Moloch III
Moloch III is a War World of the Imperium, currently fighting a Tyranid invasion.[1]
| Map | Basic Data | Planetary Image | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Name: | Moloch III | 
|
| Segmentum: | Unknown | ||
| Sector: | Unknown | ||
| Subsector: | Unknown | ||
| System: | Moloch System | ||
| Population: | Unknown | ||
| Affiliation: | Imperium | ||
| Class: | War World, Mining World | ||
| Tithe Grade: | Unknown | ||
Before the Tyranid invasion Moloch III, along with Moloch I and Moloch II, was a Mining World that held substantial mineral wealth and held several large colonies. That all changed when the Tyranids invaded the system and both Moloch I and Moloch II came under attack. Though the planets had orbital defenses, they both fell to the unrelenting swarm less than seventy two hours, from when the first Mycetic Spore landed on their surface. Moloch III soon found itself the only Imperium world left in the system and its Planetary Governor ordered feverish preparations to begin to resist the planet's imminent invasion. All of the planet's troops, civilians and equipment were evacuated to a series of giant fortresses, in the Thunderwall mountain range. By the time waves of Mycetic Spores filled the skies over Moloch III, an estimated 89% percent of its population had reached safety within the fortresses.[1]
Despite their preparations, it took the Tyranids almost two days to find the first fortress and another three days to destroy it. The survivors fled to other fortresses and then fled again, as the Tyranids destroyed each fortress in turn. Soon only the fortress Zharr remained, located in the last and greatest hollowed mountain its population could defend. As thousands of the planet's remaining population fled to the safety of Zharr, a small but determined force of Imperial Guardsmen, composed of the remnants of several Regiments, fought as a rearguard around Refinery 13 on the southern slopes of the mountain. They managed to beat back one assault by the Tyranids, but they all knew they wold be swept aside as soon as the swarm massed for another attack. It was during this desperate time, that the Farseer Eldrad Ulthran arrived, with forces from his Craftworld Ulthwé offering their aid.[1]
Colonel Gurion, the ranking officer present, was apprehensive at first, as the Eldar had launched many raids on Moloch III in the past, but Eldrad assured him they were there to help. According to the Farseer, he had checked the lines of fate and learned that the fortress Zharr must not be allowed to fall to the Tyranids, but told Gurion his forces were too weak to survive another attack by the swarm. Knowing they would not be able to receive any reinforcements from Zharr, Gurion agreed to an alliance between the two forces. When the Tyranids attacked Refinary 13 the next morning, they faced the combined might of the Imperial Guard and Eldar - and it was not enough. Early in the battle Eldrad, was struck down by a Psychic attack from a Hive Tyrant and even more devastating, several Imperial Guardsmen had unknowingly been infected with Barbed Strangler seeds. Several times throughout the battle, the seeds would erupt killing their hosts and several Guardsmen nearby; sowing terror and confusion through the ranks of the remaining Guardsmen. With these major setbacks, the Tyranids were able to overwhelm and destroy the forces of the Guard and Eldar, despite taking severe losses while doing so. Eldrad survived the massacre, but the pathway to Zharr was left clear to the Tyranids; with the fortress' remaining defenders left alone to face the might of the swarm.[1]
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Source
- 1: White Dwarf 189 (UK), pgs. 52–69
