Battle of Diamantus
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The Battle of Diamantus was a battle fought by the Imperium sometime after the formation of the Great Rift.[1a]
Overview
When the Forge World of Diamantus was threatened by the incoming Space Hulk Grim Destiny, the Carcharodons Space Marine Chapter 3rd Company under Company Master Kino from the Strike Cruiser White Maw were dispatched to investigate. Upon arriving, they were met by Skitarii under the command of the local Fabricator General Digitas Horrum, who viewed the new arrivals as interlopers interfering with their quotas. Thanks to the diplomacy by the Librarian Khauri, the Carcharodons were able to to avoid open conflict as they prepared to defend the world.[1a] A group of Void Exiles under Bail Sharr were simultaneously dispatched to sabotage the Grim Destiny.[1b]
Due to the machinations of the Dark Mechanicum Heretek and servant of Vashtorr Voldire, Sharr's exiles failed in preventing the Grim Destiny from reaching Diamantus. Under fire from the White Maw and the Diamantus' orbital defense, the Hulk broke apart in an apparent controlled fashion, scattering fragments across the world. This not only devastated Diamantus and initiated a series of catastrophic tectonic events, it allowed the Voldire's forces within the fragments to invade the planet.[1c] The Chaos forces unleashed waves of Scrapcode which corrupted many of the Skitarii, forcing the Carcharodons to execute their former allies.[1d]
Amidst the mayhem, Carcharodons Chief Librarian Te Kahurangi arrived on the world, apparently "hearing the call" and crossing the void to intervene in a crisis that would effect the Chapter's future.[1d] Meanwhile, Strike Leader Kordi led a force to the Noosphere hub on Diamantus to disable the network and prevent the planet's machinery and Skitarii to scrapcode.[1e] In the ruins of the primary citadel of Diamantus at Mount Antikythera, dubbed the "Pinnacle", Voldire began a dark ritual to Vashtorr. Flaying Fabricator-General Horrum, he hoped to turn the world into a Warp bridge directly to the Forge of Souls and ascend to Daemonhood.[1f]
Meanwhile, Te Kahurangi and the Company Champion Red Tane encountered Bail Sharr and his exiles, which had escaped to the surface. Te urged Bail to resume command of the 3rd. Regrouping in a smelter core, the group met up with Company Master Kino and a group of survivors. The Carcharodons then launched a desperate final assault on the "flesh ziggurat" erected by Voldire to prevent the ritual from being completed.[1g] Fighting through swarms of Furies, the group is aided by pure Skitarii led by Magos Dominus Ze-One-Prime and sought to reach the ruins of the Sire of Belaphrone. Once there, they hoped to overload its engines in order to destroy the citadel.[1h]
As Te engaged Voldire in a psychic duel, the Carcharodons discovered that remote detonation of the engines would not be possible due to scrapcode corruption and a manual override would be required. The Void Exile and former Techmarine Blood Eye took on this task as Sharr and the others evacuated through a portal opened by the Librarian Khauri. They then moved onto the central throneroom to aid Te and Kino, where they discovered Voldire's true form to be a massive over-exposed brain.[1i] Sharr drove his axe Reaper into the brain just as the Sire of Belaphrone detonated. The entire structure then came tumbling down as the surviving Carcharodons escaped.[1j]
In the aftermath of the battle, the Carcharodons escaped aboard the White Maw. The Inquisition then arrived to find the planet devastated by cleansed of corruption. Bail Sharr resumed command of the 3rd Company.[1k]
