Deep Child Egg Case Fragments

The Deep Child Egg Case Fragments are composed of thick mats of organic fibers, similar in structure to that of terrestrial fungi, but far greater in strength and resistance to heat than any structure contained in any other known life form. They were found, bearing signs of huge physical stresses, near unusual volcanic formations on the worlds known as Shattered Worlds, worlds with all the characteristics of Earth-like life-bearing worlds except their unusually high level of tectonic activity, causing an extremely high-temperature and a violent climate. These worlds include Syra, the original Syreen homeworld, changed into a Shattered World after an unusual asteroid collision. The strange, biological fragments were first discovered by The Captain's crew; based on preliminary observations and on references made by the Melnorme concerning the role of the Mycon Deep Children in the destruction of Syra, scientists guessed these Deep Child Egg Case Fragments were Mycon in origin, despite the fact that the egg case's curvature indicated an egg at least 25 meters in diameter, much larger than the average Mycon.

It soon transpired that, in fact, Mycon Deep Children are a Mycon subspecies, enormous organisms genetically programmed to alter planetary environments; encased in the tough egg cases, the Deep Children collide with a planet's surface and burrow out into the planet's interior, causing the massive tectonic shifts of a Shattered World. The Captain presented one set of these fragments recovered from a Shattered World to the Syreen Starbase crew and provided the crucial evidence needed to convince the Syreen Commander Talana of the Mycon's responsibility for the devastation of Syra, bringing the Syreen into the war on the Alliance's side.

At last report, the Druuge were willing to pay exorbitant prices to purchase these egg fragments. The Druuge intend to use the tough fungal fibers to create even stronger harnesses for their slaves.¹

Gameplay notes

Acquistion

The Egg Case Fragments can be obtained from any Shattered World except Epsilon Scorpii I and Beta Brahe I.

Uses

• An Egg Case Fragment must be shown to Talana to convince her that the Mycon had shattered Syra. This also requires knowing the function of the Mycon Deep Children, which can be learned from the Mycon, the Druuge, the Arilou, or the Melnorme.
• An Egg Case Fragment may be sold to the Druuge in exchange for either the Rosy Sphere or a Mauler

Relevance to the plot

After the Egg Case Fragment is presented to Talana, she agrees to support The Captain and attaches a Syreen Shuttle to his fleet to aid in the opening of the Syreen Ship Vault at Epsilon Camelopardalis I-A. The Penetrator ships obtained in this way are used in an ambush at Organon against the Mycon.

Notes and references

¹Role Playing Resource Guide, pg. 40