Hive Fleet Dagon - Hive Fleet Dagon Tactics: Because of the limitations imposed by the Shadow in the Warp, Imperial analysts believe that Hive Fleet Dagon was identified only after it had already completed several successful assaults within the Jericho Reach. As a consequence, it is uncertain whether the Tyranid forces are the spear tip of a much larger force, or if they simply represent the surge in growth that would occur after absorbing the biomass from several of the region's inhabited planets. If these xenos began their intrusion with a limited force, it may be that the earliest attacks exhibited were undertaken in a conservative manner.Unfortunately for the Achilus Crusade forces, it is clear that the hive fleet has met with a great deal of success. At this time, the hive fleet's bio-ships are generally well supplied with biomass. As a consequence, the Tyranid incursion represents a substantial threat to all other life within the Jericho Reach.These xenos are capable of exploiting the raw materials that they have captured to launch attacks that utilise near-overwhelming force against prey worlds. With each triumph, their resources are renewed and their capacity for destruction becomes further enhanced.Achilus Crusade and Deathwatch forces have confirmed intrusions by Tyranid Vanguard Drone Ships within more than twenty star systems of the Orpheus Salient. Imperial forces fear, but have not confirmed, that the majority of these intrusions coincide with insertions of Genestealers or Lictors to habitable planets. Imperial analysts have thus far had no luck in tracing a pattern of how Hive Fleet Dagon's Vanguard Drone Ships have been scouting the Reach.This, combined with a lack of knowledge regarding the lifespan of the Vanguard Drone Ships, leaves Imperial forces helpless to defend against these forward scouts of the hive fleet. If each such creature is capable of identifying and infecting multiple targets, a single vessel surviving could soon draw hive fleet elements to dozens of planets.Deathwatch agents are currently monitoring reports that could indicate the earliest stages of Tyranid scouting activities within more than a dozen star systems. Based upon current data, the Deathwatch believes that this substantially exceeds the number of planets that the hive fleet is currently capable of engaging.While Deathwatch agents have confirmed Tyranid activity in all systems that have been attacked by the full might of the hive fleet, not all systems that exhibited a scouting presence have been attacked. This suggests that the hive fleet may be plotting out its travel through the Jericho Reach. The Hive Mind may be preparing for an extended incursion, carefully selecting which planets might offer the most biomass return, so that environments of less strategic value could be targetted after its resources are better established.When the Tyranid Hive Ships enter a star system, they have consistently demonstrated a specific focus upon immediately assaulting any habitable planets. While this may seem an obvious strategy, it is important to note that Hive Fleet Dagon has largely ignored Imperial void stations and outposts on otherwise barren planets and moons.Imperial vessels have generally only been attacked after they directly engaged the Tyranid void travellers. It might offer further evidence that the Hive Mind is operating in a conservative fashion, or might simply be that for some reason the hive fleet is unable to accurately identify these elements as worthwhile targets.Once Hive Ships enter the orbit of a prey planet, they have consistently begun their attacks by launching vast numbers of Mycetic Spores towards the world's surface. In the earliest reported instances, this initial attack wave was so numerous that defenders were overwhelmed within solar days. More recently, crusade forces have successfully survived this initial attack.On the worlds of Castobel, Atonement, and Hethgard, Imperial defenders managed to repel enough of the spores that the battles for control of these planets have become protracted engagements. On Avalos and Treyen, Imperial defenders even managed to repulse the initial Tyranid attack, causing the void-faring Tyranid creatures to leave those systems.There are many speculations as to why the Tyranids fled; some Imperial analysts believe they moved on to easier prey, while more military minds speculate the creatures are attempting deliberate feints to draw Imperial defenders away from other worlds. If this is the case, it may be that planets further from currently engaged systems could be attacked unexpectedly. The Orpheus Salient at present has a very limited number of defenders held in reserve. The vast majority of these are currently deployed upon those planets closest to the Tyranid incursion.In the event the Hive Mind chooses to bypass those planets, and instead targets worlds deeper behind enemy lines, the consequences could be catastrophic. Such a tactic might also explain the extensive number of star systems where Tyranid scouting activity has been confirmed.The potential for this strategy is increased due to the absence of a Tyranid supply line. Once a Hive Ship leaves a system after devouring its habitable planets' biospheres, nothing is left behind. A Hive Ship and its support vessels effectively carry all of its swarm into each new warzone.Once a system is engaged, the hive fleet must triumph quickly or the vessels possess ever-fewer creatures to commit to an attempt to consume an alternative target. While these failed and extended engagements could increase the chance of an ultimate Imperial victory, they might also provide evidence that Hive Fleet Dagon is actually carefully preparing to expend all of its resources upon an unsuspecting target.