A few updates and a sneak peek at an enemy's anatomy...
Hey all- I realize I’m sporadic about posting on here, but there’s a good reason, I swear! I’ve recently started a new job and with credentialing, onboarding and orientation, it’s been a busy month or so. I’m going to try to be more purposeful about updates. So, without further ado- updates.
Cons
This year I’ll be at Libertycon; for at least part of it. There’s a mandatory course I have to to attend for my ‘other’ other job that overlaps a bit but I’ll make an appearance. Others are TBD- but I’ll keep you posted. I’ve spent the past six months reorganizing my life post deployment. People weren’t kidding when they said it was the hard part was coming home. Look for me with the Cannon publishing crew as they make the rounds this year.
Works in Progress
The Fae War: Demon Core is well under way- at 72, 000 words and climbing. True to classic fantasy form, it’s turning into a whopper. We’re probably sitting at 70% complete- but the final act is very rapidly approaching.
Valkyrie: Armistice is on hold until the Fae War is finished; but is ab about 25%. It’s complex; we get to meet the Elai in something other than combat for the first time. Not only that we get to see their culture, society and their homeworld- so there’s a lot of really fascinating things that will come out of this book as we explore what made these creatures who they are, why they ‘started the war’ and how they’ll end it. Aliens are going to alien- and they are quite alien.
That’s about it for now- there’s a few other side projects I’m working on; short stories and whatnot (A spelljammer inspired arcane ship series based on classic naval litarature like Horatio Hornblower and a post apolcalyptic western) but those are lower tier. Time is the most precious of my resources and I need to use it wisely-so focusing on the big stuff is the priority.
Now- on to the fun stuff!
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UEA PSYCORPS “Introduction to Elai Physiology- an Overview” UEAMC PSYCORP Distance Learning Module III <Click START to begin this lesson>
Physiology- An Overview.
While this is not an exhaustive medical review of Elai anatomy and physiology, this will be an introduction to the Elai and their anatomical features and functions.
Overall Characteristics
The average Elai stands between 145-165 centimeters tall, and between 55-60 kilos. They are bipedal, with a thick, leathery consistency skin that ranges in color from dark, near black to dust brown. Occasional mottling or striping can be seen, with a wide variety of patterns. This appears to be genetic sub variations based on region of origin on the Elai homeworld.
Genetic and Evolutionary Background
The Elai are a reptilian descended, bipedal FTL capable species, thus far the only other documented extrasolar intelligent species to date. They descended from a predator on a world similar from Earth, had the Earth never left the late Cretacous Era. The prevalence of larger predators and high attrition rate amongst the proto Elai lead to high egg counts to offset mortality rates, and the aggressive struggle to survive lead to the selection of the fastest, smartest and most aggressive to survive.
The Elai have 36 pairs of eukaryotic chromosomes, with a substantial genetic repair rate. The females have the ability to reproduce through parthenogenetic reproduction, making perfect clones of the mother, this is only done under extreme circumstances, and sexual reproduction remains the primary method of genetic lineage survival. Please see the Mecham’s Treatise on Elai genetics for further detailed information.
Head, Ears, Nose and Throat
Vision: Visual acuity is excellent; with the standard eyesight being 20/10 or better. Color spectrum perception similar to humans, with deeper low frequency visibility leading to better low light vision.
Hearing: Slightly less acute than humans, ranging from 30-45 thousand hertz.
Oropharyngeal cavity: Obligate polyphyodonts, the Elai have multiple sharp, round teeth that can be replaced many times over the lifetime of the individual. These are optimized for a carnivorous diet, but there are documented flattened teeth which may be an evolutionary adaptation to the inclusion of plant materials into their diet. It should be noted that the teeth while not primarily used as a weapon, can and have been documented to be used in unarmed combat to fearsome effectiveness.
Taste and Smell acuity: Unstudied at this time; likely higher than human standards.
Secondary Sensory Systems: There is a line of electroreceptor sensory organs embedded in the dermal layer of the jawline and cranial structures, structurally nearly identical to the electrical sensory systems found in earth species such as the Carcharodon carcharias. These may be vestigial, or used as a supplemental sensory system. Little is known about the role of this at this point in time. It is hypothesized that this augments their vision in low light environments.
Central Nervous System
Brain and Skull
The skull is noted to have thick anterior cranial wall for front/topside impact protection and is surprisingly robust, in once case surviving multiple strikes from an entrenching tool to the cranial ridge with minimal neurological effect. This robust evolutionary design may stem from use of the cranial ridges as a blunt weapon early in their evolutionary cycle. The comparative neuroanatomy of the Elai central nervous system is similar in complexity to that of a human brain, with a great deal that remains to be studied. It should be noted that the evolution of the paleoreptilian and neoreptilian structures above the brainstem mirror the hypothesized evolutionary pathway of other reptilian species, had they had several hundred million more years of evolution. Paradoxically, despite the structural cortical and brainstem differences, the treatment of brain injury and the core concept of the Munroe-Kelli Doctrine remains a valid concept in emergency neurosurgical care.
Spine:
The Elai spine consists of five cervical vertebra, fourteen thoracic and seven lumbar vertebra, with three vestigial sacral appendage vertebra from a nonfunctional tail. The myelination cover of the peripheral nerves is approximately 50% more than in most studied terrestrial species. The spinal nerves all branch out from the vertebra in a manner consistent with standard vertebrate physiology. A substantial difference in peripheral nervous anatomy is the presence of nerve plexus in the extremities, which lead to extremely fast reflexes, and in conjunction with the excellent myelin coverage likely is responsible for the rapid physical response time.
Cardiovascular:
The Elai heart is a complex, four chambered system, with a patent transseptal connection between the right and left ventricles. This venous/arterial mixing leads to a high systolic PaO2 and surprisingly efficient gas exchange mechanism. Completely dissimilar to terrestrial reptiles, the Elai are capable of sustained aerobic activity for prolonged times. 70% of cardiac output goes to the brain and coronary vessels.
Pulmonary/Thoracic:
The pulmonary physiology is highly efficient, with a rapid oxygen exchange system. The lungs consist of a central tracheobronchial tree, trifurcating into three lobes; right, left and anteromedial supradiaphragmatic. The right and left are equal in size, with the supradiaphragmatic lung being about a third of the size of the right and left structures. The three lung system also gives them a substantially higher tidal volume and total vital capacity than humans. This combined with the efficiency of the heart and higher oxygen carrying capacity of the Elai hemoglobin, the average Elai can withstand between seven to ten minutes of an anoxic environment before beginning to suffer deleterious effects; and ten to fifteen before lasting central nervous system damage begins.
In terms of combat trauma treatment, triple lung system is particularly robust, when combined with the extremely thick sternum and ribs, and the muscular nature of the shoulder and back, making the thorax extremely durable. The physiological redundancy in this system allows a substantial increase survival rates in situations that would cause death in most humans. In more than one case, Elai have been documented to have survived multiple standard UEA infantry rifle rounds to the chest. While the loss of two lungs is incapacitating, it is not always fatal.
Gastroenterological:
Little is known about the Elai diet except they seem to be preferential carnivores, but can sustain themselves on some plant based materials should the need arise. Research based off of captured Elai standard infantry rations indicated that they can consume most foods that humans can, although the palate preferences vary substantially, with the primary protein in the captured Elai field rations being a fermented processed meat. Analysis of Elai field camps latrines indicate waste disposal is primarily solid waste, with very little liquid lost via the gastroenterological system, suggesting a very efficient water reabsorption rate from the GI tract.
Urinary and Renal
The Elai are evolved to operate in a very arid climate, and their bodies are extremely efficient at fluid retention/recycling. While the human consumption of water is a minimum of 3 liters per day, it is hypothesized that the Elai can survive on as little as 500 milliliters per day; with an optimal intake of 1 liter. Urine is likely extremely concentrated for retention of fluids.
Hematological:
The basic red blood cell is a nucleated erythrocyte, with a doubled quad hemoglobin structure, which served to functionally double the oxygen carrying capacity of the red blood cell. This allows for significantly higher than human tolerance for hypoxic environments. During the fighting over Desolation, Elai sailors were recovered from severely oxygen depleted wrecks with documented atmospheric oxygen of less than 15% and high levels of retained CO2 with no lasting ill effects. The clotting mechanisms remain unstudied, but the base thrombocyte is highly prevalent in the bloodstream, leading to a rapid initiation of the clotting process.
Integumentary:
The Elai integumentary system thick, leathery consistency skin that ranges in color from dark, near black to dust brown. Occasional mottling or striping can be seen, with a wide variety of patterns. This appears to be genetic sub variations based on region of origin on the Elai homeworld.
Musculoskeletal:
The Elai are heavily muscled and densely boned for their size, suggesting a high gravity homeworld; estimated at 1.25-2 standard Earth gravity. The average Elai, despite their relatively small size; has parity in raw muscular strength with an adult human male.The Elai infantry carry standard fighting loads of 50 kilograms including body armor, with their long range recon units having equipment pack weights up to 75 kilos. Their reflexes and response time as noted under the neurological section above make them very fast, despite their dense bone structure and musculature. Bone growth appears to take place over the first twelve to seventeen years of life, or until sexual maturity is reached; seventeen for females, fifteen for males. Females tend towards slightly less muscle and dense bone structures, and males more dense; with a higher overall body weight.
Metabolic: Unlike terrestrial reptiles the Elai are endothermic, leading to a wide range of temps turns which the Elai are comfortable. Their body tempature is slightly higher than that of a human- between 38 and 40 degrees centigrade. While they do not sweat, they are able to regulate heat exchange and loss through vasoconstriction and dilatation of the peripheral vasculature in the skin.
Reproductive:
Little is known about the Elai reproductive cycle, except that the Elai females lay eggs in hatchings of nine to twelve eggs at a time. The eggs gestate for twelve weeks, in a warm, dry environment, constantly guarded by one of the parents or a close family. After hatching it takes seventeen years for females, fifteen for males sexual maturity.
Psychiatric:
There is limited data on the Elai psychiatric model. Studies of the Elai captured in the Early part of the war are ongoing, but definitive research remains ongoing likely due to cultural and linguistic difficulties.
Cognitive/Intellectual:
In terms of cognitive power and intellect, it is highly likely that the Elai are at least intelligent as humans, despite the apparent lower level of technology. Archeological analysis of the Elai homeworld has revealed that they have a long history of tool use, far predating human tool use; with a subsequent pause in development, possibly due to one of their aforementioned ‘Dark times’. There is also research suggesting that the Elai were once a space capable race at some point in theri distant past but lost the ability, although the reason for this technological regression is not known at this time.
Their ability to adapt to rapidly changing conditions, and their ability to perform high level strategic analysis of human fleet and ground forces movements, suggests that while the Elai may be losing the war, it was strictly due to a technological mismatch, not a mismatch in strategic, tactical or intellectual capability. When technological factors are controlled for, such as in the fighting on Paradise; the loss rate of UEA servicemembers rose dramatically. It has been hypothesized that had humanity encountered the Elai in a near peer conflict scenario, the war might have taken a very different course.
Considerations
It would be noted that almost all of the data in the above review has been gleaned from three primary sources: Examinations and observations of captured Elai, examinations of Elai combat deaths and captured Elai literature, field manuals and textbooks; which the bulk of remain untranslated. The above information is highly likely to change rapidly as more research is conducted.
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