Encounter Group #4 Breeders

[Matt W]

Originally Posted by ArmySGT.

Would cloning and child surrogates be possible at Tech level B?

The option is Mendel type breeding programs.

Human cloning is not quite possible with the Breeders' level of technology. The Breeders are fully aware of cloning and genetic engineering, they just don't have all the necessary skills and technology (computers and electron microscopes, for instance).

But that's why they need the Morrow Project's technology and data!

[mmartin798]

Originally Posted by Matt W

Human cloning is not quite possible with the Breeders' level of technology. The Breeders are fully aware of cloning and genetic engineering, they just don't have all the necessary skills and technology (computers and electron microscopes, for instance).

But that's why they need the Morrow Project's technology and data!

This kind of depends on the kind of cloning they want to do. The first sheep to be cloned using nuclear transfer was done in 1984. Dolly, who was cloned in 1996, was famous because it was the first sheep clone done using somatic cell nuclear transfer and not embryonic cells. Nuclear transfer cloning of frogs dates back to 1952. If the breeders only wanted to have a bunch of genetically identical people, they could harvest early embryonic cells and create copies via nuclear transfer into other enucleated human eggs and implant them into surrogate mothers for maturation. None of this requires much more than fine glass tubes and optical microscopes, both of which are easily in TL B-D range. And even though it is not really necessary for cloning, an electron microscope is TL C-D. The first ones were made in the 1930's.

[ArmySGT.]

So I am considering the following to make a truly dangerous (worthy) adversary for a campaign, and less a one shot.

A core group of descendants of Pre-War scientists. Whole families that rode out the War due to their isolated lab facility being secure and independent. Even this is two tier with two families having the most influence or power and another half dozen vying for their cut. They have the pre-war library and teaching tools to educate the next generation, though this does still lean heavily toward medicine, psychology, pathology, and other derivatives of Biology. These people reap the benefits of Breeding and genetic manipulation. Trying different approaches, these persons will cull children felt to be insufficient or not up to standards. Those showing mental instabilities or regressions are also immediately culled. These are the only people that know the full extent of the programs. Alphas.

Their surrounded by a first layer of carefully manipulated, cultured, and groomed society of servants, workers, and administrators. Betas. These persons are free of mental illnesses or geneti abnormalities, though their modest "improvements" are related to the tasks that each was created for. These Betas, and still the Executive Officers, Generals, Administrators, Government Officials. While they seldom meet and Alpha directly, they do NOT know who they work for and are loyal too. The top most margin meets the Alphas and then only specifically for what is required. Their personally invested in this keeping the Alphas hidden as that is where their power and comforts flow from.

Working for Betas, are Gammas. Task specific bred workers often highly gifted or specialized for a narrow range of skills. These a absolutely unaware that Alphas exist and only meet Betas as needed. Pilots, accountants, sex slaves, janitors, drivers, soldiers are examples of Gamma genetic templates.

Below this are Deltas, very highly specialized, these are idiot savants that must be raised and cared for by dedicated minders from the Gamma lines. Polyglots that instantly translate from a dozen languages, crypto encoders, mathematicians.

[mmartin798]

Yes, I need a bottle of soma please.

[ArmySGT.]

Originally Posted by mmartin798

Yes, I need a bottle of soma please.

You know that did xross my mind with the Deltas. Makes a perverse rationale though.

Besides, what good is a villain if their not evil?