Timestamp: 7.286.996.M41

Location: Hive Primus, Corax Secundus, K4 V 'OCG-001671A' system

Situation: Idling in Hive Primus, listening to Vern's rantings...

Body: You've been stuck in Hive Primus for two days now, with Xerza meeting a few times with the First Speaker, but apparently getting nowhere. She's in a foul mood, given to sitting alone with her Tarot and snapping at her poor staff whenever they get in her way.

The Corax system appears to have been colonized by humanity during the Dark Age of Technology, between 15 and 20 thousand years ago. The locals have very little knowledge of the past - the past and the future are as unimportant to them as they are to Imperial citizens; it is the now that matters.

Vern has nevertheless pieced together a few things:

The planet once had a much more pleasant climate and an extensive biosphere comprised of STC-compliant bioforms (indicative of extensive terraforming - a sort of techno-wizardry that allowed the humans of old to alter entire planets - if you believe such a thing!). More than 10.000 years ago, at some point during the Age of Strife, there was some sort of catastrophe that nearly killed off all life. Vern suggest that it might be linked to Corax' moon, but he hasn't the data to back it up - not that you really care. The planet has slowly recovered since then and now again sports a fairly decent biosphere, but with the STC bioforms adapting extensively by mutation.

Corax is still quite volcanically active, but less so than in the past. The Disaster heralded an age of volcanism and tectonic upheavals, but the current situation is fairly stable. The atmosphere is still quite polluted, but it is not directly fatal to humans. At least not in the short run - prolonged exposure could cause lasting damage to the lungs etc. Wearing a simple filter mask and a set of protective goggles does wonders. And surface buildings on Corax are filtrated and over-pressurized where practical to keep out pollutants.

Hive Primus is not the only such site on Corax; there are at least six other inhabited hives and a number of derelict ones (its safe to assume many would have been destroyed or crippled during the Disaster). But Hive Primus seems to be the richest and most influential one, with the others at least partially dependent on their 'parent' (Hive Primus seems to have accss to tech-lore the others don't and has the only fully operational spaceport).

The current inhabitants of Hive Primus (and the other hives for that matter) arrived here in the aftermath of the Crusade that brought Calixis Sector into the Imperial fold - they were refugees fleeing Imperial domination. Vern has no idea exactly whence they came, who they were, how many there were, or how they knew how to get here (to Corax that is - seeing as it's not listed as explored by the Imperium - perhaps their pre-Imperial society possessed archaic navigational data).

What he does know is that the refugees were led by a cabal of nine - the Founding Fathers are they are called on Corax. Even to this day the descendants of these Founding Fathers rule Hive Primus and by extension Corax Secundus. Or rather the seven remaining 'Houses' do - two of the bloodlines have become extinct since their arrival. Each of the seven Houses controls part of hive society (military, police, spaceport operation, hive maintenance, power and utility, hydroponics and flesh-vats etc.) and has a seat in the government; they are known as Speakers. One among them is the First Speaker - the chairman of the small council and the de-facto ruler of the planet.

The current First Speaker is one Madame Eoila Xolix, and tall and dry old hag that seems far too full of herself. Or maybe she's entitled to some air, being a sovereign ruler, free of any Imperial constraints? At any rate the other six Speakers are probably no better; the obese Frau Temera Hauptish, the positively ancient (and heavily augmented) General-Oberst Erik Brüller, the stern-faced Charles de Motaguinne, the almost painfully handsome Marshal Bill Tricker, barely-adult Kimberly Holt, and the positively alien-looking Ibhram Johammod.

Vern is certain at least some of the hives on Corax, and especially Hive Primus, must have harbored human life, but he can find no real references to it, save some vague hints to a great 'purge' or 'cleansing' shortly after the 'landing'. He calls it a 'hunch' but you know better than to ask - lest he start relaying the thousand and one bits of data that has led to that 'hunch'. The core of the matter is that he cannot believe that these people have managed to fully awaken a hive dead for 10.000 years; never has he heard of such a thing. But if they simply usurped it from someone else...

At any rate there hive-dwellers are no longer the most numerous of the planet's inhabitants. The Disaster may have broken the planet in the past, but the resulting volcanism has made it a fertile heaven, ready to be exploited by crafty freemen willing to work hard in the ruddy glow of the orange star filtrated through the polluted atmosphere. There people are much less reliant on Hive Primus than the hive-dwellers; they can make or trade with one another for most of what they need.

Of course, with the ork invasion many of the freemen have been forced to retreat to the hives, Hive Primus in particular. The paranoid might assume that this could be some plot of the Speakers to regain lost power, but if so it seems excessive to put it mildly. Totally insane is probably a more apt description. So its worth considering, but you must look for other answers as well.

One other thing must be mentioned; Corax is obviosuly not completely ignorant of the Imperium. At least one Rogue Trader regularily calls here, possibly more. And judging from the  jump prints Vern analyzed when you arrived there was quite a few warp-capable ships here. That, and the size and good quality of the spaceport suggests that the locals have some void - and perhaps warp - capability on their own.

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So, while Xerza negotiates with the First Speaker (probably to get you access to more crew and repairs for the Maiden - presumably) she's set the rest of you to gather as much information about the place as possible; a task made somewhat more difficult becuase you've restricted access to the hive and are always escorted while away from the appartment:

Vern is tasked with looking into local librariums and cogitators (too bad Venus isn't here - she could have worked miracles, but Vern and three savants will suffice) for more background data about Corax. He'll also take whatever other intel you can find and mesh it with what you already have, looking for obscure correlations and hidden truths. The rest of you can also contribute by speaking with the locals; Maxi with security, Ignace with some local scum (if he can find any) and Jarra with the PDF (if she doesn't scare them silly).

Meanwhile Xerza will take Anna with her to mingle with the upper class and see if anything comes out of that. Odessa has infiltrated the lower levels of the hive, while Haxtes has liaisoned with someone up-class. That's all for now - now go out and bring mommy back some intel.