Questions about the life killer virus and destroying planets

[MyLove4uIsLikeATruck]

I'm relatively new to 40k and all my knowledge of the way the life killer virus works is drawn from the Ultramarine Trilogy by Graham McNeil. So the life killer virus destroys all life on a planet and turns it into highly flammable goo that is ignited by orbital fire thus making the world a barren lifeless rock. So if a world were say being attacked by tyranid and the bioships were starting to feed off it, would that not be the best time to use the life killer bombs? So the virus can work its way up into there fleet. Maybe I am over thinking this. Has anyone else read the Ultramarine series?

[Perturabo]

The virus is highly contagious but fast acting so yes all the life on the planet would be destroyed but it would not get brought back to the Hivefleet as nothing would live long enough to take it there!

Inquisitor Kryptman has used this tactic of scorched earth several times (contreversialy) against the Tyranids-staging fought battles to use up the precious DNA resources they have then withdrawing and Virus Bombing the planet thereby denying them any prize from there efforts, thus wasting the resources they have!

[Icarus Athrasuriel]

It is a brilliantly simple idea, that.

Though yes, it was controversial. This was because alot of the planet's that Kryptman wanted to bomb were then colonised by Orks before the tyranid arrived. Therefore, the tactic was less effective and only slowed Leviathan. Eventually, Kryptman let a swarm of genestealers loose on a barge which was then sent into the Ork Empire of Charadon. Once the genestealers had begun fighting the Orks, they called away Leviathan. The lure worked and Leviathan has been fighting the Orks for years now.

[Dan296]

the way it works is that the virus bomb, first stage, detonates in the air and gets in EVERYTHING, and the virus quickly kills and decomposes everything.
decomposition releases methane, so the second stage of the bomb is a small explosive that ignites the methane and burns the planet up.

i can see why someone would think that the virus would spread to the fleet. cause the tubes are attached, but the ships could just detatch as the tube dies and falls to the planet.

[BrainDeleted]

Yeah thats pretty much why it wouldn't work...Also the tyranids being very adaptable have evolved to be immune too most of the Imperiums biological weapons

[Dan296]

well thats not really true, because kryptman and the ultramarines came up with a virus that, when they delivered it right to the norn queen, stripped away their synapse and they turned on each other.

[Icarus Athrasuriel]

They also developed a virus which enhances the effects of evolution in all races, but more-so in the Tyranids, who are in a constant state of adapting to the enviroment they are occupying, therefore putting them into overdrive, and killing them.

[Torquemada Coteaz]

just thought i'd point out (for emphasis reasons)
virus + organic molecules = Methane GAS (CH4, where 4 is a subscript)

to levels far exceeding the recommended few parts per million (it's probably measured in parts per hundred or smaller scale at end of decay cycle)

any spark would turn the entire atmosphere into firestorm.

[wolfpack]

Methane huh?....so it's like 40K beans and corn bread?...LMAO...(sorry gettin a lil slap happy...3 hours sleep and 12 hour shift...ouch)

[Icarus Athrasuriel]

I feel like expanding, scientifically, on the whole methane subject.

CH4, methane, is the simplest alkane. It is made up of one carbon atom and four hydrogen atoms. When burned in the presence of oxygen, one molecule of methane produces one molecule of CO2 (Carbon Dioxide), through the chemical process:

CH4 + O2 → CO2

Leaving 4 Hydrogen atoms. These react with the oxygen to create two H2O (Water) molecules through the chemical process:

4H + O2 → 2H2O

In addition, methane is also 97% of what makes up natural gas, At room temperature and standard pressure, methane is a colorless, odorless gas; the smell characteristic of natural gas is an artificial safety measure caused by the addition of an odorant, often methanethiol or ethanethiol.

Methane has a boiling point of −182.6 C at a pressure of one atmosphere. As a gas it is flammable only over a narrow range of concentrations (5–15%) in air. Liquid methane does not burn unless subjected to high pressure (normally 4–5 atmospheres.)

Methane is not toxic; however, it is highly flammable and may form explosive mixtures with air. Methane is violently reactive with oxidizers, halogens, and some halogen-containing compounds. Methane is also an asphyxiant and may displace oxygen in an enclosed space. Asphyxia may result if the oxygen concentration is reduced to below 19.5% by displacement. The concentrations at which flammable or explosive mixtures form are much lower than the concentration at which asphyxiation risk is significant.

In the combustion of methane, several steps are involved:

Methane is believed to form a formaldehyde (HCHO or H2CO). The formaldehyde gives a formyl radical (HCO), which then forms carbon monoxide (CO). The process is called oxidative pyrolosis:

CH4 + O2 → CO + H2 + H2O

Following oxidative pyrolysis, the H2 oxidizes, forming H2O, replenishing the active species, and releasing heat. This occurs very quickly, usually in significantly less than a millisecond.

2H2 + O2 →2H2O

Finally, the CO oxidizes, forming CO2 and releasing more heat. This process is generally slower than the other chemical steps, and typically requires a few to several milliseconds to occur.

2CO + O2 →2CO2

[wolfpack]

:P show off...LMAO...yeah what he said...(40Kbeans and cornbread)

[Torquemada Coteaz]

lol long explanation
but thorough. *hat tip*
Though as is often nowadays, because Methane (CH4) is a hydrocarbon, the end result equation is just CH4(g) + 2O2(G) -> CO2(g) + 2H2O(l) because hydrocarbons, in complete reactions, always produce only Carbon Dioxide and Water.

Course, should there be incomplete combustion, well, carbon monoxide is made... but after virus bombing and lance strikes, CO poisoning is the LEAST of your worries.

[MSguardsmen]

one thing though about the norn queen. that batch of chemicals could only work that one time. in order for it to work again they would have to capture another lictor from the next fleet and do it again. however the hive mind will be ready then.


the hive mind follows this very simple motto:

Fool me once shame on me, fool me twice ill out smart you and eat you!

in other words a trick will only work once against these guys