The Nexus Vaults
The Nexus Vaults – The Forbidden Depths of Velaraxis
The Nexus Vaults are a vast and mysterious network of underground chambers located deep beneath the surface of Velaraxis. These vaults are among the most secretive and dangerous locations on the planet, sealed away for millennia by both ancient xenos civilizations and, more recently, the Mechanicum. The Vaults contain powerful, forbidden technologies, arcane knowledge, and dangerous relics from before the Imperium’s arrival. Now, in the midst of the Horus Heresy, both Loyalist and Traitor forces vie for control of these vaults, seeking to unlock the power hidden within.
Structure and Location
The Nexus Vaults lie beneath one of Velaraxis' most isolated mountain ranges, in a region long avoided due to seismic instability and hazardous terrain. The Vaults themselves are a labyrinth of subterranean halls, chambers, and tunnels, some of which predate humanity’s presence on Velaraxis by tens of thousands of years. The Vaults are named after the Nexus Gate, a massive, ancient door adorned with alien glyphs and Mechanicum sigils, which serves as the primary entrance to the facility. The Nexus Gate was sealed by the Mechanicum centuries ago, and only the most powerful Tech-Priests were granted access to the secrets contained within.
Inside, the Vaults are a mix of ancient xenos architecture and more recent Mechanicum modifications. Huge, vaulted chambers stretch into the distance, their walls lined with strange, pulsing circuitry and alien machines. The deeper one ventures into the Nexus Vaults, the more dangerous the environment becomes, with automated defenses, shifting walls, and energy fields designed to prevent intruders from reaching the most heavily guarded relics.
The Secrets of the Nexus Vaults
The Nexus Vaults are believed to hold knowledge and technology that could alter the course of the war on Velaraxis—and perhaps the Heresy itself. Among the relics hidden within the Vaults are rumored to be Dark Age of Technology artifacts, xenos weaponry, and strange Warp-infused devices. Some speculate that the Vaults house pieces of an ancient, long-forgotten technological singularity, capable of unlocking immense power if properly understood.
Xenos Artifacts: The oldest parts of the Nexus Vaults are filled with relics from an ancient xenos civilization, possibly the same one responsible for other ruins scattered across Velaraxis. These artifacts include strange machines of unknown purpose, crystalline devices that interact with psychic energies, and weapons capable of warping reality itself. Both the Dark Mechanicum and the Loyalist Mechanicum are eager to seize these relics, though neither side fully understands the dangers they pose.
Dark Age of Technology Relics: The Nexus Vaults also contain remnants of the Dark Age of Technology, relics from humanity’s distant past that were buried by the Mechanicum when they first arrived on Velaraxis. These include advanced AI constructs, weapon systems capable of planetary destruction, and data logs containing forgotten technological knowledge. The Iron Hands and the Dark Mechanicum are particularly interested in these relics, believing they can be used to create unstoppable war engines.
Warp Contaminated Zones: In the deepest sections of the Nexus Vaults, reality itself begins to break down. These areas are believed to be contaminated by the Warp, possibly due to ancient experiments carried out by the xenos civilization that once inhabited Velaraxis. Strange, ghostly apparitions have been reported by explorers, and time and space seem to distort unpredictably. These zones are deadly, but they may also hold the key to unlocking the true power of the Vaults.
The Vault's Defenses
The Nexus Vaults represent one of the most coveted prizes in the war for Velaraxis. Control of the Vaults could provide a faction with access to powerful technology and knowledge that could change the course of the war. However, the Vaults are so heavily defended and dangerous that no single force has been able to claim them outright. The Vaults are a constant source of conflict, with skirmishes between Loyalist and Traitor forces taking place both above ground and within the labyrinthine tunnels.
Loyalist Mechanicum Operations: The Loyalist Mechanicum, led by Archmagos Xerak Thule, seeks to reclaim the Nexus Vaults in the name of the Omnissiah. They believe that the xenos technology and Dark Age relics housed within the Vaults could provide the Imperium with the means to end the Heresy. However, they are wary of the Warp-tainted sections of the Vaults and are determined to prevent these areas from falling into the hands of the Dark Mechanicum.
Dark Mechanicum Intrusions: The Dark Mechanicum, under the command of Magos Kryth Zhaan, sees the Nexus Vaults as a treasure trove of forbidden technology. They have launched several incursions into the Vaults, using corrupted war engines and techno-sorcery to breach its defenses. The Dark Mechanicum is particularly interested in the Vault’s psychic technology, which they believe can be weaponized to corrupt entire worlds.
Iron Hands' Crusade: The Iron Hands, led by Iron Father Garran Tyros, are obsessed with unlocking the Nexus Vaults’ technological potential. Tyros sees the Vaults as an opportunity to forge new war machines and perfect the fusion of man and machine. He has dispatched elite forces into the Vaults, often leading them personally, to secure the most valuable relics and crush any Traitors in their path.
Alpha Legion Sabotage: The Alpha Legion has infiltrated parts of the Nexus Vaults, using their stealth and deception to sabotage both Loyalist and Traitor efforts. The Alpha Legion has planted explosives, triggered traps, and manipulated both sides into weakening each other. They seem to have a deeper understanding of the Vault’s defenses than either the Loyalists or the Dark Mechanicum, but their ultimate goals remain a mystery.
Notable Engagements in the Nexus Vaults
The Fall of the Nexus Gate: The first major battle for control of the Nexus Vaults took place at the Nexus Gate, where the Iron Hands and Imperial Fists launched a combined assault to breach the heavily fortified entrance. The battle was fierce, with the Iron Hands using their advanced war machines to clear a path through the Vault’s outer defenses. However, as they pushed deeper into the Vaults, they encountered overwhelming resistance from the Vault’s automated defenses, and the Iron Hands were forced to retreat.
The Dark Mechanicum's Warp Breach: In one of the deepest sections of the Nexus Vaults, the Dark Mechanicum attempted to open a Warp breach using an ancient xenos device. The experiment went horribly wrong, unleashing a wave of psychic energy that tore through both the Dark Mechanicum forces and the Vault’s defenses. The breach was eventually sealed, but the incident left entire sections of the Vaults contaminated by the Warp, making them even more dangerous to explore.
The Battle for the Mechanicum Vaults: A skirmish between the Loyalist Mechanicum and the Alpha Legion occurred in the central Mechanicum data vaults. The Alpha Legion infiltrators had set traps throughout the tunnels, but the Loyalist forces, led by Archmagos Thule, managed to bypass many of them and reclaim key data repositories. The Alpha Legion, however, extracted critical data before retreating, leaving the Loyalists uncertain of the true nature of their plans.
The Future of the Nexus Vaults
The Nexus Vaults remain a critical point of conflict in the war for Velaraxis. Both sides recognize the immense power and knowledge locked within its ancient chambers, but the dangers of the Vaults continue to take their toll on those who seek to control them. As the war intensifies, the Nexus Vaults will remain a battleground where technology, Warp-tainted horrors, and arcane secrets collide, with the potential to reshape the future of Velaraxis—and the wider galaxy—forever.