Date:         Tue, 17 May 1994 01:06:56 EDT
Sender: Mythus Fantasy Roleplaying Game List <[MYTHUS L] at [BROWNVM.brown.edu]>
From: "Rodney W. Morris" <[c s c 3 r w m] at [CABELL.VCU.EDU]>
Subject:      ABYSS: Medical Technology

Medical Advancements

Cryogenics
        For quite a few millennia, the basics of cryogenics have
been known to mankind.  However, it has only been in the last four
thousand years that it was perfected enough for safe human usage.
It was the method utilized for long-distance travel (between solar
systems) to keep the inhabitants from getting "space sickness" (a
psychological problem experienced in the earliest centuries of space
travel and even still affects some today not accustomed to space
travel).
        Cryogenics are safe, if done properly, though there is
little reason for using cryogenics with FTL travel.  It is usually
used to store prisoners, clones, and to provide very low-cost travel
between systems.
        Cost: 1000 BUCs/month

Cybernetics
        Cybernetics are possibly one of the oldest techniques of
medicine.  At one time, people would attach wooden poles to severed
legs or hooks to severed hands to be able to be at least mobile.
For the last five thousand years, however, cybernetics have advanced
far beyond a wooden leg or ceramic teeth.  There are several
different classes of cyberware, from the simplistic hook to the
life-like cybernetic limb.  They are as follows; the costs given are
for the surgery, not the replacement part.
        A: This type of cyberware is simplistic and rarely utilized
on any planet with medicial facilities.  It is composed of the
creation of some sort of fuctional appendage from wood or iron that
is nailed or bolted to the limb.  It does not have any moving parts
of any kind and can only replace limbs.  Examples of this sort of
cybernetic limb include the classic peg-leg and hook, but also
includes removeable teeth (wooden or ceramic), glass eyes and wigs.
        Cost: 1 - 50 BUCs
        B: This type of cyberware is simplistic, but mobile.  It has
the appearance of a sleeve that fits over the stub with a sort of
claw at the end (for hands) or a false foot.  The arm attachment is
controlled by the movement of particular muscles, such as shoulders
or neck or elbow, but tends to be clumsy and awkward.  The leg
attachment permits walking, but a limp is obvious.  A toupe also
fits into this category.  These sorts of cybernetic replacement are
generally cosmetic or necessary for mobility, but are rarely used in
most worlds.  Large machines are capable of breathing and pumping
blood for an individual, but this prohibits movement.  Small heart
stimulators are possible at this point to moderate heart beats.
        Cost: 500 - 2, 500 BUCs
        C: Cyberware of this category is a little more life-like.
False legs actually bend, though not controlled by the user.  Arms
and hands are covered with a flesh-like latex covering and moving
parts are controlled by shoulder, neck, and arm muscles.  At this
point, computers are created that a mute could type into and be able
to speak through the computer system.  Hair implants are possible at
this point.  This sort of cybernetics is used only for those poorest
of the lower class who cannot afford anything better.  Artificial
hearts are possible at this point, though life expectancy is
extremely reduced.  This sort of cyberware is utilized by the poor
and working class of the galaxy.
        Cost: 5, 000 - 10, 000
        D: Robotic limbs are possible at this point, but they are
still controlled by commands transmitted by muscle movement in
unused parts of the body.  These limbs are a little more realistic,
but usually emit a slight humming sound when in usage.  At this
point in time, artificial organs are not difficult to create,
especially the heart, lungs, liver, and stomach, though life may be
difficult to live because they are not yet controlled by a direct
connection to the brain.  Lens replacement surgery allows many to be
able to see. This sort of cyberware is most often used by the lower
middle class individuals.
        Cost: 10, 000 - 30, 000 BUCs
        E: At this point, cyberware moves from being muscle-
controlled to brain controlled.  Though feeling in limbs is still
impossible, the brain controls the movements of the replacement.  At
this point, cybernetic research begins dipping into military
research, and weapons are added to cybernetic limbs for military
personnel.  This sort of cybernetics are used for the middle class
individuals who cannot afford a full brain link or military
personnel outfitted with weaponry.  It takes some training to
utilize a cybernetic limb at this point.  The cybernetic replacement
of most internal organs is possible, but can sometimes be
uncomfortable.  Cybernetic limbs are jerky and slow to react.  This
sort of cyberware is utilized by the middle class.
        Cost: 100, 000 - 500, 000 BUCs
        F: A true send-receive relay is set up between the living
brain and the cybernetic part.  Cybernetic eyes are possible at this
point, as are extremely life-like limbs (that can feel).  Glands are
still problematic at this stage, however.  This sort of cyberware is
utilized by the upper middle class, the lower upper class and the
military.  The parts are still clumsy and awkward at times, but they
are much more life-like.
        Cost: 900,000 - 7, 500, 000 BUCs
        G: This sort of cyberware has nearly perfected the
understanding of the human body.  Cybernetic glands are possible, as
are reproductive organs.  The cybernetic eye becomes extremely
reliable, able to recognize the full spectrum and, with the right
training, beyond.  This sort of cyberware is utilized by the upper
class and the military elite.  The movements are smooth and almost
completely true to life.
        Cost: 10, 000, 000 -  500, 000, 000 BUCs
        H: This sort of cyberware is at the cutting edge of
technology for the UCSS.  It allows for almost total converstion of
an individual to a true cyborg status.  Only the brain and spinal
column cannot be reproduced with technology at this stage.  Only the
upper upper class could possibly afford such 'wares.  This sort of
cyberware permits total communication between brain and bodily
functions and is often an improvement over the organic system.
        Cost: 1, 000, 000, 000 - 2, 500, 000, 000 BUCs
        I: Cyberware of this calibre is generally unknown to most
The technology needed to replicate the most mysterious of organs,
the brain, is possible at this level.  The human consciousness can be
transferred into a computer system without much margin for error.
The method of transferrence uses prohibitively destructive brain
scanning devices to plot out each neuron of the brain to the
molecular level, translates it into data, and enters it into a
powerful supercomputer.  This sort of conversion doesn't always
work, and if it doesn't work the first time, the consciousness is
lost (the organic brain is destroyed in the process.
        Cost: Irrelevant.

Eugenic Replication (Cloning)
        Eugenic replication has been in usage almost as long as
cryogenics.  However, there have been certain moral and ethical
questions that have held scientists back from expanding the field.
Today, however, replication is a fairly common event, especially
among those of the upper class.  Some individuals are replicated
once a year, some just have a full, adult model done at a young age
(around twenty) and, when their normal body has grown weak, undergo
a brain transplant surgery.  The surgery is fairly dangerous, so
many opt to have a body "grown" for them once a year.  These bodies
are kept in cryogenic freeze until needed.  If a body is brought to
life before a brain transplant can be made, the body will be a new
life form, with the memories of the donor up to the time of
donation; the donor has 30 days to locate and remove the clone, at
which point he becomes a citizen, accorded all rights thereof.
        Needless to say, clone storage facilities are heavily
guarded.  There is approximately a 1% difference between the clone
and the original donor.
        Cloning is strictly illegal without governmental approval
and registration.  Those guilty of commissioning and engineering an
illegal clone are subject to execution.
        For a cloning to be successful, the eugenic engineer
performing the actual cloning must succeed a hard Eugenics K/S
roll.  For a clone to survive the process, a moderate K/S roll
against the PMCap.  A clone can be "awakened" if allowed to gain
consciousness.  It takes a moderate K/S roll against the SPCap
to successfully awaken without a serious mental deficiency.  If the
roll fails, roll on the insanity table.  If a critical failure is
rolled, the memory tracks are completely unviable and the clone is
little more than a vegetable (though a talking vegetable can be
dangerous to the clonee if it falls into the wrong hands).
        The cloning of organs is a bit less complicated, however,
the regrowth of specific organs by themselves is sometimes difficult
and takes special knowledge.  A hard Eugenics K/S roll will
successfully yeild an organ that can be transplanted into the body,
assuming a genetic disease is not the problem with the original
organ.  The costs for organ growth is 25% of the price for a whole
body growth.
        If genetic faults must be corrected, the process becomes
quite difficult.  The appropriate Eugenics roll becomes twice as
difficult (thus halving the skill level).  Such an operation also
costs twice as much (though storage cost is still the same).
        Cost: 100, 000, 000 plus 50, 000, 000 - 3, 500, 000, 000
BUCs per year of storage