Egg

Subject:	Internecivus Raptus (Egg)
Intelligence:	Nil
Habitat:	Hive Structure
Temperament:	N/A
Life Span:	as yet to be determined
Contact History:	2122: Zeta II Reticuli Beta IV: LV-426 2179: Zeta II Reticuli Beta IV: LV-426 2179: Fiorina 161 2382: USM Auriga

1.1 Physical Attributes
1.2 Transparency
1.3 Keeping the Larva Alive
1.4 Nervous System/Egg Response
1.5 Egg Life Span

Egg Image Libraries: Library 1.1 - USCSS Nostromo, 2122, Zeta II Reticuli IV (LV-426)
Library 1.2 - Hadley's Hope, 2179, Zeta II Reticuli IV (LV-426)
Library 1.3 - Fiorina 161, 2179
Library 1.4 - USM Auriga, 2382

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>> Entry 1.1

Physical Attributes

The egg of I. raptus has an average height of one meter, and is approximately 40 to 60 centimeters in diameter. Its "skin" is leathery to the touch, with four petal-like "lips" at its apex that create an air-tight/water-tight seal when closed. Extending from the base is a mass of root-like tendrils. Coloration seems to vary from a dark gray/brown to an ochre-like tan. It is believed that the variations in color are due to numerous factors such as the age of the egg, the environment the egg is exposed to, the length of time the egg is exposed to said environment, and the genetic traits of the originating Queen or host.

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>> Entry 1.2

Transparency

The USCSS Nostromo's Executive Officer observed one of the eggs found in he Derelict Ship, on LV-426, became transparent just prior to opening. This note is of interest considering that in all other observed cases eggs remained opaque, even during the expulsion of the Xenomorph parasite within. It has been theorized that this transparency would aide the Facehugger in locating the potential host before attacking, but with only one recorded incident it would seem that this does not play a role in host location. Add to this that the Alien within the egg has no sight-based sensory organs it seems unlikely that transparency would, in any way, aide in the location of potential host material.

The most plausible theory to date relates to the age of the eggs found by the Nostromo. It's believed that the transparency was brought on as the egg, and the Xenomorph within, began to emerge from an extended hibernation. Due to extreme age the cells responsible for pigmentation had experienced a form of severe atrophy/attenuation. So as the egg made the transition from dormancy to actively responding to a potential host the biochemical stability of cells began to collapse. Eventually rendering the egg without any pigmentation whatsoever.

This raises the question as to what role the pigmentation plays in the egg's structure. Even among creatures that have been deprived of light for decades transparency has never been recorded occurring in the epidermis. Skin has been recorded as growing translucent, but never completely transparent. Such a transition indicates that the pigmentation of the egg reaches as far as the musculature. The pigmentation may add some type of structural stability to the egg on a cellular level. Unfortunately, due to the extreme rarity of this response it is difficult to postulate what role pigmentation plays in the egg's existence, or why such a response would occur.

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>> Entry 1.3

Keeping the Larva Alive

The I. raptus larva is suspended in a thinly viscous fluid. This fluid and the parasite are contained within a thin membrane, which in turn is surrounded by a layer of viscous fluid , and surrounding all of this is the internal wall of the egg's primary structure. The fluid that the Facehugger is suspended in seems to be a highly concentrated mix of hormones, enzymes, and proteins designed for sustaining life. The membrane surrounding the Facehugger appears to work as a double barrier in that waste material produced by the creature passes through the membrane and nutrient rich material then passes back through. The membrane and the outer layer of fluid seem to work in conjunction with each other as a means of purifying the waste material and recycling it back to the larva. Additional waste material that cannot be recycled back through the egg is expelled - however it is not clear how this particular process is achieved.

The egg has the ability to produce the necessary hormones, enzymes, and - to a certain degree - proteins that are found in the fluid that surrounds the parasitic larva. However, these proteins need to be replenished - additional nutrients are introduced into this fluid, but where these nutrients come from is not entirely clear. It would stand to reason that the egg draws in the necessary dietary supplements from the surrounding environment via the tendrils that extend from the base of the egg. These tendrils would also work as a means of expelling waste from processed nutrients as they have passed through the egg's system. If this scenario is correct these tendrils could be seen as a modified root system.

Something else that points to these tendrils playing a role similar to that of roots: It has been observed that the eggs, when deposited by the Queen, do not display tendrils. This may indicate the possible existence of a yolk inside of the egg that would be used as a means of sustenance for the developing Facehugger until the egg has developed far enough to grow said tendrils. By the time the tendrils are fully developed and ready to start pulling nutrients from the environment the yolk has been consumed.

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>> Entry 1.4

Nervous System/Egg Response

Based on observation it is apparent that there is some form of nervous system at work, which causes the egg to respond to the presence of potential host material. It is believed that this nervous system is rudimentary, and quite primitive when compared to that of the Facehugger within, or even the adult form of I. raptus. The initial theory was that the eggs respond to proximity related climate changes (i.e. - heat). The raised temperature that has been observed inside of the I. raptus hive would enable an egg (or even perhaps the Facehugger inside) to detect anything with a body temperature above or below the relative temperature of the hive. This notion has since been disregarded due to its high probability of failure. Variances could occur between a host organism's thermal signature and the surrounding environment that could make it "invisible" to the egg. It is believed that the adult I. raptus employs several means of detection outside thermal - thus giving the creature a much more accurate "view" of its surroundings. To assume that the initial stage in the life cycle relied on sensing just thermal radiation would discreditI. raptus as a species.

It is currently believed that the egg's primitive nervous system is based on detecting two forms of sensory input: bioelectric signatures/bioeletromagnetic fields and biochemical reception. The first is designated for sensing and locating host organisms. Detecting bioelectric signatures is a far more accurate means of detection than thermal - they are also very difficult to mask, giving the Alien egg the ability to sense a host organism regardless of the surrounding environment. The range of this sensory ability seems somewhat limited - which would remain consistent with the primitive nature of the system - it appears that the maximum sensory range is +/- 10 meters. In all recorded instances this appears to be the maximum distance an egg has responded to a potential host. This, at first, would appear to be a shortcoming, and possible detriment to the Facehugger acquiring its prey, but given the Alien larva's speed, agility, and dexterity 10 meters offers only minimal time for a host organism to react prior to an attack. It's also presumed that in a hive environment the egg would be placed less than 10 meters from a cocooned host.

It's the currently accepted view that as long as the egg is sealed the egg and the Facehugger are a symbiotic organism. Through this symbiosis the Facehugger receives stimuli from the egg via bioelectric impulses. These impulses originate from the membrane surrounding Xenomorph larva and are carried through the amniotic fluid. From here the Facehugger is able to sense exactly where the potential host organism is in relation to the egg. It is theorized that once the egg's nervous system detects a bioelectric signature there is a reflexive biochemical release into the amniotic fluid from glands that are located inside the egg at its base (just beneath the membrane that surrounds the I. raptus larva). The result is a heightened level of activity, increased adrenalin, and general sense of agitation.

Once the Facehugger has become aware of a host organism's presence it then chemically triggers two events in the egg - the first is the release of a biochemical suppressor. This pheromone is tied into the second form of sensory reception the egg's nervous system is designed to detect. It's believed that this suppressor is what hinders multiple eggs from responding to a single host. It is also believed that the duration and intensity of release is based on the number of host organisms detected within a 10-meter range. If multiple organisms are present the intensity may be lessened, so that additional egg response is merely delayed slightly to minimize multiple attacks on a given host. Where as if an isolated host is detected the intensity would be enough to fully suppress any response from surrounding eggs, and possibly force those eggs into a state of inactivity or hibernation. The glands designated for the release of this pheromone are believed to be clustered at the base of the egg in the same area as the glands designated for larval agitation. This type of suppression is realatively commmon among eusocial societies - for example among honeybees the queen is known to release the pheromone "queen substance" which suppresses ovarian activity among the workers of a hive.

The second event is the opening of the egg. Once this occurs the Facehugger is able to rely on its own means of sensory input - thus terminating the symbiotic relationship with the egg. The opening of the egg is believed to occur on a slight delay following the release of the biochemical suppressor.

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>> Entry 1.5

Egg Life Span

The only aspect of the egg's existence that we have not been able to logically theorize is the amount of time it can remain viable. As records indicate: the Derelict Ship, which was found on LV-426, by Russell and Anne Jorden was the same ship that had been discovered by the Nostromo 57 years prior. How the eggs could remain intact and contain still healthy Xenomorphs has become a baffle. The only theory that has been made is that the Aliens contained within the eggs have the ability to fall into a near death state of hibernation and remain there until awakened. This would mean that their metabolism is slowed down so drastically that the nutrients that are being brought in by the egg can be removed from the surrounding environment at such a slow rate, and in such small quantities, that many decades can pass before depletion of these necessary nutrients becomes a issue. As impossible as it may seem we may be dealing with a timetable that more closely follows centuries as opposed to decades. The Jockey that the Nostromo crew found in the Derelict Ship was described as being in an advanced stage of petrifaction. This gives some indication of how long the eggs had remained dormant before humans had found them.

It has been explained that the eggs were situated in a fashion that would imply a cargo hold, and that the eggs were possibly kept in stasis for transportation. Kane, the Nostromo's Executive Officer, did describe a blue mist that reacted when broken covering the eggs. This "mist" may have been part of a stasis system that was built into the cargo hold of the Derelict Ship, which would aid in prolonging the life span of the eggs and their inhabitants beyond their normal expectancy. Unfortunately The Derelict Ship on LV-426 is the only instance that we have that has had eggs of such age. The possible presence of a stasis field complicates any theories that we may have on the Xenomorph egg life span.

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