Drop-keep
For Imperial Knights, the Drop-Keep is an essential orbit-to-ground landing vessel.[1]
Overview
Somewhat resembling the larger coffin-landers of Titan walkers, the primary difference is that the Drop-Keep can deploy directly into battle, creating an instant fortification. Drop-Keeps are heavily armoured and lined with servitor-crewed gun emplacements but their most deadly weapon is their cargo of war-machines.[1]
The drop-keep can carry up to 12 Imperial Knights directly to war. They will come down on blazing retro-rockets and even as they touch down will be opening their portcullis and drawbridge to allow the towering Knight Engines to sally forth.[1] Posterns on the sides are the egress points for the smaller Armiger Pattern Knights who exit first to test and scout the terrain for their larger liege lords. This is especially important in swamps and moors where larger knights are at risk of foundering.[2]
Many Houses have also added auto-unfurling banners and vox-hailers, ensuring that when their scions charge into battle they do so with their proud colours flying and triumphal music playing, as befits their noble station. Drop-Keeps may also house flights of Cherubim known as Heavenly Hosts for reconnaissance purposes.[1]
One of the drop-keeps used by House Taranis is noted as being 170 yards long, 100 wide, being big enough to land two full lances of Knights.[2]
Upon landing, the drop-keep is stabilised into a vertical position by firing retro rockets intermittently and extending landing claws as support. A properly landed drop keep should be perfectly vertical with no tilting and it's crenelations pointed toward the sky. Any minor tilting is frowned upon as it could lead to the indignity of the keep toppling over. It is the duty of the Sacristans to right the ship.[2]
See also
Sources
- 1: Kingsblade (Novel), Chapter 1
- 2: Genefather (Novel), Chapter 14
