Brain Bugs represent a distinct species within the Arachnid colony structure, playing a pivotal command and control role within their armies. They possess the unique ability to extract brains, particularly from humans, and harness the knowledge and potentially the memories contained within them.
Starship Troopers novel[]
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The Brain Bug as shown in the 1976 board game Starship Troopers.
A Brain Bug is the leader of a Bug colony of the Pseudo-Arachnids. It is hinted at in the novel that the Brain Bug is telepathic and it is stated that the "brain" shares a symbiotic relationship with the Bug Colony and that if it dies, the colony dies. The "brains" are easily held by humans in their power suits.
Brain Bugs depend entirely upon their workers and warriors to survive, their own bodies possessing "barely functional legs, bloated bodies that were mainly nervous system."
History:[]
During the Operation Royalty, Charles Zim captured a Brain Bug. After Operation Royalty, several Brain Bugs were captured, although none of them survived for long afterward. Starship Troopers
Starship Troopers film universe[]
The Brain Bug captured on Planet P as seen in Starship Troopers (1997 film)
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Brain Bugs?! Frankly, I find the idea of a Bug that thinks offensive! | 
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This variation of the Bug, scientifically designated as Cerebus rex, represents a leadership caste within the Arachnid forces, fulfilling a crucial role as the hive brain for their colonies. Possessing exceptional intelligence, they commanded entire Bug colonies and directed their forces against enemy threats. In contrast to the physically robust Warrior Bug, the Brain Bug exhibited near-complete defenselessness, relying instead on emitting a high-pitched screaming noise capable of rupturing blood vessels in human heads at close range. [1] Physically, they resembled large, fleshy slug-like creatures, incapable of independent locomotion and instead transported by a swarm of Arkellian Sand Beetles or Chariot Bugs. Characterized by multiple eyes resembling those of a spider and a fleshy mouth, they exemplified the distinctive features of their species.
Renowned for their high intelligence, Brain Bugs possess a mastery of telepathic powers, enabling them to exert control over their colonies and ensure efficient operations within. Given their pivotal role within Arachnid hives, they are heavily defended, with Warrior Bugs displaying unwavering dedication to protecting them. Notably, in the event of a direct threat to a Brain Bug, Bug hordes will suspend their attacks until the creature can be safely relocated, underscoring its paramount importance to the Arachnid forces.
One of the most perilous abilities of the Brain Bug is its capability to extract knowledge from the minds of other beings. This feat is achieved through the utilization of a sharp proboscis that extends from its mouth, resembling a vulva in shape. This highly specialized mouth structure is adept at penetrating the skull of sentient beings and accessing the brain directly. Once inside, the Brain Bug initiates the consumption of the prey's brain matter, absorbing all memories and knowledge contained within. Moreover, this process allows Brain Bugs to temporarily utilize the human body to issue calls for reinforcements via radio equipment before disposing of it. Consequently, this grants the Arachnids access to valuable intelligence about their adversaries, enabling them to acquire crucial insights and strategic advantages. Consequently, captured humans were occasionally presented to the Brain Bug for interrogation to extract vital information.[2]
History[]
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You're some kind of big fat smart bug, aren't you? |
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—Johnny Rico threatening the Brain Bug with a nuke, Starship Troopers | ||
The existence of this particular Arachnid variant remained largely concealed from the United Citizen Federation, which initially perceived the Arachnids as disorganized creatures lacking strategic coordination. However, following the catastrophic Battle of Klendathu, during which Federation forces incurred staggering casualties of 308,563 wounded and 100,000 dead within a single hour, analysts within the Federation began to entertain the notion that the Arachnids were under the command of a highly intelligent breed—a theory initially met with skepticism by their peers. Subsequently, directives were issued to the Mobile Infantry to locate and study these purported Brain Bugs as a means of countering the Arachnid threat. Military Intelligence suspected the presence of a Brain Bug on Planet P, a belief substantiated following the loss of Whiskey Outpost, where a Brain Bug orchestrated a trap for Federation forces.
The Brain Bug after being imprisoned for 11 years
A substantial Mobile Infantry force was promptly assembled on Planet P, targeting a Bug colony suspected to harbor a Brain Bug. Under the leadership of Johnny Rico, the force meticulously searched the underground tunnels for the elusive creature. Unbeknownst to them, the region witnessed the crash of an escape pod due to Plasma bug fire, inadvertently leading Zander Barcalow and Carmen Ibanez into the heart of the Bug nest housing the Brain Bug. Tragically, the creature fatally drained Zander Barcalow's brain matter in an attempt to assimilate his knowledge. However, Carmen Ibanez intervened, severing the appendage with a knife before suffering a similar fate. Subsequently, the wounded Brain Bug found itself unexpectedly confronted by Lieutenant Johnny Rico and two of his subordinates, armed with a live nuclear device. Recognizing the imminent threat, the Brain Bug hastily retreated from the tunnels, allowing its Warrior Bugs to address the incursion once it had retreated to a safe distance.
As it attempted to retreat, the Brain Bug inadvertently found itself within the vicinity of the main Mobile Infantry task force. In a remarkable turn of events, it was apprehended by former drill sergeant Zim and his fellow troopers, who successfully extracted the creature from its subterranean habitat. Following its capture, Psychic Military Intelligence officer Carl Jenkins conducted an examination of the Brain Bug and conveyed to the assembled Mobile Infantry forces that it exhibited signs of fear. Subsequently, the Brain Bug was relocated to Area 6 within the Alamo Bay Detention Center on Earth, where it underwent extensive study and experimentation by Military Intelligence in an effort to discern vulnerabilities within the Arachnid forces. Starship Troopers (1997 film)
During its eleven-year captivity, the Brain underwent extensive study overseen by psychic Sky Marshal Omar Anoke, who became significantly influenced by its telepathic abilities. Anoke's subsequent conversion to a religion centered around Behemecoatyl, the God Bug, marked a notable shift in his beliefs. However, Anoke's treacherous actions were brought to light by Admiral Enolo Phid, who presented compelling evidence to Anoke's oblivious associate, Major General Dix Hauser. This evidence included a covert recording of one of Anoke's meetings with the Brain Bug. Following this revelation, Phid and Hauser embarked on an investigative mission to examine the Brain Bug firsthand. Upon their arrival, it was decided to euthanize the Brain for further anatomical analysis. Unbeknownst to the operatives, the Brain comprehended their intentions and, perceiving its life to be in jeopardy, broke free from its confinement and unleashed a deafening scream in an attempt to incapacitate the humans. Tragically, several guards and Phid's associate lost their lives in the ensuing chaos. Witnessing the imminent danger posed to the Admiral, Hauser managed to obtain a weapon and swiftly terminated the creature by administering multiple fatal shots to its head, ultimately ending its life. Starship Troopers 3: Marauder
Starship Troopers: Terran Ascendancy[]
The Brain Bug initially appears in the mission "Royalty II" as a primary objective for capture. Subsequently, it reappears in missions such as "Desert Swarm" as the field command of the Arachnids, augmenting the combat capabilities of other species of bugs. In the presence of a Brain Bug, the Arachnids display heightened aggression, actively seeking out Mobile Infantry units across the map rather than passively patrolling around bug holes. As missions progress, multiple Brain Bugs may be encountered on the battlefield, sometimes numbering four or five.
Similar to the first movie adaptation, Chariot bugs can serve as indicators of the presence of Brain Bugs.
While Brain Bugs are largely immobile, they possess formidable psychic abilities. In addition to commanding their minions, they can induce panic among Mobile Infantry units, particularly those lacking power suits, and inflict damage through mind blasts, including the ability to deflect missiles. It is strongly recommended to eliminate Brain Bugs expeditiously, with airstrikes being the preferred method. Alternatively, a MIST Trooper can dispatch a Brain Bug with a single shot from a sniper rifle.
Upon the demise of a Brain Bug, all bugs on the map will be temporarily incapacitated as their "command chain" requires time to be reestablished.
Roughnecks: Starship Troopers Chronicles[]
This strain of Bug were created to serve as a leadership caste amongst the Arachnid armies. As such, they served as moving telepathic nodes that served as important generals for the Bugs where they coordinated all activity through a form of mind control. They served an extremely vital role and typically, a Bug colony consisted of only a single Brain Bug who directed its military forces against enemy incursions. The death of the creature has a dramatic effect on the Bugs as they can go mad from its death and turn on one another with their entire coordination falling apart. In terms of appearance, the Brain Bug is a large beast that is almost too fat to move by itself. Their telepathic talents are not restricted to command duties as the creature is equally capable of using it offensively by directing powerful psychic blasts that can harm groups of enemies. It should be noted that the Brain Bug is highly intelligent and vicious, capable of using tactics to combat a foe such as wounding a single enemy in order to distract their comrades.
A more deadly ability of the beast is a spiky sucker appendage that came out of its slit-like mouth. When this organ extended, the sharp pincer is capable of piercing the skull of an enemy where the Brain Bug extract their brain in order to add any of the gained knowledge to the hive mind collective. This allowed the Bug to learn any secrets that the enemy captive knew and use it to the advantage of the Arachnid forces. Such information can be used to learn troop movements or other vital data in order to plan traps as well as ambushes.
History[]
A Brain Bug and its guards.
The existence of the Brain Bugs were largely unknown to SICON forces during the war against the Bugs. Their first indirect sighting was during the Hydora Campaign where the Brain Bug on Hydora sent a telepathic message to psychic soldier Carl Jenkins where it told him to deliver a message to the rest of humanity - that message was that the Bugs would not stop until every human was killed thus highlighting that the conflict was a battle of the species.
This same Brain Bug was later responsible for killing off members of a Mobile Infantry squad where it sucked their brains out and absorbed their knowledge. Using this information, it plotted a trap for Jean Razak's Roughnecks and managed to capture them where the Brain Bug attempted to absorb the information in Johnny Rico's brain. Before it could accomplish this task, the Brain Bugs base was assault by the Mobile Infantry led by Carl Jenkins who had probed a wounded MI trooper of the incident. Threatened, the Brain Bug damaged trooper Rico's powersuit in order to kill him and unleashed a powerful telepathic attack against the Roughnecks. But, it was counterattack psychically by trooper Jenkins who destroyed it with his mental powers. Before it died, the Brain Bug told Jenkins that it was not an only child and that there were other Brain Bugs in space. The death of the creature allowed the Roughnecks and the Mobile Infantry squads to depart from the nest without worry of the other Bugs who had turned against each other after the loss of the telepathic control of the Brain Bug.[episode needed]
At some point after the domination of the native Skinnies population, a Brain Bug was put in place on the planet Tophet and used the Control Bugs as a way of maintaining control over the Skinnies. After the Skinnies captured Razaks Roughnecks during the Tophet Campaign, Sergeant Francis Brutto and trooper Carl Jenkins were brought before a separate isolated chamber where they the Brain Bug which sought to drain their cranium's of their knowledge. However, the two troopers managed to defeat the Skinnie guards and took their shock sticks which they turned against the Brain Bug which was killed by their electrical attacks.[episode needed]
It was suspected that a Brain Bug existed on the planet Tesca Nemerosa during the conflict on that world. The Roughnecks were tasked with eliminating the nest but the information proved to be false as they discovered that it contained a hive which was home to Nurser Bugs which were breeding mutated evolved strains of Arachnids.[episode needed]
Notes[]
- In the game Starship Troopers: Invasion "Mobile Infantry," following the successful clearing of the Bug Hive beneath Fort Casey by the Roughnecks K-12 team, the absence of the Queen Bug from her chambers was noted, indicating that she had already been apprehended by Carl Jenkins and the Marine Corps. Henry Varro's speculation to his team regarding the likelihood of Brain Bugs eliminating the Queen during close combat suggests the potential presence of Brain Bugs preceding the Battle of Fort Casey. This narrative element draws a parallel to the original novel, where Brain Bugs are tasked with eliminating the Queen in the event of a perceived threat to the hive.
Appearances[]
- Starship Troopers (novel)
- Starship Troopers (board wargame)
- Starship Troopers film universe
- Roughnecks: Starship Troopers Chronicles
References[]