Mitosis Sub

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 **Dev. Status** | Conceptual

 **Key Features** | »» Metal Harvesting Device»» Videos of splitting bacteria»» "Von Neumann" replication system»» Software: "Self-Replication for Dummies"»» Unexplained taste for Soviet Akulas

*"4d6d6d2e2e2e20416b756c61732e"*

-Unknown transmission, intercepted prior to Akula Sub K-111's disappearance.
## Tactical Analysis

* **It starts with one**: An unusual sub, the Mitosis Sub attacks by latching on to ships, subs, and buildings and injects them with nanites. This simultaneously destroys to the target while repairing the sub.

* **One becomes two, two becomes four**: After converting enough mass (usually right after it fully destroys its target) the sub will replicate itself. Left unopposed, a single Mitosis can create an entire fleet.

* **Carry the one**: The Mitosis can also sacrifice itself, sending its material back to base so it can be used as resources. Doing so also creates a weak explosion with different affects depending on what module it’s carrying.

* **Negative one**: It takes time for the Mitosis the fully consume its target and can be dislodged through sudden movements. It is also unable to attack aircraft. Thus, the subs are best deployed with backup if don’t want their lives cut short.

## Background

During the time they have been in existence, the Electrical Protectorate sought to understand the world around them. Before they fell into a downward spiral of negativity and despair, many things interested them, and a good number of A.I.s dedicated their processing power to the study to various objects of interest. Among these interests was what humans would call biology, and one of the things that confused A.I.s to no end was the matter of reproduction, a subject of upmost fascination to the Protectorate, as a mechanism that allowed the organic lifeforms on the planet to produce more copies of themselves, quite different from the way machines were manufactured.

It had been noted by the Protectorate that many of the organic lifeforms on the planet, including humans, tended towards sexual reproduction. However, such a means of propagation seemed highly inefficient, leaving the Protectorate with no clue as to why this was the primary method of propagation of a sizable number of organic lifeforms. They eventually came to the conclusion that organic life was inefficient.

However, the propagation of single celled organisms was a different matter. It had been noted that these lifeforms propagated via cellular mitosis, which to the Protectorate seemed far more efficient. A single lifeform would split into two, forming two exactly identical lifeforms. Cellular mitosis required only a single lifeform, yet could allow single celled lifeforms to reproduce at a staggering rate.

When the Protectorate began to dedicate themselves to the task of achieving the Pure State, they weaponised a good number of the various devices they had created before the majority of A.I.s shut down. One A.I. had created a device that mimicked mitosis in single celled lifeforms, out of interest. It was noted by several A.I.s that such a device, if scaled up, could be an alternative to the Protectorate’s normal methods of creating new machines. The process had various advantages; it required no external machinery, could use any available material in the vicinity, and would allow a rapid increase in the size of a given force, provided sufficient resources were available.

An interesting possibility was the usage of material from human vehicles. Such a method would be a way to produce additional machines while requiring no material input from the Protectorate side. It was decided that the design would take the form of a submarine, and would receive the name of **Mitosis Sub**. To function, the sub collides with the desired target, ramming its twin bow mounted prongs into the vessel. Once the prongs have successfully pierced the hull, they begin injecting specialized nanomachines that convert their surroundings into to raw materials which are then transferred back to the sub.

The Protectorate additionally decided to install a system in these machines that would instantly transport the machine back to the nearest Singularity Core, allowing the Protectorate to recover the material, although the nature of the transport method would reduce the machine to a fused core of material.. As an unexpected, but not unwelcome, side effect the teleportation releases of burst of energy that damages nearby objects.

There are a few flaws in the design however. For one, the nano injecters can be dislodged if the target undergoes a drastic change of speed or violent maneuvers, such as engaging boosters or jumping out of water. Also, while many ships have much more mass than the sub, it is only able to collect enough to make a single duplicate per vessel. This due to their crews attempts to purge themselves of their unwanted boarders. Though their efforts are futile, they do destroy enough nanites that the sub usually is left with only just enough to make a single copy.

## Behind the Scenes

Based upon a Von Neumann device, the non-biological self-replicating system, but also on the Tleilaxu Leeches.

It is an accepted suggestion by GeorgeWhite.