39
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Changes
From Warhammer 40k - Lexicanum
→Drop Site Massacre
After ridding himself of all suspected Loyalist members within the three Legions under his direct command, Horus chose Isstvan V as his command post and prepared a trap for his former brothers and their Legions.
The Emperor ordered the deployment of seven full Space Marine Legions against him, agonizing over the betrayal of his most beloved son: their orders were to take Horus and the Primarchs with him into custody, then bring them back to Terra to explain their actions. Unknown to the Emperor of Mankind, four of the deployed Primarchs and their Legions had already turned against him, forming a "fifth column" which would strike against the Loyalists at the most decisive moment.
The initial naval operations seemed to go well for the Loyalist side. The Imperial Navy managed gain orbit over Isstvan V and the Legions proceeded with their planetary deployment.
Three whole Legions took part in the first wave of landings, under the overall command of [[Ferrus Manus]] and besides his own Legion, the [[Iron Hands]], included the [[Salamanders]] lead by [[Vulkan]], and the [[Raven Guard]] under [[Corax]]. Horus had foreknowledge of the location of the drop site, and his forces mauled the loyalist Legions during their landings, keeping them pinned down at the drop site and unable to advance on the foe.
Ferrus Manus engaged Fulgrim, only to die at his hands, while the Emperor's Children butchered the veterans of the Iron Hands. The Loyalists retreated towards the apparent safety of their brothers of the second wave, hoping to gain reinforcements: what happened next took them completely by surprise and went down in infamy.
The four Legions of the second wave - The [[Night Lords]] of [[Konrad Curze]], the [[Iron Warriors]] of [[Perturabo]], the [[Word Bearers]] of [[Lorgar]], and the [[Alpha Legion]] of [[Alpharius]] - already seduced to the cause of Horus, instead of attacking the rebels, attacked and finished off opened fire, slaughtering their unsuspecting brothers in a slaughter orgy of carnage widely known as the ''Istvaan V Drop Site Massacre''.
A phrase from the Warmaster himself can easily resume the whole battle: '''"When the traitor's hand strikes, it strikes with the strength of a Legion."'''
After the battle, the head of Ferrus Manus was delivered by Fulgrim to Horus as a trophy. It is widely believed that Horus planned the battle with aid from the tactical genius, Alpharius.
Only five Loyalist Space Marines, bearing the gene-seed of their fallen brothers and carrying the critically wounded Corax, managed to escape. They fled back to the Raven Guard's homeworld, Deliverance to tend to their wounds and alert the Emperor what had happened.
In a single stroke, Horus had destroyed three entire loyalist Legions. A loyal Primarch had fallen in battle, another was severely wounded, and a third was missing in action. Vulkan was missing, and how he ultimately managed to survive and to escape is quite unclear. It was disastrous news for the Emperor and the Imperium.
