Sperm whale

Sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) are the sixth, newest, and most mysterious cetacean species genlifted to sapience. As of 2199, only 22 sperm whales are known to exist: a solitary nonsapient sperm whale cloned by Biogene on Earth, and the members of Pod 21 on Poseidon.

Pod 21

In 2190, 21 frightened, malnourished juvenile sperm whales swam into Haven Harbor, apparently knowing noting about the rest of the planet and speaking only Beluga, and instantly became the most famous cetaceans in history.

Investigations into their origins raised more questions than it answered. The whales shared that there were originally 24 of them, twelve each male and female; one was stillborn, one died shortly after decanting, and one was killed by a lesser white en route to Haven. All of them were somatic clones produced from archived DNA models, using xenosilicate templates and oversized artificial wombs by a mixed team of human and cetes who inexplicably abandoned them, with one providing directions to Haven before they left. The project had apparently been carried out over more than a decade in the Copper Islands, somehow without ever being detected, but nothing even remotely resembling the mostly automated, semi-aquatic facility described by Pod 21 has ever been found.

The trauma and stress of the sperm whales’ unique situation can not be overstated. They are members of a once-extinct species who have no parental bonds or cultural heritage. They suffered profound childhood trauma, have been hounded by the media and special interests for most of their lives, and now have to find their ways on a cut-throat colony world where civilization is often more dangerous than the wildlife of the frontier.

In 2199 the strange story of Pod 21 continues. A few have become reality stars, appearing at media events, speaking as pundits or in one case hosting a Poseidon travel show. Several are very active in cetacean rights and the Church of the Whalesong, two have joined the GEO and one of those is now a Peacekeeper. Several others have simply disappeared, and the rest are trying to live semblances of normal lives despite their individual fame.

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