Killer whale

The killer whale (Orcinus orca), also referred to as the orca whale or orca, and less commonly as the blackfish or grampus, is a toothed whale belonging to the oceanic dolphin family, of which it is the largest member. Killer whales are found in all oceans, from Arctic and Antarctic regions to tropical seas. Killer whales have a diverse diet, although individual populations often specialize in particular types of prey. Some feed exclusively on fish, while others hunt marine mammals like pinnipeds, and even large whales. They have been known to attack baleen whale calves. Killer whales are regarded as apex predators, lacking natural predators.

Killer whales are highly social; some populations are composed of matrilineal family groups which are the most stable of any animal species. Their sophisticated hunting techniques and vocal behaviours, which are often specific to a particular group and passed across generations, have been anthropomorphically described as manifestations of culture.

Orca (novel)

Orca is the seventh book in Steven Brust's Vlad Taltos series, set in the fantasy world of Dragaera. Originally published in 1996 by Ace Books, it was republished in 2003 along with Athyra in the omnibus The Book of Athyra. Following the trend of the Vlad Taltos books, it is named after one of the Great Houses and features that House as an important element to its plot.

Plot introduction

Vlad and his friend Kiera the Thief investigate a financial cover-up following the mysterious death of an Orca tycoon.

Plot summary

Reunions

Kiera the Thief sends a letter to Vlad's estranged wife Cawti, offering to meet and tell her of Vlad's most recent adventures. In return for not telling Vlad some of Cawti's secrets, Kiera insists on making some omissions from her story. The rest of the novel is Kiera's story, seemingly without the omissions she makes to Cawti.

Vlad contacts Kiera from the city of Northport and asks her a favor: break into the mansion of the late Orca businessman Fyres and take any documents she can find. She agrees if he will explain why. He tells her that he went to Northport to find a healer for Savn, a Teckla boy whose mind was damaged during the events of Athyra. A local healer, whom Vlad calls "Mother" because he cannot pronounce her name, agrees to help Savn if Vlad will help fix her problem: she's being evicted from her cottage. Vlad navigates through a labyrinth of business records to discover that Mother's land is ultimately owned by Fyres, who only a week ago died on his yacht.

Orca Engineering

Orca Engineering is a sports car company based in Liechtenstein. Orca designs and manufactures the Orca 113 Platform, as well as the upcoming Beck LM800. Founded in 2003, by René Beck and his son Ralph, the company is most known for the Orca 113 Platform, which came in three variants, of which only seven cars were produced.

When the Orca 113 Platform died out, René Beck decided to move on to his next supercar project, the Beck LM800.

Orca 113 Platform

The Orca 113 Platform is a platform of vehicles produced by Swiss start up Orca Engineering. The platform was planned to be made of 198 in three variants, but only 7 were produced, 3 C113, 2 R113, and 2 SC7.

C113

The C113 was a coupé, and the first concept/car manufactured in the Orca 113 Platform. It has a claimed top speed of 360 km/h, though this has not been officially tested. However, the C113 is proven to be the fourth fastest car in the world (0–100 km in under 3 seconds). Production of the C113 had been limited to 198 units (in all three variants), but never began due to delays and the lack of buyers (7 were produced in all three version). The C113 sold for around $280,000, not including attentional pakages.