Novel contagion

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Bioluminescent fungi resulting from the novel contagion.

The novel contagion was a biological outbreak that spread through New Cascadia during the Colony Era on Tau Ceti IV, severely affecting colonization efforts and mutating local organisms.

History[edit]

The novel contagion may have first appeared in 2812.^[1] Records recovered by Runners in 2893 show that the contagion may have first manifested as fungal growths in colony bio-research and food facilities, particularly algae ponds used for protein cultivation, before spreading to other facilities.^[2] It eventually infected local organisms and colonists, causing illness and death.^[1]

NuCaloric AI Gaius noted that the contagion caused rapid rates of mutation in native organisms, with genomic changes noticeable in months, rather than decades or centuries as observed on Earth. It was further noted that the contagion's effect on Earth organisms was wildly varied.^[3]

Gallery[edit]

The date shown during the Reveal Cinematic Short when a colonist is depicted getting sick.
A colonist suffering severe illness as a result of the novel contagion.
The colonist non-responsive after suffering violent illness.
The novel contagion's characteristic pustules overgrowing cultivation chambers in Bio-Research.
The novel contagion spreading throughout the drainage system in Bio-Research.
A toxic plant showing similar nodules to those found on Tick nests, likely a result of the novel contagion.