Project Helix

An Elite Pirate, creation of Project Helix.

Project Helix is a Space Pirate program that involves infusing Space Pirate DNA with Phazon. The first attempts were failures, most died before maturing. Those that survived become violent, destroying everything in sight. After much experimentation with different strains of Phazon, they finally managed to succeed.

The Space Pirates termed their experiments Elite Pirates: larger, stronger, and more resilient than average Pirates. The Space Pirates would train them by allowing them to kill those that had become maddened due to Phazon exposure. Given their high success rates in simulations against Samus Aran, their ability to wield and use a variety of weapons, and their incredible resilience, they were considered for mass production for use in the Space Pirate military.

Equipment

The subjects of Project Helix wield a variety of powerful offensive and defensive equipment.

• Wave Quake Generators: These are used to generate a massive wave of energy and are the primary weapon used by Elite Pirates.

• Plasma Artillery Cannons: Shoulder mounted weapons. It has a major vulnerability: the heat signature given off by most allows for targeting.

• Energy Absorption System: Siphons beam weapon shots to power the Plasma Artillery Cannons. A design flaw in Elite Pirate Upsilon's absorption system cannot handle missile fire.

• Chameleon Manta: Used for cloaking purposes but requires massive amounts of power. The only known subject wielding it is Elite Pirate Upsilon

Creations of Project Helix

Elite Pirates

Main Article: Elite Pirate

Elite Pirates are the most encountered creation of Project Helix. Samus battles three in the Phazon Mines. The heat signature given off by their Plasma Cannons is a weakness Samus may exploit.

Phazon Elite

Main Article: Phazon Elite

Samus Aran encounters only one Phazon Elite; she must defeat it in order to claim the Artifact of Warrior. It does not carry a Plasma Cannon. It has a low life span, but this is of little concern to the Pirates.

Elite Pirate Upsilon

Main Article: Omega Pirate

Known as the Omega Pirate, this is the most powerful of the Elite Pirate forces and the pinnacle of Project Helix. Simulations gave it low life expectancy and due to the massive amounts of Phazon used in its creation, it is not very cost effective for mass production.

Pirate Data

• Phazon Infusion:

Confidence is high regarding Phazon applications. We know enough about Phazon now to begin combining it with Space Pirate DNA. The code name for this venture will be 'Project Helix'. Preliminary studies indicate that Phazon infusion could produce radical Pirate genomes. Benevolent mutation levels are high in current test subjects. Phazon madness is a concern, but refinements in the infusion process should reduce or neutralize the odds of mental degeneration.

• Elite Pirates:

Initial Project Helix experiments with Space Pirate embryos were disastrous. The Phazon-infusion process degenerated brain tissue even as it augmented muscle mass. None of what termed Elite Pirates lived to maturity; the few that survived their infanthood suffered severe psychotic breakdowns as juveniles, killing anything within their zone of perception. Research team Sclera made a recent breakthrough, in which parasite studies with a Phazon strain code-named Vertigo were highly successful. Since then we have successful fused Vertigo Phazon with Space Pirate DNA with great success. The latest batch of Elite Pirates have reached maturity successfully and are ready for field testing and training.

• Special Forces:

As we continue to observe the development of Project Helix's Elite Pirates, it becomes increasing obvious that these warriors will usher in a new era of Space Pirate dominance. They are incredibly resistant to damage, and their ability to transport and wield so many weapons at once makes them the ideal mainstays if our ground forces. Though they are not as quick as typical Pirates, it makes little difference. With a platoon of Elite Pirates in the vanguard of an army of normal and Flying Pirates, we will have near-indestructible backbone that should turn the tide in any engagement.

• Omega Pirate:

Elite Pirate Upsilon's propensity for Phazon has enabled our research team to infuse it far beyond our safety restrictions, and the results have been extremely encouraging. Its constant Phazon diet has increased its mass exponentially, but it has retained all mental faculties and shows dexterity with all Elite weaponry, including Plasma Incendiary Launchers and the Chameleon Manta issued for cloaking purposes. Elite Pirate Upsilon exhibits miraculous healing abilities: when injured, it seeks out Phazon deposits and coats itself in the substance, which instantly mends the creature's wounds. The subject, which we are code-naming Omega Pirate based on these developments, shows potential to be a new standard for our armies. Our only concern at this point is its potential overdependence on Phazon.