Kharaa Bacterium

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Carar is an alien bacterium discovered by the Precursor Race during the exploration of an unknown planet. It seems to have completely taken over Planet 4546B. It is described in the Degasi PDAs as "part of the ecosystem", with further suggestions that the Degasi survivors were infected at some point - as stated by Bart Torgal while discussing the flu-like symptoms the crew was experiencing. Early on, the player's PDA and Lifepod will make note of the high levels of bacterial infection in the water.

It is stated in Precursor data that the Carar bacterium has killed over 143 billion individuals over the course of time since its discovery. Their core worlds were quarantined off, and research facilities such as the one on 4546B were created to find a cure. After a Sea Dragon Leviathan damaged the Disease Research Facility in an attempt to retrieve its offspring, the previously contained Carar bacterium was released onto the planet. This decimated the planet's ecosystems, as much of the life on the planet died due to the bacterium's immuno-repressive behaviour and genetic corruption. This prompted the Precursors to initiate their emergency quarantine: activating the Quarantine Enforcement Platform. The Quarantine Enforcement Platform shoots down all approaching or departing spacecraft to prevent Carar being spread to other planets.

The PDA estimates that Carar incubates in two weeks and kills in five weeks - it accomplishes this by shutting down the immune system (already making the infected host susceptible to other diseases) and causing genetic mutation to the host's DNA, and causing alterations to the body structure, eventually leading to a total shutdown of the organism due to its inability to keep functioning properly.

Warpers were created to keep the levels of Carar to a minimum, to do so they will attempt to kill infected fauna, in an effort to control the spread of the bacterium. Though this seems to have been ineffective as Carar is still ravaging the planet a little under one thousand years after it was initially released.

The player is infected with Carar, though they only become aware of it after attempting to disable the Quarantine Enforcement Platform, as the deactivation terminal will tell the player that they are infected and therefore cannot use it, thus forcing the player to follow the story and secure a cure in order to leave the planet. The infection only becomes noticeable when the player reaches the Disease Research Facility and is prompted by the PDA to perform a self-scan. At this point it will warn the player that the infection is reaching a critical stage and the player's skin breaks out into glowing green cysts.

If an infected creature is placed inside an Aquarium or Alien Containment, the creature will infect the rest of the creatures inside soon after. However, this is purely cosmetic and has no impact on gameplay.

The player can scan fauna that have been scanned previously to check if they are infected with Carar. When scanned, a creature can be identified as infected or not by the screen on the Scanner saying "normal" or "infected". The player can also scan themselves to monitor the bacterium's progress in their body.

It seems that the only way to cure Carar is with enzymes produced by the Sea Emperor Leviathan and its young, as shall be shown by creatures being cured by the enzymes in the Sea Emperor's aquarium.

Peepers are able to use the Alien Pipe System to take small amounts of Enzyme 42 back to the surface, spreading the enzyme's effects throughout the world. This method is the sole reason why some life has managed to remain immune, and possibly why the player may survive longer than five weeks after infection.

The Sea Emperor Leviathan and the Warper are immune to the Carar bacterium, as they both play a role in eliminating it - with the Sea Emperor Leviathan producing Enzyme 42 as a countermeasure, and the Warper being the result of its bio-mechanical adaptations implemented by the Precursors.

Appearance

Carar manifests itself in bright green cysts, along with similar colored veins spread throughout its host. The cysts start out as small protrusions, however, as time goes on, the cysts will grow larger and glow more strongly, signifying the organism is close to death.

Data Bank Entries

<tabber> Infection Results=

You have been infected with a previously unknown bacterium. It is currently multiplying in your blood stream. Estimated incubation time: 2 weeks. Estimated survival chance: 9%. Estimated time of death: 5 weeks. Your immune system is currently combating the infection, but efficacy is proving low. You may already be experiencing flu-like symptoms, expect these to be exacerbated as the bacterium takes hold. Your immediate priority should be abatement and eradication of the infection. Recommended steps: The bacterium is water-borne, suggesting the indigenous ecosystem has evolved successful countermeasures. This may be a productive area of research.

|-| Carar Contagion Profile=

Discovery: First encountered during routine network expansion on outer worlds. Pandemic Development: Network error resulted in routine quarantine procedure failure. Contagion was uploaded to, and spread quickly through, the core worlds. Confirmed deaths: 143 billion individuals. Bacterial Mechanisms: Attaches to healthy living cells and mutates the basic genetic structure. Symptoms: Stage 1: None. Stage 2: Gradual immune system failure. Stage 3: Unpredictable alterations to biological structure. Stage 4: Complete shutdown of executive function. Emergency Steps Taken: Core worlds quarantined. Bacterial samples distributed to isolated disease research facilities for vaccine development. Treatment procedure: Unknown.

|-| Infected Creature=

Specimen with Symptoms of Unknown Infection", "This organism is displaying signs of an unknown bacterial infection. - Blisters are bright green, forming networks around infection sites - Pathology suggests a waterborne bacterium capable of penetrating the body through the skin - Underlying indications of minor genetic mutation and aggressive behaviour - The bacterium itself is unlike any so far recorded in human exploration; further information cannot be synthesised at this time WARNING: May be contagious. Avoid. Do not under any circumstances consume the flesh.

|-| Exposed to Inhibitor=

Scans indicate this infected organism has recently come into contact with a unique enzyme which has counteracted the most debilitating symptoms of the disease. - Skin blistering has rapidly receded and been replaced with healthy tissue - Altered genetic material has been replaced with original DNA from remaining healthy cells - Behaviour normal - The bacteria is still present in the bloodstream, but in a currently dormant state

</tabber>

Gallery

<tabber> In Game View=

• 

  Infected Ampeel

• 

  Infected Boneshark

• 

  Infected Crimson Ray

• 

  Infected Gasopod

• 

  Infected Ghostray

• 

  Infected Eyeye

• 

  Infected Biter

• 

  Infected Blighter

|-| Videos=

• SN Infection 02-0

  The latest Carar texture.

• SN PlayerInfection 01

  The first version of the Player find out he is infected.

• Concept Art=
• 

  Concept Art by Cory Strader

</tabber> For a more complete gallery, visit Carar/Gallery.

Trivia

• The way that Carar manifests itself is loosely based on the appearances of the Kharaa from Natural Selection 2, as the Kharaa have similar looking cysts on their body - a "secret" data-log further supports this by explicitly naming the Kharaa and the fight against them as happens in Natural Selection 2.
• The texture of Carar cysts on the player will be limited only to the hands, since these are the place with visible skin on the player.
• Cory Strader has said that Kharaa from Natural Selection 2 is a mutated form of Carar, Scott MacDonald (Obraxis) followed this up, saying that "evolution" is why the Kharaa have yellow cysts and the Carar in Subnautica has green cysts.
  • Later, however, Cory Strader said to not take everything as canon, as the story links between Natural Selection 2 and Subnautica have not been set in stone.
• In the original story script, the Carar was a bacterium developed by the Precursors.