Sporocysts

Sporocysts are Tyranid organisms designed to facilitate planetary consumption. Launched from orbiting Bio-Ships, when a Sporocyst makes planetfall it will burrow into the surface like a tick. Once embedded, the creature emits clouds of polluting microorganisms which alter the planets atmosphere until the air itself is ripe for consumption. Sporocysts are a vital element in a Tyranid Hive Fleet predatory cycle. These bloated, fleshy pods are released by bio-ships in low orbit. They float through a prey world’s atmosphere until they make landfall, before spreading the segments of their shell for protection and burrowing into the earth. Once they are securely buried, with only the spore chimneys atop their structure showing, they begin to pump out billions of polluting microorganisms.