Phonos
| Map | Basic Data | Planetary Image | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Name: | Phonos | 
|
| Segmentum: | Ultima Segmentum[1] | ||
| Sector: | Jericho Reach[1] | ||
| Subsector: | |||
| System: | |||
| Population: | |||
| Affiliation: | Contested (Adeptus Mechanicus / Hive Fleet Dagon) | ||
| Class: | Jungle World / Forbidden World | ||
| Tithe Grade: | Adeptus Non | ||
Phonos is an Jungle World and Forbidden World located in the Jericho Reach's Orpheus Salient region.[1] It is a humid, verdant world with a tropical climate with no known sapient indigenous life and no known settlement or habitation.
It is currently a battleground between the forces of the Adeptus Mechanicus and the Tyranids of Hive Fleet Dagon.[2]
Overview
Far from the Well of Night, in what was once the Zacchaeus’ Expanse Subsector, lays a small, jungle-covered world that might otherwise have come to support a human colony in its own right, but for the intervention of the Adeptus Mechanicus. The world’s original name is long lost to history, and it is now only known by a designation applied to it by the explorators who rediscovered it, based on the few data fragments discovered about the world: Phonos.
Only a few other details could be found within those fragments, including the location of the world, and references to an ancient Adeptus Mechanicus protocol referred to as the Nepenthe Imperative. According to what little information could be recovered on the subject, the Nepenthe Imperative is a Meme-Virus designed to spread to archives containing the targeted data, in order to prevent something being discovered. Many Magi consider the Nepenthe Imperative to be a myth.[2]
History
Little is known of the history of Phonos, not even its true name, but what little has been pieced together from data fragments and the initial reports of the explorators is as follows. At some point after the Horus Heresy, the Adeptus Mechanicus established a facility on an unclaimed world within the border territories of the Jericho Sector. The facility remained operational, subject to the will of the Jericho Sector’s highest ranking Magos as all Mechanicus Fiefs within the sector once were, for several thousand years. During that time, it adhered to a mandate of secrecy and isolation, limiting contact with the rest of the galaxy.[2]
As the Age of Shadow descended upon the Jericho Sector, the isolated facility cut itself off further, with all communication with the rest of the sector ceasing by the end of the 35th Millennium. It is believed that, at this point, the facility activated a stasis field generator contained within its structure, sealing itself off entirely. The last communication anyone received from the facility on the world now known as Phonos was a stream of unintelligible machine code, which forced its way between the minds of hundreds of astropaths, eventually stopping upon worlds containing datacrypts and archive repositories, cleansing them of any reference to the facility.[2]
An Adeptus Mechanicus research facility was discovered on Phonos in 7628812.M41 by the explorator vessel Mathemantic Insight, and it is this facility which is believed to contain whatever the Nepenthe Imperative was initiated to conceal. The facility itself is locked within a powerful and remarkably stable Stasis Field, which the explorator mission was incapable of deactivating, leaving the facility as yet unexplored.[2]
Soon after the initial landing in 7628812.M41, the expeditionary force began establishing outposts for a garrison force, intending to expand upon them when reinforcements arrived. Table Mountain, a kilometre-high plateau in the midst of the broad valley north of Facility Phi-Omega-Nu-Omicron Sigma, was selected to be the primary firebase, given its height and location, to provide anti-aircraft and surface-to-orbit fire against enemies attempting to land near the facility.[2]
In 8040813.M41, contact with Phonos was lost two weeks prior to the confirmed attack. Tyranid forces overwhelmed the bastions and firebases established across the planet, annihilating all resistance within days. The final Imperial stronghold was the Table Mountain compound, defended by the Gang Magna 632nd Regiment. The garrison held out for four days, using the elevated position and reinforced fortifications to repel land-based Tyranids. Anti-aircraft guns and defense lasers neutralized airborne threats, including Gargoyles. The defense ended when burrowing Tyranids bypassed the fortifications, emerging within the compound and slaughtering the remaining Guardsmen. The last transmissions were received by Battlegroup Argo upon its arrival at the system’s edge.[2]
Following the loss of contact with multiple planets within the Orpheus Salient, Lord General Mikal Curas led Battlegroup Argo to Phonos to investigate. Upon arrival at the system’s edge, they witnessed Hive Fleet Dagon in the process of consuming the planet.[2] The Tyranids responded immediately to the battlegroup’s presence. Under the command of General Curas, Battlegroup Argo engaged the bio-ships, delivering relentless salvos in an attempt to hold the line. Despite valiant resistance, they were outnumbered fifteen-to-one, gradually losing ship after ship. After eleven hours of continuous combat, the Mars-class Battlecruiser Cardinal Xian was boarded. Rather than fall to the Tyranids, its Captain detonated the ship’s reactor, sacrificing the vessel. With the loss of such a critical warship, the battlegroup’s fate was sealed. The Tyranids responded immediately to the battlegroup’s presence. Under the command of General Curas, Battlegroup Argo engaged the bio-ships, delivering relentless salvos in an attempt to hold the line. Despite valiant resistance, they were outnumbered fifteen-to-one, gradually losing ship after ship. After eleven hours of continuous combat, the Mars-class Battlecruiser Cardinal Xian was boarded. Rather than fall to the Tyranids, its Captain detonated the ship’s reactor, sacrificing the vessel. With the loss of such a critical warship, the battlegroup’s fate was sealed.[2]
Notable Places
See Also
Sources
- 1: Deathwatch: The Achilus Assault pg. 100 (Map)
- 2: Deathwatch: The Jericho Reach, pg. 124
