House Col'Khak

The Col'Khak Collective is an alliance of Knight Households founded on the frigid Agri-World of Atar-Planitia in support of the then recently implanted Forge World of Atar-Median. As such the Collective owes its fealty first to the Mechanicum -- through its bonded Forge World of Atar-Median -- and second to the Imperium.

History
Since its inception in the early years of the Great Crusade, the Col'Khak Collective has followed the strictures of the Sidon Protocols, effectively bonding it to the Atar-Median Forge. In accordance with the Sidon Protocols, Atar-Median supplies the Col'Khak with all the Knight armours it requires in exange for which the Col'Khak will fight alonside the Taghmata or the Titans of Legio Atarus whenever the Forge World would deem it necessary. Although still theoretically independant the Col'Khak Collective bows nearly entirely to the will of its Mechanicum allies. As such the Knights of the Col'Khak train diligently to function flawlessly alongside the Atar-Median Taghmata and the Titans of Legio Atarus. Such is the interaction between the Collective and the armed forces of its Forge World that any Household deployed alongside them quietly deferes autority over its Knights to the lead Princeps or Archmagos Prelate appointed by the Forge. The warriors of Col'Khak have long since adapted many of the rites and practices of the Cult Mechanicus to their use and display an almost religious reverence towards the technological artifacts of the Collective. Many knights voluntarily accept extensive levels of cybernetic augmentations, although the vast majority chooses to preserve their human appearance. It is rumoured that many of the most venerable scions of the Col'Khak are little more than preserved brain matter and life support systems, skillfully concealed behind golden or argent plated robotic bodies fashioned to ressemble an idealized human form. These however only represent a small minority amongst the warriors of the Collective whose augmentations are less extreme and more concealed.

Notable Campaigns

 * Dropsite Massacre of Istvaan V (566.006.M31) The Col'Khak Collective dispatched a full supporting cadre of Knights in assistance of the Legio Atarus demi-Legio sent to support the loyalist assault on Istvaan V. All were subsequently lost alongside the Titans of War Maniple Red Naga. The warriors of Col'Khak have since sworn revenge on the Traitors and eager to join battle.

Matériel Strength
The military strength of the Col'Khak Collective is currently unknown, it is whoever believed to confim widely to a Questoris-type Household. The Col'Khak are known to be extensively equipped with both the Magaera and the Styrix Pattern Questoris Armour, both models being manufactured continously on Atar-Median, which leads to the conclusion that the Col'Khak Collective is regularly used as anti-infantry support for the Legio Atarus.