BARBED STRANGLER: HAMUS GULALAQUEO

DEATHSPITTER: EXCESSUS CONSPUO

File: 05437 - HAMUS GULALAQUEO
<<Low velocity somatic animate flora projectile, exo-symbiotic.>>
<<Inset: Mutant seed ammunition.>>

File: 05438 - EXESSUS CONSPUO
<<High velocity biochemical animate projectlie.
Exo-symbiotic with endo-symbiotic ammunition, endoparasitic intermediate.>>
<<Inset: Endo-symbiotic ammunition.>>

The actual mode of delivery utilised by this weapon is nearly identical to the venom cannon with respect to somatic methods. The main difference between the two weapons lies in the projectile. The weapon itself, while symbiotic, also plays host to an Epiphyte-like parasitic plant, which produces the fruit that forms the ammunition for the weapon. These large mutant seeds are heavy and dense. The typical rind is replaced by a catalytic epithelium. Upon impact this causes germination that is explosive and extremely rapid. Root tendrils and rhizomes erupt in all directions adhering to anything they cannot penetrate. As the metabolic apocalypse continues, silicate thorns and barbs begin to form, tearing and piercing anything captured and draining moisture and nutrients at horrifying speeds.

Hypothesis: Evolutionarily speaking these seed-pods exhibit characteristics one would expect to find in many deathworld floras. Rapid growth would allow the plant to avoid predation and possibly ensnare food sources. In its current form, the flora undergoes the entire growth cycle from seed to mature plant in a matter of seconds. This is a tremendous outlay of metabolic energy and the resultant plant appears to be a sterile mutant, albeit a stable one. The parasitic version incorporated into the weapon is likely to be the natural form of the plant. However, once again we see the Tyranids are able to manipulate the genome of a species radically by producing a parent capable of generating offspring vastly deviant from its own morphology.

[The deathspitter bio-weapon is a complex system. The highly volatile nature of the ammunition has hindered efforts to adequately describe its composition prior to firing. However, analysis indicates that the following information is highly likely. Magos Biologis Salk]

The main structure of the weapon houses a brood chamber wherein lies the incubating young of a creature which may possibly be the protoplasmic cleaning creatures reported during boarding missions against Tyranid bioships in space by the Space Wolves Adeptus Astartes. Adjacent to this is a crustacean that tends the brood and performs a critical function in the firing process. The firing chamber is a tight tube of horn and bone sealed with a powerfully muscled flap. Firing this bio-weapon is accomplished in the following manner. Bio-electric signals goad the crustacean to retrieve an embryonic cyst and take it to the firing chamber. Once there, the crustacean splits the cyst exposing the immature flesh of the embryo as it places it in the firing tube. [Note it appears to be a conditioned response as the crustacean is then allowed to eat the highly nutrient cyst husk as a 'reward' for the action. Within the firing chamber the biological breech-block closes. When this occurs, the enzymes on the breech-block react explosively with the exposed flesh of the embryo, launching it screaming towards the target. The biochemistry of the embryonic acid blob is extremely volatile with most atmospheres, causing it to audibly hiss as the epidermal layers are stripped away in a chemical fire. Upon impact, the embryo is slain and the semi gelatinous mass of incomplete protein congeners, acids, caustics and enzymes is splattered over a significant area. The results to exposed personnel are horrific and many of the chemicals are of sufficient potency to damage Imperial armoured vehicles.

Hypothesis: Unable to formulate any hypothetical evolutionary path for the development of this weapon other than significant bioengineering and opportunistic utilisation of multiple resources.