Bioweapon

"Bioweapon" is a term used to describe living organisms - captured or created - for utilization in battle or warfare. Bioweapons are often augmented, either through cybernetic enhancement or as a result of genetic alteration or mutation. According to Samus Aran and Commander Adam Malkovich, the use of bioweapons is unethical as well as illegal, at least within the Galactic Federation.

The BOTTLE SHIP incident

In its later days, the Galactic Federation has a history of using bioweapons, initially gathering species from various planets to create a special-forces unit modeled after the Space PirateZebesians on the BOTTLE SHIP. This eventually leads to the creation of Metroids, which were cloned to be used as bioweapons from fragments of DNA found on Samus Aran's Power Suit after her mission on planet Zebes. However, these experiments are conducted in secrecy, and as such, is not supported by the majority of the Federation, but rather a "small group" that uses a report written by Adam Malkovich as the basis for their operations.

When the secretive faction of the Federation discovers how successful their Metroid-cloning operation has become, they decide to "delete" the majority of the facility, in favor of the area where the Metroids are being propagated: Sector Zero. Unfortunately for them, the chairman of the Galactic Federation has plans to send a squadron to the BOTTLE SHIP to investigate a distress signal emanating from there. It is then decided that they will place a mole amongst the squadron to prevent the others from discovering the true nature of the facility, and kill any remaining survivors. This "Deleter" will also remove any traces of the previous plan to create a force modeled after the Space Pirates. Another complication soon presents itself, however; the Bounty HunterSamus Aran has also responded to the distress signal, threatening the Deleter's mission, and making her another target. Samus is successful in discovering the true nature of the Federation's plans, however, and along with Anthony Higgs and Adam's sacrifice, put an end to the Federation's plot to turn the Metroids into a force of power.

The Biologic Space Laboratories research station incident

Sometime after the BOTTLE SHIP incident, several specimens from the BOTTLE SHIP are transported to another research station; the Biologic Space Laboratories research station. There, the Biological Space Laboratories company recreates the SR388 ecosystem to research the different creatures in each habitat. Unlike the BOTTLE SHIP, however, the B.S.L. station's main purpose is supposedly to observe and research on fauna and flora instead of convertinh them into bioweapons.

Samus Aran is employed to protect researchers on SR388 sent to search for samples. Unfortunately, Samus becomes host to an unknown creature that attacks her on the planet. It is only later that the scientists discover that she is infected with a deadly, destructive parasite that kills its victims, then reforms themselves in their victim's image and absorbs both their DNA and intelligence.

Samus is cured later, and shortly afterward, an outbreak occurs on the B.S.L. station. Samus is sent to investigate. While there, she learns that the station is carrying a few bioweapon remnants from the BOTTLE SHIP, as specimens such as Ridley's clone and Nightmare that she has previously seen there are present here. Also, she learns that Metroids are being propagated once again, but this time, according to her ship's computer, have been created for "peaceful" applications, most likely based on the baby's life-saving properties.

Around this time, the Galactic Federation takes extreme interest in the X Parasites, assuming they have "limitless" potential, and are possibly planning to use the parasites as bioweapons or another sinister application. Samus, knowing the X's deadly characteristics, objects to this decision, as the entire universe will succumb to the parasites if they are ever able to overwhelm the people attempting to use them, resulting in a breakout. Therefore, she ultimately decides to detonate the B.S.L. station and collide it with SR388, eliminating the X threat on both the station and the planet. She succeeds in destroying all three, although the consequences of her actions have not yet been revealed.

Space Pirate bioweapons

Space Pirates, who seemingly have no regard for any laws but their own, have no objections to using bioweapons. In fact, they frequently enslave other species for their machinations. One example is the Preed, believed to be a cybernetically-enhanced subspecies of the Puffer, bred to patrol areas of importance for the Pirates.

The Space Pirates also experiment with Phazon, forcibly infusing it with many other species in attempts to create powerful bioweapons for battle. The Parasite Queen is a notable bioweapon experiment created by the Pirates, created through exposure to Phazon radiation.

The Korakk Beast could be considered another species of bioweapon used by the Pirates. Encountered on Bryyo, special Pirate Hussars ride Korakks as steeds in battle.

Chozo bioweapons

Metroids

Faced with the grave threat represented by X Parasites of SR388, the Thoha tribe of the Chozo civilization created the Metroids with the intention of using them as a means of controlling the parasites' spread, but not using them for violence. In the Chozo Memories of Metroid: Samus Returns, the Chozo were able to work alongside Metroid larvae, which were also engineered to be loyal to their creators, allowing them to successfully contain the X.

However, it is implied that the exposure of Aeion energy in the environment caused the Metroids to mature into their higher forms, which apparently caused them to become more aggressive and begin to turn against their creators. Unable to control the Metroids, the Chozo decided to lock them in stasis along with all other native bioforms using a purple liquid which will also harm any non-native species and even those wearing Chozo Power Suit technology. The purple liquid can only be drained by Chozo Seals, which require Metroid DNA to unlock, forcing anyone who wishes to descend further to exterminate the local Metroids. However, after sealing most of the more dangerous Metroids, the Chozo overseers were betrayed and executed by the Mawkin tribe's leader Raven Beak, who sought to use the Metroids as bioweapons, much like the Space Pirates and the ringleaders.

While Metroids are known as a threat to the Federation, they employ Samus Aran to eliminate them. Eventually, the Federation and the Space Pirates attempt to control the Metroids for their own purposes. It is implied in the manual for Metroid Fusion that the Federation eventually realizes the true nature of the Metroids once the existence of the X parasites is discovered. Ironically the Galactic Federation and Space Pirates both attempt to use the Metroids as bioweapons only for these efforts to be foiled by Samus.

Other bioweapons

The violent Mawkin tribe used the facility of Dairon on their homeworld ZDR to create a number of unique and hostile creatures, presumably for use as bioweapons. One of these is Experiment No. Z-57, which, according to the Chozo Archives, was tended to by the sole remaining Thoha Quiet Robe at some point before Metroid Dread. Samus finds Experiment No. Z-57 dead in Dairon, but it is later reanimated by the X Parasites, which use the experiment's fleshy mass to block the routing of thermal energy on ZDR, causing the deeper regions of the planet to freeze over.

Alimbic bioweapons

Recovered Lore from the lost Alimbic race indicates that they also deployed bioweapons to defend their territory from some unknown threat. Although signs of bioweapons development remain in Alimbic installations such as the Vesper Defense Outpost, all Alimbic security systems encountered in their ruins seem to be entirely mechanical. However, it is possible that some or all of those security devices are actually partially biological in nature, or that the aggressive "wild" animals populating many of the sites may actually be bioweapons of a more conventional sort.

Enoema bioweapons

The Enoema Living Weapons project attempts to develop an emotionless supersoldier; this results in the creation of Kanden. However, the mental-encoding process goes wrong, leaving Kanden extremely powerful, but also insane, causing him to destroy the laboratory and kill the scientists before departing into space and becoming a Bounty Hunter. Kanden's Volt Driver and StinglarvaAlt-Form are also a result of the project's bioweapons research.