| From: | Rune Fostervoll <runefo@***.UIO.NO> |
|---|---|
| Subject: | Underwater Campaign errata/expansion: Cyber/Bioware |
| Date: | Sat, 7 Jun 1997 02:54:25 +0000 |
BIOWARE:
(This has been developed and is only available in Archimedea.).
Body compression modification
Body index 0.5
Cost 5000.
This modification replaces or fills compressible parts of the human
body. The lung tissue is reinforced, reducing damage from pressurized
air or water.
Gill modification
Body index 1.5
Cost 10000
This is a modification to the air passage, swallowing reflexes and
ribcage musculature, adding a set of gills at the side of the
ribcage. These gills extract oxygen from water. The largest pump in
the body, the lungs, are used to pump water through them. Breathing
'in' brings water through the mouth into the lungs, breathing 'out'
ejects it through the gills. A body compression modification is
highly recommended in conjunction with this modification. Without it,
the lungs will be damaged by breathed particles. Also, without the
pressure modification, depths below 100 feet will cause compression
injury. The gills are sealed in air, letting the person breathe
normally. The transit between water and air, and vice versa, is
difficult, though; oxygen deprivation while neither breathing method
works forces the aquanaut to resist 5L stun.
Dermal Insulation: 0.8 B.I., 40000.
Due to the extreme cold at any depth, dermal insulation is
necessary to reduce or negate the effect of thermal loss. It consists
of a thermal weave which is woven into the subdermal skin and around
the lungs. (In the case of the gill modification, that would be a
significant source of heat loss.). The weave lets blood through to
the skin, and does not impede the body's normal reactions to
temperature changes. Thus it does not cause the body to overheat in
normal environments. (The body's response to cold is to reduce blood
circulation in the skin, which improves the effect of the thermal
insulation. If it is hot, the skin is flushed with blood, as well as
starts sweating. This is not hindered by the thermal layer in any
way). It is not compatible with dermal cybernetic modifications or
orthoskin.
CYBERWARE:
Cybereye modification: aqua lens. (0.2 essence, 5000).
This cybereye modification changes the optics of the lens, adapting
it to underwater vision. This significantly iproves underwater
vision. Changing between Aqua vision and normal vision is a free
action.).
Chemical Balancer: 0.5 essence, 12000*rating (Max 6).
This modification adds or subtracts certain chemicals to the blood,
balancing the blood's chemical composition to the pressure.
This is required together with the body compression modification to
enable a human to dive below 600 feet without a pressure suit or sub.
(The chemicals remain relatively constant depending on the quality
of the extractor. Refills can be injected. They cost about 200
nuyen, lasting a week per rating point.).
Externalized oxygenator: 0.1 essence, 3000.
An option to gill breathing or pressurized air, this is a permanently
externalized blood path, enabling the blood to be oxygenated and
decarbonized mechanically instead of by the lungs. This requires an
additional device which cannot be cybernetically installed. This
enables the user to stay underwater with far less oxygen for far
longer. This is usually used in conjunction with the body compression
bioware, except that the lungs and ribcage is then completely
collapsible. This also enables an external chemical balancer.
(The external unit costs 10000, lasts 24 hours, and costs 500 to
refill.).
Surgery can also be used to add an externalized oxygenator, but it
will be purely temporarily, and quite unpleasant. But you save a
little essence...
Water voicecords: 0.1 essence, 2000
This modification enables the modified person to speak with water
instead of air. This is only useable by someone with the gill
modification; anyone else would drown using it. The voice's also
pitched a lot higher than normally.
--
Rune Fostervoll
"But the dread of something after death,
The undiscovered country, from whose bourn
No traveller returns, puzzles the will,
And makes us rather bear those ills we have,
Than fly to others that we no not of."
