| “ | Deep cover intelligence has, through highly classified and heroic menas, identified a mutated strain of larvae in this hive. Find the mutated larvae and retrieve them for study by our heroic Bug Anatomy/Weapons Development (BAWD) Specialists | „ |
Helldivers are tasked to Retrieve Mutant Larvae wherever they may appear on the Terminid front.
These larvae appear in backpack containers, and so cannot be carried along with other backpacks. This side objective is completed when a Helldiver carries the larva aboard the Extraction Shuttle.
Tactics
A mutant larva on the back of a 
Helldiver
Mutant larvae are often found among a bane of Terminids apparently attempting to liberate its captive (or perhaps destroy it).
While sturdy, the backpack is still vulnerable to damage, especially from Eagle and Orbital Strikes. Destruction of the backpack will result in failure of the objective. So while stratagems can quickly clear the bane, it is up to Liberty whether there will still be a larva to pull from the stricken area.
The larva need not be carried the entire time. A map marker will provide its location wherever dropped. Dropping the vessel off at the nearest Extraction zone for later pickup is often advised, allowing full use of the user's chosen backpack.
Trivia
- When first encountered, it was speculated that the mutant larva might attract more frequent patrols or bug breaches. While no obvious change in behavior appears to occur, it is suspected that larva carriers are targeted more often, and that enemies spawn more frequently from existing locations.
- While Terminids do swarm around the larva vessel's original location, they do not seem particularly interested in dropped vessels.
- High Command specifically forbids keeping mutant larva as pets.
- The Ministry of Truth cautions against questions of why these larva are packed for transport.
- The larva model used in this objective is the exact same as the larva used for certain variants of common samples that can be found on certain points of interest.
- It remains to be seen whether a broken vessel results in the larva's death, or merely its escape.
- The larva bears suspicious resemblance to the Hive Lords encountered during the First Galactic War.