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"What the hell are you?."
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Carriers are one possible evolutionary finality of a Praetorian and the second most expensive of the three, the others being the Queen and the Ravager.
Information[]
Biology[]
A Carrier with facehuggers
A Carrier, compared to a Ravager and Warrior.
The Carrier resembles an outsized Drone, with it's ashen mesoskeleton and smooth carapace. Unlike it's "sibling" caste, it is still noticeably shorter than a Queen alien, only a few feet taller than a Warrior. It's a bit more durable than the immature Drone, however, able to withstand as much punishment as a Warrior. However, it is considerably less armored than those other two variations, as combat isn't really it's niche in the Hive. It has specially evolved dorsal tubes, called "Launching Spines", designed to hold the vulnerable Facehugger. The Carrier offers them protection, nutrients (called Exadrenaline), and transportation to areas on the map they wouldn't be able to reach on their own.
This exadrenaline is carried to the chestburster phase, allowing the burster to withstand greater physical trauma should it find itself under attack. However, the effects are not permanent like cystic acid on several strains of Xenomorph. Though Carriers are not the most fit for combat, a loaded carrier can be lethal in battle. Facehuggers will jump from spines to hosts mid-battle and should the Carrier die, it's cargo will launch itself off in all directions.
Super Carrier[]
An upgraded Carrier
When upgraded, Carriers develop the ability to hold 12 facehuggers instead of just 6. Upon death, their bodies explode apart, showering enemies with both painful acid and deadly facehuggers.
Physically, Carriers develop several markings along the dome of their heads, similar to an adapted Queen or Praetorian. They also grow brownish chitinous pads on their shoulders, offering a light boost in armor.
Hive Function[]
A Carrier.
The Carrier spreads the Alien infestation to outlying regions by serving as a Facehugger transport. While riding a Carrier, Facehuggers do not expend energy, enabling them to reach farther areas than their limited energy supply would otherwise allow. In combat, the Carrier is an extraordinarily dangerous enemy, since its cargo does not hesitate to leap on nearby targets when threatened. Like all purebreed Aliens, the Carrier comes from a morphed Praetorian. Facehuggers can leap upon a Carrier at will or be called.
However, although offense isn't their strong suit, the Carrier is anything but defenseless. Its arms terminate into sharp, hook-like scythes which it uses to slash at victims. If the enemy is organic, any facehuggers it may be harboring will incapacitate and kill them before the fight truly begins.
Trivia[]
- Despite having developed from a Praetorian, the Carrier's cranium is more similar to that of a Drone instead of the broad-crested Praetorian.
