Origins of the Supremis

SharonBest, Aurora Universe, Copyright 1995,1996,1997,1998,1999,2000,2002

Home Page: http://www.velorian.org/ Email: sharon@velorian.org

The Homo Sapiens Supremis race is an 'artificial' race of humans who have vast physical powers. They were in essence 'engineering' by a people who called themselves, Galens - a widely-dispersed technologically-advanced alien race. Also known as the Ancient Ones, their motivations for conducting these experiments are a subject of some controversy even today. What is clear is that the role that the Velorians currently perform was not part of the original plan of the Galens. 

An even more interesting question involves the origins and capabilities of the Galen. It is widely believed in other parts of the galaxy that there are two supreme spacefaring races which have entered the Milky Way Galaxy: the Galen and the Diaboli (also known to many as the Elder Ones). Together, these races are responsible for providing the that takes a promising indigenous lifeform, like the great apes of Earth, and enhances and elevates them to truly sentient, intelligent lifeforms. Yet despite having the same goals, the Diaboli and the Galen employ very different methods.

The Elders focused on improving the powers of the mind through scientific methods, and their science became so advanced that its practitioners often explained it to others as mere 'magic'. The so-called witches and sorcerers of the occult, many who are agents and offspring of Elder blood, have at times been very powerful forces on Earth, and have been living continuously on the Earth for thousands of years.

In contrast, the Galen focus on improving the physical robustness and emotional stability of the human race, initially for some very personal reasons, but more lately to allow humanity to spread to more hostile environments. Their goal was to take the human genome and combine it with specialized genetic elements from alien races to create a race that could conquer the immense gravity of the G-class planets that the Galen preferred.

The impetus for creating the Velorian race started nearly four thousand years ago, following a vicious attack on the Galen by the Elders. In that attack, a pathogen was released that slowly destroyed the reproductive capabilities of their females. Desperate to regain their lost fertility, they fell prey to an Elder plot that resulted in the Galen females entering a wormhole that led to a planet where they believed they would regain their ability to bear young. It was a trap they could not escape, for the actual terminus of their wormhole was a white dwarf star. Whether any of them survived, or whether they are still trapped in the immense gravity field of that dwarf awaiting rescue, is unknown. All that is known is that no Galen has the power to rescue them. 

(It should be noted that more recent evidence has surfaced indicating that a small group of Galen females still live. In fact, startling new information has revealed that the evolution of Terran humanity was the direct result of the efforts of a young Galen female named Skietra.)

An ancient tome from Earth's history, circa the Greek Civilization,  found in the Library of Scribes on Daxxan, says the following:

To an ordinary human, the Galen would appear to be gods, their powers and technology nearly beyond comprehension. They are, in fact, rumored to be the very race of beings who encouraged the apes of the planet Terra to stand erect and march toward their destiny of becoming sentient and intelligent men. They subsequently returned eons later to watch over the emerging race they called Homo Sapiens Sapiens. They also continued their ages old war with the Elders, a race who has also worked to exert their influence over mankind since the beginning. The tug and pull of good and evil, and the way they formed the twin natures of mankind, are the result of this conflict between Ancient (Galen) and Elder (Diaboli).

At this point, the story of the Galen is as much folklore as fact, and what follows is drawn from the Velorian records, which may not be entirely correct. After the Galen deserted the Velorians, they invented many stories about their progenitors:

<Excerpt from the Velorian Archives, translated by Sharon Best>

Despite the death of the females of their race, the Galen did not give up. Their first act was to enhance a selected group of humans to create beings who whose powers rivaled their own and whose very presence and beauty would inspire them to acts of great manliness. They populated them on a golden planet named Velor, and in so doing, gave rise to a race of people who were called Velorians.  

Given that the Ancient Ones were gods in most all of the ways that we understand godhood, the physical requirements of this new race of procreators was that of combining beauty with power. Mostly the power to withstand the loving attentions of a god, and bear their offspring. 

The first such advanced humans were created four to five thousand years ago. During this period, the Galen experimented by creating a number of genetically advanced humans and releasing them on Earth to see how they would prosper. They exhibited various powers such as invulnerability, extreme strength, and even unassisted flight. A murky but generally clear memory of some of these encounters still persists among various human groups. Some of these prototypical Velorians were famous heroes, and others were themselves worshiped as gods. It is believed that beings such as Gilgamesh, Aphrodite, Hercules, Thor, Vainamoinen, Hiawatha, and other such deities and demigods were born of Velorian bloodlines. The gods of Olympia and Valhalla, Zeus, Athena, Aphrodite, Odin and many others lived in the various heavens that the Galen created, heavens which are now regarded as mere mythology on Earth but which in fact were located on the other planets of the Milky Way system.

The tome in the Library of Scribes continues:

Despite their heavy influence in Earth's ancient history, we know little about the Galen today. A glimpse at their history, however, seems to indicate some of their goals. We know that they favor a highly organized and efficient, though somewhat regimented society, at least for humans. They do not shrink from battle or war, believing this to be the best way to put those sorts of social organizations to the test. Finally, they believe in enhancing physical attributes most useful for the kind of life they favor, and for that reason sought to move humans towards a goal of superior strength and stamina.  

This hypothesis has naturally led researchers to study the foes of the Ancient Ones, the Elders. We have reason to believe that the Elders intervened in human history at many times, and became to be known as the Diaboli  in some circles. To those who have met them and survived, they speak of the Elders as if they were spirits and demons. It is believed that their physical appearance is profoundly ugly, even perverse.

The conflict between Diaboli and Galen was fought over dozens of centuries. All during that time, the Galen worked to further human society through the enhancement of physical abilities. At the same time, the Diaboli worked to sow the seeds of individualism and social chaos through enhancement of mental powers such as psychic abilities. As such, the Diaboli are believed to be somehow responsible for a group of different paranormal humans throughout human history. Their practitioners bore familiar names such as Circe, Medea, Merlin, and Faustus. In each case it seems these alleged "sorcerers" did in fact possess incredible psychic powers which allowed them to harness magic. The Diaboli are also believed to presently have an outpost in the Atlantic Ocean, along the Mid-Atlantic ridge not far from the Azorean Islands, where the "sea devils" confer powers on their followers that enable them to dwell underwater. While this outpost has had several names over the eons, the name most recognizable in this modern day would be Atlantis.

The presence of alien elements in human societies seems to be easily detected and cyclical, given their fondness for battle, desire for leadership, and concern with shaping the cultures they encounter. From time to time the Galen intervened with groups of extraordinarily powered humans, and these interventions gave rise to legends and beliefs that united societies for some time to come thereafter, during which the Galen took a less active role in human society.

The presence of the Diaboli and their followers has proven harder to detect, since by nature these people are secretive and individualistic, and their abilities are less dramatic (but no less powerful) than those of the Diaboli. In fact, there is reason to believe that these beings have maintained a small but relatively constant presence throughout human history, and their descendents still influence Earth's history today.

After the end of the first period of interaction between Galen, Diaboli and Terran, a period around the peak of the Roman Empire (c. AD 115), both the Galen and Diaboli decided to remove groups of their chief followers from the ordinary human population. The last remnants of these enhanced humans seems to have faded from the human record around 1300AD, with only sporadic reports of superhuman beings existing until the present. It seems likely that the Diaboli had perfected their experiments on the human genome and were ready to pursue their ultimate goal to create procreators to replace their lost wives.

The Galen began to abduct the strongest and most vital members of several Germanic tribes of northern Europe, and settled them on a planet named Velor to begin their enhancement. The resulting beings became the modern-day Velorians of which much is written in these chronicles. Their correct name is Homo Sapiens Supremis.

The Galen scientists created their most successful client race, this Homo Sapiens Supremis, by using advanced genetic engineering techniques. They inserted a 'control' into their genes that allow the presence of gold to nullify much of their physical power. The result was that they located the colony on a planet whose core was laden with pure gold (unlike Earth, where gold is usually found combined with silver in electrum, a natural alloy). The Galens then withdrew from their new planet and contented themselves to allow their new race to develop as they saw fit, other than leaving behind a large genetic computer called the Maternity Engine who's goal was to maintain the purity of their new creation.

VELORIANS (

Background:

Although the origin of the name Velor is unclear, some historians think it�s based on the Latin word "velare," which means "to watch over" or "stay awake". This theory makes sense when one considers the names used in connection with the other planets of Homo Supremis, (which have also been derived from Earth languages), especially the third Velorian-settled planet, whose name of Kryp'Terra (Hidden Earth) was the root of the Greek word for 'hidden': Krypton. The residents of this world have since adopted the name Geheim, and are attempting to locate and form alliances with the Galen.

Another theory for the name is that it comes from the Galen word for 'golden', Velorea.

Velor itself is a beautiful world, with a lavender sky and an orange moon which reflects the rays of its red sun. It circles closely around a red star, and is slightly smaller than Earth (6000 versus 8000 mile diameter), with 4000 miles of that core made of pure gold. It's gravity is nearly three times that of Earth due to its huge golden core. The Velorian star is isolated and alone, far away from any other potentially habitable system, and well outside the usual pathways that advanced races use for navigational purposes. Its twin planet, Daxxan, a planet with a much smaller gold core, can be seen as a pale yellow orb in the night.

The style of its private dwellings and public towers is mostly art deco with a touch of expressionism. Velorian architects do not treat buildings as purely functional, but also as exciting sculptures in their own right. Everywhere one looks, they can see bright colors and warm pastels, from the clothes people are wearing to the blinking lights which dot their rounded vehicles.

That said, the Velorians look upon Earth as their natural home, and they have a fondness for anything Terran. Several major cities on Velor have quaint neighborhoods where Earth-like architecture exists, as this picture of a Protector in-training shows.

(Captured on her way home from flight-lessons, a critical part of any Protector's training. We see a glimpse, albeit in black and white, of how ordinary Velorians dress back home.)

Procreation

The Velorians themselves are artificial beings in the sense that they were created by the scientific synthesis of human and alien DNA. As a result, they do not generally reproduce via natural means. Their genetic structure is the result of thousands years experience by the Galen in the advanced manipulation of the human genome, and reproduction is carefully controlled via a large computer system, the Maternity Engine. The genetic makeup of each fertilized egg is carefully controlled and the resulting embryo is raised in an artificial 'womb', a Birthing Matrix, whose environment is carefully controlled by that same computer system. The initial ova and sperm generally come from the parents, although the genes are sometimes extensively edited prior to conception.

The initial procreation process on Velor consists of married couples selecting their children's characteristics from a list of genetic choices that are available depending on the time of year the child is conceived.  The needs of society and the skills and backgrounds of the parents are then considered and the system selects the remaining attributes, including the child's aptitudes and personality. Generally, ova and sperm from the parents is used to begin the process, the genetics then edited before conception, although some couples prefer to draw the raw genetic material from other donors. It is rare for a P1 child to be conceived using the parents ova and sperm.

The child, born after a very long 11 month gestation period, is then taken home by the parents approximately two days after birth and raised much as a Terran child would be raised. Despite the seemingly rigid nature of the system, in actual practice the children are free to choose whatever role in society they wish. The exception being those with P-level genetics who undergo training from a young age to prepare them for their lives as Protectors, Scribes or Messengers on distant worlds.

Three levels of genetic classes exist on Velor.

The first level, P-class, consists of two sub-levels called P1 and P2. P1 children generally become Protectors while P2's usually become Scribes of Messengers. A group called P3 informally exists, but is more properly part of the M-class.

The second major class is M, and it consists of those who will become the professionals of Velor. Engineers, artists, architects and others which have been selected for creativity and high intelligence.

The last level B is for bureaucrats and government leaders. They are the people with superior organizational skills and an aptitude for managing other people. They generally enter the vast governmental bureaucracy of Velor.

While the genetic potential of each class is sharply defined, the members of each class socialize among each other a great deal, and it is considered undesirable to show either favoritism or discrimination toward those of other genetic classes. The exception are Protectors, who are outgoing and gregarious to a fault, but who are always treated with deference and respect by those of other classes. They are the ones who will give their lives to the defense of ordinary humanity across the entire breadth and width of the five galaxies, and they are respected in the way that wise people have always respected the warriors among them. Respect that is tinged with a bit of envy and a little fear.

It is also the role of the other classes to nurture young Protectors, to teach them what it is like to be ordinary, to live a life dependent on others. To be gentle and tolerant and kind. The greatest fear of the Velorian government is that a Protector will become arrogant and willful and will see herself as being different and better than others. To develop a God-complex. 

Protectors

Protectors, more formally named Planetary Protectors, are the most physically adept of Velorians and they are always born of genetic class P1. They are invariably female as only the female gender is capable of the levels of strength and resistance to injury, not mention energy storage, that the Galen intended for the Velorian race. Protector genes are selected for quiet (but not deep) intelligence, versatility and resourcefulness, strength, endurance and profound resistance to injury. Their superior genetics affords them nearly total invulnerability to all known physical hazards when off their homeworlds. They are also chosen for bravery and a willingness to engage in lethal combat, the later trait having been bred out of anyone not possessing P-class genetics.

For reference purposes, a Protector�s strength can be as great as four or even five thousand times that of a very fit Terran male. A Scribe or Messenger (P2 genetics) would have from one-fourth to one-half  the strength of a Protector, but even an ordinary Velorian of class M or B who leaves their home planets would still have hundreds of times the strength of an ordinary human of comparable physical build. The remarkable strength of all Velorians can be temporarily amplified further during moments of extreme physical arousal. 

The function of the Velorian adrenal gland differs from ordinary humans in that it secretes a modified hormone that allows metabolism of a stored energy called Orgone. Orgone is the ultimate 'fuel' that unlocks the strength of a Velorian's body.  This hormone, of course, is the gift that the Galen left behind in the Velorian genetic structure due to their initial goal of having the females be their procreators, and the result is that extreme physical violence and sexual arousal both create an adrenal rush are intertwined in ways that cannot be separated. In other words, their response to danger, the so-called fight or flight response, and their response to sexual arousal are essentially the same.

The difference in a Protector's base strength as compared to others with P-class genetics is due to the fact that they have undergone a mutagenic enhancement during their first Ples'tathy period. More will be said later about both these concepts, yet it should be said that this aspect of Velorian physiology has been generally kept from the knowledge of ordinary humans. 

Only females can become Protectors because it is possible to imbue them with greater energy storage  than males.  Given the prodigious appetite that their super-human physiques have for energy to power their muscles, what was formally the female mammary gland has been modified to serve primarily as an energy storage organ instead of a lactating organ. Other fatty tissues also store the energy they use, called Orgone. This allows well-endowed females to store hundreds of times as much energy as a male and permits them to make unaided interstellar flights. By contrast, a male Messenger, a man who has much of the same enhanced genetics of a Protector, requires the energy stores of a Starship, frequent dips into the plasma of passing suns, or a female Velorian companion, for such a flight. 

In fact, some Homo Supremis females have such decidedly different physical and psychological characteristics than the males of the species that they are sometimes classified as a separate subspecies: Homo Supremis Virago, while the males are merely considered Homo Supremis Sapiens. On patriarchal worlds such as Velor however, this classification has long been kept from the public.

Protectors typically leave the Velorian system at the age of 17 or 18 (full physical maturity equivalent to a Terran female of 21 or 22 years is reached at this age), and sometimes as early as 15 or 16 years when the demand for Protectors is high. They are invariably assigned to protect one or more developing planets and those assignments take them across the breadth of the Milky Way galaxy. 

Curiously, once a Protector leaves Velor, she is generally barred from returning, her only contact with home being the occasional visit by a member of a special cadre of Messengers and Scribes. Exceptions are difficult to secure, although the Council does allow for petitions from retiring Protectors to return to Velor to train future generations.

Clothing and Appearance

Protectors traditionally wear a red and blue uniform which incorporates the colors of the Supremis Shield. The blue represents Orgone energy  - the energy of orgasm and strength (according to the research of the late Dr. Wilhelm Reich), while the red and yellow colors of their uniform match those of type M and type G suns. The stylized "S" that generally adorns their uniforms stands, of course, for the word Supremis.

The universal symbol of a Protector is the Supremis Shield, as shown here. They generally wear a short red skirt and a blue top, often with an attached cape. Many variations exist, with the 'S' symbol being the universal constant.

 Messengers and Scribes

The Messengers are male Velorians of unusual power, their near-Protector-level powers coming from their P2 genetics. They are sent out to convey news and provide special comfort to the far-flung female Protectors. They are few in number and they travel constantly, often for their own peace of mind, as most homeworld Velorians treat them contemptuously, often accusing them of being gigolo's, somewhat more humorously as 'mailmen standing at stud'. However, most Messengers enjoy their work a great deal and their arrival on a Protector's world is always eagerly awaited by the young women they visit. 

The other group of expat Velorians are the Scribes. Invariably female, their physical abilities are a half to a quarter that of a Protector, generally a bit greater than a Messenger. They are sent to worlds where pivotal battles are being fought between the Protectors and the Arion or Kintzi races. Forbidden under punishment of death to intervene in the affairs of the Protector who's actions they are recording, their job is solely to record and report, their ultimate goal being that of maintaining the central archives on Velor. 

Scribes rarely wear uniforms of any kind, but when they do, it is generally made of gold-like synthetic metal, the style more exotic than Protectors, and their uniforms are intended to show both their rejection of physical power in lieu of their chronicling activities, but to also make it clear that they are proud to be P-class Velorians.

Unlike Protectors,  Messengers and Scribes are allowed to return to the Velorian system, although they generally aren't allowed to re-enter normal society and live on Daxxan, Velor�s sister planet. The Institute of Scribes and the Velorian Archive is on Daxxan as well. Because of this restriction, an open rebellion in recent years among Scribes has led to many of them refusing to return to the Velorian home system once their assignments are complete. Many of them have become roving journalists, moving from one world to another. A few of them are close to going rogue, most recently Earth's Scribe, Shara'Lynn Best. A few of her sisters are now behaving almost like Protectors, fighting side-by-side with them. Unfortunately, due to their limited powers and an inbred distaste for physical confrontation, they are fairly easy prey for Arion and Kintzi warriors.

They require the protection of a Protector, and generally seek them out as mates to ensure their own survival. Clearly, sexual preferences and various orientations are more relaxed than on Earth.

Isolation

Overall, Protectors live their lives totally isolated from their homeworld, their infrequent contacts with their own race occurring at intervals that are sometimes decades apart. Given their long natural life-span, ranging from 300 to as much as 1000 Earth years depending on their initial genetic mix, they often stray from the paths that have been proscribed for their kind. It is the role of the Scribes and Messengers to help keep them oriented to their Prime Directive.

It is also a sad fact that few Protectors actually survive their first century. The battle between the warring elements of the Supremis race, Arion and Velorian, is such that many deaths occur in combat. 

Unfortunately, their isolation and the constant threat of death, along with the extreme physical requirements for an appropriate mate, that has lead some Protectors to commit the abhorrent act (in the eyes of a homeworld Velorian) of becoming pregnant and giving birth naturally. This is generally done by seducing one of the Messengers into performing the Dala'Hallil, the act of inducing the state of Ples'tathy in a Protector while she is ovulating. Yet Messengers are invariably sterile.

Due to their robust physiques and the near-epileptic spasms of a Supremis orgasm, and the fact that those with P-class genetics become much stronger during sexual excitement, a Velorian female can only be impregnated by the equally energetic sperm of a male Homo Supremis. Yet only by proxy if a Messenger is involved, thus leading to many complications and logistical issues.

Neither Arion Prime not Kryp'Terran (Geheimite) men have such limitations.

Prime Directive

Protectors are forbidden from interfering in the development of their assigned planets in any way other than to protect their planet from any kind of outside alien interference. As a result, they usually hide themselves among the populace of human worlds, often taking on an ordinary identity and life, only to appear clad in their characteristic red and blue flight uniform when extraterrestrial threats appear. This results in the local populace developing conflicting views of their value to their planet. Refusing to take sides in wars, or even to assist in natural disasters, despite their ability to save countless lives, has led to the rise of various organizations who oppose their presence on a protected planet. The EarthFirst movement on Earth, first appearing at the end of the 20th century, has grown to be one of the most powerful of such movements. 

Gender and Sexuality

Despite the longstanding taboo against natural reproduction, the ability to reproduce naturally has, perhaps wisely, never been genetically engineered out of the Velorian race. Females remain perfectly fertile, and have the potential to undergo a monthly menstrual cycle. They do not, however, actually ovulate unless they consciously wish to do so, and the usual result of their monthly cycle is usually just a weakening of their physical strength that lasts for several days out of each month. During this time, they have less than half of their normal strength, although their response to sexual arousal during this period is far more extreme than normal, leading to the retention of most of their combat skills. They are extremely responsive sexually during their periods. 

Velorians are in general libidinous beings, as you might expect of someone as physically fit as they are. Because of the lack of reproductive consequences, (and the fact that parents and siblings have slightly different genes due to the editing process or genetic origin), Velorians don�t view incest as taboo, although it is generally discouraged when there is a large disparity in age. Exclusively homosexual relationships are even more discouraged than incest, particularly among women, primarily as that type of union is believed by the male leadership of Velor to increase the power of women. The Velorian authorities fear it will encourage them to bond together as sisters and become politically powerful. While this is clearly just another ill-conceived male reaction to the physical superiority of the female Protectors, it has nonetheless become a significant taboo on Velor and Daxxan.

Off-planet, however, lesbianism is extremely common, although both members of a femme coule will generally embrace the arrival of a Messenger with equal enthusiasm. Bisexuality, therefore, is wide-spread on Velor and is rapidly becoming the norm everywhere.

A Velorian female periodically undergoes a period state of elevated arousal called Ples'tathy. During this state, which can often last for days, they are unusually receptive to males but are also uniquely demanding of their partner's strength and enthusiasm. The result of such a mating is always fatal to anyone with less than Velorian or Arion Prime genetics (see Arions below). Only a Prime, a Messenger or another Protector or Scribe can truly rise to meet a Protector's physical demands during this period.  

Scribes, particularly when off the homeworlds, are susceptible to even more frequent bouts of Ples'tathy, mainly because many of them do not engage in the periodic release of tensions like a more assertive Protector can.

Interestingly, Protectors are nearly always sexually excited by violence. Even in normal humans, a woman�s sexual arousal can only be differentiated from anger by four bodily functions, but in the case of Supremis women, it seems the two states are biologically indistinguishable. While this can lead to an increase in a Protector's physical power during combat, it can also be a fatal distraction, one that their enemies have long exploited during the heat of battle.

Appearance

Velorians are universally blonde (although the exact shade can vary day to day depending on energy absorption levels), and their skin appears to have a permanent golden tan. Their eyes are usually a brilliant shade of blue, sometimes with an aquamarine or violet accent, their eyes seemingly glowing with their own light. Green eyes are a genetic defect that have been observed a handful of times over the last thousand years, but such Velorians generally do not survive the birthing process as they are considered flawed. 

Velorian males are rarely less than six feet tall while females average 5'10" and never less than 5'6". Some females, mostly Protectors, are as tall as 6'3".

Any Velorian would be considered extraordinarily attractive on Earth as well as wildly athletic, but they could be easily confused with any other member of his or her race. They all appear very similar - at least to non-Velorians. Their unique ability to blend in with members from the modern-day Nordic races, particularly the Swedes, encourages them to live in places were their type of physical appearance is common. Los Angeles, Stockholm, Amsterdam and western Finland are the most likely locations to find a Velorian Expat living on Earth. Most visit the Earth only for brief periods, as it is only the designated Planetary Protectors who are allowed permanent settlement by the Velorian Council.

Government and Social Conventions

Despite the superior physical prowess of females, Velorian society is patriarchal, with the males controlling all positions of authority in government and business. Women are largely treated as second-class citizens, and are expected to look pretty and do as they're told. Behavior that would be considered the worst kind of sexual abuse on Earth is commonplace in Velorian business and government. It is this aspect of Velorian society, more than any other, that has the potential to cause its own downfall, particularly as women band together to increase their power base.

This, of course, does not apply to Protectors or Scribes as they are more powerful than males and are afforded a corresponding special status in Velorian society.  Unfortunately, their genetically-programmed nature encourages Protectors to be exhibitionists at heart. In fact, because there are no taboos against nudity for those of P-class genetics on their homeworld, a naked Velorian visiting Earth, whether Scribe or Protector, might be just as irritated if asked to clothe themselves as an American woman visiting a Muslim nation would be by the requirement to keep her hair covered. At best she�d think it was a demeaning custom, and at worst she might be insulted by the unspoken suggestion that her body was unpleasant to look at.

Protectors do not consider any part of their bodies to be private unless they have covered it. Therefore, a naked Protector would not be any more offended by someone touching her breast as she would if a hand were touching her elbow. In fact, the momentary pressing of bared breast to breast is an accepted way for two female Protector's to greet each other, as they acknowledge the special nature and role of those organs in their lives. 

Men are usually greeted with a handshake if they are strangers, a hug if they are friends, and a kiss if they are more than friends. A Protector would only allow a man to touch her breast if she intended to mate with him.

During athletics and exercise, most Velorian females wear outfits that free their breasts to either heat or cool, or expand or contract, depending upon how much energy they are consuming. In the end, this in-bred conflict between exhibitionism and a desire to be respected as first-class citizens has become a source of friction between men and women on Velor.

More from the Scribes Library:

Velorian society was not always as sexist as it is today, and in the early years both genders were more or less equal (several females were even considered to be great leaders - a fact now unknown to most of the population). This change in their culture is mainly the result of the men�s obsession with physical strength and muscular development. It may also be the men�s reaction to their inferiority when facing the far more powerful Protectors. The scientific community (the least strength-obsessed portion of Velorian society) treats females with greater equality than the general population, and is the only area where women can rise to positions of any prominence. In the end, keeping women from realizing exactly how powerful they would become away from the homeworlds is largely the reason behind the ban on Protectors ever returning home. It is a virtual certainty that a repatriated Protector would never accept second-class status, especially after living for years as a virtual goddess.

Despite the fact that they gain enormous physical powers when on any planet other than their own, most normal Velorians never leave their homeworlds as there is no need for trade with other races. The twin planets are completely self-sufficient. The twin worlds, both members of what is called the Velorian Enlightenment, possess a small military force that engages in operations in regions not under the protection of a Protector. Since Velorians cannot fly when in the proximity to their own planets, their warriors depend on space ships or Dimensional Transport Devices to leave Velor, although those with P1 genetics are capable of leaving the smaller gold core of Daxxan under their own power. The use of spacecraft are very tightly controlled so as to keep the social misfits of their society from running amok through the galaxy. 

The primary threat to Velorians, and its a very serious one, is the Enlightenment's centuries-long conflict with the Arion Empire. That war has flared into full-scale warfare several times, but by mutual agreement, it is never fought on the homeworlds, only on far flung alien worlds, usually between Arion infiltrators and Protectors. Races who are openly under the Velorian protection (Earth is an 'undisclosed Protectorate') are aware that a homeworld for the Protectors exists, but few non-Supremis is aware of its exact location. The homeworlds are, in fact, slightly shifted into a pocket dimension, and cannot be reached, or even seen, without the knowledge of how to breach the dimensional barrier, either with special devices or through a singularity in space positioned between the two dimensions.

Of the two Velorian home worlds, Velor is considered by far the more important, for it is the seat of the Enlightenment and the location of most institutions of research and higher learning. Velorian society continues to be highly structured yet surprisingly informal, much like a gigantic university campus filled with ivory towers. On Daxxan, life most closely resembles that on Earth, with its citizens free to conduct business and go about their lives mostly as they see fit. The structure is more rigid on Velor, mainly due to the presence of the Velorian Senate, an institution that could be described as "benignly authoritative." It mostly stays out of the way, encouraging scientific advancements and commerce, but is willing and able to make its presence strongly felt if it wishes. Its closest Terran analog is the present day government of Singapore.

One other distinction exists between Velor and Daxxan, and that involves naming conventions. On Velor, children are given a first name that is then combined with a hyphenated class name. Family names, or surnames, are rarely used. For instance, the class name of Zor'El is one of a half-dozen that means Protector, and all Protectors carry one these last names. Zena'Shar, Shara'Lynn Best's class name, is one of several that means Scribe. Only on certain legal documents are family surnames used. 

However, on Daxxan a more Earth-like system is used, complete with first, middle and last names. As befitting a patriarchy, surnames are passed down through the fathers.

Religion

Velorian religion per se does not exist. They do acknowledge, and on rare occasions worship, the Galen who created them. They also know of an even older race that created life on Earth, but they do not worship them. Rather the Velorians are attempting to discover the secrets of life used by that mysterious race. It would be most accurate to portray the Velorians as genetic engineers who can manipulate genetics to their own ends, but are still incapable of the creative act that initiated life itself.

Despite their long separation from Earth, the Velorians have always had a strong attachment to it. The gods of most ancient pagan religions on Earth were actually proto-Velorians, as there was a strong, visible involvement up until the modern religions of Christianity and Islam were well established. It is still debatable as to whether Velorian involvement was implicated in Buddism or Hinduism, but most scholars think not. It is from the Greek, Roman and Norse mythology that we gain a nearly undistorted view of early Velorians involvement. The chronicles of their gods are merely tales of Velorian activities at that time. 

Modern-day Velorians view Earth very fondly, seemingly reverently, almost as if it was their Mecca. Earth was the origin of their race � their initial genes came from the wild tribes of northern Europe. Much is said about Earth on the Public News Monitors on Velor, and the Scribe�s reports of the hidden Protectors activities on that planet are discussed more than on any other planet, despite the fact that they are undisclosed on Earth itself. Psychologically, Earth forms the core of Velorian identity, for without that grounding, they would have no link back to their origin as natural beings. Pathologically sensitive to being considered 'artificial beings', they maintain a very high regard for the wild uncontrollable genetic stock of the Earth. It is every Velorian's dream to someday return to that planet and spread the wealth of their own genetics among the native residents.

It is the most stunning of a paradoxes, therefore, that Earth has the least visible of all Protectors, at least among the local inhabitants. The Senate�s First Directive with regards to Earth was to not interfere in the normal affairs of the wild genetic origin of humanity. This contrasts sharply with non-human planets where Protector females have often become either Goddesses or the leaders of government, the choice depending mostly on their degree of vanity. Yet on Earth, they are only allowed to help where Terran systems and abilities have broken down in the face of alien intervention. At all other times, they are expected to hide themselves among the indigenous population and live ordinary lives.

 Powers

The superhuman powers of the Velorians are entirely physiological and primarily muscular, the result of genetic engineering on the basic Terran humanoid form. Their primary ability consists of vast strength and invulnerability to injury. A normal Velorian, even one who is not particularly athletically inclined, is easily hundreds of times as strong as a normal human. Velorian Protectors can be many times that strong, and the expansion of their muscles from resting to fully flexed states can transform their invariably slender physiques into those that would be the envy of any Terran bodybuilder.

By genetic class, it works out like this:

While most Velorians look like very fit Terrans, the most extreme Protectors, the Viragos, can display superhuman muscularity. In all cases, a Velorian's body is at the upper end of normal in terms of muscle tone when they are relaxed, but their flexed muscles become very large and far harder than steel or any other manmade substance, the specific hardness rivaling that of diamond. 

Yet despite their invulnerability and extreme muscular hardness when exerting themselves, a Velorian Protector's skin remains very soft and flexible, their skin tone and texture much like that of a very fit Terran girl in her mid-teens. While the specific hardness of their bones and flexed muscles is indeed diamond-like, their flesh does not have a crystalline structure and therefore cannot be broken by an impact, no matter how strong. In addition, their overwhelming strength and gymnast-level flexibility allows them to move with a gracefulness that startles most Terrans, giving their movements a lithe and sinuous appearance even if they are not using any of their super powers.

When they are not exerting themselves strongly, in this case lifting only a few tons, their bodies are compact and uniquely attractive.  Slenderness is the rule, as you can see from the picture are the left. 

A little understood fact is that asking a Velorian to wear undergarments is an insult. It implies she's unattractive. Given the insubstantial nature of their normal outer wear, the concept of 'exposure' on Velor is quite different than Earth.

What was sensationalized as a Sharon Stone look from the movie
Basic Instinct would be a fairly normal look for a Velorian femme, as suggested by the picture at the left.

Another unique Velorian power is the ability to fly. Females have a Volatai located just beneath their breasts, in the chest cavity, that can channel excess energy from isometric muscular contraction into a 'push' that is exerted across dimensional boundaries. The usual method of flight is to leap very energetically from the ground (a Velorian is capable of leaping two miles into the air with their leg strength alone), followed by a tensing of their strongest muscles, usually the gluteus maximus and quadraflexors. The result is that they can achieve speeds of up to Mach 6 in the dense atmospheres of humanoid planets. 

The Galen, and some Geheimites, have a pair of Volatai, but reversed in orientation in their chests, allowing them to 'thrust' in multiple directions at the same time.

With the ability to generate roughly half the flight power of the maximum weight they can lift with their muscles, a Velorian can accelerate to the following velocities as shown in the table below. However, for reasons of energy conversion (Orgoine metabolism), Velorians cannot maintain any acceleration greater than 10G's for more than a few minutes. 

The result is that a Velorian can virtually 'disappear before your very eyes' by accelerating away. (Thanks to CK for the calculations.) They just can't maintain that acceleration. It also takes a week to reach the closest wormhole, so any transits, out and back to anyplace outside the Sol system, are multi-week affairs. But they can get almost anywhere in the Sol system in two days.

In addition, Velorians possess a penetrating vision which allows them to see great distances clearly and to see through solid objects. The technique for seeing through objects is takes advantage of Tachyon and neutrino particles that make up an invisible background radiation throughout the universe. The detectors in their retina�s are capable of stopping and decoding the complex resonance of a Tachyon particle, a resonance that carries with it a �memory� of the materials it has passed through immediately prior to entering the eye. Via this method, they can effectively look through about a mile of rock.

Velorians and related races are also capable of projecting immense energy from their eyes, the energy beams from each eye having the equivalent power of a 20-50 megawatt laser. This unique power, derived by grafting genes from the eyes of the indigenous FlameBird of Velor, is a devastating weapon when used against nearly any form of matter. The emitted spectrum of the energy is generally in the violet range when used as a weapon and barely visible to Terran eyes, although a Supremis can move the spectrum all the way down into the deep red and infrared range when using it melt metallic objects. Unfortunately, the use of their heat vision depletes them of energy very quickly, and only the most endowed female Velorians have the energy stores for prolonged use.

They also have great visual acuity, with approximately the resolving power of a Terran hawk or eagle. That means they could read the headlines of a newspaper at about one-half mile distance.

Velorian hearing is also somewhat enhanced, enabling them to hear sounds at a great distance and to distinguish specific sound sources from any background noise. Their hearing is perhaps twice as good as that of a Terran canine.

Velorians also possess slightly greater mental acuity than humans, their average IQ being 140, their mental abilities tuned toward quick learning and adaptiveness, the characteristics of a warrior. They tend to have photographic memories.

If you want to know more, there is far more scientific information on Velorian powers in the Scientific Basis for The Supremis Race, thanks to Aileron.

 Other Powers, Abilities and Effects:

Enhancement: Limited portions of a Protector's genetic superiority can be transmitted physiologically to other humanoid races via hormonal excretions that can be released during intimate contact. The hormones have a mutagenic effect which is driven by a retro-virus that enters the cells of those infected and modifies the DNA. These changes can begin the moment a person is exposed to a significant quantity of hormones. The change in DNA makes the recipient capable of harnessing Orgone energy, gradually causing permanent changes in the genetic structure of the person who ingests them.

The actual extent of the powers gained is determined not only by the amount of hormonal exposure during the "incubation period", but also an unknown factor in the genetic structure of the individual exposed. Generally speaking: the greater the exposure, the greater the level of power obtained, but some of those exposed will undergo very small changes, and others will have wide disparities in their powers (i.e. great invulnerability, but only limited enhanced strength). Occasionally, the retro-virus can cause death, so infecting a human with such a virus is anything but a casual undertaking.

Tips: The enhancement process is painful, takes some time (varies) and essentially is like getting a really bad case of the flu and nearly dying. High fevers, etc. Lots of attention required from the donor.  Most people would die if not for the transfer of energy, via orgone. But even that can't happen until the person who's evolving reaches a certain point in the genetic change. Remember that the virus is replicating itself and invading every cell in their body and splicing some new genes. When it's done, the virus goes dormant. The retrovirus isn't very smart, and if some of the gene sites it wants to insert a gene into are already filled, usually with all those turned-off genes you carry around, it can't make the change.

Also note that another limitation is that the retrovirus is only available for a few seconds, and only then when the 'expression of joy' of the donor is intense. Which means the donor can't fake anything, and it can't be 'taken' from them (Mandi's mind-warp in the beginning of Dark Supergirl being the only way to avoid that limitation).

Based on their stunningly beautiful looks and their open and frank sexuality, not to mention the strength-enhancing aspects of contact with their bodily fluids, Velorians are highly sought-after as sexual partners by most humanoid races, both male and female. Unfortunately, without prior enhancement, a Terran would be lucky to survive the realization of his or her fantasy, as the lovemaking styles of the Supremis tend to be very athletic. Having the arms and legs of a Velorian wrapped about one�s body when her strength is released in the spasm of lovemaking, makes such fantasy matings less attractive in the flesh than in the imagination. 

Fortunately, a Supremis can perform such an enhancement in advance of such a needful time. While it is not unheard of for a Supremis to use his or her sexual powers as a weapon, a �sport� that is relatively common in fact among the Arion Prime when they walk among normal humans, it is rare for a Velorian to do such a thing, except perhaps as a ploy to defeat an enemy of equal power. In special cases, the increase in strength that comes during the moment of orgasm tends to allow a less powerful Velorian to momentarily attain Protector-level strength, often to a sufficient degree to overcome an Arion Prime warrior.

In terms of enhancement, greater strength and invulnerability are nearly always transferred, but the powers of flight, vision and hearing are rarely passed down (and not always all three). The exact powers gained are determined by unknown genetic factors possessed by the exposed individual. It is believed by some Velorian scientists that rogue Supremis genes have been propagated through Terran individuals they call "Latents." These Latents are generally more muscular and attractive than other humans, but their main advantage is that they react very dramatically to even small quantities of mutagenic hormones.

When aroused, female Velorians also emit powerful pheromones (said to resemble the scent of wild flowers and honey) that can greatly increase the arousal of other beings, including normal humans. Unlike most pheromones, which only attract the opposite sex, both sexes are affected. The actual effect of the pheromones varies widely from individual to individual, ranging from having virtually no effect, to driving the recipient completely out of control with lust.

Energy discharges can also be absorbed and stored in the body by females to be discharged later as a weapon or used to support their physiological needs when they are using their strength or flight powers. The female mammary gland is no longer a reproductive organ for Velorians - it�s now exclusively an energy storage organ. The size of a Velorian's chest changes significantly depending on the amount of energy that is stored as chemical energy within them, but they are always remarkably firm as compared to an ordinary human mammary gland.

A female can also transfer this energy to other members of her own race, and during the rare times a pair of male and female Velorians travel together, her body is used as an energy store during protracted space flight or combat. The transfer of energy between male and female is always an intimate act involving a great deal of wetted skin exposure, with intercourse being the most effective coupling form an efficiency perspective. This act is often called 'recharging'.

Their power of flight makes the Velorians and their splinter race, the Geheimites who live on the hidden third planet named Kryp'Terra, unique in the galaxy. A male�s single flight organ, a "volatus", is located in the center of his chest cavity. It is relatively small and is further diminished by the limited energy reserves that males have.

Geheimite females have redundant volatai, one beneath the ribs on either side of their chests, where it has optimal access to the vast energy reserves that females can store. A well-endowed female can store enough energy for prolonged spaceflight.

 Vulnerabilities:

Drugs/Poisons -- Vulnerable to a few gold-based drugs that can neutralize aspects of Velorian physiology needed for powers. Gold has a serious weakening and intoxicating effect on them, particularly if an unbroken link is placed around their necks or limbs. The gold interferes with the thyroid gland in the neck and that in turn confuses all the other hormones in their body, causing interruptions in the flow of Orgone energy.

Surrounding a Supremis�s body with a link of purest gold reduces his or her strength dramatically and also leaves them in a partially drugged state. Ingesting it has the same effect. The sensations are very pleasant initially, rather like getting "high" on the weed-like drugs that grow on a number of humanoid worlds (ala Marjiuana). Their senses become amplified and they become more sensitive to pain, yet they retain most of their invulnerability. They also become more sensitive to normal drugs at such times, most particularly to the effects of alcohol.

If gold is worn for a prolonged period, the intoxicating effects will eventually fade, but the weakness will remain until the gold is removed. The rapid removal of the gold causes a dramatic energy discharge, usually from the female's breasts, as Orgone energy spreads back through their bodies to energize them. Such energy surges can be very dangerous to those in close proximity to them.

Disease/Infection -- Immune to all known natural illness.

Electricity -- Generally harmless, even invigorating and exciting. Electrical discharges can be physically stored as chemical energy by females to provide energy for their metabolism or for later discharges.

Food -- The only purpose that food serves for a Velorian is to act as a source of raw materials to replaced the dying cells that are part of any human's body. Since their energy isn't drawn from food and their long-lived nature slows the rate of cellular death and replacement, they can go for several months without eating if necessary. Social eating is common among Velorians, however.

Respiration -- Respiration, like food, can be suspended for several month intervals, although it can lead to a build up of toxins in the blood that would make a Velorian feel as if they had the flu.

Water -- The loss of body weight due to water loss is a more serious problem. While the invulnerability of a Velorian greatly reduces moisture loss due to heat or exposure to vacuum, significant dehydration can occur when subjected to very high temperatures or extended space travel while exposed to vacuum. A Velorian will enter a coma-like state if they lose more than fifty percent of their bodily water. 

Fire/Heat -- Generally harmless unless greater than 5000 C, at which point it becomes very uncomfortable for them, the exposed tissues of their bodies becoming painfully dry, the skin often cracking. Temperatures above 10,000C are generally fatal if exposure is prolonged. Extremely brief exposure to temperatures in the million degree Centrigrade range can be tolerated. A Velorian is capable of surviving inside the fireball of a nuclear burst, mainly due to the very brief exposure.

Extreme Cold -- Slowed slightly at -50 F and below. Increased vulnerability to physical attack at temperatures approaching absolute zero, yet they are able to survive extended exposure to temperatures only a few degrees above absolute zero, at least until their stored energy reserves are depleted.

Orgone Energy -- Because Velorians act as natural Orgone accumulators, they are extremely vulnerable to overdoses - especially the females whose bodies store energy. Velorians of either sex can be totally incapacitated by the extreme sexual excitement/pleasure, with the effect of the energy directly proportional to the strength and vitality of the person who absorbs it. Otherwise, excess orgone energy can be stored like any form of energy and discharged, but usually with extremely strong, often uncontrollable, accompanying physical sensations.

'Magic' -- In reality, the scientific tools of the Diaboli. Because of the purely physical nature of a Velorian's powers, they are vulnerable to Diaboli science and have reduced resistance against physical attacks that are 'magical' in origin.

Psionic/Mental Attack -- As with so-called magic, their purely physical powers leave them with only limited capacity to defend against mental attacks.

Possession/Mental Domination -- Perhaps one their greatest weaknesses, next to gold, is that Velorians have proven to be extremely vulnerable to possession of their bodies by other minds; and to the manipulation of their thought processes by brainwashing techniques or mind control devices. The only good things to come out of this weakness include the Drill Helmets which Velorians sometimes use for implanting skills and knowledge, and the Mind Probe, which may be used for therapeutic purposes by psychologists.

Fertility Cycle -- Female Velorians are weakened significantly (50% or more), and can experience significant hormone-induced behavioral changes during their monthly cycle. This period can last for several days.

Can be Captured/Subdued By -- Wrapping a pure gold (24karat) chain around their bodies. The gold must contain no impurities whatsoever. Being in the close vicinity of very large quantities of pure gold (multiple tons) can have a related affect for reasons stated above, as can gold ingestion.

Other Vulnerabilities -- If a Velorian's energy levels are sufficiently reduced, she can experience a complete loss of superhuman abilities until "recharged" with a massive infusion of energy. Their resistance to injury remains significant even when their powers are lost, but total amnesia is often an unfortunate side effect. The restoration of these energies and their resulting superhuman abilities also generally restores their memories. Velorian children are particularly vulnerable to these effects, often running out of energy and becoming forgetful.

In addition, a continuous energy attack directly on the storage organs can overload a female�s capacity to absorb and store energy, and can cause sufficient enlargement to become painful, and seriously impair her balance.

ARIONS

Background:

Over time, the society on Velor began to drift into two camps, with the fundamental issue that divided them one of reproduction and how it was to be managed to best secure the future of their race. They initially tried to set up a bureaucracy that was responsible for maintaining racial perfection, and in those days the initial procreation process on Velor consists of unmarried couples registering with the Bureau of Conception. Then they would submit sperm and ova to the Maternity Engine, the automated genetic laboratory left behind by the Galen, and it would determine what genes to edit or combine to produce a child that best served the society.

While this worked when the population was small and specialized skills were needed, it soon became too limiting. Couples wanted to determine their own children's characteristics, so a system was set up to allow them to enter the desire outcomes, and the Maternity Engine would consider that in its editing. By doing this, the Maternity Engine systematically bred a more powerful race, and any embryos that failed to meet their standards would be either be used for medical experiments or simply exterminated outright. The so-called Purists supported this approach and tried to maintain what they felt was the Galen's original purpose for their race. To be physically perfect and to fulfill the needs of the society.

However, over the following centuries, an increasingly large group of people chose to conceive and bear children naturally. These "Naturalists" (a.k.a. Natural Birthers) believed people should be free to mate with whomever they wanted, and that they should be allowed to bear children normally, despite the "impurities" that would inevitably result. They rejected the Maternity Engine and the careful control it exerted over the racial purity of the Velorian people.

Obviously, these various positions were irreconcilable, and eventually a strong leader arose to lead the Naturalists. A civil war ensued, and the bloodiest chapter of Velorian history began. During that period, a handful of Pacifists who had not supported either side deciphered the controls on another Galen device, a Dimensional Transport device, and projected themselves to the first of two destination planets that were programmed into the machine. They wound up settling a planet named Geheim, also called Kryp'Terra or 'hidden Earth'. Given its relatively small gold core, they became tremendously strong, and were able to defeat the warlike insects that were the indigenous species of that world.

The remaining Naturalists, nearly a hundred thousand of them, were rounded up and cast out, the Dimensional Transport carrying them to the second planet that had been programmed into the machine, this one a tropical world with a red sun which, like Velor-Daxxan, possessed a gold core and extremely high gravity. There they initially lived fairly normal lives despite their innate powers.

Unlike the enlightened residents of Velor, or the pacifists who populated Geheim, the exiled Naturalists were too proud to give the planet a name with any "veiled" or "hidden" connotations. Instead, they named it Aria in memory of the elaborate and beautiful melodies their mournful women sang during their exodus.

Unlike the other homeworlds, Aria�s very appearance was harsh. Unlike the blue sky of Earth or even the lavender sky the Arions had left behind them on Velor, Aria�s atmosphere didn't reflect any blue light at all. Hence their new sky was a hellish red that seemingly turned the seas to blood. There were red thundershowers year-round, which helped keep the humid land covered in tall trees. The covering of the trees� leaves shaded the ground so well, they kept out almost 99% of the sunlight. Darkness suited the dark mood of its new inhabitants.

This much is also known about Aria today, but of all the misconceptions still held about the Arion pioneers, perhaps the greatest is the following: according to Velorian historians, the Arions unleashed a genetic virus upon themselves designed to destroy all potential for Velorian appearance in the Arion genome. The virus did the job it was supposed to, but also contributed many other unforeseen changes on the Arion genetic structure. The historians often cite this incident as an example of just how badly the Arions hate the Velorians.

The truth is another matter entirely. The Velorian senators were not so short-sighted that they would have allowed hundreds of thousands of angry Supremis to find a new homeworld from which they would undoubtedly grow stronger. Unlike the passive Geheimites, the Naturalists clearly intended to return when the time was right and have their revenge. To the Purists, the only sure way to prevent an interplanetary war was to eliminate the threat. The same Velorian biologists who had learned to manipulate genetics to their own ends were secretly employed to create an aerobic virus which would undo the Galen�s efforts and transform the Arions back into normal humans. (The Purists believed this was the best solution, because it meant nobody on either side would have to die.)

The virus was implanted in a device called a Genetic Bomb, and a force of Velorian warriors sworn to secrecy then flew to Aria in a stealth ship and detonated the bomb in the upper atmosphere. Within days the virus had spread around the world. 

In the case of ninety percent of the Arion population, the virus not only destroyed typical Velorian appearances, but it also removed most of their superhuman potential as well. The remaining ten percent lost the power of flight and had their strength and invulnerability reduced from Velorian levels, but still remained vastly more powerful than their human ancestors. The strongest ten percent, known as Alphas or Primes, immediately assumed control of Arion society and became its warriors and leaders. The remainder, known as Betas, were enslaved. Despite their inferior status, the Betas still share the Primes' lust for conquest and war, and seem, for the most part, content to perform the roles assigned to them.

The Betas themselves were further divided by the virus, fully one-half of them not only losing any potential for blond hair, but also having their skin darkened to a tone that on Earth would be called "black". Animosity quickly between the light- and dark-skinned Betas, caused in part by the Supremacist belief of superior status for those who shared the appearance of the original Supremis. 

Somewhat surprisingly, the Primes would have none of this, and they treated all Betas with equal disdain. To prevent trouble though, they segregated the two populations, eventually settling the majority of them on different planets and staffing their warships and bases with crews of uniform color. This system has largely persisted into current times, though the original animosity has all but disappeared over the centuries. Any major reintegration would only happen at the direction of the current High Command, and neither the High Lords nor the Emperor himself see any need to waste time and energy changing something that has worked for so long.

While the Velorian flamebird has long since been a symbol of the Velorian Enlightenment, much like the eagle is to Rome and Germany, no birds of any kind are native to Aria. Bat-like nightwings, however, are a common sight in the tropical rainforests which still cover the planet. As a result, Arion warriors have adopted the nightwing�s image for their imperial shield, where its body is depicted as a red bat (representing the red sun and skies of Aria) against a black circle. The identification with the sacred "Winged Ones" is so strong that this new emblem has completely replaced the Supremis Shield that the Velorians prefer, and military vehicles are even styled in the image of their new totem, with flowing lines and huge black fins. This strong identification with a winged mammal suggests to many Velorian and Geheimite psychologists that the Arions have never fully recovered from losing the power to fly.

Another consequence of the virus is that Arion strength levels vary greatly, depending on their level of sexual arousal. This is also true of Velorians and Geheimites, but not nearly to the extent that it is among the Arions. When extremely aroused, an Arion Prime can temporarily increase his or her strength many-fold, becoming nearly as strong as a Velorian Protector. The effect fades rapidly with the loss of arousal.

In addition, Arion women are greatly affected by mutagenic hormones that are released by other Arion (or Arion-mutated Terran) females during sexual arousal. Being exposed to these hormones extends a female Arion's arousal-enhanced strength beyond the period of actual arousal. As a result, if an Arion woman were to engage in frequent sexual contact with her sister Arions, she would permanently be twice as strong as a male Arion.

This effect was discovered quickly by early researchers into the consequences of the virus, and steps were taken to minimize it as a threat to male domination of Arion society. Lesbianism was successfully instilled as a major cultural taboo, and women even suspected of being a lesbian were sent to correctional centers. Primes rarely if ever suffer the same treatment which awaits Betas in one of the centers, as the Beta's rarely survive such a confinement. In fact, some of the things that happen to lesbians in the centers can be rather hair-raising but they�re not necessarily fatal. Still, as far as the High Command is concerned the public can think what they want - it keeps them on the straight and narrow.

Government and Social Institutions

The Arion Empire effectively consists of a single military organization dedicated to the conquest of known space and to the utter destruction of the Velorian race that cast them out and robbed them of their birthright. Below the reigning Emperor is the High Command - a body of twelve appointed leaders known as High Lords who govern the day-to-day affairs of the Empire in the Emperor�s name. The thirteenth and lowest ranking member of the High Command is the Master of Servants, who presides over the Betas.

The Emperor meets with his High Lords in the Black Citadel - an impressive fortress made of iron, onyx and stone. Unlike Velorian architecture, the Arion style of decoration and avant-garde buildings can best be described as art nouveau. Sculptured statues line the streets, and the capital city�s hanging gardens are luscious and beautiful.

Arions aren't particularly fond of Geheimites, but because that race does not actively oppose them, the Empire doesn't generally take hostile action against them. In fact, over the years the Arions have accepted into their ranks the handful of rogue Geheimites that have rejected pacifism and fled their homeworld to seek action and conquest.

Because they fear punishment by the Galens if they were to engage in large scale open conflict, the Arion Empire�s tactics usually involve infiltration and secret sabotage conducted partly by the Office of Assassins. By undermining a planet's ability to defend itself, the Arions can then conquer it with very little fighting and install an Imperial Governor. Actual combat is normally limited to small (but destructive) engagements between the soldiers from the Imperial Guard and Velorian Protectors along with native defense forces who become aware of Arion intrusion.

The Arion population count is hampered by their low birth rate (another side-effect of the Gene Bomb) and frequent deaths when fighting the stronger Velorians. In order to ensure that enough Arion women (especially Primes) have children, birth control and abortion are absolutely forbidden unless ordered by the Ministry of the Imperial State - the same bureaucracy that determine who may mate with whom. Because they are legally required to ingest fertility drugs daily in an effort to combat the problem, Arion females have no more control over their fertility cycle than human women do. When an Arion female finally does gives birth, the baby is immediately taken to one of the Nursery Colonies. Under normal circumstances, neither the mother nor the father will see their child again.

Like the Velorians, Arion society is male-dominated and sexist. However, because Arion Primes spend so much time off-world in full possession their superhuman powers, the female energy storage advantages are recognized by the general populace, and thus women are treated with considerably more respect than on Velor. Indeed, an aggressive female who has proven herself in battle can rise fairly high in the Arion command structure before hitting the "glass ceiling."

The Arions have a long-standing alliance with the Kintzi, a race of violent, superhuman cat-like creatures about which little is known. (Velorians often refer derisively to the two allied forces as "the bats and the cats.") The Kintzi are fearsome warriors, capable of fighting a Velorian on nearly even terms for brief periods, their love of battle matched by their extreme incompetence with technology. In return for the Arions keeping their ships operational, the Kintzi enthusiastically allow themselves to be used as soldiers in the Arion plans for conquest.

Over the years several attempts have been made by the Arions to infuse Velorian and Geheimite genes back into themselves, both to reverse the effects of the Gene Bomb and to allow infiltration into those two societies. For centuries, all of these attempts have failed, although dormant Velorian genes were introduced into some Arion bloodlines. Recently, they have finally created a viable (though long and painful) procedure, which allows a suitable Arion to be given the physical form and powers of a captured Velorian or Geheimite. The captive is invariably killed by the extraction of the necessary genetic material, but the process, involving the programming of a retro-virus, has been refined so that it is theoretically possible to make many identical "clones" from a single captive. The virus essentially takes over the new host's body, replicating itself as it makes very specific changes to every cell, but subsequent problems involving rejection usually kill the potential host long before enough of the cell structure has been changed to that of a Velorian. Hundreds of young girls and boys, mostly aged 12 thru 15, have been killed in the cruel experiments, yet rumors also persist of an female Prime, an Arion Avenger, whose powers are much different than those of any Velorian Protector. Unfortunately for the Arion Empire, if such a c