Feather Fallacy I

ATTENTION: Dr. Corvan Anelius of The Charian Science and Preservation Committee

Aurok and Dr. Corvan (Feather Fallacy, image by Lloyd Smith)

This is a distress call from Chancellor Aurok of Saraven Colony Delta 876JL. I am writing this to ask for your help in a dire situation. In recent months infants in the colony are being born with few to no feathers. Normally members of our race will lose their feathers through molting and gain new ones once entering adulthood. These afflicted children are not even being born with their first set of feathers.There are also reports of certain numbers of them dying since this strange illness causes the young to become very sickly, and most are unable to recover.

I was recently in attendance at your symposium discussing newly discovered genetic diseases. I have a theory that this disease might be genetic in nature and not viral as previously thought.The scientific team I am working closely with have never encountered a sickness of this type before and therefore have no way of solving the problem.

The gift of flight is of utmost importance to our people. It is the primary way in which we travel and a child’s first flight is a milestone in its life. This event begins its journey into adulthood. The distance, amount of flight time, and wingspan is what is looked at by potential mates. This disease or infection, whichever it may be, is robbing our children of this gift. Not only are they not able to enjoy the gift of flight; some may not even find a mate if they survive into adulthood.

Our best scientists have been working tirelessly to solve this problem. We are currently at a standstill. We do not know if it is a genetic mutation or viral infection of some sort. We have tried everything we know to help our people, but the number of cases is increasing daily. This is why we need your help if you can give it.

I know that the Charian race as a whole has an immense understanding of scientific concepts and techniques. I also know of your own adept skill with enhancements and implants as well. Our medical officers have agreed to a joint partnership with your own team to help solve this issue, and I dearly hope that together you can save my people.

We can offer much in the way of payment if necessary. I know that your race prides itself on gaining knowledge and understanding, so we could exchange information regarding our ways of life, psionic abilities and agricultural techniques. We could also provide resources and spaceship parts if you’re interested.

Please send word as soon as possible to inform me of your decision. Your help in this dire crisis would be much appreciated. Thank you for your time.

Chancellor Aurok of the Saraven Colony Delta 876JL

by Zachary Mathiot