Black Bastion

Departmento Cartographicae pict-file of Epsilon Remule VII, Death World, currently uninhabited according to official Imperial records.

## Location

### System

Epsilon Remule System

Watch Fortress **Black Bastion** serves as the headquarters for the recluse Deathwatch Adeptus Astartes of the Aethela Sector, located deep within the isolated Death World of Epsilon Remule VII. First constructed by a long since terminated penal workforce under Inquisitorial supervision in the late 37th Millennium, Black Bastion is a subterranean complex that has served as the central hub for all Deathwatch operations in and around the Aethela Sector, fulfilling the role of fortress, archive, garrison, command station and training facility for the myriad veteran Astartes brought to the Watch Fortress onboard the black-hulled Strike Cruiser of the Deathwatch, it's occupants keeping vigil over their assigned region of Imperial space.

Stretching out in all directions, Black Bastion's underground complex covers an area of 23km2 in all directions. Countless tunnels branching in every direction connecting a number of chambers together like some immense insect nest. Entrance can only be gained through one of the retractable landing platforms dotting the mountains resting above Black Bastion, these platforms of plasteel and ferrocrete, covered in pockmarks and other signs of weathering from the acidic storms constantly blasting the surface and scouring away all attempts by life to regrow, can comfortably fit a transport the size of a thunderhawk on it's surface, slowly retracting it beneath the surface into one of the many hangars dotting the upper levels of the Watch Fortress, adamantium blast doors sealing behind it.

Knowledge of it's location is a closely guarded secret outside of the Deathwatch and Ordo Xenos, the secrecy of the Watch Fortress being it's primary defense against those who would seek to undermine, or eliminate, the Deathwatch's influence within the sector. If it's location were to be revealed however, it's armored subterranean construction affords it immense protection from orbital strikes and infiltration, a series of orbital defense weapons and ground-based batteries serving as a deterrent to hostile vessels. The secrecy of the facility and it's protection are of the utmost importance of the Deathwatch, not only due to it's status as their headquarters, but also due to the fact that many dangerous alien artifacts and captives are kept within it's deepest chambers, any one of which being unleashed could cause untold devastation across Human populated worlds. It is for these reasons that Epsilon Remule VII had been chosen, it's status as a Death World and deadly atmospheric conditions deterring all but the most stubborn of investigators, whom are rarely ever heard from again.

As of the 42nd Millennium Black Bastion is still in use with the Deathwatch, the commanding officers within planning countless operations to stem the tide of rampant xenos incursions from all sides in the wake of the Noctis Aeterna.

## History

### Early History

The world of Epsilon Remule VII had been identified by the Inquisition's Ordo Xenos and their Chamber Militant, the Deathwatch, as a suitable location for the construction of a new Watch Fortress in the early 37th Millennium in response to rising alien incursions across the Aethela Sector of the Segmentum Ultima. Bringing in an immense labor force of penal workers and renowned architects in the Inquisition's employ, work on Black Bastion commenced in 237.M37, and concluded almost twenty years later in 257.M37. Eliminating those penal laborers still alive and ensuring the silence of all who knew of Black Bastion's existence without the proper clearance, habitation of the Watch Fortress began shortly after it's construction was finished.

### Present Day

In the present day, the warriors of Black Bastion are needed more than ever by the people of the Aethela Sector with the onset of the Noctis Aeterna. Ork WAAAGHs! springing up across the sector, incursions by the Tau Empires Fifth Sphere Expansion in the eastern regions, and rumors of something ancient awakening in the far corner of the western regions have pushed the Deathwatch to their limit as they attempt to respond to those crisis of most importance, most of it's Veterans moving from one deployment to the next in an unending battle for control of the sector.

## Notable Operations

* **Investigation of the Mortem Damnationis**
* **Hunt for Commander Lightsword**
* **Septimus VII Raid**
* **Vermiculus Fodina**

## Layout

Black Bastion consists of an ever-expanding network of subterranean tunnels and chambers shooting off in all directions within a 23km2 area, deep within the planets surface, giving the Watch Fortress the appearance of a vast insect hive when viewed on schematics and diagrams.

### Surface

Camouflaging the underground complex beneath it, the surface of Epsilon Remule XVII above Black Bastion is covered in a vast mountain range resting on the edge of one of it's continental islands, surrounded by an ocean of acid.

In this location, the Watch Fortress is almost entirely hidden save for slight disfigurations across the mountains covering Black Bastion, each one a camouflaged adamantium blast door concealing either retractable elevators leading inside of the Watch Fortress, or hiding defensive installations capable of intercepting and eliminating hostile forces in the event of an invasion.

### Interior

The interior of Black Bastion is a maze of corridors and chambers beneath the Azarian Mountain Range above it. Accessible only by retractable landing platforms, Black Bastion plays host to a number of specialized facilities dedicated to the housing, training, and deployment of Deathwatch Astartes, capable of housing up to a hundred Battle-Brothers at any one time, and equipped with enough arms and munitions to last years of siege.

## Watch Stations

### **Watch Station 'Eye of Mutalasis'**

Watch Station 'Eye of Mutalasis' is one of six Watch Stations spread across the Aethela Sector, a silent bastion hanging in the Mutalasis Nebula in the western regions. It's staff of generational serfs and tech-servitors maintain the station as it tirelessly monitors the regions surrounding it for any anomalous activity. In past times it's data would be collected by a messenger ship, though with recent reports of ancient threats stirring in this region of space, a dedicated Astropath has been assigned to relay information back to Black Bastion.

### **Watch Station 'Obsidian Hold'**

Watch Station 'Obsidian Hold' is the second of the six Watch Stations spread across the Aethela Sector. Located beneath the Ymirdian Range Volcanoes on Victras IV, Obsidian Hold is a specially designed subterranean bunker made to withstand the intense conditions beneath active volcanoes. Watching over the eastern regions, Obsidian Hold in recent times has been a vital post for relaying information on the ever expanding Tau in this area of space to Black Bastion, being assigned a dedicated Astropath to facilitate faster communication.

### **Watch Station 'Anchorpoint'**

Watch Station 'Anchorpoint' is an aquatic listening post located both above and beneath the violent waves of Dolsaal. It's location, and ancient stealth technologies dating back to the Dark Age of Technology, allow it to remain hidden from sight on this populous Agri-world. The purpose of Anchorpoint is to monitor local communications from nearby star systems along the northern reaches of Aethela.

### **Watch Station 'Gamatin's Fall'**

Watch Station 'Gamatin's Fall' is a voidborne listening post located in the Rameries Asteroid Belt, it's purpose to monitor the movements of the rampant Ork activity in the Vitu Sub-Sector. Previously maintained by an as of current unknown Imperial force, the station was found accidently found abandoned by an Imperial Navy system patrol vessel. ALmost immediately claimed by the Deathwatch & Ordo Xenos, all information relating to it has been destroyed in an effort to maintain it's secrecy from the large number of Ork Freebootas in the region.

### **Watch Station 'Highland\***

Watch Station 'Highland' is little more than a rockcrete bunker situated atop a lone mountain on Neutrus I, it's purpose to serve as both a staging point and listening post in the sector's southern region, an area of space that sees limited attention from the Imperium.

## Notable Personnel

* **Watch Commander Kyran Angevin**
* **Chief Librarian Mordechai Hiram Ainsijamon**
* **Master of Sanctity Mateo Tenebris**
* **Watch Captain Emile Carmine**
* **Keeper Eshmon Lescán**
* **Apothecary Aulis Jokela**
* **Apothecary** **Dungallah Birgonie**
* **Apothecary Honodia Thexius**
* **Apothecary Ian Creiche**
* **Apothecary Sacha Copus**
* **Techmarine Cedric Percival**
* **Techmarine Dorcha Teicneo**
* **Techmarine Marcas Den Cheàrdach**
* **Techmarine Skaar Desaan**
* **Librarian Ten-amen Ramses**
* **Watch Sergeant Marcellus Valerian**
* **Blackshield Dracus Numeron**
* **Blackshield Phyniks**
* **Veteran Aetha Solexan**
* **Veteran Arthur Waycrest**
* **Veteran Aulus Caelius**
* **Veteran Caelus 'Kal' Iranius**
* **Veteran Dagne Tidreth**
* **Veteran Dracus Numeron**
* **Veteran Fedir Orlik**
* **Veteran Gabriel Avilion**
* **Veteran Garevain**
* **Veteran Hu Fan**
* **Veteran Ku Manutele**
* **Veteran Loran Kaliad**
* **Veteran Naevius Ephrehn**
* **Veteran Obelius Cirillo**
* **Veteran Othiel Athalus**
* **Veteran Riccardo Trucco**
* **Veteran Saul Survivant**
* **Veteran Terryn Dalebron**
* **Veteran Thane Basfalt**
* **Veteran Tolan Rhein**
* **Veteran Tufidos Stellan**
* **Veteran Val'or Duran**
* **Veteran Varo Khral**
* **Veteran Velrik Horn**

## Gallery

Watch Commander Kyran Angevin, Archanid Warriors ChapterChief Librarian Mordechai Hiram Ainsijamon, Exorcists ChapterKeeper Eshmon Lescán, Emperors Spears ChapterVeteran Intercessor Tolan Rhein, Golden Swords ChapterVeteran Heavy Intercessor Velrik Horn, Wave Breakers ChapterVanguard Veteran Val'or Duran, Argent Leviathans ChapterVeteran Terryn Dalebron, Knights of Argent ChapterApothecary Dungallah Birgonie, Illuminators ChapterBlackshield Dracus NumeronTechmarine Dorcha Teicneo, Bloodmoon Hunters ChapterVeteran Scout Dagne Tidreth, Prædicators ChapterEliminator Caelus 'Kal' Iranius, Astral Carbines ChapterVeteran Intercessor Aulus Caelius, Ordinators ChapterApothecary Aulis Jokela, Sons of Iron Chapter1st Company Veteran Aetha Solexan, Death Spectres ChapterVeteran Varo Khral, Angels Iratis Chapter1st Company Veteran Tufidos Stellan, Scarlet Constrictors Chapter1st Company Veteran Obelius Cirillo, Minotaurs ChapterBlackshield PhyniksVeteran Intercessor Othiel Athalus, Angels of Repentance ChapterMaster of Sanctity Mateo Tenebris, Blood Angels ChapterTechmarine Marcas Den Cheàrdach, Steel Confessors ChapterVeteran Intercessor Loran Kaliad, Lightning Sons ChapterVeteran Biker Ku Manutele, Carcharodons ChapterApothecary Ian Creiche, Bloodmoon Hunters ChapterVeteran Intercessor Hu Fan, Thunder Ogres ChapterApothecary Honodia Thexius, Champions of Mortis ChapterVeteran Gabriel Avilion, Blue Flames ChapterVeteran Arthur Waycrest, Omega Knights Chapter