Rasmodine

Imperial records show that an xenos species known as the Rasmodine had originated somewhere beyond Imperial space and aggressively migrated onto imperial worlds sometime during the Time of Ending (ca. 744.M41 - ca. 999.M41). There were a sentient race that resembled nothing so much as locusts or grasshoppers. They are noted for having developed technology comparable to Imperial armaments and they had a particular talent for energy weapons and cybernetics.
They had a hive structure where a caste of queens psychically possessed thousands of mindless workers and warriors with their will. Their total numbers were estimated to be a staggering 6 Septillion by Astartes reckoning. There were several variants, selected by a queen during an individual's infancy. Most were some form of workers, about the size of dogs or cats, while some were transformed into tank-sized insectoid warriors that resembled grasshoppers or winged ants.
They were a migratory species who moved from world to world, depleting it of its resources before moving ahead. When they encountered Imperial forces they consumed 6 worlds before they could be driven back. This was known locally as "The Rasmodine Evisceration" and was the impetus for Operation Helsing.
== Precontact ==
Early in the Imperium's history the Rangers had a cadre that reported on the nature of a species that resembled the Rasmodine. While proof about Ranger cadre missions is nearly impossible to verify, an ancient xenos husk that has been identified as being Rasmodine does exist in the hands of the Ordo Xenos.
== The Rasmodine Supercult ==
Among the Rasmodine there existed an infection that granted the mindless workers and warriors free will. 
The illness was debilitating and few survived but those who did were able to influence a limited number of mindless Rasmodine as if they were their own mini-queen. These free Rasmodine eventually fought peacefully for independence and became recognized as their own hive known as the "Supercult" as they had developed their love of free will into a literal religion where they worshiped the disease.
It was first contracted on their initial push into Imperial space. The Rasmodine encountered a raiding party from the Aquila Legion and it's likely they contracted this "divine disease" from them (either by design or by accident).
The warrior who would later be known as Rasmo the Husk was the first to be infected and later the "First Paladin of the Rasmodine Supercult". This gave him total military authority over the supercult and as the Imperium fought back against the Rasmodine migration he grew cunning and was feared by all.
== Operation Helsing ==
Main Article: Operation Helsing
A protracted war between the Imperium and the Rasmodine was fought for many years. The conflict saw many young space marine chapters oppose the migration. They liberally used planet-buster when progress was slowed and only by pledging the dying Rasmodine species to Nurgle (their "Deity of the Divine Disease") could they survive. Ultimately a Deathwatch Kill-Team was used to assassinate many queens. The final battle saw the Sons of Gwydion luer the last of the Rasmodine into a trap and their chapter master assassinated Rasmo. Rasmo lives on as a greater daemon of Nurgle whose all consuming goal is to take revenge for his exterminated race.
Category:Xenos
Category:Operation Helsing