Hive

From NSwiki, the NationStates encyclopedia.
Jump to: navigation, search
Internecivus Raptus Hive
Government
 - Executive
· hive mind empire
Mother
Capital Unknown
Establishment
 - as Hive
 - as Galactic Hive
 - as Intergalactic Hive
Before Earth
Before Earth
2 A.E.
Population
 - Total

156,560,998,878,990
Spoken Languages No known written language (Goa'uld, Sodan, and others spoken de facto.)
Currency None
Pronunciation (IPA) /enterknehsehvus wraptus huive/

The Internecivus Raptus Hive - more commonly known as simply the Hive - is an ancient intergalactic empire composed of almost entirely a single species: the Internecivus raptus (more commonly known as the Xenomorphs or simply Them). The Hive spands over the entire universe in sparse colonies, but enitrely controls the Milky Way Galaxy, Adromeda Galaxy, Triangulum Galaxy, Large Magellanic Cloud galaxy, Carnia Dwarf Galaxy, the Collesario Galaxy (unexplored homeworld of the Xenomorph designers), and the Internecivus Galaxy (the unexplored homeworld of the I. raptus). To this day, the Intergalactic Research Society have been unable to determine exactly how much of the universe falls under the control of the Hive.

History

The species I. raptus was created by a species simply known as the Collectors (due to their final part in the collection of I. raptus eggs in the Milky Way Galaxy before the Gate Catastrophe) for use as the ultimate biological weapon. They are considered to be one of the oldest species in the universe, and also one of the most aggressive and destructive. The Xenomorphs were genetically programmed to adapt to their environment, exterminate the enemy, then die off so that the Collectors could colonize the planet. However, with their excellent adaptation abilities, soon the Xenomorphs were able to exceed their designated life-spans. Colonies on the formerly occupied planets and systems began to grow. Queens arose in sparse hives around the universe. Eventually, the first Hive was created.This hive - while only spanning several small galaxies in small colonies - became a driving force in the universe. They set out to remove their former oppressors, and they did.

Xenomorph hordes expanded across the universe, absorbing and killing off the remaining Collectors. Systems and galaxies spanning the entire universe fell in short time as the almost perfect killing machine advanced. This was achieved once the hives mutated a species known as the Goa'uld and took control of their almost instantaneous form of transportation known as stargates. Soon, the status of intergalactic empire was reached; but the seperate and unorganized Queens did not care so long as their objective was reached. Roughly around the year 2010 A.D., the Xenomorph hordes reached the Sol System and began inhabitting the the solar system. During this time, the Collectors attempted to collect the eggs and aliens across the universe in order to prevent them from spreading. However, this plan subsequently failed and the Allies (Collectors and the Solan Humans) resorted to drastic measures. Utilizing the Sol Stargate against the Hive, the Allies locked the worm-hole device not allowing the Xenomorphs to reach Sol. However, this had a horrible backlash.

During the time in which the gate was locked, billions of Xenomorph warriors were en route to Sol System through the gate. Once it was closed on the Solan end, the aliens were trapped in the worm-hole. Yet, due to their "proximity" to the ending of the rift, the Xenomorphs being transported overpowered the gate, causing a catastrophic meltdown. Energy from the destroyed gate rippled out through the galaxy, sending concentrated waves of energy into the heart of Sol. This amount of energy disrupted the nuclear fusion reactions which powered Sol's sun, forcing it into a supernova. The subsequential destruction of Sol's sun caused the entire destruction of Sol System. The Xenomorph hordes retreated and eventually - through the use of stargates - conquered the Milky Way Galaxy and mutated the remaining Collectors into the Hive's gene pool.

Soon after the Gate Catastrophe, the Hive allied itself with like-minded empires in order to defend themselves against the remaining Solan's, Terrans, and Allies. These allied groups continue to exist to this day in an attempt to defend themselves from their enemies and in order to further their power and intergalactic goals. Currently, the Hive is one of - if not the - most powerful factions in the universe. It is unclear exactly what their goals will allow them to become.

Society and Characteristics

I. Raptus Characteristics

Socially, in ideal situations, Xenomorphs are hive-minded animals with a defined caste system which is ruled by a queen. Their entire society can be used as a military force. They reproduce as parasitoids and grow to full size very rapidly. The Xenomorph queen lays eggs that eventually release a single parasitic larvae when a host comes near. The larvae attacks the host and slides a tubular proboscis down the victim's throat, implanting a viral mutagen within their chest. The larvae then dies and the mutagen s host wakes up soon afterwards, showing no outward negative symptoms for several hours thereafter.

This mutagen takes on some of the host's traits (such as bipedalism or quadrupedalism), then over the course of about three hours develops into an embryo which grows into a pupa which eventually bursts from the victims body. Xenomorphs are roughly humanoid with a skeletal or insectoid appearance, like an exoskeleton.

The adult Xenomorph is a living weapon, noted for its ferocity and deadliness in any condition. It has strong, sharp claws and a venomous blade-like tip on the end of its prehensile tail. Its mouth contains a secondary jaw at the end of an extendable, piston-like tongue. Relaxed, the tongue is relatively flaccid, but it can be made to become rigid enough to penetrate bone or body armor with the secondary jaws at its tip. It is employed almost exclusively as a weapon to incapacitate prey, usually through head trauma. Xenomorphs, once fully matured, possess great physical strength and uncanny agility.

Despite their ferocity and savagery, Xenomorphs are, like any good predator, masters of stealth. A favored method of acquiring prey is to simply wait in a dormant state until an appropriate host strays near and then drop down silently from behind. The prey is generally blind to the idea that a Xenomorph is present, due to its propensity to camouflage itself within its nest walls or the surrounding artificial environment given its biomechanical appearance. The Xenomorphs' blood is an extremely potent acid that is very similar to liquid fluorine and is capable of dissolving on contact almost any substance with alarming speed. They are also able to expel this liquid from their maw in use as a weapon.

Xenomorphs can produce a thick, strong resin, previously used to build their hives and cocoon victims. The resin is made similarly to termites, the same glands that creates their thick and gooey saliva is mixed with dead victims or dead/cannibalised xenomorphs, these materials are then broken down by spitting acid on them and molding into shape and place. Though it shows amazing heat and moisture-retaining qualities, as seen in the hot, moist atmosphere as seen in the only explored hive found on Europa in the Sol System before the Gate Catastrophe.

Adult Xenomorphs are quick and agile, and can run along ceilings and walls. They can survive in extreme temperatures, are well-adapted to swimming, and can survive in vacuum for unknown lengths of time. Their movement tends to be silent, and they do not radiate heat as their exoskeletal temperature matches the ambient temperature. They salivate profusely. They are extremely aggressive and persistent, while being totally devoid of fear. They appear to possess considerable intelligence, especially those within the Queen caste.

DNA Reflex

The Xenomorphs have a certain ability to aquire superior traits from their hosts. The following is a report describing the concept known as the "DNA reflex":

"The process by which Internecivus Raptus is able to successfully alter its host's DNA so as to create a more suitable host environment (and presumably to create an offspring that is better suited to adapt and prey upon a specific organism and its environment) is still under a certain degree of speculation. The lack of data received from Fiorina 161 and LV-426 has made the process of determining how the altering of a host's genetic code is done a difficult task. It is proposed that the process is done in a manner analogous to a virus.

"In this process it is believed that I. raptus genetic material "invades" a host's DNA, which alters gene expression and activation. As this process occurs new genes are created, forcing the cells to function and exist in a manner that is more suitable to the development of an I. raptus embryo. It is also proposed that as this forced change occurs new proteins and amino acids are produced - creating a host environment that is drastically different than the original (even if only on the cellular/sub-cellular level).

"The means by which I. raptus is able to invade a host's DNA is not fully known, but it is proposed that this is done via the introduction and utilization of a DNA polymerase-like enzyme. In its common state a DNA polymerase is an enzyme that catalyzes the replication and repair of existing DNA in an organism by using a single stranded DNA as a template. The simple act of introducing such an enzyme into a host organism would not result in the eventual restructuring of the DNA in a manner that would enable an I. raptus embryo to survive and develop. Nor would it cause the modifications to a host organism's DNA resulting in the anatomical abilities/modifications that were recorded in the Fiorina 161 medical reports of Lieutenant Ripley following her recovery. For such a DNA polymerase to create the type of genetic restructuring that is apparent in the initial stages of the I. raptus life cycle the enzyme would need to contain both Alien and host coding - in order for this to happen some kind of genetic splicing would need to take place. Commonly, for DNA recombination to occur a minimum of 2 enzymes are required: a Restriction Enzyme, which is responsible for cutting the DNA at specific nucleotide sequences, and a DNA Ligase for "stitching" the newly inserted DNA material into the original host material. Of course, in order for this to work the inserted genetic material needs to be compatible and compliment the existing DNA - if it's not then serious restructuring of the host and foreign DNA needs to occur. It's thought that the Alien's efficiency in existence may be traceable all the way down to its genetic base. By this it's believed that even with the creature's complex physiology it may employ a relatively simple yet efficient genetic structure. One that is highly adaptable/modifiable to the point of being almost a generic genetic template that can accept nearly any DNA chain that it is presented with.

"The DNA polymerase-like enzyme that I. raptus would introduce into a host system has been referred to as a "Hyper-Aggressive Enzyme." The working model for this enzyme revolves around the notion that it's an incomplete structure that not only replicates DNA strands upon contact, but also splices and restructures as well. The idea is based on the thought that the process a DNA polymerase undergoes to replicate existing DNA is only a step away from DNA Recombination under the correct circumstances: i.e. the process of DNA replication is basically a form of DNA splicing and combination - in and of itself - among existing genetic elements. The incorporation of an outside genetic element is theoretically only another step away. If I. raptus is able to employ such a genetic feat this would mean that is has mastered something that current human science has yet to control. For nearly 200 years geneticists have struggled with the possibility of creating such an enzyme in a controlled laboratory so as to aid in new directions of DNA recombination for medicinal purposes.

"The incomplete aspect of the enzyme is what would make it aggressive: It has been speculated that one of the means by which the Alien is able to incorporate its own DNA into a host system is through requiring specific proteins. Enzymes are, by nature, an arrangement of complex proteins. The Hyper-Aggressive Enzyme may actively seek out various proteins from a host system in order to initiate DNA restructuring, and its own completion. It is believed that this enzyme is inert and otherwise inactive in its "natural" state, but once introduced into an environment that contains various proteins it moves from an inert state to an active state. To say that it actively seeks out these proteins may not be an accurate description: It may be attracted to such proteins and otherwise aggressively incorporate them into its own structure. This pattern would follow that of various viruses once they are introduced to a host system. Once the hyper-aggressive enzyme has acquired the necessary proteins from the host the catalyst can begin, and the enzyme is able to begin DNA restructuring and replication - all the while incorporating Alien and host proteins. To aid in a successful fusing of genetic material. As new DNA is modified, and effectively re-written, the expression of new proteins occurs, along with the creation of additional Hyper-Aggressive Enzymes. Given the speed at which I. raptus is able to develop it is believed that the spread of this enzyme through a host system is extremely pervasive.

"Of course, this is strictly theoretical, and the mere acquisition of host proteins would not be enough to initiate, or facilitate the type of genetic restructuring that apparently goes on within a host system so as to create an I. raptus embryo. The means by which a conceivably incompatible genetic structure could be grafted, or spliced into a host system is not fully understood. There still remains the issue that in order for recombinant DNA to function properly the combined pieces must have complimentary ends and elements that readily combine with each other. Given the physiology of the Alien it does not seem likely that it's DNA would compliment a wide array of hosts. Thus, it is proposed that the Alien incorporates a simple - or generic - genetic structure that is easily compatible, or modifiable, with varying host organisms."

This reflex has allowed the Xenomorphs to absorb the knowledge of space travel and weaponry from their assimilated victims; giving the Hive wings.

Government and Castes

The government of the Hive is controlled by Mother with all Xenomorphs now subservient to her. Mother is the ultimate autocrat over the entire Hive and has the ability to control the Hive entirely by herself due to her expanded consciousness and psychokinetic abilities. Including Mother are various under-castes which each serve a specific purpose within the Hive; yet, even more under-castes beneath these serve specialized purposes. The following is a general list of the castes and their duties:

  • Queens: Caste directly below Mother. They serve as reproducing elements of the Hive, constantly giving birth to new Xenomorphs. They are also considered "ladies in waiting" for when Mother dies.
  • Praetorians: Praetorians are the caste directly below the Queens. They serve as the Queen's and Mother's guardians and direct executive officers. They follow Mother and the Queens where ever they go, refusing to leave their sides at anytime.
  • Warriors: Warriors are the second class from Mother. They are the main military arm of the Hive being overseers to the military campaigns and branches.
  • Drones: The Drones are third lowest caste in the Hive. They build colonies and hives where new Xenomorph encampments are made and eggs are grown, they construct military vessels, and they keep each vessel in working order. Due to the assimilation of many highly-advanced species, this has enabled the Drones to create some of the most advanced biomechanical craft in existence.
    • Utility: A sub-caste of the Drones, the Utility Drones are breed to be used as pilots for space-craft, vehicles, etc. They are usually more deformed than normal Xenomorphs and appear to physcally meld with their vessels.
  • Rogues: Lowest - and smallest - catse of the Hive. They are Xenomorphs that have a sense of indivduality. They are usually hunted down by the Hive and exterminated.

Location

The location of the Hive is vast and over-powering. They permenantly occupy several galaxies and solar systems across the universe. They also have several disputed areas and fluctuating borders. The following is a list of the claimed galaxies and systems around the universe:

Military

Due to the nature of the Hive, the entire population can be utilized as a military force if necessary. Originally lacking space travel technology, after the assimilation and absorbing of humans, Collector, and other species around the universe, the Hive have learned how to construct and pilot massive star-cruisers and other military and colonialization craft around the universe. For this - and other reasons - the Hive is considered one of the most dangerous foes to human existence in the galaxy.