Item#: SAP-017, Lunar Centipedes
Date of Report: July 30, 19691
DANGER Level: Yellow
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| Fig. 1 - Photograph of an SAP-017 specimen on the lunar surface. |
Description: SAP-017 refers to an anomalous species of lunar arthropod typically capable of growing to the size of a large dog. Instances of the species appear to resemble Earth-native centipedes of the genus Scutigera. High genetic variation is present among the population, obscuring the true nature of SAP-017's Earth analog.
SAP-017 possess the ability to navigate the lunar surface with ease. Similar to baseline Scutigeromorpha centipedes2, the legs positioned at the posterior end of the body are much longer than those present at the anterior head region. This allows individuals to push forward with their hind limbs to generate large kinetic force. This, when coupled with the low gravity of the lunar environment, allows SAP-017 specimens to reach astonishingly high running speeds. Biologically, the organisms exhibit the presence of a highly anomalous tissue. Previously thought to be composed of protoplasm3, the true nature of SAP-017's robust exoskeleton and enhanced "survivability" trait has been traced to a specific type of modified cell. These cells possess an organelle known as the psycheplast. This modular component is capable of processing telepathic PSI4 signals by converting the energy into physical, chemical reactions. These reactions allow for the cells to function, fueling the metabolism and movement of the organism. This means that SAP-017 specimens are essentially capable of feeding on thoughts transmitted through PSI means, whether directly sent or generally broadcasted.
Members of the species are very intelligent, possessing problem solving abilities on par with those of a baseline human. Analysis of instances' behavior indicates that the SAP-017 species is sophont, but not necessarily sapient. While their intelligence and cognitive awareness levels are equal to those of a human, their psychology appears to be generally non-social in nature. SAP-017 are highly aggressive towards others of their species, conflicts are often lethal. The species is also known to practice cannibalism, not just eating each other's corpses, but actively hunting down weaker individuals. This divergent behavior is thought to be non-anomalous. One potential explanation is that SAP-017 have been forced into their current social/cultural state because of their anomalous diet.
SAP-017 feed off telepathic transmission and thus are capable of feeding off the minds of other sophonts, including those of their own kind. The psyche5 of the prey item, that is, the conscious, intelligence part of their being held in the brain, appears the main target of a prowling SAP-017 instance. Any given specimen can derive energy from consuming the mind of another sophont. It should be noted that individuals do not feed off the physical brain itself, rather the abstract "psyche" generated by the organ. Thus, in order for SAP-017 to feed, it is not necessary that they have physical contact with the prey item. Instead, they must be within close proximity to consume the memories and intelligence of the target. This is accomplished via the use of a special organ that creates a "psychic vacuum", stripping away the target's psyche until nothing is left. This leaves the prey item's body alive, but incapable of guided movement other than rudimentary actions such as maintaining a heartbeat. In other words, to stay alive on the lunar surface, SAP-017 individuals need to "steal" and consume the minds of other sophonts, leaving their bodies barely animate. While not necessary for survival, eating the physical body of the target can help provide vital nutrients to help the specimen grow larger. SAP-017 need to feed around every 2 to 3 weeks, the reason for this is because the specimens do not need to be physically active unless hunting, and can therefore afford to go longer periods of time without meals. Instances are capable of travelling at up to 50 mph and are incredibly agile while still retaining a nimble movement pattern.
Addendum 1: Note from Dr. Victor Fredrick attached below.
SAP-017 consume the psyches of other sophonts. While one possible food source is other members of the species, I do not expect the reader to believe that their entire diet consists of cannibalized comrades. Due to the … unique … nature of SAP-017's primary food source, an explanation of the lunar psychosphere is necessary for those not well versed in multupotent entities.
On the back of the moon is located the body of one such being, generally known as the Saurian Prince6. This being is considered one of the "heavyweights" in our solar system's psychosphere, so much so that it can be used as a point of reference by extraterrestrials as for navigational purposes. The SAP-022 file mentions this fact, briefly discussing the existence of the lunar community. This collection of anomalies is composed of "extraterrestrials, psychological entities, and otherwise exotic specimens" that take up residence on the moon, whether temporarily or permanently.
What the SAP-022 file fails to indicate is that the Saurian Prince itself can act as the source of the "psychological entities". It is blatantly stated that SAP-022's mind must operate at a "lower level" than other multupotent entities. This is partially because the specimen's nervous system is rotting, making it hard to maintain the super-level intelligence of a fully operational multupotent being. This does not, however, make the Saurian Prince any less powerful. The being maintains its psychokinesis (used to repair its constantly rotting body) and its psychic gleaning ability (used to read the minds of the Earth's population). But, SAP-022 can only telepathically contact Earth-based sophonts, not outright control them7. Where did all of the telepathic power go?
To answer this question, we must first examine the nervous system of SAP-022. The nerves running down its limbs possess the same neuron density as a baseline human brain. Let that sink in: the basic nervous tissue of the Saurian Prince is closer to an average sophont's brain than to baseline bodily nerves in terms of computational power.
SAP-022 is capable of reading the collective thoughts of humanity and its various cultures. This means that individuals can sometimes, by a random quirk of nature, have their entire consciousness read and processed by the Saurian Prince's psychic powers. What does the SAP-022 complex do with all this information?
Occasionally, the creature may choose to store any number of individual human psyches in its nervous system. The reason for this is unknown. Maybe the being is subconsciously lonely, or perhaps the creature does it to acquire additional minds with which to brainstorm methods of survival. It is possible that this action may occur on accident, or even without the decomposing entity noticing at all. Nonetheless, the psyches of different humans, both baseline and anomalous, can be stored as copies within SAP-022. The being also possesses telepathy. This means that the Saurian Prince is capable of projecting these acquired psyches back out into the psychosphere. These "regurgitated" psyches are the psychological entities mentioned in the SAP-022 file. Remember SAP-022's "range of 10 miles to 15 miles", within which it can telepathically mind-control other beings? It can alter the behavior of the psychological entities within this radius, not only because they are in such close proximity, but because the being is the individual simulating their intelligences in the first place.
The Saurian Prince is, however, still capable of projecting a host of these "stolen psyches" all around the moon at any given time. Virtually undetectable to those lacking stronger psychic awareness, these living phantom-like thoughts wander the lunar surface8.
This is where the SAP-017 species comes into play. Because SAP-017 feed off PSI energy using a "psychic suction", they roam the lunar habitat in search of any roving phantoms that might happen to cross their path. The more skilled of SAP-017 specimens are capable of tracking these psychological entities, hunting them down and consuming them as prey. Once they have obtained the location of the phantom, SAP-017 individuals will frantically run about, chasing their targets (which are sometimes unaware that they are being hunted). This is where the SAP-017 get their food. Their primary diet consists of stolen, simulated, repurposed people.
Aftermath Protocols: Whenever interaction occurs between SAP-017 and any Repository-affiliated astronauts, these personnel are to avoid entering a 3' radius around the organism. If any predatory strikes are initiated by the SAP-017 specimen, lethal intervention is authorized. If peaceful, the entity may be conversed with, on the condition that information about baseline humanity's PSI capabilities (or lack thereof) must not be revealed to the creature(s). Lunar astronauts are to be equipped with a defensive cattle prod in the event of attack.
Preventative measures regarding conflict with SAP-017 individuals will be implemented via the addition of barbed, electrical fences surrounding Repository moon bases. These structures will act primarily as a deterrent, but given the moon's low gravity, larger SAP-017 specimens may be capable of jumping over such structures. Thus, all windows on vehicles and buildings are to be reinforced with graphene-based panes on both sides.
Spacecraft, whether simply acting to relocating lunar staff, or acting to enable total departure from the moon as a whole, must be inspected for any stowaway SAP-017 specimens. All individuals discovered in this manner are subject to immediate termination. Encroachment, whether individual or collective, is not to be tolerated within any vessel capable of exiting the moon's immediate gravitational field. This policy, while harsh, will be implemented to deter members of the species from "invading" human sites of operation.
In the event that an Earth-bound spacecraft containing an instance of SAP-017 is detected entering Earth's atmosphere, orders to return to its site of origin will be given. If the pilots are not compliant and continue to descend, the vessel is to self-detonate, or if necessary, be intercepted and neutralized using military-grade anti-aircraft missiles. These actions will be taken to prevent the species from infesting Earth and overrunning the terrestrial psychosphere, as if such a scenario were to occur, then the majority of humanity would likely not survive the initial events post-introduction.
Discovery: SAP-017 sightings had been occasionally documented by the Warnen Repository, but the creatures were largely deemed harmless until the first interaction with the United States. When NASA's famed Apollo 11 mission of 1969 visited the lunar surface, some minor seismic activity was detected in the area, which was later determined to be natural in cause. This disrupted the regular behaviors of the SAP-017 specimens in the immediate vicinity, who appeared somewhat agitated. These specimens would eventually notice the presence of the lunar lander and begin to investigate. It should be noted that before this point in history, SAP-017 populations had been wary of interaction with Repository moon missions. It is theorized that this hesitancy to interact was a direct result of the past missions' nature(s).
The vessels used for these excursions were largely salvaged extraterrestrial spacecraft. It is widely accepted that members of the lunar community are able to recognize the various shapes and designs of visiting alien vehicles, and thus may potentially possess the ability to identify various lunar "guests". This is most likely true for SAP-017: their high intelligence allows specimens to perceive and remember differences between craft, and by extension, their pilots. It is likely that prior to the event, individuals of this species could not determine who or what was piloting the Earth-dispatched vessels because the spacecrafts' exteriors were near-identical to those piloted by true extraterrestrials and extrasolars. By contrast, the Apollo 11 lunar lander was very obviously terrestrial in origin. This, combined with the fact that it could have potentially been observed by lunar inhabitants as it departed from the planet, meant that the vehicle could be easily identified by the moon's residents as man-made and therefore man-piloted. SAP-017 instances know to tread with fear regarding, or at least be cautious around, the plethora of technologically advanced vessels used by other sophont civilizations. They did not, however, display this fear of human craft or their pilots.
This lack of dread was evident during the US's Apollo 11 mission, which included a manned visit to the lunar surface. Prior to this event, NASA possessed very little knowledge concerning the lunar community and the threats it can potentially pose to astronauts. However, the organization knew of the Saurian Prince's existence, and had therefore attempted to train their personnel to resist PSI and psychological attacks. Furthermore, NASA handpicked individuals from the US population who could cooperate with each other the most; this action was carried out to prevent any sort of mutiny from occurring.
The most promising trio consisted of three men: Frank Morris, John Anglin, and Clarence Anglin. In 1962, the trio had escaped from the high-security prison known as Alcatraz. They were later recovered by the CIA and provided with an ultimatum: serve as the crew for the lunar lander, or serve the rest of their lives in prison. They decided, rather predictably, to apply for the Apollo 11 mission. Selected as the final crew, they were given new names as aliases: John Anglin as "Buzz" Aldrin, Frank Morris as Michael Collins, and and Clarence Anglin as Neil Armstrong.
The mission went largely according to plan. However, some time between 22:00 and 24: UTC, on July 20, the three men would begin to take note of strange seismic activity detected in their general vicinity9. The lunar community members sensed this disruptive force as well, and thus entered a temporary state of heightened activity. During this time, several SAP-017 specimens were apparently forced out of their burrows and hiding spots within lunar craters. Their emergence was observed by the Apollo 11 crew, and the team became uneasy. It is hypothesized that this fear may have actually served to attract more SAP-017, but this speculation has little supporting evidence. Between the moonquakes and the astronauts' anxiety, the "riled up" creatures became more bold. They began to scurry around the periphery of NASA's craft, occasionally darting closer to view the lander before retreating to the lunar dunes.
The creatures, realizing that this craft was wholly human-made and thus incapable of gravitational shielding, because more and more adventurous. Once an individual discovered that the humans were sophont, they began to telepathically interact with the crew, figuratively poking and prodding at their very consciousnesses. At this point, the SAP-017 are not believed to have intended on feeding. Rather, they seemed curious as to the nature of the primitive iron vessel that had landed in their territory.
However, these were not the only beings intent upon understanding the intruders. The Saurian Prince's projected psyches, gathered from Earth prior to this encounter, understood that these humans were in fact living, breathing specimens. The lunar phantoms, derived from members of mankind, were largely incapable of interacting with their physical counterparts. But not all of these historically duplicated humans were baseline Homo sapiens. As mentioned in the SAP-005 file, some humans are capable of transmissive PSI, to varying degrees. By some disastrous change, one such phantom had been copied from his location England in the early 1950s. This specific psyche specimen was capable not only of psychic gleaning (allowing him to sense the exact location of the crew), but also of very potent telepathy. His transmissive abilities were so strong that they allowed him to control similarly sophont animals. Thus, the being had been able to survive as an "image" projected by the Saurian Prince, holding his own against the SAP-017 individuals by repelling them via telepathy or by influencing the other phantoms to sacrifice themselves as food in his place. The ex-human recognized these visitors and his fellow creatures, and thus attempted contact.
The Apollo 11 team contacted mission control, reporting that all three individuals could detect the same murmuring voice, asking them to "save him from his lunar location" and to help him recover "a physical foothold". NASA did not dismiss these messages as hallucinations, but instead ordered the trio to resist any "alien" urges they might have. The US government also wanted the crew to interview the SAP-017 instances, which had not proved hostile at that point in time.
The astronauts were ordered to convey the message "We are peaceful friends of power" to the anomalous arthropods, a statement meant to communicate benevolence, alliance, and capability. However, due to NASA's lack of knowledge regarding SAP-017 diet, this did not convey the intended effect. See the attached text.
Supplemental Information regarding SAP-017 Culture and Society:
As discussed in the SAP-017 description file, the "lunar centipedes" consume the minds of sapient and sophont creatures. They are unable to feed off the Saurian Prince's multupotent mind, they must seek out other sources of sustenance. These include the "phantom" psyches simulated by SAP-022 (which are weak enough to overpower), but also fellow members of the SAP-017 species.
The cannibalistic nature of their race, even alone, makes most individuals naturally suspiscious of other sophont individuals. Most sapient creatures are seen as feuding rivals or food, and thus, the development of SAP-017 civilization is almost completely absent. No tool use is exhibited, though this could also be due to a lack of dexterity and building materials. No family member is safe in a time of crisis, a syndrome exasperated by the fact that females lay up to 150 eggs. Alliances are never final, nor are mental contracts binding.
In most lunar territories, the SAP-017 political landscape is more easily compared to a savage wasteland. Individuals mostly band together for protection against threats of equal or greater strength, but these alliances are often strenuous and riddled with conflict. Most lunar centipede factions are very decentralized, meeting only to regulate borders for hunting and mating grounds, discuss wars with other factions (SAP-017 or otherwise). The primitive governments' highest positions are often occupied by the most physically and/or telepathically adept specimens.
SAP-017 also do not seem to have a very strong sense of loyalty to their self-organized governing states, occasionally switching sides, defecting, or simply abandoning andy tasks they have been given.
Thus, due to their divergent societal structure, the creatures interpreted the message not as an offer of dependable peaceful interaction, but as a sign of proposed armistice (for the time being). The specimens also did not seem to see the astronauts as powerful, but simply as equals whose territorial incursion would be temporarily tolerated.
The time soon came for another moonwalk to take place. The SAP-017 were warned not to initiate physical contact, a message they appeared willing to honor. It is unknown this was a form of deception, or if the approaching tragedy was truly an instinct-facilitated lapse of judgement on their part. Regardless, the astronauts exited the lander and begin to collect samples, as had been negotiated with that centipede super-tribe. Unfortunately, during the time that had based since his initial contact with the crew, the telepathic phantom decided it had endured enough. The centipedes, able to sense his ghostly approach, suddenly deduced that these mortal men were in fact related to their prey items. It was not this realization that initially provoked violence, rather, the warning that it caused. One of the alpha SAP-017 individuals, noticing its approach, broadcast a message that simply warned to "prepare for a skirmish". The British psyche had previously encountered some members of this centipede clan, successfully fending them off using telepathic attacks. It was this aggression, carried out in self-defence, that prompted the SAP-017 members to view that specific phantom as a threat (rather than a simple prey item).
The statement made by the SAP-017 alpha specimen was also heard by the trio of living human men, who became automatically suspicious and assumed that they had been tricked into being ambushed at that location. Immediately, "Neil Armstrong" drew a pistol from his belt pointed it at the commander lunar centipede of the group. While the surrounding SAP-017 couldn't have recognized a human firearm, they had no-doubt encountered projective weapons before. They did not, of course, rush to save their troop's alpha, as such an action was unprecedented in their culture. Tensions rose between the Apollo 11 crew and the SAP-017 specimens, who had the humans encircled.
At that moment, the phantom of the English man, who had remained undetected by the astronauts during the SAP-017 interview, suddenly conducted a telepathic attack on "Buzz Aldrin". He collapsed to his knees, clawing at his visor as if in some vain attempt to shield his mind. His body then stood up, an action not performed by his psyche. The British phantom had, in this time of intense emotional experience, breached the mental barriers placed upon "Aldrin's" mind by the NASA training. The strain of the situation had weakened his defenses, and his bodily control was breached. The human form stood up, drew his pistol, and pointed it at his fellow astronauts, commanding them to follow him back to the lunar landing pod. The psyche was determined to escape the lunar world, no matter the cost.
The SAP-017 gathering collectively perceived that the phantom had began puppeting the man's body, sensing a shift in the group's power dynamic. The alpha centipede, who had just been held at gunpoint by "Armstrong", did not appreciate the threat. The specimen also knew that a conflict was inevitable due to the escalation of the events unfolding. Thus, in order to survive, the SAP-017 specimen suddenly leapt at "Aldrin's" hijacked body, tackling him to the ground. the rest of the individuals present either fled (in an act of self-preservation) or joined the feeding frenzy. It is believed that the alpha SAP-017 instance was not attacking Buzz, rather, it sensed the phantom psyche transferring itself into his mind. This only added to the incentive to attack; the specimen would gain food and consume the psyche that had roamed their territory pre-landing, taking out multiple threats simultaneously. The surviving astronauts, "Armstrong" and "Collins", observed their friend being torn apart and promptly retreated to the lander, which they immediately sealed. The rest of the mission transpired within the man-made vehicle. But the alpha centipede was not finished. He commanded a subordinate commander to lead a small pack in an attempt to attack (and feed off) the remaining two astronauts. The creatures, with startling strength, threw their hound-sized bodies against the craft as it departed.
The original "Buzz Aldrin" was now deceased, and the US government enacted a special cloning protocol. Pre-launch, the astronauts' memories had been copied into samples of SAP-018, specifically plasmoid tissue designed to preserve personality. A plasmoid replicant was swiftly prepared for the arrival of the surviving team members. This protoplasm clone was activated, and, now a conscious sapient with John Anglin's personality, commanded to act as if he had been present on the mission.
Note from Dr. Fredrick:
NASA really screwed us over this time. They go up there in their "state of the art craft" and destroy completely demolish the diplomatic relationships we've been setting up between humans and various SAP-017 tribes. We've been working on this for OVER FIVE YEARS! Not only did they halt almost all research into the lunar PSI ecosystem, but they had the indecency to let a man die up there. Never trust murderers to do the right thing.
Worse still are the implications for our future relations with lunar sophonts. Word travels fast, especially when it's telepathic in nature. SAP-017 are genetically programmed to be suspicious of their own kind. Who knows how they might now perceive us outsiders? As dishonest enemies? As treacherous armies? As conquerors? We'd been working on those relations ever since our fourth mission to the moon! [EXPLETIVE] NASA! There was already a report of restless SAP-017 specimens wandering Lunar Base Alpha. Who knows if they were looking for a way in! Now we're gonna have to spend thousands on increased security measures and defense infrastructure, not to mention the resource expenses demanded by increased surveillance technologies. And since the majority of lunar research is extraterrestrial- or PSI-oriented, we're gonna be the ones paying for it! This better get reported to the Office of International Relations within the next week, or I'm requesting reassignment from lunar PSI research to the experimental protoplasm team. At least we won't risk war with an entire species.
