Zeta-1B Virus

The Zeta-1B Virus, often referred to by early explorers as the Space Zombie Virus, is one of the deadliest biological catastrophes in Terranite history. Originating on the devastated world of Zolga IV, Zeta-1B caused a multisystemic collapse in infected hosts, culminating in post-mortem reanimation and a secondary epidemic driven by the mutated strain Zeta-1Bα. The pandemic nearly annihilated humanity’s early expansion into the stars, killing one-fifth of all Terranites and triggering the monumental genetic event known as the Regenesis.

Discovery on Zolga IV

Zeta-1B was first encountered by a remote away team surveying the ruins of Zolga IV. The planet’s biosphere had visibly collapsed; away team logs describe the landscape as “rot taken shape—life wearing death like a skin.”

Despite contamination precautions, the virus’s extremely long incubation period—approximately 168 days—allowed it to bypass quarantine protocols. Infection spread silently across starports and colony hubs before symptoms emerged.

Pathology

Zeta-1B is a necroviral agent that infiltrates biological systems slowly and subtly. Its characteristics include:

Ultra-long incubation: ~168 days before primary symptoms.
Systemic tissue decay: gradual necrotic drift occurring internally long before visible signs.
Delayed neurological collapse: victims often remain functional until hours before death.
Post-mortem reanimation: Zeta-1B hijacks neural and muscular systems to crudely reanimate the host.

This post-mortem state is not true consciousness but a viral-driven locomotor reflex designed to propagate infection.

Zeta-1Bα: The Mutated Strain

Upon first exposure to human DNA, Zeta-1B mutated into a far more aggressive variant, designated Zeta-1Bα.

Key differences include:

Transmission: primarily saliva-to-blood (bites, fluid contact)
Incubation: minutes to hours
Purpose: highly optimized for rapid spread via reanimated hosts

Zeta-1Bα’s emergence created a second, exponentially faster pandemic wave. By the time it was identified, approximately 50 billion Humans across Terranite-controlled space were already infected with either strain.

Species-Specific Immunity

The Zeta-1B Virus demonstrated a unique host bias:

Terranites: Fully vulnerable; no natural immunity
Nordites: Strong inherent immunity; some asymptomatic carriers recorded
Other Races: Broadly resistant or entirely unaffected

Geneticists theorize that ancient Terranite lineages lacked the immunological markers needed to counter necroviral coding patterns common to certain alien ecosystems.

The Regenesis Event

The catastrophic spread and staggering mortality forced Terranite geneticists to undertake the greatest engineered-species rescue ever attempted: the Regenesis.

This process:

Resequenced the entire Terranite genome
Introduced permanent immunity to Zeta-1B and Zeta-1Bα
Added enhanced resistances to xeno-pathogens
Improved dietary tolerance toward alien food biochemistries

Regenesis saved the species—but not before Zeta-1B claimed roughly one-fifth of all Terranite lives.

Aftermath

Centuries later, Zeta-1B remains one of the most studied viral agents in the Continuum Universes. Its legacy includes:

Draconian bio-quarantine laws in all Terranite star systems
Specialized necroviral research programs
Cultural trauma, memorials, and survival cults
The ethical controversies of the Regenesis Project

While eradicated from Terranite biology, dormant Zeta-1B reservoirs may still exist on uncharted worlds—including the ruins of Zolga IV.

References