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Exterminatus

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Targetdrone.gif This article is about the the destruction of planetary life. For other uses of Exterminatus, see Exterminatus (disambiguation).
Exterminatus being performed on Dolumar IV using Cyclonic Torpedos[6]
Typhon Primaris during Exterminatus[2]

Exterminatus extremis[3] is the obliteration of a world's entire population through some form of weapon used from orbit or nearby space.

Overview

Exterminatus is the most extreme method of dealing with some form of heresy, corruption or alien infiltration which has taken root within a planet's population. Accordingly it is only used in the most extreme of circumstances, when the level of corruption a world bears is so monumental that it cannot be wiped out by any other means. The destruction of the entire population is deemed necessary to prevent the contagion from spreading further.[4]

Exterminatus is essentially one of the many tools in the armoury of the Imperium, used in those cases where complete destruction is deemed a better solution than conventional or covert methods. The world in question may have fallen to Chaos worship, or its Imperial government overthrown and replaced by the rule of aliens such as Genestealers, or it may be a non-Imperial world harbouring an extraordinarily powerful and dangerous species of alien. Exterminatus is often resorted to when the world is deemed to be not worth the amount of men and material that would be required to conquer or reclaim it. Exterminatus is very rarely used on planets vital or valuable to the Imperium. It has also been used as a method of denying resources to alien invasion.[5]

The Exterminatus order can be given by any Inquisitor, Space Marine Chapter Master, Lord High Admiral, or Lord Commander.[1] The Imperial Navy usually resorts to mass bombardment. Space Marines prefer to plant a bomb on the surface. The Inquisition has access to more exotic weapons such as virus bombs and cyclonic torpedoes.[Needs Citation] Its use is monitored by the Ordo Excorium.[12]

Types of Exterminatus

Also the planet can be subjected to Exterminatus in several types of Exterminatus at the same time.[13]

Exterminatus-class Weaponry

Known Worlds Subjected to Exterminatus

Planet name Segmentum Notes
Agrellan Ultima Segmentum Destroyed due to continued Tau occupation
Amun'an Morrus Segmentum Obscurus Destroyed during the Angevin Crusade
Azoth Unknown The planet was site of the Daemonic incursion and so was purged of life by the Revilers in 999.M37
Barbarus Segmentum Tempestus Former homeworld of the Death Guard, destroyed by Virus Bombs in the Great Scouring.[9]
Chemos Ultima Segmentum Former homeworld of the Emperor's Children, destroyed in the Great Scouring
Chordelis Unknown Inquisitor Lord Kryptman had ordered Exterminatus on the planet to prevent Hive Fleet Leviathan to consume its biomass
Colchis Segmentum Pacificus Former homeworld of the Word Bearers. Destroyed during the Great Scouring
Cornucopia Ultima Segmentum Destroyed by the Ultramarines due to Genestealer infestation
Cressida Unknown After the incursion of Chaos the planet was subjected to Exterminatus
Cthonia Segmentum Solar Former homeworld of the Sons of Horus. Destroyed during the Great Scouring
Cyrene Ultima Segmentum
Davin Ultima Segmentum Destroyed in the later stages of the Heresy
Dolumar IV Ultima Segmentum Subjected to Exterminatus due to Chaos corruption
Eldritch Ultima Segmentum Destroyed by Exterminatus due to Necron activity
Faze V Ultima Segmentum Burned by the Dark Angels after the Faze V Uprising
Fell Core Ultima Segmentum Subjected to Exterminatus due to Tyranid infestation
Gephistux Unknown Subjected to Exterminatus by Doom Warriors Chapter
Gheistos Unknown All the life was destroyed by he Ordo Malleus due to Gheistos Cataclysm
Hesperax Segmentum Obscurus Destroyed by the Deathwatch Kill Team due to the Dark Eldar incursion
Horestis Unknown Former Daemon World
Jendara Quintus Unknown Destroyed by the Ordo Malleus during the Months of Shame
Kataris Segmentum Obscurus Subjected to Exterminatus due to Daemonic incursion
Khorion IX Segmentum Obscurus World was subjected to Exterminatus due to Daemons infestation
Khur Unknown Former Word Bearers base destroyed during the Great Scouring
Krandor III Segmentum Obscurus Subjected to Exterminatus due a massive Chaos Cult led rebellion in 853.M41
Lassiv Unknown Population were destroyed by Exterminatus due to worship of Chaos
Malodrax Ultima Segmentum Iron Warriors base destroyed by the Imperial Fists
Mardun X Unknown Destroyed by the Doom Warriors
Mataras IV Ultima Segmentum Destroyed due to Xenos infestation
Moirae Unknown Destroyed by the Adeptus Mechanicus during the Moirae Schism
Nebrus IX Unknown Destroyed due to Plague Zombie outbreak
Nostramo Ultima Segmentum Former homeworld of the Night Lords, destroyed before the Horus Heresy.
Novgorod Unknown Exterminated due to Plague of Unbelief and the Ork invasion
Nuceria Ultima Segmentum Destroyed by the Ultramarines during the Great Scouring
Phaenon Prime Segmentum Obscurus Hotbed of the Radical Phaenonites faction, destroyed by the Mechanicus redirecting a moon into it.
Piety Unknown Destroyed by the Grey Knights due to Daemonic infestation
Priam Novus Unknown Destroyed by the Ordo Malleus during the Months of Shame[7]
Prospero Ultima Segmentum Former homeworld of the Thousand Sons Destroyed during the Horus Heresy
Ralas Meridian Unknown Destroyed by the Ordo Malleus during the Months of Shame[7]
Rophanon Segmentum Tempestus Destroyed due to Tyranid infestation
Sandava II Unknown Subjected to Exterminatus by the Grey Knights due to Slaanesh Daemonic Incursion[8]
Sepus Prime Segmentum Pacificus Destroyed by Virus Bombs due to a Chaos insurrection[14]
Serenade Unknown Destroyed due to Genestealer Cult infestation[10]
Shenlong Ultima Segmentum Destroyed due to Word Bearers influence
Sondheim V Unknown Destroyed due to Tyranid and Daemonic taint
St. Josmane's Hope Segmentum Obscurus Destroyed in the 13th Black Crusade due to prisoner riot
Stalinvast Unknown Destroyed due to Tyranid infestation
Tarrenhorst Unknown Destroyed due to Enslaver plague
Tethris Unknown Destroyed due to Tyranid infestation
Thranx Segmentum Solar Destroyed due to anti-Imperial rebellions
Thrax Unknown Destroyed due to Daemonic taint
Torakal IV Unknown Destroyed by the Tarantulas Chapter due to Eldar Exodites[11]
Toreus Unknown Destroyed due to Daemonic taint
Truan IX Unknown Destroyed by the Dark Angels
Truub II Unknown Destroyed by the Doom Warriors
Truub III Unknown Destroyed by the Doom Warriors
Tybult Unknown All life on the planet destroyed by the Ordo Malleus during the Months of Shame[7]
Typhon Primaris Ultima Segmentum Destroyed by the Ordo Malleus due to Chaos and Tyranid taint
Ulik Ultima Segmentum Destroyed to prevent Tyranids from gathering biomass
Verdan II Unknown Destroyed by the Death Strike Chapter due to rebellion
Zhoros Unknown Homeworld of the Fire Hawks. Destroyed by the Frateris Templars during the Wars of Apostasy

Sources

Uncited

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