Cyst

As the most fragile organ found within any Kharaa habitat, the Cyst can proliferate extremely rapidly. A parent is first grown around a Hive, then daughter Cysts can subsequently branch outward onto horizontal surfaces. When grown, the Cyst spreads bacterial Infestation to encompass nearby terrain, allowing other Kharaa structures to sprout and grow. Cysts depend on Hives for nutrition, and should connection between daughter Cysts be severed, the outermost unconnected Cysts will begin degenerating until death; if left unattended, an entire chain can be eradicated over time. Without Cysts to regenerate the infestation, the nano-grid can slowly eliminate the Bacterium at cellular level.

The Cyst will also rapidly mature once grown. Frontiersmen field reports have noted Mature Cysts bursting and splattering infestation onto Marines, suggesting an environmental response to foreign organisms. Fortunately, nanotechnology prevents Bacterium from infecting the soldiers.

Stats

Connected Cyst

Newborn Cyst
- Health: 100
- Armor: 0
- Cost: 1 Team Resource
- Build Time: 1 second
- Cooldown: 1 second

Mature Cyst
- Health: 550
- Armor: 0

Abilities

Flammable
- Description: The Cyst is highly vulnerable to the Flamethrower and Welder which deal extra damage to the growths. Cysts will light ablaze when their infestation is ignited by a Flamethrower Marine.

Spread Infestation
- Description: Passively spread and maintain infestation in a large area around the Cyst.

Rupture
- Cost: 1
- Radius: 10
- Duration: 4 seconds
- Prerequisite: Mature Cyst
- Description: Ruptures the Mature Cyst's membrane and splatters infestation onto nearby Marines to obstruct their vision temporarily. The Cyst converts into newborn and repeats maturity.