Introduction:

The Matteus Subsector is nestled in a violet nebula in the coreward parts of the Segmentum Obscurus, lying galactic north of Terra and galactic east of Agripinaa. The subsector has predominately been under Imperium reign as of 998M41, with some heretical and xenos elements laying claim to the more out-of-reach areas at various points in time.

The subsector was first mapped by Rogue Trader Terrance Matteus in 600M38, and named it after his House. Adeptus Mechanicus Explorator Fleet Tetra-Xi 779 were dispatched some three-hundred years later to explore and prospect the subsector. Over fifty years, they identified and surveyed a total of five star systems, 68 distinct planetary bodies and a wealth of precious minerals ripe for exploitation.

Rogue Trader Terrance Matteus

Imperial pilgrims and pioneers arrived in the Subsector in 170M39, beginning their colonisation in Matteus Delta on most fertile and hospitable world of Asoka. Over the next two millenia, the Imperium would expand across the other stat systems, establishing new colonies and mining operations. By the end of the 41st Millenium, many threats (xenos and heretical) had endangered the subsector and the Imperium’s hold of it. These times of conflict and danger have become categorised collectively by Imperial scholars as “The Strifes”.

Subsector Matteus star map, with co-ordinates of contained star systems and orientation markers.

Matteus Alpha System:

The Matteus Alpha system is the largest star system in the Matteus Subsector, with eleven planets orbiting a red giant. It’s most notable feature is the Pentet, a cluster of five planets that share the same orbit and are slowly tearing each other apart. It is also the most secluded from the other systems, which made it a vulnerable target to raiders. In 804M41, the system became the stronghold for the Steel Reavers warband.

Matteus Beta System:

The Matteus Beta system was infamous described by the Adeptus Mechanicus Explorators as “incredibly unremarkable". Once the Explorator fleet completed surveys of the system's three planets they immediately moved on, leaving a token observation post for further monitoring.

Matteus Gamma System:

The Matteus Gamma system is the mining and processing hub of the Subsector. The Civilised World of Sartoria extracts and refines precious minerals and metals for export to Agripinaa as part of its Imperial Tithe. This alone has made Matteus Gamma an attractive target for xenos and renegage warbands in M41. 

Matteus Delta System:

The Matteus Delta system contains the more fertile and hospitable worlds of the subsector. Much of the foodstuffs and local labour is sourced from the worlds in Matteus Delta. The Civilised World of Asoka is the most populated world and the seat of governance for the entire subsector.

Matteus Epsilon System:

The Matteus Epsilon system lies at the spinward side of the subsector. It acts as a waypoint for all Imperial traffic to the other systems, and the worlds within cater to this large yearly influx. Most of these ships are either destined for or returning from Agripinaa, hauling raw materials, foodstuffs and/or labour.

Matteus Zeta:

Matteus Zeta is a planetless blue supergiant with no other astronomical features, lingering to the galactic south-east of the subsector. It is believed to be a rogue star, and is predicted to drift coreward outside the bounds of the subsector in the next two millenia. It is most visible from Matteus Gamma; its inhabitants consider it's presence in the sky a sign of good fortune.

Matteus Iota:

Matteus Iota is a failed star nestled deep within the Lavender Veil to the galactic north of the subsector. Explorators have attempted to send surveying teams to the planet, but none have returned and are presumed dead.

The Lavender Veil:

The Lavender Veil is a cluster of violet-coloured diffuse nebulae that stretches for 50 light years across the subsector. The nebulae partly splits Matteus Alpha and Beta from the other systems.  The latent psychic energy within the nebula limits Warp travel in and out of the subsector to the galactic-east, via Matteus Epsilon. It also inhibits any attempt to explore within the nebula; there have been many attempts but none have survived the journey. The discovery of Matteus Iota was the only success over the last three millenia.