Plasma Bug

A living artillery piece that turns the sky into a weapon of mass destruction.

The Plasma Bug is a specialized variant of the Arachnid hive species, distinguished by its ability to generate and project massive bolts of ionized energy from its abdomen. Unlike the standard combatants, this creature serves as a heavy artillery unit within the alien swarm, capable of leveling city blocks or piercing the armor of Mobile Infantry drop ships with terrifying efficiency. First encountered during the initial invasion of Buenos Aires, these creatures represent one of the most significant threats to human civilization in the early stages of the war. Their presence forces the Federation to adapt its tactics, as conventional small arms are often ineffective against their thick chitinous plating and devastating ranged attacks.

Lore & Background

Specifically, the plot states: 'George Baba, Lt. Baba's cousin and a pilot of Martian National Guard. KIA after his ship was damaged by a plasma bug, crashing directly into it, sacrificing himself.' This indicates that a plasma bug is capable of damaging a ship, but no further lore about its biology, deployment, or hierarchy is provided.

Reader's Guide

The only mention is its role in damaging a ship in the plot of Starship Troopers: Traitor of Mars. No information about its frequency, behavior, or comparison to other variants is available.