“They’re called bats… I know. But I lived next to a clan on Versita Realm. Great folks, great Plucharian cookouts. They were first generation, post-concord diaspora… really big families.”

Origin and History

Homo Chiroptera was a the prime-human candidate of ESP Genetics Inc. The original concept for this line predates most other production lines. ESP design teams first envisioned the genotype in the 2210s, long before they possessed the capital or technology to design a prototype.

ESP was one of the founding members of the Anthropocene Alliance in 2236. The grants secured by the alliance enabled ESP to produce their first Chiroptera prototypes in 2249.

The first production variant Chiroptera ran for 6 years. The surviving members of this first generation actually assisted in the development of the second and third generation variants. The fourth generation, the modern Homo Chirotera, finished gestation in 2276 just a few months before the establishment of the Tichordia Concord. The first comale Chiroptera was born only two weeks before the genefreeze. This has been considered a massive boon for the subspecies, as without a method of asexual reproduction, it is unlikely Chiroptera would have seen significant population growth after the Concord.

The name Me’Vale originated is believed to have originated in Pluchar. The first subfamilies of Chiroptera, mostly from the 2276 batches, established an ethnic colony at Luther’s Catch over Pluto. Me’Vale is a Neobosti contraction implying young and virtuous. The contraction itself has come to imply a genetic foundling, and universally applies to Homo Chiroptera in most languages.

Biology

Like most advanced human genotypes, Me’Valae were designed to eliminate disease vulnerability, tissue and organ decay and further integrate cybernetic technologies.

Skin pigments range from porcelain to limestone grey, to bluish grey, though all bats tend to have pink flesh tones around the nose, ear interior and genitals.

Me’Valae have an complex olfactory gland. The full intention behind this sense has been partially lost. Me’Vale demonstrate the ability to detect the conditions of plants, machinery and other people through smell, so it is therefore thought that this may have been a part of the original design intentions. Often this acts as a detriment to modern Me’Vale. They find some environments overwhelming if there are enough unique smells present.

Culture and Demographics

Census information in 2370 marks Me’Valae numbers at 544,810~40. The Tichordea Concord categorizes Me’Valae as mid-risk. In the early days of post Concord transhumanism, bat population was very concerning. Me’Vale have very low fertility rates and many communities were at risk of stagnating or shrinking.

It should come at no surprise then that the Me’Valae tradition is very family centric. A traditional Me’Valae family group is centered around a comale. She will be joined by no more than two male or female spouses and together they will grow their family group, with the comale cloning herself as necessary.

Naming convention dictates that Me’Valae comales identify themselves with a Neobosti honorific, normally Va, Te or Si.

Notable Individuals