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[[File:Empschildrenlogo.gif|20px]][[Primarch]] [[Fulgrim]]<br>
[[File:Deathguardlogo.gif|20px]][[Primarch]] [[Mortarion]]<br>
[[File:Ironwarlogo.gif|20px]][[Primarch]] [[Perturabo]]<br>
[[File:Khorne mark.png|20px]][[Bloodthirster]] [[Ka'Bandha]]<br>
[[File:SoHSymbol.jpg|20px]][[First Captain]] [[Ezekyle Abaddon]]<br>
|[[File:Wordbearerslogo.gif|20px]] [[Dark Apostle]] [[Zardu Layak]]{{Fn|4}}<br>
[[File:Worldeaterslogo.gif|20px]][[Space Marine Captain|Captain]] [[Kharn]] (WIA)<br>
[[File:Empschildrenlogo.gif|20px]][[Chief Apothecary]] [[Fabius Bile]] (AWOL)<br>
[[File:Empschildrenlogo.gif|20px]][[Emperor's Children]]<br>
[[File:Thousand_Sons_Cropped.jpg|20px]][[Thousand Sons]]<br>
[[File:Wordbearerslogo.gif|20px]]5,000 [[Word Bearers]]<br>
[[File:Ironwarlogo.gif|20px]][[Iron Warriors]]<br>
[[File:Nightlordslogo.gif|20px]][[Night Lords]]<br>
Following the [[Drop Site Massacre]], the traitorous [[Warmaster]] of the Imperium and [[Primarch]] of the [[Sons of Horus]], [[Horus]], had crippled three Loyalist [[Space Marine]] [[Space Marine Legion|Legions]], a Loyalist Primarch, [[Ferrus Manus]], had fallen in battle, another was severely wounded and a third ([[Vulkan]]) was missing in action. The [[Raven Guard]], [[Salamanders]], and [[Iron Hands]] had been badly mauled in the massacre. Only the [[Imperial Fists]], [[Blood Angels]], and [[White Scars]] [[Space Marine Legion]]s were in the [[Sol System]] in force. The [[Ultramarines]], [[Space Wolves]], and [[Dark Angels]] were either too far away or bogged down in their own campaigns to come for aid.{{Fn|1a}}
Facing them were the armies of [[Chaos]] under [[Warmaster]] [[Horus]] which included nine Legions of [[Chaos Space Marines]], traitorous forces of the [[Imperial Army]], [[Daemon|Daemonic hordes]], and the [[Titan Legion]]s of the [[Dark Mechanicum]].{{Fn|1a}} [[Mars]], the capital of the [[Adeptus Mechanicus]], had recently [[Schism of Mars|fallen]] to the traitor forces. The situation had become disastrous for the [[Imperium]] and the forces of the [[Emperor]]. Horus, sensing that he could decisively end the conflict and overthrow the Emperor once and for all, began to move on Terra. [[Rogal Dorn]], [[Primarch]] of the [[Imperial Fists]], was given overall command of the defenses of humanity's homeworld while the Emperor himself was busy with his own secret project, the [[Golden Throne]].{{Fn|1a}} In addition to the loyalist Space Marine forces deployed in the Sol System, the loyalists were bolstered by one and a half million troops of the [[Imperial Army]], three [[Titan Legions]] of the [[Adeptus Mechanicus]], and the [[Adeptus Custodes]].{{Fn|1a}}
===The Storm Breaks===
On the thirteenth day of Secundus, the bombardment of Terra began. From orbit, Horus' ships laid down an unrelenting barrage of missiles and energy beams. Striking from [[Mars]], the traitor fleet managed to destroy the vast Imperial defenses on [[Luna]], smash Terra's orbital defenses, and scatter the protecting loyalist fleet in 30 days of space combat{{Fn|3}}. Horus' ultimate objective was the [[Imperial Palace]], seat of the Emperor himself. The orbital bombardment was some of the most intense ever witnessed and shook even the courageous and battle-hardened loyalist [[Space Marines]].{{Fn|1b}}
Amid the intense orbital bombardment, waves of traitor [[Drop Pod]]s and transport ships were launched from the orbiting fleet and made landfall on Terra's holy soil. Though many were destroyed by loyalist defense lasers, aircraft, and missile silos, many more landed. From them burst the [[World Eaters]], [[Death Guard]], [[Thousand Sons]], [[Emperor's Children]], and [[Word Bearers]] [[Chaos Space Marines]] led by their respective [[Primarch]]s: [[Angron]], [[Mortarion]], [[Magnus]], and [[Fulgrim]], and [[Lorgar]]. The traitors first objective was to silence Terra's laser defense guns and capture the planets primary spaceports. Across the wide of the plateau surrounding the [[Imperial Palace]] a hundred or more battles were being waged as the traitors made their assaults. However in the end, the Eternity Wall and Lions Gate Spaceports fell to an overwhelming assault by World Eaters and [[Khorne|Khornate]] [[Titan]]s led by [[Angron]].{{Fn|2}} With a landing fields now in his hands, Horus was able to land his [[Titan]]s and heavy war engines.{{Fn|1b}}
Within a few scant hours the forces of Horus managed to seize control of the spaceports of the [[Imperial Palace]] and kill tens of thousands of loyalist warriors, the assault itself led by the [[World Eaters]], [[Thousand Sons]], and [[Emperor's Children]] under the personal command of [[Angron]]. Supported by Titans and overwhelming numbers of traitorous [[Imperial Army]], [[Chaos Cult|Cultists]], [[Daemon]]s, and [[Mutants]], the traitor forces managed to surround its entire circumference. Inside the depths of the Palace itself, the Emperor, attempting to keep the [[Golden Throne]] under control, could only brood over the desperate events occurring far above.{{Fn|1b}}
The Horus Heresy did not end with the Battle of Terra. The Loyalists still had to drive the remaining rebels from the Imperium, one world at a time. In what became known as the [[Great Scouring]], the traitorous forces of Chaos were eventually driven into the [[Eye of Terror]].{{Fn|1e}}
==Canon Conflict==
In the original lore, [[Lorgar]] himself led the Word Bearers on Terra. However as of the events of the novel [[Slaves to Darkness (Novel)|Slaves to Darkness]], Lorgar is banished from Horus' sight for attempting to usurp him and instead the Word Bearers at Terra were led by [[Zardu Layak]].{{Fn|4}}
===Sources===
*{{Endn|2}}: [[Index Astartes IV]] - Siege of the Emperor's Palace
*{{Endn|3}}: [[Realm of Chaos]] Slaves to Darkness pg.240-243
*{{Endn|4}}: [[Slaves to Darkness (Novel)]] Chapters 17-19
{{DEFAULTSORT:Terra, Battle of}}
