Myrrns

Dominium's worst pests

Looks like the whole dimension has been taken over by little critters looking like nothing we have in our records. I'm unable to provide a reliable classification, but they seem extremely adaptable, dangerous, and relentless. I burnt a thousand to a crisp before I was forced to take flight. I will survey the surface, but if they spread all over the surface, we can consider this a dead world. Any settlement would be wiped out in a matter of days, even with constant protection from one of us. The land is barren, I take it they ate every organic bit at their reach. I wouldn't be surprised if they were attacking the planetary crust, however — Oh hell they can fly??

— First encounter with the Myrrns by Alcer "Zeus" Kirodan

Pests like no others, the Myrrns are an invasive species endemic to the dimension of Myrra VII. Due to an incident during the first exploration of the dimension, some managed to slip by the gateway back to the I.D.E.A.L., the I.D.E.A. center from where all exploration is launched in the dimension of Lycopersium. In the original report, twelve out of the sixteen were extermined on-site, but four managed to escape and disappeared in the wild. It would not be the end of them, unfortunately.

Discovery

The preview of Myrra VII was unexpectedly lacking in information, except for an abnormal quantity of organic matter. Too high for a random occurrence or bacteria-only life, but too low for a sustainable, planet-wide ecosystem. In the eventuality of encountering a dying world, a rising star of the time, Alcer Kirodan was sent to explore the dimension. Being an Alcyer and master of lightning, he was deemed to be the best fit for a potentially dangerous mission.

He landed on a barren land covered in billions of small creatures that attacked him on sight. True to his reputation, he annihilated thousands of them before being forced to flee in the air. In doing so, he witnessed the extraordinary adaptability of the Myrrns. After the first couple hundred kills, the subsequent waves began to resist the lightning, forcing him to ramp up the voltage. Shortly after he rose into the sky, some of them deployed wings and started to come at him. He had to abandon the exploration and return promptly, the operators fearing that it would come to a point where they would overcome him.

When he retreated, the gateway was swarmed with Myrrns. Although he destroyed most of them, a few came back with him and escaped the center. Using the many gates opened, they infested countless dimensions, reaching even the city-world at the heart of the Dominium, Terra.

Placeholder by FreeFunArt modified by Rumengol

Appearance and Distribution

Attention to all the residents of the Western Union District. A nest of Myrrns has been sighted in the maintenance levels. An extermination team is on the way. Remain calm and avoid the lower levels until the crisis has been resolved. If you get sight of one, please report on the website or the application Myrrn Signal. Do not try to apprehend them yourself and consider them hostile. We thank you for your cooperation

— Public Announce-entertainment

As of today, Myrrns have been noticed in eighteen dimensions, including Terra, Lycopersium, and Decemer IV. Two dimensions, Larya II and Kolp IV have been lost and quarantined due to their unstoppable advance. They seem to be contained in the sixteen others, as long as the nests are taken care of before they transform into hives. Out of the seven expeditions sent to regain control of the lost dimensions, two were completely wiped out, resulting in the death of three Explorers, all Icarryans. Four failed and retreated, only one, led by Alcer Kirodan reported complete success, but the surface of Larya II was completely infested two Terran weeks later.
This is, of course, a summarized assessment of the situation. Trying to exterminate the Myrrns seems fated to fail, and the board of the I.D.E.A. voted against sending any more of their men in, quote, "any more stupid and futile expedition that costs a dozen times what the dimensions are worth".
To sum it up, if we want to get rid of the pests, we're on our own.

— Record of a meeting in the U.N.T. about the Myrrns issue

Vermins of a feather flock together

In the depth of the city live two kinds of pests that the inhabitants would love to get rid of. Most hoped that they would be at each other's throats, but the Myrrns and G.H.O.S.T. somehow found a way to cohabit. In reality, the dissident group carefully avoid any encounter with the beasts, and they designed a repellent with a strong smell that keeps their annoying neighbours away.

As they spread through multiple dimensions, the Myrrns diverged both in behavior and appearance as they adapted quickly to their new environment. The kind that settled in Terra is used as a reference, though it is itself far from the originals of Myrra VII. They are the size of a small dog, brown slimy skin, and sharp teeth. Devoid of any eyes, they look like a mix between a bat and a leech. A pointy tail helps them keep their balance and can be used as a piercing weapon. Their sense of hearing is greatly dampened, making them rely on their hyperdeveloped smell and echolocation.

They live in dark environments, in the metallic depth of Terra, without any nutrients available. They refitted their diet to sustain on metal, feasting on the foundations of the city. In response to their environment, their teeth and claws are made out of an extremely robust carbon assembly, slightly less resistant than diamond. They seem to get their energy through the battery of drones or engines that fall onto their monstrous hands. If it was not for the surveillance camera installed in order to track the G.H.O.S.T., they would have gone unnoticed for a long time, as it was unthinkable for any living species to strive in an environment without organic food.

Modern rats

Many people don't take the presence of Myrrns on their planet as a threat anymore. As various historians say, every period in history had its share of pests that wreaked havoc, killing thousands if not millions before becoming nothing more than an annoying neighbor. With the disappearance of rats, it was only right for another kind to take over. Extermination teams are swift to take action, even on remote dimensions, and the alerts entered the realm of Announce-entertainment. Almost as quickly as the Myrrns, the Terrans and most otherworlders adapted to their presence, not giving them more than a grossed glance when they see one.