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===Rebellion and Heresy===
*{{Main|Battle of Isstvan III}}
Baron '''[[Vardus Praal]]''', [[Planetary Governor|Imperial governor]] of the Isstvan system, eventually rose in revolt against the Imperium, purging Imperial elements for as long as six years before word of the rebellion reached the [[Council of Terra]].{{Fn|5b}} The [[Emperor of Mankind]] and the Council, ignorant of the change in Horus, charged the Warmaster with crushing this rebellion. Under his command were four [[Space Marine Legion]]s; his own [[Sons of Horus]], the [[Emperor's Children]] of [[Fulgrim]], [[Mortarion]] and his [[Death Guard]], and the [[World Eaters]] led by [[Angron]]. Horus and these Primarchs had fallen to Chaos and took this opportunity to purge all suspected loyalists from their Legions.{{citethis}}
The planned first wave, all suspected loyalists, deployed by [[Drop pods]] upon the [[Choral City]], the capital of the planet. Not using the traditional [[Stormbird]]s and cutting their communication lines to the fleet, Horus tried to ensure that none of them would survive the massive [[Virus bombs|virus bombardment]]. Captain [[Saul Tarvitz]] of the Emperor's Children, working on a hunch, had managed to remain in the fleet, where he discovered the planned bombardment and commandeered a [[Thunderhawk]] to save his betrayed brethren. Thanks to Tarvitz's warning, a few hundred loyal Space Marines managed to survive inside airtight bunkers and bomb shelters. As the putrid gases resulting from the rapidly decaying organic matter filled the atmosphere, Horus ignited a firestorm on the planet which melted the hives and razed the cities. The psychic death scream of the twelve billion is said to have been louder than the [[Astronomican]]{{Fn|1}}{{Fn|2}}{{Fn|3}}.
