Project Sahelanthropus

Project Sahelanthropus or more commonly "The Mech Program" stands as the most recent and currently only successful Mechanized Anti-God Unit utilized by the CMC.

*"What we have done, will shape the very future of humanity, designed as weapons but altered so far beyond what we call humanity, that we cant even call them Human. When the survival of our very race is at risk, morality need not rear its head."* - Director General Grace Lionheart.

## History

The Mech Program has had a long, secret and horrific history spanning back to the year 4004. With two previous versions being tried and tested, but never reaching deployment.

In 4004 the NIA Section 7 began its first Mechanized Anti-God Unit program under the name, "Project Ardipithecus". Which was quickly shut down after tests involving Synthetic Souls and adult Human Soldiers ended in all the candidates deaths.

The NIA refused to close the project entirely and twenty years later it was restarted under the name "Project Australopithecus". With more funding and a greater emphasis on research and safety the project lasted ten years before being shut down due to its location of research being discovered by a KenX raid. Although the project made very few physical breakthroughs it did lay the groundwork for Human-Synthetic Soul merging. Allowing future projects to focus on the physical aspects.

## Problems of the past

Due to the limitations of the human mind, integrating a human nervous system with a machine is near impossible unless various procedures and operations are administered to the Pilot.

Due to the banning of any and all AI, and the strict CMC control of all Synthetic Souls has meant before the war no human had ever been merged with a Synthetic Soul. Project Ardipithecus showed the risks and largest problem when creating a "Second Skin" as some NIA officers have taken to calling it.

### The Two Minds Problem

Although Synthetic Souls are not considered full AI, they are in essence a human level Artificial Mind with heavy inbuilt restrictions which limit its functional capacity to interact with other Souls or Humans as well as think freely.

It became clear very early on that a manned Mechanized Unit would not be efficient on the battlefield. However linking a Mechanized Suit to a human mind presented even more problems. To counteract this it became clear that a Synthetic Soul would be needed to aid the Pilot.

Early tests linking Synthetic Souls and Human minds lead to disastrous results and dozens of casualties. The more carefully conducted tests of Project Australopithecus successfully allowed Human minds to link with Synthetic Souls, but only for brief periods of time, certainly not long enough to be battlefield ready.

It became clear to the lead scientists of Project Sahelanthropus that any realistic future soldiers would need to have specific genetic markers from their parents to allow a better link to a Synthetic Soul. In 4089, 8 years after it began, genetic seeds were implanted in secret into tens of millions of pre-screened parent candidates. This massive operation was done entirely in secret and off the record due to its violations of several UPG and CMC laws.

This seed implanting was however a massive success. Producing hundreds of what would secretly be classified as "Homo superioris", Humans capable of not only mentally linking with Synthetic Souls but able to directly control them.

## Genetic Markers

The Genetic Markers capable of making Human-Synthetic Soul linking possible were just one of many Markers added to the Candidate Parents to lead to better soldiers in the future. These Markers include:

* Markers that alter the higher functioning abilities of the brain
* Markers that alter the telomeres of the chromosomes to allow for perfect cell replication. Negating any risks of cancer or degradation, thus achieving cellular immortality.
* Markers that increased Muscle tissue density and lactose recovery time
* Markers that alter the brain chemistry and reduce the need for REM sleep, at the expense of requiring specific chemicals taken in drinks in order to work to their full potential.
* Markers that alter the capillaries to the retinas thus:

- Increasing the sensitivity of the eyes.

-Increasing the clarity and detail thus allowing for "Longer" or "further" sight.

- Increasing the ability to track movement.

- Allowing for the focus of 18 different moving or stationary objects.

- Growth of a tapetum lucidum to allow for significantly better low light vision.

* Markers that significantly increase the healing fact of the human blood cells reducing injuries that would take weeks to recover from to several days. A side effect of this means that the skin is far more likely to scar.
* Markers that increase bone density and resilience to impacts.
* Markers that increase the reflex time of the individual. Increasing nerve conduction velocities to between 200 and 250 meters per second (Average human being 80 to 120)

* Markers that increase the effectiveness of nearly all organs within the human body which includes:

- Ability to absorb more oxygen through the lungs.

- Increased efficiency of the stomach and intestines reducing the need for regular food intake.

- Increased strength and efficiency of the Heart to allow more oxygen to be distributed to areas of need.

- Increased efficiency of the Kidneys, reducing the effects of raw food, alcohol and poisonous chemical.

- Increased strength and size of a number of arteries and veins to allow a greater blood flow to the organs.

* Markers that significantly reinforce and alter the immune system to prevent and adapt to existing and new forms of hostile bacteria and viruses.
* Markers that allow for easier post-birth augmentations to the bodies genetic structure.
* Markers that allow for better integration with cybernetic augmentations and manufactured processes.
* Markers that allow the body to better cope with rapid biological changes and development.
* Markers that increase the sensitivity and range of hearing to higher than most predators.

These alterations in the genetic structure of the pilots is postulated to be possible to pass on to any children the Pilots may have, however unlikely that may be.

## Biological Augmentations

During their growth and training the Pilot candidates underwent dozens of highly invasive biological and cybernetic augmentations. These augmentations were on top of the already present Genetic Markers, further altering the Pilot Candidates and pushing them further in "Forced Evolution".

These include:

* Growth Hormone Chemical injections to encourage skeletal and muscle tissue growth. Increasing the density, resilience and strength of the body bones further. As well as increasing the density and strength of muscle tissues.
* Protein Complex Muscle enhancement injections that target the muscles intercellular molecular machinery

- Increasing musculature strength and endurance

- Increasing connective tissues and fibers, making connective tendons stronger and decreasing lactate recovery.

* Nerves infused with superconductive nano particulate material that increases nerve conductivity. Further increasing the conductivity speed by a factor of 2.3 from 200/250 to 460/575 meters per second. Meaning reaction times are roughly 3 to 4 milliseconds.
* Addition of a porous Carbon/Boride composite which allows for increase bone strength and resilience to impacts. This is fused to the bones by carving thin channels into the outer layer of the bones and inserting the composite material into the gaps. Then encouraging bone growth to fuse the composite and bone together. This structure allows for increase resistance to impacts while still allowing for bone growth during repairs and flexibility and movement.
* Cadiovascular reinforcement to allow the heart and blood vessels to preform to the extreme levels required when under extreme stress levels. These coupled with the base genetic markers allow most pilots to have a resting heart rate of 15 to 20 beats per minute and a heart rate of 50 to 60 under extreme stress. Thus overcompensating in case of blood loss due to severe injury.
* Increases to chemical productions such as hormones and adrenaline.
* Alterations to the lungs to increase efficiency in the absorption of oxygen and restrictions of the absorption of harmful chemicals. Thus increasing resistance to chemical warfare and allowing normal breathing in low oxygen environments.

## Cybernetic Augmentations

These augmentations were implemented during and after the biological augmentations were implemented during their training.

These include:

* A non-Newtonian fluid layer below the skin that partially solidifies when put under extreme pressure. However when its breaking boundaries are reached the fluid separates. Thus creating a sub-dermal Armour layer.

* Type 3 Neurological implantation that is surgically attached to the brain and spinal column to both monitor and interface with the Pilot Candidate. Thus increasing thought-to-motion to near instantaneous levels. As well as allowing the Pilot Candidate to connect with and control their Mechs. This allows the pilot to control their Mech as if it were an extension of their own body. This negates the need for the pilot to have "Manual" controls of the Mech. Essentially making their Mech a "Second Body". Pilots are then able to simply think an action into being. Some Pilots even choose to be able to "feel" their Mechs pain when it becomes damaged. This also allows the pilot to use the Mech Processing power to further their own brain functions. Because of this Brain-to-Mech connection, the mech is able to preform functions thousands of times faster than with manual controls. With the Type 3 Synthetic Soul present in every Mech, the mind of the Pilot and Synthetic Soul are able to communicate so efficiently that functions such as walking, running or other "basic" functions or reactions need not be "thought" by the pilot. But are instead done automatically.

* Bionic Optical lens implant. Replacing the natural lens of each eye with a precision engineered lens. Which focuses light on an average five to seven times better than the original lens. Allowing for even further focus at longer distances. Allowing for an average between 150/20 to 180/20 vision.
* Bionic retina additions to allow for the brain to interpret and see infrared light.
* A neurological full body implant that allows the pilot to consciously monitor their body functions and alter to a degree their biological processes. This allows for better situational reaction and adaptability.
* Neurological sensory control, allowing for the eradication of pain, smell, taste, touch and pleasure, as well as the opposite.
* Addition of chemical producers linked throughout the body to further increase chemical balances to aid in bodily functions and healing.
* Various synthetic musculature fiber laces that amplify the users musculature output by a factor of 2.1

## Homo-Superioris

Although it is kept a closely guarded secret. Before any post-birth alterations, Pilots are technically a separate species of Homo-sapiens, which Director General Grace Lionheart named "Homo-Superioris". They are the first definitve case of forced evolution in humanity. Lionheart decided to hide this information so that the Pilots would not be considered a threat to the rest of humanity. However it has been theorized that if humanity wins the war, that homo-Superioris would eventually outlive and replace modern humans.

This is due in part to the fact that not all Homo-Superioris who have been born have been taken into the Mech program. Due to the sheer number of parent candidates it would be nearly impossible to find and eradicate every Homo-Superioris. It is likely that humanity will replace itself without even knowing it.

After their training and augmentations, the Pilot Candidates measure far beyond any human in history. Able to preform feats of strength, resilience, endurance far beyond what any human could hope to achieve.

The average Pilot stats are as follows:

* Height: 7'1(216cm)
* Weight: 500lbs (226kg)
* Lifting Strength: 5000lbs (2267kg)
* Resting Heart Rate 16.5bpm
* Visual Acuity: 160/20
* Reaction Time: 3-4 Milliseconds (0.003-0.004 seconds)
* Sprint Speed: 72.5kmh (45mph)
* Life Span: Unknown (Theorized 1000+)
* Calorie Intake Per Day: 900 (To maintain peak physical performance.)

The number of augmentations both biological and cybernetic are currently unknown, the ones listed above are the known augmentations. However it is more than likely that dozens of lesser augmentations were needed to better integrate the primary augmentations into the Pilot's bodies.

Although there are no current cases, it is theorized that fully augmented Pilots may be able to pass down a most if not all of their Genetic Markers to their offspring. But it has also been theorized that the biological augmentations post-birth may have unintended effects on any offspring.

The augmentations that alter the healing capabilities of the Pilots have shown considerable results. Injuries that would cause catastrophic failure and death in humans are now quite survivable for pilots. It has been documented that a pilot sustained 3rd degree burns to 98% of her body, but after only a week the pilot had recovered so significantly that she was able to return to active duty with only three further days needed until her body had returned to before the incident.

Upon destruction of a pilots heart, the brain will undergo brain death nearly 3 hours after the last circulation of fresh blood. This has allowed countless Pilots to survive from their injuries long enough to receive medical attention.

Thanks to the significant Pilot brain scans and survivability of the pilots, it has been theorized that as long as a pilot has 25% of their brain matter intact, that they could have their brain regrown over several months and a dozen or so surgeries. Whether or not these pilots would retain their memories is yet to be determined. But it seems likely that unless a Pilot is either completely disintegrated, suffers over 75% damage to their brain, or suffers nearly complete destruction of their body and mind, that they may be able to survive far more than originally intended.

*"It doesnt matter what we are biologically, all that matters is that we do what we can. That we work to the best of our abilities. Of course we aren't human. Humans die like candles in the rain, humans break. We are Pilots, Soldiers." -* Commander John Russel