Newborn

Subject:	Internecivus Raptus Variant Alpha
A.K.A:	Newborn
Intelligence:	Moderate - High
Habitat:	Hive Structure
Temperament:	Extremely Hostile/Aggressive
Life Span:	as yet to be determined
Contact History:	2382: USM Auriga

6.1 A Note Regarding the Research of this Creature
6.2 Physical Attributes
6.3 Sensory Organ Modifications
6.4 Exoskeleton
6.5 Birth of the Newborn/Death of the Queen

Newborn Image Library: Library 6.1 - USM Auriga, 2382

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>> Entry 6.1

A Note Regarding the Research of this Creature

It is important to understand that when studying Internecivus Raptus Variant Alpha (or I. raptus V-A) that this creature is an aberration resulting from a failed genetic experiment in which the extraction of I. raptus DNA from a former human host produced a variant strain of the previously encountered Xenomorph. It is a strongly upheld belief - among all circles of study - that this particular creature would not exist under any other conditions outside of those that occurred aboard the USM Auriga. I. raptus V-A appears to be an unstable element, and as such it is seen as being a detriment to a functioning I. raptus colony. Thus, it is here that Dr. Wren's genetic experiments are seen to be a failure. Because of the nature of the Newborn, and and its isolated circumstantial occurrence, many scientific circles - including those stationed aboard Anchorpoint - turn their primary focus when dealing with I. raptus to those portions of the life cycle that are considered to be true aspects of the Alien's existence, as opposed to the Newborn. As a result there is limited information regarding its biology and behavior, and it is generally considered to be a "closed topic."

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>> Entry 6.2

Physical Attributes

The Newborn is an amalgam of human and Alien DNA. The creature has distinctive traits of both species, but is clearly more recognizable as being of the I. raptus family. It is approximately 3 meters tall at birth, and is expected to increase in size as it develops further. The cranium is similar to that of the average adult Alien in except that it does not have the same glossy crown and it is slightly shorter in length from anterior to posterior end. The Newborn does not bear any signs of a hard chitinous epidermis as do its kin. However, like its size it is believed that the cranial structure and epidermis may change as the creature develops.

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>> Entry 6.3

Sensory Organ Modifications

Perhaps one of the most noticeable traits of I. raptus V-A is the presence of eyes - no other member of the species possesses visual sensory organs. The range and ability of these eyes is speculative, at best. It isn't clear how heavily the Alien relies on these organs, and if they are a primary source of receiving external stimuli, as they are with mammals. This also raised the question: how well defined are the other means of sensory perception (auditory, olfactory, and thermal) in comparison to the newly acquired vision?

It has been suggested that the Newborn's eyes may only serve as much of a purpose as simple eyes serve on most insects or arachnids: detecting fluctuations in surrounding light intensity and/or colors within a specific range. Such a means of vision would imply that I. raptus V- A still depends on its other senses to almost the same degree as its kin. The fact that the Newborn's eyes are without pupil and iris would indicate that they do not adjust according to light intensity - suggesting that they may not, in fact, be as sensitive as human or other mammalian eyes. Thus, suggesting that the Alien still relies heavily on other means of sensory input to locate prey, and discern environment.

It would also appear that the Newborn bears a nasal cavity very much like that of a mammal. However, with little information to go on it is difficult to ascertain as to how heavily this organ is used for the perception of smell. It would appear that it is the dominant means of receiving olfactory stimuli, but this does not mean that it is the only means of receiving such stimuli.

It can be stated, with a certain degree of accuracy, that due to the Newborn's general appearance and physical structure it can be deduced that it bears a higher degree of Alien DNA than human - therefore it would only seem logical that its means of sensory perception are similar to (if not equal to) those found in the various other stages of the Alien life cycle.

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>> Entry 6.4

Exoskeleton

It is apparent that I. raptus V-A does not bear the same chitinous epidermis that it's kin do. However, this is not believed to be a constant throughout the creature's life. Just as the chestburster has a thinner, paler, and more vulnerable epidermis than its adult counterparts it is believed that as the Newborn ages it will molt and acquire a harder, more chitinous exoskeleton as well. (for additional information of the Alien epidermis see the Exoskeleton essay).

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>> Entry 6.5

Birth of the Newborn/Death of the Queen

The events and details surrounding the Newborn's birth are as clouded in mystery as are the remainder of its traits and abilities. The process of the creature's birth is not entirely understood except that it emerges through the anterior wall of the Queen's abdomen. There would appear to be no vaginal passage way from the internal uterus - making the Newborn's birth rather analogous to the birth of a Alien embryo from a host.

The reasons for the Newborn's killing the hive's Queen are still unclear. One reason may have been to assert itself as the top of the hive hierarchy - to declare itself the Alpha. When compared to other social species that operate around a hierarchy this rather brutal display begins to take on a recognizable form. Among certain species of social wasp the queen asserts herself as the dominant female by means of force (usually in the form of head butting and/or charging), among wolves the Alpha is designated through (among other things) the demonstration of force among the pack. The act of eviscerating the Queen in the presence of the hive population could be seen as a similar act of dominance.

A second possibility is that the introduction of excessive amounts of human DNA caused an imbalance in the Alien brood - beginning with the Queen and filtering down through her brood. An example of this is the addition of a human-like womb and the creation of The Newborn. The resulting offspring spawned of this new womb was so dramatically different on a genetic level that it saw itself as being outside of the I. raptus species, and subsequently not recognizing or identifying with its birth mother. This notion also would seem to indicate a similar reaction between the Newborn and it's brood mates: had I. raptus V-A remained in the Alien colony it may have attempted to kill its remaining kin.

A third theory is based around the Newborn's emotional characteristics. I. raptus, as a species on a whole, seems to demonstrate a low level of emotional response - which remains consistent with some of its social tendencies. It has recently been suggested that the Alien is incapable of registering the emotion anger, but rather acts on instinctual responses to various forms of stimuli, both threatening and nonthreatening. I. raptus V-A appears to have relatively rudimentary emotional characteristics which is most likely a trait passed on from its human DNA. The Newborn's apparent inability to maintain emotional stability may be a result of including emotional response into a system which is neurologically programmed to respond instinctually. The result is an extremely unstable firing of synapses between neurons as the Alien strives to function between emotion and instinct. Subsequently creating a creature that does not understand it's emotional side, or how to react to given emotional stimuli as it conflicts with instinctual processes.

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