Lithex Optimus

One of the three Lithex Forge Worlds that produce the majority of the sector's manufactured goods.

Panoptica, a feral world, is in the same system - feral world with a terrifyingly diverse biome, carefully managed by the biologians of Optimus. Samples are collected from across the sector and beyond and cultivated on Panoptica; these seeding projects induce reverence and fear in the scattered tribes who inhabit the intellectually fascinating but physically perilous planet.

# Technology

* Finest Collegium Biologis around, with the current head Magos almost always being of the Biologis school. Their medicae facilities across the Regalia sub are sought after by those who are privileged enough to access them, and their knowledge base is bolstered by centuries of extensive human vivisection thanks to a steady supply of research subjects from the Mosscoh system.
* Excellent at plasma engineering; licensed to produce many Ryza patterns and capable of constructing well tuned and reliable plasma drives.
* Forcefield tech - emplacements and voidshields mostly, but bespoke personal fields are all the rage in the spires of Cynn

# Politics

## Foreign Relations

### Relations with other forge worlds

Mutual knowledge-sharing agreements with Accatran

### Relations with rest of sector

Optimus isn't particularly involved outside of the Regalia sub, viewing Regalia as their domain. Does send support to the Excellon Line, particularly Astreus.

## Internal Power Structure

Though there is variation within the society (Optimus being a forge world of fractured opinions), on the whole the world is pro-Cawl. Optimus is the most radical of the Lithex worlds and their increasingly open approach to technological novelty has allowed some Optimus magi who would previously be called heretek to come into the light.

# Geography

World-greenhouse, with untold numbers of carefully cultivated plants being managed by hideous vat-grown servitors. Colossal rigid-bodied aerostats hover over the towering canopy of vegetation, distributing the servitors and collecting up crops using slaved harvesting vessels.

Optimus itself mostly grows industrially useful biological materials, in contrast with the wild ecological experimentation of Panoptica. Mechanicus research and manufacturing strongholds are hidden among valleys - sanguine red domes and towers protected by glimmering forcefields.

# Military

### Helix Troopers

The Deep Forest Gene Forges are an ongoing point of contention with Lithex Maximus (not to mention the ecclesiarchy), but they produce some of the most capable Guard forces found in the Sector. Though still a far cry from Astartes, the vat-born Helix Troopers of Lithex Optimus excel compared to typical imperial Guard and are highly sought after by Astra Militarum commanders. Ancient treaties obligate the forge world to provide regular deliveries of these elite regiments to the Departmento Munitorum, who in turn provide some measure of protection against criticism of Optimus' various questionable practices levelled by Imperial bigwigs.

Helix Troopers are deployed in small, specialised regiments that tend to be highly mobile and capable of relatively independent action, tending towards roles like light armoured recon and air cavalry. They come equipped with high grade materiel fresh off the forges, receive training alongside Lithex Optimus' own elite Skitarii, and are blessed with relatively simple but effective genetic enhancements that primarily improve fortitude and reaction time. Generally capable across a range of terrain, the Helix regiments are most at home in jungles, forests, and similar dense natural environments that provide opportunities for asymmetric tactics and concealment.

Despite not being clones (as the techpriests of Optimus will remind critics at any opportunity), Helix Troopers' regimental culture and individual behaviour tend towards an eerie uniformity, which has been likened to the bond shared between twins or cult members. This can be deeply unnerving for outsiders and often results in friction when deployed alongside more conventional regiments. The tweaking of their genetic makeup also comes with negative health repercussions, resulting in severe immunological issues in middle age and a considerably reduced lifespan. These drawbacks are thankfully mitigated somewhat by the nature of their specialisation, with high-risk independent operations minimising both contact with other regiments and probability of growing old enough for health problems to become apparent.