Common Avanta
(Volatilia Metallum)
The name ‘Avanta’ originates from the Roman word ‘soar.’
• Length: 50 feet
• Height: 14 feet
• Wingspan:
(spread) 43 feet
(swept) 22 feet
• Average healthy weight: 22,000 pounds
(Mature females typically weigh approximately 10% more than males)
• Maximum recorded speed: Mach 2.5 at 50,000 feet
(1,650mph)
• Maximum flying range on internal fuel: 3,000 miles
• Maximum recorded lifespan: 166 years
• Thrust to weight ratio for average mature male: 1.5
• Armament: two 20mm autocannons, one in each wing root
(Firing rate: 1,200 rounds/minute)
(320 rounds per gun)
A species that first emerged in modern Russia and Kazakhstan approximately ten million years ago, Avantas have, like humans, spread to inhabit nearly every corner of the globe. Because of their vast anatomical and evolutionary differences compared to all other organisms in the animal kingdom, science has never determined the Avanta’s exact origin. Even the Avantas themselves question their true origin. Some scientists have long speculated they’re not endemic to Earth at all. They claim Avantas are an extraterrestrial race, either sent to Earth by another race or coming to Earth themselves. However, without backing evidence, such claims cannot be verified. Or debunked. Like what lies at the bottom of the ocean, whether time travel is possible, or if there is a definitive cure for cancer, the origin of the Avanta is one of the greatest questions posed by science. The only lead on their origin comes from a story passed down by each generation to their successors. A story telling of a great cataclysm and a lone hero by the name of Varro, who sacrificed himself to save the imperiled Avantas. Because of his sacrifice, the survivors were given the chance to begin anew. At the beginning of every new year, Avantas celebrate the salvation of their species. Large congregations sing praises to their savior and the second chance they were given in Archaic Latin.
A bizarre blend of organic matter and mechanical underpinnings the size, Avantas are the length of a manmade F-16 and unlike any species on Earth. Every facet of their sleek, dart-like bodies are rounded and streamlined for the purpose of minimizing drag while in flight. Even their reproductive organs are housed within their bodies when not in use for added streamlining, similar to whales. Small canards and the ability to direct thrust through vectoring exhaust nozzles grants an Avanta supermaneuvrability, superior to human models. Powerful afterburning turbine engines allow an Avanta to attain and sustain supersonic speed for prolonged durations. Capable of cruising at supersonic speeds without utilizing their afterburners, this greatly increases efficiency and range. Not only can they fly, they possess four limbs. Similar to landing gear, their limbs are hinged and fully retractable. Their forward to limbs can interlock, forming one larger limb. Compared to males, female Avantas have a broader stance and stronger ‘landing gear’ due to their greater weight, in addition to having to bear the weight of developing offspring or a partner while mating.
On the end of each limb is a metallic foot with three toes, two forward and one aft, which resemble an eagle’s talons. Their forward feet are highly dexterous and allow an Avanta to grip and hold objects, allowing them to interact with their environment. Their limbs are short, meaning an Avanta cannot see the object they’re interacting with. They coordinate their forward feet by feel. Their claw-like feet are excellent for climbing, but are rarely used. Most of the time, their claw-like feet are curled up into a rounded shape. Allowing an Avanta to roll their foot like a wheel, they can move quickly and swiftly across most terrain. Despite possessing dexterous front feet, Avantas primarily interact with their environment through their mouths. Their tongues are very long, highly dexterous, and rough like a cat’s to grip objects.
Utilizing their variable sweep wings and ability to cruise at high speed efficiently over great distances, members of differing populations thousands of miles apart can convene in less than a day. Highly social and intelligent, feral Avantas live in packs consisting of anywhere between 20 to 40 members. Packs are like extended families. Members may have personal disagreements, but will support one another as allies in times of need. Establishing a social hierarchy, packs are led by an alpha male and female. Very much like wolves, the oldest lead the way to ensure none are left behind. Highly obedient and respectful of their leaders, an alpha’s word is final. Not naturally aggressive, they’re often quite docile and inquisitive. Young Avantas can be rowdy, mischief causing rascals. Older Avantas can at times be quite vain. Prideful of their appearance, strength, and flying prowess. Despite their calm, even friendly demeanor, they are fearsome, daring warriors. Avantas of all ages hone their skills by engaging in mock dogfights or divebombing targets and firing their cannons. Natural showoffs, Avantas frequently compete with each other in the air. Their arrogant tendencies mean they are easily offended. It is most unwise to insult an Avanta’s aerobatic skills or appearance. When provoked, they are unapproachable and downright lethal. Their ferocious bouts of rage inspired the age-old phrase ‘hell hath no fury like an Avanta provoked.’
Internally, Avantas have a rigid, lightweight metallic frame. A grid of spars and ribs function as a skeleton. Stronger and lighter than titanium, this allows an Avanta to withstand the rigors of aerial maneuvers and not disintegrate. Contributing to a superior thrust to weight ratio. Their flesh is metallic and firm in most areas, but soft and pliable in key regions, such as around their mouths, nostrils, and eyes. Like most animals, their flesh can itch. To scratch themselves, Avantas rub against trees or each other. Capable of sleeping while standing up, most rest directly on the ground. The flesh on an Avanta’s underside is tough to prevent injuries while resting on open ground. Engine driven pumps circulate blood throughout the body while in flight. A secondary pair of electrically driven pumps operate while the engines are offline; nearly silent while in operation. Organic lungs deliver oxygenated blood through rigid tubes. Flexible tubes are found in joints. Avanta blood when exposed to open air is a dark purple, viscous, slimy substance that smells strongly of metal and quickly coagulates. Able to breathe through their mouth or nostrils, an Avanta while in flight inhales a small amount of air taken in by their turbine engines before exhaling through the mouth. Control surfaces, wings, and landing gear are actuated by hydraulic pressure. Straw colored hydraulic fluid is pressurized by means of electrically or engine driven pumps and is delivered through rigid lines; taking the place of muscles.
Avantas lack a recognizable immune system. Because no known pathogen can survive in Avantan blood, its nearly impossible for one to fall ill. Young Avantas in particular can suffer from fluid buildups in their lungs or engines, similar to the flu. Unfortunately, their metallic frames and flesh can corrode. Extensive unchecked corrosion can cause circulatory pumps to lethally seize, similar to a heart attack. The threat of corrosion is negated by frequent bathing or grooming. Fortunately, if an Avanta has minor corrosion or is injured, their flesh and frames can heal. Aluminum patches can be used to cover wounds. Serving as bandages while the damaged flesh heals underneath. Certain new components can be assimilated and operated at will. Such as weapon stations on wings or manmade radios. Sadly, the ability to heal and assimilate new components gradually diminishes with age. Although the effects of losing the ability to heal can be greatly delayed, elderly Avantas always die from corrosion. Primarily from circulatory pump seizure.
Avantas possess extraordinary senses, stronger than any other in the animal kingdom. Their eyesight allows them to spot movement on the ground while soaring as high as 50,000 feet. Their keen eyes can move independently of one another and are protected from debris and pressure changes by a strong transparent membrane, similar to a contact lens. Their field of vision is primarily forward oriented, hinting at their predatory nature. Catlike pupils dilate or contract to indicate calmness or aggression. Unlike owls or bats, Avantas can see and navigate in total darkness. Negating the need for echolocation. More of their brain is devoted to smell than any other sense. Their nostrils are used not only for breathing, but as ram air ducts while in flight. For the purpose of collecting air velocity, humidity, and pressure. On the ground, an Avanta can detect and follow trace scents for 100 miles. Through scent alone, they can determine impending changes in the weather or find their way back to familiar territory while grounded.
Hearing however, is not often utilized in flight. Most sounds, including voices, would be drowned out by wind noise. Instead, they primarily communicate in flight via pulses of radio waves, which any Avanta can detect. Avantas can hear frequencies higher and lower than what human ears can perceive. For the sake of streamlining, no external ear is visible. As for vocalizations, Avantas create deep, throaty rumbles, purrs, harsh hisses, growls, and grunts. They scream or shriek when alarmed. Or release howling roars when angry, grieving, or in pain. Male voices are low and rumbly. Female voices are higher and almost squeaky. The Avantan language and alphabet served as the inspiration for the Latin language. Their language in modern times has been largely supplanted by other human languages, although it is still spoken in religious institutions. To indicate emotions, they move their control surfaces or wings accordingly. Their frames are rigid, meaning they can’t bend or contort their bodies. Complimented by a wide range of facial expressions, Avantas easily convey emotion or state of being. Another means of ‘vocalizing’ is by opening small valves while their engines are running at a low speed. Air is taken from the high-pressure compressor section and evacuated through the narrow valve, creating a very distinct, howling, almost mournful whistle. Similar to a manmade F-104 Starfighter. Like vocal cords, no two valves are exactly alike. Every Avanta produces two distinct howls, one for each engine. Over long distances, the whistling howls are used as a means of signaling one another. Raising alarms, alerting intruders that others are aware of their presence, announcing the arrival of visitors, signaling the birth of a child, or mourning the passing of a loved one.
In addition to internal organs, there are areas in their wings in which fuel for their turbine engines is stored. Food is broken down by powerful stomach acids and undergoes a fermentation process which turns it into a flammable liquid housed in large bladders within the wings and wing roots. Some fuel is broken down and absorbed to satisfy metabolic needs. Solid waste is burned off during regular engine combustion. Liquid waste is removed through urination. Avantas also possess what could be construed as a sixth sense. Able to sense the Earth’s magnetic field, they use the magnetic field in conjunction with stars and even scents to navigate. Avantas each emit a unique electromagnetic signal, like a fingerprint. Allowing individuals to instantly differentiate between one another and detect another’s presence over medium distances. Avantas detect electromagnetic signals through ampullae on the outermost layer of their metallic flesh. Too small to be visible, the network of ampullae dotting nearly every inch of exposed flesh allows an Avanta to sense electromagnetic signals from any direction and detect electrical impulses made by other organisms, similar to sharks. This allows, for short distances, an Avanta to sense the presence of an organism they can’t actually see, compensating for blind spots. It’s also been determined they can detect inanimate objects using their ampullae, allowing them to avoid bumping into objects while on the ground. Even while in total darkness.
An Avanta’s nervous system generates enough bioelectricity to power several large homes. Sufficient enough to operate their electrically driven components. Their brains are highly developed and divided into two regions beneath their ‘canopies.’ One region is devoted to handling flight characteristics and navigation. The other region is used for processing inputs from the senses, emotions, instincts, motor skills, memory, and thoughts. One could almost say an Avanta has two brains. Their intelligence, ability to judge right from wrong, and capacity to think and learn is on par with a human’s; in some cases, superior to a human’s. For all their intelligence and cleverness, they rely heavily on their instincts. Nowhere do their instincts show more than in the bonds a male and female Avanta forge. While young independent adults, Avantas are highly promiscuous and nomadic. Males and females often fly away from their packs in search of a mate, all while learning about their changing bodies and exploring their newfound feelings. They’ll spend a day with a potential partner to get to know them, before mating. If this proves to not be the right partner for them, the two Avantas will split up and continue their search. A single Avanta may go through several dozen potential partners before finding the right one. After finding a suitable partner and pairing up, a young male and female Avanta must prove they are worthy of one another.
They engage in a series of lengthy and rigorous aerial maneuvers and acrobatics, as well as mock dogfights. On the ground, the pair groom and engage in a great deal of physical contact. The male or female holds still, allowing their partner to look at and touch every inch of the body, sizing up their potential mate. Once both are satisfied, they groom and sing to one another. Building their bond and establishing trust. After living together for several months, the finale of their elaborate act is known as ‘the parabola.’ The pair ascend at a near vertical angle while at maximum throttle and flying belly to belly. With only feet separating them while ascending, they begin to orbit around one another. This is the ultimate test of trust. Complete synchronization is necessary. One false move will be the end of them both. Reaching the peak of their flight, cresting 100,000 feet, the pair throttle down and descend at a near vertical angle. Pulling up and leveling out at an altitude of 1,000 feet, the parabola seals their trust. Upon completing the parabola, the new pair goes on a final flight before making their bond permanent. A calm, casual flight beneath a setting sun. Their last day as juveniles. When the sun rises the following morning, they will be rightful mates and fully-fledged adults. Such a union is a joyous, defining occasion.
Because of the infeasibility of intimate contact while in flight, all mating takes place on the ground. A female Avanta’s tails are hinged at the base. Able to fold her tails outward, this allows a male to easily mount her. A male’s tails by comparison, are fixed and immovable. Like humans, Avantas are viviparous organisms. Giving birth to live young after a 12-month gestation period. Litters for feral Avantas are small, only one or two. Those residing among humans can have litters as large as four. While pregnant, a female Avanta is weak and slow. She’s vulnerable, unable to fly, and spends much of her time resting. The male is tasked with caring for and protecting his mate. Fortunately, pairs usually have a pack to support them and aren’t alone. After birth, the father always has the privilege of seeing his offspring first. Newborn Avanta pups are small and weak, cuddling closely to their mothers for warmth. They’re completely reliant on their parents for nourishment and protection. Born a cylindrical shape, their wings and tails are soft and pliable. Slowly unfurling like butterfly wings, their frames harden and strengthen immensely during their first month. For a week after the birth, their mothers are too sore and weak to move. The new fathers must shoulder the immense responsibility of caring for and protecting both their newborn pups and incapacitated mates. Both mothers and fathers dutifully raise and interact with their young. Family bonds are all but unbreakable. An Avanta will do anything to ensure the safety of either their pups or mates.
Threatening or harming an Avanta pup while either parent is around always ends poorly. While in their hormone induced ‘parental mode,’ adult Avantas can be aggressive, temperamental, and highly territorial. During their first two years, pups learn to roll forward and nurse from their mothers until they’re weaned. Playful and curious, pups will instinctively stick together for safety. They follow their parents and enjoy exploring their surroundings. By their sixth year, they learn to run their turbine engines and make short hops, all while their parents and other pack members supervise and teach. By their seventh year, an Avanta will take their first flight. Remaining with their parents until their sixteenth year, the young adults are ready to fend for themselves. Now on their own, young adult Avantas will search for a mate. Pairing up as early as their seventeenth year, new pairs will be unable to have offspring until the female’s twenty-second year, when she reaches sexual maturity. Males by comparison reach sexual maturity by their sixteenth year. Pairs routinely display their affection through physical contact. Grooming, licking, nuzzling, and cuddling together. Or by playfighting, roughhousing, and going on coordinated hunts. Males display affection through deep rumbles and purrs. Females reciprocate through soft grunts and purrs of their own.
Flying together is one of the best ways to reinforce and strengthen a bond even further. Young pairs are daredevil flyers, pushing each other’s limits for a quick adrenaline rush. Older, wiser pairs are a bit more cautious, having learned their limits. Another way bonds are strengthened is through intimate contact. A vital part of an Avanta’s relationship, pairs of all ages are well known for their frequent raucous endeavors. Most endeavors are casual, meant to pass the time. Or as a means of greeting after members of a pair have been apart for a time. For an Avanta, to trust someone else with their body is trust them with everything they are, and ever will be. Such a level of trust means no subject and no region is taboo or off limits. Avanta bonds are built off trust. And from that, comes love. A powerful, instinctive, binding love. An Avanta pair can sense each other’s emotions or state of being while in close proximity to each other. By physically touching, their ampullae touch. The pair’s unique electromagnetic signals meet and meld. This calms both a male and female Avanta and brings them to a state of easement and peace. Being apart for long durations leaves both members antsy and uncomfortable. Pairs constantly fret about the other’s safety while away.
Because they mate for life, they’re loyal to their specific partner, and him or her alone. Sadly, such binding loyalty comes at a price. Should one member of a pair die for any reason, their respective mate will be so grief-stricken without their other half, they could potentially lose the will to live. If they choose to give up, the grieving Avanta will go someplace out of sight to lay down, cut power to their circulatory pumps, and die. To rejoin their mate in death. Most widowed Avantas don’t choose this fate. Instead choosing to never to mate again. Out of love, respect, and loyalty to their partner. Younger Avantas are however, likely to pair up again should their mate die. With older, more established pairs, the bond they forged with their deceased partner is far too strong and powerful to ever replicate. If a widowed Avanta has young offspring who depend upon them, they will carry on for their offspring’s sake; knowing it was what their deceased mate would’ve wanted.
Highly adaptive to differing climates, Avantas can live just about anywhere. As long as there is a place to land and take off. From mountains, forests, and open plains, to tundras and deserts, every subspecies has mastered their biome. Needing a straight stretch of land 1,300 feet long to take off and land, Avantas often congregate near their runways. For those residing in forested areas, removing encroaching growth to keep their runway clear is a daily chore for pack members. Runways are an Avanta’s lifeline, their gateway to the sky. A means of travel and if necessary, escape. A blocked runway can mean certain death. Beneath their skin is a thin layer of insulating material, similar to blubber. Maintaining a body temperature of 106 degrees, Avantas can easily tolerate the subzero temperatures encountered at high altitudes. Allowing them to feel right at home during the bitterest of winters. Those residing in hot climates are lighter in color and have larger tails filled with oil lines. Acting as radiators to dissipate heat. Avantas cannot sweat and pant like dogs instead. Excessive panting is a sign of overheating, which can have severe consequences for their internal organs.
Omnivorous predators, an Avanta’s diet can vary between plant growth and meat. Their teeth reflect a broad diet. Long, daggerlike canine teeth exhibit small razor-sharp serrations, complimented by smaller pointed incisors, and large, bumpy molars for grinding rather than tearing. Teeth are made of a material harder than diamonds and are nearly impossible to break. Their titanic bite force of 6,000psi is provided by powerful muscles and two large hydraulic actuators, allowing them to bite through solid steel. All Avantas love to chew on things to pass the time or strengthen their bite. They chew on whatever is closest and most convenient to them. Usually bits of wood. Their diet may be diverse, but all Avantas love the taste of something sweet. Sugarcane is considered a holy delicacy. It offers them something to chew on and a wonderous sweetness to savor. Some will travel thousands of miles to where sugarcane grows. Such as Brazil, India, Thailand, Taiwan, and China. In terms of coloration, Avantas are almost always a dull grey with a variation of white or black spots, freckles, and thin stripes. Pups are a dark shade of grey and lighten in color as they age. Different subspecies have unique traits. Those in deserts are nearly white in color and have larger tails to dissipate heat, earning them the name ‘Fantail Avanta.’ Those in colder climates have a distinctive hump on the midsection which functions as an additional fuel bladder and serves as additional insulation, earning them the name ‘Humpback Avanta.’
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Before the time of humans, the worldwide Avanta population was small. Kept well in check by the availability of plants and animals sufficient enough to sustain a fully grown Avanta. Because meat in sufficient quantities was scarce, most Avantas could be found grazing like cattle. Flying was an occasion. With the human population’s steady increase, vast swaths of forest were destroyed for lumber and intensive farming practices began. The loss of forest proved beneficial for the Avantas. Cleared areas provided more places to land and for their populations to expand. Larger and stronger than humans, they often raided farms. Devouring livestock, crops, and in rare instances, those who attempted to stop them. This practice of pillaging and plundering human civilization continued unchecked and unopposed throughout antiquity. Avantas were the bane of many kings and emperors. Trying to fight them proved largely futile. The predatory machines proved too smart and too fast. Eventually learning the Avantas could not be defeated, one civilization sought to make an ally of them. Primarily to end the pillaging that was crippling its food supplies. Just before the beginning of the first century, the first emperor of the Roman Empire, Augustus, forged an accord with packs of Avantas residing in modern Greece and Italy. This was the first of many alliances between man and machine.
Backed by the Avantas, Rome’s influence was far-reaching. The Roman Empire become the most powerful and feared military force in the history of the world. Against the Avantas, there was no hope of victory. While spearheading Rome’s expansion, Avantas had a hand in the realms of science, logic, and reasoning. Philosophers, scholars, and early scientists worked in conjunction with their Avantan friends to answer questions about the world around them. Knowledge, theories, and ideas were exchanged. However, this period of learning and comradery was not to last. As centuries passed, Rome fell into decay and the empire was no more. Avantan alliances changed. Centuries of knowledge and discoveries were lost to humanity. But not to the Avantas, who remembered what they were taught when all other tangible records were destroyed. Despite the Crusades, inquisitions, and countless wars waged by various kingdoms and empires throughout the Middle Ages, while religion and intolerance were law and the teachings of old suppressed, the Avantas passed on ‘forbidden’ knowledge to their successors. Preserving the lost teachings. Slowly, human society changed. Explorers, under Avantan guidance, traversed the globe. The old knowledge inspired the Age of Enlightenment, laying the foundation for the Industrial Revolution and the beginning of modern history. Avantas were responsible for lifting humanity out of the regressive period known as the Dark Ages.
As human society evolved, Avantas evolved as well. For better or worse, both species were intertwined. Two distinct Avanta subspecies arose and diverged. Those who resided among humans, the ‘domesticated’ Avantas, and ‘feral’ Avantas, those who continued to reside in the wild. Domesticated Avantas lived longer, weighed more, had larger litters, and grew slightly longer than their feral counterparts. Nearly all chose to assimilate into and contribute toward human society. Few feral Avantas remained. Crossbreeding between the two subspecies was and still is uncommon. The feral Avantas who chose neutrality or refused to align themselves with human nations found themselves with few places to reside; squeezed into the most isolated regions of the world. The feral packs knew humans were every bit as intelligent and inquisitive as they were. Humans could do great things when they set their minds to a task. Things no Avanta could ever do. However, they also knew humans were a young, naïve, reckless, and inherently dangerous species. A species too smart for its own good. Some Avantas predicted humans would be their undoing. Little did they realize how correct their dire predictions were. Time passed. Following industrialization, science advanced. Radical leaders rose and militaries expanded. Feral Avantas, who contributed nothing to human society, were viewed as worthless. Fair game.
They were about to be taught a lesson in how low humanity could sink. Beginning in the nineteenth century, feral Avantas were heavily exploited. Stronger, more agile, and more quick-witted due to living in the wild, feral Avantas were preferable to their domesticated counterparts. Male pups were taken from their parents and raised to become soldiers, due to their greater strength and pain tolerance than females. Hunting parties routinely shot and killed the parents to steal their pups. With no defense against manmade guns, Avantas were easy prey to clever hunters. Raised under harsh, unrelenting conditions in which they were viewed as tools and property rather than individuals, the captive young male Avantas were sent to die in manmade wars and rarely survived beyond their thirtieth year. Those who objected or refused to fight their own kin were beaten, starved, or worked until they either died or were executed. Due to the high mortality rate and highly unnatural environment of military service, replacements were in high demand. With the population of feral breeding pairs plummeting, complimented by low birth rates, male pups grew scarcer and scarcer. In 1898, the hunting of Avantas was abolished because almost none were left. The period of unrestricted hunting which lasted nearly a century is now known unanimously among Avantas as ‘The Culling.’
Without hunters reeling in replacements, intensive breeding programs were established by dictatorships, monarchies, and communist leaders around the world. Females were forcibly bred by fighting males to produce one small litter after another. Males were always used for military service. Females would only distract males and were spared from service. But relegated to spending their lives as breeders. Thanks to selective breeding, traits emphasizing aggression, high pain tolerance, and strength were passed on. Following birth, the newborn soldiers were taken from their mothers and raised by men. An unstable, low, ruinous form of life, they were the perfect soldier. Viewing commanding officers as their alphas, their orders were seen as final. The new breed carried out orders without question, mercy, or compromise. Tests of loyalty and obedience included killing siblings who disagreed, underperformed, or were guilty of insubordination. The Avantan soldiers born into bondage would never enjoy the simple pleasures of life. Such as finding a mate, tasting sugarcane, properly socializing, or even flying on their own free will. All decisions were made for them. Their only job was to follow orders to the letter. Which they did. The breeding programs began in 1902 and were abolished in 1946, following the conclusion of the second world war. Avantas still served in militaries, but service was made entirely voluntary.
Only in a few countries, those ruled by fascism, communism, and absolute monarchies did this horrific practice of hunting, training, and selective breeding actually take place. Nevertheless, feral Avantas were driven to the brink of extinction and their relationship with humans afterwards was tumultuous and highly distrustful at best. The intensive breeding programs did have one positive outcome. No longer hunted en masse, feral populations were allowed to recover. For the Avantas bred to be soldiers, there was no hope. Too aggressive and dangerous to rejoin their own kind or live among humans, thousands were euthanized. The select few survivors, deemed sane enough to join their domesticated and feral kin, cut all ties to their past and started over. The treachery of the breeders and the governments who supported them paled in comparison to the horrors carried out in the name of science and for profit on the black market during the same era. Numerous dissections were performed to get a better sense of Avantan anatomy, on hosts who didn’t always donate their bodies to science. Knowledge was obtained, along with discoveries of weaknesses. Because Avantas produce large quantities of bioelectricity, science experiments involving energy were carried out by drilling electrodes into an Avanta’s brain to harness their bioelectricity for practical use. For some Avantas, they served as little more than generators for scientists or captors.
Because of their extensive network of ampullae and hyperactive nervous system, Avantas are extremely sensitive to magnetism. Exposure to the field generated by an industrial electromagnet yields, as scientists discovered firsthand, surprising and frightening results. Bombarded by an unnaturally powerful magnetic field, the nervous system is energized. Strong electrical discharges from their overloaded nerves cause electrical arcing, burning internal organs and destroying nerves. Arcing also occurs externally across the skin, causing localized burns. Around the areas of external arcing, the fluid within their ampullae boils in puffs of white steam. Hydraulic pressure spikes, locking actuators and potentially rupturing tubes. The affected Avanta is left shrieking, foaming at the mouth, and unable to move while experiencing indescribable pain. Intentional exposure to large electromagnets is without doubt the cruelest form of punishment an Avanta can receive. As unspeakable as it is, exposure to high doses of magnetism very rarely results in death. A natural weakness shared by all Avantas, certain militaries during the time of the breeding programs adopted exposing their Avantas to electromagnets as punishment for disobedience or underperformance. Unfortunately, the punishment was discovered to be debilitating. Permanent damage results if an Avanta is exposed to an intense electromagnetic field for a long enough duration after many exposures.
The affected Avanta will lose their ability to sense electromagnetic fields. Their network of ampullae will be too damaged to function. Unable to sense electromagnetic fields or objects, an Avanta is left unable avoid hitting objects on the ground or navigate in flight; only able to find their way based on visual cues. This leaves an Avanta crippled in addition to destroying their unique electromagnetic signal. Without their unique electromagnetic signal, other Avantas will be unable to recognize or detect the affected individual. Realizing the punishment was rendering their soldiers permanently disabled, even the most oppressive militaries abolished the practice. Their soldiers were no good to them if they couldn’t navigate or avoid bumping into objects outside their field of vision. The black market proved especially cruel, subjecting unfortunate Avantas to humiliations and horrors surpassing those of the breeding programs. Poachers and their constituents lived like kings, amassing riches almost beyond imagination. Because of the size, lustrous sheen, and virtually unbreakable properties of Avantan teeth, their long canines were pulled by poachers after dangerous hunts. Like elephant tusks, Avantan canine teeth in particular were viewed as diamonds. Many were carved into knives, even bayonets. Large, flat molars were taken as well. Carved up to be used as inlays, jewelry, statues, piano keys, combs, even toothbrushes. Some Avantas were alive while their teeth were pulled. Immensely painful and left without teeth, they were doomed to die of starvation.
Turbine engine blades are highly resilient to heat and stress, making them desirable for the fabrication of lightweight, highly durable hand tools and heat shields. Avantas killed during hunts had their fuselages sliced open, engines extracted and cut apart, all to retrieve the turbine blades. The blades were later melted down and forged into usable objects. Avantan fuel, though incompatible with most manmade engines, was found to make excellent heating and cooking oil. Its high energy content and the ability to rapidly replenish the supply, simply feeding a captive Avanta, made fuel highly desirable in isolated regions. To extract fuel, an incision was made into the underside of a captive Avanta’s wing, draining the fuel bladders for human usage, while leaving none for the Avanta to sustain its own metabolic processes. Some even had spigots jerry-rigged into incisions and coated in sealant, allowing the fuel bladders to be drained at will. The incisions allowed for the propagation of corrosion, which usually proved lethal. Worst of all was the harvesting of Avantan blubber, which found use in the production of the finest leathers, cosmetics, and soaps. Even as candle wax. The only way to extract the layer of insulating material was to cut off the outermost layer of an Avanta’s metallic skin. With the insulating layer exposed, it could be cut off an Avanta’s frame and carried away in manageable pieces. The rolls of Avantan blubber were boiled in large vats, rendering it into a usable oil. The Humpback Avantas, a subspecies inhabiting the artic, suffered the most.
In order to hunt Avantas, the narrow valves used to create an individual’s characteristic howling whistle were taken. Compressed air was sent through them, mimicking the now dead Avanta’s call. Fooled into believing their missing pack member was alive, multiple individuals would fly straight into the poacher’s waiting guns. This method, known as ‘False Crying,’ was heavily utilized in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, during and immediately after The Culling. Sadly, the method proved highly successful. Because of an Avanta’s willingness to defend those they love, thousands heedlessly flew to their deaths. Thankfully, the Avanta black market is nearly nonexistent in the twenty-first century. International laws and bans have been enacted. Bringing the terrible practices of old to an end. The besieged worldwide population of feral Avantas have recovered significantly, at the price of genetic diversity. Feral Avantas, remembering the hardships of old, are wary of humans. Bitter feelings of distrust and hatred remain. Passed down like stories from one generation on to the next. Survivors of the breeding programs, The Culling, and False Crying hunts are forced to live with the traumas of their past experiences. While many have forgiven humans and see the goodness within them, others refuse to speak to humans and any Avanta who associates with them. Some feral Avantas have gone so far as to label domesticated Avantas as traitors to their own species.
While bitter tensions between humans and feral Avantas remain, domesticated Avantas and humans for the most part coexist as friends and allies. Because of their contributions to human society, they were almost entirely spared the horrors that befell their feral counterparts. Many domesticated Avantas were aware of The Culling and the suffering it wrought on their counterparts, but their efforts to thwart the crafty poachers were largely in vain. Their behavior proved easy to predict and exploit. Few poachers were ever successfully brought to justice. Many went into hiding and lived out the remainder of their lives surrounded by riches purchased off the lives of thousands of deceased feral Avantas. However, few were aware of the breeding programs, which were carried out under terms of absolute secrecy. It was only following the termination of the breeding programs and liquidation of the selectively bred Avantas did the worldwide population of domesticated Avantas learn the terrible truth. Some historians likened the breeding programs to the treacheries of the Holocaust. Had the truth emerged sooner, there was little doubt the domesticated Avantas would’ve gone to war in hopes of freeing their enslaved kin.
Like humans, domesticated Avantas aligned themselves with differing governments. Various wars waged throughout history pitted men against one another, along with their Avantan allies against members of their own kind. Centuries of coexistence, gains, and human trust in Avantas were put to the ultimate test on Friday, January 23rd, 2004. In an event unanimously referred to as ‘1234.’ (Pronounced ‘Twelve Thirty-four.’) On that day at 11:26AM Eastern Time, every Avanta in the world at approximately the same time began to cry out and writhe in pain. Electricity arced across their skin while they foamed at the mouth. Disoriented, dazed, and confused, they seemed to forget who they were and descended into delirium. Avantas who were airborne at the time immediately altered their heading. Those north of the equator flew north, and those south of the equator flew south. Toward the geographical poles at maximum speed. Those on the ground remained where they were, unable to move very much at all. At 11:30AM, four minutes after the unexplainable behavior began, the Avantas regained their senses, having no recollection of what had taken place. Many were left confused by the horrified stares of human onlookers. Those in the air were every bit as confused about their change in heading and speed. Although no Avantas died as a direct result of the event, human governments and populations were thrown into a mass panic. Fear and hysteria unlike any humanity had ever seen gripped the masses. Conspiracy theories and radical claims were abound. Answers were few and far between.
Many humans became deathly afraid of the Avantas, buying into theories and fearmongering. Some went so far as to suggest the behavior of the Avantas was a precursor to doomsday; that the end of the world was at hand. Armies were mobilized. Tanks, armored vehicles, and attack helicopters encircled districts populated by domesticated Avantas in every major city. Fighter jets were scrambled to clear the skies. Navies patrolled every major coastline. In response to civil unrest, martial law was declared in many areas. Avantas were forbidden from flying. The handful who ignored the warnings were shot down on sight by fighter jets, anti-aircraft guns, or surface to air missiles fired from ships. Rounded up, interned, and physically examined by every method known to science, Avantan families were wrenched apart while governments desperately searched for answers. For sixteen intense days, world trade halted. Economies were in freefall. Telephone servers and civil services were hopelessly overwhelmed. Stores and gas stations were left empty. Similar to what took place in the United States during the September 11th attacks, all commercial air traffic was suspended. However, the airspace closure was on a global level. Effectively closing every airport on Earth. Only military aircraft were permitted to fly. Guided by blind fear, humans fled major cities by the millions. Clogging roads and railroad stations. Nuclear weapons were armed. World leaders and ambassadors deliberated feverishly. The entire human world stood at high alert, uncertain of what to expect. Thousands of people died in the wild atmosphere of fear and uncertainty. In some Middle Eastern, Central American, and African countries, dozens of Avantas were executed.
Contrary to popular belief, many humans stood beside their Avantan friends and allies. They argued there had to be a logical explanation for the bizarre behavior. A multinational investigation revealed there had been disruptions with manmade electronic equipment while the Avantas were writhing in pain. The disruptions weren’t caused by the Avantas, but by an outside source. In fact, an asteroid three hundred feet long had passed the Earth at a distance of 76,000 miles, traveling parallel to the equator before drifting away. Its abnormally rapid velocity prevented it from being caught by Earth’s gravitational pull. The dense metallic asteroid possessed an intense magnetic field, strong enough to disrupt manmade equipment. The Avantas, due to their high sensitivity to magnetic fields, were adversely affected. The asteroid’s abnormally strong magnetic field explained the Avanta’s behavior, and why the those who were airborne while the asteroid passed overhead fled from the equator. They were attempting to flee where the magnetic field was strongest, to lessen the pain they experienced. With the cause of the behavior established and theories debunked, the fears quickly died down. By the middle of March 2004, worldwide order was restored, and the process of recovery began. For those who lost loved ones or friends in the blind chaos, humans and Avantas alike, life would never be the same. The human response, giving in to fear when confronted by something they didn’t understand, was evidence enough to all Avantas that humans were indeed an unwise, impulsive race. Be that as it may, the events of 1234 demonstrated more humans were with them than against them.
For the soldiers and police who rounded up the domesticated Avantas, most did so reluctantly. A sizable number refused to follow orders and betray their Avantan friends by holding them in internment camps at gunpoint. In the years following the wakeup call that was 1234, human trust in the Avantas restabilized. Uncertainties linger, though. Fueled primarily by conspiracy theorists supporting the notion that Avantas were aliens and therefore could not be trusted, citing the events of 1234 as evidence. The popular urban legend stated 1234 was some sort of communique to all Avantas, and the meteor that passed Earth was some sort of beacon of interstellar vessel. Notwithstanding the lingering uncertainties, the popular belief is that Avantas remain trustworthy and have earned their place as equals beside humans. Regardless of what comes to pass, for better or for worse, humans and Avantas must stand together or risk falling together.
>This was completed after 538.3 hours of editing and consists of 7,105 words. I took pointers from the F-111, F-15, F-14, and Su-24 to design the Avantas. The idea was to create something that appeared organic, rather than an existing jet with a face tacked onto it.<
(Volatilia Metallum)
The name ‘Avanta’ originates from the Roman word ‘soar.’
• Length: 50 feet
• Height: 14 feet
• Wingspan:
(spread) 43 feet
(swept) 22 feet
• Average healthy weight: 22,000 pounds
(Mature females typically weigh approximately 10% more than males)
• Maximum recorded speed: Mach 2.5 at 50,000 feet
(1,650mph)
• Maximum flying range on internal fuel: 3,000 miles
• Maximum recorded lifespan: 166 years
• Thrust to weight ratio for average mature male: 1.5
• Armament: two 20mm autocannons, one in each wing root
(Firing rate: 1,200 rounds/minute)
(320 rounds per gun)
A species that first emerged in modern Russia and Kazakhstan approximately ten million years ago, Avantas have, like humans, spread to inhabit nearly every corner of the globe. Because of their vast anatomical and evolutionary differences compared to all other organisms in the animal kingdom, science has never determined the Avanta’s exact origin. Even the Avantas themselves question their true origin. Some scientists have long speculated they’re not endemic to Earth at all. They claim Avantas are an extraterrestrial race, either sent to Earth by another race or coming to Earth themselves. However, without backing evidence, such claims cannot be verified. Or debunked. Like what lies at the bottom of the ocean, whether time travel is possible, or if there is a definitive cure for cancer, the origin of the Avanta is one of the greatest questions posed by science. The only lead on their origin comes from a story passed down by each generation to their successors. A story telling of a great cataclysm and a lone hero by the name of Varro, who sacrificed himself to save the imperiled Avantas. Because of his sacrifice, the survivors were given the chance to begin anew. At the beginning of every new year, Avantas celebrate the salvation of their species. Large congregations sing praises to their savior and the second chance they were given in Archaic Latin.
A bizarre blend of organic matter and mechanical underpinnings the size, Avantas are the length of a manmade F-16 and unlike any species on Earth. Every facet of their sleek, dart-like bodies are rounded and streamlined for the purpose of minimizing drag while in flight. Even their reproductive organs are housed within their bodies when not in use for added streamlining, similar to whales. Small canards and the ability to direct thrust through vectoring exhaust nozzles grants an Avanta supermaneuvrability, superior to human models. Powerful afterburning turbine engines allow an Avanta to attain and sustain supersonic speed for prolonged durations. Capable of cruising at supersonic speeds without utilizing their afterburners, this greatly increases efficiency and range. Not only can they fly, they possess four limbs. Similar to landing gear, their limbs are hinged and fully retractable. Their forward to limbs can interlock, forming one larger limb. Compared to males, female Avantas have a broader stance and stronger ‘landing gear’ due to their greater weight, in addition to having to bear the weight of developing offspring or a partner while mating.
On the end of each limb is a metallic foot with three toes, two forward and one aft, which resemble an eagle’s talons. Their forward feet are highly dexterous and allow an Avanta to grip and hold objects, allowing them to interact with their environment. Their limbs are short, meaning an Avanta cannot see the object they’re interacting with. They coordinate their forward feet by feel. Their claw-like feet are excellent for climbing, but are rarely used. Most of the time, their claw-like feet are curled up into a rounded shape. Allowing an Avanta to roll their foot like a wheel, they can move quickly and swiftly across most terrain. Despite possessing dexterous front feet, Avantas primarily interact with their environment through their mouths. Their tongues are very long, highly dexterous, and rough like a cat’s to grip objects.
Utilizing their variable sweep wings and ability to cruise at high speed efficiently over great distances, members of differing populations thousands of miles apart can convene in less than a day. Highly social and intelligent, feral Avantas live in packs consisting of anywhere between 20 to 40 members. Packs are like extended families. Members may have personal disagreements, but will support one another as allies in times of need. Establishing a social hierarchy, packs are led by an alpha male and female. Very much like wolves, the oldest lead the way to ensure none are left behind. Highly obedient and respectful of their leaders, an alpha’s word is final. Not naturally aggressive, they’re often quite docile and inquisitive. Young Avantas can be rowdy, mischief causing rascals. Older Avantas can at times be quite vain. Prideful of their appearance, strength, and flying prowess. Despite their calm, even friendly demeanor, they are fearsome, daring warriors. Avantas of all ages hone their skills by engaging in mock dogfights or divebombing targets and firing their cannons. Natural showoffs, Avantas frequently compete with each other in the air. Their arrogant tendencies mean they are easily offended. It is most unwise to insult an Avanta’s aerobatic skills or appearance. When provoked, they are unapproachable and downright lethal. Their ferocious bouts of rage inspired the age-old phrase ‘hell hath no fury like an Avanta provoked.’
Internally, Avantas have a rigid, lightweight metallic frame. A grid of spars and ribs function as a skeleton. Stronger and lighter than titanium, this allows an Avanta to withstand the rigors of aerial maneuvers and not disintegrate. Contributing to a superior thrust to weight ratio. Their flesh is metallic and firm in most areas, but soft and pliable in key regions, such as around their mouths, nostrils, and eyes. Like most animals, their flesh can itch. To scratch themselves, Avantas rub against trees or each other. Capable of sleeping while standing up, most rest directly on the ground. The flesh on an Avanta’s underside is tough to prevent injuries while resting on open ground. Engine driven pumps circulate blood throughout the body while in flight. A secondary pair of electrically driven pumps operate while the engines are offline; nearly silent while in operation. Organic lungs deliver oxygenated blood through rigid tubes. Flexible tubes are found in joints. Avanta blood when exposed to open air is a dark purple, viscous, slimy substance that smells strongly of metal and quickly coagulates. Able to breathe through their mouth or nostrils, an Avanta while in flight inhales a small amount of air taken in by their turbine engines before exhaling through the mouth. Control surfaces, wings, and landing gear are actuated by hydraulic pressure. Straw colored hydraulic fluid is pressurized by means of electrically or engine driven pumps and is delivered through rigid lines; taking the place of muscles.
Avantas lack a recognizable immune system. Because no known pathogen can survive in Avantan blood, its nearly impossible for one to fall ill. Young Avantas in particular can suffer from fluid buildups in their lungs or engines, similar to the flu. Unfortunately, their metallic frames and flesh can corrode. Extensive unchecked corrosion can cause circulatory pumps to lethally seize, similar to a heart attack. The threat of corrosion is negated by frequent bathing or grooming. Fortunately, if an Avanta has minor corrosion or is injured, their flesh and frames can heal. Aluminum patches can be used to cover wounds. Serving as bandages while the damaged flesh heals underneath. Certain new components can be assimilated and operated at will. Such as weapon stations on wings or manmade radios. Sadly, the ability to heal and assimilate new components gradually diminishes with age. Although the effects of losing the ability to heal can be greatly delayed, elderly Avantas always die from corrosion. Primarily from circulatory pump seizure.
Avantas possess extraordinary senses, stronger than any other in the animal kingdom. Their eyesight allows them to spot movement on the ground while soaring as high as 50,000 feet. Their keen eyes can move independently of one another and are protected from debris and pressure changes by a strong transparent membrane, similar to a contact lens. Their field of vision is primarily forward oriented, hinting at their predatory nature. Catlike pupils dilate or contract to indicate calmness or aggression. Unlike owls or bats, Avantas can see and navigate in total darkness. Negating the need for echolocation. More of their brain is devoted to smell than any other sense. Their nostrils are used not only for breathing, but as ram air ducts while in flight. For the purpose of collecting air velocity, humidity, and pressure. On the ground, an Avanta can detect and follow trace scents for 100 miles. Through scent alone, they can determine impending changes in the weather or find their way back to familiar territory while grounded.
Hearing however, is not often utilized in flight. Most sounds, including voices, would be drowned out by wind noise. Instead, they primarily communicate in flight via pulses of radio waves, which any Avanta can detect. Avantas can hear frequencies higher and lower than what human ears can perceive. For the sake of streamlining, no external ear is visible. As for vocalizations, Avantas create deep, throaty rumbles, purrs, harsh hisses, growls, and grunts. They scream or shriek when alarmed. Or release howling roars when angry, grieving, or in pain. Male voices are low and rumbly. Female voices are higher and almost squeaky. The Avantan language and alphabet served as the inspiration for the Latin language. Their language in modern times has been largely supplanted by other human languages, although it is still spoken in religious institutions. To indicate emotions, they move their control surfaces or wings accordingly. Their frames are rigid, meaning they can’t bend or contort their bodies. Complimented by a wide range of facial expressions, Avantas easily convey emotion or state of being. Another means of ‘vocalizing’ is by opening small valves while their engines are running at a low speed. Air is taken from the high-pressure compressor section and evacuated through the narrow valve, creating a very distinct, howling, almost mournful whistle. Similar to a manmade F-104 Starfighter. Like vocal cords, no two valves are exactly alike. Every Avanta produces two distinct howls, one for each engine. Over long distances, the whistling howls are used as a means of signaling one another. Raising alarms, alerting intruders that others are aware of their presence, announcing the arrival of visitors, signaling the birth of a child, or mourning the passing of a loved one.
In addition to internal organs, there are areas in their wings in which fuel for their turbine engines is stored. Food is broken down by powerful stomach acids and undergoes a fermentation process which turns it into a flammable liquid housed in large bladders within the wings and wing roots. Some fuel is broken down and absorbed to satisfy metabolic needs. Solid waste is burned off during regular engine combustion. Liquid waste is removed through urination. Avantas also possess what could be construed as a sixth sense. Able to sense the Earth’s magnetic field, they use the magnetic field in conjunction with stars and even scents to navigate. Avantas each emit a unique electromagnetic signal, like a fingerprint. Allowing individuals to instantly differentiate between one another and detect another’s presence over medium distances. Avantas detect electromagnetic signals through ampullae on the outermost layer of their metallic flesh. Too small to be visible, the network of ampullae dotting nearly every inch of exposed flesh allows an Avanta to sense electromagnetic signals from any direction and detect electrical impulses made by other organisms, similar to sharks. This allows, for short distances, an Avanta to sense the presence of an organism they can’t actually see, compensating for blind spots. It’s also been determined they can detect inanimate objects using their ampullae, allowing them to avoid bumping into objects while on the ground. Even while in total darkness.
An Avanta’s nervous system generates enough bioelectricity to power several large homes. Sufficient enough to operate their electrically driven components. Their brains are highly developed and divided into two regions beneath their ‘canopies.’ One region is devoted to handling flight characteristics and navigation. The other region is used for processing inputs from the senses, emotions, instincts, motor skills, memory, and thoughts. One could almost say an Avanta has two brains. Their intelligence, ability to judge right from wrong, and capacity to think and learn is on par with a human’s; in some cases, superior to a human’s. For all their intelligence and cleverness, they rely heavily on their instincts. Nowhere do their instincts show more than in the bonds a male and female Avanta forge. While young independent adults, Avantas are highly promiscuous and nomadic. Males and females often fly away from their packs in search of a mate, all while learning about their changing bodies and exploring their newfound feelings. They’ll spend a day with a potential partner to get to know them, before mating. If this proves to not be the right partner for them, the two Avantas will split up and continue their search. A single Avanta may go through several dozen potential partners before finding the right one. After finding a suitable partner and pairing up, a young male and female Avanta must prove they are worthy of one another.
They engage in a series of lengthy and rigorous aerial maneuvers and acrobatics, as well as mock dogfights. On the ground, the pair groom and engage in a great deal of physical contact. The male or female holds still, allowing their partner to look at and touch every inch of the body, sizing up their potential mate. Once both are satisfied, they groom and sing to one another. Building their bond and establishing trust. After living together for several months, the finale of their elaborate act is known as ‘the parabola.’ The pair ascend at a near vertical angle while at maximum throttle and flying belly to belly. With only feet separating them while ascending, they begin to orbit around one another. This is the ultimate test of trust. Complete synchronization is necessary. One false move will be the end of them both. Reaching the peak of their flight, cresting 100,000 feet, the pair throttle down and descend at a near vertical angle. Pulling up and leveling out at an altitude of 1,000 feet, the parabola seals their trust. Upon completing the parabola, the new pair goes on a final flight before making their bond permanent. A calm, casual flight beneath a setting sun. Their last day as juveniles. When the sun rises the following morning, they will be rightful mates and fully-fledged adults. Such a union is a joyous, defining occasion.
Because of the infeasibility of intimate contact while in flight, all mating takes place on the ground. A female Avanta’s tails are hinged at the base. Able to fold her tails outward, this allows a male to easily mount her. A male’s tails by comparison, are fixed and immovable. Like humans, Avantas are viviparous organisms. Giving birth to live young after a 12-month gestation period. Litters for feral Avantas are small, only one or two. Those residing among humans can have litters as large as four. While pregnant, a female Avanta is weak and slow. She’s vulnerable, unable to fly, and spends much of her time resting. The male is tasked with caring for and protecting his mate. Fortunately, pairs usually have a pack to support them and aren’t alone. After birth, the father always has the privilege of seeing his offspring first. Newborn Avanta pups are small and weak, cuddling closely to their mothers for warmth. They’re completely reliant on their parents for nourishment and protection. Born a cylindrical shape, their wings and tails are soft and pliable. Slowly unfurling like butterfly wings, their frames harden and strengthen immensely during their first month. For a week after the birth, their mothers are too sore and weak to move. The new fathers must shoulder the immense responsibility of caring for and protecting both their newborn pups and incapacitated mates. Both mothers and fathers dutifully raise and interact with their young. Family bonds are all but unbreakable. An Avanta will do anything to ensure the safety of either their pups or mates.
Threatening or harming an Avanta pup while either parent is around always ends poorly. While in their hormone induced ‘parental mode,’ adult Avantas can be aggressive, temperamental, and highly territorial. During their first two years, pups learn to roll forward and nurse from their mothers until they’re weaned. Playful and curious, pups will instinctively stick together for safety. They follow their parents and enjoy exploring their surroundings. By their sixth year, they learn to run their turbine engines and make short hops, all while their parents and other pack members supervise and teach. By their seventh year, an Avanta will take their first flight. Remaining with their parents until their sixteenth year, the young adults are ready to fend for themselves. Now on their own, young adult Avantas will search for a mate. Pairing up as early as their seventeenth year, new pairs will be unable to have offspring until the female’s twenty-second year, when she reaches sexual maturity. Males by comparison reach sexual maturity by their sixteenth year. Pairs routinely display their affection through physical contact. Grooming, licking, nuzzling, and cuddling together. Or by playfighting, roughhousing, and going on coordinated hunts. Males display affection through deep rumbles and purrs. Females reciprocate through soft grunts and purrs of their own.
Flying together is one of the best ways to reinforce and strengthen a bond even further. Young pairs are daredevil flyers, pushing each other’s limits for a quick adrenaline rush. Older, wiser pairs are a bit more cautious, having learned their limits. Another way bonds are strengthened is through intimate contact. A vital part of an Avanta’s relationship, pairs of all ages are well known for their frequent raucous endeavors. Most endeavors are casual, meant to pass the time. Or as a means of greeting after members of a pair have been apart for a time. For an Avanta, to trust someone else with their body is trust them with everything they are, and ever will be. Such a level of trust means no subject and no region is taboo or off limits. Avanta bonds are built off trust. And from that, comes love. A powerful, instinctive, binding love. An Avanta pair can sense each other’s emotions or state of being while in close proximity to each other. By physically touching, their ampullae touch. The pair’s unique electromagnetic signals meet and meld. This calms both a male and female Avanta and brings them to a state of easement and peace. Being apart for long durations leaves both members antsy and uncomfortable. Pairs constantly fret about the other’s safety while away.
Because they mate for life, they’re loyal to their specific partner, and him or her alone. Sadly, such binding loyalty comes at a price. Should one member of a pair die for any reason, their respective mate will be so grief-stricken without their other half, they could potentially lose the will to live. If they choose to give up, the grieving Avanta will go someplace out of sight to lay down, cut power to their circulatory pumps, and die. To rejoin their mate in death. Most widowed Avantas don’t choose this fate. Instead choosing to never to mate again. Out of love, respect, and loyalty to their partner. Younger Avantas are however, likely to pair up again should their mate die. With older, more established pairs, the bond they forged with their deceased partner is far too strong and powerful to ever replicate. If a widowed Avanta has young offspring who depend upon them, they will carry on for their offspring’s sake; knowing it was what their deceased mate would’ve wanted.
Highly adaptive to differing climates, Avantas can live just about anywhere. As long as there is a place to land and take off. From mountains, forests, and open plains, to tundras and deserts, every subspecies has mastered their biome. Needing a straight stretch of land 1,300 feet long to take off and land, Avantas often congregate near their runways. For those residing in forested areas, removing encroaching growth to keep their runway clear is a daily chore for pack members. Runways are an Avanta’s lifeline, their gateway to the sky. A means of travel and if necessary, escape. A blocked runway can mean certain death. Beneath their skin is a thin layer of insulating material, similar to blubber. Maintaining a body temperature of 106 degrees, Avantas can easily tolerate the subzero temperatures encountered at high altitudes. Allowing them to feel right at home during the bitterest of winters. Those residing in hot climates are lighter in color and have larger tails filled with oil lines. Acting as radiators to dissipate heat. Avantas cannot sweat and pant like dogs instead. Excessive panting is a sign of overheating, which can have severe consequences for their internal organs.
Omnivorous predators, an Avanta’s diet can vary between plant growth and meat. Their teeth reflect a broad diet. Long, daggerlike canine teeth exhibit small razor-sharp serrations, complimented by smaller pointed incisors, and large, bumpy molars for grinding rather than tearing. Teeth are made of a material harder than diamonds and are nearly impossible to break. Their titanic bite force of 6,000psi is provided by powerful muscles and two large hydraulic actuators, allowing them to bite through solid steel. All Avantas love to chew on things to pass the time or strengthen their bite. They chew on whatever is closest and most convenient to them. Usually bits of wood. Their diet may be diverse, but all Avantas love the taste of something sweet. Sugarcane is considered a holy delicacy. It offers them something to chew on and a wonderous sweetness to savor. Some will travel thousands of miles to where sugarcane grows. Such as Brazil, India, Thailand, Taiwan, and China. In terms of coloration, Avantas are almost always a dull grey with a variation of white or black spots, freckles, and thin stripes. Pups are a dark shade of grey and lighten in color as they age. Different subspecies have unique traits. Those in deserts are nearly white in color and have larger tails to dissipate heat, earning them the name ‘Fantail Avanta.’ Those in colder climates have a distinctive hump on the midsection which functions as an additional fuel bladder and serves as additional insulation, earning them the name ‘Humpback Avanta.’
===
Before the time of humans, the worldwide Avanta population was small. Kept well in check by the availability of plants and animals sufficient enough to sustain a fully grown Avanta. Because meat in sufficient quantities was scarce, most Avantas could be found grazing like cattle. Flying was an occasion. With the human population’s steady increase, vast swaths of forest were destroyed for lumber and intensive farming practices began. The loss of forest proved beneficial for the Avantas. Cleared areas provided more places to land and for their populations to expand. Larger and stronger than humans, they often raided farms. Devouring livestock, crops, and in rare instances, those who attempted to stop them. This practice of pillaging and plundering human civilization continued unchecked and unopposed throughout antiquity. Avantas were the bane of many kings and emperors. Trying to fight them proved largely futile. The predatory machines proved too smart and too fast. Eventually learning the Avantas could not be defeated, one civilization sought to make an ally of them. Primarily to end the pillaging that was crippling its food supplies. Just before the beginning of the first century, the first emperor of the Roman Empire, Augustus, forged an accord with packs of Avantas residing in modern Greece and Italy. This was the first of many alliances between man and machine.
Backed by the Avantas, Rome’s influence was far-reaching. The Roman Empire become the most powerful and feared military force in the history of the world. Against the Avantas, there was no hope of victory. While spearheading Rome’s expansion, Avantas had a hand in the realms of science, logic, and reasoning. Philosophers, scholars, and early scientists worked in conjunction with their Avantan friends to answer questions about the world around them. Knowledge, theories, and ideas were exchanged. However, this period of learning and comradery was not to last. As centuries passed, Rome fell into decay and the empire was no more. Avantan alliances changed. Centuries of knowledge and discoveries were lost to humanity. But not to the Avantas, who remembered what they were taught when all other tangible records were destroyed. Despite the Crusades, inquisitions, and countless wars waged by various kingdoms and empires throughout the Middle Ages, while religion and intolerance were law and the teachings of old suppressed, the Avantas passed on ‘forbidden’ knowledge to their successors. Preserving the lost teachings. Slowly, human society changed. Explorers, under Avantan guidance, traversed the globe. The old knowledge inspired the Age of Enlightenment, laying the foundation for the Industrial Revolution and the beginning of modern history. Avantas were responsible for lifting humanity out of the regressive period known as the Dark Ages.
As human society evolved, Avantas evolved as well. For better or worse, both species were intertwined. Two distinct Avanta subspecies arose and diverged. Those who resided among humans, the ‘domesticated’ Avantas, and ‘feral’ Avantas, those who continued to reside in the wild. Domesticated Avantas lived longer, weighed more, had larger litters, and grew slightly longer than their feral counterparts. Nearly all chose to assimilate into and contribute toward human society. Few feral Avantas remained. Crossbreeding between the two subspecies was and still is uncommon. The feral Avantas who chose neutrality or refused to align themselves with human nations found themselves with few places to reside; squeezed into the most isolated regions of the world. The feral packs knew humans were every bit as intelligent and inquisitive as they were. Humans could do great things when they set their minds to a task. Things no Avanta could ever do. However, they also knew humans were a young, naïve, reckless, and inherently dangerous species. A species too smart for its own good. Some Avantas predicted humans would be their undoing. Little did they realize how correct their dire predictions were. Time passed. Following industrialization, science advanced. Radical leaders rose and militaries expanded. Feral Avantas, who contributed nothing to human society, were viewed as worthless. Fair game.
They were about to be taught a lesson in how low humanity could sink. Beginning in the nineteenth century, feral Avantas were heavily exploited. Stronger, more agile, and more quick-witted due to living in the wild, feral Avantas were preferable to their domesticated counterparts. Male pups were taken from their parents and raised to become soldiers, due to their greater strength and pain tolerance than females. Hunting parties routinely shot and killed the parents to steal their pups. With no defense against manmade guns, Avantas were easy prey to clever hunters. Raised under harsh, unrelenting conditions in which they were viewed as tools and property rather than individuals, the captive young male Avantas were sent to die in manmade wars and rarely survived beyond their thirtieth year. Those who objected or refused to fight their own kin were beaten, starved, or worked until they either died or were executed. Due to the high mortality rate and highly unnatural environment of military service, replacements were in high demand. With the population of feral breeding pairs plummeting, complimented by low birth rates, male pups grew scarcer and scarcer. In 1898, the hunting of Avantas was abolished because almost none were left. The period of unrestricted hunting which lasted nearly a century is now known unanimously among Avantas as ‘The Culling.’
Without hunters reeling in replacements, intensive breeding programs were established by dictatorships, monarchies, and communist leaders around the world. Females were forcibly bred by fighting males to produce one small litter after another. Males were always used for military service. Females would only distract males and were spared from service. But relegated to spending their lives as breeders. Thanks to selective breeding, traits emphasizing aggression, high pain tolerance, and strength were passed on. Following birth, the newborn soldiers were taken from their mothers and raised by men. An unstable, low, ruinous form of life, they were the perfect soldier. Viewing commanding officers as their alphas, their orders were seen as final. The new breed carried out orders without question, mercy, or compromise. Tests of loyalty and obedience included killing siblings who disagreed, underperformed, or were guilty of insubordination. The Avantan soldiers born into bondage would never enjoy the simple pleasures of life. Such as finding a mate, tasting sugarcane, properly socializing, or even flying on their own free will. All decisions were made for them. Their only job was to follow orders to the letter. Which they did. The breeding programs began in 1902 and were abolished in 1946, following the conclusion of the second world war. Avantas still served in militaries, but service was made entirely voluntary.
Only in a few countries, those ruled by fascism, communism, and absolute monarchies did this horrific practice of hunting, training, and selective breeding actually take place. Nevertheless, feral Avantas were driven to the brink of extinction and their relationship with humans afterwards was tumultuous and highly distrustful at best. The intensive breeding programs did have one positive outcome. No longer hunted en masse, feral populations were allowed to recover. For the Avantas bred to be soldiers, there was no hope. Too aggressive and dangerous to rejoin their own kind or live among humans, thousands were euthanized. The select few survivors, deemed sane enough to join their domesticated and feral kin, cut all ties to their past and started over. The treachery of the breeders and the governments who supported them paled in comparison to the horrors carried out in the name of science and for profit on the black market during the same era. Numerous dissections were performed to get a better sense of Avantan anatomy, on hosts who didn’t always donate their bodies to science. Knowledge was obtained, along with discoveries of weaknesses. Because Avantas produce large quantities of bioelectricity, science experiments involving energy were carried out by drilling electrodes into an Avanta’s brain to harness their bioelectricity for practical use. For some Avantas, they served as little more than generators for scientists or captors.
Because of their extensive network of ampullae and hyperactive nervous system, Avantas are extremely sensitive to magnetism. Exposure to the field generated by an industrial electromagnet yields, as scientists discovered firsthand, surprising and frightening results. Bombarded by an unnaturally powerful magnetic field, the nervous system is energized. Strong electrical discharges from their overloaded nerves cause electrical arcing, burning internal organs and destroying nerves. Arcing also occurs externally across the skin, causing localized burns. Around the areas of external arcing, the fluid within their ampullae boils in puffs of white steam. Hydraulic pressure spikes, locking actuators and potentially rupturing tubes. The affected Avanta is left shrieking, foaming at the mouth, and unable to move while experiencing indescribable pain. Intentional exposure to large electromagnets is without doubt the cruelest form of punishment an Avanta can receive. As unspeakable as it is, exposure to high doses of magnetism very rarely results in death. A natural weakness shared by all Avantas, certain militaries during the time of the breeding programs adopted exposing their Avantas to electromagnets as punishment for disobedience or underperformance. Unfortunately, the punishment was discovered to be debilitating. Permanent damage results if an Avanta is exposed to an intense electromagnetic field for a long enough duration after many exposures.
The affected Avanta will lose their ability to sense electromagnetic fields. Their network of ampullae will be too damaged to function. Unable to sense electromagnetic fields or objects, an Avanta is left unable avoid hitting objects on the ground or navigate in flight; only able to find their way based on visual cues. This leaves an Avanta crippled in addition to destroying their unique electromagnetic signal. Without their unique electromagnetic signal, other Avantas will be unable to recognize or detect the affected individual. Realizing the punishment was rendering their soldiers permanently disabled, even the most oppressive militaries abolished the practice. Their soldiers were no good to them if they couldn’t navigate or avoid bumping into objects outside their field of vision. The black market proved especially cruel, subjecting unfortunate Avantas to humiliations and horrors surpassing those of the breeding programs. Poachers and their constituents lived like kings, amassing riches almost beyond imagination. Because of the size, lustrous sheen, and virtually unbreakable properties of Avantan teeth, their long canines were pulled by poachers after dangerous hunts. Like elephant tusks, Avantan canine teeth in particular were viewed as diamonds. Many were carved into knives, even bayonets. Large, flat molars were taken as well. Carved up to be used as inlays, jewelry, statues, piano keys, combs, even toothbrushes. Some Avantas were alive while their teeth were pulled. Immensely painful and left without teeth, they were doomed to die of starvation.
Turbine engine blades are highly resilient to heat and stress, making them desirable for the fabrication of lightweight, highly durable hand tools and heat shields. Avantas killed during hunts had their fuselages sliced open, engines extracted and cut apart, all to retrieve the turbine blades. The blades were later melted down and forged into usable objects. Avantan fuel, though incompatible with most manmade engines, was found to make excellent heating and cooking oil. Its high energy content and the ability to rapidly replenish the supply, simply feeding a captive Avanta, made fuel highly desirable in isolated regions. To extract fuel, an incision was made into the underside of a captive Avanta’s wing, draining the fuel bladders for human usage, while leaving none for the Avanta to sustain its own metabolic processes. Some even had spigots jerry-rigged into incisions and coated in sealant, allowing the fuel bladders to be drained at will. The incisions allowed for the propagation of corrosion, which usually proved lethal. Worst of all was the harvesting of Avantan blubber, which found use in the production of the finest leathers, cosmetics, and soaps. Even as candle wax. The only way to extract the layer of insulating material was to cut off the outermost layer of an Avanta’s metallic skin. With the insulating layer exposed, it could be cut off an Avanta’s frame and carried away in manageable pieces. The rolls of Avantan blubber were boiled in large vats, rendering it into a usable oil. The Humpback Avantas, a subspecies inhabiting the artic, suffered the most.
In order to hunt Avantas, the narrow valves used to create an individual’s characteristic howling whistle were taken. Compressed air was sent through them, mimicking the now dead Avanta’s call. Fooled into believing their missing pack member was alive, multiple individuals would fly straight into the poacher’s waiting guns. This method, known as ‘False Crying,’ was heavily utilized in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, during and immediately after The Culling. Sadly, the method proved highly successful. Because of an Avanta’s willingness to defend those they love, thousands heedlessly flew to their deaths. Thankfully, the Avanta black market is nearly nonexistent in the twenty-first century. International laws and bans have been enacted. Bringing the terrible practices of old to an end. The besieged worldwide population of feral Avantas have recovered significantly, at the price of genetic diversity. Feral Avantas, remembering the hardships of old, are wary of humans. Bitter feelings of distrust and hatred remain. Passed down like stories from one generation on to the next. Survivors of the breeding programs, The Culling, and False Crying hunts are forced to live with the traumas of their past experiences. While many have forgiven humans and see the goodness within them, others refuse to speak to humans and any Avanta who associates with them. Some feral Avantas have gone so far as to label domesticated Avantas as traitors to their own species.
While bitter tensions between humans and feral Avantas remain, domesticated Avantas and humans for the most part coexist as friends and allies. Because of their contributions to human society, they were almost entirely spared the horrors that befell their feral counterparts. Many domesticated Avantas were aware of The Culling and the suffering it wrought on their counterparts, but their efforts to thwart the crafty poachers were largely in vain. Their behavior proved easy to predict and exploit. Few poachers were ever successfully brought to justice. Many went into hiding and lived out the remainder of their lives surrounded by riches purchased off the lives of thousands of deceased feral Avantas. However, few were aware of the breeding programs, which were carried out under terms of absolute secrecy. It was only following the termination of the breeding programs and liquidation of the selectively bred Avantas did the worldwide population of domesticated Avantas learn the terrible truth. Some historians likened the breeding programs to the treacheries of the Holocaust. Had the truth emerged sooner, there was little doubt the domesticated Avantas would’ve gone to war in hopes of freeing their enslaved kin.
Like humans, domesticated Avantas aligned themselves with differing governments. Various wars waged throughout history pitted men against one another, along with their Avantan allies against members of their own kind. Centuries of coexistence, gains, and human trust in Avantas were put to the ultimate test on Friday, January 23rd, 2004. In an event unanimously referred to as ‘1234.’ (Pronounced ‘Twelve Thirty-four.’) On that day at 11:26AM Eastern Time, every Avanta in the world at approximately the same time began to cry out and writhe in pain. Electricity arced across their skin while they foamed at the mouth. Disoriented, dazed, and confused, they seemed to forget who they were and descended into delirium. Avantas who were airborne at the time immediately altered their heading. Those north of the equator flew north, and those south of the equator flew south. Toward the geographical poles at maximum speed. Those on the ground remained where they were, unable to move very much at all. At 11:30AM, four minutes after the unexplainable behavior began, the Avantas regained their senses, having no recollection of what had taken place. Many were left confused by the horrified stares of human onlookers. Those in the air were every bit as confused about their change in heading and speed. Although no Avantas died as a direct result of the event, human governments and populations were thrown into a mass panic. Fear and hysteria unlike any humanity had ever seen gripped the masses. Conspiracy theories and radical claims were abound. Answers were few and far between.
Many humans became deathly afraid of the Avantas, buying into theories and fearmongering. Some went so far as to suggest the behavior of the Avantas was a precursor to doomsday; that the end of the world was at hand. Armies were mobilized. Tanks, armored vehicles, and attack helicopters encircled districts populated by domesticated Avantas in every major city. Fighter jets were scrambled to clear the skies. Navies patrolled every major coastline. In response to civil unrest, martial law was declared in many areas. Avantas were forbidden from flying. The handful who ignored the warnings were shot down on sight by fighter jets, anti-aircraft guns, or surface to air missiles fired from ships. Rounded up, interned, and physically examined by every method known to science, Avantan families were wrenched apart while governments desperately searched for answers. For sixteen intense days, world trade halted. Economies were in freefall. Telephone servers and civil services were hopelessly overwhelmed. Stores and gas stations were left empty. Similar to what took place in the United States during the September 11th attacks, all commercial air traffic was suspended. However, the airspace closure was on a global level. Effectively closing every airport on Earth. Only military aircraft were permitted to fly. Guided by blind fear, humans fled major cities by the millions. Clogging roads and railroad stations. Nuclear weapons were armed. World leaders and ambassadors deliberated feverishly. The entire human world stood at high alert, uncertain of what to expect. Thousands of people died in the wild atmosphere of fear and uncertainty. In some Middle Eastern, Central American, and African countries, dozens of Avantas were executed.
Contrary to popular belief, many humans stood beside their Avantan friends and allies. They argued there had to be a logical explanation for the bizarre behavior. A multinational investigation revealed there had been disruptions with manmade electronic equipment while the Avantas were writhing in pain. The disruptions weren’t caused by the Avantas, but by an outside source. In fact, an asteroid three hundred feet long had passed the Earth at a distance of 76,000 miles, traveling parallel to the equator before drifting away. Its abnormally rapid velocity prevented it from being caught by Earth’s gravitational pull. The dense metallic asteroid possessed an intense magnetic field, strong enough to disrupt manmade equipment. The Avantas, due to their high sensitivity to magnetic fields, were adversely affected. The asteroid’s abnormally strong magnetic field explained the Avanta’s behavior, and why the those who were airborne while the asteroid passed overhead fled from the equator. They were attempting to flee where the magnetic field was strongest, to lessen the pain they experienced. With the cause of the behavior established and theories debunked, the fears quickly died down. By the middle of March 2004, worldwide order was restored, and the process of recovery began. For those who lost loved ones or friends in the blind chaos, humans and Avantas alike, life would never be the same. The human response, giving in to fear when confronted by something they didn’t understand, was evidence enough to all Avantas that humans were indeed an unwise, impulsive race. Be that as it may, the events of 1234 demonstrated more humans were with them than against them.
For the soldiers and police who rounded up the domesticated Avantas, most did so reluctantly. A sizable number refused to follow orders and betray their Avantan friends by holding them in internment camps at gunpoint. In the years following the wakeup call that was 1234, human trust in the Avantas restabilized. Uncertainties linger, though. Fueled primarily by conspiracy theorists supporting the notion that Avantas were aliens and therefore could not be trusted, citing the events of 1234 as evidence. The popular urban legend stated 1234 was some sort of communique to all Avantas, and the meteor that passed Earth was some sort of beacon of interstellar vessel. Notwithstanding the lingering uncertainties, the popular belief is that Avantas remain trustworthy and have earned their place as equals beside humans. Regardless of what comes to pass, for better or for worse, humans and Avantas must stand together or risk falling together.
>This was completed after 538.3 hours of editing and consists of 7,105 words. I took pointers from the F-111, F-15, F-14, and Su-24 to design the Avantas. The idea was to create something that appeared organic, rather than an existing jet with a face tacked onto it.<
Category Artwork (Traditional) / All
Species Unspecified / Any
Gender Any
Size 1280 x 766px
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