PROFILE: PLAZ SESCHNI
OFFICIAL NAME: Plaz
Seschni
LITERAL TRANSLATION: Order
of the Red Suns
COMMON NAME: Order
Ruby
FOUNDER: Dr. Nestri
Vas Juliuan
RESEARCH FUNDING BY: Vas
Tiniklin Consortium, Naza Ewalina PPA
HISTORICAL OVERVIEW:
Upon our arrival on Terra, third planet in the Sol system and Mars, fourth
planet in this system, we discovered remains of settlements and defenses that
had been left behind by another space faring race. Our research teams proved
via DNA samples that this race was not indigenous to Terra. From what we have
surmised, their bases and settlements on Terra were overwhelmed by a suicide
attack staged by a ‘defeated’ foe. The assault was so devastating that they
abandoned this system within twenty standard years of its occurrence.
In a testament to how well their facilities were
constructed, five largely intact research stations were found, by our
exploratory teams. This was roughly five thousand Terran years after this race
abandoned the system. One was found near Olympus Mons on Mars, two were found
on the landmass now commonly referred to as Asia, one in what is now North
America and one on the landmass we settled, Khaznotornii, now commonly referred
to as Atlantis. [Archival Note: It is
still a mystery as to the why of that. It’s certainly not terribly imaginative
to name a sunken landmass after an ocean.] The one on Khaznotornii was so
intact, when the teams were able to get through the seals the interior was
still pristine. This was the facility where we found the ancient revenants that
led to the research that brought Plaz Seschni into being.
The discovery of the two revenants was made in rather
dramatic fashion. According to Squad Leader Tessina Na Plitkna: “We had been
having a rather uneventful walk down a corridor. Doors slid open showing
offices and research labs. Air inside was stale but breathable. We reached a
door that had a keypad and words that looked like a warning. [Archival Note: It was a warning. After we
translated the Muavian script, we learned what it said. Basically, ‘keep out –
active revenants inside.’] Point took out the hand held and it figured out
the entry code in a couple minutes. Once the door slid open, we heard a sudden
moan and a long hiss. Point stepped into the room and then, seconds later, came
flying out in pieces. Suddenly these two vaguely humanoid creatures appeared at
the door. We opened fire and destroyed them both, determined to not lose
additional personnel. We did not know at the time that we had slain the two
remaining living Muavian revenants. We didn’t much care either, as it was
either us or them.”
Fortunately the facility contained several well preserved
deceased revenants. When we deciphered the Muavian language (not difficult as
they used an archaic version of what is generally called Galactic Standard) we
discovered that their research consisted entirely of trying to find a way to
reverse the change. That is, make revenants normal again. In about five
standard years, our research teams concluded that the change was irreversible.
Our research scientists sifted through other projects,
setting up our own stations and leaving only caretaker crews in the Muavian
facilities. This state of affairs continued for seventy standard years until
two of the PPA consortiums (the military arm of Fleet) took a renewed interest
into the case of the revenants. What they saw was the potential for a very
powerful weapon. The records showed that the revenants possessed incredible
strength and, in spite of the mindless rage, exhibited interesting psychic potential.
Also of note was that they could regenerate limbs and, save for direct
sunlight, were very difficult to kill.
Thus our research began. The initial goal was to stop the
mindless rage upon transformation. If this could not be done, the revenants would
not have practical use. We did not need terror weapons, which is all they would
have been. As expected, the first experiments were disastrous. Sadly, to
determine the correct chemical matrix, live subjects had to be used. For this,
computer simulations were completely worthless. That was because it was not
possible to simulate the effects of the chemicals on a human body in a
meaningful fashion. The cost of success was a staggering body count, one that
made all but two partners pull out. As such, they are the only two that share
the credit.
After nearly twenty five standard years of research there
was a breakthrough, the one that led to the establishment of Plaz Seschni. Dr.
Nestri Vas Juliuan developed what had been called Serum XVF-1065-VB-9099. After
a series of near successful experiments, Dr. Vas Juliuan was certain he had the
right combination. So certain, in fact, that he made himself the subject for
that critical experiment. Suffice it to say it worked, and Order Ruby came into
being at that moment.
After becoming a vampire, Dr. Vas Juliuan continued his
research for another 1125 Terran years, hoping to perfect the serum and
overcome what he regarded as shortcomings of the transformation. Ultimately he
despaired of the effort. Never liking the notion of having to drink blood and
not being able to walk unprotected in the daylight, he ended his days by
walking out of a spaceship airlock without a suit.
So, what was accomplished by this research? A Plaz Seschni
vampire has these characteristics:
1) Approximate
strength of ten to fifteen strong men within a week of transformation. This
slowly increases over time.
2) Enhanced
psychic abilities. This is not limited to telepathy and telekinesis. Over time,
these grow far more powerful. These are considered by many to be the most
valuable assets to a vampire. Strength can be negated, but not the mind.
3) Immunity
to disease. This appears universal, on Terra and on other known planets. There
has been speculation about a disease vector that could harm a vampire, but if
it does exist we have yet to run across it.
4) End
of bodily aging. This has led to speculation that vampires are immortal. It is
clear that the span of existence is increased indefinitely by the
transformation; however it is clear that vampires are very much living
creatures and thus cannot be truly immortal. However, there has not been a
recorded case of one dying from natural causes…
5) Blood
thirst. This factor bothered Dr. Vas Juliuan the most. He noted how it lessened
over time, but he regarded the matter as somehow ‘shameful.’ For the first few
years it is known to take a liter of blood (roughly a bit over two pints) per
day to slake the thirst. This swiftly drops off to a half liter a day and
slowly continues to decline. It is never necessary to kill to feed. The young
are taught to hit two or more marks a night.
6) Sensitivity
to direct sunlight. This, too, gradually tapers off over time, something that
Dr. Vas Juliuan did notice but he thought it was too slow. A mere twenty Terran
years after his demise, an ointment was developed that gave protection to those
wishing to go outside in daylight in an atmosphere. It has to be direct
sunlight to be harmful. A few people found that out the hard way when they
bounced sunlight off of a mirror.
Thus was the first Plaz of
vampires created. Had egos and governments not interfered, Ruby would be the
only Order. The military did get their weapon, although many vampires choose
scholarly pursuits and find fulfillment in other fields of endeavor. Music
appeals to some, as does archaeology, space exploration, even bookkeeping for
some unknown reason…
PROFILE COMPLETE – ARCHIVE
[Material Copyright 2012 by Ronald
C. Tobin. All Rights Reserved]
