Orca

"Once we taught them to farm, they became providers. Once we taught them to fight, they became guardians. Now they play games for the galaxy, and perhaps that says more about humanity than about them."

— Dr. Sujin Harada, Cetacean Studies Division, Unionhouse Veylan

Last of Their Kind

The Ceresian Orcas are unique among Uplifted species: they are not only a success story of post-Collapse genetic engineering but also the last extant Orca population in existence. Terran orcas went extinct during the ecological catastrophes following the Cozine Disaster, leaving the Uplifted population of Ceres as their only surviving descendants. What began as a dubiously ethical experiment under the Solar Commonwealth to create kelp farmers capable of managing a machine-terraforming ecosystem inadvertently became the salvation of the species.

Physically, the Ceresian Orcas remain almost identical to their Terran ancestors: striking black-and-white countershading, massive Size (6–9 meters long, up to 10 tons), and the sleek hydrodynamics of one of Earth’s apex predators. What sets them apart is their brain and body design, carefully Uplifted for sapience and efficiency. Their brains are denser, with deeper grooves and clearer segregation of structures to allow for higher specialization and abstract thought. Their circulatory system was reengineered to withstand long-duration exertion, and their digestive system is more efficient at extracting nutrition from protein-rich diets. Social play and cooperation—already strong traits in wild orcas—were enhanced further, producing one of the most gregarious and play-driven sentient species in the Pan-Solar Consortium.

From Farmers to Guardians

Originally, the Ceresian Orcas were organized into pods of kelp farmers. They tended the algae forests seeded into the oceans of Ceres, harvested urchins and fish, and fed their work into processing chutes in exchange for goods. They were not exactly content with this arrangement, but they accepted it.

The transition to security and defense came much later, after Unionhouse Veylan assumed authority on Ceres. The orcas were retrained and reequipped, this time not as farmers but as guardians of the vaults and deterrents against infiltration. The transition proved alarmingly smooth. Their pack hunting instincts, natural cooperation, and physical dominance in the oceans made them ideal defenders. Equipped with advanced drone networks, amphibious synth support, and their prized HOOK exosuits, the orcas took to the role with enthusiasm. The PSC’s financial heart is safe in no small part because the oceans of Ceres are patrolled by pods of armored predators who enjoy their work.

Sports and Spectacle

Given freedom under the Pan-Solar Consortium, the orcas were able to develop their own society and traditions. One of the most important cultural inventions was Devil’s Ball: a brutal, high-impact three-dimensional rugby analogue played in open water. The rules are simple: two teams compete to get a ball into the enemy buoy, a floating pole topped with a basket. Scoring requires an Orca to leap from the water with the ball and slam it into the basket while teammates block, tackle, and feint to create opportunities.

The game is spectacular to watch. Orcas hurl themselves at one another at high speed, ball-carriers rocket into the air in showers of spray, and the collisions are often bone-rattling. It was only a matter of time before Eclipse Entertainment bought the broadcasting rights. Today, Devil’s Ball is not only the favorite pastime of the orcas but also a galaxy-wide spectator sport, watched by billions. The orcas themselves see it as more than a game: it is training, ritual, and art all in one. The only Orca millionaires are Devil’s Ball stars, celebrated as celebrities and folk heroes both on Ceres and across Human Space.

Culture and Society

Ceresian Orcas live in pods, typically ranging from 10 to 40 individuals. Pods are both family and military units, balancing community life with defensive patrol duties. Orca culture values strength, wit, and loyalty, but above all, it prizes play. An Orca pod at leisure is as likely to be engaging in elaborate games, musical performances (yes, they compose), or storytelling as they are to be resting.

Their relationship with humans and tankbrains is symbiotic but not subservient. Humans run the surface and finance, tankbrains manage logistics and oversight, and the orcas guard the oceans and the vaults. While they have accepted this triadic arrangement, their growing cultural independence—through art, sports, and pod governance—shows that the orcas are more than just a client species of Unionhouse Veylan. They are a people in their own right.

Notable Facts

• Exclusive to Ceres: No wild Terran orcas survive; Uplifted Ceresian pods are the last of the species.
• Warrior-Pastoral Roots: From kelp farmers to military guardians, their transition was smooth and enthusiastic.
• Devil’s Ball: The most popular sport in the PSC, combining athletic spectacle with cultural ritual.
• HOOK Integration: Orcas in Pilot pods are linked to humanoid HOOK exosuits, allowing them to extend their reach to land and space.
• Symbiotic Society: Alongside humans and tankbrains, they form one of the only fully integrated tri-species cultures in the Solar System.