The Abyss

The Abyss is an orbital secure Kelim Hierarchy fortification, where the Hierarchy tested with space rift theory. It was later consumed by Demonkin. It is in an unknown location, but presumed to be somewhere in the Milky Way. It features prominently in the Missions downloadable content for Black Hearts: Cataclysm and Black Hearts: Darkness Rising.
==History==
Created by Virma engineers in the Alliance of Planets, the Abyss fell into disuse after the Hierarchy was sent to the Andromeda galaxy. It was originally a prison for high level prisoners of war against the Kelim Hierarchy, but, upon the Elder's return, it became a testing ground for new technologies. 
The Elders were reluctant to fund more space-time research, as the memories of the Erkons were still strong in the Hierarchy's minds, but Vozef-Keyel, a Virma scientist, took control of the fortress and conducted many of his experiments there. By the dawn of the 3013 conflict with humanity, the Hierarchy had created a stable black hole within the walls of the Abyss. However, the creatures that poured out, Demonkin, were extremely dangerous, and after a major crisis, were locked up in the dungeons.
When Irini marines (Captain Enriquez's SpecOps team) suddenly showed up at the Abyss, the Hierarchy had just regained control of the Abyss. However, the Irini took control of the dungeon tower, and released the Demonkin so as to help them fight their way to the Abyss's docks. However, when the Demonkin betrayed them and revealed they wanted to bring their entire dimension's Demonkin to this one through the black hole, the Irini attempted to stop them by detonating the spatial reactors holding the black hole intact. 
While the Demonkin were stopped by this explosion, the black hole expanded to surround the Abyss, and it became a strangely stable core of this new black hole. A Yusrin SpecOps team lead by Commander Alares originally meant to control the Demonkin threat teamed up with the Irini in order to investigate a possible new threat lurking in the deep levels.
==Structure==
The Abyss is built in a typical post-modern Virma architectural style. It has several towers, each with connections to one another and a special purpose, and one central Keep, which housed the command of the facility. It is built on an artificial structure created to produce gravity and a dusty atmosphere, and orbits an unknown gas planet, albeit from afar. It has several defensive structures and turrets, along with a dock for ships to land and resupply the facility.