Andy's Shorts to GA Prompts - 32. Prompt #165

Report to: Prime Minister Sheila Morrigan

Report from: Professor Jacob Tyler

Date: 01/02/2034

After fifteen long years of failure, Project Omega has finally been successful. Subject Omega 412 has safely hatched and we have initiated full bio-quarantine. Until we are sure this species is completely safe, nobody will be allowed in or out of the facility. We will begin full series work up after the agreed seven days post hatch.

Report to: Prime Minister Sheila Morrigan

Report from: Professor Jacob Tyler

Date: 13/02/2034

We have completed the full series work up. Subject Omega 412 checks out as being completely healthy. There is one hundred percent genetic stability, and it seems to be growing at a steady pace. We have as yet been unable to confirm the creature’s gender; it should be male, to ensure that the creature cannot spawn on its own.

Report to: Prime Minister Sheila Morrigan

Report from: Professor Jacob Tyler

Date: 20/02/2034

After only three weeks, Subject Omega 412 seems to have reached maturity. The subject is far larger than we had expected it to be based upon fossil records, and I am relieved that we elected to attempt this with a non-venomous species of the family Arthrolycosidae¹.

This particular species dates from around 275 million years ago, which places it in the Permian Period and it pre-dates the Permian-Triassic mass extinction event by around 25 million years. This extinction event is known as the ‘mother of all mass extinction events’, in that ninety six percent of all marine life and seventy percent of all terrestrial vertebrate species were wiped off the face of the planet.

Until recently, we had believed the largest known species of arachnids ever were the terrestrial Pulmonoscorpius kirktonesis²and the aquatic Brontoscorpio anglicus².

Subject Omega 412 is already twice the size of either species, and although it does lack the venom sac and ducts inherent in most other members of the order Arinae³, this species does still appear to be carnivorous. It is currently consuming three mice on a daily basis, and hopefully it will not grow any larger; as it is already larger in size than a full grown adult.

The research team believe Subject Omega 412 is larger than fossil records indicate owing to the fact that we were forced to introduce the Arthrolycosidae genetic material into the egg of Atrax robustus⁴. There appears to have been some unexpected interaction between the two different DNA sequences; this may produce unexpected results given that we have not fully mapped the Arthrolycosidae genome.

However, thanks to modern genetic understanding, we were able to identify the gene sequences responsible for both the presence of venom sacs in, and the unusual aggressiveness of, Atrax robustus. Therefore, we were able to ensure that the reborn Arthrolycosidae would not have a venom sac or fangs, and would hopefully have the more mild temperament of Theraphosidae such as the Mexican Red Knee and Mexican Red Leg tarantulas.

We have been able to verify the creature is indeed male, so spawning of this creature is no longer a concern.

Report to: Prime Minister Sheila Morrigan

Report from: Professor Jacob Tyler

Date: 03/04/2034

We are now two months post-hatching of Subject Omega 412. It continues to grow and now measures almost eight metres, or twenty six and two-thirds feet, across and is now eating nearly two kilograms, or four and a half pounds, of meat per day. We have progressed to feeding it on large Rodentia⁵, Chiroptera⁶, and Soricomorpha⁷.

We will continue to monitor its size, and if the size has stabilized, we will assess the feasibility of placing the Arthrolycosidae at a national zoo.

Report to: Prime Minister Sheila Morrigan

Report from: Professor Jacob Tyler

Date: 07/06/2034

After almost four months, the Arthrolycosidae has finally stabilised at an incredible eighteen metres, or sixty feet, in body length. It has a mass of nearly one hundred and fifty kilograms, or three hundred and thirty one and one-half pounds. It is now consuming a very large quantity of meat, and owing to this, we have begun feeding it on Canidae⁸, Ursidae⁹, and Otariidae¹⁰in an attempt to minimise its feeding regime.

Report to: Prime Minister Sheila Morrigan

Report from: Professor Jacob Tyler

Date: 09/07/2034

At this point we are able to confirm that Subject Omega 412 has indeed stabilized in size and dietary requirements. It has also just undergone its first moulting. Everything is proceeding as planned, and we expect to be able to find lift full bio-quarantine by the end of the month.

Report to: Prime Minister Sheila Morrigan

Report from: Professor Jacob Tyler

Date: 07/08/2034

We have reached the six month post hatch stage without incident. We now believe this creature is ready to be placed into a zoo, and we can begin attempts at creating additional Arthrolycosidae in an effort to repopulate the species.

We have no idea how long this spider will live. Typically, arachnids live about two years in captivity, though spiders of the suborder Mygalomorphae (such as tarantulas) can live up to twenty five years in captivity.

Report to: Prime Minister Sheila Morrigan

Report from: Professor Jacob Tyler

Date: 14/08/2034

Priority: Alert Status Red

Subject Omega 412 has broken out of containment. I have ordered the facility sealed and armed guards have been placed at all entry and exit points. Twenty three personnel have been killed since escape occurred three hours ago – at 08:23.

Search teams are currently sweeping this facility section by section with orders shoot to kill. This creature is highly aggressive and territorial, most likely as a result of the unexpected genetic anomaly we observed; so much for having successfully resequenced the Atrax robustus DNA.

Report to: Prime Minister Sheila Morrigan

Report from: Professor Jacob Tyler

Date: 14/08/2034

Priority: Alert Status Red

Second report this date. Escape occurred fourteen hours ago. An additional forty six personnel have been killed. There has been no sighting of the Subject Omega 412. Our search continues, and we have expanded our search area to include the conduits and access shafts.

Report to: Prime Minister Sheila Morrigan

Report from: Professor Jacob Tyler

Date: 15/08/2034

Priority: Alert Status Red

Escape occurred twenty seven hours ago. There are only six personnel left alive in the facility. One hundred and thirteen killed since escape. This creature is too aggressive to be kept alive. I have enacted the Extreme Measures protocol. At twelve noon (in thirty seven minutes time) the self destruct will initiate and this facility will be vaporised.

My recommendation is for all materials relating to this research project to be destroyed.

Report to: Prime Minister Sheila Morrigan

Report from: Major General Kenneth Upsen

Date: 16/08/2034

Priority: Alert Status Red

It has been confirmed Subject Omega 412 survived the destruction of the facility. It is currently heading towards London. We recommend full scale evacuation of the city while there is time. There needs to be a full military response to this threat. We await your orders.

Link to prompt

Notes on classification terms:

1. Arthrolycosidae – an extinct Family of spiders related to the wolf spider, which lived 300 to 250 million years ago.

2. Pulmonoscorpius kirktonesis and Brontoscorpio anglicus - were both species of scorpion that were one metre, or three and one-third feet, in length and were equipped with a stinger, as they were both true scorpions

3. Arinaea – the Order of animals that encompasses spiders

4. Atrax robustus - the Sydney funnel-web spider, arguably the most aggressive spider currently living

5. Rodentia - the Order of animals that encompasses rodents

6. Chiroptera - the Order of animals that encompasses bats

7. Soricomorpha - the Order of animals that encompasses shrews and moles

8. Canidae - the Family of animals that encompasses dogs, wolves and foxes

9. Ursidae - the Family of animals that encompasses bears (excluding the panda and red panda)

10. Otariidae - the Family of animals that encompasses sea lions or fur seals (but does not include true seals)