Argoth
| Map | Basic Data | Planetary Image | |
|---|---|---|---|
  Argoth |
Name: | Argoth | 
|
| Segmentum: | Ultima Segmentum | ||
| Sector: | Jericho Reach | ||
| Subsector: | Canis Salient | ||
| System: | |||
| Population: | 61 Billion | ||
| Affiliation: | Imperium | ||
| Class: | Hive World / Quarantined World | ||
| Tithe Grade: | Aptus Non | ||
Argoth is a Quarantined Hive World of the Imperium within the Jericho Reach's Canis Salient region.
History
Argoth, like the nearby worlds of Rheelas and Kaggeran, was colonised by the Imperium in early M32 under the expansionist mandate of a succession of Lords Sector. Little in the fragmentary records of that era remains, but there is no evidence to suggest that any of the worlds in what was then known as the Arkalas Cluster were anything more than a collection of backwater colonies adjacent to a well-travelled warp route.[1]
The uncertain history of the Age of Shadows does not mark Argoth with any particular significance beyond the mere fact that it survived that benighted era, leaving the world as little more than a footnote. Raids by pirates, traitors and heretics - commonplace across the Jericho Reach during the Age of Shadows - plagued the worlds of the Arkalas Cluster, by that point joined together as a single political entity referred to as The Unity, but history seems largely to have passed Argoth and its sister worlds by.[1]
This changed in the latter years of the 8th Century of the 41st Millennium, less than a decade after the conflict known as the Damocles Crusade. Expanding outwards from their home world, and having reached the coreward edge of the Jericho Sector, the alien T'au began to establish a strong presence within the region, variously conquering, treating with or simply colonising the worlds they came across. Argoth was a distant goal at the time, many months travel for even their fastest ships, but it was more populous than any other world encountered by the nascent Velk'Han Sept, and allied with other resource-bearing worlds, and thus a prize to be coveted. Swift messenger ships carrying Water Caste dignitaries followed the intelligence-gathering drone-scouts, conveying greetings on behalf of the T'au Empire and expressing a desire for peaceful cooperation, endeavouring to appeal to The Unity as like-minded individuals in a hostile galaxy. The T'au could attempt little more than this opening preamble before the Imperium arrived to reclaim their worlds. Unwilling and unable to fully muster a defence against the crusaders, the T'au fell back from Argoth, Rheelas and Kaggeran, while gathering a force to contest the Imperium on Wrath, closer to the worlds the T'au had already claimed. However, the brief time the T'au had been in contact with The Unity would be sufficient to shape the fate of Argoth and its sister worlds for years to come.[1]
During Operation Hammerfall, the Storm Wardens led the Imperial assault on the Arkalas Cluster. Chapter Master Maclir personally led the charge on Argoth, storming the palace of the senior leaders of The Unity via Thunderhawk assault. Within hours, all three targeted worlds were brought into compliance, and the Achilus Crusade swiftly advanced, leaving only minimal garrison forces behind. Months after the supposed conquest, The Unity and various secessionist factions, backed by the T'au, launched a coordinated rebellion across multiple worlds. Operation Hammerfall stalled as vital reinforcements were denied, preventing the planned assault on Ravacene. The Achilus Crusade's advance was abruptly halted amid a wave of betrayals. As Imperial Guard and Adeptus Arbites forces fought to suppress the uprisings, disaster struck—the Crusade’s leader, Lord Militant Achilus, was lost. The Crusade was paralysed by his death, and the conflict on Argoth escalated into brutal warfare. The arrival of Deathwatch Kill-teams, directed by Inquisitor Lor Tremayle, enabled the Imperium to eliminate key rebel leaders and regain control. With Lord Militant Tetrarchus assuming command, General Ebongrave was appointed leader of the newly-formed Canis Salient.[1]
Enraged by the loss of his conquered worlds and driven by his deep hatred of the alien, in 786.M41 Lord Commander Ebongrave ordered the quarantine of Argoth, Rheelas, and Kaggeran under General Order 169. Argoth suffered the worst, its reliance on off-world resources leading to mass starvation and violent anarchy. In the decades since, more than 90% of the planet’s population has perished, its hive cities descending into chaos. The world remains under Imperial Navy blockade, observed only by orbital auguries. Only at the express order of the Lord Commander, or by Inquisitorial mandate, can a vessel break the quarantine and venture to these forbidden worlds, though such permission is seldom given.[1]
Notable Locations
Hive Akirrorhineus
Hive Korianthus
Hive Tiestomadan
See also
Sources
- 1: Deathwatch: The Jericho Reach, pgs. 63 - 66
