. For nearly seven bloody centuries Astero is ruled by the unyielding Ecclessiarchy. In the end it is the Sisters of the Ardent Shroud who finally free Astero from the very institution they once served.

114.M38 Astero is renamed Darion and the Sector Capitol is moved from the Cathedral world of Asteron and its Bishop Moon to the Imperial world of Dario. With this establishment comes the Adeptus Mechanicus’ colonization of the acidic swamp world of Omari. The long and ultimately bloody rivalry between pre-Imperial Turhko and Omari begins.

117.M38 Construction begins on the Ocean world of Gabriel as its tiny islands are converted into shrines and fortress abbeys to house the Order of the Vigilant Sisters under the Prioress Organa. The bodies of Saint Cyr, Saint Indira, and Saint Gabriella - the last survivors of the Sisters of the Ardent Shroud’s campaign to free Astero - are interred here.

119.M38 The newly established Heralds Space Marine Chapter arrives in the Darion Sector and establishes its Fortress Monastery on Dario, quickly incorporating itself into the ruling caste. The Heralds are an Ultramarines successor chapter and pride themselves on their parent chapter’s wisdom. Thinking they can emulate Ultramar, the Heralds begin to recruit from the noble houses of the sector and insinuate themselves into every aspect of Sector governance.

278.M40 A Tyranid splinter fleet invades Darion and immediately attacks the Prison Planet Ceel. The Heralds send six of its ten companies to eradicate the threat, but after severe losses, manage only to contain the threat at Ceel. All inmates and citizens of Ceel are considered lost, but the planet’s mineral riches are considered too vital to write off and so the planet is quarantined. The entire 3rd company is lost, and most of the Heralds’ remaining companies are reduced to less than half strength. The 8th Reserve Assault Company is permanently deployed to the Quarantine Fleet and begin to earn the nickname “Dragon Slayers”. For reasons still unknown the Tyranid threat has not moved beyond Ceel although all nearby systems remain on high alert.

789.M41 Tensions between Omari and Turhko finally boil over and the Heralds, who believe that every action they take is the Will of the Emperor, declare the planet to be Traitoris. Lines are drawn and many worlds side with Turhko, a long time supplier of machines, medicine, and knowledge. Within one year full-scale civil war breaks out and Darion and its subsectors are left vulnerable to the depredations of the expanding alien Tau empire. The Tau quickly seize the Agriworlds of Soross and Hant and move to threaten even more vital systems in the Persyon subsector.

791.M41 The Shrine World of Teme Impolshu, in the nearby Teme Subsector, launches a Sisters of Battle Crusader fleet hell-bent on securing sites of Ecclessiarchal significance throughout their warring neighbor Sector.

792.M41 Total chaos reigns across the Darion Sector. Its worlds are at war. Its cities in ruin. Who will gain victory here? Can the Imperium regain its losses and re-establish control? Or is Darion ultimately doomed; is its destiny to be under assault from all sides, consumed in an inferno of greed and devastation? Only you can decide this Sector’s Fate.

[Warboss_Waaazag]

The Tzinkvalan Campaign
Planetary Datafax: KVARJA

System Reference: Principle satellite moon of the Tzinkvala ice planet, designated ‘Kvarja’. Atlas Stellarum Darion; sub index Persyon, M38 reference.
Population: Negligible
Tithe Grade: Exactus - [Non] (With few natural resources and the constant threat of meteor impact, Kvarja’s single Adeptus outpost has been exempt from planetary tithes since its establishment in 614.M39.)
Geography/Demography: Kvarja is a dense world less than one tenth the size of Holy Terra that nonetheless maintains a semi-regular orbit within the ice rings of the planet Tzinkvala in the Persyon subsector. Light from the parent star, coupled with Kvarja’s irregular orbit, and the proximity of Tzinkvala means that Kvarja’s days and nights often last upwards of several standard weeks casting temperatures wildly from sub-freezing to the lowest limits of human survivability. Constant threat of impact from captured ice, rock, and other debris renders Kvarja’s surface a shattered wasteland of craters, and powerful winds carry particulate, crystalline dust that renders surface visibility practically nil.
Only a single structure was ever erected on Kvarja’s surface, that of an armored and shielded observatory, designated ‘Station Epsilon‘. Casting its gaze star-wards, the powerful magniscopes and analysis gear within Station Epsilon has served the Adeptus Mechanicus as a research station for well over two millennia. Moreover, the Inquisition has used Kvarja’s only asset as a monitor for the entire Persyon subsector and, in particular of late, as a way of tracking the movements of Tau stellar war craft throughout the region.
Never has population been a priority for Kvarja and, being a Mechanicus stronghold, its ‘citizens’ are mostly manufactured or else replaced from the near limitless supply of menial mono-tasked servants found throughout the slums of the Omari Forgeworld.
Governmental Type: Adeptus Mechanicus
Lunar Governor: Arch-Magos Atillas Bruun
Adept Presence: Less than 100 personnel - Adeptus Mechanicus/Chthonic, Adeptus Mechanicus/Technomantic, myriad lesser strata; servitor presence - menial, labor, and defense - significantly outnumbers their masters.
Military: No significant Imperial Guard or Naval presence. Defensive servitors number less than a cohort equivalent. Departmento records show ‘Station Epsilon’ capable of landing and billeting only a single company of Guard, sans armor and support, although at no time in its 2,178 year history has this action ever been documented.
+++Inquisitorial Addendum: Code Vermillion+++
Fortress-Observatory ‘Station Epsilon’ considered priority one asset. Loss of this installation would put a considerable dent in Battlefleet Darion’s ability to track and counter Tau expansionist tendencies. All personnel save principle Magos (++cross ref/168764/Nerfler Cogis/Maximus: Magos Castillo Agata/Chthonic; Arch-Magos Atillas Bruun/Biologis; Magos Snyya Duril/Technomancer; priority++), and/or data stack, and/or hard-wired Astropathic drone Klytho, considered expendable to hold or recapture this facility.
+++Referential decree: The Eyes of the Emperor Stare Unblinking, His Enemies are Right to Cower+++

+++Deathwatch Addendum: Code Omega+++
Fortress-Observatory ‘Station Epsilon’ status /Tainted/++Datacore and principle Magos rescued or retrieved 017.M42 by Deathwatch Team Aleph. Although station currently inert, a single Skitarii Phalanx (++cross ref.Omari Edict ALX70/Turhkon Suppression Forces++) occupies the facility. Efforts underway to cleanse and re-consecrate the almighty machine spirit within. Analysis of retrieved datacore suggests imminent Tau invasion of parent world (++ref.Tzinkvala Hive world++). Task Force Octavian (++TF Octavian composition+ elements of Heralds 4th company, allied Black Templars, and 7 divisions Errsian Storm Brigade++) enroute. Estimated arrival: 6 months.
+++We Will Prevail: May the Emperor Guide Them to Victory+++


Planetary Datafax: TZINKVALA
System Reference: Fourth planet from the star VGC6-81, in the Gorgi system, designated Tzinkvala, Ice Planet. Atlas Stellarum Astero (Darion); sub index Persyon, M35 reference.
Population: Approximately 575 million
Tithe Grade: Exactus Median (Since the end of Ecclesiarchal rule in Darion [++cross ref/176001/Nerfler Cogis/Minimal: Age of Apostacy; Astero Sector; Bishop of Dianna++] Tzinkvala has been largely isolated. Although its many sub-oceanic hive cities still produce in massive quantities, these goods are mostly distributed locally to fuel algal and plankton harvesting. Principle exports from Tzinkvala include foodstuffs, fresh water, extreme-environment survival suits, and machine components, as well as significant Militant tithes currently to the Omari ‘Martian Crusade’. With the threat of invasion imminent however, these Regiments have been semi-permanently stationed to Tzinkvala proper and, although officially designated ‘Infantry Only’, currently include thousands of locally fabricated submersible craft and armored walkers.)
Geography/Demography: Tzinkvala is a ringed Iceworld in the proximity of the ‘Basket Belt’ - a string of worlds in the Persyon subsector that largely provide food and goods to the majority of Imperial citizens in the Darion sector. Tzinkvala itself is largely liquid water with a massive layer of kilometers-thick ice at its surface. Surface conditions are unsuitable for human survival although a few scattered and heavily insulated ‘encampments’ do exist there. Largely these outposts are manned only by servitors and specially modified tech adepts. However, these frozen stations are vital to Tzinkvala’s continued existence for it is here that atmospheric gases are recycled and goods from below or off world are transferred.
Beneath the massive glacial flows, and tenuously connected to the surface via long, insulated tunnels, are Tzinkvala’s hive cities. Each hive is a collection of multi-tiered and encapsulated habitats or manufactorums; its teeming citizenry ply their trade within the labyrinthine gangways and frozen passages. An intricate mag-line traverses the under-ice, connecting the many isolated cities. Every section of each city-hive also maintains and operates its own submarine facility for commerce, harvesting, and travel.
Deep beneath the suffocated waves of this world lurk vast Cephalonic predators, feeding on the virtually limitless variety of chemo- and zooplankton species this world has to offer.
Like any world of this complexity Tzinkvala is home to myriad strata of Adepta. However, due to its unique isolation, Tzinkvala has suffered little in the 6,481 years since colonization. Tzinkvalans know a peace and prosperity, even a safety, unlike any other citizen of the Imperium in the Darion sector. Although they risk drowning if a seal fails, or freezing to death if their environments degrade or their equipment malfunctions, even the prospect of death in the tentacled clutches of some alien predator does little to dampen the mood of these fiercely independent people.
To this end, the Tzinkvalans are loathe to trust outsiders and Ecclesiarchal, Arbites, and Inquisitorial forces have each in succession learned this at their peril. Now this ice world is threatened from Outside and as the forces of the Tau Empire close in upon them Tzinkvalans are more determined than ever to defend their homes.
Governmental Type: Imperial Oligarchy; Semi-Autonomous Hive-Citystates
Planetary Governor: Lord-Elector Kuchinku Jagdiri
Adept Presence: Myriad Adeptus Administratum; Minor Presence: Adeptus Ministorum, Adeptus Mechanicus, Adeptus Arbites. Totaling less than 10% of the population’s total make-up.
Military: PDF comprised of 150,000 standing troops - all professional volunteers, well-equipped with local manufacture harsh-environment survival gear and imported las-weapons of primarily Turhkon manufacture [++ref.Tech-heresy/Omari Edict ALX17/Turhkon Suppression++]. Steady replacements from Omari have officially phased out use of Turhkon designs, but many veteran units still use their old weapons [++addendum status: classification High/High++].
Recent Regimental tithing has increased the standing military force on Tzinkvala by nearly 3 million fighting men and women, although these new recruits are primarily conscripts and lack both the superior training and weapons of the indigenous PDF. Status (Low/Average).
Locally manufactured service/maintenance walkers and harvest submersibles have either been converted or modified (++priority reference: Magos Augustine/Extremis: Heretek, [EXPUNGED]++).
+++Inquisitorial Addendum: Code Gamma/All Eyes+++
The high presence of Turhkon technology on this world renders all echelons of military command suspect. Should news of the ‘Martian Crusade’ (++reference: Omari Forgeworld, Magos Augustine/Evidenum; cross ref. Heralds Space Marine Chapter, Dario++) reach Tzinkvala, agents are authorized to implement Operation Stalker (++cross ref. [OMITTED], Assassinorium Agents in place: [OMITTED])
+++Tzinkvala Must Remain in Imperial Hands, Let Neither Heresy nor Xenos Trespass: Never Falter in Thy Duty, For Even the Mightiest May Yet be Brought Low by the God-Emperor’s Merciless Hand+++

[Warboss_Waaazag]

An Overview:
Weather and seasonal patterns: Although Tzinkvala does show temperature and weather-pattern change over the course of seasons like any other world, these changes are so negligible as to hardly matter. Surface temperatures remain lethal to all but the most heavily shielded personnel and even then survivability outside stabilized-environmental facilities is typically less than 6 hours. It should be noted that this climatic severity has been factored into Tzinkvala’s overall defensive strategy and is likely the reason the planet has not witnessed full-scale invasion.
Surface variety: Being essentially a frozen water world, Tzinkvala’s surface is shaped by the winds and the currents below. Wide, crenulated plains crisscrossed with crevasses and crystalline outcroppings dominate the terrain. Seasonal blooms of crimson algae paint bloody portraits across this world’s surface, but the only real variety exists near the spaceports. Strong, heated edifices of Humanity carve black shadows in the ice while wind and snow create immense drifts and bizarre glasswork patterns where the touch of machines momentarily render the endless glaciers to water.
Pre-war imports and exports: Imports: petrol, lubricants, trace minerals, and rubber from Khskaya, heavy metals and industrial alloys from Zleko, grains and fruit from Soross, grain from Hant, military goods and specialized industrial parts from Turhko, and high-grade plastics from Krokshii. Exports: extreme weather gear, submersible craft, fresh water, algal paste, frozen seafood, trace minerals - primarily to Khskaya.
Orbital facilities: Heavily shielded space port to receive commercial vessels; 16 high orbit defense platforms; 74 sub-light bulk transports. (++ref 16117/Surveyor Capt. Dartagn Cirillios/estimates: lost contact with autonomous platforms 6 through 10, 12; presumably destroyed by Xenos aggressors. Minimal contact with platform 11 is pict only [see ref A986.1414 Xeno ‘Manta’ class drop ship]. Enemy presence estimated at 6 ships of the line, 112 assorted other craft. Space Port intact but inactive. Recommend immediate counter-action; reinforcement of PDF. The Emperor Protects+++)
Defenses in place: Extensive surface batteries and interlinked, sub-surface defense network (++Imperial Reference Epsilon-Omega++ 138.M38 Omari planetary survey: ~/installation of surface defenses complete/self-replicating drones installed/hostile environment requires minimum maintenance cycle: 676 days/~++last known Mechanicus vessel in-system: Excelsior/Monitor Class Frigate 787.M41+++); current capabilities unknown. Hive cities heavily reinforced. Standing Military forces estimated at 150,000 individuals classified as Militia Elite, plus ~3,000,000 individuals classified as Militia Noviate. Minimal armor assets on hand. Regiments classified ‘Infantry Only’. Invasion Imminent.
Command structure: Overall command: Lord Marshall Goro Shokshvili; PDF Lord General Moldiro Otchiko; Regimental Commanders: General Adaf Kyanko and General Idira Tatmak; myriad lesser commands.

[Warboss_Waaazag]

THE BATTLE FOR TZINKVALA:
The battle for Tzinkvala is proving to be tricky and costly for both sides of the conflict. While the planet's harsh environment makes invasion difficult and defense easier, it also makes getting reinforcements to the places they need to be more than simply a matter of landing and disembarking. Often landings suffer casualties to the weather and the ice, or have to contend with enemy forces at the surface before ever making it to the battle beneath the frozen waves that they were sent to bolster. Taking and keeping any surface station is a crucial task to holding Tzinkvala. However, such a task is proving deadly not only from constant skirmishes, but also from exposure when the overtaxed generators suddenly fail. The red stains across Tzinkvala's icy surface are not just algal blooms anymore.

Surface Installations:
Batuu: ~6,000 inhabitants; mostly augmented Imperial and Mechanicus servants and/or servitors of various function. Batuu is the most populated installation on Tzinkvala’s surface. It is a sprawling complex of generatoriums, sealed landing platforms, and insulated habitats. Batuu has been the scene of continuous battle for at least 16 weeks. Tau forces have succeeded in securing only 23% of the total installation. It is hoped that the arrival of TF Octavian will be able to pinpoint non-vital regions of this occupied area and neutralize them from orbit.

Guulripsh: ~200 inhabitants; Guulripsh is the direct link to Hive Rostnova. Guulripsh’s critical defenses are dangerously low on ammunition and under-staffed. However, Tau forces have so far bypassed this miniscule facility; Imperial decree has already written off Guulripsh as a loss. The longer it holds (or is ignored), the longer Rostnova has to prepare its own defenses. May the Emperor accept these doomed souls into His embrace.

Ganatiadir: ~1,400 inhabitants – at least half pilgrims and itinerant Eclessiarchal personnel; currently reduced to ~500; Ganatiadir houses Tzinkvala’s Astral Shrine. This ice-caked cathedral is dedicated to that beacon of the God-Emperor’s Divine Light – the Astronomicon. Although dim through the Gossamer Veil nebula that surrounds the Darion sector, (++Classified Heretek//Omari Edict ALX53++) technology housed within the temple allows significant amplification of His Holy Light. Pilgrims come to bathe in the glow of divinity. Eclessiarchal presence ensures absolute loyalty (++cross ref. The Gana Sect/Ganatiadir Imperial Synod++) and unwavering faith in the face of Xenos infiltration. Scattered confrontation over the course of the first 10 weeks of this conflict has resulted in hideous losses for both sides. Less than half of all defenders remain alive and only the Cathedral & primary landing station remain in Imperial hands. TF Octavian prioritizes Ganatiadir as a primary landing zone. ++May the Defenders Hold Their Ground Till the Last Man Stands or Till the Last Drop of Divine Human Blood is Shed++

Pot’: ~3,000 inhabitants; Pot’ is the direct link to Hive Cherkessk. Pot’ is unique in that it delves deep into the Tzinkvalan surface ice; it is almost a hive in its own right, albeit with a tiny comparative population. Pot’ has been heavily bombarded, but this has actually worked to Imperial advantage. Most of its entrances have collapsed or been obliterated. Defenders remain, choking the Tau into narrow divides to be slaughtered. Pot’ has lost 58% of its structure to bombardment and Xenos occupy the uppermost 12 decks, including all surface landing zones. However, Pot’ is still classified as secure and Imperial defenders estimate it will still be under at least partial control by the time TF Octavian arrives.
The standing armies of Cherkessk have been redeployed to Hive Gorzy to confront breakthrough enemy forces.

Kabu: pre-war estimates a population of ~2,000; Kabu is broken, utterly destroyed. All inhabitants are considered lost. Kabu is the direct link to Hive Gorzy. Enemy forces have broken through and continue to pour into the planet’s interior from this installation. TF Octavian is instructed to retake Kabu at all costs.

Grigolet: ~900 (pre-war, current estimates unknown); Grigolet’s status remains unknown. Although Tau forces have broken through to the Micro-hive below (++cross ref. Letanki harvester facility++), they have done so only with enough forces to affect little more than a guerilla campaign. Also, no significant reinforcements have broken through in more than 3 weeks. Grigolet is assumed held; communications are either impossible or intercepted. Grigolet is classified as a Tertiary Objective for TF Octavian.

Suukhumi: ~200 inhabitants; beneath Suukhumi is a nexus of mag-lines. Surrounded since the beginning of hostilities, Suukhumi is re-supplied to withstand any length of siege. If the Tau think they can out-wait Suukhumi we will find the bones of their children buried beneath the ice of a thousand winters. ++Suukhumi Will Endure Indefinitely++

Minor Sub-Glacial Settlements:
Ochamchir: estimated local population is less than 10,000; hardly noticeable except that Ochamchir specializes in the production of huge transport submersibles. These undersea vessels rival the Maglevs as transportation of choice for Tzinkvalans. Recently Ochamchir has come to the attention of PDF command, securing contracts to mass produce military-grade ships for alternate transport/landing operations. The newly designated Ocham Class Submersible can deliver an entire platoon and all of its support personnel & hardware either through the existing commercial sub-sea ports or directly to a conflict area by means of boring through a Hive’s outer shells.
[PDF garrison currently estimated ~1,000 Militia Elite; ~1,000 Militia Noviate; 100+ Military Sentinels]

Guduat: this Maglev nexus nestles just below the Suukhumi surface station and boasts the smallest population of all Tzinkvala’s significant micro-settlements with less than 1,000 registered citizens. Mostly a repair and refueling facility, Guduat is also a bustling market town, with a thriving Brew Guild, significant Drawan [ref.Tzinkvalan black marketeers] presence, and numerous Maglev Guild Houses.
With no significant threat from Tau forces imminent, Guduat has become flooded with Imperial and PDF regiments moving from one warzone to another. This has bolstered Guduat’s criminal underground significantly, making it one of the most profitable and lawless places on the planet. [PDF strength fluctuates; no permanent garrison]

Letanki: with a population numbering fewer than 86,000, Letanki is considered locally as a Micro-Hive. This status is mostly a nod to the immense harvests this comparatively tiny facility draws in. Letanki specializes in the abundant black and red chemoplankton varieties found deep near the boiling core of Tzinkvala. At constant conflict with native fauna, Letanki nonetheless provides nearly 13% of Tzinkvala’s total nutrient export.
Scattered Tau infiltrators wage a guerilla war against Letanki harvesting efforts. So far these attacks have not resulted in a significant slow-down of efficiency. Local forces appear to have things under control. [PDF strength estimated 2,000+ Militia Noviate; >100 Militia Elite; facility secure]

[Tekatana]

Whatever this is.. I'm in.

[Warboss_Waaazag]

Whatever this is.. I'm in.

This is the beginning of a narrative 40k campaign. I'm hoping to finish and upload information for a half dozen planets at war within the context of the "Darion Sector". As chances arise I will also be running Dark Heresy, Rogue Trader and/or Deathwatch mini-campaigns (unfortunately not this GGG as I have commitment issues) that tie into this and then updating the information as those play out how ever they play out. The idea is that participants need not all be together at the same time in order to contribute. This way folks can play themed battles with whomever their regular opponents are and then PM me the synopsis of what occurred. Then I'll write up an after-action report, adding more and more to this narrative as we go.

What I have here is a basic overview of the Sector's history and the beginning of the Tzinkvalan campaign, where Tau battle Imperial forces, & Adeptus Mechanicus forces plot the eradication of what it considers 'Heretek' machines. There is the actual battle and then there's the 'hearts and minds' fight. On Tzinkvala, Imperial forces may encounter Tau, secessionists, Heretek companies, Adeptus Mechanicus Skitarii, or piratical interdictors (mostly Orks of the Red Toof clan, and Dark Eldar of the Infuriated Wound Kabal).

There is a hell of a lot more to come.

[onimachi]

can't wait.