Orc

An **orc** (also spelled as **ork**) is often considered an artificially created subspecies of humanity that emerged in the 2400s following the proliferation of cheap biological modification technologies stolen from the Stapleford Group megacorporation, in addition to the rise of the powerful "Ork Naysh" criminal organization. Utilizing the genetic template stolen by the first Supreme Chieftain of the gang, Gerolf Sammed, the organization quickly grew through providing affirmed recruits a massive boost to their musculoskeletal strength and endurance. However, this came at a price, with the increased metabolic requirements of such leading to a purposeful reduction in the energy spending, and therefore capabilities, of the brain.

Nearly seven million orcs existed at the height of the Ork Naysh's ascent in 2650 across the Coalition of Congressional Republics, with five million orcs respectively being a member of the various tribes under the gang's banner. However, Operation Greenskin - launched by the Security Information Network and coordinated alongside the police forces of Earth and Hyperion - toppled the gang's mass control and interned many of these individuals. By 2651, the General Congress of the Coalition passed the Human Genetic Assurance Act, which banned all individuals and organizations from editing the human genome to a degree that would produce subspecies (and eventually new species in their own right), ending the proliferation of the orc subspecies and other related groups.

In the modern day, only around two hundred thousand or so "true orcs" exist in the entirety of the Coalition, with half of those still members of the Ork Naysh. Even so, the word "orc" has now been adopted in various lexica as a well-known pejorative against humans with significantly developed biological physiques regardless of genetic editing or other means, deteriorating the original definition into obscurity.

## History

The origin of the orcs lies with the VISTA Biotechnologies corporation, a subsidiary of the larger biotechnology Stapleford Group conglomerate. Several genetic scientists at VISTA, utilizing reliable retroviral genetic replacement therapies, were able to create a multitude of differing strains that contained novel and human-compatible genetic material. This material, when dispersed into an *in vivo* human in accompaniment to other regulatory biomodification therapies, would eventually lead to a transformation into the desired end product.

Orcs specifically originate from the **HFV-E9** lineage of genetically modified spumaviruses created by VISTA, which was stolen and first used by Gerolf Sammed during his attack on the Martian laboratory facilities of the corporation in 2463.

## Transformation

All known orcs were created *in vivo* through the usage of specially created retroviruses that carry the "Sammed Stock" genetic template. It is often a misconception that a singular infection with this retrovirus causes a transformation, as this treatment must require a constant round of injections of a high-titer viral stock. Delivery of the retroviruses throughout the circulatory system allows the retrovirus to be introduced to muscles, the brain, and other subject organs, which begins the conversion process. To prevent automatic genetic repair processes by the body, anti-tumor suppressant gene treatments are often administered separately as an impromptu solution by underground biomodders. This has led to the massive spike of cancers within orcs to the present.

Transformations are usually done after the onset of puberty in young recruits to the Ork Naysh gang.

## Anatomy and physiology

For true orcs, their common anatomical and physiological features include a highly developed musculoskeletal system, increased lung volume and heart size, slightly-to-significantly atrophied frontal lobe, enlarged lower canines that often result in appearing as "tusks", and a general increase in metabolism. This is a result of the "Sammed Stock", a genetic template proliferated by the first Supreme Chieftain Gerolf Sammed during his creation of the Ork Naysh organization.

### Musculoskeletal system

The musculoskeletal system of an orc is extremely developed in comparison to even average human bodybuilders, with a significant increase in the metabolic efficiency and mass of muscles in addition to an increase in the mass, length, and strength of bones. For muscles, this is thanks to the natural overexpression of several hormonal factors such as human growth hormone, testosterone, and insulin; these hormones can be further introduced through the use of external anabolic steroid injections that the body directly liberates for muscular growth.

For bone growth, calcitonin is less regulated by the body, allowing for further cellular reclamation of calcium and the inhibition of osteoclastic activity in the bone. This osteoclastic inhibition, in turn, promotes osteoblastic activity, increasing bone growth. To ensure the prevention of bone metastases, osteoblastic activity is promoted in areas of natural bone growth such as the epiphyseal plate, which continues to exist well after puberty's end as a result of the postponement of epiphyseal closure. Any further problems that arise are usually corrected through guided growth surgeries.

### Lung volume and cardiovascular system

An increase in lung volume is noted in orcs, thanks to the overall increase of the size of the thoracic cage (and, as a result, liberated space for larger lungs). The larger amount of lung volume allows a larger degree of oxygen and carbon dioxide transactions, further fueling muscular metabolism better.

The heart also increases in size through a thicker layer of myocardium, allowing for stronger blood pumping action that increases stroke volume.

### Neurological impacts

A detriment of orc genetics is its subsequent atrophy of portions of the cerebral cortex, and most notably that of the frontal lobe. Although the amount of atrophy does not normally exceed amounts that would render orcs into the realm of intellectual disability, it is enough to have a noticeable cognitive impact, ranging from slowed reaction times to illogical choices in problem solving.

It is unknown as to why this occurs, as VISTA has never released official information on the HFV-E9 retrovirus, but it is assumed that the cerebral cortex was deliberately atrophied as a means to decrease energy expenditures from the brain in allowance for further energy availability for muscle metabolism.

### Tusks

The inferior canines of orcs being overgrown is not an original part of the first HFV-E9 retrovirus stock; it was introduced by criminal geneticists that worked for the Ork Naysh in allowing a more "intimidating" appearance. These canines often push other local teeth out of the way during their accelerated growth, causing dental luxation.