Plasma Moth

The Plasma Moth is an unfortunate tale of experimentation gone slightly wrong. Originally devised by Ringer and Scum genehackers to test the Plasma Sail implant (p. 189 Rimward) using strains based on the Hercules Moth genus, the Plasma Moth has become a well known pest or "environmental hazard" in some places, particularly in the Outer System. Integrated with the Plasma Sail which is structured partially into their wings, and armed with vacuum seals and a variant on Long-Term Life Support's maker nanites, the Plasma Moth is able to exist in hard vacuum for weeks or months without taking in new resources. Due to the much smaller size (though a Plasma Moth is blown up to the same size as say, a Smart Hawk) the Moth only holds enough compressed hydrogen for about a month.

Normally, this would be a great boon for science, to create a new species which is spaceborne, but this has resulted in some problems. The enhanced antennae of the Plasma Moth are sensitive to electromagnetic fields, which helps them maneuver in the magnetic fields of planets, but also often attracts them to powered devices. They also retain the moth's attraction to light, thought to be a celestial navigation tool. The fact that Plasma Moths become pests emerges from this - as the original moths were limitedly conditioned to seek water and other deposits to maintain their nutrient and integrated 'ware stores. This means that Plasma Moths will often attempt to consume water or other volatile deposits, and do actually possess mouthparts - which adults will use to consume carbon deposits - unfortunately often being used on ceramic fibers of certain micrometeoroid shielding or other Transhuman space structures. Certain breeds of the Plasma Moth as also "vampire" Moths, and can consume the blood of living beings - something many and unfortunate Ring Flyer or other biomorph on vacuum duty has run into. Their larvae also are a nuisance, as they are typically born with sufficient nanotech deposits to mature into a Plasma Moth (though some are occasionally born "inert", and only metamorphose into a particularly large and durable Moth), which they often fuel by consuming either plant fibers of an infested hab's life support systems, or if they can get at exposed fiberoptic lines.

While not in burgeoning populations, Plasma Moths are a real space-vermin, and cause occasional problems in the Saturnian neighborhood or attached to Scum Swarms. They can damage hab or ship infrastructure, and block sensor equipment, or even block components of a hab or ship structure, and are large enough to physically damage an unprepared transhuman. Due to their incredibly simple minds, they do not make great "pets". They have even spread to some outlying asteroid or other planetary bodies for resources, where they can assemble sizable "nests". While rare in the Jovian system, the Republic places a bounty on their destruction - and some paranoid commanders feel they are deliberate attack vectors by the Autonomists. Groups like Firewall are also concerned that due to their remoteness and relative mobility, should they be tainted by Exsurgent or TITAN technology, they could represent a dangerous infection vector.

Plasma Moth
Type: Neogenetic
Niche: Outer System, some Scum Swarms
Threat Level: Yellow
Numbers: 1-4
COG 1 COO 20 INT 10 REF 20 SAV 1 SOM 5
WIL 1 INIT 6 SPD 1 DUR 15 WT 3 DR 23
Bite & Scratch: 30 1d10/2, -1 AP
Fray/Armor: 30, 2/2
Perception: 20, Vision 40
Move: 8/40 Winged
Skills: Flight 50, Perception 20, Scrounging 50, Unarmed Combat 30
Ware: Direction Sense, Enhanced Vision, Grip Pads, Long-Term Life Support, Medichines, Plasma Sail, Radiation Tolerance, Temperature Tolerance (Cyronic), Vacuum Sealing
Traits: Small Size (-10 to hit)
Natural Camouflage: When not moving, a Plasma Moth gains a +20 to Infiltration when trying to hide in an environment it has been living in for more than a week.
Stress Test: (1d10/2)-2 SV
Laser Moth Variant: 40, 2d10 DV, 0 AP, SA, Ammo 25, 30/80/125/230
Poison Dust Variant: 50, Toxin: Dermal or Inhaled, Onset: 1 Action Turn, Duration: 3 Action Turns/1 Hour, victims suffer 1d10 DV per action turn (Half with Medichines) for 3 action turns, and must make SOMx2 test (+30 with Medichines) or be paralyzed for 1 hour.
Vampire Moth Variant: Vampiric Proboscis 50, inflicts 1d10 DV, half armor applies. If not removed (with an opposed Unarmed Combat test) the Vampire Moth will continue to drain blood for 1d10+4 Action Turns, dealing 2 DV (no defense) each Turn.

Plasma Moth Larvae
Type: Neogenetic
Niche: Outer System, some Scum Swarms
Threat Level: Yellow
Numbers: 2-8
COG 1 COO 5 INT 10 REF 5 SAV 1 SOM 5
WIL 1 INIT 3 SPD 1 DUR 5 WT 1 DR 8
Fray/Armor: 20, 0/0
Perception: 20, Vision 40
Move: 1/4 Snake
Skills: Climbing 50, Perception 20, Infiltration 50, Scrounging 50
Ware: Direction Sense, Enhanced Vision, Grip Pads, Long-Term Life Support, Medichines, Radiation Tolerance, Temperature Tolerance (Cyronic), Vacuum Sealing
Traits: Small Size (-10 to hit)
Natural Camouflage: When not moving, a Plasma Moth Larvae gains a +20 to Infiltration when trying to hide in an environment it has been living in for more than a week.