“Even Kuiper Alliance citizens are rarely prepared for their first encounter with an ogre. Something so large, yet so agile and quiet simply doesn’t fit easily into the human imagination.”

Origin and History

The Ajax II genotype entered production phase in 2272 after four years of trials with the Ajax I variant. Ajax III entered production in 2276, just three months before the Tichordia Concord established the gene freeze. Ajax II and III were expected to overlap production by about a year before the Ajax II creation facilities were phased out. However, the internationally enforced regulations of the Concord established the Ajax II as a class A-genome… but not the Ajax III’s, who didn’t have the population requirements to meet class A criteria.

Biology

Ajax II is a combat human. Almost everything about the genome was designed for infantry action.

The genome comprises fully biosynthetic musculature and a ferro-calcite skeleton. Ajax bones only break under the most extreme trauma. The skull is dense enough to stop many low caliber projectiles. Ajax skin is a 60% biopolymer mix. Breaks and cuts inflame and clot within seconds to prevent infection from taking root.

The second set of arms protrude from a compound rib and shoulder section. They are slightly smaller than the top arms. All four shoulders are double jointed, allowing all four arms to reverse, though many Ajax II’s have admitted that this position is uncomfortable.

To facilitate a larger, combat body, Ajax II has a relatively high metabolic rate. Even with increased efficiency measures, the body requires a lot of calories and high respiration with a specialized trachea and lungs. Vocalization was an afterthought, as it was assumed Ajax III and beyond would communicate primarily through cybernetics.

In the event of extreme appendage damage, Ajax II incorporates a system of 14 guillotine augments to severe wounded body parts… including the head.

Ajax II’s are vacale (sterile and sexually monomorphic). Although Ajax II is masculine coded, they have no vestigial genitalia. Most Ajax II’s assume an agender or male identity.

Culture and Demographics

Drastically inhuman larynx design has encouraged todays tiny population of ogres to use Titanian sign language as an alternate means of communication in everyday life. They have robust electronic communication capabilities, but will sign whenever presented with the opportunity. Often times, ogres will do both at once, or use abbreviated signs to augment their electronic words.

As of 2373, just over 14,000 Ogres are dispersed throughout human space. The subspecies growth rate is steadily increasing. The Conord classifies Ajax II as critically endangered.

Few services are designed for 8 foot tall, four armed, sexually monomorphic war machines. Ogres deal with a lot of cultural stigma, even a century after the gene freeze. They have been frequently villainized in popular culture, especially in the inner solar system. Their origins as super soldiers continues to plague their image.

Like most class-A Genomes, Ajax II’s have a cultural embassy on Haumea. The Ajax II growth and production facility is located in Neptune sphere on Alludid Consortium.

Notable Individuals