Origins/Major Influence: The Underplex (Paranoia Supplement)
Description: This complex has been infested by a fungal parasite. Every aspect of this complex, from waste/corpse filtration to furniture and structural integrity, is provided by this fungal parasite, and in fact, this complex owes its very existence and survival to this fungal parasite. In return, the fungal parasite demands complete and utter obedience from its citizens, which are called myconauts. Each myconaut is infected by this fungus, who limits their demands so thoroughly that they become content with only the most minimum of necessities. Myconauts also end up gaining some of the attributes of the parasitical fungus as a result of this infection: myconauts has considerable physical and mental resistance, do not get tired easily and can regenerate easily. However, myconauts are vulnerable to fire and fungicides, and they need to stay within damp conditions or risk suffering continual damage.
Technically, there is a hierarchical system in Mezcalinzan, but as the parasite exercise total control over its citizens, it's rather token at best.
The fungal parasite' sole purpose is to spread and consume as much as possible. The fungal parasite does treat its citizens fairly well (at least when compared to the standards of other complexes), but its desire for expansion ensures that Mezcalinzan remains incredibly hostile towards outsiders. Myconauts hunt in packs, looking for anyone who has not yet been infected, and then firing "spore guns" at the unlucky victims. The parasite continually hatches plans to determine what new areas should be conquered next, and then launch invasion forces to subdue those areas.
Spy From Another Alpha Complex: For areas that cannot be conquered easily, the parasite resorts to deception. Myconaut "scouts" are deployed to covertly spread the parasite, usually through bioweapons that spread "spores". They are usually given enough training beforehand to develop these bioweapons; all the Myconauts need to do is acquire the necessary ingredients, follow the recipe, and then deploy the bioweapon in a suitable location to avoid getting captured. Myconauts are also advised to find new bioweapon ingredients. "Promotion" within the secret society means that the parasite grant the spy a greater degree of freedom, while reducing the penalties associated with infection.
Important Post-Script Note: While Mezcalinzan may be a rather aggressive entity, this does not mean that outsiders have to be aggressive towards Mezcalinzan in response. In fact, many secret societies, service groups, and complexes may idealize the parasite's control and adaptability, and may seek to "domesticate" it for their own purposes. Some may even dare to call Mezcalinzan a "perfect" utopia with everything carefully provided for by the fungal parasite, overlooking the fact that Myconauts lack free will.