Necropolis (Novel)
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Necropolis is the third novel in the Gaunt's Ghosts series by Dan Abnett.
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Summary
During the Sabbat Worlds Crusade, on the planet of Verghast, the vitally important Hive City of Vervunhive comes under siege from the neighboring hive of Ferrozoica. The Hive leadership's pleas for Imperial assistance are answered by a small task force, including the Tanith First and Only. Soon after they have landed, it becomes clear that Ferrozoica has been corrupted by Chaos, which has mobilized the entire hive population into an army several million strong.
Synopsis
The story begins with a variety of perspectives from the citizenry of Vervunhive on the planet of Verghast. Their city has come under siege from their neighbouring nation, Ferrozoica. Vervun Primary mobilises her militia to meet the incoming threat, with Commissar Kowle leading a armoured spearhead against the forces on the horizon, only to have the spearhead crushed and Kowle narrowly escaping. With this evidence it would appear that the hive is undeniably under attack from Ferrozoica but the High Master of Vervun refuses to believe this, meaning that the defensive batteries are not armed and enabled to retaliate. Panic ensues within Vervunhive, with any outside the walls and shields of the city are destroyed by the bombardments of the Zoican's artillery. With the realisation that this is not a resumation of the 90 years concluded Trade War between the two hives (where Vervun was victorious), but a full blown invasion, the request for aid is sent.
Warmaster Macaroth deploys re-inforcements, including the Tanith under Lord General Noches Sturm of the Royal Volpone, to Verghast where they land in the Nothern Collectives and proceed south to the besieged city to bolster its defenses. The Imperial Forces fortify the city and dig in, bearing the brunt of all the attacks through the Veyveyr, Croe, Hieronymo Sondar Gates and the Spoil. The nature of the enemy is soon dicovered to be the entire populace of Ferrozoica, corrupted by chaos and numbering 13 million. The Ferrozoicans are corrupted and commanded by Heritor Asphodel, chaos Warlord of the Sabbat Worlds.
The destructive nature of the Zoicans and Asphodel is shown by the destruction of Vannick Hive, to the East of Vervunhive, as shown by the use of nuclear wapons and witnessed by the defenders on the eastern wall of Vervunhive. Heritor Asphodel's tactics also show how hell bent he is on the destruction of Vervunhive, through the use of mass wave attacks against the fortifications of Vervunhive with troops attacks through the breaches and his various woe machines attacking the walls to destroy shield generators, defensive positions and the vital shield generators. Heritor Asphodel also used a stealthy approach to the siege as he corrupted the mind of Salvador Sondar, High Master of Vervunhive and integrated into the machinations of the city, similar to a Titan princeps. He achieved this corruption by broadcasting chaos laced messages to the Spire of Vervunhive and slowly corrupted Sondar's mind, eventually leading him to lower the shield barrier over the city at a crucial moment with much of the city becoming destroyed. Gaunt forces his way up the tower with a strike force containing members of the Tanith 1st and the 50th Royal Volpone, infiltrating Sondar's chambers and conversing with him, finding out that he has been corrupted by chaos. They dispose of him after fighting off his servitors and cherubs, re-enabling the shield wall and going back to the siege. It was during the assault on Sondar that the Lord General Noches Sturm fled and deserted from his duties, leaving Gaunt as commander-in-chief of Imperial Forces and subsequently Vervun as well upon the death of High Marshall Croe. Gaunt then gains possession of the power sword of Heironymo Sondar as he leads Vervun to battle, a tradition not willing to broken.
Sturm is later captured whilst trying to flee north across the river and brought before Gaunt. Gaunt strips him of his rank and charges him with desertion. Sturm requests that he be able to take his own life, so Gaunt gives him pistol to do so. Gaunt turns his back to give him some dignity whereupon Sturm goes to shoot him. Gaunt is warned by a soldier, spinning around and cutting Sturms hand of and having him marched off into custody to await trial.
With the Vervunhive's fate looking worse by the hour Gaunt decides that they need to assault the command vehicle of Heritor Asphodel, which is now approaching to claim victory. Gaunt leads a strike-force made up of Tanith, Volpone and Vervun Scratch-Companies onto the command vehicle and battles inside eventually reaching the bridge and duelling with Heritor Asphodel. Gaunt runs Asphodel through with his newly aquired power sword at the same time as he himslef is shot through the heart. However he is saved only by the fact that a metal rose given to him by a member of the House of Chass blocks the bullet.
The finale of Necropolis would see the first induction of new recruits into the Tanith's ranks since their original founding, with soldiers drawn from the militia and scratch companies as well as the general populance of Vervunhive. A large amount of the characters introduced in this novel ad taken on by the Tanith would later become major characters in subsequent novels with notable examples being Tona Criid, Gol Kolea, Dan Baur and the female snipers.
Regiments Involved
- Tanith First and Only
- 50th Royal Volpone
- Roane Deepers
- 1st Narmenian Armoured
- Vervun Primary Militia
Sources
- 1: The Sabbat Worlds Crusade (Background Book)
- 2: Inferno #30
- 3: Black Library
| The Founding | Of Their Lives in the Ruins of Their Cities • First and Only • Ghostmaker Necropolis • In Remembrance |
|---|---|
| The Saint | Honour Guard • The Guns of Tanith • Straight Silver • Sabbat Martyr |
| The Lost | Traitor General • His Last Command • The Armour of Contempt Only in Death • The Iron Star |
| The Victory | Blood Pact • Salvation's Reach |
| Anthologies | Sabbat Worlds (Anthology) |
| Background Books | The Sabbat Worlds Crusade • Tactica Imperialis |
| Spin-offs | Double Eagle • Titanicus |
| Audio Books | Salvation's Reach |
