Kharaa Bacterium
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Initial extraction of Kharaa Bacterium lore, history regarding Architects and Humanity, and gallery images.
-# Kharaa Bacterium+The **Kharaa Bacterium** is the name given to a disease that has been central to the combined Subnautica and Natural Selection universe. -**Kharaa** (IPA: /kəˈɹ̠ʷaː/) is an alien bacterium discovered by the Architects during the exploration of an unknown planet. It seems to have completely taken over Planet 4546B. It is described in the Degasi PDAs as "part of the ecosystem", with further statements that the Degasi survivors were infected at some point - as stated by Bart Torgal while discussing the flu-like symptoms the crew was experiencing. Early on, the player's PDA and Lifepod will make note of the high levels of waterborne bacteria. The PDA notes that Kharaa is unlike any infection thus discovered in human history, suggesting that Kharaa's biological design is far more drastic compared to diseases such as Yersinia pestis.+## Background -The disease ravaged life on Planet 4546B prior to the hatching and release of five Sea Emperor Leviathan Juveniles.+### Architects -+The Architects are the first known species to have encountered Kharaa, doing so at least ~1,000 years prior to 2181. Due to a failure of quarantine procedures, Kharaa spread into the Architect Core Worlds, where it ravaged the population. The confirmed death toll stood at 143 billion individuals. -## Overview+In their attempts to find a cure, the Architects set up research outposts on planets throughout the galaxy. One such planet was 4546B, where promising research on a species designated the "Sea Emperor" identified a unique enzyme dubbed Enzyme 42. This enzyme was able to temporarily neutralize Kharaa in infected organisms. The Architects captured a Sea Emperor specimen along with its clutch of eggs and housed them in an aquarium; however, the adult Sea Emperor, being of old age, was only capable of producing a weak form of Enzyme 42. It was thought that a juvenile specimen's enzyme might be able to completely purge Kharaa from the system. -Kharaa was brought to 4546B by the Architects in an attempt to find a vaccine, as they had established outposts within The Crater. It is stated in Architect data that the Kharaa bacterium has killed over 143 billion individuals over the course of time since its discovery, but the data is likely to be around 1000 years old. It is possible this is not the true death count as the PDA entry only lists these as "Confirmed Deaths" which could imply further dead beyond what was known. Their core worlds were quarantined off, and research facilities such as the one on 4546B were created to find a cure. After a Sea Dragon Leviathan damaged the Disease Research Facility in an attempt to retrieve its offspring, the previously contained Kharaa bacterium was released onto the planet. This decimated the planet's ecosystems, as much of the life on the planet died due to the bacterium's immuno-repressive behavior and genetic corruption. This prompted the Architects to initiate their emergency quarantine: activating the Quarantine Enforcement Platform. The Quarantine Enforcement Platform shoots down all approaching or departing spacecraft to prevent Kharaa being spread to other planets.+To expedite the hatching of the Sea Emperor Leviathan's eggs, the Architect researcher Al-An acquired a Sea Dragon Leviathan egg to study the hatching mechanism. This egg was housed in the Disease Research Facility, resulting in the parent Sea Dragon attacking the facility and destroying it at the cost of its own life. With the facility's destruction, its quarantine systems failed, and Kharaa was released into 4546B's waters. It spread and seemingly managed to infect all Architects present on the planet, who had their physical bodies destroyed and consciousnesses interred in digital sanctuaries. -The PDA estimates that Kharaa incubates in two weeks and quickly kills its host after it reaches a substantial infection level. It accomplishes this by shutting down the immune system (already making the infected host susceptible to other diseases) and causing genetic mutation to the host's DNA, which causes alterations to the body structure, eventually leading to a total shutdown of the organism due to its inability to keep functioning properly. According to Architect data, the bacterium is capable of entering the body through the skin, and causes an increase in aggression in its host.+With 4546B infected, planetary lockdown was enacted, and the world was cut off from the outside for around 1,000 years until the arrival of the Alterran ship, the *Aurora*, in the year 2181. -Warpers were created to keep the levels of Kharaa to a minimum. They will attempt to kill infected fauna to control the spread of the bacterium. This seems to be ineffective as Kharaa still ravages the planet around one thousand years after it was initially released.+### Humanity -After crash-landing on 4546B, Ryley Robinson is infected with Kharaa, though he only becomes aware of it after attempting to disable the Quarantine Enforcement Platform, as the deactivation terminal will tell him that he is infected and therefore cannot disable it, thus forcing Ryley to secure a cure in order to leave the planet. The infection only becomes noticeable when Ryley reaches the Disease Research Facility and is prompted by the PDA to perform a self-scan. At this point it will warn him that the infection is reaching a critical stage and his skin breaks out into glowing green cysts. The same happens to Medical Officer Danby in Lifepod 12. However, unlike Ryley, Danby developed visible signs of infection within three hours. The reason for this is unknown, although the infection rate most likely varies depending on the individual. However, it is also possible that since Ryley had been exposed to the unstable variation of Enzyme 42 for prolonged periods of time, it slowed his progression, whereas Danby was not, and Kharaa quickly spread throughout his system.+Humanity first encountered Kharaa in the year 2181, when the *Aurora* survivor Ryley Robinson became infected by Kharaa's pathogenic form on the ocean planet 4546B. After Ryley released five Sea Emperor Leviathan juveniles into 4546B's oceans, he was cured of the disease, and Kharaa was purged from the planet's waters. -The Degasi survivors were also infected at one point. Bart Torgal attempted to find out what it was, although he was unsuccessful as Marguerit continually brought specimens for him to study near-death or injected them with Transfuser serums, making them unreliable test subjects. However, he was able to deduce that every organism was infected, as well as taking precautions to ensure the Degasi crew's survival. However, upon the destruction of the Deep Grand Reef base, Bart fled to the Safe Shallows and began noting the details of Kharaa on him, and eventually flees to the Floating Island, where he makes his final log and most likely succumbs to the bacterium.+Later, around 2183, an Alterran research expedition to 4546B uncovered a surviving strain of Kharaa in the deceased body of a leviathan that had become frozen solid at an unspecified time within the past 1,000 years. This strain was markedly different from the infectious form previously identified, having evolved into an insular strain with low potential for infection that slowly fed on the frozen leviathan's body. This strain was eliminated by Robin Ayou, who, following her sister's wishes, did not want the disease to fall into Alterra's hands. -Roughly 5% of all fauna on Planet 4546B can be observed with visible symptoms of the disease. Some creatures do not show any visible symptoms at all, including all leviathans.+Some time after the year 2183, a vastly different form of Kharaa was unearthed in a Mongolian mining facility named Neo-Caligo in the Ariadne Arm, operated by the company Apex Industries. The first recorded outbreak took place in a colony on the moon Freya IV. This form of Kharaa functions entirely differently from the initially encountered strains and spreads by forming advanced biofilms and mutating lifeforms it encounters into aggressive disease-spreading organisms. -If an infected creature is placed inside an Aquarium or Alien Containment, the creature will infect the rest of the creatures inside soon after. However, this is purely cosmetic and has no impact on gameplay.+Up to around the year 2200, humanity fought against Kharaa's spread, the events of which are seen in the *Natural Selection* series. -The player can scan fauna that has been scanned previously to check if they are infected with Kharaa. When scanned, a creature can be identified as infected or not by the screen on the Scanner saying "normal" or "infected". The player can also scan themselves to monitor the bacterium's progress in their body.- -It seems that the only way to cure Kharaa is with Enzyme 42 produced by the Sea Emperor Leviathan and its young, as shall be shown by creatures being cured by the enzymes in the Sea Emperor's aquarium. The Sea Emperor Leviathan is the only living life form known to have a natural immunity to Kharaa, though several large fauna species apparently possessed a resistance to the disease also, suggesting that they may have produced digestive enzymes related to Enzyme 42.- -Peepers are able to use the Alien Vents to take small amounts of Enzyme 42 to the surface, spreading the enzyme's effects throughout the world. This method is the sole reason why Ryley, and some creatures by extent, are able to survive some time after being initially infected.- -The planetary quarantine remained active until being shut down by Ryley Robinson during the events of Subnautica, who disabled the Quarantine Enforcement Platform after releasing the Sea Emperor Leviathan Juveniles who then began to produce the cure to the Kharaa and spread it across the planet.- -## Appearance- -Kharaa manifests itself in bright green cysts, along with similar colored veins spread throughout its host. The cysts start out as small protrusions, however, as time goes on, the cysts will grow larger and glow more strongly, signifying the organism is close to death.- -- -Kharaa on Ryley Robinson's hands- -- -Kharaa on Ryley's hands in the normal Dive Suit- -- -Infected hands in the Reinforced Dive Suit- -- -Infected hands in the Water Filtration Suit- -## Cure- -The only known cure is Enzyme 42, which is only effectively produced by juvenile Sea Emperor Leviathans. The Enzyme acts as a countermeasure to the bacterium, nullifying its effects, and eventually purging it from the body. However, only juveniles can produce this, as the adult Sea Emperor Leviathan's health had deteriorated to the point that its enzymes were not stable enough for a permanent cure, although it allowed for temporary remission of symptoms. The Architects were unable to find the potent variant of Enzyme 42 and died due to the lack of vaccination or a cure. Ryley Robinson however, was able to obtain it with the help of the sole adult Sea Emperor Leviathan, making him the only known individual to achieve a successful cure.- -Whether Enzyme 42 works on the variant of Kharaa seen in Natural Selection 2 is unknown, though considering the events of the both NS2 and the Subnautica audio drama Voices from Beyond, it's likely that Enzyme 42 wasn't enough to stop the spread of the Bacterium.- -## In-game mechanics- -Throughout the game, the player's infection level will change as they progress. Despite what the databank implies, the player will not die from the infection if they do not get the cure in time.- -There are six stages of infection:- -* **Not Infected**: Vital signs normal, continuing to monitor-* **Level 1 Infection**: Vital signs normal, detecting trace amounts of bacteria.-* **Level 2 Infection**: Statistically significant levels, be vigilant for symptoms. Warpers will become aggressive to the player at this point.-* **Level 3 Infection**: Infection is progressing, skin irritation & immune response.-* **Level 4 Infection**: Infection has spread to skin and pulmonary system, imperative to neutralize. Green Cysts will form on the player's hands.-* **Cured**: No remaining signs of bacterial infection.- -Meeting the following conditions will change the player's infection level. Infection levels do not stack with each other.- -* Staying in Grassy Plateaus for 200 seconds sets infection to level 1.-* Staying in Kelp Forest for 200 seconds sets infection to level 1.-* Entering the Aurora sets infection to level 2.-* Entering Mountains sets infection to level 2.-* Entering the "Inner Rooms" of the Quarantine Enforcement Platform sets infection to level 3.-* Entering Bone Fields, Ghost Canyon or Ghost Forest sets infection to level 3.-* Accessing the Disease Research Facility Data Terminal "Kharaa Contagion Profile" sets infection to level 4.-* Entering Inactive Lava Zone Corridor sets infection to level 4.-* Interacting with the Baby Leviathan Enzymes will cure the player.- -## Fauna Interactions- -Fauna that spawn outside the Safe Shallows have a chance to be assigned a random infection level. Scanning an infected fauna will grant the player a databank entry. Peepers carry Enzyme 42 upon exiting out of an Alien Vent. Additionally, Peepers that spawn outside the Safe Shallows have a small chance to carry the enzyme on their own. These Peepers can be scanned to unlock a databank entry. Infected Fauna will follow after these Peepers and their infection levels will slowly decrease when they are in range. Infected carnivorous fauna, besides the Mesmer, will attempt to eat enzyme carrying Peepers. If successful their infection level will greatly decrease. Scanning a fauna that recently had its infection level decreased will unlock a databank entry. Infected fauna placed inside an Alien Containment Unit or an Aquarium will spread the infection to other fauna. Placing an enzyme carrying Peeper in either will remove the infection from the fauna.- -Peepers will enter the aquarium located inside the Primary Containment Facility via the Alien Vents found along the sides. Upon entering, they will swim toward the enzyme trail left behind by the Sea Emperor Leviathan when they swim by. The Peepers will begin carrying the enzyme upon touching the trail, afterwards they will swim back towards an Alien Vent to leave the facility.- -## Data Bank Entries- -- -You have been infected with a previously unknown, waterborne bacterium. It is currently multiplying in your bloodstream. Estimated incubation time: 2 weeks.- -Your immune system is currently combating the infection at low efficiency. You may already be experiencing flu-like symptoms and skin irritation. These will likely be exacerbated as the bacterium takes hold.- -Your immediate priority should be abatement and eradication of the infection.- -Recommended steps:-- Salvage further alien research data on a possible vaccine-- Investigate the mechanisms which have enabled the indigenous ecosystem to inhibit the symptoms of the infection- -Discovery: First encountered during routine network expansion on outer worlds.-Pandemic Development: Network error resulted in routine quarantine procedure failure. Contagion was uploaded to, and spread quickly through, the core worlds. Confirmed deaths: 143 billion individuals.-Bacterial Mechanisms: Attaches to healthy living cells and mutates the basic genetic structure.-Symptoms: Stage 1: None. Stage 2: Gradual immune system failure. Stage 3: Unpredictable alterations to biological structure. Stage 4: Complete shutdown of executive function.-Emergency Steps Taken: Core worlds quarantined. Bacterial samples distributed to isolated disease research facilities for vaccine development.-Treatment procedure: Unknown.- -This organism is displaying signs of a bacterial infection.-- Bright green blisters are forming networks around the infection sites-- Pathology suggests a waterborne bacterium capable of penetrating the body through the skin and respiratory system-- Underlying indications of genetic mutation and aggressive behavior-- The bacterium itself is unlike any so far recorded in human exploration-WARNING: May be contagious. Avoid. Do not under any circumstances consume the flesh.- -Scans indicate this infected organism has recently come into contact with a unique enzyme which has counteracted the most debilitating symptoms of its infection.-- Skin blistering has rapidly receded and been replaced with healthy tissue-- Altered genetic material has been replaced with original DNA from remaining healthy cells-- Behavior normal-- The bacteria is still present in the bloodstream, but is currently dormant-Assessment: Investigate enzyme origin- ## Gallery -+### Subnautica Series -Infected right hand++*Kharaa seen on the hands of Ryley Robinson* -++*A Kharaa infected Peeper* -Infected left hand++*The second strain of Kharaa identified on 4546B seen on the body of the frozen leviathan* -+### Natural Selection Series -Infected Ampeel++*A Kharaa hive seen in Natural Selection 2* -++*The mutant Kharaa lifeform known as a Skulk* -Infected Boneshark++*The mutant Kharaa lifeform known as a Gorge* -++*The flying Kharaa mutant known as a Lerk* -Infected Crimson Ray++*The mutant Kharaa lifeform capable of teleportation, the Fade* -- -Infected Gasopod- -- -Infected Ghostray- -- -Infected Eyeye- -- -Infected Biter- -- -Infected Blighter- -- -Infected Bladderfish- -- -Infected Blood Crawler- -- -Infected Boomerang- -- -Infected Cave Crawler- -- -Infected Crabsnake- -- -Infected Crabsquid- -- -Infected Garryfish- -- -Infected Holefish- -- -Infected Hoopfish- -- -Infected Hoverfish- -- -Infected Jellyray- -- -Infected Lava Larva- -- -Infected Lava Lizard- -- -Infected Magmarang++*The largest and most deadly of the known Kharaa mutants, the Onos*
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