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From Warhammer 40k - Lexicanum
→Overview: Fixed typo
[[Molech]] was one of the planets that the [[Warmaster]] [[Horus]] assaulted during his drive towards [[Terra]]. Horus became alerted to the planets significance when he regained a memory erased by the [[Emperor]], that of Molech having a gateway to the [[Warp]] that his Father had used to obtain power. Desiring such power for himself, Horus set a course to Molech.{{Fn|2c}} The [[Knight World]] was a major seat of [[Imperial]] power as the Emperor had left behind substantial forces to protect its unknown Warp Gate. A detachment of [[Blood Angels]] and [[Ultramarines]], Three [[Titan Legion]]s over a hundred [[Imperial Army]] regiments, an [[Imperial Armada]] [[Battlefleet]] of sixty ships, and [[Knight House]]s stood ready to face the Warmaster's onslaught, which included the [[Sons of Horus]] and [[Death Guard]] [[Legion]]s.{{Fn|1}}
After smashing aside the world's defending [[Battlefleet]] by capturing Molech's [[Orbital Defense Platform]]s and using them to fire on loyalist ships, Horus launched a full-scale invasion of Molech. Cities were obliterated under orbital bombardments or the wreckage of Battlefleet Molech being redirected into the atmosphere, creating global tsunami'stsunamis. After disabling Molech's air defenses the Warmaster launched his initial ground assault. Horus himself landed at the island of Damesk, walking the ''Fulgurine Path'' that was said to have been the same route as the Emperor when he first set foot upon Molech. Horus led a massive amphibious landing from Damesk to the beaches of Avadon, defeating House Devine-led resistance in a bloody battle for both sides. However during the battle Horus was badly wounded by a Knight piloted by [[Raeven Devine]], saved only thanks to the intervention of the [[Ruinous Powers]]. Refugees swarmed from Avadon, desperate to avoid the traitor forces. The loyalist [[Legio Fortidus]] sacrificed itself to buy enough times for the refugees to flee.{{Fn|3}}
With Avadon cleared, the rest of the traitor armies followed in their wake. These consisted not only of the Sons of Horus and Death Guard but also four [[Titan Legion]]'s. Mortarion himself landed at Ophir and advanced towards Molech's capital of Lupercalia. The traitors also fielded [[Daemonic]] allies. The [[Daemonic]]ally resurrected [[Ignatius Grulgor]] was unleashed upon Molech, destroying thousands of kilometers of previously impassable forest with [[Life Eater Virus]] fused within him. Beasts fleeing Grulgor smashed into the lines of loyalist forces along the primary loyalist defensive network, the Perceptor Line, giving cover for traitor forces to advance. After overunning the Perceptor Line the traitors next targeted Molech's Western Marches, overunning jungle and farmland flooded from tsunami's caused by the destruction of Battlefleet Molech. The loyalists led by [[House Indra]] and [[House Kaushik]] managed to offer some resistance at the plateau city of Leosta, but were ultimately overwhelmed by Traitor Titans led by the [[Legio Crucius]], [[Legio Vulpa]], and [[Legio Vulcanum]]. Meanwhile, the Death Guard overran the city of Imperratum.{{Fn|3}}
