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Soon even House Devine's Dawn Citadel had fallen. The Space Marines fought valiantly, but were annihilated by the sheer number of traitor Astartes. The Blood Angels garrison on the planet was overwhelmed by an assault led by the [[Red Angel]], who unleashed the [[Red Thirst]] in many [[Battle-Brother]]s. Soon only a small force of Ultramarines remained and they were forced to wage a guerrilla war. It was only thanks to the efforts of the [[Imperator Titan]] ''Paragon of Terra'' that a total Imperial rout was avoided.{{Fn|2c}} It was at this point that the Death Guard and Sons of Horus linked up, with Horus greeting Mortarion in preparation for a final push on Lupercalia. However, he still had a final card left to play before doing so.{{Fn|3}}
Over the following months, the insidious whispers of [[Slaanesh]] spread through the fatigued ranks of House Devine. This effort was strengthened by the Daemonic powers of [[Fulgrim]], who had been assigned corrupting Devine by Horus himself. Devine's officers had become lethargic and interested only in their sports, using their mighty machines to hunt down the wild animals of Molech. Soon, they began to meet in secret cabals, committing depraved rites and ceremonies within the heart of the Loyalist camp.{{Fn|1}} The Knights of [[House Devine]] betrayed the Loyalists when Horus launched a massive ground offensive against the loyalist forces centered around the city of Lupercalia. Horus used the captured [[Star Fort]] ''Var Zerba'' to launch a devastating orbital bombardment on the Iron Fist Mountains, annihilating the impenetrable fortress-keeps of the [[Legio Crucius]].{{Fn|3}} Meanwhile, the traitors of Devine destroyed the ''Paragon of Terra'' and the Loyalists found themselves trapped between the advancing enemy forces and the Renegade Knights attacking from behind. This allowed the the Forces of Chaos to punch through the Imperial lines, blocking any routes of escape. Of the entire Imperial host only one in a hundred survived the campaign aboard the refugee ship ''Molech's Enlightenment''.{{Fn|1}}. Horus deliberately let the ship go so they could spread word of the terror he would bring to all followers of the Emperor.{{Fn|2c}}
Ultimately Horus' attempt to gain the powers of the Emperor was apparently successful, he stepped through the gate and emerged saying he had gotten exactly what he wanted. Molech was left to the Death Guard and [[Emperor's Children]] in the aftermath of his victory.{{Fn|2a}} After the battle aboard of his flagship the [[Vengeful Spirit]], a battle between the Sons of Horus and several escaped captives of the [[Knights-Errant]] broke out. Horus confronted [[Garviel Loken]] once more, but after Horus killed [[Iacton Qruze]] the Knights-Errant managed to escaped aboard the stealthship, the ''Tarnhelm''.{{Fn|2b}}
==Sources==
*{{Endn|1}}: [[White Dwarf 190 (UK)]], pgs. 27-30
*2: [[Vengeful Spirit (Novel)]]:
**{{Endn|2a}}: Chapter 24
**{{Endn|2b}}: Chapter 25
**{{Endn|2c}}: Chapter 16
*{{Endn|3}}: [[Adeptus Titanicus: Doom of Molech]], pgs. 6-10
*{{Endn|4}}: [https://thehorusheresy.com/explore-the-galaxy Horusheresy.com galactic timeline] ''(last accessed 2/6/2022)''
{{HHBattles}}
[[Category:Battles (Sons of Horus)]]
[[Category:Battles (Ultramarines)]]
[[fr:Bataille de Molech]]
