Zorren

Overview

• Species Type: Sapient Canine-Humanoid Mammal
• Population: ~4 Billion
• Population Demographic Majority: Genetically Modified Zorren
• Common Language: Galcom/Solcom
• Government Type: Solgov Protectorate Democracy

Zorren are a species of vaguely vulpine bipedal sapient from Virgo Prime of the Virgo system. Being one of the first protectorate species under Solgov, the societal repercussions of contacting and integrating a pre-spaceflight alien species has defined the diplomatic branch's first contact policy since.

Biology

Standing at an average of four to five feet(121 to 152cm) with a canine and somewhat vulpine physiology. Zorren are obligate omnivores that can survive on fish, meat and fruits and grains. While Zorren are a carbon-based creature, what stood out first to Terran scientists was their blue, copper-based blood. While lacerations were easy to bleed, they were also quick to clot and infection resistant. A trait that seems to have stuck with them since primitive days. It soon became clear upon further contact and study that Zorren also shared a remarkable amount of protein markers with baseline humans. Leading to a boom in both canine-based genetic splices and copper blood alterations.

History

Before contact the Zorren had reached what's known on technological progress charts as 'the green revolution'. Where automated agricultural systems become the norm. Virgo Prime however is a world that is 60% sea leaving scarce habitable space that wasn't polar regions far too cold to be livable. The early cabinet of Solgov's diplomatic arm had predicted a species that would be stifled from reaching the space age by a lack of land and resources and sought to intervene. The immediate and future repercussions shaping future first contact policies.

It has not occurred to the xenobiological advisors that the idea of alien life couldn't occur to a sapient species, the shock of such causing months of panic and riots until Solgov had helped the local governments regain control - a move that hadn't helped impressions at all. Secondly, as it became clear the Zorren phenotype and biology was at least 40% compatible with baseline humans. Sparking the interest of medical corporations with a market in genetic modding and splices such as Nanotrasen, EdenX, and Veymed. Unintentionally on Solgov's part and intentionally on these companies' part, the Zorren became a very exploited species that both became culturally stunted by an early first contact, and biologically indistinguishable from Solarian canine splicers

Current Day

Today the Zorren are regarded as "functionally extinct". While baseline Zorren exist in a respectable population, their lack a definable culture and their genetic patterns existing in most quickclot and canine genemods make them difficult, if not impossible to tell apart from splicers. The Zorren have also served as an example to other protectorate species just what can happen when too much trust is given to larger species. This also lead to Solgov's post-atomic policy for the Diplomatic Branch - requiring a species to have split the atom before first contact can be made to ensure a reasonable amount of cultural and technological independence and that they've at least likely entertained the thought of alien life. However, that's not always been the hard and fast rule.