How To Get To The Sea Emperor In Subnautica

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Yeah.. you're not supposed to click on this wiki if you don't want some story spoilers.

General Description

The Sea Emperor Leviathan is a colossal, leviathan class species, with the longest that has ever been recorded at a staggering 160 - 200 m. It is also the biggest living creature encountered in the planet. Fortunately, its diet is consist of microscopic creatures - planktons and the like. The most important thing to know about sea emperor leviathan is its capability of producing enzyme 42, an enzyme capable of inhibiting the kharaa infection.

Appearance

Sea Emperor Leviathan has almost the same body figure as the Sea Dragon Leviathan. It has 7 tentacles at the end of its body, help to propel its large body across the ocean. Instead of webbed claws, Sea Emperor has sea turtle-like paddles. Sea Emperor head is shaped hammerhead-like with two yellow luminescent-tipped antennas. It has two pair of light blue eyes and a mouth in between two mandibles.

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Bioluminescent

Behaviour

Not much is known about the Sea Emperor, besides the information the Almanac race provides us with. As stated before, sea emperor leviathan species is planktivore, exclusively eats microscopic creature. They move in small herds around ocean trenches, only coming to the surface to feed off huge volumes of microorganisms. They produce enzyme 42 within its stomach cavity to break down their food and will occasionally expel it into surrounding waters. Even then, there's no evidence to support the assumption that all members of this species were immune from the bacteria. Although the emperor found in the containment facility was 1600 years old, it actually lived longer than the peak lifespan for its species.

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Its shell casing is formed from thick layers of carbon-composite, suggesting an extensive gestation period.

In their normal life cycle, mating and egg-laying are likely infrequent. Sea emperor leviathans may give birth once in a century, or perhaps once in their lifetimes. Furthermore, they have preferred egg-laying environment, as well as their eggs' hatching conditions. After the extensive gestation period, they bury their eggs in shallow waters, where different organic materials in the soil will trigger a hatching response (based on the hatching enzyme recipe, these organic materials would be eye stalk, tree mushroom, ghost weed, sea crown, and bulb bush). The presence of these eggs' parents are also essential for their hatching conditions. At a young age, their offspring split off to form their own herds elsewhere.

Sea Emperor Leviathan Research Data

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SPECIMEN SIZE CATEGORIES HAVE BEEN ADJUSTED UPWARD TO ACCOMMODATE THIS SPECIES

1. Feeding & Digestion

Alien research data indicates that despite its size this species feeds entirely on microorganisms it filters from the water, which themselves depend on a complicated ecosystem of plant and animal life.

2. Reproduction

Large, ovary-like organs are carried in the creature's middle section, suggesting that like other species on this planet it produces eggs, however internal scar tissue indicates probable infertility.

3. Enzyme 42

The emperor manufactures Enzyme 42 within its stomach cavity to break down its food, and will occasionally expel it into the surrounding waters. This substance was found to neutralize the effects of the bacterium, and its presence in the ecosystem today would explain how life on the planet survived the outbreak. It would remain to be explained by what mechanism the enzyme is being delivered.

4. Health

Comparative analysis of size and metabolic rates indicates the specimen captured by the researchers was approximately 1,600 years old. Extensive internal and external scar tissue suggest it had lived well in excess of the peak lifespan for its species.

Assessment: While a healthy emperor specimen may have held some potential as a cure, it is unlikely any research subjects survived quarantine procedures.

The Sea Emperor's Lifecycle

Available biological data has been used to synthesize the effects of the alien bacterium on the sea emperor's natural lifecycle.

This creature likely lived and moved in small herds around the planet's ocean trenches, coming to the surface to feed off the huge volumes of microorganisms in the shallower waters. Family size would be strictly limited by available food supply. Offspring would likely split off at a young age to form their own herds elsewhere.

Given their sparse population, mating and egg-laying were likely infrequent, perhaps a once in a lifetime event. The species likely had a preferred environment for egg-laying - in fact successful hatching may depend on such conditions. Given the rarity of this event, it is impossible to calculate those conditions precisely.

There is no evidence to support the assumption that all members of the species were immune from the alien bacterium. Even if this is so, there is evidence that introduction of the bacterium decimated life on the planet, and this would have had catastrophic effects on the emperors' food supply and survival rate.

The symbiotic relationship between this specimen and other lifeforms likely developed as a direct result of the bacterial infection. Those lifeforms which learned to keep the emperor alive survived with its help. This may explain the vast tracts of lifeless ocean in a rough perimeter around the emperor's location.

Sea Emperor Juvenile Database

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A juvenile emperor specimen. It is producing a highly potent form of Enzyme 42, which should be capable of fully curing individuals of the alien bacterium.

This species hatches relatively fully formed and independent, perhaps reflecting the fact they must fend for themselves when they are first born away from their parents.

This specimen is healthy, and exhibiting signs of a positive attitude to life.

Trivia

1. Early concept art of Sea Emperor Leviathan has large claws, instead of paddle-like limbs.

2. Sea emperor leviathan's dialogue indicates that the Almanac may not be able to hear its telepathy.

3. There are some developmental documents that refer to Sea Emperor as 'Grand Leviathan'.

4. Indicated by one of its databank entry, Sea Emperor Leviathan is the largest identified species in the universe.

5. Three of Sea Emperor Leviathan juveniles are found in Sector Zero, the area of Below Zero.

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Sea Emperor Leviathan Source

Sea Emperor Leviathan Juvenile Source

Sea Emperor Leviathan Baby Source

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