Mining Spores Condition in The Galaxy of Stardust

Transmission & Vectors

Mining spores are transmitted via the air. The crystals infused in one's body emit spores that attach to any nearby living organism to live off of.

Symptoms

Once spores attach to their new host, they feel slight stinging on the affected areas. After a few minutes, the locations in which the spores attached become numb and wrap themselves around the bone of the attached body part, then tiny green shards begin to rise from the individual's body. The spore will roughly spread over a one-inch area, after that, the growth process halts. During and after growing, individuals may experience fever and vomiting in most cases. Depending on where the spores attach, blindness, loss of smell or hearing, trouble breathing, joint pains, etcetera. Shoilarians and Ontilons are mostly unaffected by Mining Spores. Their thick skin and strong immune systems often prevent the spores from reaching their bones, though not all can resist it.

Treatment

The easiest way to treat an individual with Mining Spores is to amputate the body part while the spores are digging into their flesh, then promptly burning the body part. Once the process is complete, there is little chance of preventing the contamination from spreading. While amputation may still be possible, spreading of spores is already taking place. Some notable groups, such as Mortimer's Exiles, have discovered that simply covering their affected limbs prevents most of the spores from spreading, thus enabling them to be able to trade with other groups and settlements... assuming they're willing.

Prognosis

The process takes place quickly, therefore, an individual who is touched by the spores often are in their final stages of the disease by the time they are diagnosed. If an individual has Mining Spores growing from their head, they often have little hope for survival.

Sequela

If an individual's brain is affected by Mining Spores, they lose much of their cognitive abilities, resulting in a more primal state of mind. The term Fallen has been coined by those affected by Mining Spores that have retained their ability to think properly.

Mutant_2047 by Michael Zimmerman

^{A member of The Fallen}

Hosts & Carriers

Feasting off of anything living, flora is often affected due to their lack of movement. Because they can naturally gain resources, trees and shrubs alike are suitable hosts for the Mining Spores.

Tiberium Riparius by Wildchild-Chrizz

^{A tree covered in Mining Spores} While not as likely, some fauna also end up as victims of Mining Spores, spreading the contamination even further.

Tiberian Fiend by Francois Fourie

^{An unlucky Gartha Hounds covered in Mining Spores.}

Prevention

Mining Spores attach to lifeforms, however, protective equipment can stop the spores from penetrating the skin and wrapping around the bones. Therefore, suits equipped to handle Type 4 atmospheres are suitable for preventing contraction of Mining Spores.

History

Recorded as recent as 50 years ago, it is globally accepted that the testing of chemical weapons interacted with the environment in the way to create Mining Spores.

Cultural Reception

Because those afflicted by Mining Spores can transmit it with ease, all of their kind is ostracized from the rest of Addes. With the creation of The Fallen, anyone seen with Mining Spores is considered armed and dangerous.