Mackensee - Culture: The Aeldari of Craftworld Alaitoc have defended the world of Mackensee -- a Human designation -- for millennia. Once a barren rock, in times long gone the Aeldari seeded it, so that it could eventually develop into a world well-suited for colonisation by their species.Long ago, it completed its transformation, turning into one of the undisturbed Maiden Worlds reserved for use by the Aeldari civilisation. Those of Craftworld Alaitoc see this planet as a portion of their birthright and defend it so that someday their descendants might be able to use it as their long-dead ancestors foresaw.Due to the stringent nature of Aeldari culture, there are many individuals who turn away from its rigid path system. Those who leave their craftworld, often to explore the galaxy, are known as Outcasts.Rangers are a subset of Outcasts, who travel the Webway freely but maintain an allegiance to their craftworld. In times of conflict, Rangers often assemble to scout out enemy fortifications and disrupt enemy forces from concealment.Their skill is such that Aeldari Aspect Warriors are often able to overcome their opponents much more quickly when working in conjunction with Rangers.A subset of Rangers become so devoted to the Path of the Outcast that they become lost upon it, just as Exarchs or Farseers become lost upon the Path of the Warrior and the Path of the Seer. These Pathfinders become masters of concealment and incomparable snipers, through application of abilities that may be based upon the race's inherent psychic nature.A small group of Pathfinders, in conjunction with a much larger group of Rangers, have maintained the responsibility of defending Mackensee against all attackers. It is their expertise that led to the failed Human colonial efforts. They have also worked tirelessly to stall the Tyranid incursion upon the world.Their resources, however, have begun to flag against the untold hordes of encroaching xenos. Though their successes to date are impressive, unless the craftworld begins to contribute additional resources to the world's defence, the future remains uncertain.As the Aeldari continue to oppose the invasion with precision and through carefully executed plans, the Tyranid presence appears to have become terribly disjointed. Normally, Tyranid assaults proceed in a systematic fashion. Different bioforms appear at various stages in the process.Each new creature emerges to exploit opportunities created by the activities of those that have come before. This reproduction scheme is highly ordered and systematic, though it can be modulated by the actions of the controlling Hive Mind.The assault on Mackensee has not been consistent with such an orderly assault. Lictors and Genestealers arrived on the world and successfully contacted the Hive Mind to send its fleet to the system, but these xenos were all but exterminated by Pathfinders prior to the hive ship's arrival.As the first wave of Mycetic Spores rained down upon the planet, Aeldari troops were in place to eliminate many of these intruders even as they arrived. As a consequence, the Tyranids squandered a large portion of their reserved biomass during the early stages of the invasion.Without a solid foothold, Tyranid forces were unable to quickly devour additional biomass from the targeted world. This led to reduced numbers of Gargoyles, Gaunts, and even capillary towers. Even as these began to emerge, the Aeldari pressed their advantage and eliminated many of the first creatures to emerge.With few capillary towers to transport biomass back to the ships of the fleet, they were soon unable to contribute additional Mycetic Spores to the invasion.Recently, additional void-capable Tyranid bioships have been directed towards the Mackensee System. It is likely that these massive creatures are supplied with resources that can be committed to renew the invasion.If these forces join in the assault, it could break the stand-off that has existed between the opposing xenos for most of the past standard year.