OB-12

On the outskirts of the Jhar'tha Expanse region of The Outback, **System 12 (OB-12)** is host to three planetoids as well as a deserted station, Station X, believed to be over four hundred years old. Without signs of battle damage, radiation, or natural storm damage it has never been clearly determined why this station was abandoned. The first planet of the system appears to have been stripped of all minerals, water, soil, and any species that might have existed. The second planet is a Class Y Demon World. The third planet in the system is a newly formed planet in the earliest stages of development.

# Station X

Station X is in orbit of the second planet in the system and was researched by then Commander Ward (Smith) after its discovery and approval from the CO of Echo Squadron, Task Force Avalon in 2413. The station's interior had been coated in a thick layer of webbing of natural origin, its texture like silk. Deeper within the station, the survey team located the station's core that was believed to hold station logs and records about the research. This data was later found to have been corrupted when analyzed by Starbase 381 *"Praetorian's"* engineering teams.

## Arachnid Species 0482

Station X was home to an aggressive species of Arachnid, presumed responsible for the webbing along the halls and cargo rooms. This species predominantly remained at the heart of the stations largest rooms, thought to have been cargo holds or lounges. Ensign Jones, a security member of the research team had been overwhelmed when they displayed dominate team working behavior patterns in groups of six. The Ensign made a full recovery. Lieutenant Commander Cowell, leading the security teams ordered stronger defenses in rooms under analysis to prevent further injury. It is unknown if these arachnids have been the cause of the stations abandonment or simply a byproduct.

### Lieutenant Commander A Ward's Report

As per your request, myself and Lieutenant Commander Sheppard set to work on making progress decoding and understanding these alien, spider-like lifeforms that were discovered on both the abandoned station, as well as the dome.
Preliminary findings suggested genetic modification.
Using a series of deconstructive genetic analyses, myself and LtC Sheppard were able to uncover signs of "rapid" genetic mutation separating the species located on the station from those in the dome. It appeared that both species had adapted to their environment, with far too little time for the process to be natural. In addition, there were signs that each species had been adjusted for some sort of task that appears useless in either environment. Without direct observation, there is no way to tell what that task would be.
I have included the specifics of our findings, as well as the specific DNA strains that are marked for potential unnatural modification.
LtC Sheppard and I both believe that this may have been distributed to the creatures via a sort of "virus", or otherwise air/waterborne pathogen. There are no signs of the pathogen itself, but the readings are consistent with either variety. Once this pathogen is introduced to a subjects system (in this case, the spiders), it does not induce a mutation, instead it seems to open the organism up to mutation, a method of encouraging evolution, so to speak.
In the enclosed data, you will see that specific processes are made available to the modification. Primarily the variability of the genetic sequence, muscle fitness, spatial awareness, nerve impulses - in LtC Sheppard's words, it creates a "Super spider". My theory is that this unnamed pathogen was distributed, accidentally or indirectly, to the spiders and was in fact intended for other species.
With the right tweaks to the catalyst, the genetic modification could be anything. It has the potential to rewrite an entire genome, given the right input. My best guess would be a species attempting to reproduce in a method similar to the Borg, but using organic/radioactive means, rather than technical nanites.
Also, it bears noting that LtC Sheppard believes the spiders were once much -more- advanced and capable than they currently are, indicating that the effects of the mutations diminish over time.
I can not offer any clues as to the creators of this pathogen, or its specific nature without more information or direct samples. It also gives me no insight as to what exactly happened to the original inhabitants of each facility.
# References

* AAR: Jhar'tha Expanse Grid A1
* Jhar'tha Expanse Expedition