The Horus Heresy has erupted into open massacre, with brother now turned against brother across the stars. But few battles would prove as pivotal or devastating as the Drop Pod Massacre on the traitor-held world of Istvaan V.
We open with Warmaster Horus' carefully laid trap being sprung - assembling a massive strike force of Loyalist Astartes to fight against the perceived Slaught threat on Istvaan. Unaware they're being lured by the Warmaster's deceit, elite companies from several Space Marine Legions dutifully launch from the orbiting fleet towards the planet's surface in drop pods.
Once breaking through Istvaan's atmosphere, the brave warriors are met not by the sprawling combat zones they anticipated, but by a quarter million traitor legionaries arrayed and waiting to unleash hell. In harrowing detail, we'll experience the wholesale slaughter of these Loyalist companies as their drop pods are blown apart by sustained bombardment. Those who manage to reach the surface face an even darker fate.
Most tragically, the Massacre is merely the first phase of terrible events to come on Istvaan's scorched soil. For it sets the stage for an act so vile and unforgivable that the very fate of the galaxy may depend on those who have the strength to weather such immense betrayal.
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