Feline

Felines are a race group in Space Opera, specifically Serenity Bebop.

General

The Felines are descended from large hunting cat stock, but they have evolved into a bipedal humanoid form. Felines exhibit many of the characteristics of the ancestors, particularly a well-developed fastidiousness and a seemingly ‘nervous’ temperament that is really a continual readiness to act decisively in an emergency. The MekPurr are the acknowledged masters of cybernetic engineering in the known Galaxy. There are also Avatars, descended from larger hunting cats such as lions or tigers, who stand very close to the ancestors in their aloof, sensual manner and in their sheer ferocity when angered.

Appearance

Felines have a bipedal humanoid shape and are evolved sufficiently to be quite agile in an erect stance. Avatars are also capable of quadrupedal movement and can attain speeds of 150% of normal bipedal movement. Forepaws have evolved into hands. MekPurr have retractable claws and can achieve exceedingly delicate manipulations with ease. Avatars are somewhat more clumsy because they have formidable, fixed claws capable of doing significant damage to their prey, or to their enemies. Felines also retain the terrible killing fangs of their ancestors, although MekPurr are just civilized enough to find their use distasteful. All of the Felines races have full body hair, the fur ranging from very short to long, with a color range from desert sand to midnight black. Tails are very much in evidence and still signal the moods of the owner, as in the ancestors. Finally, in overall size and mass the Felines are larger and heavier then humans, males standing between 160 cm and 205 cm, with mass 70 kg to 135 kg. Females are somewhat smaller and correspond fairly closely in height and weight to human females.

Senses

Feline senses are closely related to their ancestors.

Vision

Felines have two eyes with dilating, slit pupils so characteristic of cats. Eye color ranges from deep copper and yellow to green and blue hues. Feline vision is very keen, with a slight tendency toward color blindness. Depth perception and judgment of distance are superb. All species also possess excellent night vision.

Hearing

Felines have acute hearing, and stealthy sounds bring them to full alert. Rarely will a Feline be surprised by an enemy stalking him, unless it is another Feline.

Smell

Felines have relatively limited olfactory senses, perhaps somewhat better than that of a human but still poor when compared to Canine senses.

Cultural Overview

Felines are highly individualistic creatures and respond sullenly to unjust or dictatorial treatment. They rarely forgive and never forget an injury, and a resultant tendency to seek personal vengeance therefore characterizes most Felines. All Feline cultures are circumscribed by propriety, with customs and behavior patterns that establish the bounds of correct and proper conduct. This sense of what is fitting and proper replaces the human concepts of right and wrong. However, as propriety largely aims at defining the areas of personal freedom so vital to Felines, the overall result of their views is an attitude corresponding closely to many human ideas of justice.

All Felines are unreformed carnivores and not only enjoy eating meat, but also prefer to hunt their prey where possible. Feline metabolisms tend to be iron-based. Life expectancy is 100 - 125 years in advanced races, and about 50 years for ‘primitive’ races.

Known Races and Cultures

Mekpurr The dominant feline species of the Terran Union.
Pnn'Tharr An avatar race common throughout the Terran Union and the Azuriach Imperium.