The Taintedform Roach was one of two Roach variants from the Heart of the Swarm campaign. The microorganisms in its saliva could drastically reduce the movement speed of most units.
Within minutes, the new Roaches hatched. Unlike standard Roaches, their backs bore distinct purple bioluminescent organs—incubators for specialized microorganisms, providing an endless supply of infectious microbes.
The Death Guard advanced irresistibly into the Leviathan's interior. Suddenly, new units appeared before them in the corridors.
They paid little attention at first, continuing their ponderous advance. These Swarm organisms seemed too weak to matter. Even new variants couldn't stop them.
They were wrong.
These things could indeed stop them.
When a Taintedform Roach spat its first glob of saliva, a Death Guard casually raised his vambrace to block.
"Barely stings."
But when they attempted to advance, the Death Guard realized something was wrong. Their movements became far more sluggish. A single step, once taking perhaps one second, now required over two.
"Wha...t's...hap...pen...ing?"
Already slow of speech, the Death Guard now drew out each syllable.
"My...move...ments...so...slow."
They saw Zerglings charging. They raised their axes—but by the time the weapons lifted, the Zerglings were already upon them, claws scrabbling at power armor and helmets.
One unfortunate Death Guard had his helmet's eye lenses pierced. Claws stabbed through, skewering his skull. He became the first Chaos Space Marine slain by Zerglings.
The other Death Guard fared little better. Zerglings carved annoying, non-lethal wounds across their armor. They tried to grab the creatures—a motion normally taking an instant now gave the Zerglings ample time to evade.
"Body...won't...obey?"
This was the Taintedform Roach's power. It slowed swift units, and slowed already-sluggish units further.
After falling to Nurgle, the Death Guard were already slow-moving, slow-reacting Chaos Space Marines. Taintedform interference rendered their movements almost half-speed.
This was lethal.
The Death Guard Lord, not yet engaged and thus unaffected, analyzed the situation.
"Contagion? No. What contagion could affect us? We bear the Plague Father's blessings. No disease should harm us."
True. Disease didn't harm Nurgle's followers.
But this wasn't disease.
This was Zerg!
Slowed Death Guard suffered catastrophic reductions in attack frequency and movement speed. More and more attacks struck them; they couldn't block in time.
Hydralisk spines, previously deflected by weapons, now embedded fully in Death Guard bodies. Concentrated Hydralisk volleys transformed them into pin cushions.
Even feeling no pain, the Death Guard sensed the battle's unfairness.
This was only the beginning. As Ravagers joined the battle, the Death Guard began suffering lethal casualties.
Ravager attacks posed genuine threats to Space Marines and their vehicles. However mighty, no Space Marine could withstand multi-meter plasma explosions.
Slowed Death Guard, in Ravager optics, were indistinguishable from stationary targets.
Plasma globes arced, detonating upon Death Guard ranks. Unlucky ones died instantly—entire bodies vaporized, only legs remaining upright.
Lucky ones blocked the first impact with their weapons, losing only arms. But second Ravager volleys annihilated them completely.
Over three hundred Death Guard. In minutes, half were lost.
†You dare board MY Leviathan? Think I'm easy prey? This isn't the warp. This is realspace!†
In the warp, infinite Nurgle daemons would drown the Zerg Swarm. But this wasn't the warp. Daemons couldn't pour forth endlessly.
Especially since these boarding Death Guard hadn't brought daemons.
†Who do you think you're messing with, buddy? I may lack your galactic empires' scale—but in local engagements? I'm tougher than the Tyranids, y'know~~†
The Death Guard fell back in disarray, clustering together. Their Lord sought options—and found none.
Retreat? The Leviathan's armor, breached by boarding torpedoes, had already sealed.
Boarding actions offered near-certain death. They hadn't even brought teleport homers.
"Oh...damn."
These Death Guard could only mount final resistance. Slowed by Taintedforms, buried under Swarm tide, annihilated by Ravager plasma—Zerglings and Hydralisks caught in the blasts, reduced to slag.
These plague-contaminated Zerg were unsalvageable. Without Abathur, adaptation couldn't occur swiftly.
Over three hundred Death Guard. Even for the Death Guard, significant losses.
As for the corpses? The Swarm Overmind ordered Ravagers to incinerate them. Plasma fire reduced everything to ash.
Leave any residue, and the Leviathan would be unsalvageable. Fetid beyond even 114514.
Only a few Roaches, wounded by Death Guard but not slain, were transported to Abathur. Roach physiology could endure more plague, aiding research.
"More samples, Overmind. Research accelerated."
†Show me results, Abathur.†
The two Nurgle escorts outside still held many enemies. But the Swarm Overmind didn't intend to spare them. Seized by Leviathan tendrils, the three Leviathans delivered three organic plasma blasts.
One escort shattered completely. Nurgle cultists, daemon engines, and wreckage scattered across the void. Survivors would drift as eternal space debris.
The other, critically damaged, was finished by a Baneling swarm. Brilliant plasma detonations consumed the vessel, crew reduced to constituent atoms.
No chance of recovery.
†Two Nurgle escorts down. Bet the Death Guard commander's furious.†
The Death Guard commander was indeed furious. The higher Nurgle daemon, Heart-Eater, had seized the heretic who summoned them. His maw, crawling with filth-maggots, demanded:
"Where are this planet's human souls?!"
The heretic trembled uncontrollably.
"I don't know! I don't know! Half a month ago, this world teemed with the living! Now—now they're all monsters!"
"Hmph!!!"
Heart-Eater crushed the heretic's skull. Rage consumed him.
Daemons came for souls. Yet the infected and cultists in the underhive—soulless. All.
And worse...
"Captain. The two escorts dispatched to eliminate the unknown xenos have been destroyed."
"AAAARRRGGGHHH—!"
Heart-Eater's roar shook the vessel. He felt utterly toyed with.