From publisher blurb:
When humans began spreading out into the galaxy, they quickly discovered that Earthlike planets — the so-called “garden worlds” — were rarer than they had hoped. Still, many weren’t so hostile that they couldn’t be terraformed, given time and effort. To help terraform these worlds, interstellar government scientists created humanoid constructs: Optimized Recombinant Chordates. Observers quickly noted that the acronym for these creatures spelled out “Orc”, as in the creatures of fantasy, and the name stuck.
At first used exclusively for terraforming duties in near-hostile environments, Orcs also came to be used anywhere else their strength and resilience could be put to good use. Unfortunately over time, increased usage somehow became akin to slave labor. When the Orcs realized this, they naturally objected. Their objections were met with force, but one revolt later, the Orcs were no longer slaves. But to gain that freedom, many were forced to take actions that marked them (wrongly) with a reputation for savagery and barbarism.
Lifeform Reading: Orc is for 2D6 science fiction games such as Cepheus Engine and The Original Science Fiction Roleplaying Game (OSFRPG), although it’s usable with other systems with a little work. It includes an overview of the Orcs’ history, details of their physiology, an overview of their culture and worldview, and tips for Players wishing to play an Orc.