Skeelzania
05-06-2004, 07:48
Today’s subject: Homo Skeelzae
The Homo Skeelzae, or Skeelzanians, are an offshoot of humans that dwell far out in the Gamma Quadrant of the Milky Way Galaxy. They are typically large, strong, and angry. Their home world is the desert planet of Solomon, in the Spoot System. They are a very militaristic people, believing themselves superior to the races around them and giving little regard to the lives of “subhumans”.
The Skeelzanians were originally colonists sent by an undetermined Earth government, to colonize the Mekkie system near Sol. Their ship was outfitted with rudimentary hyperdrives, which as government prototypes are prone to do, didn’t work. At least, not properly. Instead of depositing the colonists 40 light years away, it deposited them 40 thousand light years away. As the wayward humans awakened from their deep-sleep, they gazed upon a large, desert world. Since the only other planetary body of note in the system was Azuk II (more or less a charcoal briquette), they decided this place was as good as any for a colony.
After a brief and successful war of conquest against the native gnomes, the Skeelzanians, under the leadership of Baad Skeelzot, established a country on the world they would call Solomon. In hindsight, this wasn’t the greatest place for a new civilization. Solomon was dry, dusty, and unusually high in radioactivity. Also, it was large. About, three times the size of Terra, large. In short, the Skeelzanians chose a rough life: an arid, radioactive planet, with much more gravity that they were accustomed too.
In an attempt to combat this, the government of Skeelzania began a mandatory Gene Modification Program. This was intended to strengthen the people against the hazards of their new home, and ultimately allow them to thrive. Over all, they were strengthened against radiation damage, and skeletal and muscle structure was increased to compensate for the gravity. A downside of this was a noted decrease in intelligence (which, among the elite, is subsequently bumped back up thanks to further modification), and increase in aggression.
Gravity also played a role. While the therapy made Skeelzanians stronger, it was gravity that made them bigger. The average height increased to 6’7”, and the frame in general became larger as they adapted to their new surroundings. This has rendered Skeelzanians slightly larger than their Terran cousins, and stronger as muscle mass increased along with the frame.
Evolution continues on Solomon. Skeelzanian’s average height is increasing every generation, as well as body size. While prolonged periods in space are having their effects on servicemen, the race as a whole is evolving unabated. It is projected that within 8 generations, a Skeelzanian and Terran will not be able to produce a fertile offspring, as further mutation and cosmetic gene therapy continue to alter the Skeelzanian genome.
The Homo Skeelzae, or Skeelzanians, are an offshoot of humans that dwell far out in the Gamma Quadrant of the Milky Way Galaxy. They are typically large, strong, and angry. Their home world is the desert planet of Solomon, in the Spoot System. They are a very militaristic people, believing themselves superior to the races around them and giving little regard to the lives of “subhumans”.
The Skeelzanians were originally colonists sent by an undetermined Earth government, to colonize the Mekkie system near Sol. Their ship was outfitted with rudimentary hyperdrives, which as government prototypes are prone to do, didn’t work. At least, not properly. Instead of depositing the colonists 40 light years away, it deposited them 40 thousand light years away. As the wayward humans awakened from their deep-sleep, they gazed upon a large, desert world. Since the only other planetary body of note in the system was Azuk II (more or less a charcoal briquette), they decided this place was as good as any for a colony.
After a brief and successful war of conquest against the native gnomes, the Skeelzanians, under the leadership of Baad Skeelzot, established a country on the world they would call Solomon. In hindsight, this wasn’t the greatest place for a new civilization. Solomon was dry, dusty, and unusually high in radioactivity. Also, it was large. About, three times the size of Terra, large. In short, the Skeelzanians chose a rough life: an arid, radioactive planet, with much more gravity that they were accustomed too.
In an attempt to combat this, the government of Skeelzania began a mandatory Gene Modification Program. This was intended to strengthen the people against the hazards of their new home, and ultimately allow them to thrive. Over all, they were strengthened against radiation damage, and skeletal and muscle structure was increased to compensate for the gravity. A downside of this was a noted decrease in intelligence (which, among the elite, is subsequently bumped back up thanks to further modification), and increase in aggression.
Gravity also played a role. While the therapy made Skeelzanians stronger, it was gravity that made them bigger. The average height increased to 6’7”, and the frame in general became larger as they adapted to their new surroundings. This has rendered Skeelzanians slightly larger than their Terran cousins, and stronger as muscle mass increased along with the frame.
Evolution continues on Solomon. Skeelzanian’s average height is increasing every generation, as well as body size. While prolonged periods in space are having their effects on servicemen, the race as a whole is evolving unabated. It is projected that within 8 generations, a Skeelzanian and Terran will not be able to produce a fertile offspring, as further mutation and cosmetic gene therapy continue to alter the Skeelzanian genome.