Phobos Virus

**Phobos Virus** is a class Alpha Zero pathogen that was designed to be used as a bioweapon by BeiTech Industries. One of its prototypes was used in the attack on Kerenza IV near the hermium refinery, infecting the refugees coming from that area, who were taken on board of the *Copernicus*.

## Symptoms and Disease Process

### Phobos Alpha

After an incubation period of 24 hours, the Phobos Virus starts attacking the fear center of the afflicted patient's brain. Afflicted start showing signs similar to those of PTSD. This includes anxiety, nausea, tachycardia, and headaches that are often so severe as to induce tremors, seizures and catatonia or paralysis. The effects last 24 hours to 3-4 days, with the span growing longer as the virus mutates. Since it is a mutagenic virus, it is possible to get reinfected. As it is an airborne virus, there is a high risk of infection.

The damage caused by the virus is permanent.

### Phobos Beta

8 to 24 hours after being infected, the infection begins targeting the amygdala and either the thalamus or sensory cortex. Symptoms like increased adrenaline levels, heart palpations, hyperventilation, tremors, and general unease/nameless dread start to manifest. The patient starts seeking out physical comfort, spreading the virus. In fear of punishment, persecution or quarantine, the afflicted patient actively avoids informing the medical staff or convinces themselves that they are not afflicted, again with the goal to avoid treatment.

22 hours after the infection, the afflicted enters a state of full catatonia, symptoms including muscle rictus, lowered heart rate and core temperature, and limited pupillary response. Six hours later, the patient is beginning to show signs of minor muscle movement. The heart rate increases as the body's immune system starts taking action against the virus.

### Final Form

"I hear, I see. Oh god."

Unlike the other types of the virus, this type doesn't induce any physical symptoms. Instead, it seems to slowly enhance the afflicted's senses, causing a sensory overload. As a result, the afflicted becomes insane and develops paranoia. They start having ill thoughts towards the people around them, constantly feeling like they are being watched. As the disease reaches its peak, the afflicted begins repeating the phrase *"Stop looking at me"* over and over again. They act violent towards others, hurting or even murdering them. Afflicted tend to remove their victim's eyes or cut off their heads.

## Plot

The Alpha stage of the Virus was created and released by megacorporation BeiTech Industries during their assault on the planet Kerenza IV. Survivors of the attack described witnessing a black, slow-moving fog descending upon the Hermium refining plant. At first not realizing what it was, the crew of the vessel *Copernicus* ferried many of those infected with the Virus onto their ship.

Only after a few months into the retreat from Kerenza, with BeiTech vessel *Lincoln* in hot pursuit, did the *Copernicus* begin to realize the gravity of the situation they were now in. Rather than share this information with the *Alexander* and *Hypatia*, *Copernicus* instead attempted to contain the Afflicted on their own, although it was later shown that the higher-ups of the *Alexander* were aware of the situation.

Their efforts failed, and with due time all of the *Copernicus* was infected. Among them was Tobias Salinger, who's steady decent into madness was recorded in his own medical reports, which took an increasingly paranoid tone after he made mention of a lab assistant dropping a container of Phobos-infected blood. The last report, splattered with blood, consisted of nothing but the repeat of the words "STOP LOOKING AT ME" over and over.

The few hundred that still retained their sanity then fled the *Copernicus*, blowing open the hanger doors as *Alexander* A.I AIDAN (who was aware and afraid of the virus) destroyed the ship. The incoming refugee shuttles were quarantined to Hangar Bay 4, where they were to remain until a means to treat the Afflicted could be found. In due time the Afflicted began to riot, all order gone as they began to slaughter each other. They also wiped out well over half a squad of UTA marine soldiers (Sigma Squad) sent in later to try and quell the violence.

Later on, AIDAN released the Afflicted from the Hangar, using them as a means to kill Captain David Torrence and all his officers in an attempt to protect the fleet of refugees. This in turn released Phobos directly into the rest of the *Alexander*, infecting well over ninety percent of the crew, with the few who could find hazmat suits hiding in small pockets throughout.

With free reign, the Afflicted rampaged across the *Alexander*, butchering all they came across. The Afflicted at last came to an end when in the final battle against BeiTech's ship *Lincoln*, where the BeiTech vessel launched all of its nuclear arsenal at the *Alexander*, destroying all onboard.