The Strysohris Plague is a mysterious, rapidly-spreading plague that recently emerged in the Qwineb galaxy, named after the planet it was first discovered on, Strysohris. Nobody knows where it came from, but it exclusively targets non-sapient life, such as plants or animals. The effects on the plague on the environment are harrowing; entire forests have been reduced to sickly, decaying rot. Several planets have slowly become uninhabitable for colonists, causing empire territories to shrink.

  Unbeknownst to all, the plague is the creation of an aggressive AI from the Eulpov Corporation, seeking to wipe out all wildlife in the galaxy, making way for the AI to expand in the name of profit.

  The plague can be kept at bay through the use of terraforming tools & other activities that strengthen the local ecosystem & bring life; though it also spreads faster in the presence of pollution- & especially in the presence of any recent already-present death. Any fresh corpse, no matter how small or insignificant, could become a nesting spot for the infection.

  Ironically, or perhaps this was the entire point- this means the plague spreads slower on planets with a lower terrascore, due to the lack of life & thus a lack of death.