Changes

During the developments at [[Prospero]] the rebellion would be further be strengthened by [[Magnus the Red]] and his Legion, the [[Thousand Sons]], servants of [[Tzeentch]]. With nine Legions and much of the Adeptus Mechanicus behind him, Horus quickly struck towards Terra.² [[Rogal Dorn]], the commander of Terra's defences, knew he was outmatched. He had only three Space Marine legions- [[Imperial Fists|his own]], the [[Blood Angels]] and the [[White Scars]]- inclose enough proximity to Terra to make a difference, as well as a minimal number of Imperial Guard and Navy forces. Arrayed against them were the might of nine Space Marine Legions, countless traitor elements of the Imperial Guard, Imperial Navy and Adeptus Mechanicus, as well as the daemonic forces of Chaos. Knowing he was outnumbered, Dorn issued an order for all Space Marine legions to head back to Terra and aid in its defence.  However, Horus had anticipated this, and had ordered forces to waylay the returning [[Ultramarines]], [[Dark Angels]] and [[Space Wolves]]: the Ultramarines were ambushed at Calth by a substantial Word Bearers fleet, the Dark Angels came under attack from the Night Lords while returning from an unspecified campaign in the east of the galaxy, and the Alpha Legion fell upon the Space Wolves as they returned from the destruction of Prospero. Jaghatai Khan wished to take his White Scars to the aid of [[Leman Russ]], but Dorn refused to allow him. He also issued orders to Guilleman, El'Johnson and Russ that they were to best their attackers and only then make the jump to Terra. He could only pray they would arrive in time to make a difference.

The Traitor Marines laid waste to their former allies' holdings along the way to [[Terra]]. Throughout the Imperium, rebel and loyal forces battled viciously. Horus and his forces destroyed [[Luna]]'s naval bases, and within 30 days had destroyed the Terran system's defences. Terra was bombarded and devastated, and eventually, the corrupted Marines landed on Terra, experiencing heavy resistance from the forces defending Terra (among these loyalists were Blood Angels, Imperial Fists and White Scars). The loyalists fought bravely against all odds, and many were the tales of heroism in those dark days: Jaghatai Khan led the White Scars and the few remaining Imperial tank companies to [[Lion's Gate]] spaceport, retaking it from the traitors and halfing their landing forces. [[Sanguinius]] duelled the Bloodthirster Ka'bhandam killing the daemon and avenging his defeat at its hands in the Signis Cluster. Rogal Dorn fought side by side with Terminator veterans of the Imperial Fists, fighting in the corridors of the Emperor's palace either hand to hand against the [[World Eaters]], or in vicious firefights against the [[Death Guard]]. But the loyalists were outnumbered, and the battle for Terra turned into a siege of the [[Imperial Palace]]. By the 55th day the rebels had reached the walls of the Inner Palace. Horus, who had remained in orbit aboard his battle barge, was at that point warned that the rest of the loyalist Legions were returning to Terra and would arrive in hours. The Ultramarines were pushing their way to Terra, along with the Space Wolves and the Dark Angels. If this were to happen, Horus' advantage in numbers would be diminished. Out of options, Horus decided to play his final gambit. He let down the force field protecting his battle barge, to lure the Emperor in a final battle that would decide the war.

The [[Emperor]] saw this opportunity and teleported to the Warmaster's battle barge with the two of his [[Primarch]]s Sanguinius and Dorn, Terminator armoured Marines of both their Legions Legion as well as members of the Adeptus Custodes.

Upon teleporting, the Emperor's forces were scattered through the ship, and were forced to battle their way to find each other, fighting their way through traitor Space Marines and all manner of Chaos-twisted horrors. Sanguinius found Horus first. Horus was at the height of his powers; augmented by the blessings of all four Chaos Gods, and Sanguinius was slain. Horus stood over the Primarch's body as the Emperor found the Warmaster. The Emperor After a long and Horus engaged in a final duel; initially not wanting to hurt Horus, still refusing to believe his favoured son would betray himgrueling battle, the Emperor suffered terrible wounds, enough to kill a lesser man, at Horus's hands, who felt no such compunction. It was only when a lone Adeptus Custodes tried to intervene and successful in defeating Horus slew him with a glance, that the Emperor realised just how far his beloved son had fallen. Summoning all his power, the Emperor unleashed a psychic attack of phenomenal power that incinerated Horus's soul and killed his body. In the final instant before he died, the power of Chaos left Horus and the great man Horus had been resurfaced from beneath the monster he had become. The Emperor had achieved victory over Horus but he himself was mortally wounded. The Emperor survived long enough to be transferred to the [[Golden Throne]] - a strange mechanism that would allow him to survive forever in a state of undeath.