Dwellerspawn

Dwellerspawn are deep space organisms that consume entire biospheres and use neutron stars to reproduce. They have been encountered by the Lanaktallan Precursors, the Terran Imperium, and presumably the Mantid. Genetically modified Dwellerspawn were summoned by the Lanaktallan after millennia in deep space after the defense of Telkan from Precursor machines.

Appearance
Dwellerspawn come in several different varieties, valuing function over form. While entirely biological, it is not uncommon for larger Dwellerspawn to be coated in a shell of neutronium or battlesteel. The larger ones take the form of mollusks or snail like creatures, with thousands of feeding tentacles and large orifices on the side to eject servitor organisms.

They can be as small as viruses or kilometers long.

Biology
Dwellerspawn appear to all be the same species or at least closely related. Through unknown processes, they are able to survive and propel themselves through the vacuum of space and even reach FTL speeds. Larger Dwellerspawn contain many smaller organisms within themselves for support. They are capable of producing battlesteel and neutronium through biological processes, as well as create acid strong enough to corrode Warsteel.

In between harvests, Dwellerspawn hibernate in interstellar space, virtually undetectable due to the vast distances involved. They are summoned to worlds ready to be consumed by Lanaktallans through a hyperpulse signal. They then create a gravitational anomaly in the system's star to compress space and achieve FTL speeds. This technique for FTL travel is similar to Terran theoretical "gravitic ion drives."

Once in system, Dwellerspawn use a combination of solar sails, gravity manipulators, and naturally produced plasma for propulsion.

When invading a planet, Dwellerspawn quickly subsume the biosphere, altering its genetic code to serve the organisms. Dwellerspawn organisms are highly adaptive and replicate quickly, and are capable of shifting from fungal to bacterial forms between generations. Microscopic Dwellerspawn multiply extremely quickly, able to consume vast amounts of material in seconds. Planets previously conquered by Dwellerspawn have genetic code that is easily altered from a dormant state to an active state, allowing for quicker more efficient harvesting. Areas occupied by Dwellerspawn are hostile to all life outside it, and attack in any way possible, from acid to viruses to using vines to strangle people. Dwellerspawn are capable of mimicking local organisms to set traps, as seen when they mimicked Telkan broodmothers to lure Vuxten in.

After the biosphere is subsumed, the Dwellerspawn strip the planet of any useful resources before inducing massive worldwide earthquakes to bring new resources to the surface. They then seed it with new life to evolve for the next harvest. This cycle occurs over thousands, possibly millions of years. Geologic records suggest that Telkan has had multiple visits by Dwellerspawn, each cycle producing a new variation of the Telkan people.

Reproduction
Dwellerspawn reproduce by seeding neutron stars with themselves. This is also presumably how they acquire neutronium. As the hivemind within the star grows, it uses its psionics to affect the gravity of the star and steer it toward a habitable world to conquer. When they arrive, they emerge from the star fully grown and begin the harvest.

History
None of the Dweller or Dwellerspawn history is known. What is known is the various encounters with them.

LANAKTALLAN: Through the use of tailored biomass genetic recombination attacks, the Lanaktallan managed to create subservient Devourers that they used to defeat the attacks of the Precursor Autonomous War Machines following the Logical Rebellion. Subsequently these Dwellerspawn were put in hibernation roughly 2.2 Light Years Solar North-West of the stellar mass of every neo-sapient system. These bio-weapons, when awakened, take 1-2 years to reach the system and begin harvesting.

IMPERIUM OF RAGE: The following is known about Dwellerspawn from the Imperium of Rage encounter: "(￣. ￣)～ｚｚｚ Doki. (⊙︿⊙✿) DOKIDOKIDOKI! ಠ益ಠ ಠ益ಠ WAAAARRRRGGGHHH! (◣_◢) (✿ ♥‿♥) (◣_◢) Doki doki doki. (ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧ DOKI! (∩︵∩) JOAN! o(╥﹏╥)o DOKI (┛◉Д◉)┛彡┻━┻ DOKI! ↁ_ↁ DAXIN! ♥‿♥ ♥‿♥ ♥‿♥ DOKI! @(ᵕ.ᵕ)@ " - End Message <-TRANSLATION UNAVAILABLE->

CONFEDERACY: Referred to as "Big Slobbery Mo" by General Nodra'ak, the Confederacy first encountered them in the Telkan System. Within 90 days virtually every system in the Neo-Sapient Systems that had been defended by Confederate forces were under attack by Dwellerspawn.

Trivia

 * Dwellerspawn refer to Lanaktallans as "Enslaved Ones." It is currently unknown if the Dwellerspawn modified the Lanaktallan or vice versa.