1. A method comprises: determining, by a first computing device, a routing plan to route a set of encoded data slices from the first computing device to a second computing device via a plurality of network paths within a communications network, wherein a data segment was dispersed storage error encoded to produce the set of encoded data slices, wherein a decode threshold number of encoded data slices of the set of encoded data slices is needed to recover the data segment, wherein the first and second computing devices are operably coupled to the communications network, and wherein each network path of the plurality of network paths includes one or more relay units; receiving, by the second computing device, encoded data slices of the set of encoded data slices via one or more network paths of the plurality of network paths; when the second computing device receives the decode threshold number of encoded data slices, sending, by the second computing device, a message to the communications network; and when the message indicates receipt of the decode threshold number of encoded data slices: determining, by a relay unit of the one or more relay units of a corresponding network path of the plurality of network paths, whether the relay unit is in possession of a not-yet delivered encoded data slice of the set of encoded data slices; and when the relay unit is in possession of the not-yet delivered encoded data slice, ceasing, by the relay unit, forwarding of the not-yet delivered encoded data slice along the corresponding network path.