Goonhub
10-25-2013, 09:21 PM
Xenobiology generally refers to the study of alien lifeforms. However, in Space Station 13, many alien lifeforms are actually not too different from terrestrial life. Alien plants and animals are made out of organic compounds and all possess DNA, much like Earth plants and animals. However, there are some life forms out there that don't fit into this mold. They're life, but not as we know it.
Enter the Xenobiology Lab.
Xenobiology, in Space Station 13, is the study of inorganic life: that is, life that is not built out of organic compounds. This includes silicate-based lifeforms, energy-based lifeforms, and even plasma-based lifeforms. Not much is known about these lifeforms, and that's where you come in.
The Xenobiology Lab is equipped with special tanks for lifeforms that live in a liquid environment, as well as those that live in vacuum. In addition, there are two small chambers that can be filled with gas from canisters, for lifeforms that require say, pure nitrogen to breathe. The chambers can also be heated or chilled to suit the needs of the occupant. Several containers of space food for the creatures can be found as well, with more able to be produced in chemistry (or bought from the QM). Implantable trackers allow the xenobiologist to monitor the creature's health, and a variety of instruments allow them to experiment with the creatures and their behavior.
The most interesting piece of equipment in the Xenobiology Lab, however, is the Transport Cell. Xenobiology starts with a random xeno creature, but to get more you'll need this device. The Cell allows the Xenobiologist to capture creatures found in space (or telesci adventures!) for study back on the station. The Cell can maintain any sort of environment, no matter what pressure, temperature, atmosphere, or liquid the creature lives in.
Xeno creatures could be used to create things that are difficult or impossible to find for other labs. Imagine a plasma-dwelling jellyfish that poops medicine, or a rock monster whose babies are pure gold. If that's not enough of a lure, what about getting enough creatures to fill all the tanks and chambers, and inviting people inside to look at your space zoo!
Traitor misuse of the xenolab could be quite fun too. Imagine finding an electric lifeform out in space, and feeding it enough power cells to make it grow to a monstrous size, and unleashing it on the unsuspecting masses. Find a species of living crystal, and place it in the AI upload, where it eats all the silicon and takes over the entire station's network of computers.
TL;DR: Play Space Tamagotchi with aliens you find in space and telesci locations. Use them to get resources, show them off to friends, turn them loose to kill your enemies if they're hostile.
Enter the Xenobiology Lab.
Xenobiology, in Space Station 13, is the study of inorganic life: that is, life that is not built out of organic compounds. This includes silicate-based lifeforms, energy-based lifeforms, and even plasma-based lifeforms. Not much is known about these lifeforms, and that's where you come in.
The Xenobiology Lab is equipped with special tanks for lifeforms that live in a liquid environment, as well as those that live in vacuum. In addition, there are two small chambers that can be filled with gas from canisters, for lifeforms that require say, pure nitrogen to breathe. The chambers can also be heated or chilled to suit the needs of the occupant. Several containers of space food for the creatures can be found as well, with more able to be produced in chemistry (or bought from the QM). Implantable trackers allow the xenobiologist to monitor the creature's health, and a variety of instruments allow them to experiment with the creatures and their behavior.
The most interesting piece of equipment in the Xenobiology Lab, however, is the Transport Cell. Xenobiology starts with a random xeno creature, but to get more you'll need this device. The Cell allows the Xenobiologist to capture creatures found in space (or telesci adventures!) for study back on the station. The Cell can maintain any sort of environment, no matter what pressure, temperature, atmosphere, or liquid the creature lives in.
Xeno creatures could be used to create things that are difficult or impossible to find for other labs. Imagine a plasma-dwelling jellyfish that poops medicine, or a rock monster whose babies are pure gold. If that's not enough of a lure, what about getting enough creatures to fill all the tanks and chambers, and inviting people inside to look at your space zoo!
Traitor misuse of the xenolab could be quite fun too. Imagine finding an electric lifeform out in space, and feeding it enough power cells to make it grow to a monstrous size, and unleashing it on the unsuspecting masses. Find a species of living crystal, and place it in the AI upload, where it eats all the silicon and takes over the entire station's network of computers.
TL;DR: Play Space Tamagotchi with aliens you find in space and telesci locations. Use them to get resources, show them off to friends, turn them loose to kill your enemies if they're hostile.
