Documents/Searchlights
Description
This document details the history, biology, and hunting techniques of the Searchlights. This document can be unlocked after dying to a Searchlight twice, with each death unlocking more of the document.
Document
Searchlights
The "Vultus Limunaria" species, dubbed "Searchlights" by personnel, is a species of whale-size organisms found exclusively in the Let-Vand zone. They are speculated to have been around for 80 million years, as proven by skeletal remains found throughout the trench. An autopsy has shown that it's related to echinoderms, which just goes to show how much it has evolved over the years. No Z-classification has been given, due to them simply being considered wild animals. The average Vultus has 4 eyes located on its stomach. In between said eyes, is a large gaping mouth, with many rows of teeth. On the top front of its body is a heavily armored shell, on the back is what can only be described as a spike cluster. On its rear, it has 2 fins and a long tail that it uses for movement and stabilization. An estimated 350 Vultus are currently alive in the Let-Vand zone.
The "Vultus Limunaria" species gets its name after its hunting technique. The 4 aforementioned eyes have bright beams of light illuminating from them, and they use those beams to scour the sea floor, looking for food. Once prey has been spotted by one of its eyes, what can only be described as a harpoon, will shoot out of the mouth at the prey, impaling it and pulling it into its maw.
When hostile sea life attempts to attack a Vultus instance, they usually try to attack its top. When the critter realizes that the shell can't be penetrated, and the spikes only harm it, they try either to swim away or swim underneath the belly to try and find a weak spot, which results in the fish immediately getting harpooned, after which it is promptly eaten.
In the event that you are out diving near the sea floor and you encounter a wild Searchlight, simply swimming above it or swimming out of the way should be enough. In the event that neither of these options is possible, the best thing to do is to hide underneath or inside something as it swims by. Trying to manouevre underneath the lights as it passes overhead is not recommended, but it is advised to at least attempt if there are no other options.
There have been a few concerns regarding the Lunar-Grav testing track, and how a Vultus almost swam inside once after a bulkhead was accidentally left open. After this little incident, the exterior bulkheads must now be checked to make sure they're closed properly.