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Pressure-Based (Vacuum/Hydraulic)

Filaments (Standard)

[Tidal]

Turn 26

     You quickly extract bits of cytoplasm from as many cells as you can and move them to the Data-Processing Unit. Samples from the pseudopseudopods used in grappling the worm show some sort of unknown protein. It definitely lacks the *NA identifier of your organism. Whatever it's doing, the tingling in the pseudopseudopods is getting worse. You have finished injecting the enzymes into the worm, and it is slowing enough that you are able to dislodge its grip upon you. You hold the worm at range with your manipulators, keeping it from biting you.

Spoiler: Creature Status (click to show/hide)

Common Name: Lifespark
Scientific Name: Vitascinti cuspis, "Spiky Spark of Life"
Sentience: Rank 2: A bit more intelligent than a Copepod. (10/20)
Size: about 0.5 mm
Cell Types:
- Armor Cell (Spiked Silica Plate)
- "Brain" Cell (Central Nucleus, Central Data-Processing Unit, Cell Wall)
- Enzyme-Injector Cell (Modified Pseudopseudopod - Membrane Piercing Tip)
- Focus Cell (Silica Crystal)
- Factory Cell (Enzyme Producer, Many Ribosomes)
- Manipulator Cell (Regular "Pseudopod" - Silica Blade, Enzyme Injectors)
- Mouth Cell (Closable Opening, Silica Teeth)
- Propulsion Cell (Flagella)
- Sensory Cell (Cilia)
- Sight Cell (Photoreceptive Patch)
- Stomach Cell (Nutrient Harvester, Enzyme Storage, Contractile Vacuole)
- Storage Cell (Glucose<->Glycogen, Protein)
- Buffer Cell (Data-Processing Subunit and Conduits)
Energy: 51

Spoiler: Size Comparison (click to show/hide)

Size in comparison to other organisms. Subject to change and adding of new organisms.

Spoiler: Materials (click to show/hide)

DNA: 7
RNA: 4
Protein: 31
Fat: 14
Glucose: 72

Spoiler: Cell Organelles (click to show/hide)

Basic -> Improved -> Complex

Basic
Cell Wall: Outside the membrane, provides a stiff wall to keep threats at bay. Found in plants and fungi, for the most part.
Contractile Vacuole: Removes or adds water to and from the cell and its outside.
Cytoskeleton: Structures and moves the cell when the cell lacks any other propulsion.
Enzyme Injector (Basic Organelle, Basic Membrane, Basic Cell Wall): Injects enzymes into other cells. Right now, it has very little penetration force.
Nutrient Harvester (Extracting: Silicon and Oxygen [Silica Production]): Takes water brought into the cell from the contractile vacuole and extracts useful nutrients from it for use.
Photoreceptor: Patch of light-sensitive proteins that can detect light. Highly unfocused. No color.
Sensory & Chemical Cilia: Detects changes in the water, both chemical and physical. Also provides some degree of additional mobility.

Improved
Data-Processing Organelle (with Labeling System): Processes input from the cilia and photoreceptors as well as managing the cell's data flow. Labels enzymes so they don't activate inside the cell without priming; however, it also labels foreign genetic material for packaging.
Membrane: The most elemental part of the cell- the phospholipid bilayer that keeps out unwanted material and holds the entire cell together.
Nucleus: Stores all of the cells genetic material. Allows for more advanced *NA.
Ribosomes: Produces all sorts of enzymes and proteins, helps in organelle construction. The cell's "factory." Moderately complicated production.

Complex
Cytoplasm: The goop that fills the cell, transports materials, and stores many things.
Flagellum: A tube of protein that spins like a corkscrew to move the cell. Very fast.
Mitochondria: Provides aerobic respiration in order to harness glucose to the max. Used in synthesis of Energy (or ATP for all you geeks).
Silica Armor: The armor that protects the cell. It is somewhat self-repairing and is extremely tough. Spiked. Comes in a plate, each attached to a special cell that can add stored silica onto the plate as it deteriorates.

Spoiler: Nearby/To-Do List (click to show/hide)

Location:
Near the water's surface in a large field of ice chunks (not at the surface yet, but close enough to swim there whenever).
Visible:
A very angry, burned worm that you are fighting.

To-Do List
1. Photosynthesis (Need to obtain Chloroplasts)
2. Laz0rs
3. Photoreceptor Upgrade

[RAM]

Sever pseudopod but leave it with instructions to wiggle its tail in such a way as to collide with the hostile contact.

[PyroDesu]

Start at 1:00.

[Ehndras]

Outdated graphics, but I like

[PyroDesu]

I saw what was going on and knew that it would be appropriate.

CUT US LOOSE!!!  *screams*

[Ehndras]

Hmm, I has ideas!

I just got done doing some more research on brain-altering, brain-eating, and brain-controlling viruses, bacteria, and such. Creepy shit. I've read up on at least 10 different types of brain-altering organisms capable of changing behavior and brain chemistry, and one that possibly(supposedly) induces schizophrenia and actual discernible personality changes in humans who have a lower than usual white cell count, for example; people with AIDS.

I want us to be a terrifying, Cthulhu-eque, brain-controlling, consuming organism. Hey, the brain is where the power is

[RAM]

If you rely upon controlling brains, then your rely upon something, something quite specific in fact, and something specifically tailored to a subject. Much better to form a film over our host and control their every action via brute force, while they are still very much aware and awake. And we don't even rampage immediately, we just go on, doing ordinary activities, trying to blend in, leaving the host uncertain as to whether or not they are actually being controlled or if they are just experiencing some sort of disassociative perspective... Mind control is so beneath us...

[Ehndras]

Scientifically speaking, that would be nigh impossible due to the mechanics of expanding and encompassing and how the organism would actually control movement. The symptoms would be too obvious to avoid quarantine or, as mentioned, a feeling of psychosis or mental instability that will undeniably land the host in a mental hospital where they can neither be used to further our goals nor infect others with our all-encompassing filmy doom. No, I think I'll vote for classic brain-control.
--- --- ---

It'll be AWESOME if this gets so far as to encompass actual animal herds, or eventually, even human colonies/villages/cities! I'd just looooooove roleplaying Pandemic (good game, btw. Pandemic 2 is out)

Speaking of that, Seattle has been wiped out in my current game of Pandemic: American Swine, heh. I've got vaccines but I didn't reach Washington state in time. I've got the military on full-blast helping aid efforts, truckloads of vaccine going to Texas, California, Minnesota, and a few other states, and I've got Swine flu beat to about 6 states total. Just finished handing out masks to Texas and the infection is on the rise, we've got 190,000 dead and 210,000 infected in california though, NOT good.

If it starts spreading, I'm fucked. Otherwise, the American people will survive.

Oh, how I love virus/bacteria/microorganism games.

[Hubris Incalculable]

Otherwise, the American people will survive.

If that happens, God save us all.

[Ehndras]

Otherwise, the American people will survive.

If that happens, God save us all.

Hey, no need for baseless insults centered on the stupidity and egotistic behavior of a percentage of the population unrestricted by morality and the ruling of ethics-based decisions and organizations.

tl;dr: Down generalize, rationalize.

[PyroDesu]

Otherwise, the American people will survive.

If that happens, God save us all.

Hey, no need for baseless insults centered on the stupidity and egotistic behavior of a percentage of the population unrestricted by morality and the ruling of ethics-based decisions and organizations.

tl;dr: Down generalize, rationalize.

It's unfortunate that they are the most vocal.

[Ehndras]

In the wise words of the great Teal'c,



...Indeed.

[Argonnek]

Eh. Isn't it always the crazies who attract the most attention?

Back on topic: Purge the offending protein! Get those ribosomes building some sort of anti-protein! (if possible...)

[kaian-a-coel]

use antibodies to de-activate the protein by sticking to it. Then put all of the poison-antibodies through digestion process.

[RAM]

Crystallise the entire surface of our central mass and wake us in the morning...