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From Warhammer 40k - Lexicanum
m
→Strategic use
In order to kill all organisms on a planet with virus bombs, a fleet of ships must all bombard the world in unison with many air-bursting warheads for sufficient levels of virus saturation to occur. Virus bombs were used on [[Isstvan III]] at the start of the [[Horus Heresy]] by [[Horus]] to cull the [[Space Marines]] of the present [[Space Marine Legion|Legions]] that were judged likely to remain loyal to the [[Emperor]].{{Fn|1a}} Virus bombs were used to execute exterminatus as late as 273.M41 on the [[Stalinvast]] hive world.{{Fn|3}} The viral payload of a Virus bomb can be keyed to specific gene-codes, specifically targeting [[alien]]s, [[mutant]]s or even rebelling [[human]]s with a predominant hair colour.{{Fn|5}}
The '''Life-Eater Virus''', as used on Isstvan III and Stalinvast, is terrifyingly voracious, capable of spreading across the entire surface of a planet in a matter of minutes. Air bursts of viral clades consume airborne bacteria blooming into a roving black cloud. The hyper-fast mutative change and near exponential growth rates allow the virus to leap species in seconds, but all resulting in near instant putrefaction regardless of being an animal, plant, microbe. Jungles and forests quickly rot into lakes of sludge. The rapid breakdown of organic matter releases tremendous amounts of flammable gas. The virus can penetrate the smallest chinks in power armour and enter [[rebreather]]s. The virus quickly rots and breaks down anything of biological origin, reducing it to sludge. Jungles and forests quickly rot into lakes of sludge. The rapid breakdown of organic matter releases tremendous amounts of flammable gas. The gas eventually ignites, either on its own or with the intentional insertion of an incendiary device, into an apocalyptic, planet-wide firestorm, searing the planet's entire surface to bare rock, as well as burning the atmosphere of all oxygen.{{Fn|1b}}{{Fn|2}}{{Fn|3}}
The [[Emperor]] was said to have strongly disliked using virus bombs during the [[Great Crusade]].{{Fn|1b}}
