Difference between revisions of "Solar War"
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|Image caption=Organization of Imperial Defenses in the [[Sol System]] | |Image caption=Organization of Imperial Defenses in the [[Sol System]] | ||
|Conflict =[[Horus Heresy]] | |Conflict =[[Horus Heresy]] | ||
− | |Date =010- | + | |Date =010-014.[[M31]] |
|Location =[[Sol System]] | |Location =[[Sol System]] | ||
|Outcome =Traitor Victory | |Outcome =Traitor Victory | ||
|Combatant1 =[[Imperium]] | |Combatant1 =[[Imperium]] | ||
|Combatant2 =[[Chaos Space Marines|Traitor]]s | |Combatant2 =[[Chaos Space Marines|Traitor]]s | ||
− | |Commanders1 =[[Primarch]] [[Rogal Dorn]]<br>[[ | + | |Commanders1 =Initially<br>[[Primarch]] [[Rogal Dorn]]<br>[[Captain]] [[Sigismund]]<br>[[Captain]] [[Halbrecht]]<br>[[Captain]] [[Efried]]<br>[[Captain]] [[Camba-Diaz]]<br>[[Captain]] [[Archamus]](KIA)<br>[[Captain]] [[Kestros]]<br>[[Captain]] [[Fafnir Rann]]<br>Lieutenant [[Boreas (Imperial Fists)|Boreas]] (KIA)<br>[[Admiral]] [[Niora Su-Kassen]]<br>[[General]] [[Kaze]]<br><br>[[Magos]] [[Kazzim-Aleph-1]]<br>Final Phase brought<br>[[Primarch]] [[Jaghatai Khan]]<br>[[Primarch]] [[Sanguinius]]<br>[[Captain]] [[Jubal Khan (Heresy)|Jubal Khan]](KIA) |
− | + | |Commanders2 =Initially<br>[[Primarch]] [[Alpharius]](KIA)<br>[[Harrowmaster]] [[Kel Silonius]]<br>[[First Captain]] [[Ingo Pech]]<br>[[Captain]] [[Mathias Herzog]]<br><br>Final Phase<br>[[Warmaster]] [[Horus]]<br>[[Primarch]] [[Perturabo]]<br>[[Primarch]] [[Angron]]<br>[[Captain]] [[Ezekyle Abaddon]]<br>[[Captain]] [[Horus Aximand]]<br>[[Chief Librarian]] [[Ahzek Ahriman]]<br>Master [[Ignis]]<br>[[First Captain]] [[Forrix]]<br>[[Dark Apostle]] [[Zardu Layak]]<br>[[Warsmith]] [[Soltarn Vull Bronn]]<br>Ambassador [[Sota-Nul]]<br>[[Samus]] | |
− | |Strength1 =[[Imperial Fists]]<br>[[ | + | |Strength1 =Initially<br>[[Imperial Fists]]<br>[[Imperial Army]]<br>[[Adeptus Mechanicus|Loyalist Mechanicum]]<br><br>Final Phase brought<br>[[Blood Angels]] and [[White Scars]]<br>Several thousand warships total |
− | |Strength2 =[[Alpha Legion]]<br>[[Sons of Horus]]<br>[[ | + | |Strength2 =Initially<br>[[Alpha Legion]]<br>[[Operative]]s<br><br>Final Phase<br>[[Sons of Horus]]<br>[[Iron Warriors]]<br>[[Thousand Sons]]<br>[[Word Bearers]]<br>[[World Eaters]]<br>[[Emperor's Children]]<br>[[Night Lords]] elements<br>[[Dark Mechanicum]]<br>Misc. [[Chaos Space Marine|Traitor Marine]] warbands<br>Traitor [[Imperial Army]]<br>[[Lost and the Damned]]<br>[[Daemon]]s<br>Tens of thousands of warships total |
− | |Casualties1 = | + | |Casualties1 =Massive, billions of civilians alone |
− | |Casualties2 = | + | |Casualties2 =Massive |
}} | }} | ||
The '''Solar War''' refers to a series of battles fought in the [[Sol System]] from 010-015.[[M31]] during the closing stages of the [[Horus Heresy]]. The war saw [[Horus]] begin his drive on [[Terra]], capital of the [[Imperium]]. | The '''Solar War''' refers to a series of battles fought in the [[Sol System]] from 010-015.[[M31]] during the closing stages of the [[Horus Heresy]]. The war saw [[Horus]] begin his drive on [[Terra]], capital of the [[Imperium]]. | ||
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With the [[Emperor]] preoccupied with the [[War Within the Webway]] and [[Malcador the Sigillite]] waging the [[Shadow Wars]], it was left with [[Imperial Fists]] [[Primarch]] [[Rogal Dorn]] to oversee the defenses of both [[Terra]] and the greater [[Sol System]]. The defenses of the [[Imperial Palace]] were significantly strengthened, and much of its aesthetic was destroyed in favor of strategic defensibly.{{Fn|4}} Following the [[Schism of Mars]], [[Kelbor-Hal]]'s [[Dark Mechanicus]] was victorious in claiming the Red Planet, but an Imperial blockade trapped the traitors on their own world.{{Fn|1}} | With the [[Emperor]] preoccupied with the [[War Within the Webway]] and [[Malcador the Sigillite]] waging the [[Shadow Wars]], it was left with [[Imperial Fists]] [[Primarch]] [[Rogal Dorn]] to oversee the defenses of both [[Terra]] and the greater [[Sol System]]. The defenses of the [[Imperial Palace]] were significantly strengthened, and much of its aesthetic was destroyed in favor of strategic defensibly.{{Fn|4}} Following the [[Schism of Mars]], [[Kelbor-Hal]]'s [[Dark Mechanicus]] was victorious in claiming the Red Planet, but an Imperial blockade trapped the traitors on their own world.{{Fn|1}} | ||
− | As [[Horus]]' forces inched closer to Terra, Dorn organized the defenses of the Sol System into a series of Spheres. Each consisted of not only Imperial Fists forces, but also loyalist [[Imperial Army]] and [[Mechanicum]].{{Fn|3}} | + | As [[Horus]]' forces inched closer to Terra, Dorn organized the defenses of the Sol System into a series of Spheres. Each consisted of not only Imperial Fists forces, but also loyalist [[Imperial Army]] and [[Mechanicum]].{{Fn|3}} By the closing phase of the battle Dorn held back most of his Astartes forces on Terra in preparation for the siege.{{Fn|6}} |
− | *The '''First Sphere''' was the outermost defensive zone from [[ | + | *The '''First Sphere''' was the outermost defensive zone from [[Pluto]] to [[Neptune]].{{Fn|2a}} It was commanded by [[Sigismund]]{{Fn|3}} at Pluto.{{Fn|6a}} |
*The '''Second Sphere''' oversaw [[Uranus]].{{Fn|6}} It was commanded by [[Halbrecht]]{{Fn|3}} | *The '''Second Sphere''' oversaw [[Uranus]].{{Fn|6}} It was commanded by [[Halbrecht]]{{Fn|3}} | ||
*The '''Third Sphere''' oversaw the [[Jupiter]] region.{{Fn|6a}} It was commanded by [[Efried]].{{Fn|3}} | *The '''Third Sphere''' oversaw the [[Jupiter]] region.{{Fn|6a}} It was commanded by [[Efried]].{{Fn|3}} | ||
− | *The '''Fourth Sphere''' was commanded by [[Camba Diaz]] and oversaw the blockade of traitor-occupied [[Mars]]{{Fn|2a}}{{Fn|6a}} | + | *The '''Fourth Sphere''' was commanded by [[Camba Diaz]] and oversaw the blockade of traitor-occupied [[Mars]]{{Fn|2a}}{{Fn|6a}} This sphere was the largest of the four outer layers of defense, surpassed only by the Terran sphere.{{Fn|6}} |
*The '''Fifth Sphere''' was [[Terra]] and [[Luna]], overseen by [[Rogal Dorn]] himself.{{Fn|2a}} | *The '''Fifth Sphere''' was [[Terra]] and [[Luna]], overseen by [[Rogal Dorn]] himself.{{Fn|2a}} | ||
− | === | + | ===Initial War=== |
For the next several years, the loyalists would counter traitor-instigated uprisings and attempted breakouts by the Dark Mechanicus on Mars.{{Fn|1}} | For the next several years, the loyalists would counter traitor-instigated uprisings and attempted breakouts by the Dark Mechanicus on Mars.{{Fn|1}} | ||
− | The [[Alpha Legion]] announced its entry into the Solar War by exploding the freighter ''Primigenia'' over Terra, killing millions by raining debris. This was accompanied by Alpha Legion organized uprisings at Terra's Damocles Starport and [[Wikipedia: Triton (moon)|Triton]]. All of this culminated in the first major battle of the Solar War, the [[Battle of Pluto]]. The battle saw the [[Alpha Legion]] drive on [[Pluto]], linchpin of the loyalist monitoring of the Sol System. During the battle, a fleet of over 200 Alpha Legion warships assaulted the planet, but after [[Alpharius]] himself was seemingly killed by [[Rogal Dorn]] the traitors retreated.{{Fn|2}} | + | The [[Alpha Legion]] announced its entry into the Solar War by exploding the freighter ''Primigenia'' over Terra, killing millions by raining debris. This was accompanied by Alpha Legion organized uprisings at Terra's Damocles Starport and [[Wikipedia: Triton (moon)|Triton]]. All of this culminated in the first major battle of the Solar War, the [[Battle of Pluto]]. The battle saw the [[Alpha Legion]] drive on [[Pluto]], linchpin of the loyalist monitoring of the Sol System. During the battle, a fleet of over 200 Alpha Legion warships assaulted the planet, but after [[Alpharius]] himself was seemingly killed by [[Rogal Dorn]] the traitors retreated.{{Fn|2}} For several years after, the Imperials continually dealt with attempts by the Dark Mechanicum to break out of their cage around Mars as well as Alpha Legion attacks and [[Cultist]] activity.{{Fn|6}} |
− | In 013.[[M31]] Horus won the massive [[Battle of Beta-Garmon]], giving him access to the strategically important route to Terra.{{Fn|5}} | + | ===Final Phase=== |
+ | In 013.[[M31]] Horus won the massive [[Battle of Beta-Garmon]], giving him access to the strategically important route to Terra.{{Fn|5}} It was now certain that Horus would reach the Throneworld, and Dorn increased his defenses with newly arrived [[Blood Angels]] and [[White Scars]] forces. Dorn and his mostly [[Human]] command staff moved their daily headquarters from the ''[[Phalanx]]'' to the [[Bhab Bastion]] of the [[Imperial Palace]]. In preparation for Horus' arrival, the [[Dark Mechanicum]] on Mars accelerated their breakout attempts and lobbed constant fire from the surface from Mars at a blockade overseen by [[Captain]] [[Camba Diaz]]. As Horus arrived, Dorn's strategy revolved around holding back and bloodying the traitors as much as possible in the hopes of [[Roboute Guilliman]]'s inbound reinforcements. The Lord of the Imperial Fists knew his own forces were to meager to hold back the full might of the traitors, but victory would be assured should they wedge Horus' armada between the forces of Terra and [[Ultramar]]. Equally, Horus sought to capture Sol and Terra as quickly as possible before Guilliman could arrive at his rear. To save his Astartes for Terra's defense, Dorn withdrew most large space marine contingents to the Throneworld and relied heavily on [[Legiones Astartes]] ships crewed mainly by [[Human]]s or [[Imperial Army]] vessels for the greater Solar System's defenses.{{Fn|6}} | ||
− | ===Aftermath | + | The traitor armada finally arrived at Sol on 0000014.[[M31]], the first day of the first month (Primus). As expected by the loyalists the traitors made their initial assaults on the two [[Warp]] gates into the system that allowed for the bypassing of [[Mandeville Point]]s: the Kthonic Gate at Pluto and the Elysian Gate at [[Uranus]]. Near-simultaneously, a Sons of Horus armada under [[Horus Aximand]] struck at Pluto while an [[Iron Warriors]] fleet under [[Perturabo]] assaulted the defenses of Uranus, both engaging the Imperial Fists and [[Imperial Armada]] defense fleets under [[Sigismund]] and [[Halbrecht]] respectively. At the same time, a smaller armada of Sons of Horus, [[Thousand Sons]], [[Word Bearers]], and [[Dark Mechanicum]] under [[Ezekyle Abaddon]], [[Ahzek Ahriman]], [[Zardu Layak]], and [[Sota-Nul]] respectively moved over the galactic disc, bypassing the initial loyalist defenses and striking down into the upper crest of the defensive spheres. The loyalists had foreseen such a ploy and a force of [[White Scars]] under [[Jubal Khan]] was ready to meet the traitors. Across the Sol System, hundreds of small engagements erupted to make up a naval battle of titanic proportions. Though the loyalists had the advantage of preparations and large amounts of [[Orbital Defense Platform]]s and other armored bastions, the traitors had the luxury of overwhelming numbers and [[Warp]]-sorcery. In addition, intelligence provided by the Alpha Legion during their earlier attacks proved critical, with Horus having personally been given a map of all loyalist defenses in the Sol System by Alpharius before he departed the traitor war effort at the [[Ullanor]].{{Fn|7}} |
+ | |||
+ | ====First Sphere==== | ||
+ | At Pluto commanding from the [[Frigate]] ''[[Three Sisters of Spite|Lachrymae]]'', Sigismund decimated the initial waves of primarily traitor [[Imperial Army]] vessels with not only his fleet but also the Moons of the world, which had now been transformed into gigantic gun-fortresses. However as the traitors arrived in ever-increasing numbers the Sons of Horus finally began to appear, using the ships of their allies as shields to begin to fire back. Soon Horus Aximand himself aboard the [[Battle Barge]] ''[[Throne of the Underworld]]'' translated from the [[Warp]], leading a massive push that saw landings on the fortress-moons. Most of the incoming attacks were by savage [[Newborn (Horus Heresy)|Newborn]] Sons of Horus. One by one, the Newborn Astartes boarded the moons and unleashed [[Scrap Code]] that either disabled its defenses or turned them to Horus' cause, resulting in the moons beginning to fire on one another. After the moon of [[Wikipedia: Kerberos (moon)|Kerberos]] fell, Sigismund ordered his fleet retreat. The Sons of Horus pursued, walking into the loyalist trap as Sigismund had loyalist [[Mechanicum]] [[Tech-Priest]]s unleash data-jinns into the power reactor complex of the moon. Kerberos exploded, decimating and scattering the pursuing traitor fleet. At this moment, Sigismund had his fleet turn back around and launched a vicious counterattack on the traitors. In an attempt to reverse the situation, Aximand personally led an assault on the ''Lachrymae'' to decapitate the loyalist command. In a clash between the Sons of Horus and Sigismund's [[Templar]]s, Aximand and Sigismund dueled. Horus Aximand slew the Templar Lieutenant [[Boreas]] and wounded Sigismund, but the First Captain of the Imperial Fists was able to teleport away aboard the nearby Frigate ''Persephone'', severing one of Aximand's hands as he retreated. Though wounded, Aximand successfully captured the ''Lachrymae'' and organized a counterattack that broke the loyalist fleet at Pluto. Sigismund ordered a withdraw towards Terra, informing Rogal Dorn that the First Sphere had fallen after several days of fighting.{{Fn|6c}} | ||
+ | |||
+ | ====Second Sphere==== | ||
+ | At Uranus, [[Perturabo]] himself from the ''[[Iron Blood]]'' oversaw a massive traitor onslaught on Halbrecht's Second Sphere Fleet and orbital defenses. Commanding the Battle Barge ''[[Monarch of Fire]]'', Halbrecht's fleet took a ranged approach, sniping from the screen of 27 fortress-moons and hundreds of gun-platforms into the arrival points of Iron Warriors vessels with their [[Nova Cannon]]s. Enormous space-minefields hindered the traitor fleet, boxing them into these killzones. Perturabo rammed three enormous mass-conveyor vessels known as ''Alekto'', ''Megaera'', and ''Tilphousia'' into the loyalist fleet of gun-platforms, using them as [[Fire Ship]]s and wiping out many of the defenders. With the way to the inner core of Uranus' defenses cleared, Perturabo fielded an enormous [[Space Hulk]] known as the ''[[Daughter of Woe]]'' which unleashed hell on the loyalists with its enormous array of weaponry. One by one the remaining defensive bastions of Uranus fell to the Iron Warriors onslaught, with the firepower from the ''Daughter of Woe'' completely destroying [[Wikipedia: Umbriel (moon)|Umbriel]]. As the Iron Warriors closed the distance with the loyalist defensive bastions, they unleashed transports filled with millions of drug-fueled Gangers, [[Pirate]]s, [[Mutant]]s, and [[Cultist]]s into their bowels. The defending forces, mostly Imperial Army and [[Servitor]]s, fought valiantly but were overwhelmed by sheer numbers. After a delaying maneuver that bought another 36-hours for the loyalists, Halbrecht ordered a retreat towards Terra. He brought with him the majority of the Second Sphere Fleet, saved in order to bloody the traitors in future engagements. The Second Sphere had fallen.{{Fn|6d}} | ||
+ | |||
+ | ====Third Sphere==== | ||
+ | With the Second Sphere reduced, there were still thousands of pockets of resistance between Uranus, [[Neptune]], [[Saturn]], and outer [[Jupiter]] and their accompanying moons and orbitals. To speed up the conquest of Sol, Perturabo unleashed waves of Pirate, [[Emperor's Children]], and [[Night Lords]] vessels as well as ships of Traitor Space Marines which had since taken new colors or names. Though [[Titan (Moon)|Titan]] had been cloaked in a ritual by [[Malcador the Sigillite|Malcador]] for a [[Grey Knights|future project]], the result of Sol was terrorized by these vicious bands of killers while Perturabo and [[Forrix]] led an assault on Jupiter itself, which was defended primarily by Imperial Fists and [[Blood Angels]] vessels under Captain [[Camba-Diaz]]. Diaz's fleet slowly gave ground to the Iron Warriors in the vast expanse of Jupiter and her moons, eventually being forced to withdraw to Terra.{{Fn|6e}} | ||
+ | |||
+ | ====Fourth & Fifth Spheres==== | ||
+ | Amid the carnage erupting across the outer Sol System, Horus' most important maneuver came above the galactic disc. The combined Sons of Horus, Thousand Sons, Word Bearer, and Dark Mechanicum fleet plunged into the void between Terra and Mars. This force split then split in half, with the larger Dark Mechanicum contingent making for Mars while the Traitor Astartes force moved towards [[Luna]]. Along the way to Luna, Abaddon's armada was continually harried by the White Scars under [[Jubal Khan (Heresy)|Jubal Khan]]. However Abaddon and Zardu Layak were eventually able to board the White Scars flagship ''[[Lance of Heaven]]'' and slay Jubal in combat. At Mars, the large Dark Mechanicum fleet drawn from hundreds of treacherous [[Forge World]]s ploughed into [[Efried]]'s blockade fleet. Consisting of large numbers of Imperial Fists, Blood Angels, loyalist Mechanicum, and Imperial Army, this force was the largest of the four outer spheres and a vicious battle erupted over the Red Planet. Efried had to deal with attacks on both sides of his fleet as [[Kelbor-Hal]]'s besieged Martian forces launched their own attack in conjunction with the arriving Dark Mechanicum armada. Understanding the time for a counterattack had arrived, Dorn and his command staff moved to the ''[[Phalanx]]'', which finally left Terra's orbit and intended to contest the traitors at Luna and then Mars. [[Jaghatai Khan]] stated that the traitors had failed, as Horus' main fleet had yet to show itself and the firepower of the ''[[Phalanx]]'' would blunt this new attack, buying the loyalists enough time for Guilliman's arrival. {{Fn|6e}} | ||
+ | |||
+ | Meanwhile, Ahzek Ahriman's Thousand Sons force, accompanied by Word Bearers and their cultist-slaves, moved on [[The Comet]] between [[Venus]] and Terra, capturing it from light [[Servitor]] defenses and beginning a great sacrificial ritual prepared on the orders of [[Lorgar]] years prior. The ritual depended on an absolute timetable, having to be initiated at a precise celestial alignment in the Sol System that had not been seen since the [[Age of Strife]]. As Ahriman and the Word Bearers conducted their ritual, Abaddon's remaining Sons of Horus contingent emerged over [[Luna]]. The moon's defensive ring sported defenses greater than entire [[Expeditionary Fleet]]s, and with the ''Phalanx'' inbound Abaddon's relatively small fleet seemed doomed to a quick death. However at the exact moment that Ahriman's ritual on The Comet was reaching its crescendo, Abaddon plunged his Battle Barge ''[[War Oath]]'' into the defensive ring around Luna as he and his warriors teleported aboard the moons surface. The kamikaze attack blew a 20 kilometer long gap into Luna's defensive ring as Ahriman departed The Comet, which became an epicenter for a massive black scar in reality which briefly blocked out the sun itself. From this tear in realspace came tens of thousands of traitor vessels including the full might of the [[World Eaters]], Thousand Sons, and Emperor's Children. Besides conventional warships, this force also included hordes of winged [[Daemon]]s. At the head of this impossibly vast armada's head was [[Angron]] standing atop the battlements of the ''[[Conqueror (Ship)|Conqueror]]'' and [[Horus]] himself aboard the ''[[Vengeful Spirit]]''. The new arrivals struck towards Luna, annihilating and scattering [[Battlefleet Solar]] and the Lunar defensive network.{{Fn|6e}} On Luna's surface, a [[Justaerin]] and Word Bearers assault under Abaddon and Layak eventually succeeded in securing the coveted [[Selenar]] [[Gene-Seed]] technology that had been used to create the original [[Astartes]]. The presiding Selenar Matriarch, [[Heliosa-78]], ultimately chose to side with Horus than carry out her orders from Dorn to destroy her precious gene-tech before it could fall into traitor hands.{{Fn|6f}} | ||
+ | |||
+ | Dorn attempted to organize a counterattack aboard the ''Phalanx'', but another one of Horus' trump cards took effect. The [[Remembrancer]] [[Mersadie Oliton]], who had been brought aboard the battlestation by [[Garviel Loken]] due to an urgent need to speak to the Primarch, was revealed to have been unknowingly corrupted by [[Maloghurst]] years prior. From a warp-eye placed on her, the [[Daemon]] [[Samus]] emerged directly into the bowels of the ''Phalanx''. Dorn's own command bridge was assailed by both Daemonic hordes and Samus' madness and in desperation the Primarch unleashed his [[Librarian]]s which had been interred aboard the station since the [[Council of Nikaea]]. Not even the arrival of Sigismund's reinforcements from Pluto could turn the tide. Dorn fought Samus himself, but every time the Daemon died he was reborn by possessing one of the many nearby corpses. To end Samus' rampage, a distraught Oliton threw herself into the ''Phalanx'' reactor chamber, with her death closing the portal from which the Daemons were able to manifest. Though the ''Phalanx'' was now secure, victory in the Sol System was now impossible. Luna had fallen, Mars was rapidly being relieved, and Horus' armadas were closing in all around them. Dorn ordered that the Imperial Army [[Admiral]] [[Niora Su-Kassen]] take the ''Phalanx'' out into the outer Solar System in order to save it from certain destruction while he returned to Terra aboard Sigismund's Frigate ''Persephone''. The surviving loyalist vessels in Luna's orbit either fled into the void or docked in Terra's atmosphere.{{Fn|6f}} | ||
+ | |||
+ | ==Aftermath== | ||
*{{Main|Battle of Terra}} | *{{Main|Battle of Terra}} | ||
− | + | With the Solar System now in his hands, Horus was finally able to strike at the Throneworld itself. After a little over a month of fighting, on the Thirteenth day of Secundus the first orbital strikes from Horus' fleet fell upon Terra. The [[Siege of Terra]] had begun.{{Fn|6f}} | |
==Sources== | ==Sources== | ||
Line 56: | Line 75: | ||
*{{Endn|6}}: [[The Solar War (Novel)]] | *{{Endn|6}}: [[The Solar War (Novel)]] | ||
**{{Endn|6a}}: Map | **{{Endn|6a}}: Map | ||
+ | **{{Endn|6b}}: Chapters 1-3 | ||
+ | **{{Endn|6c}}: Chapters 4-7 | ||
+ | **{{Endn|6d}}: Chapters 7-12 | ||
+ | **{{Endn|6e}}: Chapters 13-19 | ||
+ | **{{Endn|6f}}: Chapters 20-22 | ||
+ | *{{Endn|7}}: [[Slaves to Darkness (Novel)]] - Chapter 19 | ||
{{HHBattles}} | {{HHBattles}} | ||
[[Category:Battles (Horus Heresy)]] | [[Category:Battles (Horus Heresy)]] | ||
Line 68: | Line 93: | ||
[[Category:Battles (Iron Warriors)]] | [[Category:Battles (Iron Warriors)]] | ||
[[Category:Battles (Word Bearers)]] | [[Category:Battles (Word Bearers)]] | ||
+ | [[Category:Battles (Emperor's Children)]] | ||
+ | [[Category:Battles (World Eaters)]] | ||
+ | [[Category:Battles (Night Lords)]] | ||
[[Category:Anti-Imperial Rebellions]] | [[Category:Anti-Imperial Rebellions]] | ||
[[Category:Battles (Knights)]] | [[Category:Battles (Knights)]] | ||
[[Category:Battles (Collegia Titanica)]] | [[Category:Battles (Collegia Titanica)]] |
Revision as of 02:59, 20 May 2019
This article is about the Horus Heresy battle; for the novel, see The Solar War (Novel). |
The Solar War refers to a series of battles fought in the Sol System from 010-015.M31 during the closing stages of the Horus Heresy. The war saw Horus begin his drive on Terra, capital of the Imperium.
Contents
Overview
Imperial Preparations
With the Emperor preoccupied with the War Within the Webway and Malcador the Sigillite waging the Shadow Wars, it was left with Imperial Fists Primarch Rogal Dorn to oversee the defenses of both Terra and the greater Sol System. The defenses of the Imperial Palace were significantly strengthened, and much of its aesthetic was destroyed in favor of strategic defensibly.[4] Following the Schism of Mars, Kelbor-Hal's Dark Mechanicus was victorious in claiming the Red Planet, but an Imperial blockade trapped the traitors on their own world.[1]
As Horus' forces inched closer to Terra, Dorn organized the defenses of the Sol System into a series of Spheres. Each consisted of not only Imperial Fists forces, but also loyalist Imperial Army and Mechanicum.[3] By the closing phase of the battle Dorn held back most of his Astartes forces on Terra in preparation for the siege.[6]
- The First Sphere was the outermost defensive zone from Pluto to Neptune.[2a] It was commanded by Sigismund[3] at Pluto.[6a]
- The Second Sphere oversaw Uranus.[6] It was commanded by Halbrecht[3]
- The Third Sphere oversaw the Jupiter region.[6a] It was commanded by Efried.[3]
- The Fourth Sphere was commanded by Camba Diaz and oversaw the blockade of traitor-occupied Mars[2a][6a] This sphere was the largest of the four outer layers of defense, surpassed only by the Terran sphere.[6]
- The Fifth Sphere was Terra and Luna, overseen by Rogal Dorn himself.[2a]
Initial War
For the next several years, the loyalists would counter traitor-instigated uprisings and attempted breakouts by the Dark Mechanicus on Mars.[1]
The Alpha Legion announced its entry into the Solar War by exploding the freighter Primigenia over Terra, killing millions by raining debris. This was accompanied by Alpha Legion organized uprisings at Terra's Damocles Starport and Triton. All of this culminated in the first major battle of the Solar War, the Battle of Pluto. The battle saw the Alpha Legion drive on Pluto, linchpin of the loyalist monitoring of the Sol System. During the battle, a fleet of over 200 Alpha Legion warships assaulted the planet, but after Alpharius himself was seemingly killed by Rogal Dorn the traitors retreated.[2] For several years after, the Imperials continually dealt with attempts by the Dark Mechanicum to break out of their cage around Mars as well as Alpha Legion attacks and Cultist activity.[6]
Final Phase
In 013.M31 Horus won the massive Battle of Beta-Garmon, giving him access to the strategically important route to Terra.[5] It was now certain that Horus would reach the Throneworld, and Dorn increased his defenses with newly arrived Blood Angels and White Scars forces. Dorn and his mostly Human command staff moved their daily headquarters from the Phalanx to the Bhab Bastion of the Imperial Palace. In preparation for Horus' arrival, the Dark Mechanicum on Mars accelerated their breakout attempts and lobbed constant fire from the surface from Mars at a blockade overseen by Captain Camba Diaz. As Horus arrived, Dorn's strategy revolved around holding back and bloodying the traitors as much as possible in the hopes of Roboute Guilliman's inbound reinforcements. The Lord of the Imperial Fists knew his own forces were to meager to hold back the full might of the traitors, but victory would be assured should they wedge Horus' armada between the forces of Terra and Ultramar. Equally, Horus sought to capture Sol and Terra as quickly as possible before Guilliman could arrive at his rear. To save his Astartes for Terra's defense, Dorn withdrew most large space marine contingents to the Throneworld and relied heavily on Legiones Astartes ships crewed mainly by Humans or Imperial Army vessels for the greater Solar System's defenses.[6]
The traitor armada finally arrived at Sol on 0000014.M31, the first day of the first month (Primus). As expected by the loyalists the traitors made their initial assaults on the two Warp gates into the system that allowed for the bypassing of Mandeville Points: the Kthonic Gate at Pluto and the Elysian Gate at Uranus. Near-simultaneously, a Sons of Horus armada under Horus Aximand struck at Pluto while an Iron Warriors fleet under Perturabo assaulted the defenses of Uranus, both engaging the Imperial Fists and Imperial Armada defense fleets under Sigismund and Halbrecht respectively. At the same time, a smaller armada of Sons of Horus, Thousand Sons, Word Bearers, and Dark Mechanicum under Ezekyle Abaddon, Ahzek Ahriman, Zardu Layak, and Sota-Nul respectively moved over the galactic disc, bypassing the initial loyalist defenses and striking down into the upper crest of the defensive spheres. The loyalists had foreseen such a ploy and a force of White Scars under Jubal Khan was ready to meet the traitors. Across the Sol System, hundreds of small engagements erupted to make up a naval battle of titanic proportions. Though the loyalists had the advantage of preparations and large amounts of Orbital Defense Platforms and other armored bastions, the traitors had the luxury of overwhelming numbers and Warp-sorcery. In addition, intelligence provided by the Alpha Legion during their earlier attacks proved critical, with Horus having personally been given a map of all loyalist defenses in the Sol System by Alpharius before he departed the traitor war effort at the Ullanor.[7]
First Sphere
At Pluto commanding from the Frigate Lachrymae, Sigismund decimated the initial waves of primarily traitor Imperial Army vessels with not only his fleet but also the Moons of the world, which had now been transformed into gigantic gun-fortresses. However as the traitors arrived in ever-increasing numbers the Sons of Horus finally began to appear, using the ships of their allies as shields to begin to fire back. Soon Horus Aximand himself aboard the Battle Barge Throne of the Underworld translated from the Warp, leading a massive push that saw landings on the fortress-moons. Most of the incoming attacks were by savage Newborn Sons of Horus. One by one, the Newborn Astartes boarded the moons and unleashed Scrap Code that either disabled its defenses or turned them to Horus' cause, resulting in the moons beginning to fire on one another. After the moon of Kerberos fell, Sigismund ordered his fleet retreat. The Sons of Horus pursued, walking into the loyalist trap as Sigismund had loyalist Mechanicum Tech-Priests unleash data-jinns into the power reactor complex of the moon. Kerberos exploded, decimating and scattering the pursuing traitor fleet. At this moment, Sigismund had his fleet turn back around and launched a vicious counterattack on the traitors. In an attempt to reverse the situation, Aximand personally led an assault on the Lachrymae to decapitate the loyalist command. In a clash between the Sons of Horus and Sigismund's Templars, Aximand and Sigismund dueled. Horus Aximand slew the Templar Lieutenant Boreas and wounded Sigismund, but the First Captain of the Imperial Fists was able to teleport away aboard the nearby Frigate Persephone, severing one of Aximand's hands as he retreated. Though wounded, Aximand successfully captured the Lachrymae and organized a counterattack that broke the loyalist fleet at Pluto. Sigismund ordered a withdraw towards Terra, informing Rogal Dorn that the First Sphere had fallen after several days of fighting.[6c]
Second Sphere
At Uranus, Perturabo himself from the Iron Blood oversaw a massive traitor onslaught on Halbrecht's Second Sphere Fleet and orbital defenses. Commanding the Battle Barge Monarch of Fire, Halbrecht's fleet took a ranged approach, sniping from the screen of 27 fortress-moons and hundreds of gun-platforms into the arrival points of Iron Warriors vessels with their Nova Cannons. Enormous space-minefields hindered the traitor fleet, boxing them into these killzones. Perturabo rammed three enormous mass-conveyor vessels known as Alekto, Megaera, and Tilphousia into the loyalist fleet of gun-platforms, using them as Fire Ships and wiping out many of the defenders. With the way to the inner core of Uranus' defenses cleared, Perturabo fielded an enormous Space Hulk known as the Daughter of Woe which unleashed hell on the loyalists with its enormous array of weaponry. One by one the remaining defensive bastions of Uranus fell to the Iron Warriors onslaught, with the firepower from the Daughter of Woe completely destroying Umbriel. As the Iron Warriors closed the distance with the loyalist defensive bastions, they unleashed transports filled with millions of drug-fueled Gangers, Pirates, Mutants, and Cultists into their bowels. The defending forces, mostly Imperial Army and Servitors, fought valiantly but were overwhelmed by sheer numbers. After a delaying maneuver that bought another 36-hours for the loyalists, Halbrecht ordered a retreat towards Terra. He brought with him the majority of the Second Sphere Fleet, saved in order to bloody the traitors in future engagements. The Second Sphere had fallen.[6d]
Third Sphere
With the Second Sphere reduced, there were still thousands of pockets of resistance between Uranus, Neptune, Saturn, and outer Jupiter and their accompanying moons and orbitals. To speed up the conquest of Sol, Perturabo unleashed waves of Pirate, Emperor's Children, and Night Lords vessels as well as ships of Traitor Space Marines which had since taken new colors or names. Though Titan had been cloaked in a ritual by Malcador for a future project, the result of Sol was terrorized by these vicious bands of killers while Perturabo and Forrix led an assault on Jupiter itself, which was defended primarily by Imperial Fists and Blood Angels vessels under Captain Camba-Diaz. Diaz's fleet slowly gave ground to the Iron Warriors in the vast expanse of Jupiter and her moons, eventually being forced to withdraw to Terra.[6e]
Fourth & Fifth Spheres
Amid the carnage erupting across the outer Sol System, Horus' most important maneuver came above the galactic disc. The combined Sons of Horus, Thousand Sons, Word Bearer, and Dark Mechanicum fleet plunged into the void between Terra and Mars. This force split then split in half, with the larger Dark Mechanicum contingent making for Mars while the Traitor Astartes force moved towards Luna. Along the way to Luna, Abaddon's armada was continually harried by the White Scars under Jubal Khan. However Abaddon and Zardu Layak were eventually able to board the White Scars flagship Lance of Heaven and slay Jubal in combat. At Mars, the large Dark Mechanicum fleet drawn from hundreds of treacherous Forge Worlds ploughed into Efried's blockade fleet. Consisting of large numbers of Imperial Fists, Blood Angels, loyalist Mechanicum, and Imperial Army, this force was the largest of the four outer spheres and a vicious battle erupted over the Red Planet. Efried had to deal with attacks on both sides of his fleet as Kelbor-Hal's besieged Martian forces launched their own attack in conjunction with the arriving Dark Mechanicum armada. Understanding the time for a counterattack had arrived, Dorn and his command staff moved to the Phalanx, which finally left Terra's orbit and intended to contest the traitors at Luna and then Mars. Jaghatai Khan stated that the traitors had failed, as Horus' main fleet had yet to show itself and the firepower of the Phalanx would blunt this new attack, buying the loyalists enough time for Guilliman's arrival. [6e]
Meanwhile, Ahzek Ahriman's Thousand Sons force, accompanied by Word Bearers and their cultist-slaves, moved on The Comet between Venus and Terra, capturing it from light Servitor defenses and beginning a great sacrificial ritual prepared on the orders of Lorgar years prior. The ritual depended on an absolute timetable, having to be initiated at a precise celestial alignment in the Sol System that had not been seen since the Age of Strife. As Ahriman and the Word Bearers conducted their ritual, Abaddon's remaining Sons of Horus contingent emerged over Luna. The moon's defensive ring sported defenses greater than entire Expeditionary Fleets, and with the Phalanx inbound Abaddon's relatively small fleet seemed doomed to a quick death. However at the exact moment that Ahriman's ritual on The Comet was reaching its crescendo, Abaddon plunged his Battle Barge War Oath into the defensive ring around Luna as he and his warriors teleported aboard the moons surface. The kamikaze attack blew a 20 kilometer long gap into Luna's defensive ring as Ahriman departed The Comet, which became an epicenter for a massive black scar in reality which briefly blocked out the sun itself. From this tear in realspace came tens of thousands of traitor vessels including the full might of the World Eaters, Thousand Sons, and Emperor's Children. Besides conventional warships, this force also included hordes of winged Daemons. At the head of this impossibly vast armada's head was Angron standing atop the battlements of the Conqueror and Horus himself aboard the Vengeful Spirit. The new arrivals struck towards Luna, annihilating and scattering Battlefleet Solar and the Lunar defensive network.[6e] On Luna's surface, a Justaerin and Word Bearers assault under Abaddon and Layak eventually succeeded in securing the coveted Selenar Gene-Seed technology that had been used to create the original Astartes. The presiding Selenar Matriarch, Heliosa-78, ultimately chose to side with Horus than carry out her orders from Dorn to destroy her precious gene-tech before it could fall into traitor hands.[6f]
Dorn attempted to organize a counterattack aboard the Phalanx, but another one of Horus' trump cards took effect. The Remembrancer Mersadie Oliton, who had been brought aboard the battlestation by Garviel Loken due to an urgent need to speak to the Primarch, was revealed to have been unknowingly corrupted by Maloghurst years prior. From a warp-eye placed on her, the Daemon Samus emerged directly into the bowels of the Phalanx. Dorn's own command bridge was assailed by both Daemonic hordes and Samus' madness and in desperation the Primarch unleashed his Librarians which had been interred aboard the station since the Council of Nikaea. Not even the arrival of Sigismund's reinforcements from Pluto could turn the tide. Dorn fought Samus himself, but every time the Daemon died he was reborn by possessing one of the many nearby corpses. To end Samus' rampage, a distraught Oliton threw herself into the Phalanx reactor chamber, with her death closing the portal from which the Daemons were able to manifest. Though the Phalanx was now secure, victory in the Sol System was now impossible. Luna had fallen, Mars was rapidly being relieved, and Horus' armadas were closing in all around them. Dorn ordered that the Imperial Army Admiral Niora Su-Kassen take the Phalanx out into the outer Solar System in order to save it from certain destruction while he returned to Terra aboard Sigismund's Frigate Persephone. The surviving loyalist vessels in Luna's orbit either fled into the void or docked in Terra's atmosphere.[6f]
Aftermath
With the Solar System now in his hands, Horus was finally able to strike at the Throneworld itself. After a little over a month of fighting, on the Thirteenth day of Secundus the first orbital strikes from Horus' fleet fell upon Terra. The Siege of Terra had begun.[6f]
Sources
- 1: The Horus Heresy Book Six pg. 30
- 2: Praetorian of Dorn (Novel) Part 4, Chapters 1–6
- 2a: Part 1, Chapter 4
- 3: Secrets of the Solar War — Day 2
- 4: The Lightning Tower (Short Story)
- 5: Weregeld (Novella)
- 6: The Solar War (Novel)
- 7: Slaves to Darkness (Novel) - Chapter 19
Battles of the Horus Heresy | |
---|---|
005-006.M31 | Battle of Isstvan III • First Battle of Prospero • War Within the Webway • Battle of the Somnus Citadel • Unrest on Caliban • Schism of Mars • Battle of Diamat • Drop Site Massacre • Battle of the Rangda System • First Battle of Paramar • Manachean War • Signus Campaign • Treachery at Advex-Mors • Siege of Cthonia • Battle for Felweather Keep |
007-008.M31 | Battle of Phall • Battle of Ravendelve • Ruin of Maerdan • Battle of the Alaxxes Nebula • Pale Stars Campaign • Breaking of the Perfect Fortress • Chondax Campaign • Second Battle of Prospero • First Siege of Hydra Cordatus • Battle of the Furious Abyss • Battle of Calth • Battle of Armatura • Betrayal at Ithraca • Death of Canopus • Shadow Crusade • Crusade of Iron • Doom of Bormina • Defence of Tyros • Defence of the Three Planets • Battle of Ulixis • Ambush at Espandor • Battle of Aquila Atoll • Battle of Drooth II • Percepton Campaign • Battle of Iydris • Thramas Crusade • Fall of Baztel III • Battle of Vannaheim • Second Battle of Paramar • Battle of Constanix II • Mezoan Campaign • Battle of Bodt • Battle of Dwell • Erellian Subjugation • Siege of Baal |
009-010.M31 | Battle of Molech • Breaking of Anvillus • Xana Incursion • Carnage of Morox • Sangraal Campaign • Battle of Arissak • Battle of Perditus • Battle of Sotha • Drussen Atrocity • Scouring of Gilden's Star • Battle of Nyrcon • Battle of Tallarn • Cataclysm of Iron • Battle of Nocturne • War of Drakes • Battle of Pluto • Siege of Inwit • Burning of Ohmn-Mat • Bitter War |
011-014.M31 | Reaving of the Xibana Reaches • Lorin Alpha Campaign • Subjugation of Tyrinth • Malagant Conflict • Battle of the Kalium Gate • Battle of Catallus • Axandrian Incident • Battle of the Haddon System • Jarrazr Incursion • Battle of Tralsak • Tarren Suppression • Balthor Sigma Intervention • Battle of Absolom • Scouring of the Ollanz Cluster • Battle of Zepath • Second Battle of Zaramund • Battle of Anuari • Battle of Pyrrhan • Second Battle of Davin • Argolian Massacres • Battle of Trisolian • Battle of Yarant • Battle of Krade • Battle of Deluge • Battle of Heta-Gladius • Battle of the Aragna Chain • Battle of Kalleth • Battle of the Diavanos System • Battle of Desperation • Battle of Beta-Garmon • War for Agarops • Defence of Ryza • Battle of Thagria • Passage of Angels • Thassos Incident • Battle of Zhao-Arkhad • Serpent's Coil • Siege of Barbarus • Foricaan Campaign • Battle of Vezdell • Burning of Vrexor • Dawn of Desolation • Death of Chemos • Battle of Luth Tyre • Ydursk Incident • Fall of Tenzebar • Solar War • Raid on Luna • Siege of Terra • Great Scouring |
- Battles (Horus Heresy)
- Battles (Imperial Fists)
- Battles (Black Legion)
- Battles (Dark Mechanicus)
- Battles (Adeptus Mechanicus)
- Battles (Alpha Legion)
- Battles (White Scars)
- Battles (Blood Angels)
- Battles (Thousand Sons)
- Battles (Iron Warriors)
- Battles (Word Bearers)
- Battles (Emperor's Children)
- Battles (World Eaters)
- Battles (Night Lords)
- Anti-Imperial Rebellions
- Battles (Knights)
- Battles (Collegia Titanica)