Ararat

The Ararat serves as the Chantry's flagship. Its central computer houses the Chantry's daimon, an organic intelligence that has grown to monstrous proportions — described as large as a tortoise — and is kept suspended in fluid to prevent it from collapsing under its own weight. The vessel is described as a black castle of a ship, like a rootless mountain. Its armament includes directed energy weapons, atomics, and an Archontic weapon capable of targeting specific components on an enemy vessel.

The Ararat is the target of Here Soonchanged's machine-plane assault. Following the Emperor's confrontation with Tarquin, the vessel is boarded by HAPSIS and Martian Legions. On the orders of Sir Gray, the organic components of the daimon housed within the ship's central computer are euthanized. The Ararat subsequently passes under Imperial control.

Later, the Ararat warps to a position approximately one million miles from the Demiurge and opens fire, first with directed energy weapons and then launching atomics. It also fires an Archontic weapon at the Demiurge, striking the helium tank designated Beta-Two. The Mistwalker intercepts the atomic barrage by driving through it using its warp envelope as a battering ram. The Demiurge returns fire with Darklight; the weapon bypasses the Ararat's shields and armor and strikes its warp core, destroying the vessel.

The vessel carries the Chantry's daimon as an intelligence embedded in its central computer systems.