976. The [ secondary void station servicing the planet | moon | defence station in elliptical polar orbit | hive’s grand food producing biodome ] also has a large luxury facility for those with wealth and means, and services a clientele that ranges from the nobility from below to visitors from afar, both legitimate and criminal. The truths of what happens here are far worse than any of the gossip told by the envious.
977. [ canine | suidae | tapiridae | ursidae] based cybermals walk the corridors of the spaceport and the areas of the Great Gates, with and without handlers. They are trained-programmed to notice the smell of countless contrabands and when they find something suspicious the enforcers are automatically called to their area.
978. Visiting spaceships are expected to dock at one of the geostationary spaceports, Thereafter are goods and people taken by space elevator or shuttle to the landing and transportation field right under the spaceport. Vacuum transit-tubes, rails and bulk roadways connect the different fields with their nearby hives and greater settlements.
979. The top of the hive is an anti-voidship macro-cannon and its defences.
980. Organic material harvested from the [ seas | dead humans and animals | forests | algae farms ] are imported from [ other worlds | the outlands | other hives | the hive itself ], and rendered into thick, protein-rich gruel that is used to feed the larvae of insects. Having reached the optimal stage in their life cycle, the larvae are pulped, compressed, and shaped into greasy and [ loathed | foul smelling | disturbingly tasteless | unnervingly good tasting ] ration biscuits used to feed worker-serfs and military forces across the sector. The processing plants where these ration bars are manufactured consist of gigantic air-sealed breeding pens thick with countless trillions of larvae. Each of the planet’s hives has its own facility, usually located at the [ very lowest habitable level | most farther leaning spire | windiest area of the shell | prison area ] of its structure. Needless to say, only the very poorest and most downtrodden of clans are willing to work or live near to these facilities, for the levels all about are steeped in the vilest of stenches and vibrate with the constant drone of the creatures bred within.
981. Many of the hive’s countless institutions have been allowed to become reduced or degraded, with senior officials caring less for even the appearance of control. Some offices have been vacant for many years, awaiting replacements that may never arrive due to garbled or lost transmissions.
982. It is said that beneath the ancient foundations of the hive lie even older chambers sunk deep into the crust by the first wave of colonists, crypts possibly containing all manner of archaeotech and other relics of the Dark Age of Technology. Needless to say, these rumours draw all manner of treasure hunters, as well as worshippers of forbidden powers and agents of the Machine Cult. To reach these subterranean layers, an explorer would have to pass through horrid under-strata populated by countless outcasts and mutants, and there are [ no | few | many, but spread out over a long time, ] records of anyone discovering these supposed riches. Organised expeditions are discouraged, for they often trigger horrific uprisings amongst the feral denizens. The last time this undercity rose up, the city was set aflame, millions were slaughtered or dragged below, and it required a protracted campaign to finally end.
983. The centre of the Imperial Creed in the hive, and the world’s largest cult-place, is the basilica-spire, a colossal structure so tall its highest spires pierce the lower atmosphere, the higher chambers sealed against the near vacuum beyond, and only remain intact because they are held aloft by archaeotech anti-gravitic generators. The basilica-spire’s main nave is spacious enough to accommodate tens of thousands of worshippers at any one time, and its inner walls are lined with tiered gallery-chapels set aside for the use of the ruling classes. It is expected by all faithful citizens on the world to at least ones in their life go on pilgrimage to the basilica-spire and be there for a sermon.
984. The hive is an assemblage of impossibly ancient constructions, battle-scarred and with statues weathered to vague outlines. New structures have been thrown up to replace those that have come crashing down due to the weight of age and the ravages of war, but with each generation the refined forms and masterful techniques of the past are lost to these pale imitations of the originals.
985. On the planet exist numerous sprawling hives and “lesser” megacities, but only a minority are occupied at any one time, officially at least. The world has been assaulted, invaded or gone to war with itself so many times throughout its long history that its cities have each been abandoned, re-occupied, levelled, or rebuilt many times over.
986. The outland between the hive are used by the PDF:s and pre-outshipped Astra Militarum regiments for armoured manoeuvres and training with live ammunition.
987. The outland between the hive are used by the PDF:s and pre-outshipped Astra Militarum regiments for armoured manoeuvres and training with live ammunition. The last of these exercises, carried out [1D4+1] decades ago, escalated to an actual war as rival generals vied for supremacy. The resulting battle raged for three months before a Munitorum delegation could broker a cessation, though by that point very little of either army remained. The different sides are still bitter about it and want revenge against the others.
988. The [ Master of Pensions | Tech-Bishop of Etherics | Keeper of the Seal | hive-governor ] has been declared too old and infirm to fulfil hens duties, but the appointment of a successor have become mired in political infighting between the potentates and their backers. Without a duly appointed commander, a council to rule in hens stead have been appointed, until such time as that a successor have been chosen. This council has in turn become mired in internecine squabbles and bureaucratic rivalry, and their duties, organisation and holdings in the [ hive | planets | systems ] have fallen into a state of desperate unpreparedness. The hundreds of thousands of staff officers and menials now spend their time maintaining their own personal fiefdoms, all traces of cooperation slowly ebbing away.
989. The hive has a triumphal arch, tall enough to accommodate an Imperator Titan striding beneath it. It is traditional for newly-raised regiments to pass beneath the triumphal arch before boarding the troop ships beyond, the name of each regiment etched into the stone that it might be remembered for all time. It’s also a most-see for visitors.
990. The hive-governor is a person of great ability and a ruler much beloved by hens people. Hen takes as sacred the oath hen swore when hen ascended to the throne of the hive, and regards henself as a true and loyal servant of the Emperor. What hen does not regard henself as, however, is a loyal servant of planetary-governor. Having perceived the planet’s decay, and lack of proper responses to growing threats, hen has come to believe that planetary-governor is no longer able to properly govern and protect hens hive.