Imperium Offtopicum: The Aftermath

[Mad Man]

The Republic of course, opens its arms to humans from abroad who seek to contribute to the Kaetif genome project. Anybody who wishes to do a service to the collective sentients of the planet Earth is welcome to participate... some day, hopefully, human children will no longer have to hide in bunkers, as they too will be able to roam the yellow zones' landscape without fear of poisoning.

Instead of focusing on our differences... we should be narrowing them down to near-none!

The Kaetif in Vermont look very different than yours

Spoiler :

, is there racial discrimination amongst your kind or would the Kaetifs from Vermont find acceptance amongst your people?

 

[Kan' Sharuminar]

That is something.

Thorvald: Can we get more info on the abhorrents/kaetif? I think everyone has their own opinion on what their behaviour is like.

 

[Tee Kay]

Kashmir Floats Airship Revival
Landlocked state turns to the skies

A glimpse of what could be the future of air transport is on display at the first annual Kashmir Agricultural and Industrial Fair in Iskandarabad. At the center of the Fair, near the Kashmir National Airlines pavillion, is a full-sized experimental airship. Twice a day, visitors can board the airship and enjoy a sightseeing tour of the Kashmir Valley from above.

Kashmir's ambition to become an economic power is frustrated partly because the country is surrounded by unstable, sometimes hostile, neighbours, and lack ports, but Kashmir may have found a solution in airships. Iskandar Mirza floated the idea of using airships for large-scale cargo transport, but it was not acted upon. Dr. Muhammad Khoddam, returning home from Oslo for a well-deserved break, submitted a proposal for a revival of the airship after talking with a Norwegian expert. The government enthusiastically supported the idea. Mr. Thorvald Lym was then invited to Kashmir to advise senior government officials and industry people.

Already, a commercial airship cargo flight operated by KNA travels between Srinagar and Islamabad. KNA and other operators are improving on airship designs, and plans to launch regular passenger and cargo flights across the country and internationally within a few years.

 

[DroopyTofu]

Well, I haven't been able to keep up with this, but I'll get caught up soon enough. It looks like I only missed about five pages.

 

[Tani Coyote]

Is there racial discrimination amongst your kind or would the Kaetifs from Vermont find acceptance amongst your people?

All sentients enjoy equal protection in Marian society, even if human-Kaetif intermarriage is illegal for fear of spawning unstable children.

 

[Mathalamus]

All sentients enjoy equal protection in Marian society, even if human-Kaetif intermarriage is illegal for fear of spawning unstable children.

its legal here, even though we don't have a large kaetif population. and as for unstable children, the nation is prepared for anything except earth exploding as a result of the instability.

 

[Thorvald of Lym]

Thorvald: Can we get more info on the abhorrents/kaetif? I think everyone has their own opinion on what their behaviour is like.

I was hoping to avoid Word-of-God, but since you insist:

Kaetif 101

The Kaetif are, by simplest description, anthropomorphic animals. They retain their various specific senses and traits, but can walk upright and have hands with primate-like dexterity. The only known Kaetif species are all mammalian. When they were first discovered after the war, they behaved like... animals. However, they demonstrated an astounding capacity and receptivity to learning, and through painstaking scientific/sociological experimentation, they were taught language skills, and eventually speech, educated on human customs, and finally brought into society.

What nobody anticipated, and what remains difficult to explain, was how quickly, easily and spontaneously the successful experiments, conducted largely in isolation by nations individually, transmitted across the "wild" populations until Kaetif all over the world had managed to assimilate training to be compatible with "civilization". When later research expeditions encountered "feral" communities, all they had to impart was that region's language. Some Kaetif elected to remain in the wild, dubbed "nomads", but the overwhelming majority migrated to human centres, turning a biology sideshow into a social crisis, the reasons and severity varying with the nation.

The Hetmanate is a tad surprised that the Marians' "Kaetif Genome Project" seems to be starting from ground zero, considering only ten years ago the NLLP published the landmark study Investigation into the Genetics and Physiology of the Kaetif, synthesizing data collected from thousands of sample subjects on every continent and making pointed comparison to the Marian "anthros". Perhaps the Marian records were destroyed during the Operarius years?

Anyway, one of its most striking findings was that the radiation provided the catalyst for the mutation, which explains why no Kaetif emerged in the Blue Zones. While their inherent radiation resistance continues to puzzle, the scientists involved in the study strongly suspect it was a byproduct of the interaction between the mutagen and environmental radioactivity. Due to ethical concerns, this has not been experimented with. Gene sequencing revealed that while the Kaetif and the Marian anthros are physiologically similar, they are genetically distinct, and believed to be incompatible; once again, due to ethical concerns, this has not been experimented with. Furthermore, Kaetif species are thought not to be any more cross-compatible than their derivative species, and because they are instinctively inclined to seek mates of their own kind, no anecdotes exist to suggest otherwise.

N.B.: That's the general take, at least. I'm sure there are unusual cases and undiscovered country. I don't rule out Mad Man's post.


Now, about the Abhorrents:
Because of their violent nature, a dedicated study the same as the Kaetif is nigh impossible, and even simpler data is still unknown after twenty years: life expectancy, diet, sleep cycle, genetic makeup, and reproduction (if even possible) remain a mystery. This is, however, the little we do know:

Abhorrent appearance varies widely. Physical deformities are frequent. They are often described as demonic imitations of the Kaetif, typically accentuating weapons such as teeth and claws. However, humans, or human-like figures, have also been observed, used by some as evidence discouraging the theory that the Abhorrents were the result of a different strain of the mutation that created the Kaetif. While brutishly strong, they are of limited intelligence; they have a simplistic spoken language supplementing animalistic vocalizations.

Abhorrents appear to be social animals, roaming and fighting in groups. They organize themselves into clans or tribes, although have little in the way of culture. These clans will fight each other as well as anything else that crosses their path, so for the moment they appear incapable of forming themselves into any sort of cohesive pseudo-nation. They are hunters, attacking settlements to take what they want, abducting humans and Kaetif alike; what for can only be imagined.

Abhorrents seem immune to even the heavy concentrations of radiation in Red Zones. Some have even been found to carry radioactive particles on their bodies, and following raids on human settlements their corpses are routinely destroyed in such a manner as to prevent further contamination.

Abhorrents have little combat strategy, typically charging headlong at the enemy while wailing their frightening war cry. While this poses little threat to a professional military unit fresh in a Blue Zone, Abhorrents attack disadvantaged positions in contaminated territory, where even without superior numbers they can overcome troops fatigued by the extra logistical demands of hazardous environments. In Red Zones, Abhorrents set ambushes for expeditions brave -or foolish- enough to venture into the wastelands, often to chilling success.

Weaponry primarily consists of mêlée objects, such as blunt clubs, axes and the like. There have been anecdotal reports of Abhorrents wielding firearms, although these are rarely used effectively and are always described to be in poor condition. They use simple tools, and construct crude shelters. Although rafts have been found, almost certainly for crossing rivers, they are not known to build ships capable of ocean travel, even along the coasts.

However, the Abhorrents have shown some improvement in their strategy and craftsmanship over the past decades, and analysts are terrified they will evolve to become a legitimate threat to the Blue Zones.

 

[Double A]

As a response to this research, Macedon is digging a trench between its former holdings of Libya and Egypt. It will not be as deep (10 feet sounds good) nor as wide (roughly 3/4 the width), but will stretch across the frontier as the border of civilization. The dirt is being used to make a wall on "our" side, and will be pushed back in once the red regions are habitable by humans again. Fortifications are being built on the coast of Northern Turkey. We have not deemed it necessary to use fighter jets to patrol the area constantly, but there are pilots at the ready at a nearby airbase. Their practice runs are still done in the area, giving Macedonia a better chance to respond to any sort of naval raid. Radar and infared sensors in watchtowers dot the coast. In Italy we are merely fortifying the border and cities with concrete walls. There is not enough manpower currently to dig a trench (or in its case, a canal). What's more, the land is about as flat as a quarry, making another trench unfeasible.

 

[Tani Coyote]

I was hoping to avoid Word-of-God, but since you insist:

Spoiler :

Kaetif 101

The Kaetif are, by simplest description, anthropomorphic animals. They retain their various specific senses and traits, but can walk upright and have hands with primate-like dexterity. The only known Kaetif species are all mammalian. When they were first discovered after the war, they behaved like... animals. However, they demonstrated an astounding capacity and receptivity to learning, and through painstaking scientific/sociological experimentation, they were taught language skills, and eventually speech, educated on human customs, and finally brought into society.

What nobody anticipated, and what remains difficult to explain, was how quickly, easily and spontaneously the successful experiments, conducted largely in isolation by nations individually, transmitted across the "wild" populations until Kaetif all over the world had managed to assimilate training to be compatible with "civilization". When later research expeditions encountered "feral" communities, all they had to impart was that region's language. Some Kaetif elected to remain in the wild, dubbed "nomads", but the overwhelming majority migrated to human centres, turning a biology sideshow into a social crisis, the reasons and severity varying with the nation.

The Hetmanate is a tad surprised that the Marians' "Kaetif Genome Project" seems to be starting from ground zero, considering only ten years ago the NLLP published the landmark study Investigation into the Genetics and Physiology of the Kaetif, synthesizing data collected from thousands of sample subjects on every continent and making pointed comparison to the Marian "anthros". Perhaps the Marian records were destroyed during the Operarius years?

Anyway, one of its most striking findings was that the radiation provided the catalyst for the mutation, which explains why no Kaetif emerged in the Blue Zones. While their inherent radiation resistance continues to puzzle, the scientists involved in the study strongly suspect it was a byproduct of the interaction between the mutagen and environmental radioactivity. Due to ethical concerns, this has not been experimented with. Gene sequencing revealed that while the Kaetif and the Marian anthros are physiologically similar, they are genetically distinct, and believed to be incompatible; once again, due to ethical concerns, this has not been experimented with. Furthermore, Kaetif species are thought not to be any more cross-compatible than their derivative species, and because they are instinctively inclined to seek mates of their own kind, no anecdotes exist to suggest otherwise.

N.B.: That's the general take, at least. I'm sure there are unusual cases and undiscovered country. I don't rule out Mad Man's post.


Now, about the Abhorrents:
Because of their violent nature, a dedicated study the same as the Kaetif is nigh impossible, and even simpler data is still unknown after twenty years: life expectancy, diet, sleep cycle, genetic makeup, and reproduction (if even possible) remain a mystery. This is, however, the little we do know:

Abhorrent appearance varies widely. Physical deformities are frequent. They are often described as demonic imitations of the Kaetif, typically accentuating weapons such as teeth and claws. However, humans, or human-like figures, have also been observed, used by some as evidence discouraging the theory that the Abhorrents were the result of a different strain of the mutation that created the Kaetif. While brutishly strong, they are of limited intelligence; they have a simplistic spoken language supplementing animalistic vocalizations.

Abhorrents appear to be social animals, roaming and fighting in groups. They organize themselves into clans or tribes, although have little in the way of culture. These clans will fight each other as well as anything else that crosses their path, so for the moment they appear incapable of forming themselves into any sort of cohesive pseudo-nation. They are hunters, attacking settlements to take what they want, abducting humans and Kaetif alike; what for can only be imagined.

Abhorrents seem immune to even the heavy concentrations of radiation in Red Zones. Some have even been found to carry radioactive particles on their bodies, and following raids on human settlements their corpses are routinely destroyed in such a manner as to prevent further contamination.

Abhorrents have little combat strategy, typically charging headlong at the enemy while wailing their frightening war cry. While this poses little threat to a professional military unit fresh in a Blue Zone, Abhorrents attack disadvantaged positions in contaminated territory, where even without superior numbers they can overcome troops fatigued by the extra logistical demands of hazardous environments. In Red Zones, Abhorrents set ambushes for expeditions brave -or foolish- enough to venture into the wastelands, often to chilling success.

Weaponry primarily consists of mêlée objects, such as blunt clubs, axes and the like. There have been anecdotal reports of Abhorrents wielding firearms, although these are rarely used effectively and are always described to be in poor condition. They use simple tools, and construct crude shelters. Although rafts have been found, almost certainly for crossing rivers, they are not known to build ships capable of ocean travel, even along the coasts.

However, the Abhorrents have shown some improvement in their strategy and craftsmanship over the past decades, and analysts are terrified they will evolve to become a legitimate threat to the Blue Zones.

OOC: Well, you still left some things open-ended...

IC: It appears the KGP was started without knowing of previous research efforts. The populace has condemned the government for it, but fortunately, not too much time has been wasted on the Project yet. The findings of other nations have been integrated, and research can now actually find results. The heads of the old Project have naturally been fired.

While the Hetmanate's efforts did do a great job, the Social Nationalist Party is convinced yet more can be discovered.

The ability to cross-breed and create offspring who can in turn cross-breed themselves, and so on, is a very interesting prospect, and is based on the idea that if the Kaetif have enough human DNA in their systems, then they could interbreed between the various subsets of Kaetif. This itself has spawned the idea that one day, a "Super Kaetif" with all the enhanced abilities of Kaetif from many generations of interbreeding could exist, but Sombra says that he doubts it: after all, him and his two comrades were the only survivors of a program that combined countless amounts of DNA, indicating very low survival rates for beings made from huge amounts of genetic codes.

In conclusion, the KGP is interested in further identifying differences between Kaetif and Humans, as well as the Neo Incan anthros.

Neo Incan anthros are increasingly referred to as "Pureblood" Kaetif, while those created by radiation are being called "Synethic." (Kudos if you get the reference) In effect, the KGP has to focus on four groups: Humans, Pureblood Kaetif(and all the subspecies), Synthetic Kaetif, and Abhorrents.

Some of the highlights of the project are:

-What happens if two Synthetics also of different subspecies interbreed, and, furthermore, the effects of a Pureblood and Synthetic interbreeding. It has been determined that Purebloods of varying species can interbreed and have fertile children, but it is still unknown how traits are chosen for the child.

-- What is really of keen interest is how the enhanced traits from the parents pass on, as in, will the child inherit most of them, none of them, or it is randomly determined just like recessive/dominant genes?
-- Human interbreeding with Kaetif is strongly prohibited.

-Is there a specific gene in the Synthetic Kaetif that gives them this resistance to radiation, making it hereditary and thus extractable, or is it just an extreme example of Mithridatism?
--If it is in fact a gene, the Project hopes to isolate it and possibly find ways to export it to Humans and Purebloods. This would open up much of the Yellow Zones, but would take away the special status Synethics enjoy economically.

-Recently, the military strategy of the Scottish Remnant has been examined, and is being adapted for use in South America and Europe. Helicopters are being used to scout the Red Zones. This is all part of another project - capturing Abhorrents for examination. A very dangerous prospect, but the SNP claims they are beyond salvation anyway, and are little more than savage beasts that must be exterminated.
--Orders have been given for Abhorrents killed in assaults on settlements to be rounded up and preserved for dissection, but live subjects are obviously of more use.
--While life expectancy is a fruitless pursuit due to the time required, it is believed that through quick capture, the diet and reproductive cycle can be determined. If these are known, it may one day be possible to sterilise them all as well as exterminate their food sources.
--Some nutjobs have said it should be seen if there is a way to domesticate them and make them less hostile to sentients, but this concept has been discarded; the rest is difficult enough as it is.
--Naturally, many are scared at such a project due to the risks involved in not just capturing the Abs, but somehow containing them, but the SNP says it MUST be done. The Marians created this mess, and so, they must clean it up!

Protests have been raised by some at interspecies breeding, even between Kaetif, as the idea of Kaetifs with different animal templates having children is stigmatised by a significant minority.

 

[Omega124]

I haven't checked this thread in god-knows-how-long. Did anything important happen lately?

 

[Mad Man]

A Startling discovery has been brought to life in the southern Vermont community of Bennington, It used to be commonly assumed that abhorrents abducted individuals for subsidence, how ever a single young female who will not be named to help protect her identity has braved the wastes to make it back to human civilisation, however she didn't return alone, she was pregnant. According to the young woman, she was taken to a large gated community that was heavily decorated with human and Kaetif body parts, and when she arived to the center of the community she was brought to a sticky and blood stained alter surrounded by fertility idols, she was then strapped down to the alter and vigorously raped by no lees than 20 different abhorrents. After the ceremony was completed she was walked down to a cell when the village was attacked by mutant hounds who communicated with each in a strange unintelligible dialect to coordinate attacks against abhorrents who they apparently eat. During the ruckus the young woman was able to slip away but not before witnessing a live abhorrent birth from another human host, nearly 50 abhorrentlings chewed there way out of the lower extremities of another captive woman spilling out onto the floor. The young woman then journeyed across the wastes back to Bennington to the delight and horror of the townspeople.

 

[Thorvald of Lym]

I haven't checked this thread in god-knows-how-long. Did anything important happen lately?

Patagonia is still at war with Punta Arenas and the NCSA. Mathalamus is the Federation of the Savanna.

 

[Terrance888]

The Zulu Confederation of Self Determination Announces that its Nuclear Weapon would be sent to the Lacuna Project this year!

In other news, they are frustrated at the German State's slowness in their report, and wonder if they have anything to hide.

 

[Kan' Sharuminar]

I was hoping to avoid Word-of-God, but since you insist:

I meant a quick clarification of what they're like, not an encyclopaedia entry. Thanks a lot though, it'll greatly help my own posts.

 

[Double A]

A Startling discovery has been brought to life in the southern Vermont community of Bennington, It used to be commonly assumed that abhorrents abducted individuals were taken for subsidence, how ever a single young female who will not be named to help protect her identity has braved the wastes to make it back to human civilisation, however she didn't return alone, she was pregnant. According to the young woman, she was taken to a large gated community that was heavily decorated with human and Kaetif body parts, and when she arived to the center of the community she was brought to a sticky and blood stained alter surrounded by fertility idols, she was then strapped down to the alter and vigorously raped by no lees than 20 different abhorrents. After the ceremony was completed she was walked down to a cell when the village was attacked by mutant hounds who communicated with each in a strange unintelligible dialect to coordinate attacks against abhorrents who they apparently eat. During the ruckus the young woman was able to slip away but not before witnessing a live abhorrent birth from another human host, nearly 50 abhorrentlings chewed there way out of the lower extremities of another captive woman spilling out onto the floor. The young woman then journeyed across the wastes back to Bennington to the delight and horror of the townspeople.

Zeus recommends an abortion. Also, he wishes he thought of it 39 years ago. Hera might still be speaking to him.

 

[Mad Man]

Zeus recommends an abortion. Also, he wishes he thought of it 39 years ago. Hera might still be speaking to him.

Currently she's being kept in quarantine until we can find a safe way to terminate the pregnancy, due to the nature of how abhorrents are born, we're not sure what will work and what won't, but we do know we're working against the clock.

 

[Link]

A Startling discovery has been brought to life in the southern Vermont community of Bennington, It used to be commonly assumed that abhorrents abducted individuals for subsidence, how ever a single young female who will not be named to help protect her identity has braved the wastes to make it back to human civilisation, however she didn't return alone, she was pregnant. According to the young woman, she was taken to a large gated community that was heavily decorated with human and Kaetif body parts, and when she arived to the center of the community she was brought to a sticky and blood stained alter surrounded by fertility idols, she was then strapped down to the alter and vigorously raped by no lees than 20 different abhorrents. After the ceremony was completed she was walked down to a cell when the village was attacked by mutant hounds who communicated with each in a strange unintelligible dialect to coordinate attacks against abhorrents who they apparently eat. During the ruckus the young woman was able to slip away but not before witnessing a live abhorrent birth from another human host, nearly 50 abhorrentlings chewed there way out of the lower extremities of another captive woman spilling out onto the floor. The young woman then journeyed across the wastes back to Bennington to the delight and horror of the townspeople.

The Chairman advises himself that he enjoyed that story entirely too much and needs to spend less time on /b/.

 

[hoplitejoe]

Speech From the president of Sri Lanka

Spoiler :

Our prez gives pretty lax speeches

Fellow Sri Lankans, As you may know their has been a lot of things happen recently. The attempted assassination of my college and friend the prime minister. He managed to escape only through with and luck but soon found himself in the middle of one of our many jungles. Our rescue teams, repeatedly hampered by more attacks from North Ceylon Struggled although were greatly helped by the Hong Kongian Team. With the Prime minister gone for so long we started looking for a body. Mercifully we eventually found tracks which eventually lead us to the prime minister alive and well. Where we found him was a shock to us all. In the center of heavy jungle was a village. Although crude most needs were catered for, there was a well, a school and even a mock town hall. Living in this village was 50 odd Kaetif. They had found the prime minister fainted on the ground and nursed him back to a state of semi health. the prime minister asked what he could do to repay their kind favour offering money, they rejected this. the only thing they wanted was the parliament to here there plea's. so today in front of a full parliament 5 Kaetif representatives came to speak.
They Told us of the hardships of the slum which they had formerly lived, the oppression,the racism and the squalor. after all they endured they decided the brutishness of the jungles would be better than continuing to live in the slums.
After this meeting unprecedented actions were taken, a vote on equal rights for the Kaetif. There was a debate which lasted many hours but in the end the bill was passed.
We know this will not solve all the problems facing the Kaetif but we hope this will be a first step in righting the wrongs done to the Kaetif in the past 20 years.

 

[DroopyTofu]

Kaetif are treated as seperate but equal in the NCSA. We believe this is the best way to handle them. We don't want them spreading any unknown diseases to humans, but we recognize that it would be wrong to treat them badly, since they are obviously intelligent. If they work hard enough, some are even able to begin to integrate into normal society. They are not allowed in the military, though some people have suggested a two year minimum service in Kaetif only regiments to patrol the yellow-zones.

Now that the internal isssues of the NCSA are taken care of, we are willing to end the ceasefire if Patagonia will acknowledge this.

 

[Double A]

Macedonia suggests Kaefit-only regiments if you were ever to get in a two-front war. Or you could use them as pilots or naval crewmembers - very little interaction is between the four branches of the military other than army and marines.