An Abridged History of the Tonitrus System
For the past ten millennia, the Tonitrus System has been an obscure Imperial outpost in the southern area of Ultima Segmentum. Imperial Rogue Traders in the distant past colonized Cephas in the hopes of converting it into an agri-world, but Tonitrus� remote location has made Cephas only marginally profitable as an agri-world. Imperial activity in the system is centered on the spaceport on Cephas Prime, Cephas�s largest moon. As a result, little is known about much of Cephas�s vast expanses, and ancient secrets live on, unperturbed by the Imperium�s xenophobic influence.
You see, the planet now known as Cephas to the Imperium was once an Eldar Maiden World. In the unfathomably ancient history of the planet, well before the 10,000 year reign of the Imperium, the Eldar constructed an elaborate network of Webway Portals across the system. In fact, the Tonitrus system has more Webway Portals than any other system within 200 light-years.
Deep within the labyrinthine network of the Tonitrus system, unbeknownst to the Imperial rulers, lies one of the best-kept secrets of the Eldar. Hidden in a secret chamber in the webway, only accessible from the outside when the celestial bodies in the Tonitrus system are in perfect alignment, sits nothing less than one of the Talismen of Vaul. The Farseers of the Craftworld Drudan have forseen the day that, with this Talisman, they cleanse the galaxy of the Necron scourge. But the strands of fate are difficult to unravel, and a number of other forces in the system may make the task impossible�
The Dark Kin, ever eager for opportunities to cause pain and misery, have taken over Cephas Prime. The isolated spaceport never stood a chance. Now the inhabitants of Cephas Prime live a nightmare, stalked by the sadistic agents of an ambitious young Archon. After a failed coup attempt, the Archon fled the Commorragh with his breakaway Kabal. Now he seeks to establish his own, second Commorragh within the depths of the Tonitrus webway, safe from the predations of his vengeful former allies.
The Tau Second Sphere Expansion has started to run out of steam to the galactic east of the Tonitrus system. The success of the Expansion through this part of the galaxy was more than even the most optimistic Tau planner could have hoped for. Accordingly, the frontlines of the expansion have almost outreached the limits of the Tau supply lines. Following a new directive from Commander Shadowsun, Tau strike forces have been sent out ahead of the Expansion to ready suitable worlds for colonization and agricultural production. The Tonitrus system was chosen as one of these worlds, and already the Tau are laboring to secure Cephas�s fertile soil.
The Orks first arrived in the Tonitrus system 200 years ago. An Ork Rok, apparently with Cephas Prime as its intended target, overshot the moon and crashed into the system�s asteroid belt. They conquered a remote asteroid mining station, but without interstellar travel they weren�t considered a true threat. 50 years ago, however, the Orks stumbled upon the Eldar Webway network. Upon their surprised exit on Arcos, they discovered the resources there for their Meks to rebuild their spacecraft, and the Orks are poised for a second shot at plunging the Tonitrus system into strife.
