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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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[[Tyranids]] cross the [[galaxy|galaxies]] and massive voids in between in massive, locust-like '''Hive Fleets''' of millions of sentient bio-ships.
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, including 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. 
 
  
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 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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Of the 3 major Hive Fleet invasions, two entered the galaxy through 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. 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. 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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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, 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.   
  
 
This process usually occurs by:<br>
 
This process usually occurs by:<br>
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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1) Insinuating [[Genestealer]]s in the population. This step isn't always necessarily present, but [[Genestealer Cult]]s are frequent enough to warrant mention.<br>
 
2) [[Mycetic Spores]] are launched from the Hive Ships, and [[Lictor]]s and other Tyranids, such as the Genestealers, begin the attack.<br>
 
2) [[Mycetic Spores]] are launched from the Hive Ships, and [[Lictor]]s and other Tyranids, such as the Genestealers, begin the attack.<br>
3) The Hive Fleet moves into close orbit, haveing defeated local resistance in space. <br>
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3) The Hive Fleet moves into close orbit, having defeated local resistance in space.<br>
 
4) The Tyranid Forces land in full, and begin the attack.<br>
 
4) The Tyranid Forces land in full, and begin the attack.<br>
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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5) The bodies of the slain on the planet are thrown together into [[digestion pools]], where [[Capillary Towers]] are lowered from the Hive Ships to gather nutrients.<br>
 
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>
 
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>
  

Revision as of 15:13, 16 November 2007

Template:IntWik

Template:NidPortal Tyranids cross the galaxies and massive voids in between in massive, locust-like Hive Fleets of millions of sentient bio-ships.

Of the 3 major Hive Fleet invasions, two entered the galaxy through 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. 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. It is believed the Genestealer and Broodlord are derived from human DNA, the Zoanthrope from Eldar and the Biovore from Ork DNA.

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, 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.

This process usually occurs by:
1) Insinuating Genestealers in the population. This step isn't always necessarily present, but Genestealer Cults are frequent enough to warrant mention.
2) Mycetic Spores are launched from the Hive Ships, and Lictors and other Tyranids, such as the Genestealers, begin the attack.
3) The Hive Fleet moves into close orbit, having defeated local resistance in space.
4) The Tyranid Forces land in full, and begin the attack.
5) The bodies of the slain on the planet are thrown together into digestion pools, where Capillary Towers are lowered from the Hive Ships to gather nutrients.
6) All forms of life are extinguished, all nutrients are gathered, and the Hive Fleet leaves the empty husk of the world for another.

See Also