+++ The thirteenth of Secundus, 30.014, the bombardment began. From orbit the Warmaster`s ships laid down an unrelenting barrage of missiles and deadly energy beams The aim was to cripple the defences around the Emperor's palace and make possible a massive invasion of Earth. The Lunar bases had already fallen and the defending fleets had been scattered. on Mars, as across the entire Imperium, bitter civil war raged.+++

+++ The Emperor himself oversaw the defences of his fortress-palace, personally commanding the Adeptus Custodes, his elite guard. He was accompanied by Sanguinius, white-pinioned Primarch of the Blood Angels and his Legion of Space Marines. Beneath their fortress-monastery, grim visaged Rogal Dorn led the Imperial Fists in final prayers. In the rubble of burnt out hab-areas Primarch Jhagatai Khan mustered the White Scars, the Legion of Space Marines he had personally instructed in the art of lightning warfare. Outside the palace three full Titan Legions stood ready to defend their Emperor.+++

+++ Within the Emperor's halls even the Space Marines shuddered, knowing that they would soon confront their lost and damned brethren. The terrifying prospect of facing those corrupt Primarchs who had sold their souls to Chaos filled every man's mind with indescribable horror and dread.+++

+++ Pods touched ground and from them erupted the mightiest champions of Chaos, the renegade Space Marines of the lost Legions. These were no longer the fine human warriors of legend but twisted creatures, bodies warped by the energies of Chaos, minds twisted by their devotion to the dark powers.+++

+++ Mighty ships began the descent from orbit, hoping to overwhelm the defenders with sheer weight of numbers. Unlike the drop pods these presented fine targets for the weapons of the defenders. And thus did the Battle for Earth begin in earnest.+++

+++ More and more intricately wrought drop ships descended from orbit. They towered over the landing ground like nightmare skyscrapers. The dark runes on their sides glowed evilly in the gloom. Hundred-metre high doors opened in their kilometre-long sides. From their red depths Titans ten times the height of a man emerged. They were warped giants, the armour of their carapaces fused and moulded into new shapes by the power of Chaos. Within them were men melded to their machines. Some of the hideous Titans had strange and potent weapons, others were bizarre hybrids of the organic and the machine. Metal tentacles lashed, spiked tails whipped back and forth. Engines roared like angry beasts. Banners fluttering, the Titans of the Storm Lords and the Flaming Skulls Legions marched forth.+++

+++ Reinforced by this fresh wave of troops, the hordes of Horus swept on, driving through the exhausted and demoralised Imperial troops to the very walls of the Emperor's Palace.+++

+++ Brave men on the walls knew there was no way out. Here they must stand and fight and die. There would be no mercy from those below. This was a war where there could be no honourable peace. It was destroy or be destroyed.+++

+++ Every loyal warrior knew that he was already dead; that there was no way he could survive the coming of the Daemonic army.+++

+++ Chaos Titans blazed away at the walls, specifically constructed missiles ripping great chunks from the masonry. The Titans of the Fire Wasps answered their fire with Volcano cannons.+++

+++ The World Eaters built a pyramid of scorched skulls sixty-feet high in Temple Square.+++

+++ Despite taking tremendous casualties the great Warlord Titans broke through, and the forces of the Warmastcr flooded into the Palace grounds.+++

+++ Sanguinius was forced to retreat within the palace itself, personally holding the Ultimate Gate against the oncoming horde while the last of his wounded men were carried through. Just as the giant ceramite gate was about to close a Bloodthirster of Khorne leapt upon him. The Daemon's huge talons closed around his throat. Sanguinius took to the air. Angel and Daemon wrestled above the warring armies. Both sides halted for a moment to watch the titanic struggle. It was a conflict rarely seen: two beings of tremendous power wrestling in a battle which mirrored the bloody struggle taking place across the entire Imperium.+++