Mrraneti of Cait, part 1

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Originally uploaded by Randuwa.

Rereading this one, I am clearly reminded that I was a sophomore in HIGH SCHOOL when I deigned to undertake this project with my friends. Ms. TH, who has authored (and illustrated) much in this first issue was both generous with her submissions and her technical understanding of how mimeographs worked, for example. Note that all of the images in this issue were hand drawn onto the wax coated film of the mimeograph templates -- and now with computers! Oh my!!!

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(Note: This is the first in a series of studies of various races of the Federation, presented as a service to serious ST writers who would like to know more about such peoples as the Mrraneti, Tellarites, Andorians, Orions, Rigellians, and the like. We would appreciate feedback – not to mention other studies. TH)

INTRODUCTION

I’ve chosen the Mrraneti to begin the series primarily because I’m partial to the cat family, but also because I find Lt. Mrress (animated version) intriguing, and because the Mrraneti play an important part in “The ‘Les Mesdemoiselles Federation’ Affair.” Which you will read later.

No proper study of an alien race would be complete without a description of its physical attributes, the nature of its basic social unit, and the multidimensional overview of its general cultural pattern, all necessarily brief and generalized.

PHYSICAL APPEARANCE

If one were to characterize the Mrraneti through comparison with Terran life forms, one would be forced to classify them with the feline group. They have the same blunt face, large wide-set eyes, upstanding ears, flexible tail, and retractable claws common to all the cats. Furthermore, their juveniles are spotted, and all retain markings typical of the group.

There is, among the Mrraneti a marked sex difference. The males are both taller and heavier, weighing in between 80 and 95 kg. (176 and 209 lbs.) on the average. Their most striking attribute is a long, heavy mane. The females, weighing in between 50 and 65 kg. (110 and 143 lbs.), have shorter finer manes, little more than cheek tufts in some classes.

Fur coloration is generally beige to russet overall, shading to buff along the ventral surfaces and to the dorsal ridge of sable or black, with other markings, generally clan-specific. These include the presence or lack of brow marks, cheek stripes, tail rings or tip and light and dark extremities. The manes are usually darker in both sexes, tan shading to black.

The Mrraneti skeletal articulation is decidedly feline, particularly in that they walk on their toes, each foot having four. They are, however, completely adapted for bipedal movement, although their center of gravity is better suited for the fast sprint or trot than for the walk. Though they have only eight toes, they have ten fingers, each equipped with a fully retractable claw. As their fingers are blunter than those of humans, most fine manipulation is performed with the aid of the claws. This extends the Mrraneti manual dexterity slightly beyond that of humans, since claw-tips can get into places that fingertips can’t.

Physically speaking, then, the Mrraneti most resemble the Terran lion, although the resemblance isn’t complete.