Bookworm
OUT OF CHARACTER INFORMATION
- Intent: To develop a new form of Sithspawn tracking device
- Image Credit: https://www.devianta...ourge-128450040
- Canon: Sith Tracking Device Creature
- Links: Mynocks Oggzil
- Name: Stringer Mynock
- Designation: Non-Sentient
- Origins: Valrar (In orbit)
- Average Lifespan: Fifty Standard Days
- Estimated Population: Inter-Planetary
- Description: At a glance, the creatures look more like a mouth with wings than anything else. Upon closer inspection, one can see tiny traces of metal that lead towards the creature's tail, these lines acting as conductors for the homing signal it sends out
- Breathes: Survives in the vacuum of space
- Average Height of Adults: .5 meter
- Average Length of Adults: 1.4 meters
- Skin color: Brown, wings are a translucent purple
- Hair color: No hair
- Distinctions: Created by adapting the mynock species, the Stringer Mynock retains much of the physical characteristics of their former brethren. They are somewhat smaller than the average mynock, and the color of their skin and wings has changed, but perhaps the biggest and most noticeable new physical trait are lines of metal they have consumed that lead down to the tip of their tail.
- Races: No other races
- Force Sensitivity: Non-Sensitive
- The Stringer Mynock, like its normal cousins, are designed to latch onto vessels designated as enemies of the Sith. Between its powerful maw, and the embedding claws on its wings that excrete an adhesive substance, the Stringer Mynock can stay in place on a ship even as it travels through hyperspace.
- Much like their cousins, the Stringer Mynock leeches on a ship's power supply, and while one might not be noticeable, if a flock latch on, a ship might have trouble with their systems such as the hyperdrive, shields, weapons, and so on.
- The only Force ability granted to the Stringer Mynock by the Lady of Secrets was a mild Force Sense. They can detect if something gives off a dark aura, which they will stay away from, or a light aura which they will swarm and attempt to latch onto.
- The insidiousness of the creature, however, is its ability to act as a tracking device in a similar method to an XX-23 homing beacon. The creature has tiny strips of metal throughout its body, formed from the metals it consumes for nourishment, that lead to a central node on its tail. This node acts as an antenna and piggybacks on the signal waves sent out by S-thread and Holonet beacons, sending out its own signal so pursuing Sith ships can find their enemy easier.
- Stringer Mynocks are no more hardy than their cousins, a single blaster shot is enough to kill them.
- Their Force Sense ability can be easily clouded by even a Padawan's command of the Force, if they are detected.
- Stringer Mynocks also retain the original creature's allergy to helium. If exposed to helium, the creature will inflate to the point it will explode, so Stringer Mynocks will always leave a ship before it reaches a planet's atmosphere.
- Diet: Other - The Stringer Mynock survives off a combination of metal, silica, interstellar gases, and energy
- Communication: Intricate patterns with their tails
- Technology level: No technology
- Religion/Beliefs: No religion or belief system
- General behavior: Stringer Mynocks behave much like their cousins, ergo generally they are a pest. While they won't go near Sith ships, they will attempt to latch onto just about anything else if they are hungry. Much like their cousins, they reproduce through mitosis, multiplying once they have eaten enough. However, they can be extremely territorial, especially if they have found a good spot to eat from.
In the wake of the attack on Ossus and the prisoner transport on Jabiim, the Lady of Secrets, Taeli Raaf, had grown increasingly annoyed with Coren Starchaser and his cell of the Alliance-in-Exile. They had brazenly attacked a center of knowledge, damaging it with flooding water, and then disappeared back into the galaxy. Her agents had yet to discover the AiE's base of operations, although they were certain it was in the Outer Rim Coalition or New Republic-controlled space. Because of their hit and fade tactics, Taeli decided her first step was to create something they wouldn't expect.
Capturing mynocks in the Valrar system and procuring some Yuuzhan Vong oggzil specimens, the Lady of Secrets and her alchemists began their work. The mynocks subjects were minimally altered by the Force, only being given a mild Force Sense ability so they could detect the light and dark sides emanating from ships. Other than that, Taeli did not want to expose them to more alchemy as they become detectable through the Force.
Genetic manipulation and engineering were how the other changes were made to the creatures. Studying the oggzil specimens, her cadre of researchers were able to replicate the unique ability of the creatures to consume metals and incorporate it into their bodies. In this case, the new Stringer Mynocks would develop metallic strips throughout their body that would down to their tail. Their tail would act as an antenna, piggybacking on S-Thread and Holonet relay wavelengths to act as a tracking device for ships they were latched onto.
With their creation out of the way, the Lady of Secrets requested permission to seed them throughout Sith controlled space for the next time Coren and his followers would be foolish enough to attack.