NationStates Jolt Archive

Name: Alumina (Pronounced A-lum-ina)
Plural: The Alumina
Full Name: The United Pridelands of Alumina
Government Type: Semi-Democratic
Leader: Supreme Lioness Neofelis
Currency: Emeon
Capital: Uncia City
Homeworld: Alumi
National Flag: http://www.nflnut.com/store/media/PanthersPantherFlag.jpg
Average Age: 130
Average Life Expectancy:256
Oldest Recorded Age: 440
Languages: Aluminan, basic

The Alumina are a race of humanoids who inhabit the Alversian Sector of the galaxy. They are well known in the area for their wisdom and experience in space travel as well as for their clashes with the Danaversian Empire. Their appearance resembles that of cats. They are also most apparent to new Species for their apparent arrogance and aloofness when interacting with other species.

Physical Appearance

Although the Alumina possesses the same physical appearance of a humanoid (i.e. they are bipedal with opposable thumbs) there really is little else they share in common with the human race or any other species in general.

They possess various races depending on where the individual was born. This means that Alumina come in a variety of skin tones and characteristics similar to Humans.

The Alumina are a tall race, well over 7’2’’ is common and many can stretch as far as 8’ in height. Despite this, they tend to be lighter than even Alversians due to their lightweight skeletons. Although their bones are thinner than human ones, they are matched in durability due to extremely complex marrow formations within their bones. This, along with fast reflexes and powerful muscles, means they have the advantage of a tall frame without the disadvantage of weight or sluggishness.

While their necks are much longer than a human’s, the intervertebral discs at the top of the spine are reinforced, meaning that they are no more uncomfortable than the average human. Although they are stronger, the discs are also more flexible, allowing greater movement of the neck. Even though they are nearly 1’3’’ feet apart, an Alumina has no problem touching their chest with their chin.

In terms of legs, the Alumina are completely different to Humans. Unlike the human race, which has a forward forcing knee cap and therefore bends the bottom of the leg backwards, the Alumina share more in common with animals, their legs are digitigrade, allowing them to jump and run as fast as any animal. Their balance is maintained by their long cat-like tails.

Internal Appearance

It is, however, the area of internal organs and senses that the Alumina really differs from humans and other humanoids. There are many differences between the two races.

Most important of all is the layout of the Alumina’s internal organs. Although similar to humans, there are a few minor differences. For example, Alumina possesses two livers and an extra set of kidneys as redundant systems, allowing these organs to take over should the primary ones fail. Their hearts are also divided into eight sections, instead of a Human’s four. Although two of these are unused, this allows them to pump more blood around their system effectively as it is also much more muscular than a human heart.

This also means the heart will continue to function even if the heart is pierced as the redundancy atrium and ventricle can be utilised as a replacement. However, if sufficient damage has been done, the chances are the victim will die of blood loss before they die of heart failure.

Alumina are also superior to humans in terms of lung capacity. Although only marginally bigger, there are three times as many alveoli in their lungs. This makes their breathing more efficient and permits them to hold more breath for activities such as diving. They can hold their breaths for up to ten minutes. It also allows them to breath thinner air than humans or Alversians can.

In terms of blood, the Alumina do not possess red blood like most humanoid species. For unknown reasons, their blood has developed with a strange blue hue to it. This means that Caucasian Alumina will often have a bluish glow to their cheeks the same way a Caucasian human will often have a red glow to their cheeks. This also means that cuts and scars will heal over with a blue bruise rather then a reddish one and burns will likewise be a bluish colour.

The senses of the Alumina are also different to humans. As expected of a race of cats, their senses of hearing and sight are vastly superior, including the ability to see in the dark. Their sense of smell is also better although not by much more than a human’s. Alumina possess an acute sense of balance, designated the 6th Sense by their race. Their sense of balance is such that they can maintain their balance on items considered to be ridiculous by most Humans.

However, while Alumina have the physical advantage over humans, they also have a mental advantage as well. On average their IQ is three times higher than the average human. Their brains are also more effectively utilised. While humans use only 10% approx. of their brain, Alumina use over 75% giving them far greater capabilities for thought than a human. Almunia possess a brilliant memory and need only to glance at an item for less than ten seconds to have it committed to near-perfect long-term memory. They are also much quicker learners and can pick up a new discipline within weeks when it would normally take years to reach a similar level. This ability means they are excellent recruits for any technical service.

Telepathic abilities

The Alumina also possess telepathic abilities although where these originated from is a mystery even to their own Historians. The Alumina who practise the various mental disciplines are known simply as Telepaths. All Alumina can perform these mental disciplines to a degree although their proficiency depends on their birth as much as their skill and experience. The best Telepaths are usually the children of experienced Telepaths themselves.

Amongst their many gifts is the ability to read the minds of others. This occurs only when in close proximity to a target and the Alumina in question can only scan for current thoughts, not for memories or dreams.

The ability to merge minds is performed by touching another being, be they telepath or not, and transferring or exchanging memories, thoughts or dreams with each other. However, this procedure can be dangerous with an inexperienced Telepath and lead to the disease known as ‘Tafat Fasa’ (Aluminan: ﭘﭱح ؤﭱﺷ) which slowly erodes the brain cells and eventually leads to death.

At first it was thought there was no cure for this disease, however it was revealed that the condition could be reversed by an Experienced Telepath who could remove the Disease directly. The Alumina also have the ability to project their thoughts over a short distance to other telepathic races although the size of the message depends on the experience of the sender.

The Alumina Homeworld is seperated into five continents and consists of 70% surface water. Each has it's own unique climate and habitat and was, at one time, the home to one Clan each. However, following the mixing of the clans it has been become more obvious these boundries no longer apply and now all Clans roam the planet freely

The Northern Hills (http://www.fun-costa-rica-vacations.com/images/costa-rica-mountain-range.jpg)

This is the northern most continent of Alumina. The main geographic features of this area are it's vast mountains and plateau's as well as scrubland and minor vegetation. There are few cities or agriculture in this area and, as a result, it has suffered from a dwindling population as the Alumina move south to find work and generally more pleasant surroundings. Although not a desert, the Northern Hills suffer from a chronic lack of rainfall.
This Northern Hills are the ancestoral home of the Panthera Tigris Clan.

Eastern Tundras (http://www.educapoles.org/pics/projects/arctic_arc/arctic_landscape_or.jpg)

The eastern continent of Alumina is nothing more than a barren snowscape. Temperatures can drop to -100C and there is little that lives on the surface. Despite this, there are many Alumina who have made this area their home. Many centuries ago, it was discovered at Triditanium Ore, a key resource in advanced metal forging, was present in massive quantities below the surface. To that end, the Alumina built vast cities beneath the snow and the ice, protected from the elements and artificilly heated, they have provided safe homes to the Alumina for decades.
The Eastern Tundras are the ancestoral home of the Panthera Onca Clan

Western Forest (http://www.world-mysteries.com/rainforest_rb.jpg)

These dense forests are home to a vast amounts of creatures and plants that have grown into the Alumina culture. Many cures for illnesses and diseases are to be found in these forests including a plant known as The Liba (Aluminan بدذإ) is a cure for the humanoid disease of Cancer. However, there are few cities in this area as the Alumina prefer to live amongst nature in small collectives, working the forest and hunting as their ancestors did.
The Ancestoral Clan of the Western Forests are the Pathera Pardus Clan

Southern Plains (http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/fscup32a.jpg)

The southern plains are little more than a desert with a bit more wildlife and a lot more plants. This srea is very resource rich and has always been home to most of the Planet's industry. Until the event of agriculture, this is also where most of the Alumina's food supply came from as an ample supply of creatures roamed the vast planes. Surprisingly, the area is well watered and rain falls often, more than the north and East combined.
The Southern Plains have always been home to the Pathera Leo Clan.

Central Plaza (http://www.eais.net/images/farm-land.jpg)

The Central Plaza is, as it's name suggests located between the four other continents. As such, it does not have one particular dominating Clan and has always been inhabited by a mixture from all of them. The Central Plaza is the most fertile of the all the continents and is the only one that will regularly yield crops for the people to feed on. This is also the most populated continent and hosts many cities, including the Capital, Uncia City.

Although the Alumina have many different characteristics, the ones that define them most when meeting new species are their apparent arrogance and aloofness in comparison to other species. This would be an inaccurate assumption. Although they do have a rather high opinion of themselves, they often find it difficult to express extreme emotions and have since stopped trying. It is difficult to get an Alumina angry or upset and fort hem to give away a sign of their annoyance.

However, when one has earned their trust, they are fiercely loyal and stubborn. They will often refuse the orders of an Ally if it means putting them at risk. Although in small groups they are aloof, they are usually uncomfortable with large groups of people they do not know and will interact as little as possible.

They are extremely intelligent and most are able to pick up least one other language than Almunan. Most have chosen either basic or Alversian for a second language and are as proficient at these as most Alversians. However, they do not speak with slang or abbreviations, so therefore they speak in full sentences and with proper wording rather than shorten something.

Along with this ability to speak multiple languages, they are also fast learners and many are gifted Engineers or Doctors. Quite often, they are both.

The Alumina military is known as the ADF or the Alumina Defence Forces. This organisation consists of a Land, Air and Space Corps. Due to their close proximity to an aggressive and powerful Empire, conscription is in force and most females are required to serve a total of forty years in the military during their lifetime although when and in how many slices they serve this time is up to them. However, if they have reached the age of 230 without serving their full forty years, they will be prosecuted by a Military Court.

Although Males have no requirement to join the Defence Forces, many sign up for adventure, pay or to be with their loved ones. Males often undertake more technical or complicated roles such as Medics, Engineers or Spies. Having said that, there is no lack of Males in frontline duty and many are stationed aboard the Fleet or on the Outer Colonies. They capacity for quick learning allows the Alumina to quickly build up a large well trained Armed Force is necessary.

The Land Corps (Army)

The Land Corps is the ground-based Section of the Defence Forces and acts as the Alumina Army. Although not as large as the Space Corps, it is still a large force with well over 1.2 million active troops across Alumina and it's colonies. The Land Corps also benefits from the extensive use of Mechs and most of it's personnel have combat experience from the 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th and 11th Danaversian Wars.

The Space Corps (Navy)

In terms of manpower, the Alumina Space Corps is the biggest of all the Defence Force Services. It is primarily responsible for patrolling Alumina space as well as manning their section of the DMZ. The Alumina are a technological race and this is reflected in their ships. They are considerably smaller than their Alversian counterparts, a Clan-Class Battleship is about half the size of a C-Class Dreadnought , and carry a much smaller crew compliment. However, for all their disadvantages in size, they are much more technologically advanced.
For comparison’s sake, below the stats of an Alversian C-Class Dreadnought and an Alumina Clan-Class Battleship have been compared:

NAME: C-Class Dreadnought
CLASS: Dreadnought
ORIGINS: Alversian People’s Republic
[DIMENSIONS: 9km length by 3km width and 4km draught
B]CREW:[/B] 4,500 Combat crew, 500 Flight crew
WEAPONS:
2 x Mk2 Phaser Banks
16 x Photon Torpedo launchers
2 x Railguns
48 x CD guns
16 x Broadside Ion Cannon
SPEED: Warp 9.12
DEFENCES:
Energy Shielding
Cloaking Device (Mark IV)

NAME: Clan-Class Battleship
CLASS: Battleship
ORIGINS: The United Pridelands of Alumina
[DIMENSIONS: 5.5km length by 1.2km width and 2.km draught
B]CREW:[/B] 1,950 Combat crew, 116 Flight crew
WEAPONS:
2 x Mk.VI Phaser Banks
2 x Photon Torpedo launchers
1 x Nova Cannon
12 x CD guns
SPEED: Warp 10.92
DEFENCES:
Refractive Shielding
Cloaking Device (Mark XVIII)

Although the stats appear to favour the more heavily armed Dreadnought, in wargames conducted by the APN and ADF, simulating a fight between a Dreadnought and Battleship, it was found that the Battleship’s unparalleled speed and manoeuvrability made it almost impossible for the Dreadnought to hit it with anything other than it’s main phasers. In comparison, the Battleship was able to effectively pound the Dreadnought with all weapons until the Alversian Captain was forced to concede the game. The result surprised the strategists of both Services and the lessons taken away were considered invaluable. This encounter was known as the Carolina/Tigris Encounter, after the two ships involved.

The Air Corps (Air Force)

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