Hive Fleet Tarasque

**Hive Fleet Tarasque** is one of the major opposition forces in the Mammon system. In a stroke of fortune, documentation and research from previous encounters is readily available for this particular fleet. A more thorough Order of Battle is available.

Presented is a collection of research notes, field observations and speculations about the Hive Fleet and Tyranid-kind in general, compiled by Prefect Cantus, with help from Magos Genetor Biliuk *`(Always a pleasure to assist the Administratum -- G.B.)`*.

## Formation

Hive Fleet Tarasque is the designation given to a collection of disparate Tyranid Hive Ships, assembled from the splinters of a long-forgotten tendril. Genetor Biliuk first observed specimens with this fleet's colouration at the Siege of Mantodon, where an invasion was successfully repelled by a coalition of Asta Militarum and Ultramarine on the fortress world of Mantodon VII.

When a fleet is halted, it is rare for every bioship to be caught and exterminated, and individual leviathans will float through the void, seeking more of their kind to join with. After some initial struggles to fill the power vacuum, the smaller Hive Minds will stop fighting for dominance and coalesce into a Great Mind, effectively regrouping to become a new fleet with eyes on greener pastures.

This new fleet has not posed a threat to Imperial worlds for quite some time, as its path led it through empty space with nothing but uninhabited exoplanets and the occasional unfortunate vessel caught in real-space. As such, it was a perfect candidate for long term observation. Genetor Biliuk has made it their project to chart Tarasque's growth and path, though the resurgence of Mammon and the associated mobilization of Imperial forces has added to the urgency of this task.

## Encounters

### Pre-Mammon

#### (817-932) 995.M41 - The Siege of Mantodon

A previously unnamed splinter fleet, with characteristics of Hive Fleet Kraken, enters the Mantodon system, overrunning and devouring three perimeter worlds, including the Hive World of Mantodon IX. The next planet in its path, Mantodon VII, is strategically important and as a fortress world is excellently equipped to handle the threat, with PDF, Astra Militarum and Mechanicus in the garisson. Elements of the Ultramarines 2nd and 4th company were also mobilized to the area. The heroic events of Mantodon VII's defense are well-chronicled elsewhere, but suffice to say, the splinter fleet was dashed to pieces against the defenses.

Inquisitor [+REDACTED+] led an undisclosed number of Deathwatch kill-teams to hunt down the fleeing bio-ships, with limited success, as evidenced by the following events *`(I believe, as Hive Fleet Tarasque's preeminent researcher, I have a right to know the identity of this one. The Administratum has ignored my many requests on the matter -- G.B.)`*.

#### 284 996.M41 - The Awakened Tarasque

Hive Fleet Tarasque earns its name after suddenly assaulting troop carrier *The Awakened Tarasque*. Seven regiments were expected to resupply the war-torn Mantodon system, but instead were butchered in a raid by this unexpected foe. The carrier's arrival with no living soul on board was what piqued Genetor Biliuk's interest and started the observation project.

It is unusual for Tyranids to assault space-borne vessels like this, as there is comparatively little biomass available for consumption relative to the resistance they will face. Hive Fleet Tarasque must have recognized that it had little hope of consuming planets so close to its last defeat, and thus devoted resources to gathering force in smaller conflicts as it regrouped.

### (638- ) 021.M42 - Mammon Incursion

#### Krakendoom

Hive Fleet Tarasque approached an ice world claimed by the Space Wolves and named "Krakendoom". Dying traces of the Screaming Vortex still ravage the surfaces of outer planets like this one, rendering zones inhospitable for those without psychic protection. Inquisitor Antelles and a small force of commandeered Space Wolves are sweeping strategic sites near an abandoned Dark Angels encampment when the Shadow of the Warp falls across them. The Tyranid reinforcements were staggered and discoordinated, however, and the imperial forces wiped them out, though Inquisitor Antelles is severely wounded by Lord Klaw in the process.

The foothold the Tyranids had on Krakendoom was eliminated, with their forces brought down and their nests eliminated. Perhaps due to heavy resistance, or simply because little of value was found on the exoplanet, the hive ships moved on from that location, delving deeper into the system.

#### Thoth

While the primary fleet seemed to be en route to IMP-1361, smaller vessels split off and probe the rest of the system. Many are shot down by Imperial Navy, some survive to fling Tyrannocytes into the atmosphere loaded with Genestealers and Hormagants to mass-reproduce, and some directly crash into the surface, burrowing underground to become a breeding nest. The latter occurred on Thoth, moon of Antiphone.

The Order of the Motive Force in a fighting retreat from Antiphone heard of a psychic beacon emanating from Thoth. The potential of retrieving an artifact there was too great to pass up, so they mobilized to seize the territory and secure the relic. As they approached the psychic baton creating the signal, however, hordes of enraged Tyranids burst from the caves nearby and fell upon the Sisters.

Genetor Biliuk has only been able to remotely probe the battlefield in the aftermath, but speculates that the signal psychically aggravated the Tyranids, perhaps to the point of physical harm. Unfortunately, repair or recreation of the psychic baton as a weapon seems impossible. Only the smallest scraps remained, once it was located.

A task force of **Ultramarines** volunteered to assist with surveying the nests on Thoth, using scanning stations on-site from when the surface was covered with water. The defense was fierce, but they succeeded in mapping out most of the nests before the scanning devices all broke down. Now, establishing an offensive presence on Thoth will be much easier, with targeted sub-surface bombardment, kill-team strikes and sabotage efforts to support.

#### IMP-1361

The Mechanicus base on-site located unidentified objects falling from atmosphere, and exploratory probes confirmed the tell-tale signs of organic drop pods. Skitarii Rangers report that a patrol of Necrons were located on the surface with unknown directives, but were attacked by a pack of Tyranids and forced to phase out.

A later expedition to retrieve their Imperial Fists allies was ambushed by a combined force of Necrons and Tyranids. It is unclear how, or why the two normally hostile forces were cooperating, but they were pushed away.

#### Antiphone

Uprisings in Antiphone's cities sparked unrest across the planet, and rebel cells sprang up across the entire planet. In the aftermath, defences against external threat were compromised as more resources had to be devoted to crushing traitorous forces. On Thoth, the nests grew, unchecked, and soon chunks of the moon were being flung down to Antiphone haphazardly, creating potential nests all across the planet.

The Lost Fangs of Morkai were among the forces dedicated to stamping out vestiges of rebellion. After days of fighting, they found an unusually quiet sector, with signs of battle and no corpses. Shortly, they found out why, ambushed by a pack of Tyranids that had killed the local rebels and taken their base for themselves. In spite of their best efforts, the Fangs were beaten back and scattered, leaving the territory in the hands of Hive Fleet Tarasque, for now.

## Known Specimens

Colloquial names that predate their research designations are used where available *`(Begrudgingly -- G. B.)`*.

### HQ

**"Slithermind" -** Hive Tyrant. This legless beast alternately uses its weapon-claws for motion or propels itself with its tail. Slithermind is a particular beacon of psychic power amongst the ground forces, though it also comes prepared with the typical armaments of its type; a Venom Cannon and its impressive claws.

**"Lord Klaw" -** Broodlord. Seen leading packs of Genestealers into close combat, Lord Klaw carries itself upright, much more like a human than most Tyranids. This could be due to incompetent field reporting, but is also speculated to be due to intact human DNA that somehow has survived *`(Or been chosen to survive -- G.B.)`* the rebirthing process. Observations on the battlefield show it seeking out leadership figures of opposing forces and eliminating them; unclear if this decapitation is a deliberate strategic role, a manifestation of hunting instinct, or something else.

**"Megamind" -** Neurothrope. Seemingly a regression, this specialized Zoanthrope is a rare sight. Its more-formed arms and inverted colours are distinctive, and its infrequent appearance confuses scholars. Genetor Biliuk has suggested that the Hive Mind has no control over when this creature is born, and it is instead a beneficial mutation on the typical Zoanthrope. The disproportionate cerebral power this creature provides has noticeably led to more complex maneuvers being performed by the Tyranids accompanying it, even in situations where it isn't the primary directive organism; synaptic beasts are able to "borrow" the thinking power of those around them, and "Megamind" exists to provide that.

### Troops

**Brood HS-20 -** Genestealer brood. Unlike those that initiate the reprehensible cults that plague humanity's population, Genestealers within the fleet carry a variety of mutations and act as shock troops or a retinue for a Broodlord. However, incidents of these shock troops becoming feral and forming cults upon the halting of a fleet are numerous and well-documented.

**Brood LC-10 -** Hormagaunt brood. Hormagaunts are notable as one of the smallest Tyranid organisms capable of reproduction; dissections show that each Hormagaunt has a sac in their abdomen with 10-20 eggs, and vivisections have demonstrated they can begin gestation asexually, if they have the energy stored. Accordingly, in environments with available food, it is of vital importance to exterminate all Hormagaunts, even those that flee.

**Brood SH-10 -** Termagant brood. The Termagant's most recognizable weapon is the Fleshborer, understood to be a nest of hard-shelled beetles that are used as ammunition. Unique to Hive Fleet Tarasque, unlike most ranged bio-weapons which are a separate organism grafted onto their platform, the Fleshborer seems completely intertwined with the Termagant, a single organism.

**Brood SB-10 -** Termagant brood. The hive shifts tactics sometimes, with smaller or larger packs of the minor beasts, as deemed appropriate. Smaller groups are more tactically versatile, and provide a challenge to engaging forces, while the larger groups may be easier to control for synapse-beasts.

**Brood FS-4 -** Ripper swarm. It is difficult to designate any Tyranids into discrete broods with constant rebirth cycles and intermingling, and that is doubly true of ripper swarms. *`(The ways of the Biologis are beyond the ken of many -- G.B.)`*.

### Elites

**"Understalker" -** Lictor. Footsoldiers often assume that Lictors are used as ambush troops, flankers or for shock assault, but that is not true. More recent research with more sophisticated sensor data has shown that a majority of encounters don't result in direct conflict, indicating their primary role is scouting, or intelligence gathering *`(This is upsetting to many officers who assume the Tyranids are glorified pack animals, and not creatures fighting a war much like we do -- G.B.)`*.

**Brood TS-3 -** Zoanthrope brood. The evolution of the Zoanthrope bio-form is interesting; initial samples are of a walking creature much like other Tyranids, but over time their limbs atrophied as they became proficient enough with their powers to be propelled by them. Field reports from early encounters describe a much less threatening creature as well; while the old Zoanthrope may have been a mere synaptic beacon for the Hive Mind, the modern one is a deadly cudgel for it.

**Brood LP-6 -** Hive Guard brood. Despite the long history of Tyranids overrunning positions with swarms of close-assault troops, modern encounters are often defined by a withering hail of fire from Hive Guard, decimating opponents from complete safety. Their use in defensive positions, and their backline combat role has made detailed observation difficult.

### Heavy Support

**"Pinchwurm" -** Trygon Prime. The Trygon, and smaller burrowing creatures like Raveners, serve an important logistical purpose; while the initial assault on a planet will come from orbit, to defeat any coordinated resistance, the Tyranids need to establish a nest on the ground, for biomass to be accumulated and used. In the aftermath of both defeats and victories, Genetor Biliuk's probes have found massive underground networks filled with birthing chambers, resting dens and transport tunnels.