Medusa V
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Planetary Summary
| Map | Basic Data | Planetary Image | |
| Name: | Medusa V | 
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| Segmentum: | Ultima Segmentum | ||
| Sector: | Unknown | ||
| Subsector: | Unknown | ||
| System: | Medusa | ||
| Population: | None | ||
| Affiliation: | None | ||
| Class: | Dead World | ||
| Tithe Grade: | Aptus Non | ||
Medusa V is an Imperial Mining World and the centre of the 2006 global campaign named The Fall of Medusa V.
History
The history of Medusa V is tightly linked with that of its sister planet, Medusa IV. The Medusa system may have gone unnoticed had it not been for the huge warp storm named Van Grothe's Rapidity located very close to the Medusa system. Medusa IV and V were colonised to provide both resources and a staging post for ships attempting to sling through the relatively stable warp storm, giving them vast improvement in travel times, although at a much higher risk of destruction. When the Explorator fleet arrived, a Clan Company of the Iron Hands came with them to provide tactical assistance in case they encountered any native, indigenous lifeforms. The Medusa system was named in honour of the Iron Hands, a tribute to their own homeworld.
Medusa V was only settled in part as the Iron Hands were called away before the planet could be totally investigated and the explorator fleet deemed it not necessary to further investigate and colonise the planet. Even though the site had been specially chosen, the system was prone to serious warp storms from the Rapidity to envelop the system and cut them off from the Imperium, sometimes for month or even decades. Every time the storms ended however and astropathic communication was re-established, the first signal to be received from them was that everything was fine on the worlds.
Medusa Vs wealth lay in the mining of iridium ore and drilling for promethium which fleet ships run on, supplying them in orbit ready for their long journeys throughout the Imperium. At this time of relative prosperity, there were only a few large cities on Medusa V, the centre of production being on Medusa IV. Then came the Medusa Schism (see Medusa system for further information).
The outcome of the schism was that Medusa IV was abandoned and destroyed by Exterminatus through the use of one salvo of atmospheric incinerator torpedoes (under the watch of Inquisitor Baptiste), which made the oxygen in the atmosphere ignite and destroyed all life on the planet. It is said the planet glowed for a whole month. Those citizens saved from Medusa IV were transported to Medusa V and screened for heretics by the Inquisition, and thousands were put to death, but that was nothing compared to the vast explosion in the population of Medusa V that the arrival created. Vast structures were erected by the Adeptus Mechanicus to hold millions of workers, kept separate to avoid the spread of any taint the Inquisition might have missed. These cities became known as refugee cities and they gradually found their place in society, providing innumerable labour to work the ore extraction mines. A few years later, the planet entered into a production golden age, producing more materials than was thought possible for the planet. It was at this time that it earnt its high Aestimare value of A912.
Events, however, have a tendency to go badly when things go well for a period. 200 years after the Medusa Schism, the Rapidity began to 'boil over' and is growing at an alarming rate. Some believe it to be growing because it is attempting to become a second Eye of Terror, the Ordo Malleus postulate some form of Chaos Sorcerer has worked their magic upon it, but in the end, they are all irrelevent. As it expands, it consumes every waystation and outpost it touches and it is believed that within either months or weeks, it will reach the Medusa system.
Even while the authorities attempt to organise an escape and evacuation plan there is turmoil on the surface, mirroring that of the warp storm. Several of the 'refugee cities' have openly revolted against the Imperium and the Planetary Governor Soloman hopes that it is simply a reaction to the dire threat they face, although news comes every day of the ever increasing numbers of revolting areas. The Techpriests who operate the vast orbiting auspex arrays have detected three astronomical energy spikes, the first on Medusa VII and the second and third on Medusa V itself, one far to the south of the planet and the other near Macavius Hive, the second largest Hive on the planet. Rumours has it that the city is under siege from these aliens, although verification has thus far failed to reveal an answer.
Three Imperial vessels, part of an Explorator fleet heading galactic eastwards, have been attacked within Medusa V's surveyor range, although when a number of frigates were dispatched to aid them, the ships were found empty of all life, all crew and passengers gone without trace. On the northern edge of the Medusa V continent, over a hundred farms have been destroyed in a spate of barbaric attacks. All the machinery has been looted, including the giant reaping machines. Every day more and more agricultural workers flee to the Hives and the threat of starvation is growing ever stronger. Deathwatch Space Marines have warned that a sizable chunk of the Hive Fleet Kraken has broken its course and has moved to intercept the Medusa system after a titanic engagement with an Imperial Navy space fleet at Lycanis. A Deathwatch Librarian, named Andreas, has postulated that the Rapidity may be acting as a beacon to the Hive Fleet, drawing it to the system. A full scale invasion will soon begin, adding to the bedlam already reigning on Medusa V.
Governor Soloman has turned to the Sector Command, who brought matters to the attention of the Inquisition. A cell of Inquisitors was immediately dispatched to Medusa V and they arrived some weeks later to find the main Hive city of the planet, Hive Euyrales, having already plunged into revolt and the Governor's own personal guard and the Adeptus Arbites fighting a desperate defence against the traitors. The Hive had openly pledged its allegiance to the Chaos gods and rumours are abound that the Traitor Marines themselves have come to Medusa. The Inquisiton made a wider call for assistance, managing to contact the Ultramarines Captain Sicarius of the Second Company. Dozens of Space Marine chapters race to the system, having pledged their support, as well as an Imperial Guard crusade lead by Lord Marshal Graf Harazahn of the Vostroyan Firstborn. Every day the Xenos grow more bold and push the defenders further back. The Imperium simply refuses to let the world fall to the hands of their enemies for even a singles days production is more than worth the sacrifice in manpower. Whatever happens, the warp storm will destroy the planet.
Planetary Data before the destruction of the planet
| Map | Basic Data | Planetary Image | |
| Name: | Medusa V | 
|
| Segmentum: | Ultima Segmentum | ||
| Sector: | Unknown | ||
| Subsector: | Unknown | ||
| System: | Medusa | ||
| Population: | 4,500,000,000 | ||
| Affiliation: | Imperium | ||
| Class: | Mining World | ||
| Tithe Grade: | Exactis Tertius | ||
