Linn’s Psionic Pathogen

Linn’s Psionic Pathogen (LPP) is the name Starfleet Medical uses to refer to a newly discovered sentient alien lifeform that, like a virus, survives by invading and manipulating the biological functions of other lifeforms. It is telepathic, and passes from person to person much like a thought transmitted between two minds. It then alters the neurophysiology of the host to better serve its needs. It seems that, by infecting and consuming sentient minds, it has itself developed sentience. Its current host population and intentions are unknown.

Symptoms
From what has been seen so far, the early symptoms of LPP infection are similar to that of many other illnesses, including headache, and general weakness or discomfort. As the disease progresses, more specific symptoms begin to appear and may include:

Tingling sensation across various parts of the body

Anxiety and agitation

Confusion

Inability to concentrate

Blurry or distorted vision

Muscle spasms and loss of full control of bodily movements

Memory loss

Vivid dreams

Hallucinations

Loss of consciousness.

Walking, speaking clearly, swallowing, writing, reading, and other activities that require fine motor control may be abnormal and disrupted in these patients.

Death usually occurs within days of the onset of these symptoms.

Outbreak on Deep Space Station NL-6
The first known outbreak of LPP happened aboard a privately owned civilian space station on stardate 53680.8. Within a few days, it decimated the population of the space station and spread to the crews of at least two of the ships docked there, including a Klingon K't'inga class cruiser belonging to the House of K'mekh.

Gaining Sentience
"I understand it now! When pathogens successfully leap from one host species to another, they can become victims of their own success, just like I was. If they take over a host population too quickly and kill it, they can rapidly exhaust the supply of available hosts and burn themselves out--drive themselves extinct. I’m just so strong, so powerful, that I naturally burn through whole populations unless I control myself. I need to be smart as well as strong. That’s how I’ll be the most successful lifeform in history!" ― Linn's Psionic Pathogen

[add material here]

"When I infect a host, I subsume a part of them into myself. Their memories, their thoughts, their personality, their whole experience of life becomes part of what I am. As I digested their neural systems--thanks for teaching me that term, by the way--I grew in scope and capability. I became something completely new! Something amazing! [the creature beams with pride]" ― Linn's Psionic Pathogen

Behind the Scenes
LPP is a major NPC that first appeared in the U.S.S. Baikonur scenario "The Index Case" on January 28, 2019.