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The Phoenix Hawks have long harboured a strong resentment for the Space Wolves since the Lammas campaign when both Chapters were dispatched to aid a beleaguered Ultramarines force. The Space Wolves however, instead of co-ordinating the attack, provided false information and arrived first, destroying all opposition before the Phoenix Hawks respond. No Phoenix Hawk will ever fight side by side with a Space Wolf and small skirmishes have even been known to break out between the two chapters.
The Ornithius system is situated within the Antona Australis sector. The sector is located on the Eastern Fringe of the galaxy and as such has seen combat involving Tau raiders and spiral arms of the hive fleets. The system is sparsely populated, being composed of death-worlds and dead planets. There are five planets in total in the system, although the outer two are so far from the system's star that they are bare rocks with minmal atmosphere and no-life forms.
Ornithar I is a harsh volcanic world, located close the system's Sun, receiving constant temperatures in excess of 300 degrees celsius year round. the planets rotation cuases the surface to undergo cycles of heating and cooling, causing massive tectonic ruptures across the surface. The only inhabitants are a small adeptus mechanicus research station and a Hawks sensor station.
The Emperors Hawks' fortress-monastery is located on the jungle world of Aviar +++Cross-Ref: Ornithar II+++, the second planet in the system. This planet is deadly and serves as a true proving ground for new recruits.
Ornithar III is an icy death-world upon which few native creatures eke out a living. The hawks maintain a supplementary armoury and secondary fortifications on this world in case the fortress-monastery is compromised. Orbital defences and at least half a company protect it at all times.
Ornithar IV and V are cold, dead rocky planets with no life and only host to early warning sensor stations
The Hawks Fortress monastery is located high above the jungle roof on a massive Tor of rock known as 'The Giants Seat'. This makes the frotress extremely defensible, the only major entrance from the jungle being a long series of steps from the jungle floor to the base of the tor. It is said that the first trial a new recruit must face is the three-day trek unaided and unfed from the jungle to the top of these great stairs. The top of the seat houses the Hawks magnificent pyramid-fortress, half as tall as the giants seat again. It is surrounded by a bustling industrialised support network of landing pads, storage hangers, generators and censorium buildings. For a new recruit clearing the top of the stairs, this is such a sight to behold that one momentarily forgets his knawing hunger and dehydration, simply staring in awe.
The Hawks recruit from multiple sources, but the majority of their neophytes come from the local indigenous population. These are a superstitious people who make their lives hunting the wild and deadly animals of the jungle for food. They tend to regard the space marines with awe, seeing them as godlike figures and treating them with respect and fear in equal measures. Every so often, a brave or curious hunter will depart his hut-village and desire to see for himself what lies atop the great stairs. This will be a difficult time for the young hunter, many such natives do not make the grade, and the stairs are littered with the corpses and skeletons of previous attempts. If he successfully reaches the top he is welcomed as a recruit into the chapter, having displayed the courage and strength of mind required to start his journey as a marine.
