MEDICAL / RESEARCH

Researcher

Difficulty: Medium
Supervisors: Chief Medical Officer, Commanding Officer/Executive Officer
Rank: N / A
Duties: .Research and Development, inspect any xenobiological elements given to you by Marines. Develop new weaponry such as Chemical Grenades in cooperation withe the Ordnance Technicians and discover new chemicals.
Guides: Guide to Research, Guide to Chemistry, Guide to Paperwork
Unlock Requirements: Not available.
Detailed Description: |__________|
You are a civilian, and are not subject to follow military chain of command, but you do work for the USCM.

You are tasked with researching and developing new medical treatments, helping your fellow doctors, and generally learning new things.

Your role involves some roleplaying, but you can perform the function of a regular doctor. Do not hand out things to marines without getting permission from your supervisor.
|__________|

"I wish you could understand what we're trying to do here. The potential for this species goes way beyond urban pacification. New alloys, new vaccines. Nothing like this we've ever seen on any world before." ―Dr. Wren, Alien Resurrection

Role

As the Medical Researcher it is your job to research and develop new technologies in the science lab and study anything xenobiological. The nature of the Researcher means the role is very open-ended, and can be played in several ways.

Ultimately, your job is to focused around lowering the DEFCON level via analyzing chemicals, xenomorph blood/liquids, storing xenomorph corpses. Synthesizing experimental drugs and creating prototype explosive grenades. Furthermore you are fully qualified to assist the Medical staff with surgeries, should Medbay be overwhelmed in triage.

When dealing with Xenomorphs, this role demands a high level of roleplay. Roleplay doesn’t include:

“Yeah, well it makes you a host for xenomorphs.”
“Yeah, I’ve seen this before.”
“They’re hostile. Kill them all. Don’t worry, I can tell.”
“Just jam it in the cage and forget it exists.”

All variations of this are also pretty horrible, so don’t do it, okay?

Chemical Research: Pharmacology

Research has its own chemistry lab that can be used to help out medical by pumping out useful healing chemicals. It is also possible to mix chemicals together to get multiple benefits; however, be aware that there are certain chemicals which will cause more harm if they are used together. Consult the chemistry guide for more details.

Researching Chemicals

As a medical researcher on-board the USS Almayer you're tasked with creating new medications that might be useful to the marines. But what can you do that the silly doctor in chemistry downstairs can not? Discovering completely new medications of course! Every round there will be new chemicals for you to discover. You'll even start with a note in your old lab coat pocket to get you started. Researching a new chemical requires two important tasks to be completed: discovering the recipe and the properties of the chemical. The latter requiring either thorough testing or sufficient data clearance. So what are you waiting for? It is time to do SCIENCE!

A lot of your work will require a resource called Research Credits. These can currently be earned by identifying new chemicals, or from DEFCON lowering. The lower the DEFCON gets, the more research credits are earned each time.

The Company has provided your laboratory with an Advanced X-Ray Fluorescence Scanner to help you identify chemicals. On your journey, you will be expected to use this and analyze research samples received from colonies. If you identify a valuable chemical, The Company's interest in your lab will increase. They might even pay USCM High Command and warrant them to lower the DEFCON threat level to ensure the survival of your research.

Research Machines

Picture

Name

Explanation

Advanced X-Ray Fluorescence Scanner

The A-XRF is an advanced spectrometer that can not only detect what a sample is, but also its chemical composition. It does this by nuking the sample with high energy radiation and detecting the emitted fluorescent x-ray patterns. By comparing this to the database it can identify the unique pattern of a sampled chemical, and the combination of chemicals that make the pattern possible. Although there might be chemicals which composition can't be fully identified. This means that you must acquire a sample of the unknown chemical first, and scan it with the XRF. Whenever the XRF scans something unknown, it will save that chemical's emission pattern to its database. Successfully identifying a chemical increases Company interests and provides both DEFCON and research credits.

Samples are inserted using a vial filled with a pure chemical sample. After scanning, the XRF searches its database for any available information on the identified chemical. It is not actually able to figure out the properties of the chemical, that will require testing.

While the A-XRF can read data from the Company's private chemical database, your clearance level is limited and some information may be classified. Use the Research Data Terminal to purchase higher clearance or get a clearance grant by a corporate official. For example, the Corporate Liaison, however, their power to do this is limited by the current DEFCON level, so the Lower the DEFCON level, the higher the clearance level the Corporate Liaison may grant you. Certain colonists (doctors, scientists and colony liasons) can bypass the DEFCON restriction however. Some chemicals will require a higher clearance level than others.

Chemical Centrifuge

The centrifuge is a research machine meant to assist working with the A-XRF and vial management. By using centrifugal forces it can separate chemicals from a beaker into a set of vials. To operate, insert any beaker with a mixture of chemicals and a vial box containing any amount of vials. The centrifuge will try to fill the vials with different chemicals from the beaker best possible. Additionally, it will label pure vials for you, and unlabel impure ones.

The centrifuge operates under the following logic:

Cycles through reagents in the input beaker starting from the top.
Will fill pure vials containing the same reagent or an empty one. Purity of vials is first priority for the purpose of operating the A-XRF.
Will not fill multiple vials with the same reagent.
Will not transfer reagents from the input beaker if it is within an impure vial inside the box. Use this feature to make impure vials act as filters.

Turing Dispenser

This advanced dispenser is only available to researchers and allows for a level of automation in chem production. While it is relatively complicated to use, it can become a powerful tool in the right hands. Use it to automate the production of advanced research chemicals or complicated drug mixes.

The Turing Dispenser operates by following a set of instructions for what it should be dispensing. These instructions are provided by inserting a vial box, with the vial containing the amount of the chemical you want to dispense. The dispenser reads the vials in order from left to right. The dispenser will run until either: the output beaker is full, all program cycles has finished or a setting is changed while running.

Unlike the normal dispenser, the Turing Dispenser can directly dispense a wider range of chemicals. It can dispense any chemical the normal dispenser can with the exception of ethanol. In addition to any chemical available from the medical vendor with the exception of oxycodone. It can also directly dispense simple chemical compositions such as Sodium Chloride, Methane and Ammonia. Any other chemical requires the use of the Smartlink to be dispensed.

Programs The Turing Dispenser has two programs: Box and Memory. The Box Program is the currently inserted vial box, while The Memory Program is a Box Program that has been saved to the dispenser’s internal memory. The dispenser can run with just one of either program, or with both; in which case the Memory is run before the Box. This allows up to 12 dispensing steps to be configured (as each box can hold 6 vials).

Settings

Program Multiplier: Multiplies the amount of the reagent that’s dispensed on each step. For example, a step with 20 water and a 3x multiplier will dispense 60 units of water.
Program Cycles: How many times the full cycle of programs will be run before the dispenser goes to sleep.
Autorun: If ON, then the dispenser will run the program automatically when both a vial box and a beaker is inserted.
Smartlink: If ON, then the dispenser will check the nearby Smartfridge for the required chemicals before spending energy to dispense it. Additionally, this allows the dispenser to dispense exotic chemicals stored in the Smartfridge, making any recipe possible. If the required chemical can not be found and can not be dispensed using energy, then the dispenser will pause the program until the chemical is stored in the Smartfridge. Once available, the program will continue automatically. (Beware that, the dispenser will read the Smartfridge from top to bottom and use any beaker or bottle it finds containing the required chemical, even if that container is contaminated. This theoretically allows for more than 12 different chemicals to be dispensed in a cycle.)

Research Data Terminal

This terminal found inside the research study allows control of all research assets. It contains the database for all A-XRF scans and Simulation documents. Additionally, the current status of research credits can be checked, and used to upgrade the department's database clearance. Increasing the clearance level this way costs more the higher your clearance, but the cost is further decreased by the DEFCON status. The CL or a colonist (doctors, scientists and colony liasons) with database clearance can scan their ID card here to override the department's clearance levels without any additional costs.

Synthesis Simulator

This computer uses advanced algorithms to perform simulations of reagent properties, for the purpose of calculating the synthesis required to make a new variant. It needs a complete data sheet from an A-XRF scan to function, meaning that all components and properties of the chemical must be known. All simulations requires research credits. Making a chemical better will result in the OD threshold decreasing by 5 units, while making it worse will instead increase it (some properties are considered neutral and does not affect the OD threshold). Mixing a chemical with another variant of itself will cause it to react back into its original form.

Amplify This function increases the level of the selected property by one. The credit cost increases based on the level of the property. Amplifying a negative property will increase the OD and vice versa.

Suppress This function is the opposite of Amplify, meaning the level of the property is decreased. The credit cost for this function is always 2. Suppressing a positive property increases the OD threshold and vice versa.

Relate The relate function makes it possible to change the actual properties of the chemical. To do this, an A-XRF analysis of a reference chemical must also be inserted. The target and reference property must be of the exact same level for relation to be possible, and the target must have more than one property. The credit cost is equal to the level of the targeted property.

Chemical Naming Conventions

When a chemical property is changed, the simulator will automatically label the chemical with a code telling you about the changes. The codes are three letter combinations followed by a number signifying the new level of the property, followed by either a + or - sign that signifies whether the OD threshold is higher or lower than originally.

Negative Properties

Code	Property	Description
HPX	Hypoxemic	Reacts with hemoglobin in red blood cells preventing oxygen from being absorbed, resulting in hypoxemia.
TXC	Toxic	Poisonous substance which causes harm on contact with or through absorption by organic tissues, resulting in bad health or severe illness.
CRS	Corrosive	Damages or destroys other substances on contact through a chemical reaction. Causes chemical burns on contact with living tissue.
BCD	Biocidic	Ruptures cell membranes on contact, destroying most types of organic tissue.
HML	Hemolytic	Causes intravascular hemolysis, resulting in the destruction of erythrocytes (red blood cells) in the bloodstream. This can result in Hemoglobinemia, where a high concentration of hemoglobin is released into the blood plasma.
HMR	Hemorrhaging	Ruptures endothelial cells making up bloodvessels, causing blood to escape from the circulatory system.
CRG	Carcinogenic	Penetrates the cell nucleus causing direct damage to the deoxyribonucleic acid in cells resulting in cancer and abnormal cell proliferation. In extreme cases causing hyperactive apoptosis and potentially atrophy.
HPT	Hepatotoxic	Damages hepatocytes in the liver, resulting in liver deterioration and eventually liver failure.
NPT	Nephrotoxic	Causes deterioration and damage to podocytes in the kidney resulting in potential kidney failure.
PNT	Pneumotoxic	Toxic substance which causes damage to connective tissue that forms the support structure (the interstitium) of the alveoli in the lungs.
OCT	Oculotoxic	Damages the photoreceptive cells in the eyes impairing neural transmissions to the brain, resulting in loss of sight or blindness.
CDT	Cardiotoxic	Attacks cardiomyocytes when passing through the heart in the bloodstream. This disrupts the cardiac cycle and can lead to cardiac arrest.
NRT	Neurotoxic	Breaks down neurons causing widespread damage to the central nervous system and brain functions.

Neutral Properties

Code	Property	Description
NTR	Nutritious	The compound can be used as, or be broken into, nutrition for cell metabolism.
KTG	Ketogenic	Activates ketosis causing the liver to rapidly burn fatty acids and alcohols in the body, resulting in weight loss. Can cause ketoacidosis in high concentrations, resulting in a buildup of acids and lowered pH levels in the blood.
PNG	Paining	Activates the somatosensory system causing neuropathic pain all over the body. Unlike nociceptive pain, this is not caused by any tissue damage and is solely perceptive.
NIH	Neuroinhibiting	Inhibits neurological processes in the brain such to sight, hearing and speech which can result in various associated disabilities. Restoration will require surgery.
AOL	Alcoholic	Binds to glutamate neurotransmitters and gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA), slowing brain functions response to stimuli. This effect is also known as intoxication.
HLG	Hallucinogenic	Causes perception-like experiences that occur without an external stimulus, which are vivid and clear, with the full force and impact of normal perceptions, though not under voluntary control.
AHL	Anti-hallucinogenic	Stabilizes perseptive abnormalities such as hallucinations caused by mindbreaker toxin.
RLX	Relaxing	Has a sedative effect on neuromuscular junctions depressing the force of muscle contractions. High concentrations can cause respiratory failure and cardiac arrest.
HPR	Hyperthermic	Causes an endothermic reaction when metabolized in the body, increasing internal body temperature.
HPO	Hypothermic	Causes an exothermic reaction when metabolized in the body, decreasing internal body temperature.
BLD	Balding	Damages the hair follicles in the skin causing extreme alopecia, also refered to as baldness.
FLF	Fluffing	Accelerates cell division in the hair follicles resulting in random and excessive hairgrowth.
ALG	Allergenic	Creates a hyperactive immune response in the body, resulting in irritation.
CMB	Cryometabolizing	The chemical is passively metabolized with no other effects in temperatures above 170 kelvin.
EPH	Euphoric	Causes the release of endorphin hormones resulting intense excitement and happiness.
EME	Emetic	Acts on the enteric nervous system to induce emesis, the forceful emptying of the stomach.
PST	Psychostimulating	Stimulates psychological functions causing increased awareness, focus and anti-depressing effects.

Positive Properties

Code	Property	Description
ATX	Anti-toxic	Absorbs and neutralizes toxic chemicals in the bloodstream and allowing them to be excreted safely.
ACR	Anti-corrosive	Accelerates cell division around corroded areas in order to replace the lost tissue. Excessive use can trigger apoptosis.
NGN	Neogenetic	Regenerates ruptured membranes resulting in the repair of damaged organic tissue. High concentrations can corrode the cell membranes.
REP	Repairing	Repairs cybernetic organs by REDACTED.
HMG	Hemogenic	Increases the production of erythrocytes (red blood cells) in the bonemarrow, leading to polycythemia, an elevated volume of erythrocytes in the blood.
NST	Nervestimulating	Increases neuron communication speed across synapses resulting in improved reaction time, awareness and muscular control.
MST	Musclestimulating	Stimulates neuromuscular junctions increasing the force of muscle contractions, resulting in increased strength. High doses might exhaust the cardiac muscles.
PNK	Painkilling	Binds to opioid receptors in the brain and spinal cord reducing the amount of pain signals being sent to the brain.
HPP	Hepatopeutic	Treats deteriorated hepatocytes and damaged tissues in the liver, restoring organ functions.
NPP	Nephropeutic	Heals damaged and deteriorated podocytes in the kidney, restoring organ functions.
PNP	Pneumopeutic	Mends the interstitium tissue of the alveoli restoring respiratory functions in the lungs.
OCP	Oculopeutic	Restores sensory capabilities of photoreceptive cells in the eyes returning lost vision.
CDP	Cardiopeutic	Regenerates damaged cardiomyocytes and recovers a correct cardiac cycle and heart functionality.
NRP	Neuropeutic	Rebuilds damaged and broken neurons in the central nervous system re-establishing brain functionality.
BNM	Bonemending	Rapidly increases the production of osteoblasts and chondroblasts while also accelerating the process of endochondral ossification. This allows broken bone tissue to be re-wowen and restored quickly if the bone is correctly positioned. Overdosing may result in the bone structure growing abnormally and can have adverse effects on the skeletal structure.
FLX	Fluxing	Liquifies large crystalline and metallic structures under bodytemperature in the body and allows it to migrate to and be excreted through the skin.
NRC	Neurocryogenic	Causes a temporal freeze of all neurological processes and cellular respirations in the brain. This allows the brain to be preserved for long periods of time.
APS	Anti-parasitic	Antimicrobial property specifically targeting parasitic pathogens in the body disrupting their growth and potentially killing them.

Hints

Dealing with an unknown chemical is like walking blindfolded. The chemical can have any combination of good and bad properties. Discovering what these are will require testing and organized procedures. How to best approach this will be up to the individual researcher. But here's some things to keep in mind:

You need 30 units of a chemical for the XRF to work. If you don't have enough, you might want to save it until you know the recipe.
Negative properties can also be useful when used with the synthesis simulator to increase the OD threshold.
Pay attention to research notes brought back from the colony. Colony notes can describe chemicals that are much stronger than the ones you can discover in the lab.
Distributing a new chemical can still get you in trouble if you overlooked a really bad effect.
If you can't rely on the marines to bring back research materials, you can try to kick-start your research by mutating plants in hydroponics.
Your goal is not to get every single person a sample of your new drug, but to help as many as possible. Use the Turing Dispenser for mass production and persuade your superiors to assist with the distribution.

Xenomorph Research: Xenology

The art of Xenology. Throughout the operation you will have the opportunity to conduct preliminary research on the Xenomorphs. While this research is more esoteric in nature, providing technical data for the Marine Corps and the Company to use, it will however provide a great boost towards lowering the DEFCON. Xenology has the potential to significantly decrease the DEFCON level if conducted in a thorough manner.

At its core, Xenology is accomplished by analyzing xenomorph blood and other liquids, storing dead xenomorph bodies in the research containers, and containing a live xenomorph in the research pen.

Xenology Blood Research

Each xenomorph will have two or more unique liquids/blood samples to collect. To analyze xenomorph blood you will need a corpse, an empty beaker, and either a syringe or an IV Drip. After collecting the blood sample, you can place it into a Chemical Centrifuge to split up the different samples. Afterwards you can analyze the samples at the XRF Scanner.

Each time you analyze a unique blood sample, you will decrease the DEFCON level. Scanning the same sample will not produce a result.

Xenology Body and Live Specimen Study

Storing dead xenomorphs in any research containment cell will contribute a small amount of DEFCON points. However, storing live xenomorphs will contribute a massive bonus to the DEFCON levels. You will need the Marines assistance in securing egg samples, which can be placed in the containment cells.

Hydroponics Research

Note that hydroponics is currently undergoing a rework, much of the information here is subject to change.

Hydroponics is the process of growing plants without soil. The Company has provided The USS Almayer's research wing with a hydroponics laboratory. Here, researchers can grow and experiment with plant genetics.

MachinesItemsHow to do Hydroponics Research

Machine:	Description:
Hydroponics tray	A specialised tray to grow plants in. You may right-click the tray and select Flush Tray to reset it, removing everything including nutrients and refill it with water. The lights on the tray correspond to the state of the plant: Green: Plant is ready to be harvested. Red: Plant is unhealthy, old-aged or dead. Orange/Red flash: High amount of weeds or pests. Yellow: Low amounts of nutrients in the tray. Blue: Low amount of water in the tray.
MegaSeed Servitor	Vendor that contains the basic seeds needed to get started.
Seed extractor	Extracts seeds from harvested plants. Insert a plant sample to obtain seeds.
Lysis-isolation Centrifuge	By inserting a flora data disk and any plant material (such as seeds or samples), this machine allows you to process the genome of said plant. The plant material is destroyed in the process. Once analyzed, a set of genes can be extracted. This can be done only a certain number of times before the genes decay completely. The extracted data is saved to the floral data disk. This disk can then be used in the Bioballistic delivery system.
Bioballistic delivery system.	Uses data disks with extracted genomes from the Lysis-isolation Centrifuge. By inserting a disk and a target plant sample, you can override the existing gene with the stored one. Use this to positively select your plants. If you modify a sample genome too many times, the genome will decay completely.

Item:	Description:
Flora data disk	Data disk for storing plant genes. Used with the lysis-isolation centrifuge and bioballistic delivery system. Can only contain a single gene. Empty data disks can be found in the flora disk boxes inside the hydroponics locker. They can also be stored in the disk cabinet for better organization.
Plant analyzer	Used to analyze plants quickly and get a reading of its general properties.
Mini hoe	The mini garden hoe can be used to uproot weeds from hydroponics trays. Using the garden hoe will damage the plant slightly.
Plant Clippers	A specialised clipping tool for taking samples off plants. Use this if you want a sample from a plant before maturity, or if you want to harvest without removing the plant completely. Alternatively, other cutting tools may be used.
Hatchet	Used to cut down large plants into smaller parts. Usually wood.
Spade	Used to move dirt around. But we don't have dirt onboard, so it has little purpose right now.
Bucket	Its a bucket. Fill it with water and pour it somewhere.
Plant bag	Lets you carry a large amount of plant goods around. Click on a tile to store all the plants on that tile in the bag. Use the bag again to drop everything on another tile.
Hydroponics spray	Functions similarly to a space cleaner spray. Comes with ammonia. You might want to empty it and fill it with your own special mixture. You can spray this on hydroponics trays to add chemicals to them.

Subject:	Description:
Identifying Genes	Modifying your plants can require a lot of work and you may want to take notes during it. Gene labels are reordered and randomized each round, so identifying them requires some trial an error in figuring out which gene corresponds to what trait. Using the plant analyzer will be a great help during this. If you see a plant has a desired trait, try to extract one gene at a time from that plant and apply it to another. Once you see that the desired changes have occurred, you've identified the gene. A gene label represents the same trait across all plants. Some traits won't do much, while others can have drastic effects.
Mutating plants	Radioactive compounds might mutate your plants. Unlike the above process, this relies on RNG. It can kill the plant, change its properties or create an entirely new species. The plant might even start producing new chemicals.
Keeping your plants alive	Plants are living things and they can die of old age or if not taken care of. Make sure to remove pests and weeds. Some chemicals are beneficial and provides nutrients, while others can be toxic. If your plant is unhealthy, it might contain a lot of toxins, be weeded or contain pests. Providing your plants with water and nutrients will make them slowly heal.

Weapons Research

Should you decide to abandon your medical oath, then you might use your expansive chemical knowledge to tinker with custom chemical grenades. The idea behind a grenade is simple: it mixes two beakers on ignition, causing a chemical reaction. Usually an explosion, spreading chemical fire or creating smoke.

The properties of chemical fires are enhanced by the following chemicals: Hydrogen, Oxygen, Phosphorus, Thermite, Welding Fuel, Methane and Chlorine Trifluoride.

How to make a custom explosive grenade:

Autolathe 2 large beakers (Buckets also work)
Autolathe 1 Large Chem Grenade or make a grenade casing from 1 metal
Grab the sensor of your choice and 1 igniter from an Autolathe
Put potassium in one large beaker using the chem dispenser (Click it in your hand to use a lid)
Put an equal amount of water into the other beaker
Place both containers into the grenade casing by clicking on it with the beaker in your active hand
Use a screwdriver (from Autolathe or a toolbox) on an igniter to make it ready to attach
Configure your sensor as you see fit by using it in hand.
Use a screwdriver on the sensor until it's ready to attach
Attach the sensor to the igniter; use the screwdriver on the assembly to make it "ready"
If you use the assembly it should spark after the sensor triggers
Add the ready assembly to the grenade casing by clicking on it
Use the screwdriver to ready the grenade. You are now done.

60 units of each potassium and water is a medium boom. 90 units of each is a serious bang. 120 units each might breach the ship's walls.

Try out different mixes of chemicals. Just remember that certain combinations will instantly react and should not be allowed in the same beaker. For instance, if you filled one beaker with 60u potassium and tried to add 60u of water, it'll blow up in your face.

The following sensors can be used with custom grenades:

TIMER: Set the parameters on the timer before inserting the timer assembly into the grenade shell. When the grenade is fully assembled, you'll have to click the grenade one more time to prime it and start the timer's program.
PROXIMITY SENSOR: Set the parameters on the proximity sensor before inserting its assembly into the grenade shell. When the grenade is fully assembled, you'll have to click the grenade one more time to prime it and start the proximity sensor's program. It's also useful as a doorbell.
IR LASER: Before attaching it to anything else, rotate the IR laser to your desired direction by clicking on it. One way to use the laser is to attach it to a signaler to detonate a grenade. It's also useful as a doorbell.

Your Skillset

To find out about how the skill system works head over to the skills system page.