Eradicant and Obliteratus
Eradicant and Obliteratus were a pair Ordinatus siege engines, originally commissioned by Horus for the compliance of Tethonus. They came into the possession of Perturabo, who used them at the Dropsite Massacre[1] and the Siege of Terra. Using corrupted MIU technology, gunners had pinpoint control over the bombardment.[2]
Contents
Armament
Eradicant and Obliteratus were among the biggest siege guns in the Iron Warriors Legion, outmatching even the experimental arsenal of the Stor-Bezashk. Tracked compartments two storeys high ran for hundred of metres, armed with a host of automated weapon emplacements including quad-lasers, flak batteries, and mega-bolters in addition to their primary armament: an enormous macro-cannon. They were protected by armour plating as well as void shield generators.
Crew
- Arkasi Achorax - primary gunner of Eradicant, Techmarine of the Dodekatheon[2]
- Mordan Vhosk - primary gunner of Obliteratus, Techmarine of the Dodekatheon[2]
History
Eradicant and Obliteratus were commissioned during the compliance of Tethonus by Horus at least fifty years before the Horus Heresy. The vast artillery pieces, capable of devastating the most powerful fortifications, never saw action due to delays in their construction. Finished a full year after Tethonus had fallen, they were placed in a depot on Diamat.[1]
In the 200th year of the Great Crusade, shortly after the outbreak of the Horus Heresy, Lion El'Jonson led a force of Dark Angels to recover the siege engines from Diamat. Having learned of their existence fifty years before, he immediately thought Horus would attempt to reclaim them after hearing of his rebellion. The Dark Angels were able to prevent the Sons of Horus seizing the engines, El'Jonson giving them to Perturabo when the Iron Warriors came to Diamat intending to resupply on the way to Isstvan V. In return, Perturabo promised to support El'Jonson to become the new Warmaster and to put the siege engines to good use.[1]
After the Dropsite Massacre, Perturabo gave the Ordinatus Diamat to Warsmith Idriss Krendl under the oversight of Siege Captain Victrus Krugeran. Krendl used the engines in the siege of the Great Selenic Palace on Euphorus, testing out his 'Ironfire' protocol of a pinpoint rolling bombardment advancing ahead of a simultaneous Spartan Assault Tank spearhead. The fortress was deemed the best match for the Imperial Palace to run a real-world simulation in preparation for the Siege of Terra.[2]
Sources
- 1: Fallen Angels (Novel), Epilogue
- 2: Ironfire (Short Story)
