Vigilance Domains

Orbital fortresses, manufactorum, and strategic center; all of these are appropriate designations for the bases of the Legio Kreuzius.

Established after the heresy within the vassal systems of the Hephaestian Mechanicus, these orbital stations are manifest bastions of the representative might of the Mechanicum. The Heresy and its aftermath fundamentally changed the disposition of the Hephaestian Mechanicus, and any real notion of trust in subordinate populations was effectively shattered.

## Formation and Purpose

In the wake of the monstrous betrayal by the heretics, the Forge spilled forth into the void and found that many of its domains had turned against it by the indiseous whispers and promises of the Warmaster. In absolute recompense, many of these worlds were crushed utterly under the very human wrath of the Machine Cult, their cities glassed and valuable technology stolen back. Those worlds which did not recant remain to this day as valued strip mines which feed the perpetual hunger of Hephaestia's forges. The legio itself was responsible for the burning of Cadmantium, New Constantine, and KOI-32-D; the titans descending en mass onto the worlds and leveling them continent by continent until nothing remained.

After the heresy ended and the Imperium entered its period of great scouring, the disposition of the Legion and Forge would change. No longer would vassal worlds live out their lives in normalcy, paying only in Tithes and manpower. Instead, the **Vigilance Domains** be created; colossal factory arks which orbited the worlds under direct Mechanicum control. Proverbial Swords of Damocles ready to slay a whole world should the need arise. Eight such vassal worlds remain in compliance with Hephaestia, and thus eight such Vigilance Domains hang in geostationary orbit above each world's capital, part of an array of weaponry created to raze the world as easily as one could defend it. Over time, the eight worlds would expand and contract, but the most important worlds to the Forge were always watched over by the Legio, and to this day, the Legio remains a powerful symbol of Mechanicum power.

## Political Function

The Legio is tied intricately into the structure of their Forge, and a considerable chunk of its time is spent enacting its goals. The Eight Systems under prime control of the forge which compromise its fief are each heavily fortified and utterly subservient to the will of the Machine Cult. The Vigilance Domains are placed in geostationary orbit over the Capitol Hive of the Capitol world of each system, their bombardment cannons pointed downward.

Despite the significant ground presence on each world of the Hephaestian Cult, the directing presence of the priesthood in system is located upon these bastions of steel and stone. From them, the defenses of the whole system are coordinated, as well as proclamations on policy, technological dogma, declarations of holy days and rites, and other administrative functions.

## Titan Presence

Each of the Domains is held overall in esteem due to the presence of the demi-legios of titans contained within. At any one time, the full compliment of titans may not be available, either due to deployment needs or petition from nearby battlefields.

Periodically any number of the garrison may descend to the planet below during days of celebration or civil unrest to walk the Giants Path; a circumnavigational planetary road designed to pass through as many manjor population hubs as possible to both inspire awe and fear. The movement and presence of the Titans in and out of system is kept a closely guarded secret by the Hephaestian Mechanicus as to not let the populace below know that the God-Machines may or may not be watching.

The typical compliment of titans per Vigilance Domain is as such;

* Warlord Titan x5
* Warbringer-Nemesis Titan x2
* Reaver Titan x3
* Warhound Titan x2

Occasionally, a domain will construct an additional titan to replace losses as needed or boost its force capability as conflict is expected to escalate in the region.

## Shipyards

To facilitate the maintenance of the Legio Coffin Ships and transport Arks, each station is capable of docking up to three ships at once within the dry-docks. The station is capable of producing Cruiser scale ships with some investment.

### Notable Ships produced in the yards

* Iron Wake; Legio Transport ship capable of moving the entire Demi-Legio at once.
* Glorious Evolution: Battlecruiser constructed in M39 for Battlefleet Ixaniad.