ON COSMONISMS
---Whilst the origin of cosmonisms remains uncertain, in recent duodecades there has been significant progress made in the field of cosmonic zoology. As to the various theories that abound, I will only briefly note that all postulated explanations of their origin have yet to withstand scrutiny; A. G. Garis is perhaps the most outspoken proponent that they are “a by-product of human colonisation”; the FOTA seems certain they bear the mark of machine work and those of the Burcanian school suggest an altogether alien beginning.
In order to illustrate the full wonderous breadth of complexity that these creatures hold, allow me to introduce a few specific forms that you might encounter should you venture into those regions-interstellar, habituated by the cosmopods.
Ystatozoa [/i:sˌtatəʊˈzəʊə/, ee-sta-to-zoa] (the broad name for space-dwelling cosmonisms) exist as giant, complex, organic, near mechanical structures. They appear translucent due to their exterior cell walls commonly composed of silica microtubules. This non-crystalline structure forms a semi-rigid lattice, able to bend, stretch and, most importantly, allow a controlled flow of substance into and out of the cosmonism. Ystatozoa with neural structures have yet to be discovered.
Cosmonisms are commonly divided into heterotrophs and autotrophs. Of the autotrophs, the heliotrophs derive their energies from stellar radiation and can be found in the near orbit of stars, whilst dynatrophs derive their energies from the minute field fluctuations in the vacuum of space and can survive deep into the uncharted void. Heterotrophs, on the other hand, gain energy in the consumption and digestion of inert matter such as nebulous gas, asteroids, planetoids, or, more commonly, other cosmopods. Heterotrophs have been found thriving across many varied regions of the observed universe.
Whilst all ystatozoa are at the whims of solar winds, gravitational tides, and space-bound debris, almost all known species have developed methods of movement which vary from species to species. Velates, for example, extend large sail-like structures and attempt to harness the propulsion of natural forces such as solar winds. Ejectates, on the other hand, expel their own propellant, often waste matter from digestion, and manoeuvre themselves in that way. Great pseudopodia, however, are perhaps the more perplexing as they are able to alter their molecular state from solid to gas and back again. This cosmopod will alter a part of itself into a gaseous form, disperse, then reform in its new position. Such a process has also allowed this class of cosmonism to consume matter and even engulf space vehicles.
Even the simplest of the ‘spacimals’ (as the layman terms them) bares such immense beauty and majesty; the single-celled macrostentor, for example, identifiable by their long tubular shape, are noted for being among the largest known single-cellular cosmonisms and have been recorded reaching sizes of up to 12 billion kilometres across with a mass of 6 solar masses. Such forms could theoretically consume entire systems, as some mythmakers and wayward mariners have alleged to have witnessed.
Another stunning aspect of the macro cosmonic universe is when different spacimals find symbiotic harmony and form colonies. Aphanizomenon major, for example, exists as two symbiotic cosmonisms that form rigid, thin stalks that are particularly adapted to stretch across asteroid belts. Voltox too is notable for spherical colonies stretching far across regions of warp trails, often disturbing space freighter routes.
Some species have adapted a symbiosis with human systems. The species nallonas, for example, has adapted to consume by-products of spacecraft fuel and expel gases useful to humans. Nallonas and other similar species have thus far been---
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ANAX