Characteristics: STR 0, DEX 8, END 7, INT 0, INST 8, PACK 12 Skills: Stealth 2, Survival 3, Athletics 0 Special: Single-target attacks against the swarm suffer DM−2 unless using flame, aerosol, area-effect, vacuum purge, UV sterilisation, or electrostatic traps. Contaminating Swarm: The mites do no meaningful bite damage. Their danger is what they carry. Any unsealed sophont spending 10 minutes in an infested scrubber stack or contaminated compartment must make END 8+. In an active plague site, this rises to END 10+. On failure: The victim contracts a fungal respiratory contamination. After 1D hours, they suffer fever, coughing, and fatigue: DM−1 to physical checks. Each day untreated, make END 8+. On failure, suffer 1D damage ignoring armour and increase the physical penalty by another −1, to a maximum of DM−3. Three failed daily checks incapacitate the patient. Contaminating Swarm: The mites do no meaningful bite damage. Their danger is what they carry. Any unsealed sophont spending 10 minutes in an infested scrubber stack or contaminated compartment must make END 8+. In an active plague site, this rises to END 10+. On failure: The victim contracts a fungal respiratory contamination. After 1D hours, they suffer fever, coughing, and fatigue: DM−1 to physical checks. Each day untreated, make END 8+. On failure, suffer 1D damage ignoring armour and increase the physical penalty by another −1, to a maximum of DM−3. Three failed daily checks incapacitate the patient. Treatment: Medic 8+ with TL9+ antifungals halts progression. Medic 10+ cures it fully. A proper sealed medbay grants DM+2. Respirators grant DM+2, sealed suits grant immunity unless breached. Scrubber Nest: If the mites are present but the fungus is not cleared, the infestation returns in 1D days. Removing them requires Engineer 8+ or Science (biology) 8+ plus proper decontamination gear. Holst Use: These are excellent for a slow-burn outbreak: nobody sees the “monster,” but the air system becomes the dungeon.