Over the decades, Magisterium pressure mounted against the Host to abandon their defensive posture and determine the source of the Forms' invasion into Echo Alpha and, subsequently, their ability to threaten Second Heaven directly. The ARK was designed by Ministry of Greater Engineering And Research to be used by the Host in an expeditionary role. Supported by two Archangel divisions, and a ring of yokozuna class 'See-twos,' the Ark would move beyond the Halo for extended operations in an effort to identify 'Form' clusters and their origins. Built on a re-tooled, super-heavy arthropod chassis, the Ark takes its name from the Advanced Reconnaisance Kit wired throughout the craft. The advanced electronics in the Ark allow it to locate, identify and track up to 144,000 individual objects and coordinate communications between as many units if necessary. The full capabilities of the Ark were not fully known when it began its maiden operation in late 2940. It did not return.

Second Heaven's Massive Phasing Generator, the Ragnarok Engine projects a halo of 1200 cubic miles. Initially the Ragnarok supported twelve phase gates, however, the gate to First Heaven was locked and decommissioned after the city fell to the Forms. Two other gates close to the edge of Rangnarok's halo, the Shekinah City gates, were destroyed when the Forms suddenly appeared on its outskirts at the beginning of the War of Incursion.