40K Lore: Hive Worlds Of The Imperium
Today Loremasters, the Hive Worlds of the Imperium. Certainly there are many, as numberless as the enemies of humanity which beset them–but today, we focus on the few whose names repeat themselves throughout Imperial History.
That’s right Loremasters. Today we shall be focusing on those Hive Worlds who have left their marks on the galaxy. Yes it’s time to take stock of which Hive Worlds seem to have a Monopoly on relevance to the Imperium, and see what, if anything, we can learn from them. And make no mistake, there’s much we can learn from their hallowed histories. Without further ado, let us venture into the depths of Space and see what makes these Hive Worlds seem richer than the rest… they are:
Ichar IV
Ichar IV is a Hive World located in the Ultima Segmentum, to the galactic north of Ultramar. It is a vital industrial centre for the region, producing supplies for many armies. One of the planet’s major exports is ore and mycoproteins. At the beginning of the Second Tyrannic War, it was infested with Genestealers. A genestealer cult, operating under the name, “the Brotherhood,” instigated a rebellion on the planet that caught the attention of Inquisitor Agmar. The Brotherhood had control of the planet by the time Agmar arrived in the system. The inquisitor petitioned the Space Marine chapter, the Ultramarines, to help put down the rebellion. Marneus Calgar, chapter master of the Ultramarines, arrived 39 days later aboard the space marine battle barge, Octavius. Eventually, with the combined support of the Ultramarines, PDF forces and the Imperial Guard, the inquisition successfully destroyed the invasion and cleansed the planet of all Genestealers.
Verghast
Verghast is a Hive World located in the Sabbat Worlds. After the Imperial victory at Balhaut, the Chaos warlord Asphodel escaped the Imperial forces and eventually arrived on Verghast, where he corrupted the hive city of Ferrozoica and attacked the neighbouring hives of Vannick and Vervunhive. Vannick was destroyed by atomic weapons, while Vervunhive was subjected to a protracted siege. A relief force from the Imperial Guard joined Vervunhive’s defenders and managed to barely repel the Chaos attack, though the city itself was destroyed. Asphodel was killed in a commando raid led by Colonel-Commissar Ibram Gaunt.
After the war, Vervunhive was denied Imperial relief, and its population dispersed into other hive cities, some of which were newly founded. In the later years of the Crusade, however, a modest Imperial contribution was allowing Vervunhive to gradually reconstruct.
Necromunda
Necromunda is a Hive World in Segmentum Solar, and a major producer of munitions for the Imperial Guard. Necromunda’s forges produce lasguns, autoguns, shotguns and boltguns, among other weapons. The planet also levies huge numbers of troops for the Imperial Guard (most notably the “Necromundan Spiders“), as well as other supplies. Necromunda is typical of most hive worlds, its hive cites rife with powerful gangs.
Necromunda was founded 15,000 years ago as a mining and manufacturing colony. It had previously been a part of the Araneus Continuity, a small empire of Humans ruled by Techno-nobility. After defeating the Continuity, It was liberated from an Ork presence by the Imperial Fists during the Great Crusade, establishing the close ties between Necromunda and the Chapter. According to another point of view, it is not Orks but a brief defiance of the former Necromunda’s human colony against the coming of the Imperium unleashed a war that made an ash wastes from were hive-cities rise The ensuing millennia have not changed its basic purpose very much; Necromunda is still a world of mines, factories, refineries and processing plants. The planet is a vast powerhouse of industry, making thousands and thousands of different items for use throughout nearby planetary systems.
And there you have it Loremasters. Some of the most valuable pieces of property in the Imperium. Be sure and tune back in next week when we cover Mycoproteins and You, Fungus Among Us, Specifically Among Our Rations.
