Watch Fortress Malepertus

Located towards the western border of the Eressa Sector, Malepertus is the headquarter of the Deathwatch and serves as the first bastion against the many Xenos incursion plaguing the sector. From here, Watch Commander Todtgrimm sends the many Kill-Teams on their uncountable missions.

History
While many Chapters of the Astartes were involved in the Macharian Crusade and the subsequent pacification of the Macharian Heresy, the closing years of the 41st Millennium held uncounted challenges for the Imperium. This forced the deployment of the Astartes elsewhere, leaving the distant Eressa Sector to the many, often otherwise occupied regiments of the Astra Militarum. Eventually though, the need to combat the many Eldar and Ork forces demanded a more specialized force and so, it was decided to permanently maintain a Watch Fortress.

The Malepertus
Almost coinciding with the arrival of the first Deathwatch fleet was the emergence of a Space Hulk in the eastern parts of the sector. This titanic vessel was dubbed Malepertus after a mythical, labyrinthian fortress of ancient legend, fitting the twisted, warped corridors of the many ships that made up the vessel.

After clearing the halls and chambers of Orks and other, untold, horrors, the examination by the Adeptus Mechanicus revealed that many of the facilities within the Hulk could be turned operable with less effort than it would take to construct an entirely new structure. In exchange for access to the technologies found within, the Mechanicus began to reconstruction. Floors were brought to an even level, all rooms sealed against the void and artificial air recyclers installed. Then, facilities for communication systems and an astropathic choir as well as vaults, libraries and cogitator arrays were installed, followed by defensive weapon batteries and void shield generators. After only a decade, Malepertus was declared fully operable.

Layout
Carved from ships and rocks fused together by the powers of the Warp, Malepertus is a labyrinth, its contorted, twisting corridors acting as much as a defense against intruders as the Hurricane Bolter Turrets and Combat Servitors.

Central Chambers
At the heart of Malepertus, in the chambers and halls of a now unrecognizable Battleship lies the central, essential facilities. This includes the main command, the armory and the Reclusiasm.

The Underbelly
Indeed resembling the innards of a giant beast, the facilities located here power the entire fortress. Energy relays, air and water recyclers and the void shield generators fill these halls, the domain of the Tech-Priests and -Marines.

Halls of Wisdom
Centered around a fused-in, ancient Wraithbone construct cogitator arrays, sealed vaults and libraries and the quiet shuffling of auto-savants dominate these halls. While young, the fortress still contains vast amounts of books, scrolls and artifacts, collected on the countless missions of their Kill-Teams.

Notable Personnel

 * Archivist Inquisitor Shenhua Bao Zhu - Not one for direct combat, Inquisitor Bao Zhu oversees an ever-increasing network of spies and informants as well as the archives of Malepertus. She has taken the 'Ivory Choir', a chamber filled with statues of Eldar, as her personal refuge. A quiet but amiable woman, she is often the one handling the initial contact with the Imperium, relaying her information towards Watch Commander Todtgrimm and on occasion, offering advice.