Editing Al-Sherar (section)

===Foundation and early expansion===

Al-Sherar was settled early in the Age of Strife by one of the first colonist fleets dispatched by the Cult Mechanicum.  The world the colonists found was rich in mineral resources and had a biosphere adequate for the development of the manufactoria and temples of the techpriests' civilisation.  Though the young Forge World was often menaced by Amatteir raiders, the slaver-race had no stomach for the fight required to utterly subdue a planet guarded by a Titan Legion.  Al-Sherar prospered, developing its own industry and looking to nearby worlds for expansion.

The other planets of Al-Sherar's system, as well as the larger moons, were soon converted into subsidiaries of the Forge World.  Rather than set up new Forge Worlds proper, the Alim (tech-priests) determined to establish their colonies as Industrial Worlds with specialist tasks in mineral extraction and processing.  This pattern would eventually be extended far beyond the Al-Sherar system, with the older colonies graduating from extraction to refining as their own mineral reserves were exhausted.  The Forge World itself focused on assembly and the highest, most sophisticated tasks of industry.

Careful observation of the warp currents around the nearby stars showed a few navigable corridors.  The most significant would be the lanes to the Iteru.  The Knight World was wealthy enough in its natural resources, but more important were the warrior households; House Sobek, the Maryannu Brotherhood, and the [[Order of Bahri]].  These three maintained ancient martial traditions and held priceless STC fragments.  The Diyanet's deliberations on Iteru were extraordinarily brief, with the decision to secure the world being made in less than a second.  Most of the discussion between Al-Sherar's Kazi-alkudar focused on the make-up of the invading force and, in particular, who would have the honour of leading it.  Eventually the decision was made to entrust Al-Sherar's Titan Legion, Legio Antsar, with the foremost role.  Ameer Ibn Allas was given command in recognition of the promise he had shown against the Amatteir.

The Knights of Iteru were not easily overcome, but they lacked the might to withstand Legio Antsar.  Ibn Allas was forced to destroy House Sobek, but the Ameer brought the Maryannu Brotherhood into Al-Sherar's service under a lenient version of the Sidon Protocols and subdued and enslaved the Order of Bahri.  The warriors of these surviving Houses would feature prominently in Al-Sherar's later campaigns.