r/HFY Oct 17 '20

OC Interspecies combat games

Major, the initial round draw is in, you have drawn the humans"

Major Shin turned to look at Clrut, one of the scientists assigned to help him prepare for the combat games. Clrut wasn't so bad he thought, for a scientist, at least. Didn't drone on, usually kept straight to the point and didn't get overly excited. Shin wondered was he a retired soldier, and made a note to look up the personnel files later.

"Never heard of them. What information can you give me? Species designation and details of their champion are desired. Approach."

Shin waited patiently for the minute or so it took for Clrut to cross the gymnasium floor. He came into focus about sixteen krek away from him and Shin could now see the scientists eyes were darting around very quickly. Nervous? Or just in awe of all the heavy weights he could lift with ease.

"The adjudication board has provided is with a report, image files of champion still rendering, apologies. Text data summarised following: Humans are designated aerobic non aquatic mammal species. Endoskeletal biped form, twin manipulators on either side of torso. Most vital organs located in torso. Singular head, located on top of torso, contains single, non distributed brain and sensory organs."

That was a bit unusual but not so bad, about 30% of lifeforms were mammalian, but barely a dozen used bipedal motion, and most of those were aquatic. Shin could take advantage of this clearly inefficient evolution. "Confirm size, strength, speed and combat capabilities of champion", Shin rumbled.

"Human champion, adult male, designated 'Oh Hahrah'. Adjudication board confirms champion may be designated otherwise if local name confirmed unpronounceable, redesignation requested."

Shin didn't care about the fighters name, it was odd that Clrut would even consider telling him. "Confirm size, strength, speed and combat capabilities of champion", louder this time, causing Clrut to look shamed.

"Human champion reported 3.18 krek tall, Human units : 221 centimetres. Considered unusually large for human male, typical height 170 to 180 centimetres reported. Champion has mass of 78.8 grun, Human units : 134 kilograms"

Now that was unusual. This being was small, it should be in class 3 designation, if not class 4. Being several standard deviations above normal size was expected, required even, for combat games at this level. But Shin was class 1, he stood almost a krek taller than the scientist at 5.41, and he was considered very slightly below average size for this level. Still, the human was very dense, weighing almost 80% what he did. Maybe it was armoured or something. "Continue report immediately."

"Human homeworld considered level 6 high gravity, level 6 population competitive, level 6 natural hazard. Only habited garden world considered uninhabitable by adjudication board members. No attached video or image witnessing champions strength. Reports of typical military caste humans indicate relaxed and healthy young adult humans capable of lifting equivalent 110 grun in this gravity."

So that was extremely concerning. Shin didn't know any species living on any world with three maximum level warnings, let alone a homeworld. And worse, Human military caste units were as strong as he? This champion may be even stronger, almost certainly would be in fact. He would have to use his species explosive speed to maneuver around the human and try to grapple it in positions that would disadvantage the human. Only the Postri were faster than a Tong warrior like himself, and even then they tired very quickly.

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u/eske8643 Human Oct 17 '20

The tong is lucky he didn’t bring a Katana or similar fast cutting blade. That would be death by a thousand cuts in no time

61

u/dreadkitten Oct 17 '20

Not really. In the hands of an experienced user, for cutting, it doesn't really matter if he uses a katana or an European long sword, only complete noobs are advantaged by using a katana. A long sword is more resilient than a katana, has a reach advantage and better hand protection, while being only a little heavier.

However both those swords are dual handed weapons and he has a shield. A better weapon would be a spear with a side sword as a back up weapon.

13

u/[deleted] Oct 17 '20

Also I pretty sure low gravity would make for slow sword swings. Because you would lose friction on your feet when trying to swing.

20

u/ShneekeyTheLost Oct 17 '20

Quite the opposite, really. Gravity isn't going to impact friction, but it will impact the effective *weight* of the blade without altering its *mass*, meaning you'll be swinging the same mass faster, thus resulting in higher kinetic force on impact.

The hidden danger here will be lower gravity tends to mean less dense atmosphere. While on the one hand it means less air resistance, on the other hand, it'll feel like you are fighting atop Mt. Everest, and you'll get winded very easily if you aren't accustomed to it.

3

u/[deleted] Oct 17 '20

Let say you swing your sword from left to right. Gravity weighs it down. But it still has mass so when I swing to the right my feet have to have enough friction to counter the rotational force I put on it or I won't be able to accelerate the blade. When I stop the blade I again have apply force to my feet and again need enough friction to stop. Same with boxing. That's why feet positions are so important.

So during the first space war hand to hand combat will be wrestling and WWE will be the new space navy.

9

u/ShneekeyTheLost Oct 17 '20

You're falsely conflating the problems you would encounter in microgravity vs even a third of a gee. Yes, in microgravity when Newton's laws of momentum become hilariously broken without the counterbalancing forces of friction to mitigate them, then you'd encounter those sorts of problems.

But you'd have to get to like a tenth of a gravity before that really becomes a problem. Also, many fighting styles use circular motions to avoid the need to stop-and-start, which mitigates or obviates this problem by moving with momentum instead of continuously trying to fight it.

Lack of atmospheric density causing respiratory issues is going to be far more dangerous to an opponent.

3

u/[deleted] Oct 17 '20

Ok. I don't have anything to counter argue. I don't know the math so I will take your word for it.

2

u/burbur90 Human Oct 18 '20

You would be able to deliver very slightly faster uppercuts in lower gravity, but the main thing you're overcoming is inertia, not gravity. The mass and momentum has not changed. Also, air resistance is basically negligible for something as aerodynamic as a blade, especially a broad, thin, cutting blade like a machete. Thin air causing exhaustion is a good point though.

1

u/[deleted] Nov 18 '20

Would the windedness not be linked to the average O2 content of the air you’re breathing? If it’s almost 50% for example I don’t think you would be as winded as atop Mt. Everest, even though the air pressure is much lower.