Creature:Segnus

Segnus is the name given to a carnivorous organism that behhaves like both fungi and animals, reproducing via extremophilic spores that can survive in a vacuum for extended periods of time, making this species a significant threat to spacecraft along the outer reaches of the Tuuros and Mirus galaxies, where it is often found.

Discovery
Segnus was first encountered by research probes in Tuuros' Xittan-Tokk sector in 1109 CE, when a single spore made it through an airlock on a researcher's exosuit and entered the pneumostome of another, where the Nech's body heat restarted its metabolism and caused it to begin growing (and feeding on) the inner surface of his lung. Within 15 hours, sporocarps were sprouting from his emaciated corpse and spewing additional spores while muscular tendrils ravaged the probe's interior, following artificial heat signatures they mistook for those of potential prey organisms. Video, audio, motion detection, thermal, and other data were compiled by the shipboard AI and set back to the Moonweb before the probe self-destructed. Unmanned probes would later be sent to monitor the extent of Segnus and keep it out of Nech territory.

Qurik Skel's Encounter

 * Main Article: Smiting the Plague

By unknown but clearly artificial means, a strain of Segnus mutated by extended exposure to cosmic radiation was encountered in the outermost reaches of the Mirus Galaxy by a trio of ships, belonging to the Dusk Combine. Unwilling to risk any of her relatively small Combine's numbers, Pravis payed a Void scout prowler to investigate and remove the then-unknown threat.

Behavior
Segnus is aggressive and animalistic in behavior, attacking and consuming whatever it can wrap itself around. Segnus growths are known to communicate to a degree via very high-pitched sounds that most sentients can't hear, cooperating in such a way that all growths within earshot of each other seem to be a single entity. However, Segnus growths have no concept of time and are thus incapable of complex planning. Sadly, this does not limit them from figuring out how to use artificial systems to their advantage, as Qurik quickly learned during his encounter with Segnus. It is unknown if this infestation's ability to study and manipulate artificial systems is a trait shared by the rest of the species, or if it was a part of this strain's unique mutation.

The mutant strain of Segnus encountered by Qurik was much more prone to sacrifice growths or parts of growths to ensure its ability to survive and spread, a trait not seen in other strains. In addition, it was able to limit its own spread to give it limited control over several Saviki's nervous systems, which it quickly learned how to manipulate and use against Qurik and his surviving allies.

Quotes
"Brutal and aggressive, but far from smart. You must learn to ignore the screams of the fallen if you wish to smite it."

"Its extremophilic nature and aggressive metabolism when active make it extremely dangerous to the unprepared. It is the consensus of the Phero scientific community that identification, containment, and avoidance are the best policies when it comes to Segnus."

- A Nech xenozoologist

"A nuisance, nothing more."

- A

"Trippiest thing Sitilxix has ever smoked. Makes Sitilxix feel like it has many bodies."

- Sitilxix, a Tvolis addicted to neutralized Segnus