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As you will see in the Bacterium
and Bacterial Gridlock
sections, the Kharaa have a kind of network of
their own – that is constantly struggling with
ours on a microscopic level. Though they have
no commander or leader, they can clearly receive
and send information, coordinate their efforts
to respond to threats, and organize assaults.
The nano-battle between the bacterium and our
nanotech creates what has been termed "nano-gridlock".
It greatly reduces the effectiveness of the commander,
in the following ways:
Blindness
The commander cannot see the Kharaa, or their
hives or chambers, unless marines are nearby.
Every Frontiersman has a defensive nano-grid,
originally used to protect them against enemy
biological and nanotech attacks. These screens
clear away some of the gridlock from the local
command network, allowing commanders to see enemy
threats before troops on the ground can. Listen
to your commander – it can save your life. See
also motion
tracking and sensor
sweep for other methods of detecting the alien
presence.
Build limits
The bacterium interferes with construction, making
it difficult to create structures, or drop weapons.
Bases provide "clean" zones, and some
Frontiersmen towers – like the turret factory
for instance, have boosted nano-signatures that
resist meddling. Once built, many structures allow
other structures and equipment to be created nearby.
Ammo and medkits can be dropped anywhere –
due to their simple design and some clever TSA
hacking.
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