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After sacrificing many worlds of the [[Cryptus System]] to fend off the earliest advances of the [[Tyranid]]s, the planet [[Baal]] itself was assailed by the [[xenos]]. The Tyranid fleet from [[Hive Fleet Leviathan]] was of such mass that even after its considerable losses it blotted out the stars from the skies. Commander [[Dante]] bolstered the defenses of the [[Blood Angels]] homeworld and waited for the storm to fall. Dante nonetheless did use some proactive means of defense, launching preemptive strikes to delay, mislead, and whittle down the Tyranid armada. Hundreds of splinter fleets were defeated in this fashion.{{Fn|1}}
 
After sacrificing many worlds of the [[Cryptus System]] to fend off the earliest advances of the [[Tyranid]]s, the planet [[Baal]] itself was assailed by the [[xenos]]. The Tyranid fleet from [[Hive Fleet Leviathan]] was of such mass that even after its considerable losses it blotted out the stars from the skies. Commander [[Dante]] bolstered the defenses of the [[Blood Angels]] homeworld and waited for the storm to fall. Dante nonetheless did use some proactive means of defense, launching preemptive strikes to delay, mislead, and whittle down the Tyranid armada. Hundreds of splinter fleets were defeated in this fashion.{{Fn|1}}
  
Fortunately for the Blood Angels, they were aided by multiple [[Successor Chapter]]s such as the [[Flesh Tearers]], [[Blood Drinkers]], [[Carmine Blades]], and the [[Knights of Blood]]. Yet it was still not enough, and the Tyranids soon launched themselves at Baal itself. The sky above Baal erupted in a  
+
Fortunately for the Blood Angels, they were aided by multiple [[Successor Chapter]]s such as the [[Flesh Tearers]], [[Blood Drinkers]], [[Carmine Blades]], and the [[Knights of Blood]]. Yet it was still not enough, and the Tyranids soon launched themselves at Baal itself. The sky above Baal erupted in a firestorm as the vessels of the Space Marines slammed their way into the midst of the approaching Tyranids, launching storms of nuclear-tipped warheads. As impressive as this naval action was, it was hopeless. One by one, Space Marine [[Battle Barge]]s and [[Cruiser]]s were isolated and overwhelmed, battered by organic missiles and enveloped by swarms of smaller bio-ships. It was then that the Tyranids began their landings on Baal and its moons.{{Fn|2}}
firestorm as the vessels of the Space
 
Marines slammed their way into the midst
 
of the approaching Tyranids, launching
 
storms of
 
nuclear-tipped warheads. As impressive as this
 
naval action was, it was hopeless. One
 
by one, Space Marine [[Battle Barge]]s and
 
[[Cruiser]]s were isolated and overwhelmed,
 
battered by organic missiles and enveloped
 
by swarms of smaller bio-ships. It was then that the Tyranids began their landings on Baal and its moons.{{Fn|2}}
 
  
The first nineteen waves, each larger than the last, were driven off at great loss by the Imperial forces, with five [[Chapter Master]]s falling in battle. Three of these were in the Battle at the Dome of Angels alone. The Space Marines initially held their own thanks to formidable recomissioned [[Horus Heresy]]-era fortifications and weaponry, but the presence of the [[Swarmlord]] himself turned the tide in favor of the Xenos.{{Fn|2}} Dante managed to slay the Swarmlord, but was badly wounded in the process. As Baal was overwhelmned, the Tyranids began the process of draining the world and her moons, absorbing even the rad-poisoned desert of [[Baal Secundus]]. With the defenses smashed, the defenders retreated to the Blood Angels [[Fortress-Monastery]]. Baal was ready to fall.{{Fn|2}}
+
The first nineteen waves, each larger than the last, were driven off at great loss by the Imperial forces, with five [[Chapter Master]]s falling in battle. Three of these were in the Battle at the Dome of Angels alone. The Space Marines initially held their own thanks to formidable recommissioned [[Horus Heresy]]-era fortifications and weaponry, but the presence of the [[Swarmlord]] himself turned the tide in favor of the Xenos.{{Fn|2}} Dante managed to slay the Swarmlord, but was badly wounded in the process. As Baal was overwhelmed, the Tyranids began the process of draining the world and her moons, absorbing even the rad-poisoned desert of [[Baal Secundus]]. With the defenses smashed, the defenders retreated to the Blood Angels' [[Fortress-Monastery]]. Baal was ready to fall.{{Fn|2}}
  
It was then that the [[Great Rift]] formed across the greater Galaxy. The [[Baal System]] was overcome by the powers of the [[Warp]] and [[Daemon]]s battled the Tyranids{{Fn|2}}. The Daemons were led by the vicious [[Bloodthirster]] [[Ka'Bandha]], arch-foe of the Blood Angels and [[Sanguinius]]. Ka'Bandha declared that none would have the right to destroy the Blood Angels but him.{{Fn|2}} The arrival of the Great Rift and Daemons prevented additional Tyranids from arriving, but killed every defender upon [[Baal Prime]]. With Baal itself cutoff from the greater Imperium, Chapter Masters Dante and [[Gabriel Seth]] of the
+
It was then that the [[Great Rift]] formed across the greater Galaxy. The [[Baal System]] was overcome by the powers of the [[Warp]] and [[Daemon]]s battled the Tyranids{{Fn|2}}. The Daemons were led by the vicious [[Bloodthirster]] [[Ka'Bandha]], arch-foe of the Blood Angels and [[Sanguinius]]. Ka'Bandha declared that none would have the right to destroy the Blood Angels but him.{{Fn|2}} The arrival of the Great Rift and Daemons prevented additional Tyranids from arriving, but killed every defender upon [[Baal Prime]]. With Baal itself cut off from the greater Imperium, Chapter Masters Dante and [[Gabriel Seth]] of the Flesh Tearers, fell back, harried on all sides. Only the sacrifice of the Knights of Blood, an excommunicated Successor Chapter who had nonetheless been accepted as allies by Chapter Master Dante, allowed the survivors to board their vessels and escape, as Baal Prime was overwhelmed by warp-spawned monstrosities. As Seth’s forces retreated, they caught one last glimpse of the Knights of Blood, hurling themselves into the thick of close combat with mindless ferocity, fully enveloped by
Flesh Tearers, fell back, harried on all sides.
 
Only the sacrifice of the Knights of Blood,
 
an excommunicated successor Chapter
 
who had nonetheless been accepted as
 
allies by Chapter Master Dante, allowed
 
the survivors to board their vessels and
 
escape, as Baal Prime was overwhelmed
 
by warp-spawned monstrosities. As Seth’s
 
forces retreated, they caught one last
 
glimpse of the Knights of Blood, hurling
 
themselves into the thick of close combat
 
with mindless ferocity, fully enveloped by
 
 
the madness of the [[Black Rage]].{{Fn|2}}
 
the madness of the [[Black Rage]].{{Fn|2}}
  
However as all seemed lost, the fleet of the [[Indomitus Crusade]] arrived, led by the reborn [[Roboute Guilliman]] himself. Guilliman and his newly arrived forces fought a great many battles, liberating Baal. Hive Fleet Leviathan was largely destroyed, though it is a mystery as to what exactly happened to it. A clue lies on the now-barren Baal Prime, where the symbol of [[Ka'Bandha]] was formed with the skulls of dead Tyranid organisms. As for Baal, most of the planet and its moons lay devastated. Guilliman oversaw a rapid rebuilding process for the Blood Angels and their homeworlds, for they were desperately needed elsewhere.{{Fn|1}}
+
However, as all seemed lost, the fleet of the [[Indomitus Crusade]] arrived, led by the reborn [[Roboute Guilliman]] himself. Guilliman and his newly arrived forces fought a great many battles, liberating Baal. Hive Fleet Leviathan was largely destroyed, though it is a mystery as to what exactly happened to it. A clue lies on the now-barren Baal Prime, where the symbol of [[Ka'Bandha]] was formed with the skulls of dead Tyranid organisms. As for Baal, most of the planet and its moons lay devastated. Guilliman oversaw a rapid rebuilding process for the Blood Angels and their homeworlds, for they were desperately needed elsewhere.{{Fn|1}}
  
 
==Sources==
 
==Sources==

Revision as of 14:10, 24 November 2017

Targetdrone.gif This article is about the Battle; for the Novel, see The Devastation of Baal (Novel).





Devastation of Baal
BaalBattle.jpg
The battle for the Dome of Angels
Conflict Tyrannic Wars
Date ~999.M41
Location Baal
Outcome Imperial Pyrrhic victory
Combatants
Imperium Tyranids Chaos (Late conflict)
Commanders
Dante (WIA)
Gabriel Seth
Ercon
Scaraban
Erden Cleeve(KIA)
Quaeston
Roboute Guilliman (Later)
Hive Mind
Swarmlord (KIA)[2]
Ka'Bandha
Strength
Blood Angels
Flesh Tearers
Knights of Blood
Blood Drinkers[2]
Carmine Blades[2]
Angels Encarmine[2]
Angels Excelsis
Blood Swords
Sable Brotherhood
Angels of Light
Flesh Eaters
Charnel Guard
Golden Sons
Angels Penitent
Sanguine Host
Angels Glorious
Burning Blood
Brothers of Jarad
Blood Wings
Later forces from the Indomitus Crusade
Hive Fleet Leviathan consisting of hundreds of thousands of Bio-Ships[2] Daemonic hordes
Losses/Survivors
At least five Chapter Masters killed [2]
Angels Excelsis, Golden Sons and 6 other Chapters destroyed
6 more Chapters almost wiped out
Remaining Chapters reduced to less than half of their number
All but 1 of the Sanguinary Guard
Near total destruction All killed or moved back into the Warp

The Devastation of Baal was part of the Third Tyrannic War, taking place during the devastating period known as the Blackness

Overview

After sacrificing many worlds of the Cryptus System to fend off the earliest advances of the Tyranids, the planet Baal itself was assailed by the xenos. The Tyranid fleet from Hive Fleet Leviathan was of such mass that even after its considerable losses it blotted out the stars from the skies. Commander Dante bolstered the defenses of the Blood Angels homeworld and waited for the storm to fall. Dante nonetheless did use some proactive means of defense, launching preemptive strikes to delay, mislead, and whittle down the Tyranid armada. Hundreds of splinter fleets were defeated in this fashion.[1]

Fortunately for the Blood Angels, they were aided by multiple Successor Chapters such as the Flesh Tearers, Blood Drinkers, Carmine Blades, and the Knights of Blood. Yet it was still not enough, and the Tyranids soon launched themselves at Baal itself. The sky above Baal erupted in a firestorm as the vessels of the Space Marines slammed their way into the midst of the approaching Tyranids, launching storms of nuclear-tipped warheads. As impressive as this naval action was, it was hopeless. One by one, Space Marine Battle Barges and Cruisers were isolated and overwhelmed, battered by organic missiles and enveloped by swarms of smaller bio-ships. It was then that the Tyranids began their landings on Baal and its moons.[2]

The first nineteen waves, each larger than the last, were driven off at great loss by the Imperial forces, with five Chapter Masters falling in battle. Three of these were in the Battle at the Dome of Angels alone. The Space Marines initially held their own thanks to formidable recommissioned Horus Heresy-era fortifications and weaponry, but the presence of the Swarmlord himself turned the tide in favor of the Xenos.[2] Dante managed to slay the Swarmlord, but was badly wounded in the process. As Baal was overwhelmed, the Tyranids began the process of draining the world and her moons, absorbing even the rad-poisoned desert of Baal Secundus. With the defenses smashed, the defenders retreated to the Blood Angels' Fortress-Monastery. Baal was ready to fall.[2]

It was then that the Great Rift formed across the greater Galaxy. The Baal System was overcome by the powers of the Warp and Daemons battled the Tyranids[2]. The Daemons were led by the vicious Bloodthirster Ka'Bandha, arch-foe of the Blood Angels and Sanguinius. Ka'Bandha declared that none would have the right to destroy the Blood Angels but him.[2] The arrival of the Great Rift and Daemons prevented additional Tyranids from arriving, but killed every defender upon Baal Prime. With Baal itself cut off from the greater Imperium, Chapter Masters Dante and Gabriel Seth of the Flesh Tearers, fell back, harried on all sides. Only the sacrifice of the Knights of Blood, an excommunicated Successor Chapter who had nonetheless been accepted as allies by Chapter Master Dante, allowed the survivors to board their vessels and escape, as Baal Prime was overwhelmed by warp-spawned monstrosities. As Seth’s forces retreated, they caught one last glimpse of the Knights of Blood, hurling themselves into the thick of close combat with mindless ferocity, fully enveloped by the madness of the Black Rage.[2]

However, as all seemed lost, the fleet of the Indomitus Crusade arrived, led by the reborn Roboute Guilliman himself. Guilliman and his newly arrived forces fought a great many battles, liberating Baal. Hive Fleet Leviathan was largely destroyed, though it is a mystery as to what exactly happened to it. A clue lies on the now-barren Baal Prime, where the symbol of Ka'Bandha was formed with the skulls of dead Tyranid organisms. As for Baal, most of the planet and its moons lay devastated. Guilliman oversaw a rapid rebuilding process for the Blood Angels and their homeworlds, for they were desperately needed elsewhere.[1]

Sources