Species database - Alien parasites

Although in the year 2364, the non-humanoid life-form known as alien parasites infiltrated large parts of the Federation and probably infected dozens, if not hundreds of Starfleet officers, our knowledge concerning their physiology is very limited, and nearly nothing is known about the goals, motives or social structure of this species. Unfortunately, the said invasion remained the sole contact. The parasites are indigenous to an unexplored planet in the Galaxy and belong to the sentient life-forms with higher intelligence and consciousness. Nevertheless, an apparently primitive, parasitic life cycle is still the predominant feature of the asexual beings, probably due to their small body size and the bug-like body structure, which does not allow an active influence on the environment or the development of industrial structures, let alone interstellar travels. They are dependent on the control of the mother animal as well as the union with a humanoid host organism, which serve as their interface to the invornment and make the helpless bugs to powerful invaders, according to the principle "We are the brains, you are the muscles". Probably, the alien parasites haven't left their home planet before they were visited by a compatible species. However, as soon as a mother animal has nested in a host and started the reproduction of parasites, the invasion and infection of an entire species is nearly unstoppable.

The mother animal

Although the parasites have to infect a host organism in order to become capable of action, the physiologically completely different mother animal controls and coordinates the parasitic life cycle of every bug by stimulating its telepathic sensory centre. Therefore, based on the specific biology, the mother animal is at the head of the alien society. Similar to the queen of a bee hive, it is at once the only member of the species that is able to reproduce parasites. Consequently, it is responsible for the preservation of the species. The bugs are dependent on the mother animal to a high degree. They cannot survive without its telepathic control and die in case of its death. Supposedly, there are more than one mother animal, which control a collective of parasites each. It is unknown how the mother animals themselves reproduce. However, since the mother animal is a parasite itself and it nests within the thorax and the abdomen of the humanoid host despite it considerable body size, it can be supposed that the victim is infected by a mother larva rather than a fully-grown animal. Then, it grows within the host until it is able to give birth to the smaller, bug-like parasites, which leave the body through the windpipe and the mouth, subsequently infecting other potential hosts.

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The parasitic life cycle

As soon as the parasites, which probably are still larvas as well in the moment of the union and therefore are considerably smaller than the normal bugs, have found a suitable host body, they penetrate it and cling to the spinal column, the feets having contact to the nervous system. After the infection, the tail gill juts out of the nape, facilitating the respiration of oxygen even within the host organism. At this time, the parasite controls all brain functions of the host, which becomes a marionette without individual will or consciousness. In addition, with the aid of its feet, the parasite stimulates the adrenaline gland, giving the host great power and an increased ability to resist against exterior influences, boosting its aggressive potential. Also, the nutrition of the host significantly changes; he prefers meal worms after the parasitic attack. In the end, the host is the means of the parasites to realize their far-reaching goals and to interact with their environment in various ways. The connection between both organisms is so tight that each surgical removal would not only kill the parasite, but also the host. However, the parasite is able to leave the host organism through the mouth by himself, for instance if the latter one is deadly injured. Then, the bug may be able to search a new victim. Only if the mother animal has been killed and consequently its influence on the parasites vanishes, they inevitably die, no matter if they are within a host body or not.