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Menazoid Epsilon was a world which formed the setting for the climactic events of the novel First and Only.

Description[]

Given its gravity, Menazoid Epsilon was presumably a world similar in size to ancient Terra. Whilst it’s exact geographic makeup was never explicitly stated, it was noted to have at least one ocean, and its landmasses contained both dry, scrubby lowlands and rocky, mountainous highlands.

Menazoid Epsilon's most notable features were those designated "Shrine Targets" by the liberation forces of the Sabbat Worlds Crusade. Numbering three in total, the Shrine Targets appeared to be little more than the mouldering remains of ancient cities dug deep into the surrounding topography and separated from each other by thousands of kilometres. In addition, each one was the centre of a series of radial lines of stone strictures, whose purpose was initially a mystery, but which were later revealed to be the pylons of arcane defence mechanisms.

Shrine Target Primaris[]

The first of the designated targets, Primaris was situated along a range of bracken-covered hills. Beneath Primaris was a chamber housing a Standard Template Constructor (an ancient piece of automated technology) designed to produce the powerful and intelligent robots known as Men of Iron en masse, although it’s long exposure to the taint of Chaos had irredeemably corrupted it.

Shrine Target Secundus[]

Secundus was built upon and within a series of natural cliffs and spires fifteen hundred kilometres to the west of Primaris.

Shrine Target Tertius[]

Tertius was located upon a wide oceanic peninsula two thousand kilometres to the south of Shrine Target Primaris.

History[]

Before the Age of Strife, during the Dark Age of Technology when Mankind was at its peak of technological achievement, Menazoid Epsilon had been an arsenal world, it’s possible purpose being to construct the Men of Iron to serve humanity. However, it fell into disuse for reasons unknown, and the world was abandoned by its occupants, their homes and cities left to decay over the millennia.

During the the Sabbat Worlds Crusade, Menazoid Epsilon was one of the Menazoid Clasp worlds designated to be rid of the taint of Chaos by Imperial High Command who initially suggested a simple orbital bombardment to destroy the world, as it apparently held no economic, strategic or military value, and was home to no loyal Imperial citizens. This proposition was fiercely contested by Lord General Dravere, who had come into possession of information stating that Epsilon was home to a powerful weapon, one which would assure his ascendancy to command of the Crusade, a position which he had long coveted.

Obtaining his wish of a ground assault on Epsilon, Dravere deployed fifty thousand guardsmen - including the men of the Tanith First, Jantine Patricians and Vitrian Dragoons - and over forty thousand armoured vehicles to the planet, centring his assaults on the three Shrine Targets. He did, however, put in place men and regiments loyal to his cause, in order to ensure that he would control the mysterious artefact at the campagn's conclusion.

Despite Dravere's safeguards and the deployment of (what was assumed to be) overwhelming military might, the assaults on Shrine Targets Secundus and Tertius were halted with crippling casualties by the activation of a previously-unsuspected defence grid, although warnings from these two Shrine Targets gave the forces designated to Primaris sufficient time to disrupt lines of power and survive relatively unscathed before recommencing their attack.

Ultimately, the artefact hidden beneath Shrine Target Primaris was discovered to be a corrupted Standard Template Constructor which was destroyed by a small party of Tanith men led by Colonel-Commissar Gaunt, and the psychic backlash caused the destruction of the treacherous Dravere's command vehicle, killing him in the process.

Liberation Forces[]

Trivia[]

  • Although not explicitly stated, Menazoid Epsilon can now be safely assumed to be under Imperial control, although what they have chosen to do with the world given its overall worthlessness is unknown.
  • Menazoid Epsilon is at one point stated to be a death world; however, as it does not meet the criteria for this classification, this is likely a typographical error intended to be "dead world."
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