Ferrata

The insignia of Forge World Ferrata, now a symbol of defiance for the surviving refugees.

## Forge World

### Affiliation

Adeptus Mechanicus
(Imperium of Man)

## Location

### System

Ferrata System

**Ferrata** is a Forge World that once stood in Segmentum Pacificus. Pressed by the dark forces of Chaos, its inhabitants were left with no choice but to flee, resulting in a brutal fighting retreat to their kin many lightyears away. This voyage, the Ferratan Exodus, took 9 years, and led with their arrival in the Zylos Sector.

## History

### Forge World Ferrata

Like many of its wayward siblings across the Milky Way, Ferrata was founded by Martian Explorators during the Age of Strife. It is believed that the original Ferratans were Corpuscarii Priests, leaving Mars during the Conduit Wars that rocked the world in ancient times. However, it remained in isolation for far longer than most other Forge Worlds. It was only discovered by the Imperium in M35, as Imperium forces moved into Segmentum Pacificus at the end of Nova Terra Interregnum. The first contact went well, and the Forge World embraced the Martian doctrine of the Emperor’s being the embodiment of the Machine God.

With the Forge World’s substantial production dedicated to the Imperium’s war effort, Forge World Ferrata soon caught the attention of Heretics to its North and West. They found themselves under assault by the Hereteks of Hellforge Fornax in the late 36th Millennium, aided by the dark Chaos Space Marines of the Iron Warriors. The attack, first landing on the mining outpost at Zephyr IV, met fierce resistance from Ferratan Skitarii. For days the battle was in contention, but the sudden arrival of the Imperial Knights of House Alaricum led to the rout of the invader and Imperial victory. Together, the Forge World and Knight House fought to clear the Dark Mechanicum from Ferratan territory. In the aftermath of this campaign, Zylpha Alaricum, High Queen of House Alaricum, was invited to Ferrata for a summit with the Forge World’s leadership. A treaty was proposed and signed between the two factions, binding House Alaricum to provide security for the Forge World, benefitting from its armories in return.

As the 37th Millennium dawned, Ferrata plunged into the Imperium’s Age of Redemption with fervor. Determined to get revenge for the attack against itself, its armies went on Crusade. Backed up by the full technological might of the Forge World, they struck at the darkness in the periphery of Segmentum Pacificus, waging a holy war of reconquest as was the norm for the two millennia following Vandire’s fall. More and more, they began to collaborate with other Forge Worlds, including the Forge World Epipolae. Epipolae was rather far from Ferrata, but they were able to make contact and had a bond as Ferratan explorators had, it was quickly ascertained, being the ones to settle Ferrata millennia prior.

As the 41st Millennium came to a close, Forge World Ferrata found itself once more threatened. Centuries of aggressive warring had attrited its forces, leaving its home space dangerously undefended. Hellforge Fornax seized upon this opportunity to take their revenge. The forces of Chaos attacked in 985.M41. Despite valiant resistance on a myriad of mining and refining bases, the Servants of the Omnissiah were pushed back and within two years Ferrata was under siege.

The Siege of Ferrata was a brutal slog, the Forge World itself aiding in the defense as Hereteks struggled over the polluted, built-up terrain. Millions of Skitarii gave their all, countless automata were destroyed, but the Imperium was nearly constantly on the back foot. After years of fighting on the planet, plans were drawn up for evacuation. The most valuable machinery was loaded onto great bulk transports, alongside the Forge World’s incomplete stockpile of Standard Template Constructs and the most powerful war machines in its arsenal. A force under Princeps Zentos Alaricum of House Alaricum made a stand before the last Forge Complex that remained in Imperial Hands as the evacuation ships took off. As the ships departed, they withdrew inside of the city and were only overrun after fierce fighting that spanned street to massive street.

### The Ferratan Exodus

Thus the defeated Ferratans fled, tails between their legs but their most important relics saved. Stationed aboard the massive Arc Mechanicus *Galactica ex Astra*, the top Tech-Priests of Forge World Ferrata and their allies gathered to discuss their planned route. At the behest of the new acting head of House Alaricum, Baron Metellus Phokion, they made haste for the Zylos sector, in the northern reaches of Segmentum Solar. That sector was home to Cuznov, ancestral homeworld of the Knightly House, but also Epipolae. Soldiers from Epipolae had fought with valor in defense of Ferrata, and now the leaders of Epipolae opened their arms to the refugee Ferratans. Still, the voyage was long and treacherous, with the Dark Mechanicus pursuing them across the vast stretches of space.

When they arrived in Zylos, they were met with the combined armies of the Sector, ready to help them fight off the small armada of Chaos warships that followed. At that moment, everything was thrown into chaos as a massive disruption surged through the Warp. At that moment, half the galaxy away, Cadia fell, and at that moment the Great Rift spread across the galaxy. This had no immediate effect on the forces arrayed, except that every psyker in the sector at once felt the power of the Warp surge through them. Many were killed, and many other driven mad. When the Heretics struck their blow, it was not at the refugee fleet, nor the Forge World Epipolae, but the Shrine World of Cuznov.

House Alaricum’s homeworld had undergone considerable change. Now under the administration of the Ecclesiarchy, it was defended principally by its own Imperial Guard Regiment, the Cuznov Templars. Quickly this garrison was relieved by Ferrata’s remaining Skitarii and Automata. Soon after the Heretics landed they found themselves trapped between the reinforced refugee fleet and the defenders, who put up unexpectedly dogged resistance. In the course of the battle, Ferratans fought alongside warriors from Epipolae and the rest of the Zylos sector. In a fierce fight they triumphed over the Hereteks and cleared a path for the Ferratans to arrive upon Epipolae.

## Military Forces

### Legio Ferrata "Ironclad" - Titan Legion

The Titans of Legio Ferrata have been an intrinsic part of the Forge World’s fighting force for millennia. Over its 6,000 year history, the Titans of Legio Ferrata fought in countless campaigns to secure the Omnissiah’s domain. When the Forge World fell in 990.M41, most of the Legion’s titans fought in the rearguard, sacrificing themselves so that the most valuable assets of the Forge World could depart. Some God Machines, however, were evacuated, and these Titans brought themselves, and their names, to Forge World Epipolae. In honor of the fallen God Machines, Epipolae’s own Titan Legion took the name of the vaunted Lost Legion of their comrades.

### Forge World Fleet

Ferrata’s fleet proved to be its source of survival.

### Enemies

* **Death Guard** -

* **Hellforge Fornax**-