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Fluorescing Astral Bacteria (FAB), AKA Fat Bacteria is genetically engineered awakened bacteria used in a variety of manatech.

Strains[]

FABI[]

Strain I is highly sensitive to astral forms and will die if it comes into contact with one. UV light combined with FABI can reveal the locations of astral forms.

FABII[]

Strain II is similar to strain I. It can reveal astral forms when exposed to UV light. However it is less sensitive to astral forms passing through it and will not die. It will, however, slow the movement of any astral form attempting to pass through it.

FABIII[]

Strain III is the weaponized variant of FAB. It actively seeks out active astral forms–as well as the awakened–to drain them of magic. It can only affect those in astral space, so any mage or shaman who does not astrally project will be safe from the magic drain, however the bacteria will linger on them waiting for them to become astrally active. If it attaches to a dual-natured being, such as a ghoul, they will be slowly drained of their magic and the drained power increases the strength and size of the cloud of FABIII.

If FABIII can not find a source of magic to drain, it will begin to starve to death; although this can take several weeks.

FABIII can live longer in areas with a high level of background count.

Project Aegis[]

Aegis is an early prototype of FABIII made by Telestrian Industries before it was sold to Ares Macrotechnology.

Manatech Implementation[]

  • Ambient Magical Potentiometer (AMP) – A device designed to detect background count.
  • Esprit “Petite Brume” Grenade – A grenade filled with FAB-IIb designed to impose visibility modifiers and slow astral movement.

Trivia[]

FAB-I and FAB-UV (FABII) were brought to market by BacteriTech™ about 2055.[1]

FABIII was released in Chicago to control and kill the outbreak of insect spirits in the city. It had the unexpected effect of not dying within the predicted time frame and still lingers in Chicago's astral space in the 2070's.

"GLAMMERGOLD Caltha sterilis: this plant has rapidly evolved a defense mechanism against the FAB III that was introduced into its environment. Glammergold has a shiny, wax-like scale coating on its flowers, which gives the plant its name. If the plant is threatened by disease or FAB III, a combined chemical and magical reaction occurs; flowers swell, and scales burst from the plant into a large cloud, alerting the other plants nearby, sterilizing the air in an effort to kill the pathogen. Glammergold and its progenitor, the marsh marigold (caltha palustris) [...] Chicago residents cultivate this plant mainly as a food source. [T]he leaves contain helleborin [A poisonous glucoside found in several species of hellebore, and extracted as a white crystalline substance with a sharp tingling taste.]. It is commonly boiled twice, with a change in the water to make the plant more palatable. [...] Awakened residents and few Awakened critters try to stay close to Glammergolds as protection against FAB III." -- State of the Art 2073

Comments[]

Aegis appears as a central plot point in Shadowrun Returns.

Index[]

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