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From Warhammer 40k - Lexicanum
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→History: clean up, replaced: {{Cite this}} → {{Cite Marker End}} (3)
Built on the shipyards of [[Luna]] by [[Mechanicum]] artistans,{{Fn|2}} the ''Terminus Est'' was one of the first capital ships assigned to the [[Death Guard]] by the [[Emperor]]. It was of a unique design that pre-dated the [[Great Crusade]] and which was copied in [[M36]] as part of the [[Gareox Prerogative]] to create the [[Despoiler Battleship|Despoiler class]]. As might be expected the older vessel was considerably more powerful than the later copy, although nothing definite is now known of the pre-Heresy configuration of ''Terminus Est''. It is said that the ''Terminus Est'' was capable of challenging a [[Gloriana Class Battleship]].{{Fn|3}}
References exist that suggest it was originally primarily employed as a planetary assault ship. This is not unusual as it conforms with the role assigned to the vessels of the Space Marine Legions. Many of the vessels used in the Great Crusade were, however, handicapped by system failures that the [[Imperium]] lacked the ability to repair. Often this would result in many systems being replaced with less efficient but more easily maintained alternatives.{{Cite thisMarker End}}
The role of the ''Terminus Est'' during the [[Horus Heresy]] is better known. At [[Isstvan V|Isstvan]] the ''Terminus Est'' engaged and destroyed the ''[[Shadow of the Emperor]]'', the flagship of the [[Raven Guard]]. It is argued that this engagement was the earliest recorded conflict between battleships specialised to carry attack craft. The engagement was swift and deprived the embattled loyalist forces of any air support in the massacre that followed. The vessel led Typhon's fleet during the [[Battle of Perditus]] and subsequent campaigns.{{Cite thisMarker End}}
The ''Terminus Est'' and Typhon reappeared on [[Ynyx]] and upon the First Captain's request Mortarion himself agreed to journey on the vessel to [[Terra]] instead of the ''[[Endurance]]''. However this was part of Typhon's elaborate plot to corrupt the Death Guard, and in the subsequent trap within the [[Warp]] the ''Terminus Est'' along with the rest of the Death Guard fleet became daemonically corrupted.{{Fn|3}} When the ''Terminus Est'' was sighted as part of the armada that followed [[Horus]] to [[Terra]] it had changed. The Mark of Nurgle was upon it and all the other vessels of the Death Guard. While [[Mortarion]] led the assault on the Lion's Gate starport, Typhus controlled the Plaguefleet and it is suspected actually began the orbital bombardment of the Emperor’s Palace.{{Cite thisMarker End}} During the [[Siege of Terra]], the ''Terminus Est'' took part in the destruction of the Emperor's flagship ''[[Imperator Somnium]]'', but was heavily damaged after the latter exploded.{{Fn|4}}
Following [[Horus]]’ death and the arrival of loyalist reinforcements the ''Terminus Est''’s formidable reserves of attack craft were expended as a rearguard while the Death Guard were evacuated back to their ships. Along with the rest of the [[Traitor Legions]] the Death Guard fled to the [[Eye of Terror]] and disappeared from Human knowledge for centuries.{{Fn|2}}
