Kovia Prime

### Military Forces

Kovian Shock Mech, Kovian Armoured, Kovian Planetary Protectorate corps, Kovian Special Operations Division

## Location

### System

Kovia

**Kovian Prime** is a wealthy civilised planet in the Segmentum Obscurus first colonised in 356.M41 that discovered the lost Kodiak APC which they returned to the Mechanicus, guaranteeing the planet alot of material wealth which would allow them to industrialise and become a well defended, relatively comfortable planet with mostly fair leaders who paid their tithes with minimal difficulty.

## **History**

First colonised in 356.M41 after the planet after its discovery by Rogue Traders. The planet was gifted to the noble family of House Ravus after they funded the struggling rogue traders and then, while members of House Ravus explored their new, untouched world, they discovered tunnels below ground that led to armories of Kodiak APCs. After a deal with a nearby Forge World, Kovia Prime became incredibly wealthy as House Ravus moved all of their assets to the new world, gaining complete control to build a realm to themselves as long as they could pay the Imperium. House Ravus have since converted the planets moon into an estate and headquarters for the houses influence, no other nobles even able to come close. By 461.M41 the planet is heavily industrialised and now brimming with over half a billion colonists looking for better lives, the nobles of House Ravus strictly regulating who had access to the planet when first colonised, giving priority to people loyal to House Ravus, those offered by the higher ranks of Luxagor-Major, and those of Rogue Trader Family Leyka. The first colonists only inhabited one continent, the others left with servitors maintaining them alongside inspections but generally left to fill themselves with whoever abandoned the rest of the planet and to be used for military training. The population of Kovia Prime swelled, reaching a steady limit of around 6 billion in 600.M41 with the population now dispersed across the planet, the population not growing as people were no longer incentivised to have as many children.

Kovia Prime soon became a very spiritual place, the population developing their own, strong culture. The planet proved prosperous, selling high-quality wares from their factories to various traders and merchants before giving the rest away as tithe. The wealth of the Ravus family has kept them in control since they first inhabited the planet.

In 998.M41 the planet suffered bombardments that killed over 200 million and caused serious damage to the capital city. The attackers in orbit also destroyed Kovia Prime's moon which killed over 200 million including Supreme Magistrate William Ravus alongside destroying the orbital docks that lingered around the moon. After the Great Rift opened in 999.M41 the planet was cut off, travel becoming difficult, leaving the planet to become self-sufficient and rebuild themselves as resupplies were no longer a guarantee. The planet was bombed in 998.M41 due to the fact that the planet produced some of the sectors best soldiers so may be an issue if there was larger uprising in the area.

## **Ecology**

The planet has many mountains with craggy wastelands nearby, the planet having very limited water supply. The limited water supplies have been supplemented by icy asteroids being pulled from the systems rings to provide enough water; the planet also has access to alot of underground water reservoirs that the population keep in reserve. Typically the planet is colder than Terra and is instead quite cool, though dust storms are common, with many sweeping across entire continents, laying down piles of thin dust. Most life on the planet is silicon-based and appears visually to be stone-like.

### **Flora**

Due to its slightly lower gravity the planets green spaces are covered in tall grass, spindly and tall trees rising high (the trees being silicon-based and therefore having a stony texture). The planet is also home to moving vines which grow towards any sign of heat, these stony plants commonly surrounding cities as they grow towards them, reaching out for the heat.

### **Fauna**

The planet is home to several small mammalian animals that, though rich in calcium and other beneficial chemicals, are almost all poisonous (though such poisons aren't very dangerous if the meat is properly cooked). Among the animals living on the planet is the giant Molluscs, their large shells protecting them from all but the most dangerous of weapons; these animals are frequently found hibernating, only awakening for a few months every year to hunt for prey before returning.

## **Culture**

The planets population are all fanatics to the Imperium, loyal to the Imperium to death. The population are traditional and militaristic, viewing their comfortable world as a luxury they only have thanks to the sacrifice of the generations before. Many younger Kovians who have only just reached military age feel that they have been abandoned by the Imperium after the Great Rift opened and that their loyalty is unfounded, this belief though is not shared publicly for fear of retribution and is not likely to have any sway. The belief that their loyalty is undeserved has decreased after the youths served in the guard and served alongside other members of the Imperium (especially after word of the Indomitus Crusade reached them though many still claim it to be propaganda and a lie to get the planets population to become more loyal). Typically, Kovians organise themselves based on the ranks of members with any in the Guard being above their equals in the PDF and those exempt from military service being viewed as below the rest of Kovian society. Despite the Kovian organisation structure many do not want to be in the PDF and instead view it as a cruel necessity and a service to their people, with House Revus being viewed as noble and important as the planets power and wealth is only thanks to their discovery and skilled leadership. Though the population believe that death in the military is honourable and respectable, a peaceful death is superior as it shows you survived to the end of your service and died safely thanks to the safety you could offer to your world and the future generations, old age being a sign of respect as anyone old enough to retire from military service is someone who has done everything they could to protect their world and lived through the experience, no premature death that stopped them from finishing their service.