Metamorphosis Alpha to Omega: Part 11: Deck 5: Ranch Deck

Dusty prairies, sprawling ranches, and the distant lowing murmur of cattle all form the first impressions of visitors to deck five. Herds of what appear to be cattle, sheep, bison, and other, less-easily identifiable creatures blanket swathes of the deck's grasslands. Riding herd upon these great throngs are what seem to be riders of the ancient cowboy mold. But the closer a stranger gets to these herds and their tenders, the less familiar they become.

An array of mankind's domesticated animals was brought aboard Warden to provide a genetic pool from which to draw the DNA necessary to replicate meat.The plan was to select from these herds and flocks to supplement the stored genetic material, to provide variety in bloodlines and to ensure healthy, viable stock. Numbers were kept low, relative to the vast swarms of the ancient slaughterhouse days. A spectrum of non-domesticated animals, including predators, was carefully constructed to provide a sustainable ecosystem. The crew and passengers with an interest in animal husbandry and ranching found the deck to be an idyllic, if sleepy, place.

And then the radiation disaster struck Warden.

Gripped in the throes of accelerated mutation and made a battleground between mutants and crew, deck five became anything but sleepy. Factions formed among the inhabitants of the ranch deck, absorbing those mutants and crew who decided to take a stand.

The Ranchers are classic cowboys, all spring-steel and rawhide, laconic and respectful to those who show respect in return. Fiercely protective of their chosen herds, they are quick on the draw against any attackers, their "hog-legs" barking out prairie justice. "One riot, one Rancher," a saying goes, dredged up from an ancient past. These throwbacks to a rugged time would be right at home in Texas or Montana, were it not for the fact that they are centaurs. The ultimate melding of man and mount came during the great chaos that overwhelmed Warden, and may well be the result of a shard of Warden's AI being either too literal when directed to create "horsemen" for the deck's security, or having a warped sense of humor when devising guardians for the herds. However they came to be, the Ranchers are generally a force for good on the deck.

The Rustlers are the sworn enemies of the Ranchers. Made up of bizarre mobs of mutant animals, from massive razorback-and-snout hogs and slippery coyotes to the Unhangables and even some non-mutated humans, the backbone of the Rustlers are hulking amalgams of bulls and humans, instantly recognizable as minotaurs as depicted in ancient Greek mythology. Vicious, bullying, evil, and carnivorous, the Rustlers enslave any whom they can steal away from the Ranchers. The Rustlers are nomadic, never settling long in any one area. The more peaceful folk of the deck dread the appearance of a band of Rustlers. But, secretly, the Rustlers dread the appearance of a Rancher.

The Cattle are just that: the herd animals and livestock. But it's not that simple. There are still large numbers of non-mutated stock, but there are increasing numbers of mutants. Hellcows and lightning bulls dominate some herds, while a surprising number of fully sentient animals have grown in prominence over the years. Contemplative ducks, preening chickens, and panic goats cluster in small towns, their courage and resolve in adversity tending to melt without the presence of a Rancher or seven.

Next: Part 12: Deck 4: Water Deck