Hello DW:ers out there. Sorry if this thread is misplaced here. (If that is
the case, where should I put it?). The question:

What would happen if Watch Fortress Erioch's security somehow got
breached and the base actually got invaded by, let's say, tyranids?

dracopticon said:

Epic battle, that's what. Would probably trigger the Omega vault to open another seal, maybe even the final one, who knows?

Alex

ak-73 said:

Yep, I understand that much. But I mean literally? I'm actually aiming at using this drama before the next chapter in "The Emperor Protects".

- SPOILERS AHEAD - SPOILERS SHEAD - SPOILERS AHEAD - SPOILERS SHEAD - SPOILERS AHEAD - SPOILERS SHEAD - SPOILERS AHEAD - SPOILERS SHEAD - SPOILERS AHEAD - SPOILERS SHEAD - SPOILERS AHEAD - SPOILERS SHEAD - SPOILERS AHEAD - SPOILERS SHEAD - SPOILERS AHEAD - SPOILERS SHEAD - SPOILERS AHEAD - SPOILERS SHEAD - SPOILERS AHEAD - SPOILERS SHEAD - SPOILERS AHEAD - SPOILERS SHEAD - SPOILERS AHEAD - SPOILERS SHEAD - SPOILERS AHEAD - SPOILERS SHEAD - SPOILERS AHEAD - SPOILERS SHEAD - SPOILERS AHEAD - SPOILERS SHEAD - SPOILERS AHEAD - SPOILERS SHEAD - SPOILERS AHEAD - SPOILERS SHEAD - SPOILERS AHEAD - SPOILERS SHEAD - SPOILERS AHEAD - SPOILERS SHEAD - SPOILERS AHEAD - SPOILERS SHEAD - SPOILERS AHEAD - SPOILERS SHEAD - SPOILERS AHEAD - SPOILERS SHEAD - SPOILERS AHEAD - SPOILERS SHEAD - SPOILERS AHEAD - SPOILERS SHEAD - SPOILERS AHEAD - SPOILERS SHEAD - SPOILERS AHEAD - SPOILERS SHEAD - SPOILERS AHEAD - SPOILERS SHEAD - SPOILERS AHEAD -

The situation is this:

1. Diaz Lan has been infected by a genestealer.

2. This fact was known by the PC's when the returned
from the first (successful assignment on Aurum).

3. The Chief Apothecarion on Erioch examined him
and is thought to have been successful in eradicating
the genestealer taint. But, as the very hard procedure
is a failed one, and the Chief Apothecarion is a very
haughty and proud marine, the fact is right now hidden.

4. The Chief Apothecarion has also, secretly, injected
a heavy dna-degenerative poison into Diaz Lan's
body that is slowing down the process of tyranid
dna overtaking his body. This, the Apothecarion hopes,
will give him time to come up with a way of countering the
dna alteration of Lan's body and mind. During all this time
Diaz Lan is detained in the Chief Medical Bay on Erioch.

5. The genestealer dna, though, is much more active than
the Apothecarion thinks. Secretly, Diaz is communicating
with his ship and its crew. Diaz is giving orders that links
his ship comms to the Dagon Hive Mind.

6. These communications is also detected by the Samech
Magos, Vayze, which in turn makes it possible for the chaos
magos to draw out the fact that there have been Inquisitorial
military forces down on Aurum, not just the basic diplomatic
personnel ordinarily assigned to these missions.

7. Magos Vayze and the Alpha Legion marines speedily
draws up plans to extract the schematics found on Aurum
- from Erioch - before they lead to more direct facts.

8. This is what results in a double invasion:

A: A "smaller" swarm of Tyranids led by a Hive Tyrant is sent
by the Hive Mind to investigate Diaz Lan's (weak) signals.

B: The hit-and-run team of Alpha Legionneers arrives just
after the first hit from the Tyranids.

dracopticon said:

I'm not sure a ship's comm can be linked to the Hive Mind? I thought he himself would be able to communicate with it directly?

Alex

Ähhh, Problem! the Enoch system can only be found by those how have been there. It doesn´t want to be found. and even if the system is found the Fortress is still hidden and hard to find. And the hole Diaz´ ship calls for the tyrands idea is a little.... weird.

ak-73 said:

Yes, you have a valid point there. Well, could he contact the Hive through his beginning brood mind ability somehow...?

Or any other suggestion is welcome.

Vendettar said:

This info about the fact that the Watch Fortress doesn't "want" to be found, is it in "Rites of Battle"?

Core rulebook, page 329, "Erioch System"

Instead of trashing Erioch (which seems to have plot-protection-stealth-fields), invade a smaller watch station somewhere.

That way it also makes the stakes a lot higher: Using a random watch station tells the players that you're perfectly happy for it to be lost to the threat.

Wouldn't it just be a matter of holding the Omega Vault, and letting the pathogen in the air kill any alien that enters?

Siranui said:

Yes. That is a good idea, not that I was going to let the Watch Fortress get "trashed". Of course the defences are adequate and the base personnel (incl. the players) should get the better of the Tyranids. I wasn't going to let them off lightly, though.

But the idea of another base is better. A chance to see another of the outlying stations, perhaps the one with the lone marine. Hmm, sounds good.
Now, how to tie this in with the other Diaz Lan plot elements...? The effects of Diaz infection is not instantaneous either. As the whole procedure of genestealer dna removal is a dire process, the "turning" should be extremely hard to detect (except by the Chief Apothecarion who already know).

The Chief Apothecarion should maybe also not be all that sure the procedure was a failure, maybe he doesn't know it is- but suspects - which is easier
to deny and hold as a secret. The Kill Team's own apothecarion should meet him in the chapel, where it's obvious that he prays feverishly for something that he keeps hidden to himself, which is rather odd behaviour.

KommissarK said:

Unless the Alpha Legion can sabotage that...

Alex

I'd second using a watch station. They're valuable but expendable. And Erioch has insane defenses even if you *can* reach the system. I believe the defenses quoted in the core book include enough firepower to hulk a battleship with one volley, never mind a fleet of defense monitors and minefields making the approach a maze/deathtrap. However, if an invasion force could get into Erioch (and past the bizarre mechanical wards at the entrances), the fortress doesn't have all that many defenders. 200 marines in there at once was regarded as highly unusual. There would be serfs, combat servitors and inquisitorial personnel but they'd either have to hold specific areas or use hit and run attacks. The place is just too huge to hold with low numbers.

Decessor said:

Sorry that I haven't answered this excellent reply! I have now totally revised my plan for the second adventure in TEP. I plan to instead use the GM's Kit adventure "Shadow of Madness" and totally replace "A Stony Sleep" with this scenario. See this lnk for my plans:
http://www.fantasyflightgames.com/edge_foros_discusion.asp?efid=214&efcid=3&efidt=517924

Thanks for your reply once again!

No problem. If you have access to Rites of Battle, there is more detail on Erioch and its defenses late in that book. A lot of automated defenses it would seem. The Deathwatch are trusted with (or can strongarm) some of the Adeptus Mechanicus' finer works.