Battle for the Abyss

Infobox Book |
name = Battle for the Abyss


author = Ben Counter
country = United Kingdom
language = English
series = The Horus Heresy
genre = Science fiction novel
publisher = Black Library
release_date = 2008
media_type = Print (Paperback)
pages = 416
isbn = 9781844166572
preceded_by = Legion
followed_by = Mechanicum

Plot Synopsis

"Battle for the Abyss" is the eighth novel of the Horus Heresy series, written by Ben Counter (who wrote the third book, "Galaxy in Flames"). The novel describes the lead-up to the Battle of Calth, between the Ultramarines and Word Bearers legions. The Word Bearers plan to use an immense warship, the Furious Abyss, to spearhead their attack. The protagonists must pursue the ship and prevent it from reaching Macragge. If the Ultramarines break and give way to the traitorous Word Bearers, Guilleman's legion will suffer a blow they will never recover from.

The Ultramarines have been given the order by Warmaster Horus to begin assembling at Calth, unaware that it is a trap to destroy the Ultramarines. The Word Bearers, having built a battleship of immense proportions, begin the attack, knowing that only a token guard has been left to defend the Ultramarines home world. Along the way, they encounter and all but destroy a gathering of Space Wolves, Ultramarines, World Eaters, and a captain of the Thousand Sons. The Marines, devastated and confounded at the attack, launch a series of counter attacks, mostly ending in disaster.

The loyalist marines are eventually able to board the vessel and destroy it's engines, crippling the Word Bearers planned assault on the Ultramarines and sacrificing themselves and their entire fleet in the process.