Proteans

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Proteans are less a "species" in the evolutionary sense of the word and more a body type that a person can inhabit. It can be considered an additional type of synthetic crew member in addition to normal 'synthmorphs' and cyborgs. Unlike other species, they aren't from a single point of origin nor do they have any specific history or timeline. Instead, the characters that now inhabit a protean body could have originally been a Tajaran for example, having been resleeved into a protean body, just like they could have been resleeved into a Unathi or any other species.

The limiting factor on proteans is legality and cost. Self-replicating nanoswarms are heavily regulated in most civilized space out of fear that they could turn into walking grey goo[1] scenarios. They also tend to be relatively new technology, and though useful, manufacturing pipelines and the legal hurdles required for production keep the cost high, and the market narrow.

Protean Overview

Proteans are essentially a swarm of microscopic machines, each capable of linking to each other and arranging themselves such as to impersonate shapes. Imagine them like a self-building play bricks set, except the bricks are microscopic. The resulting shapes can be many, though it's far easier and more energy efficient to replicate shapes and structures that one has blueprints for, which means that they tend to emulate the shapes available from cyberlimb manufacturers, as these blueprints are widely available and easily programmed into the nanite swarms.

When not occupying a particular shape, they can simply collapse into an amorphous blob. Though a simple 'blob form' has no hands or fine manipulators, the utility of such shouldn't be underestimated. They are capable of fitting into small spaces (such as vents) and spreading themselves flat onto surfaces. Doing such allows them to easily hide or rest without expending much energy.

Having no structures to mend or wires to replace, they can't be repaired by Roboticists or the like, instead requiring a supply of steel which can be broken down and converted into more nanites for their swarm bodies.

Organs

Proteans have three solid pieces suspended inside their bodies, and are the only 'internal organ' equivalent they have. Organs marked 'vital' will immediately kill the protean if destroyed or removed.

• Protean Posibrain [Vital] - Similar to a normal synthetic's posibrain, this is an adaptation of the technology that allows vastly more resources to be packed into a small form factor shell. These resources, however, are almost entirely dedicated to the extremely complex management of the forming and dissolution of the nanostructures that make up the protean. One shouldn't assume a Protean would be more intelligent due to the model of their posibrain.
• Orchestrator Module [Vital] - Responsible for the interface between the swarm of nanites and the posibrain, the orchestrator module is effectively a tiny wireless relay. It accepts instructions from the posibrain, converts them into signals the microscopic nanites can understand, and relays them so that they can take action. Without this organ, the posibrain (and personality that inhabits it) would have no way to control their own body.
• Refactory Module - Responsible for the production and repair of nanites, this module allows the protean to repair itself or produce special custom-use nanites from other materials. The protean can consume metals and they will be stored in this module, though it only has enough space to stockpile Steel, and other materials will be used as they're inserted. See below for more information about various materials and the nanites they produce.

Abilities and Status

This is what you will see in your protean ability tab. are listed directly from top to bottom on the left.

Proteans have a verb panel separate from the rest that displays some information about their status along with several ability buttons, which are described here.

• Toggle Blobform: Changes back and forth between blob and 'humanoid' forms. When in blob form, you can ventcrawl through the atmos network.
• Change Volume: Changes their size at the cost of Steel. Growing and Shrinking cost 40 metal per percentile.
• Ref - Single Limb: Replace or alter a single limb to a new visual style.
• Ref - Whole Body: if you have the max amount of metal you can completely heal all limbs with this verb, though it takes time.
• Ref - Store Metals: Using this ability will allow you to store steel to use for size changing or healing when you wait in blob form. You can also store other types of metals for special perks, but they will be applied instantly so it would be wise to hold onto them until you need them. Use it while holding a stack of metal in your hand.

You will gain the following instant perks when storing these types of metals:

• Steel: Causes the swarm to self-repair when in blob form, consuming steel.
• Metallic Hydrogen: Speed boost
• Uranium: Brute armor+
• Silver: Evasion+, Accuracy+

Under the 'Abilities' tab, they have several abilities they share with other shapeshifting species:

• CHANGE SPECIES FIT: changes which special suits they use for their suits sprites.

• SELECT <various>: change their appearance to mimic many biological features. Can change their body and eye colors, give themselves wings, tails, hair, gender, etc.

Species on Vorestation
Station Crew Akula - Angels - Demi-Humans - Demons - Dionae - Hanner Lleill - Humans - Lleill - Nevreans - Promethean - Rapala - Sergals - Shadekin - Skrell - Synthetics - Tajaran - Teshari - Unathi - Vasilissans - Vox - Vulpkanin - Xenochimera - Xenomorph-Hybrids - Zorren - Alraune - Custom Species