Changes

==Planetary Assimilation==

In the process of assimilating a planet's biological and inorganic materials, the most important part for the Tyranids is the location of a suitable target. One method by which they accomplish this is the spectral analysis of distant stars to determine its likelihood of supporting life.⁴ However, the fastest and most common method is the use of vanguard organisms, millions of which range hundreds of light-years ahead of each Hive Fleet, investigating each star system they encounter for signs of life.⁴ Once a suitable world has been detected, these bio-vessels spawn infiltrator-organisms, such as Lictors, Genestealers, or specialized Gaunt strains, and launch them onto the world via [[Mycetic Spore]]s. Once inserted, these organisms will seek out all life and target those of a highly-organized nature, such as [[human]]s, restricting themselves to lone targets so as to avoid revealing their presence.⁴ Genestealers in particular will seek to infiltrate communities and create [[Genestealer Cult|cults]], not only to signal the planet is ripe for consumption but to weaken its defenses against the Hive Fleet's arrival.⁴

As the psychic beacon of the infiltrator-organisms flourishes, indicating a rich feeding ground, so does Hive Fleet home in on it, in the process cutting off all interstellar communications as the [[Shadow in the Warp]] blankets the target system. Upon arrival to the planet, the Hive Fleet will disperse within the planet's upper atmosphere and begin launching millions upon millions of Mycetic Spores.⁵ Many will contain Tyranid warriors of various strains, from Rippers to [[Bio-Titan]]s, and so come in a multitude of sizes. Others will deliver zoomorphic symbiotes and parasites, which target and mutate the planet's flora at a rapid rate. Within hours verdant forests are replaced with highly-aggressive alien vegetation, including [[Capillary Tower]]s, which begins the process of transforming the planet's atmosphere into a hothouse, turning the sky a sickly red and raising temperatures at an accelerating rate.⁵ Other spores are nothing more than giant cyst-bombs, filled with viral and poisonous organisms which burst over population centers, killing millions of people in the opening hours of the attack. Each one will cover an area many hundreds of meters across with acidic digestive bile, starting the process of future ingestion.⁵