Ramilies-class Starfort

A  Ramilies-class Starfort are massive semi-mobile space forts capable of Warp travel. These massive edifices have been utilised by the forces of the Imperium since the earliest days of the Great Crusade. The Imperium's scant supply of gigantic semi-mobile space stations like the Ramilles are vital to the Imperial Navy as forward fleet bases and have formed a vital lynch pin in Imperial strategy for ten millennia. Each one is capable of shortening campaigns by decades through its deployment.

History
The Ramilies-class Starfort was supposedly designed by the hitherto unknown Adeptus Mechanicus artisan Magos Lian Ramilies from Standard Template Construct (STC) materials captured in the purgation of the "Stone World," Ulthanx. Bristling with weaponry, the Ramilies itself is heavily armed as befits its role and is fully capable of fighting off a fleet of attackers if need be. On occasion they are commandeered to be placed a permanent orbital bombardment emplacements over embattled worlds, or act as part of the defences of a vital system, such as Watch Fortress Erioch, the notable Watch Fortress of the xenos-hunting Deathwatch, the Chamber Militant of the Ordo Xenos, which is based within the Jericho Reach of the Segmentum Ultima. Often times, a Chapter of the Adeptus Astartes may be granted the unique honour of being placed in charge of one of these mighty edifices, utilising it as their Chapter's fortress-monastery. At any one time Cypra Mundi will include between six and 8 of these gigantic fortresses as part of its orbital ring. Some are used as Adeptus Mechanicus deep space research facilities for projects too secret to be placed near any inhabited world. Others have gone to the Inquisition to be used as hidden fortresses for that clandestine and all-powerful organisation.

Over the centuries blasphemously altered rebel star forts have been sighted likewise supporting Chaos renegade fleets. Such abhorrence is attached to these twisted parodies that they are pursued doggedly by Imperial Navy captains, but the last accredited destruction of one was in the Tauran Annulus in the 39th Millennium. Ork raiders have captured partially crippled Ramilies at least six times, most memorably in the notorious "Skaggerak Incident" during the Segmentum Obscurus fleet review of 975.M41.

Warp Capabilities
The Hyper-plasmatic energy conduction system used by the Ramilies is barely understood by the Techpriests in current times, but thanks to the STC system it is still reproducible and has guaranteed endurance of over 3,000 years. The greatest advantage of the Ramilies by far is that its powerful generators can erect a warp-bubble over the entire structure enabling it, with the aid of seventeen navigators and an attendant fleet of tugs, supply ships, warships and system craft, to enter the Warp and be towed to different star systems. This operation, always perilous, has resulted in the loss of over twelve hundred Ramilies stars forts in their ten millennia of service to the Emperor. However each journey has shortened Imperial campaigns by years at a time by allowing the Imperial fleet to move repair, command and resupply facilities right up to the front line, saving its ship's lengthy return trips to temporary supply bases or full repair dock facilities far behind the warzone. That such a rare and precious commodity should have been risked in transport all the way to the distant Jericho Reach and then left essentially unused speaks volumes as to the perceived value of the location - and of the overpowering reach of those who caused the fortress to be established there.

Quadrants
The Ramilies star fort is so large that its weapons, hits and defences are divided up into four "quadrants" representing the different sides of the space station. When the star fort is fired upon, determine which quadrant the firing will hit by tracing a straight line from the stem of the firing ship to the centre of the fort. Likewise, when ordnance hits it will be resolved against the quadrant of the fort it moves in from.