State of the Sector 2023-07-04

This document is a summary of commonly known IC occurrences and rumours. This represents the various news broadcasts across Arkangel, conversations overheard in bars, briefings and such.

Diplomacy

A summary of what is happening in the wider sector.

The Arbour of the Righteous are pleased with Arkangel, diplomatic overtures towards them have advanced to the stage where trade has begun to flow between Imperial and Arbour space. The Arkangel Expeditionary Force do not yet have a fully-fledged relationship with the Arbour, but thanks to the work of the Lords-Captain this has taken a step forwards. The various merchant guilds and concerns that conduct trade out of Arkangel have joined in the calls to establish an embassy to the people of the Arbour upon Arkangel itself.

Unfortunately, the same cannot be said of the Blessed Multitude Trade Federation (BMTF) or The Font. Diplomacy has not advanced the relationship between the Imperium and these two star empires. Traffic from these areas remains low and the borders between Imperial space and the space of the BMTF and The Font remain closed currently. Word amongst the diplomatic corps attached to Arkangel is that both the BMTF and The Font are becoming increasingly nervous about the growing relationship between the Imperium and The Arbour of the Righteous.

The home front

A summary of what is happening upon Arkangel.

The Ecclesiarchy have expressed displeasure that only one arm of the expeditionary fleet was sent to defend what they see as wayward children of the Emperor on the borders of Imperial space, in the form of the Arbour of the Righteous, The Font and the BMTF, with the below being a quote from a recent sermon upon the matter.

“Whatever happened to the values of humanity? Charity, mercy, fidelity. How can we even begin to consider ourselves righteous, to be doing His great works. When we deny our fellows so? If we will not bleed for our wayward brethren, why then should they bleed for us?”

The mood of the Ecclesiarchy has however been balanced somewhat by the construction of the Great Cathedral under the auspices of a consortium of Rogue Traders led by Lord Captain Tollman. Even as the work crews took up tools, the faithful lifted their voices in praise of the God Emperor and this mighty art wrought in His name.

As such the Ecclesiarchy are on balance happy with the Arkangel Expeditionary Fleet but will likely continue to preach for the various Human star empires to be brought home to the Imperium of Man.

Whilst the Ecclesiarchy sing praise, there is brewing unrest, if not in fact growing schism within the Adeptus Mechanicus. This has been brought about by the strange machine entity brought back by Magos Karchev from Patroclus Rest. The growing schism upon Arkangel involves two binary factions. One which believes that the entity is a priceless example of a craft long lost to Man, a machine spirit that is to regular machine spirits as a Primarch is to a normal man. The other which cants that the entity is in fact an abominable intelligence, a dire threat to the existence of man to be subject to the strictest and most final censure.

As a result of bringing the entity back to Arkangel, Magos Karchev has become a highly controversial figure upon Arkangel and rumour has it that Explorator Group Kerris has diverted from its mission to return to Arkangel in order to investigate this matter and restore the Mechanicum to correct efficiency.

“We must be mindful that tradition is our bulwark. Whilst it may be that the Omnissiah has indeed blessed us with the return of craft we have long sought to recover. It may also be that we have been presented with a flawed data set to mislead our blessed calculations. Mankind must never again trust its destiny to iron without souls. Set all speed for Arkangel.” – Explorator Arch-Magos Kerris.

Meanwhile various financial bakers who sponsor sundry expeditions out of Arkangel and leading members of the Administratum are in uproar as a number of their investments have not reaped a positive return. This is due to the Icarus Promethium, petrochemical and mining corporation being blocked from lawful exploitation of its rightful claims upon Patroclus rest by the actions of Lord Captain Severina Von Den Tötten.

“I want you to back yourself into a corner. Give yourself no choice but to succeed. Let the consequences of failure become so dire and so unthinkable that you’ll have no choice but to do whatever it takes to succeed.” – Overheard in the trade floor in response to the mass suicide of several now bankrupt trading houses.

There is growing debate among the fleet in general as to whether or not Patroclus Rest should be declared a shrine world to the God Emperor or as a shrine world of the Omnissiah given the amount of archeotech littering its surface. Whilst the debate remains civilised for now, it is only so long before sectarian tensions will begin to grow upon the station.

“Cursed be silence, when the Omnissiah’s word should ring out.” – Formulae Technologia, Verse 4:7

“The words of the faithful are the mountains. But the deeds of the faithful are the world.” – The Gospel of Sebastian Thor, Verse 14:9

The representatives of the Astra Militarum and Navis Imperialis commend the heroic actions of the Rogue Trader fleets who defended Arkangel space from the encroaching xenos menace represented by the Drukhari and Ork raiders. In particular the Admiralty extends commendation to Lord Captain Alexander and Lord Captain Victoria for their masterful destruction of an Ork raiding fleet despite being heavily outnumbered by it. Clearly demonstrating that xenos savagery is no match for naval discipline and good, stout, Imperial gunnery.

“Your foe is well equipped, well-trained, battle-hardened. He believes his gods are on his side. Let him believe what he will. We have the Navy on ours.” – Attributed to Admiral Cane, Segmentum Pacificus.

The Lord-Generals of the Astra Militarum particularly commend the Borovich Dynasty and Cartwright Dynasty for their assault on the forward operating base of the hated Drukhari which led to the liberation of many thousand enslaved humans.

“Always, always lead from the front. Never expect a man under your command to undertake an action you're not prepared to make yourself.” – Commissar-General Delane Oktar.

In a show of doctrinal unity, both the Ecclesiarchy and the Cult of Mars have extended further commendation to Lord Captain Cartwright for his discovery and subsequent recovery of an ancient stained glass mosaic, depicting imagery of significance to both factions. The work has been dated as being from the era of the Great Crusade and both the Ecclesiarchy and Cult of Mars recognise the sacrifice in foregoing greater profits to instead protect this priceless relic. As such the Cartwright Dynasty are commended for their piety.

However both the Astra Militarum and Navis Imperialis point out that without entrenched defences such as regiments and naval patrol groups these actions may be for nought as further attacks are likely to occur in the future now that the xenos have been provoked.

Economy

A summary of the impact of events upon the economy of the sector.

The Arkangel economy remains buoyant due to a wave of expansion from the Maw, however this fledgling sector economy is also inherently unstable due to the current lack of unified banking protocols. As a result of this the cost of repair and resupply is projected to spike in the immediate future due to massive increase in demand for Mechanicum produced components and products which can only be imported through the Maw subject to heavy tax at current.

War

A summary of military successes and losses by Imperial forces in the sector.

The attack upon the forward base of the Drukhari was an overwhelming success, resulting not only in the destruction of the station but also the liberation of thousands of enslaved humans. This along with the destruction of the raiding fleet operating out of the base will result in the raiding efforts of the Drukhari being hampered in the sector, at least for a time. The fleet and the station suffered near total annihilation at the hands of the Imperial forces and as such there were few survivors.

An Ork raiding fleet was masterfully dispatched by the Alexander and Victoria Dynasties despite them being heavily outnumbered. This shall also hamper some of the raiding effort by the Orks in the sector for a time.

Unfortunately, no action was taken against the known Ork infestation within an asteroid belt inside the demilitarised zone and as such the Ork threat continues to loom. Both The Font and BMTF have suffered heavy losses to raiders, unclear as to the origin of these raiders however vast loss of human life. Meanwhile The Arbour has successfully held the line and remain bloodied but unbowed in the face of this aggression.

“A good soldier obeys without question. A good officer commands without doubt.” – From the Tacticae Imperium

Rumours

Rumours heard about the station and between the stars…

With the influx of individuals from the three human star empires and trade going back and forth, splinter cults of the God Emperor popping up on Arkangel and the surrounding space. In particular what appears to be a virulently anti xenos offshoot of the Red Redemption has taken residents in the lower decks and taken to assaulting and burning any non-humans they come across.

With the recent receding of the warp storms that had held sway in this sector for so long. Imperial monitoring stations have begun to detect transmissions of potentially human origin.

The previously identified Necrontyr tomb world apparently remains quiet.

Reports of notorious criminal and moral recidivist Gygax have been flooding in with numerous sightings across Arkangel space and human empire space. These sightings often offer conflicting or contradictory accounts

Sightings of agents of the Executor Tributae have been reported from some of the petty houses of Arkangel.

With the construction of the Great Cathedral, it seems that a cult dedicated to Brother-Captain Patroclus as an Angel of the Emperor has sprung up. If correctly cultivated this may enhance opportunities around the cathedral and the Arkangel fleet.