Chryssalid

The Chryssalids are mindless beasts of terror, usually found in the company of the Snakemen race. They resemble huge bipedal crabs with a dark exoskeleton that gives them good camouflage in the dark, and huge pincers and claws on their feet.

The Chryssalids are extremely tough, strong and fast. They run blindingly fast, and their incredibly tough carapace guarantees that they can take many, many bullets before dying. They can also leap at least 5 meters into the air. Although they have a well-developed brain structure, they don't seem to be intelligent, at least not in the way we define the term. They have very fast metabolism and the growth rate of their cells is tremendous. Their heavy pincers can shred through steel and titanium without much effort, but are usually not used on human beings.

Instead, a human is injected with some kind of chemical that alters his body chemistry and turns it into a brainless zombie. At this 'zombie' state, a human becomes a lot physically stronger, but also slows down. Due to their mindless nature, they are more difficult to attack psionically. And of course, it retains no memories from his former life, as well as no intelligence whatsoever - it becomes very agressive and attack nearby human beings (although it never seem to turn on the Chryssalid or other aliens). It is only fortunate that they cannot use tools and weapons due to their lack of intelligence.

Parallel to the injection of the venom, the Chryssalid also injects the victim with one of twenty eggs it carries inside its body. The egg incubates inside the zombie for no more than several minutes before hatching - and tearing the zombie apart in the process - into a fully grown Chryssalid. If the zombie is killed before time, the already immense growth rate of the Chryssalid embryo increases exponentially, and it is capable of hatching into a fully grown Chryssalid almost immediately after the host's death.

During their dealings with the Chryssalids, X-Com discovered that the best tactic against them is to use flying suits to avoid close combat, and use explosive ammunition to shatter their otherwise tought carapace.

Record 491 - creature - Last update 14 Apr 2007, 15:21:24

Entry written by: Wicked

Update this entry - Your update will be submitted for moderation.