Documentary Sources of the Robotech Period

The Nous-gran'diel

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Report of the 3364th Scientist Triumvirate [Biological]

1.0 Preface and Summary

Greetings, Robotech Masters! This Triumvirate is ready to report. As you ordered us five months ago, we have completed, on schedule, the proposed genetic changes to a Terragen* which, if implemented, will produce a superior infiltration and termination agent.

The proposed changes are listed below. All modifications have been tested on Zentraedi and Tirolian clones, and have proven to be a splendid success. Contrary to expectations, we only needed to use up 14 clones and 18 Zentraedi in the preliminary tests. This enabled us to test the full procedure on a smaller group of specimens than was foreseen. Vivisection on the 48 members of the second group has shown no deviations from the specified parameters.

We hail you, and are proud to serve!

2.0 Skeletal Reinforcements

The skeletal structure of the Nous-gran'diel (hereafter named ITA**) will be reinforced with a latticework of boron-silicate fibers. This lattice will increase resistance to breakage by almost 200%. However, should such a reinforced bone break, it will heal at an accelerated pace (see section 5) but not with the boron-silicate lattice intact. This is only possible if the ITA ingests the needed elements (boron, certain silicates) because the ITA's body does not store these.

(** Translator's note: "nous" is Old Ein'liba for "person" - c.f. Nousjaedul-Ger or "Personal Body Suit", "gran'lare" is Tiresian for "to infiltrate", and "diel'are" Tiresian for "to extinguish". Thus Nous-gran'diel is best rendered as "Infiltration and Termination Agent, hence ITA.)

3.0 Internal Toughening

To lessen the impact of concussive blasts on the core and head of the ITA, the internal organs and, to a lesser extent, the brain are to be equipped with toughened muscular layers and reinforced internal structures. The latter can of course only be done to a small degree, as full strengthening would interfere with the functioning of the organs.

This does not give full protection to the internal organs, but it does limit the damage of those blasts that are powerful enough to do damage. In cooperation with the enhanced healing (see section 5) this greatly reduces the danger of concussive blasts to the vital organs.

4.0 Dermal Toughening

The skin of the proposed ITA incorporates an organic equivalent of the fre'kas dra fiber (note of the translator: the Tirolian equivalent of Kevlar) in the epidermal layers of the subject. This once again forms a close lattice work, since full coverage would preclude the breathing and thermoregulatory functions of the skin. Impacts will be spread by this lattice over a much larger area, and so decrease the chances of a puncture.

However, the same disadvantages apply to this fiber-lattice with respect to regeneration as apply to the boron-silicate lattice in the bones. A regenerated puncture wound will not retain the fiber lattice unless the needed elements are ingested by the ITA.

In addition, the skin is equipped with a far superior temperature control system (using subcutaneous fat layers and increased circulation) than the humanoid norm. This enables the ITA to operate in a wide variety of climates with only a standard body covering.

5.0 Recuperative and Immunological Enhancements

Typically assigned missions will often result in damage to the ITA, despite the protective enhancements (detailed in sections 2-4). The ITA's proposed genetic structure therefore incorporates several changes which will limit the impact of wounds on the ITA's mission-availability.

5.1 Restorative Enhancements

To increase the rate with which the ITA recuperates from wounds, the normal restorative functions of the body (wound-closing, regeneration of destroyed tissue and such) have been accelerated with over 800% in case of soft structures, while non-major bones can mend in just one night. This does however mean that the caloric requirements of the ITA, when this rate of recuperation is implemented, will also increase many fold. For example, complete healing of a triple puncture to the body core will occur in 12-16 hours, but the ITA will be extremely hungry afterwards. If the initial wounds are serious enough, lack of sufficient calories may interrupt the regeneration process, leaving the ITA wounded and drained. In extreme cases this accelerated healing can drain all the body's energy and kill the ITA.

5.2 Immunological and Prophylactic Enhancements

To counteract the effect of biological/chemical weapons on the functioning of the ITA, as well as the occurrence of wound-inflicted illnesses as gangrene and the like, the immune system of the ITA has been strengthened. The entire system has been made more robust, to the point that it is capable of preventing the ITA of becoming ill from 98% of all known pathogens, and of overcoming most other illnesses in a period of 3-20 hours, with an average of 6 hours.

NOTE:
This immune system is identical to the one proposed for use in the new series of clone bodies for all the higher castes of our civilization.

6.0 Musculature Enhancements

While it was not possible to structurally enhance the muscle structure of the ITA much because of the undetermined identity of the pre-ITA subject, it was possible to use an overload effect, in which the muscle groups for a very short time can reach very high tension levels. After such an overload, however, the ITA needs some time to rest the overloaded muscles and regenerate any muscle or bindings damaged during the overload. The proposed ITA will be capable of accessing this ability on a conscious level. However, the use of a slightly more efficient muscle template will make the proposed ITA on average somewhat stronger than a humanoid of the ITA's size and build. In addition, small glands containing a mildly alkaline liquid have been distributed throughout the musculature, modeled on the natural lymphatic system. Because extended use of a muscle group depletes the muscle's oxygen reserves quickly, anaerobic metabolism begins to take place, producing the lactic acid responsible for muscle tissue breakdown and fatigue. The alkalines neutralize this acid, making prolonged feats of anaerobic muscle activity possible. But because the growth of new muscle mass is triggered by the damaging effects of the lactic acid, the regular training regimen for the development of muscle strength must be dramatically lengthened. The muscle template is also reasonably robust, and can sustain concussive shocks better than the already reinforced internal organs.

7.0 Reflex/Coordination Enhancements

Rather than retaining the pre-ITA reflex and coordination abilities, all ITAs will be equipped with a more advanced version of the nervous system as implanted in the latest types of Bioroid pilots. This nervous system, which we believe to be the best possible system, will increase all reflexes and eye-body and other coordinations to almost the maximum possible for the humanoid body without the benefit of cybernetic implants, a yet unreliable technology.

8.0 Sensory Enhancements

This area is the only one in which we must report a less than perfect result. It was relatively easy to extend the visual acuity into the infrared, and use a double lens in the eye, so that the ITA has a built-in heat and telescopic vision option. It was, however, not possible to create a true night vision function in the brain cortex. The alternative, a yrallain***-like mirror behind the retina, was rejected by the tactical consultants since this would have made the ITA's eyes light up in the dark, decreasing the surprise-attack options in the darkness. The only noticeable improvement in this area was the inversion of the ganglia/rod nucleus/rod mitochondria/rod photodetector sequence, so that incident light falls directly on the photosensitive region without having to pass through partially opaque tissue. The increase in sensitivity is, however, marginal. Coupled with some minor efficiency improvements in the photosensitive protein chains, light sensitivity was improved a mere 12%. In addition, the rate of the onset of night vision was improved, the typical time scale for the production of the chemical responsible for darkness-adaptation now being one minute, and not the usual fifteen.

***(Translator's note: The yrallain is a large nocturnal predator believed to be indigenous to the F'rran jungle region of Tirol. It has an eye structure similar to that of a Terran feline.)

The auditory and olfactory senses were also easily increased to about three times the humanoid norm. No difficulties were experienced with this.

Unfortunately, a natural radio data-transmission system modeled on the example of the Opteran Invid species could not be incorporated with anything approaching the required levels of efficiency and reliability. The best that could be achieved (at this time) was a rudimentary radio sense and projection, usually sufficient mostly as a voice replacement. Higher-order data transmission is achieved in 30% of the test subjects, but is unreliable in its operation as well as its activation.

A passive radio detection and ranging sense is not available, despite stringent efforts on our part in boosting reception and pattern-matching abilities. However, some subjects did show a subconscious use of this sense, as described below.

9.0 Dietary Options and Additional Changes

To increase the flexibility of the ITA, the digestive system has been made more flexible. If the ITA were to be forced to forage for its food, it could subsist on far more possible food sources than the normal humanoid. In addition to this increased efficiency in extracting nutrients from organic material and heightened immunity to poisons, the olfactory and taste senses can be disabled during the ingestion of food when the hunger is large enough, so that the ITA can sustain itself with half-rotted meat if necessary.

The sleep patterns have been altered so that the ITA can fall asleep whenever there is no danger about. This sleep in the field will however not be as deep as a normal sleep, and the ITA will be immediately alert at any unusual sensory input. This input is often under the input level for the standard humanoid, and can be the result of an unconscious recognition of an intrusion on the radiometric sense (see section 8).

The ITA's metabolism utilizes a very efficient method of calorie-storage as well as a supply-on-need method, causing a slow metabolic rate under normal conditions, and a high rate in combat situations. As a result, this efficient calorie-management system gives the ITA double or triple the endurance of a standard humanoid.

The ITA's endurance has been further enhanced by using a more efficient circulatory structure, including a larger heart, as well as a greater respiratory efficiency, by increasing the lungs' total surface area.

The Triumvirate eagerly awaits your next command, Robotech Masters!

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