A Local Problem for Local Tyranids
In the wake of Xenos: Paracus Hive, Inquisitor Drake calls together Inquisitor Michael, Inquisitor Lear and Inquisitor Vandamar in a secret Conclave aboard the Trojan to address the apparent corruption within the Adeptus Mechanicus.
The Conclave
Drake called together the other Inquisitors resident in the Obelisk to meet in secrecy aboard the Trojan. He briefed the others on his recent mission and explained his fear that with such a large and complex conspiracy that a member of the Inquisition may be involved.
Michael explained the significance of Hive Fleets and researched the genetic heritage of the samples they recovered. Most of the Genestealer samples were from the same strain as the one found in They Mostly Come Out Of Cargo Containers...Mostly, indicating they came from somewhere in the Massylean Sub-sector of the Eridani Sector.
Other Tyranid samples matched samples known to have been smuggled through Eridymae originating out in the Halo Zone. When Michale explained to Drake that this was good news, since samples from Hive Fleets on the other side of the Galaxy would confirm this as a galactic conspiracy, whereas local samples at least suggested that the problem could be relatively small scale, Drake was rather more concerned about and distressed by the idea of Hive Fleets, or Splinter Fleets, being located nearby.
Vandamar, being the most powerful psyker, examined and interrogated Astropath Lexandrick, who had been genetically modified by the Paracus Hereteks to be part of their local hivemind. He learned that there had been regular communications with 9 worlds, and in 6 of those worlds Lexandrick recognised the taint of hivemind. The base had also been regularly visited by 3 ships.
In the wake of the interrogation Vandamar was keen to spare the Astropath and find a use for him. Michael cautioned that he may be susceptible to hivemind control by other Tyranids and could never be trusted or deemed safe, but could potentially be useful if carefully controlled. He suggested that Librarian Ausonius of the Deathwatch could potentially be useful here as he was a powerful psyker with firsthand experience dealing with humans subsumed into the hivemind. Ash stated outright that he should be destroyed.
The conclave decided that in the short term they would all put their best minds to work on the data Drake has collected from Base Allius
The Data
Base Allius
- Data recovered accounts for experiments covering a timespan of 80 years. The events on Paracus Prime took place just over 50 years ago. Official records of Base Allius date to 45 years ago.
- Analysis of the system architecture suggests the data was originally housed in an Inquisitorial database.
Experiments
- The Arch Magos encountered at Base Allius, identified as Talus, had a section of Tyranid brain grafted onto his own. Though the mechanism is unknown, it allowed the user to act as a form of ‘synaptic creature’ and manifest psychic activity in the form of a hivemind.
- The team appears to be using a modified version of Tyranid genomic material, packaged in a viral vector and delivered via injection.
- The modified genetic implant, referred to as E.sin179, then writes itself into the intended host’s somatic cell DNA, bending the individual's mind to the will of the synthetic hive mind.
- They have created 178 previous versions.
- The scope of the hive mind is apparently unable to stretch between planetary bodies.
Note: Although currently free of influence, the effects of returning previous hive member Astropath Lexandrick to an active hive mind are unclear.
Specimens
Base appears to have included several species in their experimentations, including:
- Humans(and variations)
- Aeldari (low numbers, base on Ariscone appears to have been built for this purpose)
- Orkoids (appears to have stopped after the base on Samalut was colonised)
- Genestealers
- Tyranids
- An unknown species, sourced in the halo stars.
Note: Lamentations of being unable to procure any Necrons or Tau during this time and speculations of potential problems if this could not be overcome.
Paracus Prime
- The contagion released on Paracus was an early version of E.sin (No.029).
- The contagion did not create the desired hive link within the test subjects, but produced several behavioural changes (such as extreme violence and cannibalism), resulting in the riots.
- The experiment was considered unsuccessful and the team began moving operations to Paracus VII (moon) to continue work at the newly constructed Base Allius.
- Data on the current numbers and state of any remaining population on Paracus is inconclusive, but sightings are rare and any individuals that are encountered do not appear responsive to the synthetic hive mind.
Contact Planets
Dheneb
- Multiple contacts.
- Messages from official channels seem to relate to bioligis queries, reports, budgets etc. and contact seems to be made every six months.
- Messages from another contact which suggest a more intimate knowledge of operations on this base, and others, although no name is provided.
- Progress reports and findings appear to be reported here primarily.
- The tone of messages sent to the latter contact suggest they are senior to any personnel found on Base Allius.
Erydimae
- Contact appears to be the most regular of all other planets (on average at least once every 2 months).
- Appears to be the place Base Allius (and possibly other places) sourced a number of materials from.
- Correspondence suggests they are usually transferred under the guise of potential novel bacteria and samples of new infectious diseases, acquired from the halo stars.
- Messages to this location appear friendly (for Mechanicus, at least) in tone, with the recipient referred to occasionally as ágnos rather than Magos.
- Messages reveal a member of the Erydimae hive to be situated in a position of authority within the docks, likely how they are moving goods.
- Erydimae Hive appears to be the first cell set up outside of the Paracus system.
Note: All packages received by Base Allius from Erydimae seem to have been shipped from one of three independent ports: Ports Ostia, Antica and Messina. Compilation of potential suspects currently underway.
- List of potential ‘Brood Mind’ port contacts:
- Harbour Master - Damaris Yarat
- Harbour Master Secretary - Yakub Soto
- Owner - Vashti Damsell
- Head of Security - Vaniah Kennell
- the Master-Shipwright - Reesha Nix
- the Master Attendant - Gustav Loni
- the Storekeeper - Sal Bregno
- the Clerk of the Cheque - Sylas Elnaam
- the Clerk of the Survey - Asano Rusli
Koyrus
- Port authority. Passes potential novel bacteria and samples of new infectious diseases, acquired from The Eridani Sector.
Ariscone
- Main aim appears to be linked to the effects of the synthetic Hive on Aeldari.
- Limited contact.
- Cross referencing messages show a request for cease of contact with the base coinciding roughly with the arrival of the Inquisition after the discovery of the Blackstone pylons.
Diaphone
- Occasional contact with the main Mechanicus base when new, zoonotic viruses are found.
Xephone
- Semi-regular contact surrounding novel bacteria and samples of potentially new infectious diseases.
- Correspondence is quite snarky (for mechanicus, at least) with suggestions that Base Allius have ‘lost their way.’
Handroth
- Port authority. Passes potential novel bacteria and samples of new infectious diseases, acquired from the halo stars.
Samalut
- Main aim appears to be the effects of the synthetic hive mind in the Orkoid.
- Limited contact.
- Messages seem to suggest the group contains a number of human subjects also.
Serpens II
- Messages indicate the Serpens Hive to be observing subjects from the Kursanov Prime strain (acquired from Serpens VI) and the recent strain traced back to the Eridani system.
- Seemingly formed after the events on Serpens IV, making it the most recently formed cell.