Ro'kah

Mr.Anderson say:

5) Subliminal voice triggered Ro'kah

> What does each offer?

5) doesn't require introduction of paranormal effects into an otherwise
hard-sf background (personally, i find it distasteful to bring in psi
effects unless we absolutely have to);

** But we have it. In the sense that humans and predators in RL have a "sixth
sense". I'm not talking GW Psykers here. I'm just talking a factor which
probably encompasses chemical, vocal, audial, magnetic, electrical, etc.
senses to produce a rather specialized 6th sense. If you've ever been close to
a large cat, you get a feeling from him, a vibe. Large predators all have a
sense. It's just like how, if you stare at the back of a sentry intensely
enough, he's likely to turn around. He
just gets a crawly feeling. I've experienced this effect - it isn't more
than somewhat reliable, but it exists. This was the kind of
extra-sensory phenomena I was talking about. Not extra-sensory now that
i think about it - more supersensory - that is to say your subconscious
processing all the little bits of data not noticeable to the conscious mind
and doing something with that. Combine this with an adrenal system that goes
ballistic under threat conditions (mellows with age, mellows with training,
some might be immune like the humans who never shake
during a fight from adrenalin - they're cool as cucumbers) and you have
Ro'kah. No *psi* involved.

isn't affected by being in a sealed
suit / fighter / afv; isn't affected by closing one's eyes (as body
language would be); works over audio-only comms links

** The way you've suggested it though, I can't see why it would fit with the
phenomena loosely described by Jon (which is where this whole thought starts
and ends). We know it affects them in small and large
groups, moreso in more intense/closer situations. Less so in AFVs and in
ships, though the larger the ship, and presumably the more isolation, the less
excited they get. Plus.... as Beth pointed out one time to me....why do we
always assume other races have spoken language? I like the idea, but there are
other choices. Your mechanic sounds (to me)
almost like an on-off switch that the commander uses (or the Purple or
the Sia'na). And having said that, would be VERY easy for the humans to
harness. And having said that, would have probably been overcome or defended
against by the technically advanced KV long since.

** But I'd be interested to hear more. I'm open to other thoughts. Ultimately,
I want to describe this phenomena within the following parameters: 1) To fit
with Jon's cannon 2) To make the KV an ornery bunch when cornered, wounded, or
outnumbered 3) To give the KV a predatory flare 4) To make the KV not
brainless berserkers since they'd never have
made it to space if they were - give them methods to control this
somewhat
    5) Keep in mind SG2 and DS2 and FT - all have differing issues. A
single Sia'na can't be the only way to calm Ro'kah or in SG2 terms, your
formation is done... the various officers and NCOs have to have SOME chance to
do this. Otherwise you have created a mindless berserker where tactics aren't
relevant because the dice will often take it out of your
hands - the opposite of what SG2 and DS2 are about. And FT has different
challenges and rules.
    6) To give the KV a special ability/characteristic that makes them
interesting, powerful in places, but is a disadvantage in others - no
Uber Aliens, but no mindless uncontrolable hordes either 7) To give the KV a
trait which is not immediately and obviously exploitable by humans. THIS alone
makes a Ro'Kah triggered from a single source or easily turned on or off to be
a great evolutionary liability. You really need something that is (and makes
sense being) not yet fully understood by the KV themselves despite a long
history and advanced technology and thought and which is something which adds
depth to their character rather than detracting from it by making them 2
dimensional.

** Any modus operandi that fits these criterion would be more than acceptable.
I too have a distaste for "space opera" and "unobtainium".
But even hard sci-fi can include things that are complex and multi
layered to the point of originating from no one defineable clear cause.

> Thomas Barclay of the Clan Barclay wrote:
I've experienced this effect - it isn't more than somewhat reliable, but
it
exists. This was the kind of extra-sensory phenomena I was talking
about.
Not extra-sensory now that I think about it - more supersensory - that
is to say your subconscious processing all the little bits of data not
noticeable to the conscious mind and doing something with that. Combine this
with an adrenal system that goes ballistic under threat conditions (mellows
with age, mellows with training, some might be immune like the humans who
never
shake during a fight from adrenalin - they're cool as cucumbers) and you
have Ro'kah. No *psi* involved.

It's known that Elephants emit and sense subsonic sounds. A similar mechanism
in humans could well be possible, perhaps by resonance in the
lungs/chest cavity.

> It's known that Elephants emit and sense subsonic sounds. A similar

It's known that humans emity all SORTS of subliminal and subconscious sounds,
smells and body language. These have all sorts of effects on how humans
interact.

It's just that in Kra'Vak, certain ways are much stronger - and get a
much stronger reaction.:)