HOMEWORLD: HYDESPES

Dung-slugs (commonly called schist-bags) are native to Hydespes, where they feed on the considerable excrement of sailsharks. They were imported to Graedius in the 2700s, a natural solution to growing population waste problems. Though they worked well and are still in use, they began spreading to other worlds and evolved rapidly over the generations. New subspecies have been discovered that feed on metal, plants, and even living tissue. These dangerous mutations have been found on several Confederate worlds, whose governments are working feverishly to exterminate them before the situation escalates beyond control. Fortunately, the average lifespan of most dung-slugs is only two years.