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[[Tyranids]] cross the [[galaxy|galaxies]] and massive voids in between in vaste '''Hive Fleets''' of millions of sentient ships.
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{{TyranidsPortal}}
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Of the 3 major Hive Fleet invasions, two come from the Eastern fringe, but one is moving up from below the galactic plane. The ships contain everything required to sustain the fleet; some ships being purely for crushing resistance, the larger ships contain birthing pools to create the huge land armies of the Tyranids and even more ships when the need arises.  This nutrients are replenished by scouring every planet conquered of every shred of biological matter, includeing all the Tyranids it seeded to the planet.  Because the Tyranid forces are re-cycled in this way the "design" of the Tyranid warriors can be altered by genetic engineering, allowing the Tyranid forces to rapidly adapt to overcome any enemy.  Further, the Tyranids absorb the DNA of defeated enemies, allowing for further genetic diversity.  It is believed the [[Genestealer]] and [[Broodlord]] are derived from human DNA, the [[Zoanthrope]] from Eldar and the [[Biovore]] from Ork DNA.
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[[Image:HiveFleetsMap.jpg|thumb|right|350px|Hive Fleet incursions on the [[Galaxy]] ]]
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'''Hive Fleets''' are massive locust-like [[Tyranid]] swarms, comprising billions of creatures including the actual [[bio-ships]], living spacecraft used to cross interstellar space and the voids between [[galaxy|galaxies]]. Each creature of the Hive Fleet is an inseparable part of the [[Hive Mind]].
  
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By the nature of the hive fleets, fierce resistance on a planet will only make the fleet stronger in the end; for this reason only a few tactics have been found to work.  The first is to draw the Tyranids into a large ground battle, forceing the fleet to deploy as large a ground force as possible. Once this is achieved, evacuate the planet as much as possible and perform [[Exterminatus]].  This means that the Hive Fleet will have lost all of the bio-material in the ground forces and by the nature of Exterminatus will not be able to recover any from the planet.  This tactic is very successful, but at the cost of destroying a habitable planet every time, it is not a tactic that can be counted upon. It has been preojected that there may not even be enough habitable planets in the galaxy to stop the tyranid threat, especially if more Tyranid fleets arrive from outside the galaxy.
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== Overview ==
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An entire Hive Fleet is directed by the single coordinating will which is its [[Hive Mind]], formed from untold billions of individual consciousnesses, each of which is a living creature in the fleet. Mankind still searches vainly for the higher beings they suppose control the Hive Fleets, and though such mighty creatures exist, they no more control the Hive Mind than single brain cells control a man's body. It is the sum of the Hive Mind which motivates it, not its constituent parts.
  
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This process usually occurs by:<br>
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Three major Hive Fleets have invaded the galaxy, each coming into conflict with the [[Imperium]]. Of the three major Hive Fleet invasions, two entered the galaxy through the [[Eastern Fringe]], but one is moving up from below the galactic plane. The Hive Fleets encountered thus far are just a splinter of the main Tyranid invasion force that is traveling through the void between galaxies.{{Fn|1}}
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1) Insinuating [[Genestealer]]s in the population. This step isn't always neccesarily present, but [[Genestealer Cult]]s are frequent enough to warrant mention.<br>
 
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2) [[Mycetic Spores]] are launched from the Hive Ships, and [[Lictor]]s and other Tyranids, such as the Genestealers, begin the attack.<br>
 
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3) The Hive Fleet moves into close orbit, haveing defeated local resistance in space.  <br>
 
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4) The Tyranid Forces land in full, and begin the attack.<br>
 
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5) The slain bodies of the planet are thrown together into [[digestion pools]], where [[capillary towers]] are lowered from the Hive Ships to gather nutrients.<br>
 
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6) All forms of life are extinguished, all nutrients are gathered, and the Hive Fleet leaves the empty husk of the world for another.<br>
 
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==See Also==
 
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[[Hive Fleet Behemoth]]<br>
 
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[[Hive Fleet Kraken]]<br>
 
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[[Hive Fleet Leviathan]]<br>
 
  
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[[Category:Hive Fleets]]
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The bio-ships contain everything required to sustain the fleet; some ships being purely for crushing resistance, the larger ships contain birthing pools to create the huge land armies of the Tyranids and even more ships when the need arises. The nutrients used as food and raw material are replenished by scouring conquered planets of every cell of biological matter, including all the Tyranids it seeded onto the planet. Because the Tyranid forces are recycled in this way, the "design" of the Tyranid warriors can be altered by genetic engineering, allowing the Tyranid forces to rapidly adapt to overcome any enemy. Further, the Tyranids absorb the DNA of defeated enemies, allowing for further genetic diversity.{{Fn|2a}} It is believed the [[Genestealer]] and [[Broodlord]] are derived from [[Human]] DNA, the [[Zoanthrope]] from [[Eldar]] and the [[Biovore]] from [[Ork]] DNA.{{Fn|2b}}
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By the adaptive nature of the Hive Fleets, fierce resistance on a planet will only make the fleet stronger in the end; for this reason only a few tactics have been found to work. The first is to draw the Tyranids into a large ground battle, forcing the fleet to deploy as large a ground force as possible. Once this is achieved, the planet is evacuated, following with [[Exterminatus]] as the Tyranids strip the life of the planet. This tactic is effective as Hive Fleets are dependent on the impetus gained from absorbing each conquered planet; the Hive Fleet will also have lost the biological "energy" expended to conquer it, including all of the bio-material of the ground forces and by the nature of Exterminatus will not be able to recover any from the planet. This tactic is extreme and also damaging to the Imperium, as it destroys a valuable and habitable planet every time. It has been projected that there may not even be enough habitable planets in the galaxy to stop the Tyranid threat, especially if more Tyranid fleets arrive from outside the galaxy.
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===Splinter Fleets===
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One of the most insidious aspects of the Tyranids is the difficulty in eradicating a Hive Fleet. Should a fleet become decisively defeated, some portion of its strength will invariably escape and slowly build up its strength by quietly consuming more biomass. It may take years or even centuries, but these '''Splinter Fleets'''' will rise again to pose a threat. Moreover, such Splinter Fleets will have learned the lesson of their primogenitors defeat and have adapted accordingly.{{Fn|3}}
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While [[Hive Fleet Leviathan]] is currently the largest and most ascendent known Tyranid Hive Fleet, Splinter Fleets of [[Hive Fleet Behemoth|Behemoth]] and [[Hive Fleet Kraken|Kraken]] continue to plague the [[galaxy]].{{Fn|3}}
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<gallery mode="packed" heights="150">
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File:Kadaku Orbit.jpg|Day 4 of [[Leviathan]] splinter fleet's invasion of [[Kadaku]] in the [[Recidious System]].{{Fn|5}}
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File:Hive fleet (The Tithes ep 2).jpg|Oncoming Tyranid fleet heading towards [[Ystrad]].{{Fn|4}}
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</gallery>
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==See also==
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*[[List of Hive Fleets]]
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*[[Forgotten Hive Fleet]]
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*[[Behemoth]]
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*[[Kraken]]
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*[[Leviathan]]
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*[[Bio-ships]]
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==Sources==
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{{cite}}
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*{{Endn|1}}: [[Warhammer 40,000 5th Edition Rulebook]], pg. 215
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*2: [[Codex: Tyranids (3rd Edition)]]
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**{{Endn|2a}}: ''Creating Your own Hive Fleet'', pg. 36
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**{{Endn|2b}}: ''Species 457 Structure & Analysis'', pg. 37
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*{{Endn|3}}: [[Codex: Tyranids (10th Edition)]], pg. 12-14
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*{{Endn|4}}: [[The Tithes (Animated Series)]]: Episode 2: Harvest
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*{{Endn|5}}: [[Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2]] - Prologue cutscene
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===Uncited===
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*[[Codex: Tyranids (4th Edition)]]
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*[[White Dwarf 145]] (1992), Tyranid army list
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[[Category:Hive Fleets| ]]
 
[[Category:Tyranids]]
 
[[Category:Tyranids]]
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[[de:Schwarmflotte]]
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[[fr:Flotte-Ruche]]

Latest revision as of 10:25, 18 February 2025

Tyranid logo.png Tyranids Portal
Hive Fleet incursions on the Galaxy

Hive Fleets are massive locust-like Tyranid swarms, comprising billions of creatures including the actual bio-ships, living spacecraft used to cross interstellar space and the voids between galaxies. Each creature of the Hive Fleet is an inseparable part of the Hive Mind.

Overview

An entire Hive Fleet is directed by the single coordinating will which is its Hive Mind, formed from untold billions of individual consciousnesses, each of which is a living creature in the fleet. Mankind still searches vainly for the higher beings they suppose control the Hive Fleets, and though such mighty creatures exist, they no more control the Hive Mind than single brain cells control a man's body. It is the sum of the Hive Mind which motivates it, not its constituent parts.

Three major Hive Fleets have invaded the galaxy, each coming into conflict with the Imperium. Of the three major Hive Fleet invasions, two entered the galaxy through the Eastern Fringe, but one is moving up from below the galactic plane. The Hive Fleets encountered thus far are just a splinter of the main Tyranid invasion force that is traveling through the void between galaxies.[1]

The bio-ships contain everything required to sustain the fleet; some ships being purely for crushing resistance, the larger ships contain birthing pools to create the huge land armies of the Tyranids and even more ships when the need arises. The nutrients used as food and raw material are replenished by scouring conquered planets of every cell of biological matter, including all the Tyranids it seeded onto the planet. Because the Tyranid forces are recycled in this way, the "design" of the Tyranid warriors can be altered by genetic engineering, allowing the Tyranid forces to rapidly adapt to overcome any enemy. Further, the Tyranids absorb the DNA of defeated enemies, allowing for further genetic diversity.[2a] It is believed the Genestealer and Broodlord are derived from Human DNA, the Zoanthrope from Eldar and the Biovore from Ork DNA.[2b]

By the adaptive nature of the Hive Fleets, fierce resistance on a planet will only make the fleet stronger in the end; for this reason only a few tactics have been found to work. The first is to draw the Tyranids into a large ground battle, forcing the fleet to deploy as large a ground force as possible. Once this is achieved, the planet is evacuated, following with Exterminatus as the Tyranids strip the life of the planet. This tactic is effective as Hive Fleets are dependent on the impetus gained from absorbing each conquered planet; the Hive Fleet will also have lost the biological "energy" expended to conquer it, including all of the bio-material of the ground forces and by the nature of Exterminatus will not be able to recover any from the planet. This tactic is extreme and also damaging to the Imperium, as it destroys a valuable and habitable planet every time. It has been projected that there may not even be enough habitable planets in the galaxy to stop the Tyranid threat, especially if more Tyranid fleets arrive from outside the galaxy.

Splinter Fleets

One of the most insidious aspects of the Tyranids is the difficulty in eradicating a Hive Fleet. Should a fleet become decisively defeated, some portion of its strength will invariably escape and slowly build up its strength by quietly consuming more biomass. It may take years or even centuries, but these Splinter Fleets' will rise again to pose a threat. Moreover, such Splinter Fleets will have learned the lesson of their primogenitors defeat and have adapted accordingly.[3]

While Hive Fleet Leviathan is currently the largest and most ascendent known Tyranid Hive Fleet, Splinter Fleets of Behemoth and Kraken continue to plague the galaxy.[3]

See also

Sources

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