XiC: Auto-Biostoid Parasectomy Synthidermis (A-BSP)

 

Since the advent of Llavalite-Xi relations have opened up avenue’s unseen, new artifacts of cultural and scientific curiosity have been since put into practical military use. Using the previous advanced models ‘Society of Aeroastral Dynamosis have developed, Xi’s science departments have reached a point where technology and biology intertwine, and new armor has been developed, one that merges parasites with symbiotic animals to create an armor that is not only impenetrable but also alive.

This armor is created through a complex process that involves selecting specific parasites that have the ability to merge with the DNA of the wearer. These parasites, from the slightly modified Aphidstritus specimen of Llavalite origin, are then infused with the genetic material of a chosen animal that has strong symbiotic properties.

The result is a living armor that is both intelligent and responsive, titled Auto-Biostoid Parasectomy Synthidermis or A-BSP Arment (pronounced Abhidment, or Aphidgear in heterodox terminology). The armor can sense the environment around it, adjust its properties to meet changing conditions, and even heal itself. Aphidgear can also change its shape and color to blend in with its surroundings or take on the appearance of the wearer's choosing.

But the true power of this armor lies in its ability to merge with the wearer. When the wearer dons the armor, the parasites merge with their DNA, creating a symbiotic bond that enhances the wearer's abilities. The wearer gains enhanced strength, speed, and agility, as well as heightened senses and an intuitive understanding of their surroundings. It’s underside is loaded with exo-nerve sensors and electro fiber-‘changeling’ cells that adapt their protein bases to the wearer’s nervous sensory system and synchronize their functions with their host. With functions of life support that can keep its wearer alive through many things including severe trauma and physical and mental fatigue, the suits allow electrical-biological chemicalization of high-energy rounds through forms that makes them effectively organic tanks. Because of the armor's ability to provide life support mobility, high-sensory bio equipment and slurge nutrients for the wearer’s metabolism, they are essential for an adequately equipped assault force. Aphidgear is the new standard for infantry and special forces. In fact, it's widely viewed as more powerful and versatile than the armor developed by the Star Charity-RING collaborative ‘Synth-Engine’ project’s collaborative cybercasts that hold militants within metallic carbon-steel armor.

However, this armor is not without its risks. The parasites that make up the armor have a mind of their own and can exert their will on the wearer. If the symbiotic bond is not strong enough, the armor can take control of the wearer and turn them into a mindless carrier for its base instincts. Additionally, those inexperienced with Aphidgear equipment often report high levels of post-fatigue trauma after disarmoring and separating, due to the intensity and demands on the mesocorticolimbic circuitry and how aggressive the gear can be on their pleasure-centers. Common reports of ‘Synchronization addiction’ are also common, followed by mandatory withdraw from parasitic attachment and weening off of their A-BSP suit. Sufferers are often over confined to isolated quarters and observed scratching themselves, crawling along the ground and behaving in a way only described as ‘The Bug dance.’ Reaper stem in small doses is a commonly distributed salve for psychological dependence and need on chapter approval.

Innerview ❂A-BSP Pilot

I stand there, the dimly lit chamber echoing a sense of dread, anticipation, and awe in my wheelchair. My legs were crushed on my last mission, the ability to walk freely was lost to me. Before me lies the A-BSP Arment, an embodiment of the vast scientific strides taken by Aeroastral Dynamosis to bulk Xi's deployed units. It is a thing of peculiar beauty and monstrosity, a melding of biology and technology, a living armor. Taking a deep breath, I approach the hulking suit, my skin prickling with nervous energy. The Aphidgear looms, a beast of pulsating tissue, shimmering under the sterile lights in it's plastic casing. I approached, the stench of formaldehyde stinging my nostrils, utilized in casing and tank holdings to keep the gear sedated. A chemical cocktail, a little bit of arsenic and liquid silicate mixed in.

After what feels like an eternity, I can stand it no longer. With an explosive cry, I take a deep breath, and tear the suit from it's casing, revealing a beautiful pair of pale blue-green eyes that, until that moment, I had been completely unaware of. Typically units are supposed to wait for an Aphid-operator to sync the gear, they say one's first time can be rather traumatic. Once I take the suit out, it's sluggish. Wriggling, hardly fighting but not immobile either. The Aphidgear is a beautiful thing, and one of my greatest gifts as an architect. I'm in awe at the fact that they built the thing. This, to me, is amazing, it's alien in it's resonance in the best possible way. And now it lies before me. No. It lies on it's side, it's limbs splayed out in a grotesque mockery of insect-like anatomy. Its chest is ripped open, it's armor has been shredded. It's face is contorted with anguish. I'm in a daze. I step forward, my hands shaking, staring down at the cybernetic gears, circuitry lines running through the anatomical apparatus like veins in flesh. It's slimy compound eyes look up to me, as if pleading. The machinery installed inside it keeps it tame and controllable, and more importantly bends its will to that of its wearer when worn.

I step forward, my knees weak. This is a moment of epiphany, a moment of revelation. Synchronization. I take another step forward, and place my hand on the gear's face. Its warm, slick surface is warm in my palm, like the touch of a living being. This is more real than anything I have ever known. Slowly I begin to wrap it around my backside, the front is supposed to tighten and close up, like a muppet's soft felt around a puppeteer's hand.  I'd had no contact with them before. Would it see me as a threat? I can't stop myself. My hand feels warm on the gear's face, my palm is moist, there's a thick resin-like layer of slime that stretches as I glide my hand away. Slowly I push my wheelchair away and struggle to elevate, wobbling but finding purchase on the flat surface against the taunt of gravity. The film snaps and sticks to my skin like dripping molts of plastic. I slip my legs into it's legs, my torso into its chest, and suddenly I'm enveloped by it from the waist down. The coldness and wet texture serenading my skin is utterly alien, but not altogether uncomfortable. I take a serene pleasure in the grip of pincers around the chasis, I'm not even sure where they come from, there's just two of them, and they're around my waist.

I'm inside the gear, breathing. The biomechnical machinery is the only thing keeping my body upright. I close my eyes, and can hear the gears spinning, their motors purring, the squishing and pulsating of a living being merged with machinery. Merged with me. I'm alive. I've never known such ecstasy. With a smile on my face, I take my first steps and experience the joy of walking again. It was constructed just for me, my personal A-BSP. Not constructed, born. My knees wobble onwards, but the pleasure is too much to hold back. I couldn't be happier.

When my arms are finally wrapped with the extensors and the pincers 'zip up' my waist, and the last gear atop my head closes, the Aphidgear feels light and buoyant. It feels more like a suit of exoskeleton than a suit of armor. I'm inside. The compound eyes cover my own and I see a plethora of vision from angles I've never seen. It hugs my scalp, slime squelching as thick adhesive. Completely in this biomachine, it feels like. I've never felt like that before, I've never known something to be 'me', or this 'I'. I.. I forget my name. I begin to struggle to remember, something is stirring inside of me. Hunger.

My insides are screaming for food, a strange and alien sort. I can taste the moisture in the air, an ocean of slime that covers me like a warm sheen. The lights begin to flicker, like a bulb from afar being lit from within. They're growing brighter, the whole room is now glowing. In a matter of seconds the gears that hold my legs inside my suit begin to smoke and burn. I'm burning from the inside out. I can feel the heat of it radiating out from my inner body. But it's more than that. Something is going wrong, something is terribly wrong.

I screech. Or rather something screeches through me. 'I' am not there. The instincts overwhelm and everything goes haywire. Other staff are running into the room. I attack them, or the gear does with me inside it. Everything is on autopilot, a whirl of clicking, gnashing want and need run through my blood and driving my needs. They're telling me to stop. I have my hands around a woman's throat. I could crush her so easily, inspite of everything feeling so light, this suit is incredibly strong. The mandibles of my helmet drip goo on her face. She begins to grow hazy and delirious. I kiss her. Our lips are flooding with enzymes and pheremones. She's kissing me back.

 

Lights dance on my forehead, one spot at a time. I am engulfed in a flash of light, and everything goes dark.

When I opened my eyes, I found myself in my wheelchair, still in the Aphidgear.

I could tell my body was in some kind of trauma. The gear had opened me up. I felt as if my organs had been violated. Every part of me really. There are metal restraints around me,  keeping me from flopping about, my chest was bound by what looked like some kind of metal bandages that felt like they were wrapped so tight that they were cutting off my circulation.

I was in a room that was white and very clean, it was cold and sterile, and I felt as if I was in some kind of medical facility.

I heard a mechanical voice, it seemed to be coming from a monitor above me. "Looks like this one malfunctioned. Sorry we had to keep your bound, the other victim is in our trauma center." The low buzzing in my head was offset by the syringe taped to me neck, neon-blue nanites flowing within. "It's amazing that you survived. However, the gears are remain embedded in your wounds, they will never be removed, because we are dealing with a person who came to us half dead, someone whose heart should really not beat. You'll die immediately without your new friend there. You're a real piece of work." I looked at my hands, the slick and shiny carapace creaking at the joints, extending into the glossy black sleek synth-layers down to my fingertips. "Well we'll keep you in solitary. Between you and me, I masturbated to the footage of you suiting up and your little outburst three times. Just curious about something, how'd it feel? I'd kill to wear and have a partner like that."

I didn't respond.

"I mean, I guess 'partner' is a strange thing to call being imprisoned in a sticky bugsuit, but a girl can dream right?"

There was nothing more to be said.

 

Aphidgear is produced from A-BSP larval nuclei that are grown around a light density polydermal frame with dissolvable plastic and concentrated pith-pulp within that exists to feed the nuclei. Rather than develop into a full grown specimen, the cells and bio-mount develop their embryonic tissue over this frame and all organs around the frame, pith-injections inserted at select intervals to add nutrients to the growth. During the entire time, the harmonics tied to the song of ‘Avas Tera’ from Llavalite composers are played by a Mother Aphidstritus, in a series of orchestral sonic waves called the “Startide bewail” from its chitin clackers. This sound facilitates the development of the Aphidstritus within while also rendering its psychological properties dormant to reprogramming via the Changeling Cells and their electro-signal connection to a nearby Aperture terminal. This process can take from months to years to grow, the grandiose ‘Sage Aphidius’ requiring decades to form new units.

MEUNI SUIT – A sluggish A-BSP built upright as a light bipedal biomech, resembles a slug with a scaled muzzled facial-carapace and bulky plasma-bolt capable arms. MEUNI SUIT is a highly advanced exosuit that is infused with a parasitic mesh frame. Used as low-level infantry for security forces, can transmit frequencies to suit that increase Psy-synchronization to 288%. Minimum upkeep, but slow and clunky. 

P-LANCE – Upgraded MEUNI, flight capable (Waspoid wing grafts), carries plasmic-lance for heavy battering, oft used in coordinated battalions to direct the flow of combat. Quick and manurable.  Additionally, the suit is equipped with a number of weapons, including a high-powered plasma cannon and a set of deadly laser blades. P-Lance is designed to be used by infantry units and due to the high-penetration of its plasmic-lance tech, is highly effective against heavily armored opponents.

A-MECH – Surface crawling bipedal A-BSP Tank, stinger turret extends out back and bends in front. Heavily armored and sturdy, but mobile. Pilot is equipped in back near copulation groove-folds and pocketed safely. Compound eyes in front gives operative 270 vision. The suit is designed to be used in both ground and aerial combat and is equipped with a variety of weapons, including a high-powered energy cannon and a set of retractable, razor sharp graphene-claws. The A-MECH is highly maneuverable and can move at incredible speeds, making it a formidable opponent on the battlefield with its flexibility and unimaginable agility, going up to 388 mph on jog. Its bottom ligaments allow it to crawl up cliffs and surfaces, around asteroids and through interiors.

 

RAOVERSA – Heavily armored, Artillery-loaded A-mech with catta Pilosa ascent-builds, extended forebody gives greater vantage for monitoring systems. Metallic tendrils attached give it long range reach to sweep targets in its vicinity at physical range. Is equipped with a photonic turret that sweeps at high speeds with a range of 1.2kM. The RAOVERSA is piloted by three operators, including its Ex-unit.

 

RAOVERSA-Ex – The Ex is a highly advanced light mobile infantry unit that when detached from its mech, forms a feline-like assault unit able to travel on forelimb-and-foot. Said to be a bit of a speed demon, they’re capable of reaching 788 MPH with resistance-nullifying gel pads, a plasma pistol in their tail-stinger about to snipe satellite-guided targets from 8000 KM away with plasma-rockets. Sensory arrays give them “Tracking sniffer” sonic modulation which reads impulses of heat, sound, kinetic energy, and movement from even continents away. On manhunt missions, teams of RAOVERSA-Ex are typically sent a dozen at once.

VESPA FLI – The airborne evolved form of the larval RAOVERSA mech suit, enables a floating, mobile platform station. Often used as bombers and aerial scouts. Requires PSY-STATIONs to connect to a satellite Psy-network for maximum coverage. Equipped with powerful molten cannons and guided explosive shell-systems, it can take down land targets with ease. In addition to its territorial contesting capabilities, the VESPA FLI also serves as a valuable reconnaissance tool, providing a bird's-eye view of enemy territories and allowing for pinpoint accuracy when launching attacks.

 

PSY-STATION – A-BSP support unit formed of four operators within an organic Mutiny Beetle, these operatives form subterrain towers with a surface-peaking series of flagella that receive sensors from Aerodyte suit satellites beyond the atmosphere and commune to VESPA FLI, RAOVERSE-Ex and other units to coordinate stratagems. The top horns are charged with exterior-gravity field shielding for protection.

MITAS – Upscaled multi-segmented RAOVERSA-Ex towering over even A-Mech. Numerous turrets are bred inbetween the segments forming a multi-layered battering artillery. A nuclear core in its blaster switches enables powerful electrical-amp shots and up to 3 EMP sonic-detonation charges at close range. Oft carrying PSY-STATIONS or P-LANCE as infantry support and a team of a dozen MENUI equipped units.

TITANIS – Bipedal 15m bio-Mechsuit requiring a single trained operator. The head is a modified A-MECH unit that’s detachable, with the rest of the A-mech built underneath the exterior hypersonic FLOAT-exterior. This adaptable air-borne fighter is equipped with a variety of weapons, including a high-powered energy cannon and a set of retractable laser blades, and a gravity field-shield. Its flight is limited to its FEYPACK glider and propulsion in lower-atmospheric conditions. Additionally, TITANIS is capable of launching a swarm of parasitic explosive swarm-insects at nearby enemies, overwhelming them and causing significant damage in a clusterstorm attack too numerous to evade for miles. TITANIS have been known to strike fear in many lawbreakers and hunted foes on the battlefield.

STARLYLE RANGER – Armored 4-legged transport used primarily for quick supplies, infantry, medics and engineers. Suits are primed with liquid sacks to prevent dehydration, and has two retractable pincers with bolter-charge artillery for defense. The suit’s frame pieces work together to create a smooth, streamlined shape that is highly maneuverable and able to navigate even the most rugged terrain. The result is a highly efficient, low-powered A-BSP frame that is both quick and adaptable.

DRAPHODITE SYNTHMECH – A gift from the scalengineers of Blackwind, the Draphodite Synthmech is a 24m x 35m Armored, bio-engineered Pachycephalosaurus with integrated Aphidstritus flesh-grafts that have genetically overlaid it, giving it regeneration and tireless energy underneath its Atlas Ultrasteel armored plates. Draphodite’s oft are deployed in battalion packs of 12-16 units with up to a thousand backup P-Lance operators for support. Their incendiary deployment can turn dozens of cityblocks to cinders with a single charge with little prep, and are physically able to climb up mountains and tall structures being agile and versatile in rough terrain. Able to transverse at 288 mph, while they lack the speed of other units, their firestarting capabilities, regenerating limbs and heavy shock-resistant armor makes them efficient trackers and fire-breathing battering rams on the battlefield, able to out-maneuver sluggish obstacles easily.

 

 

SAGE IV BANNERET – Adapted from the bio-frame of a Sage Aphidius, the SAGE IV is a massive towering multi-thorax juggernaut fortress equipped with ultrasonic-bracers and hellfire RAZER rounds for devastating enemy strongholds and defenses of heavy fortitude. At 117m in height, 57m in length and seven wrapped layers of 1-meter ATLAS Electro-Ultrasteel, the tech required to tightly withstand the immersive movements while giving the unit articulability and slow lumbering mobility have been highly redacted. SAGE IV is always protected by a squad of hundreds of TITANIS to engage targets. Six operators in psychic resonance are required at the bio-cockpit in order to maneuver it.

 

A-BSP BIO-PACK – Incredibly lightweight catsuit of larval Aphidstritus rubber-weave, provides basic protection against bullets, bolt weaponry and blunt-force trauma. Equipped with a carapace helmet and pressurized controls, gearshifts for heat, radiation exposure and internal respiratory control. 30,000 AMP Bolter pistol typically provided.