Tyranid threat gains in strength

As 03.022M42 drew to a close, the Tau began to move away from their newly established base on Garmenes, sending small but agile forces out to investigate other systems in the Rifts of Hecate. Avoiding the hotly contested worlds of the hubward cluster (Mendrus Mundi, Ferrosiun and Helos Majoris), the Tau soon anded on Candic Minor, investigating the world for a possible colony site.

Unfortunately for the Tau, the tyranids had already infested the world and rapidly attacked the newcomers. Although the hive fleet itself remained undetected, it had become apparent to all the races in the Expanse now that a major infestation existed in the Rifts of Hecate, and the arrival opening of the Hecate Gap had spurred the alien hive mind on to devour resources quickly and craft a new hive fleet.

The Tau were overwhelmed and forced to withdraw, losing their commander and fleeing into deep space. Recognising the threat that the consumption of Candic Minor represented, the eldar now took action. They intended to overwhelm a small portion of the tyranid infestation near key hive nodes, disrupting their command and control and slowing down the consumption of the world. The tyranids however proved more alert to the threat than the eldar had bargained for, and easily defended their hive nodes. Battered, the remaining eldar retreated into the webway, leaving the tyranids to feast on the biomass of Candic Minor.