VatSlime is a tough, filmy, opaque byproduct of standard Vat operations that requires regular scrubbing and scraping to prevent dangerous blockage of, or damage to, machinery and flow systems. It has, however, been a key ingredient in the development of many Alpha Complex innovations, such as B3, Bioreplicate Amoxcyllicyan, Diphenhydromegatoxine and self-darning SupraSox, so a certain quantity of growth is maintained in special fallow Vats.
Given the considerable variety of foodstuffs prepared in Alpha Complex, there are only three significant types of catalogued VatSlime - yellow, blue and puce. Each variety of Slime encourages different growths of fungus, mold and bacteria. Given the right combination of conditions, a huge variation in growths can be fostered and harvested, a living carpet of natural base ingredients for medication, nutritional supplements, bio-suppressants and more.
Scientific analysis of VatSlime has identified it as a potentially autotrophic organism, capable of synthesizing its own food from inorganic substances, using light or chemical energy. Left unhindered and unmaintained, VatSlime has been known to eat through fully armoured walls, and disintegrate whole Vats in a matter of weekcycles.
For some the disgusting appearance and creeping growth of VatSlime has led to its use as a derogatory term for slothful, resource-wasting Citizens (certain extremist elements have even suggested that HPD & MC could simply be rebranded VatSlime without any hassle or flicker of dispute from the general populace). However, for others the hardy persistence and unusual growths of the VatSlime have led to a certain grudging appreciation, and some have gone so far as to keep small patches of VatSlime as a 'pet' (indeed, several IntSec raids on fallow vats have uncovered the repeated presence of cooing and glassy-eyed Sierra Clubbers camped out, apparently for weekcycles, watching the VatSlime grow).
Certain science experts on the bleeding edge of Alpha Complex research have pondered the possibility that VatSlime, under certain circumstances, may be capable of developing rudimentary intelligence and self-sentience. Day-to-day exposure to entirely safe and not to be worried about ultra-violet radiation from Complex lighting arrays is believed to have the potential to react with certain gases contained within VatSlime to create the building blocks for life itself. Aside from R&D interest in this aspect of VatSlime, Tech Services have also quarantined certain offline Vat facilities to investigate the use of certain VatSlime byproducts in enhancement of Alpha Complex cloning processes.
The presence of VatSlime in dietary supplements has proven an issue in maintaining Total_Oral_Cleansing protocols amongst the citizens of Alpha Complex. The steady build-up of Slime on teeth and gums has been clearly linked with marked declines in happiness, dependability and loyalty - highlighting a possible link between VatSlime and Communism. Use of Toothpasty Supplements has helped keep VatSlime growth in check - and developments like the Aural_Static_Taste_Enhancer and Robobraces have shown very promising results in reversing the effects of VatSlime.
Aside from its deletery reactions on teeth, unchecked VatSlime deposits have started creeping into transtubes, supply conduits and sanitary ducts. Blockages of this nature undoubtedly impacted on many aspects of events leading up to the events of the Toothpaste_Disaster. While the UV filtration project, headed by Sali-V-ATE-4, failed to offer the right solution for the purification of drinking water (ref., Aqua_Purity_Emergency_Sediment_and_Chemical_Interception_Team), it did provide a means to combat VatSlime. At certain wavelengths the UV effects cause the Slime to soften and, ultimately, liquify, massively simplifying an otherwise arduous cleaning process. However, these developments were too late to prevent VatSlime involvement in the Alternative_Troubleshooter_Team_Insertion_Conduit_(ATTIC) incident, in the midst of the Toothpaste_Disaster. VatSlime involvement in the Zero_Tolerance_Mouthwash_Accident also certainly impacted the responses by certain agencies involved in handling the Disaster.
Oddly, VatSlime was also implicit in the rise of the League_of_Extraordinary_Dadaists, following the Disaster. What involvement it might have had is unclear, but certain rumours suggest that the combination of knowledge within the Manifesto_Out_of_Space_and_Time and the inherent potential for life within VatSlime resulted in the creation of a monstrous bio-construct that now resides somewhere within the Phantom_Sectors and has been eating Troubleshooter Team faster than they can be reliably despatched.
-- Costin-U-MOR-8
Refs: Alternative_Troubleshooter_Team_Insertion_Conduit_(ATTIC), Aqua_Purity_Emergency_Sediment_and_Chemical_Interception_Team, Aural_Static_Taste_Enhancer, B3, Diphenhydromegatoxine, League_of_Extraordinary_Dadaists, Manifesto_Out_of_Space_and_Time, Phantom_Sectors, Robobraces, Toothpaste_Disaster, Total_Oral_Cleansing, Zero_Tolerance_Mouthwash_Accident
Commentary:
I seem to recall that one of the varieties of VatSlime - blue, maybe? - is a powerful hallucinogen, making the stuff highly popular among the Mystics. If the League_of_Extraordinary_Dadaists has an interest in VatSlime, that might be connected. The available depictions of Dadaist behavior seem compatible with the idea that they are under the influence of powerful psychopharmaceuticals. And if the Manifesto_Out_of_Space_and_Time were laced with the same chemicals, it might explain the aberrant behavior of its readers.
Paul-U: could you check the Forenso-Comp breakdown on Drake-U-LAH-1's blood? See if there's some VatSlime psychotropics floating around in there. I'd much rather accept that explanation than any of this supernatural nonsense.
-- Jan-U-ARY-31