Dies Irae

The Dies Irae was a mighty Imperator Titan of the Death's Head legion (Legio Mortis). Commanded during the last stages of the Great Crusade by Princeps Esau Turnet, it had already gained a fearsome reputation among the warriors of the 63rd Expeditionary Fleet, and was an awe-inspiring sight to behold as it strode over the battlefield. Its name means "Day of Wrath".

Other notable crew members during this time were Titus Cassar and Jonas Aruken.

When the Warmaster Horus betrayed his loyalist forces at Isstvan III, the Dies Irae was caught in the virus bombardment but Princeps Turnet had the gigantic machine sealed against the deadly vapours and his crew watched on in horror as the world died around them, including many of the Death Guard Astartes they had been supporting only moments before. As the secondary firestorm erupted, without the benefit of cooling systems and ventilation the crew were very nearly overcome by the intense heat, but when the flames died and the extent of the Warmaster's plan became apparent, Turnet ordered his crew to attack the remaining Death Guard who had hidden in sealed bunkers below the enemy front lines.

Initally, Titus Cassar refused to carry out the orders and attacked Turnet with his sidearm autopistol, but he was killed by his former friend and ally Aruken, who made his own ambitions quite plain. The Dies Irae went on to attack the remaining loyalist forces in the capital city, and was incidentally involved in the death of captain Garviel Loken of the Luna Wolves, as he was trapped in the wreckage left in the titan's wake following his clash with Ezekyle Abaddon.

As the seige of the Emperor's Palace ground on during the Horus Heresy, Horus ordered the Legio Mortis and the rest of the Traitor Titan Legions to breach the walls of the Palace whatever the cost. It was the Dies Irae that was the first to break the walls, throwing back the defenders that swarmed to protect the breach and allowing the hordes of daemons waiting for an opening to swarm in. This action earned it immortal infamy within the Adeptus Titanicus and its destruction was considered to be worth the cost of an entire Titan battlegroup.

Dies Irae was last seen serving as part of the Iron Warriors force that attacked the fortress of Tor Christo on Hydra Cordatus. It was destroyed when a Warlord class Battle Titan detonated its plasma reactor to stop its assault, but only after it had destroyed a number of Imperial Titans in combat.

Sources

• Horus Rising by Dan Abnett
• False Gods by Graham McNeill
• Galaxy In Flames by Ben Counter
• Storm Of Iron