Zaragoza

 

The planet Zaragoza sits on the edge of the great rift in the Vasar nebula.  This Imperial world is a frontier world that specializes in mineral and ice exports with some limited agriculture.  The planet is sparsely populated by Imperial standards with a total population of 750 million.  Mining makes up 80 percent of the planetary economy and tithe requirements.  It is ruled by the Imperial governor Rackmed Dowd.  The planet has a limited planetary defense force consisting of a mere 450,000 permanent full-time soldiers.  It does have an extensive network of militia forces and mining guild enforcers and paramilitary units that take up most of the planets security functions.

Mining operations also discovered large deposits of noctolith buried beneath the surface.  The availability of the noctolith, coupled with it's relatively small populace and proximity to the rift led to the planet being chosen as the test site of Archmagos Saronic's Blackstone psi emitter array.  The experimental array was hoped to allow limited astropath communications with Imperium Nihlis.  It would see the Watch Knights space marines chapter deploy a force to Zaragoza along with Mechanicus forces and pdf and astra militarum forces bonded to the Watch Knights.  

     Zaragoza contains three major continents in addition to the polar ice cap regions.  The main continent including the Planetary capital is Zagros.  The second continent Alameda is sparsely populated but is also heavily mined as it sports the most noctolith deposits.  The third continent Ulland was heavily populated with the beginnings of a hive forming until the opening of the great rift.  Psychic eruptions amongst the populace lead to warp rifts appearing all over the continent.  Daemonic incursions followed before the rifts were closed leaving a devastated area.  Chaos and xenos raids followed and Ulland collapsed into anarchy and savagery.  Gangs and scavengers roamed the ruins.  Witch covens hid and festered in the ruins along with increasing numbers of mutants and beastmen.  Various tribes formed and spread out across Ulland and Alameda haunting the vast open areas.  Some tribes were hostile to the Imperium while others saw themselves as apart of the Imperium.  Some tribes were pure scavengers and branded as heretechs by the Mechanicus while others offered service and were trusted allies.  The tribes and gangs of Zaragoza added to the challenge of ruling the planet.