Meet the 2 largest cellular fortresses of the Adeptus Astartes! The Rock of the Dark Angels and the Phalanx of the Imperial Fists!

The Rock

The Rock, also called the Tower of Angels ^{(or Spire of Angels), is the legendary house and fortress-monastery of the Dark Angels Space Marine Chapter. The Rock is an immense and highly effective ship, able to blasting even highly effective Eldar fleets into oblivion throughout the Battle of Midpoint. Fully outfitted with each Warp Drives and pressure fields, it’s also house to many historical and arcane applied sciences the Dark Angels have collected over the millennia. Overall operations of The Rock are overseen by the Master of the Rock.}

History

The Rock is regarded as a remnant of Caliban itself that survived the destruction of the world on the finish of the Horus Heresy. The Rock travels across the galaxy and visits many of the Dark Angels’ recruiting worlds, and the Watchers within the Dark patrol its halls; an instance of a Watcher is the small hooded being that follows Supreme Grand Master Azrael round, carrying the Lion Helm. The Rock is bigger than any typical class of Imperial warship and is able to laying waste to total fleets with its huge array of weaponry. The Rock is additional protected by a relentless escort of Frigates and squadrons of Thunderhawk Gunships.

Deep throughout the bowels of the Rock are cells through which the Fallen Angels are held. Luther is imprisoned there, saved alive over 10,000 years after his expensive betrayal of the Dark Angels. Luther rants and raves, claiming that he doesn’t want repentance or confession, for the Lion – who he claims is close to – will quickly return and absolve him. ^{Unbeknownst to any, the sleeping physique of Lion El’Jonson is hidden within the coronary heart of the Rock, guarded by the Watchers.} 

Shortly after the formation of the Great Rift, the Rock was besieged by Daemons led by the Fallen Daemon Prince Marbas. The battle was a mere distraction and was rapidly defeated. However, the Fallen succeeded in setting Luther free.

Unknown to the Dark Angels till Cypher knowledgeable them, for the final ten thousand years The Rock has had the traditional sentient machine often known as Tuchulcha hidden inside it.

The Phalanx

Phalanx is the cellular fortress-monastery of the Imperial Fists. Officially, the homeworld of the Imperial Fists is Terra, however in practical phrases, the Chapter has been fleet based mostly and used Phalanx as its major base of operations all through its total historical past.

Origins

The origins of Phalanx are contested within the background materials, of which there are two accounts:

• The Index Astartes entry for the Imperial Fists holds that the origins of the starship are unknown, however is believed to have been constructed throughout the Dark Age of Technology, predating the Imperium. In this account, the vessel was found by Rogal Dorn earlier than being reunited with the Emperor of Mankind. Upon encountering his father for the primary time, Dorn was manning the helm of Phalanx, which he supplied to the Emperor as a present. The Emperor declined and willed that Dorn use the ship in finishing up his command of the VII Legion.
• The Lightning Tower by Dan Abnett provides a more moderen however far much less in depth account, stating that Phalanx was constructed by Rogal Dorn himself and evidenced his excellence in establishing fortresses.

Post-Heresy

By M32, the Phalanx was already in a state of decay. Built to maintain a Legion, it was far too giant to be garrisoned by a mere Chapter of Space Marines. Most of its huge docking bays have been abandoned, and the Imperium’s incapacity to duplicate its historical applied sciences resulted in even minor harm creating vital operational troubles. Thus, throughout the War of the Beast, the Phalanx was moved to the world of area between Terra and Venus to not threat it towards the Ork Attack Moons.

Current Status

The Phalanx appeared throughout the Thirteenth Black Crusade over Cadia, destroying the Blackstone Fortress Will of Eternity after its shields have been disabled by Space Wolves beneath Sven Bloodhowl. When Cadia was destroyed, the Phalanx led the Imperial evacuation fleet out of the system.

Characteristics

Phalanx is gigantic, the scale of a small moon and is alleged to shine like a star. During the Great Crusade, the superior magnitude of the ship served as an emblem of the approaching period of the Imperium

The capabilities of Phalanx are substantial. Entire parts of the vessel are used to emulate totally different fight environments for coaching functions. ^{Her foredeck is so giant that it will possibly dock a dozen giant cruisers and has developed its personal ecosystem, full with distinctive species of animal life which have had their very own evolutionary historical past aboard the ship.}

As of the start of the Horus Heresy, the starship featured a gallery that displayed the battle honors of the Imperial Fists, which stretched for kilometers. ^{The ship continues to accommodate Chapter honors and relics. Among probably the most prized are the Remains of Rogal Dorn and the battle honor Roma.}

Sources differ on the overall form and exterior character of the ship. The totally different descriptions embrace:

• A construction of “towering forests of spires interlaced with flying buttresses.”
• A construction that leads observers to consider Phalanx “might have been a planetoid or minor moon,” maybe implying a spherical form.
• A ship that’s “many kilometers long, triangular in cross-section with its upper surface bristling with weapons and sensorium domes. Two wings swept back from the hull, trailing directional vanes like long gilded feathers. Every surface was clad in solid armor plating, and every angle was covered by more torpedo tubes, and lance batteries than any Imperial battleship could muster” and with “thousands of battle-honors and campaign markings all over the beak-like prow.”

Notable Locations

• Strategium – The command bridge of not solely the Phalanx but in addition the headquarters of the Imperial Fists fleet. The strategium accommodates the Hand of Dorn, which members of the Chapter renew their vows earlier than.
• Hall Martalis – The location the place Aspirant recruits are gathered and educated.
• Temple of Oaths – Shrine deep contained in the station. Once the religious coronary heart of the Legion, at the moment it’s sealed, for individuals who have been as soon as to permitted to stroll its halls with out go away from Dorn are lengthy useless.
• Cloister of Remembrance – Modern shrine and the closest present equal to the Temple of Oaths. It is right here the place captured trophies and battle honors are saved and the place Captains of the Chapter renew their oaths. The Cloister is unfurnished and austere.
• The Scriptum Ascenda

~ Which do you assume would win in a battle?

Dad, Gamer, Publisher, Pilot, Texan. All video games on a regular basis since junior-high.
I began BoLS Interactive in 2006. I’m a lifelong tabletop & RPG gaming fanatic, and web writer working to entertain and inform my readers every single day.
I’ve been enjoying RPGs and Tabletop Games for the reason that Nineteen Seventies. I’m been enjoying and overlaying Warhammer and Warhammer 40K for over 35 years.

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