Difference between revisions of "Galaxy in Flames (Novel)"
m |
HunterWorld (talk | contribs) |
||
| (32 intermediate revisions by 10 users not shown) | |||
| Line 3: | Line 3: | ||
|Image =Galaxy in Flames.jpg | |Image =Galaxy in Flames.jpg | ||
|Image caption=Cover Illustration by [[Neil Roberts]] | |Image caption=Cover Illustration by [[Neil Roberts]] | ||
| − | |Author = | + | |Author ={{Auth|Ben Counter}} |
|Publisher =[[Black Library (BL Publishing)|Black Library]] | |Publisher =[[Black Library (BL Publishing)|Black Library]] | ||
|Series =[[Horus Heresy Series]] | |Series =[[Horus Heresy Series]] | ||
| − | |Preceded by =[[False Gods (Novel)]] | + | |Preceded by =[[False Gods (Novel)|False Gods]] |
| − | |Followed by =[[The Flight of the Eisenstein (Novel)]] | + | |Followed by =[[The Flight of the Eisenstein (Novel)|The Flight of the Eisenstein]] |
|Released =October 2006 | |Released =October 2006 | ||
|Pages =416 | |Pages =416 | ||
| − | |Editions =2006 softcover:<br> ISBN 9781844163939 | + | |Performer ={{Actor|Toby Longworth}} |
| − | 2010 ebook:<br> ISBN 9780857870230 | + | |Length =8 hours 51 minutes |
| + | |Editions =2006 softcover:<br>ISBN 9781844163939 | ||
| + | 2010 ebook:<br>ISBN 9780857870230 | ||
| − | 2012 abridged audiobook:<br> ISBN 9781849700948 | + | 2012 abridged audiobook:<br>ISBN 9781849700948 |
| − | 2012 hardcover:<br>ISBN 9781849703840 | + | 2012 hardcover:<br>ISBN 9781849703840 |
| + | |||
| + | 2014 unabridged audiobook:<br>ISBN 9781782518709 | ||
}} | }} | ||
| − | '''Galaxy In Flames''' | + | [[File:Galaxy in flames clean.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Cover art]] |
| + | '''''Galaxy In Flames''''' is a novel by [[Ben Counter]] and a third book in the [[Horus Heresy Series]]. The third instalment of the trilogy showing [[Horus]]'s fall to [[Chaos]], focuses on the tragic events on [[Isstvan III]], where the loyalist factions of the [[Traitor Legions]] were slaughtered with the use of [[Virus bomb]]s deployed by Horus's fleet. It is the announcement to the galaxy of the fall of Horus and the beginning of the Horus Heresy. | ||
| + | |||
| + | The novel was first published in October 2006. Each print run has a different colour for the titles: First was gold, second in silver and third in bronze. It was later included in "The Novels: Volume 1" eBook collection, and it was included as part of the ''Crusade's End'' omnibus, released in paperback on March 8, 2016. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==Cover Description== | ||
| + | Having recovered from his grievous injuries, [[Warmaster]] [[Horus]] leads the triumphant [[Imperial]] forces against the rebel world of [[Isstvan III]]. Though the rebels are swiftly crushed, Horus's treachery is finally revealed when the planet is [[Exterminatus|razed]] by [[virus bomb]]s and [[Space Marines]] [[Battle of Isstvan III|turn on their battle-brothers]] in [[Horus Heresy|the most bitter struggle imaginable]].{{Fn|1}} | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==Plot Summary== | ||
| + | {{Spoiler|source=Galaxy in Flames (Novel)}} | ||
| + | ===Part One: Long Knives=== | ||
| + | [[File:Mortarion Galaxy in Flames.jpg|200px|thumb|[[Mortarion]] and his retinue enter the [[Lupercal's Court]]{{fn|2s}}]] | ||
| + | [[Warmaster]] [[Horus]] has fallen to [[Chaos]], but his plans of rebellion against the [[Emperor]] are known only to a few he trusts to side with him. [[Primarchs]] [[Angron]], [[Mortarion]] and [[Fulgrim]] of the [[World Eaters]], [[Death Guard]] and [[Emperor's Children]] respectively have all sided with Horus and their four Legions gather in the Isstvan system on the pretence of crushing a rebellion by the Isstvanians. The unconscious [[Euphrati Keeler]] has developed a cult following who believe the Emperor is a deity and she is a saint, [[Kyril Sindermann]] chief among them.{{fn|2b}} | ||
| + | |||
| + | Horus questions Chief [[Astropath]] [[Ing Mae Sing]] about the saint and afterwards Sing sends a psychic warning to Sindermann{{fn|2c}}, who recruits [[Titus Cassar]] of the [[Legio Mortis]] and his reluctant friend [[Jonah Aruken]] to help him save her.{{fn|2d}} Aruken, Cassar and Sindermann go to rescue Keeler, only to find [[Maggard]], former bodyguard of [[remembrancer]] [[Petronella Vivar]] turned genetically-enhanced enforcer for Horus, about to kill her. Maggard attacks them but becomes unable to move, the bullets from his gun moving very slowly, and the three men realize that Keeler has awoken and is using her powers to save herself and them. Before Maggard can stop them they carry Keeler to safety amidst the bowels of the ''[[Vengeful Spirit]]'''s lower decks. Horus sacrifices Sing in order to facilitate an audience with [[Chaos]] as revenge for sending the warning.{{fn|2e}} | ||
| + | |||
| + | The Emperor's Children and Death Guard attack an enemy station on [[Isstvan Extremis]] where they discover a [[Warsinger]] leading the defenders. Death Guard [[Space Marine Captain|Captain]] [[Nathaniel Garro]] is badly wounded by the Warsinger's sonic power but [[Lord Commander]] [[Eidolon]] is able to kill it with his own sonic shriek.{{fn|2f}} This arouses the suspicion of [[Saul Tarvitz]], who questions Eidolon about it and is taken to [[Apothecary]] [[Fabius]]'s laboratory where he is shown the many surgical enhancements Fabius is making on legion members and offered a place in the new order. Horrified by Fabius's experiments, Tarvitz rejects the offer and leaves.{{fn|2g}} An assault force containing elements of all four legions chosen by Horus and including [[Garviel Loken]], [[Tarik Torgaddon]] and [[Lucius (Emperor's Children)|Lucius]] descends on Isstvan III's capital city and battle breaks out.{{fn|2h}} | ||
| − | The | + | ===Part Two: The Choral City=== |
| + | [[File:Rylanor Galaxy In Flames.jpg|200px|left|thumb|[[Ancient Rylanor]] watches the death of a world{{fn|2s}}]] | ||
| + | Suspicious at the hand-picked nature of the assault force, Tarvitz talks his way into remaining in the fleet when the assault force deploys{{fn|2h}} and investigates the gun decks, where he discovers the ship's crew loading lethal [[virus bombs]] into the ship's guns.{{fn|2i}} Realizing that the marines deployed to the surface are about to be betrayed and wiped out, Tarvitz steals a [[Thunderhawk]] and flies for the surface to warn them. He is pursued by members of his own legion who are part of the betrayal and in desperation puts himself at the mercy of [[Nathaniel Garro]], who is excluded from the assault force and relegated to commanding the frigate ''[[Eisenstein]]'' due to his injuries. Garro, an old friend of Tarvitz's, believes him when he tells him of the imminent betrayal and orders the ''Eisenstein'' to fire on the Thunderhawks pursuing Tarvitz. The resulting cloud of debris hides Tarvitz from the fleet's sensors as he lands on Isstvan, Garro reporting that Tarvitz is dead before preparing to jump to the [[Warp]] and bring warning of Horus's betrayal to the Emperor.{{fn|2j}} | ||
| − | + | On the surface the [[Sons of Horus]], World Eaters, Emperor's Children and Death Guard whom their primarchs deemed too loyal to the Emperor to rebel against him battle the rebel Isstvanians. The Sons of Horus' [[Drop Pods|drop pods]] scatter throughout the target area and they struggle to link up and capture their objective, the Sirenhold. Lucius leads the Emperor's Children half of the attack on the Precentor's Palace while the World Eaters under Captain [[Ehrlen]] become bogged down massacring fanatical citizens in a plaza to the north and the Death Guard advance through the city's defensive trenchworks.{{fn|2i}} Lucius succeeds in killing the rebel governor [[Vardus Praal]] and the Emperor's Children capture the palace.{{fn|2k}} Tarvitz then arrives and warns them of their imminent betrayal, tasking Lucius with transmitting a warning to the Sons of Horus and Death Guard while he goes to warn the World Eaters.{{fn|2l}} Awakened screaming by a premonition of the virus strike, Euphrati Keeler transmits the vision to Sindermann and [[Mersadie Oliton]], who realise the betrayal that is about to take place.{{fn|2k}} | |
| − | |||
| − | The | + | The majority of the Emperor's Children and Sons of Horus are able to take shelter beneath the palace in time, but few of the World Eaters or Death Guard reach the shelter of bunkers and more are killed when Horus follows up the virus-bombs with an orbital strike that ignites all the gas in the atmosphere, burning the entire planet.{{fn|2m}} Crewing the ''Dies Irae'' in support of the Death Guard, Jonah Aruken and Titus Cassar hear the command to power down and seal their machine, their princeps [[Esau Turnet]] being loyal to Horus and so having received warning.{{fn|2l}} Cassar realizes the truth after they ride out the virus strike and firestorm and attacks Turnet, pleading with Aruken to help him, but his insistence that the Emperor is a god alienates Aruken who does not believe and chooses ambition over friendship, shooting Cassar dead.{{fn|2n}} |
| − | + | In the fleet, Horus gathers the remembrancers from the ''Vengeful Spirit'' and shows them the bombing{{fn|2l}} before ordering his men to open fire, massacring them. Kyril Sindermann and Mersadie Oliton escape alongside Euphrati Keeler when she leads them to [[Iacton Qruze]], the Sons of Horus' elderly and often dismissed third captain, who leads them away from the massacre. The four arrive at the ''Vengeful Spirit'''s hangar and plan to steal a Thunderhawk but are intercepted by Maggard.{{fn|2m}} Qruze and Maggard fight but are evenly matched until Sindermann picks up Maggard's dropped pistol and shoots him in the side, allowing Qruze to finish him off. The four steal a Thunderhawk and flee, guided by Keeler to the ''Eisenstein'' where Nathaniel Garro takes them aboard.{{fn|2n}} | |
| − | Infuriated by the survival of the loyalists on the surface Angron spearheads a World Eaters' attack wave to destroy them without waiting for Horus's orders. Forced to support | + | ===Part Three: Brothers=== |
| + | [[File:AbaddonvsLokken.jpg|thumb|300px|[[Loken]] duels [[Abaddon]]{{fn|2s}}]] | ||
| + | Infuriated by the survival of the loyalists on the surface, Angron spearheads a World Eaters' attack wave to destroy them without waiting for Horus's orders. Angron and his traitor World Eaters assault their loyalist counterparts and Tarvitz flees on Ehrlen's orders to take command of the other survivors.{{fn|2m}} Forced to support Angron, Horus deploys the traitor Emperor's Children and Death Guard, turning what was meant to be a single wipeout blow from orbit into a protracted ground war.{{fn|2n}} Tarvitz emerges as a brilliant leader, commanding the loyalists as they repel wave after wave of traitor attacks while slowly being whittled down. Frustrated and jealous that Tarvitz is getting all the glory, Lucius slays traitor Emperor's Children [[Chaplain]] [[Charmosian]] and uses his helmet microphone to contact Eidolon, selling out the loyalists in exchange for a place among the traitors.{{fn|2o}}{{fn|2p}} | ||
| − | + | Horus commits the Sons of Horus under [[Serghar Targost]] and [[Luc Sedirae]] to the battle while sending [[Ezekyle Abaddon]] and [[Horus Aximand]] to confront their former [[Mournival]] brothers Loken and Torgaddon.{{fn|2p}} Eidolon launches a devastating attack, penetrating the palace where he massacres the loyalist wounded. Receiving word of Abaddon and Aximand's arrival Loken and Torgaddon leave the palace, Loken being attacked by [[Kharn]] until a Sons of Horus tank drives over them and impales Kharn on its dozer blades. Tarvitz finds Lucius among the corpses of loyalist Emperor's Children and discovers his betrayal. The pair fight, and Tarvitz is hopelessly outmatched until he copies something Loken once did when fighting Lucius in the practice cages and drops his weapon in favour of punching Lucius in the face. A squad of loyalists arrive and open fire on Lucius, but he manages to escape. Leading the surviving loyalists he pulled out of the fight, Tarvitz takes advantage of Eidolon's undisciplined attack and manages to repel the assault.{{fn|2q}} | |
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | ''' | + | Loken and Torgaddon confront Abaddon and Aximand in the ruins of the city's parliament building. The confrontation splits into two duels as Loken fights Abaddon and Torgaddon fights Aximand. Outclassed against Abaddon Loken knows he needs Torgaddon's help to win, but Aximand kills Torgaddon, leaving Loken helpless. Abaddon grievously wounds him, but before he can finish Loken off the ''Dies Irae'' steps on the building and brings the roof down. Abaddon pulls Aximand from the rubble, noting his sorrow at murdering Torgaddon, and believing Loken dead they return to the fleet. With the loyalists all but destroyed, the traitors fall back to [[Isstvan V]] and Horus firebombs the city from orbit, Tarvitz and the scant few survivors bracing for the end knowing that they hurt the traitors and bought time for Garro to reach Terra. Buried beneath the rubble of the parliament building, the last thing that Loken sees is the bombs falling towards him.{{fn|2r}} |
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | + | ==Dramatis Personae== | |
| − | * [[ | + | [[File:Saul Tarvitz Galaxy in Flames.jpeg|200px|thumb|[[Saul Tarvitz]]{{fn|2s}}]] |
| + | [[Primarchs]] | ||
| + | *[[Horus]] — [[Primarch]] of the [[Sons of Horus]], [[Warmaster]] of the [[Great Crusade]]{{fn|2a}} | ||
| + | *[[Angron]] — [[Primarch]] of the [[World Eaters]]{{fn|2a}} | ||
| + | *[[Fulgrim]] — [[Primarch]] of the [[Emperor's Children]]{{fn|2a}} | ||
| + | *[[Mortarion]] — [[Primarch]] of the [[Death Guard]]{{fn|2a}} | ||
| − | + | [[Sons of Horus]] | |
| − | * [[ | + | *[[Ezekyle Abaddon]] — [[Space Marine Captain|First Captain]]{{fn|2a}} |
| − | * [[ | + | *[[Tarik Torgaddon]] — [[Space Marine Captain|Captain]], [[2nd Company (Sons of Horus)|2nd Company]]{{fn|2a}} |
| − | * [[ | + | *[[Iacton Qruze]] — [[Space Marine Captain|Captain]], [[3rd Company (Sons of Horus)|3rd Company]]{{fn|2a}} |
| + | *[[Horus Aximand]] — [[Space Marine Captain|Captain]], [[5th Company (Sons of Horus)|5th Company]]{{fn|2a}} | ||
| + | *[[Serghar Targost]] — [[Space Marine Captain|Captain]], [[7th Company (Sons of Horus)|Seventh Company]], [[Warrior Lodge|Lodge Master]]{{fn|2a}} | ||
| + | *[[Garviel Loken]] — [[Space Marine Captain|Captain]], [[10th Company (Sons of Horus)|10th Company]]{{fn|2a}} | ||
| + | *[[Luc Sedirae]] — [[Space Marine Captain|Captain]], [[13th Company (Sons of Horus)|13th Company]]{{fn|2a}} | ||
| + | *[[Tybalt Marr]] — [[Space Marine Captain|Captain]], [[18th Company (Sons of Horus)|18th Company]]{{fn|2a}} | ||
| + | *[[Kalus Ekaddon]] — [[Space Marine Captain|Captain]], [[Catulan Reaver Squad]]{{fn|2a}} | ||
| + | *[[Falkus Kibre]] — [[Space Marine Captain|Captain]], [[Justaerin]] [[Terminator|Terminator Squad]]{{fn|2a}} | ||
| + | *[[Nero Vipus]] — [[Space Marine Sergeant|Sergeant]], [[Locasta Tactical Squad]]{{fn|2a}} | ||
| + | *[[Maloghurst]] — [[Equerry]] to the [[Warmaster]]{{fn|2a}} | ||
| − | + | [[Death Guard]] | |
| − | * [[ | + | *[[Nathaniel Garro]] — [[Death Guard#Combat Disposition and Record|Battle-Captain]] of the [[7th Company (Death Guard)|7th Company]]{{fn|2a}} |
| − | '' | + | [[Emperor's Children]] |
| − | * [[ | + | *[[Eidolon (Emperor's Children)|Eidolon]] — [[Lord Commander]]{{fn|2a}} |
| + | *[[Saul Tarvitz]] — [[Space Marine Captain|First Captain]]{{fn|2a}}{{Fn|Conflicting sources}} | ||
| + | *[[Lucius the Eternal|Lucius]] — [[Space Marine Captain|Captain]] of the [[13th Company (Emperor's Children)|13th Company]]{{fn|2a}} | ||
| + | *[[Fabius Bile|Fabius]] — [[Emperor's Children]] [[Apothecary]]{{fn|2a}} | ||
| − | + | [[Word Bearers]] | |
| − | * [[ | + | *[[Erebus]] — [[Chaplain|First Chaplain]]{{fn|2a}} |
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | + | [[World Eaters]] | |
| − | * [[ | + | *[[Kharn the Betrayer|Kharn]] — [[Space Marine Captain|Captain]], [[8th Company (World Eaters)|8th Assault Company]], [[equerry]] to [[Angron]]{{fn|2a}} |
| − | '''[[ | + | [[Collegia Titanica]] |
| − | * [[ | + | *[[Esau Turnet]] — [[Princeps]] of the ''[[Dies Irae]]'', [[Legio Mortis]]{{fn|2a}} |
| − | + | *[[Titus Cassar]] — [[Moderati Primus]] of the ''[[Dies Irae]]'', [[Legio Mortis]]{{fn|2a}} | |
| − | + | *[[Jonah Aruken]] — [[Moderati Primus]] of the ''[[Dies Irae]]'', [[Legio Mortis]]{{fn|2a}} | |
| − | + | [[Martian Mechanicum]] | |
| − | * [[ | + | *[[Regulus (Dark Mechanicum)|Regulus]] — Representative to the [[63rd Expedition]]{{fn|2a}} |
| − | == | + | '''Imperial Personae''' |
| − | *[[ | + | *[[Kyril Sindermann]] — [[Iterator|Primary Iterator]]{{fn|2a}} |
| − | *[[ | + | *[[Euphrati Keeler]] — [[Remembrancer|Official Remembrancer]], Imagist{{fn|2a}} |
| + | *[[Mersadie Oliton]] — [[Remembrancer|Official Remembrancer]], Documentarist{{fn|2a}} | ||
| + | *[[Peeter Egon Momus]] — Architect designate{{fn|2a}} | ||
| + | *[[Maggard]] — Civilian enforcer{{fn|2a}} | ||
| + | *[[Ing Mae Sing]] — Mistress of [[Astropaths]]{{fn|2a}} | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==Trivia== | ||
| + | {{Trivia}} | ||
| + | ==={{Endn|Conflicting sources}}=== | ||
| + | *Exact rank unknown due to conflicting sources, cf. [[Saul Tarvitz#Company Confusion|Saul Tarvitz]]. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==See also== | ||
| + | *[[List of Novels]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==Sources== | ||
| + | *{{Endn|1}}: [https://web.archive.org/web/20230924101112/https://www.blacklibrary.com/the-horus-heresy/novels/galaxy-in-flames-ebook.html Black Library: ''Galaxy in Flames''] ''(archived from [https://www.blacklibrary.com/the-horus-heresy/novels/galaxy-in-flames-ebook.html the original] 24 September 2024, last accessed 10 August 2024)'' | ||
| + | *2: '''''Galaxy in Flames''''' (Novel): | ||
| + | **{{endn|2a}}: ''Dramatis Personae'' | ||
| + | **{{endn|2b}}: ch. 1 | ||
| + | **{{endn|2c}}: ch. 2 | ||
| + | **{{endn|2d}}: ch. 3 | ||
| + | **{{endn|2e}}: ch. 4 | ||
| + | **{{endn|2f}}: ch. 5 | ||
| + | **{{endn|2g}}: ch. 6 | ||
| + | **{{endn|2h}}: ch. 7 | ||
| + | **{{endn|2i}}: ch. 8 | ||
| + | **{{endn|2j}}: ch. 9 | ||
| + | **{{endn|2k}}: ch. 10 | ||
| + | **{{endn|2l}}: ch. 11 | ||
| + | **{{endn|2m}}: ch. 12 | ||
| + | **{{endn|2n}}: ch. 13 | ||
| + | **{{endn|2o}}: ch. 14 | ||
| + | **{{endn|2p}}: ch. 15 | ||
| + | **{{endn|2q}}: ch. 16 | ||
| + | **{{endn|2r}}: ch. 17 | ||
| + | **{{endn|2s}}: Enhanced edition illustrations | ||
{{HHnav}} | {{HHnav}} | ||
| − | [[Category: Novels]] | + | [[Category:Audio Books]] |
| − | [[Category:Sources ( | + | [[Category:Novels]] |
| + | [[Category:Sources (Sons of Horus)]] | ||
| + | |||
[[de:Galaxy in Flames (Roman)]] | [[de:Galaxy in Flames (Roman)]] | ||
[[fr:La Galaxie en Flammes (Roman)]] | [[fr:La Galaxie en Flammes (Roman)]] | ||
Latest revision as of 10:07, 29 March 2026
 |
Publications Portal | |
 | ||
| Author | Ben Counter | |
| Performer | Toby Longworth | |
| Publisher | Black Library | |
| Series | Horus Heresy Series | |
| Preceded by | False Gods | |
| Followed by | The Flight of the Eisenstein | |
| Released | October 2006 | |
| Pages | 416 | |
| Length | 8 hours 51 minutes | |
| Editions | 2006 softcover: ISBN 9781844163939 2010 ebook: 2012 abridged audiobook: 2012 hardcover: 2014 unabridged audiobook: | |
Galaxy In Flames is a novel by Ben Counter and a third book in the Horus Heresy Series. The third instalment of the trilogy showing Horus's fall to Chaos, focuses on the tragic events on Isstvan III, where the loyalist factions of the Traitor Legions were slaughtered with the use of Virus bombs deployed by Horus's fleet. It is the announcement to the galaxy of the fall of Horus and the beginning of the Horus Heresy.
The novel was first published in October 2006. Each print run has a different colour for the titles: First was gold, second in silver and third in bronze. It was later included in "The Novels: Volume 1" eBook collection, and it was included as part of the Crusade's End omnibus, released in paperback on March 8, 2016.
Contents
Cover Description
Having recovered from his grievous injuries, Warmaster Horus leads the triumphant Imperial forces against the rebel world of Isstvan III. Though the rebels are swiftly crushed, Horus's treachery is finally revealed when the planet is razed by virus bombs and Space Marines turn on their battle-brothers in the most bitter struggle imaginable.[1]
Plot Summary
|
The following paragraphs contain spoilers for: | Galaxy in Flames (Novel) |
Part One: Long Knives
Warmaster Horus has fallen to Chaos, but his plans of rebellion against the Emperor are known only to a few he trusts to side with him. Primarchs Angron, Mortarion and Fulgrim of the World Eaters, Death Guard and Emperor's Children respectively have all sided with Horus and their four Legions gather in the Isstvan system on the pretence of crushing a rebellion by the Isstvanians. The unconscious Euphrati Keeler has developed a cult following who believe the Emperor is a deity and she is a saint, Kyril Sindermann chief among them.[2b]
Horus questions Chief Astropath Ing Mae Sing about the saint and afterwards Sing sends a psychic warning to Sindermann[2c], who recruits Titus Cassar of the Legio Mortis and his reluctant friend Jonah Aruken to help him save her.[2d] Aruken, Cassar and Sindermann go to rescue Keeler, only to find Maggard, former bodyguard of remembrancer Petronella Vivar turned genetically-enhanced enforcer for Horus, about to kill her. Maggard attacks them but becomes unable to move, the bullets from his gun moving very slowly, and the three men realize that Keeler has awoken and is using her powers to save herself and them. Before Maggard can stop them they carry Keeler to safety amidst the bowels of the Vengeful Spirit's lower decks. Horus sacrifices Sing in order to facilitate an audience with Chaos as revenge for sending the warning.[2e]
The Emperor's Children and Death Guard attack an enemy station on Isstvan Extremis where they discover a Warsinger leading the defenders. Death Guard Captain Nathaniel Garro is badly wounded by the Warsinger's sonic power but Lord Commander Eidolon is able to kill it with his own sonic shriek.[2f] This arouses the suspicion of Saul Tarvitz, who questions Eidolon about it and is taken to Apothecary Fabius's laboratory where he is shown the many surgical enhancements Fabius is making on legion members and offered a place in the new order. Horrified by Fabius's experiments, Tarvitz rejects the offer and leaves.[2g] An assault force containing elements of all four legions chosen by Horus and including Garviel Loken, Tarik Torgaddon and Lucius descends on Isstvan III's capital city and battle breaks out.[2h]
Part Two: The Choral City
Suspicious at the hand-picked nature of the assault force, Tarvitz talks his way into remaining in the fleet when the assault force deploys[2h] and investigates the gun decks, where he discovers the ship's crew loading lethal virus bombs into the ship's guns.[2i] Realizing that the marines deployed to the surface are about to be betrayed and wiped out, Tarvitz steals a Thunderhawk and flies for the surface to warn them. He is pursued by members of his own legion who are part of the betrayal and in desperation puts himself at the mercy of Nathaniel Garro, who is excluded from the assault force and relegated to commanding the frigate Eisenstein due to his injuries. Garro, an old friend of Tarvitz's, believes him when he tells him of the imminent betrayal and orders the Eisenstein to fire on the Thunderhawks pursuing Tarvitz. The resulting cloud of debris hides Tarvitz from the fleet's sensors as he lands on Isstvan, Garro reporting that Tarvitz is dead before preparing to jump to the Warp and bring warning of Horus's betrayal to the Emperor.[2j]
On the surface the Sons of Horus, World Eaters, Emperor's Children and Death Guard whom their primarchs deemed too loyal to the Emperor to rebel against him battle the rebel Isstvanians. The Sons of Horus' drop pods scatter throughout the target area and they struggle to link up and capture their objective, the Sirenhold. Lucius leads the Emperor's Children half of the attack on the Precentor's Palace while the World Eaters under Captain Ehrlen become bogged down massacring fanatical citizens in a plaza to the north and the Death Guard advance through the city's defensive trenchworks.[2i] Lucius succeeds in killing the rebel governor Vardus Praal and the Emperor's Children capture the palace.[2k] Tarvitz then arrives and warns them of their imminent betrayal, tasking Lucius with transmitting a warning to the Sons of Horus and Death Guard while he goes to warn the World Eaters.[2l] Awakened screaming by a premonition of the virus strike, Euphrati Keeler transmits the vision to Sindermann and Mersadie Oliton, who realise the betrayal that is about to take place.[2k]
The majority of the Emperor's Children and Sons of Horus are able to take shelter beneath the palace in time, but few of the World Eaters or Death Guard reach the shelter of bunkers and more are killed when Horus follows up the virus-bombs with an orbital strike that ignites all the gas in the atmosphere, burning the entire planet.[2m] Crewing the Dies Irae in support of the Death Guard, Jonah Aruken and Titus Cassar hear the command to power down and seal their machine, their princeps Esau Turnet being loyal to Horus and so having received warning.[2l] Cassar realizes the truth after they ride out the virus strike and firestorm and attacks Turnet, pleading with Aruken to help him, but his insistence that the Emperor is a god alienates Aruken who does not believe and chooses ambition over friendship, shooting Cassar dead.[2n]
In the fleet, Horus gathers the remembrancers from the Vengeful Spirit and shows them the bombing[2l] before ordering his men to open fire, massacring them. Kyril Sindermann and Mersadie Oliton escape alongside Euphrati Keeler when she leads them to Iacton Qruze, the Sons of Horus' elderly and often dismissed third captain, who leads them away from the massacre. The four arrive at the Vengeful Spirit's hangar and plan to steal a Thunderhawk but are intercepted by Maggard.[2m] Qruze and Maggard fight but are evenly matched until Sindermann picks up Maggard's dropped pistol and shoots him in the side, allowing Qruze to finish him off. The four steal a Thunderhawk and flee, guided by Keeler to the Eisenstein where Nathaniel Garro takes them aboard.[2n]
Part Three: Brothers
Infuriated by the survival of the loyalists on the surface, Angron spearheads a World Eaters' attack wave to destroy them without waiting for Horus's orders. Angron and his traitor World Eaters assault their loyalist counterparts and Tarvitz flees on Ehrlen's orders to take command of the other survivors.[2m] Forced to support Angron, Horus deploys the traitor Emperor's Children and Death Guard, turning what was meant to be a single wipeout blow from orbit into a protracted ground war.[2n] Tarvitz emerges as a brilliant leader, commanding the loyalists as they repel wave after wave of traitor attacks while slowly being whittled down. Frustrated and jealous that Tarvitz is getting all the glory, Lucius slays traitor Emperor's Children Chaplain Charmosian and uses his helmet microphone to contact Eidolon, selling out the loyalists in exchange for a place among the traitors.[2o][2p]
Horus commits the Sons of Horus under Serghar Targost and Luc Sedirae to the battle while sending Ezekyle Abaddon and Horus Aximand to confront their former Mournival brothers Loken and Torgaddon.[2p] Eidolon launches a devastating attack, penetrating the palace where he massacres the loyalist wounded. Receiving word of Abaddon and Aximand's arrival Loken and Torgaddon leave the palace, Loken being attacked by Kharn until a Sons of Horus tank drives over them and impales Kharn on its dozer blades. Tarvitz finds Lucius among the corpses of loyalist Emperor's Children and discovers his betrayal. The pair fight, and Tarvitz is hopelessly outmatched until he copies something Loken once did when fighting Lucius in the practice cages and drops his weapon in favour of punching Lucius in the face. A squad of loyalists arrive and open fire on Lucius, but he manages to escape. Leading the surviving loyalists he pulled out of the fight, Tarvitz takes advantage of Eidolon's undisciplined attack and manages to repel the assault.[2q]
Loken and Torgaddon confront Abaddon and Aximand in the ruins of the city's parliament building. The confrontation splits into two duels as Loken fights Abaddon and Torgaddon fights Aximand. Outclassed against Abaddon Loken knows he needs Torgaddon's help to win, but Aximand kills Torgaddon, leaving Loken helpless. Abaddon grievously wounds him, but before he can finish Loken off the Dies Irae steps on the building and brings the roof down. Abaddon pulls Aximand from the rubble, noting his sorrow at murdering Torgaddon, and believing Loken dead they return to the fleet. With the loyalists all but destroyed, the traitors fall back to Isstvan V and Horus firebombs the city from orbit, Tarvitz and the scant few survivors bracing for the end knowing that they hurt the traitors and bought time for Garro to reach Terra. Buried beneath the rubble of the parliament building, the last thing that Loken sees is the bombs falling towards him.[2r]
Dramatis Personae
- Horus — Primarch of the Sons of Horus, Warmaster of the Great Crusade[2a]
- Angron — Primarch of the World Eaters[2a]
- Fulgrim — Primarch of the Emperor's Children[2a]
- Mortarion — Primarch of the Death Guard[2a]
- Ezekyle Abaddon — First Captain[2a]
- Tarik Torgaddon — Captain, 2nd Company[2a]
- Iacton Qruze — Captain, 3rd Company[2a]
- Horus Aximand — Captain, 5th Company[2a]
- Serghar Targost — Captain, Seventh Company, Lodge Master[2a]
- Garviel Loken — Captain, 10th Company[2a]
- Luc Sedirae — Captain, 13th Company[2a]
- Tybalt Marr — Captain, 18th Company[2a]
- Kalus Ekaddon — Captain, Catulan Reaver Squad[2a]
- Falkus Kibre — Captain, Justaerin Terminator Squad[2a]
- Nero Vipus — Sergeant, Locasta Tactical Squad[2a]
- Maloghurst — Equerry to the Warmaster[2a]
- Nathaniel Garro — Battle-Captain of the 7th Company[2a]
- Eidolon — Lord Commander[2a]
- Saul Tarvitz — First Captain[2a][Conflicting sources]
- Lucius — Captain of the 13th Company[2a]
- Fabius — Emperor's Children Apothecary[2a]
- Esau Turnet — Princeps of the Dies Irae, Legio Mortis[2a]
- Titus Cassar — Moderati Primus of the Dies Irae, Legio Mortis[2a]
- Jonah Aruken — Moderati Primus of the Dies Irae, Legio Mortis[2a]
- Regulus — Representative to the 63rd Expedition[2a]
Imperial Personae
- Kyril Sindermann — Primary Iterator[2a]
- Euphrati Keeler — Official Remembrancer, Imagist[2a]
- Mersadie Oliton — Official Remembrancer, Documentarist[2a]
- Peeter Egon Momus — Architect designate[2a]
- Maggard — Civilian enforcer[2a]
- Ing Mae Sing — Mistress of Astropaths[2a]
Trivia
 |
Conflicting sources
- Exact rank unknown due to conflicting sources, cf. Saul Tarvitz.
See also
Sources
- 1: Black Library: Galaxy in Flames (archived from the original 24 September 2024, last accessed 10 August 2024)
- 2: Galaxy in Flames (Novel):
