The Central Mountains Republic by Joe Rathbone SUMMARY OF CENTRAL MOUNTAINS REPUBLIC For those who have not read Discovery Of The Central Mountains Republic, this brief introduction and fact-sheet-like summary has been provided. The "fact-sheet" part is also found with the above novel as an appendix. Most short stories, comics and pictures provided by the Amazon Center On-line Service are set in the CENTRAL MOUNTAINS REPUBLIC. Central Mountains Republic, or CMR, exists in a DISTANT future time on THIS planet Earth. Some 69,700,000 years separates us from them. To give an idea just how much time, about 69,000,000 years AGO would find one in the "Jurassic" epoch, the time of the dinosaurs. The earliest form of Homo Sapiens dates back maybe 160,000 years. To cross that huge gulf of time, nature and a friendly Spirit provided a way in the novel, Discovery Of The Central Mountains Republic. Provided for a one North-West Native-American Young Lady named Py Nae Kot, she and her Man and immediate Family discovered and "pioneered" the CMR. Basically, they found it to be a haven for the beleaguered Native American. Py Nae Kot and those with her found the CMR ruled by a race similar to and in fact, descended from the American Indian of 3500 years ago. Through a way similar to Py Nae Kot, these ancient Native Americans discovered the CMR also... and found it a mess. Taking over the government, these ancient American Indians reformed it completely. One of the things the American Indians accomplished was to wrest absolute ruling power from the WOMEN (NOT the men). The CMR of 3500 years before the time "we join them" was controlled entirely by their Women. Now their Men have more equality. Py Nae Kot and those with her found the GOVERNMENT of CMR composed largely of the descendants of these ancient Native Americans. Known as the "Beta" Race, they are a changed people. But they maintain all the attractive American Indian physical characteristics, and even some of their culture. A thorough discussion of the Beta Race is not the purpose of this brief introduction. You will have to read Discovery Of The Central Mountains Republic. Just suffice it to say, the "Beta" Race mysteriously appeared into CMR history, suddenly, 3500 years ago from the time "we join them" and "effected "repairs"" to CMR culture. So, what about this Central Mountains Republic? Py Nae Kot and company found it to posses electronic, computer and medical technologies that were over 5000 years old. The CMR is HIGHLY advanced technically, yet, they appear to conceal it. What they have done, under the influence of the Beta Race, is PUT TECHNOLOGY UNDER HUMAN CONTROL AND RESTRICTIONS, not the other way around as it is today in U.S.A. and Canada, and the way it WAS in the CMR before the Beta Race arrived. CMR possesses computers capable of designing a new type of human being or animal from scratch. Their genetic engineering capabilities are enormous... and scary. Genetic engineering has cleaned both the original race and the Beta race of practically ALL birth defects and other ills caused by genes. But genetic engineering, before it was put under control 3500 years before by the Beta race, came up with many oddities and new animals, most notable, the flying cat. Another oddity was an underwater, water-breathing form of human only recently re-discovered in the story, The Aqua Lady. CMR has computers with nearly the power of the Cray-1 that are no bigger and no more difficult to buy than a modest PC computer of our day. Communications within the Central Capital take place entirely via digital telephone systems. Computers have no need of modems. Their serial ports simply connect directly to the phone jack in one's home with transfer rates of over 300,000 bps standard. And amongst all this concealed or modestly presented, sparingly used technology are "Pedal Cars", a form of recumbent, usually fully enclosed human-powered-vehicle (hpv). Like bicycles, these "cars" must be pedaled. But they are fast, far more so than a bicycle, and much more practical. Practicality is GREATLY ENHANCED by an absence of Motor driven cars. Users of these vehicles include everybody. They are able to use their hpv with absolutely NO concerns of dealing with Motor traffic, for there is none. There are just a few big, electric trucks and electric busses that exist in the Central Capital only. Helping the hpv scene along is genetic engineering, that over the past 5000 years for the original race, and the past 3500 years for the Beta race, has produced a more energetic, healthy human. Jumping into a pedal car and using their big, heavily muscled legs to pedal at 40 miles per hour to go somewhere is second nature to all CMR citizens. And that brings us to a very notable characteristic, the CMR citizens' size, especially that of the Women. Both the original race, referred to by Genetic Engineers as T-2K and the Beta race are of huge physical development. Women are completely equal to men in both races. In addition, Women hold many positions of political power. The President of the Central Mountains Republic is RED DOVE, a Beta race Woman. Many other high-level government positions are held by Beta race Women and a few T-2K race Women. There are a few Beta race Men in high positions and no T-2K race Men. "Lower" governmental positions are held by equal numbers of Beta race Men and Women and large numbers of T-2K race Women. Only a few T-2K race men enter this world. Another notable characteristic of CMR is SOLAR ENERGY. At the time (the time we "join" them) they have little else. For farmers and others in the country, solar energy is the ONLY way they can have electricity. CMR is devoid of the unsightly, magnetic-field- emanating power-lines that criss-cross U.S.A. and Canada of our time. Having read this far, you are perhaps gaining a basic "feel" of the nature of CMR. That is all this introduction is supposed to do. So when you encounter any story, comic or picture whose setting is the Central Mountains Republic or CMR, you are dealing with a setting with the following notable characteristics: * WOMEN > Physically huge, powerful Women; in short, a race of Amazons. > Women are physically equal to men in strength and size. > Men still tend to be second-class citizens * TWO RACES, ONE A NEW-COMER > The original race characterized by huge size, light-tan skin with hair color ranging from light-pink-blond to nearly black and eyes of any color including, rarely, red. > The "new" race, appearing mysteriously 3500 years ago in CMR history, characterized by smaller size than the original race, dark reddish-tan skin, smooth, black hair, and brown, oriental looking eyes. * TRANSPORTATION > Staple transportation is the pedal car. > Bicycles as we know them are used, only in "dirt-bike" form, for riding on unpaved trails. > Trains recently being revived by the Beta-race controlled government after 4500 years of disuse. Revival began some 150 years ago in CMR history. Some freight trains are 100% solar powered, stopping at night. Other trains are fueled by a butane-like gas derived from processes involving electricity, which in CMR comes mostly from solar sources. > Central Capital City and vicinity use electric trucks for big deliveries. There are a few electric busses. In all cases, their batteries are kept charged by solar sources. > Jet-planes use liquid fuels that are derived from processes involving electricity, which in CMR comes mostly from solar sources. The CMR has three jet-capable airports. The biggest is south of Central Capital. None are open to commercial air traffic. Used for experimental, military and diplomatic flights only. * ENERGY > In the Central Capital, 75 % of energy comes from solar sources, mostly photo-voltaic cells. Another over 15 % comes from hydro-electric sources. Less than 10 % still comes from the old-fashioned grain-alcohol burning engine-generator. Within the Central Capital are large fields of high-alcohol- yield grain here and there to provide fuel for those engines. > In the country, the situation varies. Farmers use a variety of sources. Solar is predominant. Many or most places in the country are 100 % solar-powered. The alcohol-burning engine- generator is encountered sometimes. Many farmers use a "compost-pile-pit" with heat-exchanger for supplemental heat for hot water and heating. Many have the good old-fashioned hearth or fire-place for heat and cooking. IN CONCLUSION Big, strong Amazon Women, pedal cars, solar energy, high, rugged mountains. That's the Central Mountains Republic in one phrase. SUPPLEMENTAL CENTRAL MOUNTAINS REPUBLIC DATA -------------------------------------------- VEGETARIANISM and ANTI-CARNIVORE-ISM The entire Central Mountains Republic is vegetarian. There are no meat products or by-products to be found anywhere. They have been vegetarian for over 6000 years. The brown and white cows seen grazing in the country-side? Milk. They are dairy cows only. The sheep and goats also seen in the country? Wool and low-quality milk. No animal is raised for slaughter, whether it be for meat products or pelts. In some areas in the country, chickens are kept for their eggs. Although eating eggs goes against the pure vegetarian way, most of these Farmers have a way of checking an egg to see if there are embryos inside. Checking an egg for embryos is important for two reasons. 1) To prevent destroying a developing life and 2) For the Farmer's reputation of quality, if she sells eggs. Cracking open an egg and seeing a bloody mess spill out is sickening! Mountain Race People (especially country ones) believe carnivorous animals are evil, and were evolved into being by satan after God created peaceful, vegetarian animals. Country people think any person who eats meat (even cooked) is thoroughly evil and possibly possessed. They fear the meat eating person. Although country people disobey government guidelines at times, the policy of the CMR law and most citizens is to NOT eradicate carnivores, for they know that would upset balance of nature and displease God. "Vengeance is mine" so says God in the Bible, indicating people should leave satan's creatures like cats, canine family such as foxes, wolves, dogs and the like, wolverines and similar, bears and other meat-eaters alone for God to deal with. Despite their feelings against any carnivorous animal, most Mountain Race People are remarkably merciful. For protection in areas carnivores are known to prowl, a two barreled chemical spray rifle is carried. Connected to two canisters pressurized up to 300 p.s.i., "firing" this "gun" causes two chemicals to jet out, one chemical out each barrel, with extreme force. Mixing in mid air, the chemicals change to something powerfully caustic. Immediately, it eats away hair, skin, and underlying flesh until the chemical is used up. An attacking large cat, bear, or pack of wolves are turned away with stinging, smarting chemical burns that WILL heal. But the point is, the carnivore goes away ALIVE, to see another day. The balance of nature is preserved, and God is pleased. Pets After reading that tirade on the last page, you can probably guess what the pet situation most likely is in the CMR... at least what it ISN'T. Sorry, cat and/or dog lovers, no cats or dogs found here! Briefly, a list in descending order of popularity, non-flying and non-aquarium pets found in the Central Capital: 1) Pygmy Deer, a small form of deer. 2) Chipmunks and squirrels 3) Hamsters 4) Rabbits, especially a genetically enhanced one for greater affection 5) Pygmy Pigs (like the Vietnamese pot-bellied pig)... You see? All vegetarian type animals. And of course, many types of birds are popular, and aquariums of colorful fish can be seen in many Central Capital homes. THOSE SEXY DRESS STYLES! WOW! This is part of what we came to the Central Mountains Republic for! Nudity is allowed and practiced, but strange, mostly only by the T-2K Race. Hardly ever is a member of the Beta Race seen nude. They come close to it however, with g-strings that barely cover genitalia. Two forms of nudity, plain and stylish. Plain is just that, no clothes, no nothing. A relaxed, weekend way of going out. Stylish nudity is simply a style of "dressing up" where nudeness is the main feature. Fancy hair styling, jewels, bracelets and such, and much make-up go along with the nudity. Of those that go out nude, three quarters of them are T-2K Race Women. One quarter of them are T-2K Race Men. A "trace" of Beta Race Women go nude, rarely. Beta Race people tend to cover their bodies more. We all know what the thong bikini is... and the g-string. And for women only, super-short mini-skirt. But there are additional sexy clothes the Mountain Race has dreamed up. Split skirts, all the way from ankle length to super-short, are split the entire length of the skirt, to the belt. Sometimes the split is a rather large gap. A dress often seen on Beta Race Women is really just a front part and a rear part. A "river of flesh" runs up the entire leg and side to under the arms. The front and back are joined either by straps or the material itself at the waist, a couple or so under the arms, and over the shoulders. Short split skirts can have a gap between the rear and front parts so large, that the skirt is really just two panels of cloth held up by the belt. The Vaginal Flag is the ultimate of the above. It's only an ornate waist decoration that hangs loosely from the hips (typically big and wide on a T-2K Race Woman) so that it sags in front. From the front hangs a little square, a flag, just in front of her vagina. With everything perfect, the flag just does conceal the vagina. But if she walks, or if there is a breeze or anything, the tempting area behind the flag beckons the men. The vaginal flag, like the g-string, offers no coverage in the rear at all. The T-2K Race gal's big muscle-butt is in full view! Genital-exposing-clothing is also encountered, mostly on Women, and sometimes on men, always of the T-2K Race. A typical Woman's blouse and stocking-like combinations cover other parts of her body, but leave the vagina in full view. When available, download CMRSTYL5.GIF for an example of that kind of attire. Bottomless attire is seen a lot in autumn on T-2K Race Women and Men. As the weather becomes chilly, full nudity or minuscule thongs and g's may leave the wearer cold. A little something over the upper body is all the cold-hearty T-2K Race people need. So as chilly north winds swirl in September, October and early November, various tummy-exposing, sleeveless or tank-top t-shirts ONLY abound, with NOTHING covering the genitalia. Women's winter clothes are notorious for consistently exposing her vagina. Everything's covered... even a full parka over her head. But between upper and lower parts of the ensemble, is an access- way to her vagina. Only in the coldest of cold, will the gal finally wear a silk or maybe cotton strip of cloth over the vagina... but it has to get REALLY super-cold. Men have the same thing, but almost always a silk strap holds his penis in. Any lengthening of that penis will have it out, however, in the cold, searching out the warmth of a vagina... (WHEW!) When it becomes available, download WINTDRES.GIF for a typical T- 2K Race Amazon, attired in winter clothes that covers everything else... except her vagina. Her vagina needs no covering... it produces plenty of its own heat! And now the fact or data sheets, starting next page. CENTRAL MOUNTAINS REPUBLIC DATA [Only unusual or outstanding features will be covered. Features not covered can be assumed to be "nominal" for any advanced country.] CENTRAL MOUNTAINS REPUBLIC'S POSITION IN TIME Unless otherwise pointed out by a story, comic or picture, the date is around that which it was when Py Nae Kot first discovered the new land. Their 1970's years are really 69,701,97N A.D. Through the natural progression of time, the date could be anytime in THEIR '70s to THEIR '80s and beyond. Like us, they abbreviate the year, usually only writing down 7N for the year. Sometimes they will write 197N. Only rarely is the entire year-date written down in the form 6970-197N. SIZE OF CENTRAL MOUNTAINS REPUBLIC (CMR) Borders hazy, but about 2500 miles east-west and 2000 miles north- south. GEOGRAPHY OF CMR Entire country is ruggedly mountainous. Made up of geologically very "young" mountains. Entire Eastern half of the CMR was under the Atlantic Ocean only 50 million years ago from their time. The Central Capital sits 15,000 feet over where the shore-line of over 50 million years ago was. CMR is bordered by Atlantic Ocean on its east, "Amerika" to the west and "hazily" to the south also by Amerika. "Nobody's-Land" borders the north. Strange tales and a supposed "North Mountains Republic" is reported by the far-flung residents of the spooky, brutally cold-wintered far-north. THE PEOPLE T-2K RACE: Average Height ......... Seven feet, two inches Average Weight ......... 320 pounds (No notable difference in Height/Weight between males and females) Hair Color ............. From blond to nearly black Hair Characteristics ... Gently wavy to very curly Skin Color ............. Light tan Eye Color ..............Blue, green, brown and variations of those, plus, rarely, red. Designated T-2K by Genetic Engineers, this is the "original" race. They themselves know not their ancient beginnings. Oldest dated remains go back just over 100,000 years from their time. BETA RACE: Average Height ......... Six feet, Six inches Average Weight ......... 240 pounds (No notable difference in Height/Weight between males and females) Hair Color ............. Black Hair characteristics ... Silky smooth to gently wavy Skin Color Reddish dark-tan Eye Color Brown Designated BETA by Genetic Engineers, this race appeared mysteriously, suddenly, 3500 years back in CMR's history. Possessing good leadership talents and logical thinking patterns, the "Betas" took over most of CMR government and put the CMR back on a healthy track. The following TWO categories apply to the Central Capital. ENERGY Solar .................. 75 % Hydro-Electric ......... 15 % Alcohol-burning gen-sets 10 % Petroleum (fossil fuels) 0 % Nuclear ................ 0 % TRANSPORTATION In descending order of importance or usage: 1 Pedal Car 2 Pedal Car Taxi 3 Train (especially under-ground (subway)) 4 Open Pedicab (especially around parks, attractions, the Government Operations Center Building and down-town. 5 Hand Taxi or Hand Buggy (similar to a Japanese Rick Shaw) Like the Pedicab, used around parks, attractions, the Government Operations Building and down-town. 6 Dirt Bicycle 7 Electric Bus 8 Electric Truck (used for freight) 9 Jets and other aircraft (Used mostly by Military, Diplomatic and experimental purposes. In the country, energy sources vary, but solar photo-voltaics are predominant. A popular source of supplemental heat is the compost pit. These pits are holes in the ground, often lined with stones or cement blocks. Near the bottom is a heat exchanger; a pipe enters, splits into many thin, flat pipes, then comes together again and exits. Leaves, twigs, old rags, left-over food and everything else the Farmer can think of that will decompose is tossed into the pit. When nearly full, tremendous heat is generated near the bottom. Water pumped through the heat exchanger picks up this heat and enters the house, sometimes at scalding temperatures. In the country, the pedal car and dirt-bicycle are the only transportation devices. The dirt-bicycle is great for the Farmer moving about her or his land. All Farmers' pedal cars have hitches for pulling pedal-car-trailers. These trailers, in various forms, are often encountered in the country-side of the CMR. THE FARMER'S UTILITY VEHICLE OR "CMR TRACTOR" This is an hpv with four, fat, low-pressure tires and very low gearing that is used for a variety of farming activities. The user LAYS comfortably on her or his stomach, with complete support for body and head. Body and head are supported separately so that the Farmer may see the ground she is working. Height from ground and width between wheels are all adjustable. It is NOT fully enclosed, but possesses a simple awning to keep rain or strong sun off the Farmer while she works. Many have a photo-voltaic panel on the roof with no storage (batteries) that powers a fan, cooling the Farmer on hot, sunny days. They all have trailer hitches for pulling trailers. Other additional features vary between models. These human powered tractors are excellent in straddling furrows of crops. They make the Farmers' work MUCH easier and MUCH more comfortable. They are used for: > Light furrowing > Spreading fertilizer > Planting seed > Harvesting low crops like potatoes, lettuce, berries and such would be back-straining, stooping work without the h.p. tractor. With adjustable height so that her arms hang at just the right length, and in a comfortable, prone position, harvesting such crops is now almost pleasant work for the Farmer. NOTABLE LAWS OR OTHER CHARACTERISTICS OF CMR LEGAL SYSTEM COMPLETE EQUALITY BETWEEN SEXES: In history, WOMEN were over everything. The Beta Race changed that and have been trying to bring about equality for Men ever since. Changes occur slowly. Technically, Men have all rights Women have. But old ways persist. Men and Women both serve in Military including combat positions. There are no men's or women's public rest-rooms. There is SUPPOSED to be equal pay for equal jobs and experience level for Men and Women. NO DRESS CODES: Anything goes in dress. Nudity allowed in all reaches of CMR, from down-town Central Capital to the furthest out-posts in the country. Only the "Ambassador Square", in the Central Capital asks genitalia and nipples (of BOTH MEN AND WOMEN, since their laws allow no discrimination of legislation based on sex) be covered. The Ambassador Square" contains the living quarters of Ambassadors and their families to the CMR from other countries. Out of consideration to them and their sometimes VERY conservative or restrictive ways, (especially those from Ocean East (their "Middle East")) CMR citizens are obliged to cover at least those minimal areas on their bodies before entering Ambassador Square. NO "CONTROLIST" LEGISLATION ALLOWED This is an amendment to the Constitution of the Central Mountains Republic brought about by the Beta Race nearly 3000 years ago. Only laws protecting environment and public safety are allowed. No group, no matter how influential, may write bills for their Congress to consider that has to do with ANY kind of control on peoples' behavior. This means no group could try to outlaw pornography, for example. Neither can erotic dancing or prostitution be legislated against. All of these DO NOT endanger public safety or environment. Their Government's policy: You don't like it, leave it! EXTREMELY DIFFICULT LAW-SUIT POLICIES In the CMR, it is almost impossible to sue anybody for anything. The Government's Policy is "smarten up!". Protect yourself with knowledge and information. Read instructions especially warning labels and use common sense. Law suits are so difficult and expensive, they have almost died out. Policies set up by the Beta Race controlled government put a stop to 99.9 % of law-suits over 2000 years ago. VICES OF CMR CITIZENS AND GOVERNMENT POLICY AND LAW SMOKING, DRINKING, MARIJUANA AND SUCH The people of the CMR have very few vices of any severity except one, coming up below. The second biggest vice the government is trying to get rid of is smoking. Never, or extremely rarely, will a tobacco cigarette or cigar be seen in a Mountain Race person's mouth. But there ARE PIPES. If one smokes, chances are 10,000 to one it is a pipe. The government policy has successfully routed the pipe-smoker out of public places because the second-hand smoke was deemed a public danger. But smoking pipes, like cigarettes, cause health problems. Though the government would like to rid the CMR of pipes, they have two blocks: > The government's own policy of "no laws regulating peoples' behavior" and, > The pipe-smoking tradition. It sticks mightily. Each pipe smoker has her or his favorite kind of pipe and tobacco. There are VERY FEW smokers in the CMR. Pipes are hand made and carved by country people the smoker knows to buy replacements from. These Farmers also grow tobacco, usually just a small yard of it. So there is no big industry for the government to attack. Alcohol and marijuana are used sparingly by the CMR citizens. Marijuana smoking is kept out of public places because of the smoke. But CMR Scientists find little reason to limit marijuana. Alcohol and marijuana are sold side by side from the same stores. Alcohol and marijuana are both completely legal in the CMR, but many government-sponsored messages against it abound in all media. SEX Ah! What we have all been waiting for! As promised, the CMR citizen's BIGGEST, by FAR, vice. And the last but not least subject of these fact-sheets. In the work-place, people take sex-breaks, not coffee breaks. They dress in clothes designed for quick sex. Despite their cool weather, the citizens of the CMR are the skimpiest dressers of any advanced or non-primitive civilization. Download the picture file, REDSTAR.GIF. She is Red Star, the Government Lady that keeps tabs on the whereabouts and activities of Py Nae Kot and Sunn and her people in the story, Discovery Of The Central Mountains Republic. Note her big, powerful legs. Note her minimal covering over her genital. She is removing her top before entering her pedal-car to commute home. A typically dressed office worker, Red Star's steamy genital probably soothed at least five to eight penises that day. And winter does not stop them. When the picture becomes available, download WINTDRES.GIF (WINTer DRESs). The big, T-2K race gal is warmly coated up and parka-upped for Central Capital's blustery winter-winds, but her all important vagina is uncovered! Yes, just plain, bluntly UNCOVERED for quick use if the feeling comes between her and a guy. Sex urges come over Mountain Race Women more often than Men, but it bothers both sexes many times a day. It can become a nuisance. It decreases productivity and slows progress. Their Scientists can not explain fully the reason for this heightened sex drive of the masses except possibly, it is a by-product of robust health. And maybe of genetic engineering. Whatever it is, it has fully effected the Beta Race as well. Sex can come anywhere, anytime. It is often seen in public places such as parks, for example. Sometimes a couple will go at it just beside the side-walk in down-town. They merely move out of traffic's way and maybe, into the shadows. Sometimes a newly-met couple will know each others' genitals before each others' names. Sex is not considered immoral. It is considered a gift from God. But like everything else, God and just common sense dictates moderation. The government's sponsored messages to slow down a little on sex, seen in all media, is probably wasted tax-dollars. The messages cite the effects over-indulgence in sex has on industry and possibly even, safety. During a time of "homo-phobia", 3900 years ago and therefore before the arrival of the Beta Race, Genetic Scientists, pushed by government, researched feverishly to find the gene responsible for homo-sexism. They found it, and began eradicating it. The program was partially successful, but other forms of homo-sex persisted, apparently forms not caused by genes. The Beta Race controlled government put a stop to such research. BI-ism, or interest in BOTH sexes, seemed completely unaffected by the program above. It seems to their Researchers to this day, everyone has the capability of being bi, and is not caused by any particular set of genes. An old country superstition puts the brakes on homo-sex and bi- ism sometimes. They believe sex with the same sex, or masturbation causes an imbalance in the flow of Life Energy through the body. The Life Energy exists freely in two opposite forms throughout the universe, and flows through living organisms. Hetero-sex causes a balance between the two forms of Life Energy. Homo-sex and masturbation causes an imbalance, so says this superstition. But research has shown this not to be. In the Central Capital along with most of the CMR, homo-sex, bi- ism and masturbation are considered just as normal as hetero-sex. In fact, bi-ism is considered an interesting variation to sex. And masturbation is merely a way of relieving stress and, when nobody is around, relieving one's self of that pesky sex-hunger. Just to give an idea or feel of how severe the problem of over- indulgence in sex is, take a look at the simple graph below. SEX | ------------------------------------------------ | (off-scale)> SMOKING | ---- | RAPE BY MEN | - ON WOMEN | | RAPE BY | -- WOMEN ON MEN | | ALCOHOL | ------ | MARIJUANA | ------ | HARD DRUGS | .. | ROBBERY | - | MURDER | . LIFE SPAN AND HIBERNATION We saved these really cool couple of characteristics of the Mountain Race people for last. And one is really weird. Typical Central Capital resident's (both races) life-span: Over 200 years! But for those in the country-side, especially the north-west, far north and far north-east Central Mountains Republic, life-span is even greater, thanks to hibernation. Hibernation? It seems only the T-2K Race possess the ability to hibernate, although only T-2K Race people live in these far, rugged out-posts of the CMR. NOT a product of genetic engineering, the original race of the CMR apparently possessed the ability to hibernate since their ancient times. Winters of the CMR's north-west, far north and north-east are brutal, with heavy snows. So there is NOTHING ELSE to do but hibernate. But apparently, due to their extended winter sleep, their life- span is much longer. Life-span of hibernating T-2K Race: 350 years! And they stay young looking for hundreds of years. One more chart, and that's it. Below, the chart shows a typical person's appearance's aging points for three classes; 1) One of us, that is, our time, our era. 2) A non-hibernating Mountain Race person, and 3) a hibernating Mountain Race person. For example, a 140-year-old hibernator looks like an 80-year-old non-hibernator; and he/she looks like a 30-year-old one of us! Also note: CMR children are the opposite. A 7-year-old Mountain Race child looks like a 10 year old USA child. Also, download a picture of a 10 year old CMR girl; file-name: CM10GIRL.GIF || < A G E O F E A C H C A T E G O R Y > || Our era (USA, Canada) | CMR | CMR-HIBERNATOR --------------------------------------------------------------- APPEARANCE || 10 looks like: | 7 | 7 || 18 looks like: | 10 | 10 OF || 22 looks like: | 30 | 38 || 30 looks like: | 80 | 140 THE || 40 looks like: | 140 | 220 || 50 looks like: | 170 | 270 AGE || 60 looks like: | 190 | 300 || 70 looks like: | 200 | 320 || 85 looks like: | 220 | 350