Mechlink

A mechlink is an item that can turn a pawn into a mechanitor.
== Acquisition == 
Mechlinks are acquired by extracting them from the corpses of mechanitors. These corpses can be NPCs or your own fallen pawns. Mechlinks are extracted by selecting a colonist, right clicking on the mechanitor corpse, and selecting the option to extract the mechlink.
There are multiple ways to acquire a mechanitor corpse:
* Destroying the midsection of the remains of an Ancient exostrider to obtain a mechanoid transponder, which can be used to call in a mechanoid ship containing a dead mechanitor and some hostile mechanoids. The mechlink can then be extracted from the mechanitor corpse.
* Travelling to an ancient mechanitor complex guarded by hostile mechanoids. Among the desiccated corpses is a mechanitor corpse which the mechlink can be extracted from.
The starting colonist in the mechanitor scenario spawns with a mechlink already installed.
== Summary ==
Mechlinks can be installed onto any pawn with >0% Psychic Sensitivity. It does not require any medical operation, and thus is self-installed when interacting with it. However, it cannot be removed except after death. Extracting the mechlink from a dead pawn does not cost any resources.
Upon installing a new mechlink for the first time, an event will trigger that causes a friendly Lifter or Constructoid to drop onto the colony, which will automatically link with the new mechanitor.
Mechlinks provide a passive stat boost of to the mechanitor's mech bandwidth stat which controls the total bandwidth of mechanoids the mechanitor can control, and to the mechanitor's mech control groups stat which controls the number of control groups to which the mechanitor's controlled mechanoids can be assigned. Both stats can be further increased.
=== Installation ===
A mechlink can be installed without surgery, you can select a pawn and right click the mechlink, and there will be an option to install the mechlink.
== Analysis ==
As it's quite rare and cannot be easily removed once installed, one should be careful which pawn to install the mechlink into. Most essential is a good crafter who is capable of smithing, as it influences their ability to repair/gestate mechanoids, and encode subcores. If your mechanitor is killed, the mechlink can be extracted and implanted again so long as their head is not destroyed. Prioritize extracting the mechlink and keep the corpse safe and away from hungry animals in the meantime.
Curiously, non-violent mechanitors can still control and fight using combat mechanoids, as they are separate entities. With gene modding, a specialized non-violent pawn could have Violence disabled, Awful melee and Awful shooting aptitude genes for a "free" Metabolic Efficiency, which could be used for genes like Great crafting, improving mechanitor abilities. Mechanitors who plan to hide behind walls could use genes like Slow wound healing, though drop pod raids and/or infestations are always a risk.
Since the mechlink counts as an artificial body part, it will make body modders very happy, and body purists very upset to have one installed. The Body modification precept also affects this.
== Version history ==
* Biotech DLC Release - Added.
* 1.4.3555 - Fix: Mechlinks give the starting mechs more than once.
Category:Medical Item Category:Body Part Category:Implant