Magos
Biologis Data Files
Crossref: Adeptus
Mechanicus Data File System
A
Comparison of Tyranid Mycetic Adaptations to
Marine Drop Pod Technologies
[STC67D651] for Orbital Planetary Drops.
The difficulties
encountered by free fall decent from orbit to
terrestrial landing are nothing if not daunting. The tremendous speeds, heat
and inertia generated must be dissipated while allowing for the effective deployment
of forces. Despite the radically different origins of the two forms discussed,
they employ strikingly similar methodologies to eliminate or circumvent these
problems. Both also address similar tactical concerns ranging from high altitude
evasion to rapid deployment
once landfall is made.
Heat Shielding
The initial
concern is heat shielding and both forms are smooth to limit
friction and maximize initial velocity to avoid enemy fire and interception.
The standard marine drop pod is capable of withstanding normal reentry
with less than a 3 degree variance in internal temperature thanks to extensive
ceramic heat sinks and insulation
materials. Heat shielding is jettisoned when the retrorockets are
fired. Tyranidic mycotic cysts have ablative layers of shielding which sloth
off as the external temperature reaches critical levels. Examination of pods
indicated that temperature variance is about 5 times the marine standard but
still quite survivable.
Velocity Reduction
Deceleration
becomes an issue as the pod plummets towards the target
zone. Tyranidic Mycotic cysts deploy thin loops of silk-like proteins, over 300
meters long, that act as minimal parachutes. While the forces endured by marines
at impact would cripple or kill a normal human, those to which the tyranids are
subjected would likely do the same to a marine. Impact inertial is roughly double
that of the standard heavy
assault drop pod. Retro rockets on space marine pods fire in the last stages
of decent to allow for a survivable landings.
Attitude Adjustment
An internal depleted uranium gyroscope holds the prescribed attitude
during the free fall within marine drop pods. External vanes observed
within the tyranid systems act as the only form of attitude control
other than the cursory stabilization afforded by the deceleration
technique. The deceleration technique employed by the mycetic cysts
contributes significantly however.
Inertial Dissipation
Both tyranid and marine drops have the difficult
requirement of
absorbing the inertia of the fall without
critical injury or damage to
the payload. Both employ strikingly similar
methods. The cysts
cavities are filled with a viscous gel, and
the cargo is suspended above
the floor of the chamber. When the mycotic
cysts impacts the planet
surface, be it earth, stone, or water the cargo
shifts through the
matrix which absorbs much of the kinetic energy. Marine
drop pods have
fall arrestors which absorb much of the energy,
this can be coupled with
a gel matrix in some later pod designs.
Disembarking
Explosive
bolts are triggered upon impact allowing the outer hull to
fall away for easy evacuation from the pod within seconds. The tyranidic system
incorporates a powerful corrosive cocktail encased in a
resistant lipid layer. Upon impact the lipid layer fragments releasing the corrosive
agent that quickly eats through the seams of the cyst. The gel mixture within
the cyst in unaffected by the corrosive enzymes and protects whatever cargo in
held within. [A very similar mechanism to the one utilized in the biocannon projectiles,
only the mixture is even more virulent and the entire cavity is filled with the
mixture.] This is the reason for the fragile nature of the pods when subjected
to
direct fire weaponry. Sufficient jarring impact can initialize this chain reaction
causing the cysts to break apart within the higher atmosphere.
[Note: several
tyranidic organisms have been known to survive crashed cysts and even extreme
free fall. Caution is advised in
all cases.]
Magos Biologis Salk, Head Xenobiology
Draco Legion Biomedical Research station: NewHallefuss
Contributions
Grand Artificer Keplar
Talos Forge World Command and Control Center
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