Catachan
Catachan is the most infamous death world in the galaxy. It is located in the Ultima Segmentum4-p27 and is covered in dense jungle. The planet's entire ecosystem seems consciously hostile to all foreign life. Each and every element of the native flora and fauna of the planet represents a real danger to any human. Catachan's only valuable resource is its people, who by virtue of being born on the harshest world in the Imperium, are invariably tough and cunning. It is home to the renowned Catachan Jungle Fighters regiments of the Imperial Guard.
| Map | Basic Data | Planetary Image | |
|---|---|---|---|
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Name: | Catachan | 
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| Segmentum: | Ultima Segmentum | ||
| Sector: | Unknown | ||
| Subsector: | Unknown | ||
| System: | Catachan | ||
| Population: | 12,000,0006 | ||
| Affiliation: | Imperium | ||
| Class: | Death World | ||
| Tithe Grade: | Unknown | ||
Contents |
History
Catachan was colonized by humans longer than Imperial records can remember. When the first probes arrived, the planet was a deceptive, calm green orb from orbit but when the colony ships crash-landed and the colonists had no way to escape, they awoke to find themselves on one of the harshest planets in the galaxy. The colonists only barely survived, holed up in their spacecraft against a living, besieging jungle, a battle for survival in which many undoubtedly died.1
Current conditions
Currently, the few settlements which can withhold the jungle forces are giant fortresses surrounded by vast plains which have been cleared to give improved lines-of-fire. Building on Catachan is difficult as vines and lichen take hold anywhere and poisons melt the mortar and vines can crush bunkers and tanks. Buildings must constantly be rebuilt, it seems that wherever they build the jungle redoubles its efforts to destroy them. As well as the jungle, the native wildlife gather to repel the human invaders and eventually the numbers grow enough to push the humans out of their settlement so they must resettle elsewhere.
In such dangerous surroundings, children are quick to learn survival tactics and only those who are fast and have a good natural aim survive to adulthood. Children often learn to shoot before they walk, much like Cadian children.
Flora and fauna
All of the animals and plants on Catachan are geared in some way to destroy humans and any other invaders. Every plant is poisonous, making foraging impossible. Some plants secrete pollen into the air which is poisonous and destroys air-filters. Others secrete sticky liquid to capture passing animals and slowly dissolve them. Other plants poison the ground and turn the immediate area around them into boggy wasteland to trap invaders. The native animals are as deadly to humanity as the plant life. The native Catachan Devil with jaws as big as a tank is a major threat to human living centres. The Shambling Mamorphs of the volcanic regions are also a major threat.1
- Catachan flora
- The Brainleaf, a vegetative carnivore, is a small tree, not particularly conspicuous on Catachan, but is able to attach its tendrils to the spine and brain of a person, taking control over their body. This creature may be an offshoot of the Tyranid Cortex Leech, a creature with similar abilities.
- The Spiker, another deadly plant, fires its spikes into its victims' bodies, which then releases a mutative chemical which literally turns the person into another spiker.
- The Venus Mantrap is a carnivorous plant common to jungle Deathworlds. It resembles the Terran Venus Flytrap by which it is named, but is far larger, and unlike the flytrap, it is able to move its leaves to attack and consume its prey. The Mantrap consists of a number of mobile leaves attached to a single immobile stem.
- Catachan fauna
- Grox, although originally native to the Soloman system3, the animals are prized for their highly nutritious and tasty meat, and have been introduced to many worlds throughout the galaxy, so that the Grox is now the most ubiquitous livestock animal in the Imperium. The Grox however are extremely ornery and virtually impossible to keep under control without some form of brain-implants or lobotomy - in Catachan they have become wild, and are deadly predators. Grox are used by a galaxy-spanning food consortium to produce the famous 'Grox Burgers'.
- The Shambling Mamorphs of the volcano lands are tough fighters and put up a good fight even against the Catachan Devil.
- One of the famous deadly animals is the Catachan Devil, a voracious predator, looking somewhat like a many-limbed scorpion. They can be as long as a land train but are very bulky and slow moving meaning that escape is possible.
- There are also many types of serpents on Catachan, including the Flying Swamp Mamba, the Coiling Death Cobra and the Catachan Black Viper, and are all deadly to most living beings. Some can kill in under 30 heartbeats.
- Great Barking Toads, although appearing benign and harmless, are literally volatile creatures: the creature is easily startled, and anything it finds threatening is liable to cause it to explode in a cloud of toxins which kills anything within a very wide (one kilometer) area, including the Barking Toad itself. The toxin is virulent enough that even respirators and sealed suits such as power armour offer no protection. They are known as the most toxic creatures in the galaxy.5
