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From Warhammer 40k - Lexicanum
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The initial landing force fell into a trap and, despite their martial skills, the three loyal Legions were forced to begin a tactical withdrawal toward their landing site, which had been fortified by the four traitor legions forming the second wave. At this moment the second wave opened fire on the retreating Marines, crushing them between the hammer of Horus's forces and the anvil of the fortified drop site. Despite a heroic defence, the three loyal Legions were practically destroyed; all but a handful of battle brothers fell on that fateful day. First Captain [[Artellus Numeon]] managed to leave a scattered group of survivors off the planet, but their Primarch was missing.{{Fn|11}}
After this sad defeat the Salamanders, as well as the other two betrayed Legions were largely unable to perform any tasks the Emperor had planned for them and spent much of the rest of the time of the Heresy rebuilding their forces. [[Vulkan]] was briefly made a captive of [[Night Lords]] Primarch [[Konrad Curze]], but despite multiple executions the Night Haunter could not figure out a way to kill the [[Perpetual]] Primarch. Eventually Vulkan was able to escape, and along with scattered survivors of his Legion they reorganized in [[Imperium Secundus]] under [[Roboute Guilliman]]. There they came across the shattered body and mind of Vulkan, who had his sanity restored after being stabbed by [[John Grammaticus]] wielding the [[Fulgurite]], but apparently died in the process. The Salamanders on [[Macragge]] thought Vulkan dead and placed him in the stasis-capsule ''Unbound Flame''to lay in state, in preparation for funerary rites to be undertaken by his Legion. During this time, the casket was given an honour guard, which some sentinels though of their number believed they heard a heartbeat from.{{Fn|39}} Later, the Salamanders led by [[Artellus Numeon]] brought Vulkan back to Nocturne but were followed pursued by the [[Death Guard]]. After a [[Battle of Nocturne|brief but fierce battle]], the Salamanders were able to resurrect Vulkan after Numeon provided himself as the final sacrifice.{{Fn|38}}
Meanwhile, Salamanders (along with Iron Hands and Raven Guard) survivors of the Dropsite Massacre based on the [[Sisypheum]] began a campaign of vengeance against those who betrayed them, striking at [[Fulgrim]] and [[Perturabo]] on the [[Crone World]] of [[Iydris]] as well as [[Alpha Legion]] outposts.{{Fn|36}}{{Fn|37}}
