The following extract is drawn from the First Family's private
archives stored within COLUMBUS, the guiding intelligence of the
Federation.
RELEASE LEVEL: it-1 thru 5 ONLY
IRON MASTER/S (generic noun of Mute origin) A race of clear-skinned
hairless anthropoids inhabiting the eastern coastal strip of America
from Maine to North Carolina. The overground area under their control
(known as Ne-Issan) includes the western flank of the Appalachian
mountain range and extends across the Ohio state line as far as
CleveAand, a navref point on the shores of Lake Erie.
Iron Masters have their roots in illegal immigrant communities of
various asiatic sub-types that managed to infiltrate the major
north-eastern urban centres during the pre-Holocaust era. Between AD
2300 and 2400, there was a small but significant influx of
'boat-people'; asiatics who spoke a language known as 'Japanese'.
Allying themselves with the resident groups of similar origin, the
boat-people rapidly seized power and have remained the dominant racial
group ever since.
On the evolutionary scale, Iron Masters are positioned halfway between
the Trackers and the Mutes, who are inferior to both. Officially
categorised as a subhuman species, Iron Masters are, nevertheless,
literate, numerate individuals with a high degree of manipulative
skills, proficient in agriculture, fishing, wood- and metal-working
(esp: weapons), weaving and building with dressed stone.
Through a process of genetic mutation common to all sub-human species
and the lower animal orders, Iron Masters have become immune to
atmospheric radiation but, once again, acquisition of immunity has had
a negative impact on other vital functions. In the case of the Iron
Masters, the most obvious side-effects are their diminutive stature,
yellow-tinted skin, and total lack of body hair, but the greatest
damage has been to the circulatory system. This manifests itself in a
high incidence of haemophilia, and weak-walled blood vessels which can
rupture under stress, bringing about a fatal haemorrhage.
Through bushido (see following reference) these inherent defects have
acquired positive values, engendering a calm, disciplined approach to
life and an unquestioning acceptance of death.
Iron Master society is a pyramidal class structure based on a
17th-century model ruled by warriors (samurai). Below them, in
descending order, are - administrators and scribes, craftmasters,
merchants, farmers. The base of this pyramid is underpinned by a large
reservoir of slave labour; Mutes obtained through barter deals. At all
