Mycoid: Difference between revisions

'''Mycoid''', also referred to as the "mycoid virus" and the "mycoid particle", is a fungus-based biological weapon that was developed by the [[Intergalactic Naval Reserve Arm]] to combat the first [[Thargoids|Thargoid]] invasion in the mid-3100's.

INRA's research into Thargoid technology at their Hollis Gateway facility in the Hermitage system, one of [[Intergalactic Naval Reserve Arm#Known INRA Bases|several secret INRA bases]], eventually yielded an accidental discovery. A junior researcher looking into the agricultural applications of Thargoid tech noted the deleterious effects of a certain type of fungus on it. The researcher reported his find to INRA leadership, going over the head of his dismissive superior, Chief Researcher [[Bexley Prince]].<ref name="Hollis">[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/59ddfb8df9f5e847c400744f Galactic News: Abandoned INRA Outpost Discovered]</ref><ref>[https://www.reddit.com/r/EliteDangerous/comments/75an5n/spoilers_havent_seen_this_here_yet_but_the_inara/ r/EliteDangerous: Haven't seen this here yet but the Inara base from the Expo has been discovered!]</ref> INRA's interest was piqued and they ran with the research, later developing the fungus into a biologicial weapon known as "mycoid" despite the junior researcher's ethical qualms.<ref name="Stuart">[https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php/383412-INRA-is-ingame?p=6036905&viewfull=1#post6036905 Frontier Forums: INRA is ingame (Post #396)]</ref>

[[File:Klatt-Enterprises-Mycoid.png|thumb|200px|Klatt Enterprises]]

The mycoid weapon was taken to Klatt Enterprises in Alnath for testing. It was hoped that the superweapon could be used to attack Thargoid hyperdrives and incapacitate them, stopping the Thargoids from traveling and ending the war in a single stroke. Test results on both Thargoid technology and two captured Thargoid specimens confirmed that the mycoid was debilitating to both, causing paralysis and extensive degeneration. At this point, several researchers left the project in protest over the use of the living specimens for weapon experimentation, but others considered it a moral obligation to use the bioweapon to prevent a catastrophic loss of human life at the hands of the Thargoids.<ref name="Klatt">[https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php/383412-INRA-is-ingame?p=6037149&viewfull=1#post6037149 Frontier Forums: INRA is ingame (Post #420)]</ref>

With its effectiveness beyond doubt, mycoid was then mass-produced at multiple INRA facilities, such as Mayes Chemical Plant in HIP 59382, before being shipped to Hogan Depot in HIP 7158 for storage and subsequent distribution to various additional sites.<ref name="Mayes">[https://imgur.com/a/yEB8j Imgur.com: INRA Base - HIP 59382 1B]</ref><ref name="Hogan">[https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php/383412-INRA-is-ingame?p=6037464&viewfull=1#post6037464 Frontier Forums: INRA is ingame (Post #479)]</ref>

 

One of those sites was Velasquez Medical Research Center in LP 389-95, where a vaccine for mycoid was produced. Although the vaccine could not reverse damage already caused by mycoid, it could completely halt the weapon's spread and prevent further damage. When the vaccine was completed, the facility was shut down, with the staff relocated and all research removed.<ref name="Velasquez">[https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php/383412-INRA-Base-Discoveries?p=6041617&viewfull=1#post6041617 Frontier Forums: INRA is ingame (Post #701)]</ref>

 

Final preparations to deploy mycoid against the Thargoids were made at Taylor Keep in 12 Trianguli. A consignment of medium-range missiles were armed with weaponized mycoid from Klatt Enterprises. INRA hired the famous CMDR [[John Jameson]] to deliver the payload, modifying his [[Cobra MkIII]] for the mission and equipping it with the missiles.<ref name="Taylor">[https://www.reddit.com/r/EliteDangerous/comments/7fbzps/ive_just_found_a_new_inra_base_taylor_keep_in_12/ /r/EliteDangerous: I've just found a new INRA Base (Taylor Keep) in 12 Trianguli 1 A.]</ref> Jameson departed the base believing the weapon he was tasked with deploying would only disable the Thargoids' hyperdrives.<ref name="JJ-386">[https://www.reddit.com/r/EliteDangerous/comments/7ff8ln/cmdr_jameson_cobra_mk3_found/ /r/EliteDangerous: CMDR JAMESON COBRA MK3 FOUND!!]</ref>

 

[[File:John Jameson's Cobra MkIII.png|thumb|200px|CMDR Jameson's crashed ship]]

After successfully launching the mycoid missiles at a [[Thargoid Mothership]] and making his escape, Jameson was horrified to learn from his sensors that the weapon was not just disabling the enemy vessel, but was in fact killing every Thargoid on board. Unfortunately, Jameson did not live to tell the tale. INRA had installed a program that shut down his ship's systems to ensure that he did not return from his mission. His ship crashed on HIP 12099 1 B.<ref name="JJ-386"/>

 

It is believed that the mycoid weapon killed enough Thargoids to force them to retreat from human space entirely by 3151. Analysis of [[Thargoid Scout]] wreckage discovered in the HIP 17125 system on September 28, 3303 confirmed that the vessel had been contaminated by mycoid, and was likely one of many victims of CMDR Jameson's successful attack.