Type: Genetically Engineered Crop
Developer: Juno Corporation
Status: Unapproved by ComAg (Compact Agricultural Commission) for open-field cultivation
First Planted On: Amargosa, 429 IE (illegally)
Overview
Creeper is a fast-growing, multipurpose genetically engineered vine developed by Juno, a shadowy biotech firm known for circumventing Compact regulatory systems. Its dense, fibrous structure and nutrient profile make it a highly attractive food source—with leaves similar to kale or lettuce, stalks comparable to broccoli, and sap with a cheese-like flavor. The vine also produces cashew-like seeds and potato-like root systems, making it one of the most versatile engineered crops in known space.
Growth Characteristics
Creeper is designed for flatland farming, with explosive growth potential under high-moisture conditions. A single vat of seed-like spores can cover a 10-hectare field within a week, especially after rainfall. The plant is self-replicating and aggressive, raising concerns about soil contamination, cross-crop interference, and ecological displacement.
Due to these risks, ComAg, Mars’s agricultural authority, has repeatedly denied Juno field-testing approval on core worlds and regulated colonies. Vertical farms have seen limited use under tight containment.
Use on Amargosa
In 429 IE, Lucius Kray accepts a covert shipment of creeper from Marcus Leitman, who represents Juno. In exchange for illegal KR-27 assault rifles, Kray permits experimental cultivation in Dagar Township, justifying the crop as a test case. The use of creeper is initially kept secret from Compact and Martian authorities.
Creeper’s introduction becomes a symbolic act of rebellion against off-world control, framed as agricultural innovation but ultimately entangled in the formation of the Citizens’ Militia and prelude to the Gelt invasion.
Controversy and Impact
Critics of creeper highlight the plant’s unchecked growth, unknown ecological consequences, and potential to destroy native or Earth-sourced crops. Supporters, particularly frontier populists, argue it represents a step toward agricultural independence.
Creeper’s use on Amargosa marks one of the first documented instances of a colony circumventing ComAg via illicit biotech trade, with broader implications for food sovereignty, militia financing, and corporate subversion of Compact law.
Appearances: Gimme Shelter, Storming Amargosa, Suicide Run