Araneus Continuity

The Empire of the Araneus Continuity

The Araneus Continuity was a small Human empire which ruled at least six Star Systems from their capital of Araneus (later renamed Necromunda by the Imperium). Galactically close by to Sol system and Terra. The realm was destroyed during the Great Crusade.

Summary

The empire was allowed to grow due to the series of ancient Warp gates of unknown origin, which allowed fast travel between the various worlds of the galactic region. The empire itself was ruled by a cast of Technonobility, headed by the so-called the "Iron Lords".
When the Araneus Continuity encountered the Imperium during the Great Crusade, its people believed their empire to be larger and arrogantly refused assimilation. As a result, the Imperium sent the Imperial Fists to subjugate the Araneus Continuity. After the empire had been brought to the brink of surrender, the Continuity's Warp gates were activated and Xenos forces spilled from them, destroying all but the planet Araneus before the Imperial forces drove the enemies back.

History

Early histoy

It is rumored that long ago the Piscean xenos race were the first to arrive on Araneus (Necromunda), which at the time still had large oceans. It is said they were both cunning and violent.
Humanity is beleived to have arived on Araneus during the later stages of the Dark Age of Technolog, ruough in the 25m. 
In myth Humanity fought the Piscean in a viciouse conquest of the planet that last years. The legends continue, that the Pisceans vanished shortly before Araneus became consumed by "industry and war". The Delaque believe the Pisceans did not leave Araneus but instead took refuge in the subterranean oceans near the planet's core as Humanity first began to arrive.

Araneus Wars

After accidental contact with the Imperium, the Technonobility of the Continuity sent swarms of cybernetic warriors to overwhelm the Imperial ships that had entired their space. The Imperium next dispatched envoys, but the technonobility still refused compliance. The rulers even had the suggestion of having the Emperor submit to them as a vassal. The Imperium answered this ridiculous demand with sending in a section of the Imperial Fists legion.
It fell to Hashin Yonnad, Commander of the 39th Household of Inwit, to prosecute the war. Yonnad left Tallarn with a force of 20,000 Space Marines alongside a million Imperial Army and Mechanicum troops. The entire force struck as one, overwhelming the peripheral territories of the Continuity in a single day. The Imperial Fists were able to rapidly secure the Continuity's Warp Gates, preventing them from reinforcing themselves. Within two months the Continuity was reduced to a single world, Araneus. With no other choice, the Technonobility surrendered.
However it was at that moment that a new enemy emerged from the Warp Gates, small dark ships circling bloated larger craft. All that was known about them was that they came to destroy, and six systems burned as its stars were ignited. The enemy proved too much for even the Imperial Fists, and knowing there was no chance of victory Yonnad detonated warheads they had attached to each gate. Without their gates, the unknown enemy simply vanished. However the price had been high in this conflict, only a single world of the Continuity remain and thousands of Imperial Fists were dead. The Imperium saw the great destruction wreaked on the remaining dark world and gave it a new name: Necromunda.

Legacy

Despite the fall of the Araneus Continuity, the people of Necromunda continued to remember their lost independence for thousands of years and would repeatedly revolt against Imperial rule. Despite many purges organized by the Imperial Fists, resistance continued until late M33 when the last major attempt to restore the Iron Lords' rule, led by Tray'ayr Cyberia, was put down by Martek Helm'ayr. However, one more smaller-scale uprising to recreate the almost-forgotten Continuity took place at Hive Rothgol in 932.M35.
Even though the memory of the Araneus Continuity died in Necromunda's hives from this time onwards, it is believed that the planet's Ash Wastes Nomads are descended from the last free citizens of the Continuity. They appear to still pass down their sense of independence and hatred of the Imperium by M42.

Type

Geopolitical, Empire