NX-01 Program

**Size** | * 500 (Original candidates)
* 137 (In service between 2182-2201)
 **Equipment** | * Quantum Combat Skin
 **Battles** | * Union-Zultan Second Great War
 **Notable individuals** | * Washington-NX1137
* Maine-NX1045
* Jersey-NX1111
* Dallas-NX1004
 **Commanders** | * CMDR Maine-NX1045
* LT Dallas-NX1004
* MAJ Washington-NX1137

The **NX-01 Program** was the first iteration of the wider NX Program, which was an effort to produce hyper lethal and elite soldiers through the use of genetic, physical and mental augmentations. The NX-01 Program remains the only in the series to augment soldiers with complete physical augmentations.

## History

### Origins

The Galactic Union had been in a great war with the Zultan Empire from 2188, by 2190, the Union had lost 40% of its outer territory to the more militaristically advanced Zultan Empire. The Union had previously focused its effort into creating starships of exploration, with little effort on armaments and defences, as such, when these starships were in a fight against the Zultan warships, they stood little chance. Similarly, due to budget cuts and bureaucracy, the Galactic Union Military was at a severe disadvantage. As a result, defeat was looking likely, as the Zultans began to conquer and enslave the outer territories. The Galactic Union government began to search for solutions. They had begun a new production of advanced warships, but the military needed something to help them buy time until the warships could be deployed.

Scientists and researchers working for the Special Operations Division had been researching augmentation and enhancement technology for years prior, the lead scientist of this field was Dr. Benjamin Columbia. Columbia was tasked by SPECOPS to create super-soldier program in collaboration with the Marine Corps.

Recruiting took place amongst the military at large, individuals from the special forces being a priority due to their experience and prior training, however, Marine Corps personnel made up the bulk of the recruits. Columbia was stringent in his recruiting, he narrowed over 2,000 original applicants down to the eventual 500. Initially the military protested, as they would need as many super soldiers as they could get, Columbia disagreed and asserted that one genetically perfect soldier was superior to 100 imperfect ones. The military allowed Columbia to proceed. Columbia also only chose human candidates, citing the genetic sequencing of the human genome as essential, and that other races were incompatible with this.

The recruits were not made aware of the incredible dangers that came with the augmentation proceedure. The recruits were also required to relinquish their former lives and identities, and the directorate would claim to relatives that their loved ones had died in combat, to avoid questions.

### Training

The NX-01 candidates were taken to a facility within the Theos System on the planet Concord. They began a period of training before augmentations in order to ensure that they were at peak physical and mental condition; they would also recieve training on the types of missions they would conduct when they graduated. Candidates were assigned new names and service numbers, which they were required to remember and adapt to, if a candidate did not answer to their name or forgot it, they were often physically punished in order to ensure it was ingrained. Candidates were named after cities and places on Earth, the human homeworld. Lieutenant Alexander Rhylls was in charge of the training period, which was also overseen by Dr. Columbia and his team. The candidates were sorted into "classes" of 50, in order to make training easier, each class was identified by a letter of the alphabet. Class A was made up of the first 50 recruits, and were considered the most experienced and effective class. Columbia and Rhylls sought out potential leaders amongst the candidates in each class. They quickly identified Maine-NX1045 as a natural leader who inspired others naturally. Other individuals identified were Dallas-NX1004 and Washington-NX1137. The three were promoted to Sergeants, in order to grant seniority amongst the candidates. Other leadership candidates were promoted to lesser ranks, such as Corporal, like Jersey-NX1111.

The training regiment pushed the limits of human endurance, and was considered by the candidates later as "brutal" and "absolute hell". It was especially difficult as the candidates had not recieved augmentations yet, which meant the training was incredibly taxing on them. The candidates also recieved an in depth education of battle tactics, information on the Zultans, information on potential battle theatres and training in operating new weapons and vehicles.

### Augmentations

The previous training regiment was the easy part of the Program, the augmentation process was where the recruits were truly put to the test. 500 candidates went into the proceedure, only 242 made it out alive, and out of those, only 137 were fit for service, the others being crippled or comatose. Candidates recieved the following augmentations, totalling 8, the most of any of the NX Programs so far:

#### Advanced skeletal reinforcement

Candidates were cut open, and had every major bone in their body grafted with iridium, an indestructible metal. This process made it near impossible to break the candidates bones. Despite the anaesthetic used during the proceedure, candidates would experience immense pain for days afterwards as every bone in their body ached. Candidates would also have to adjust to their new mass, as their bones were slightly heavier than before.

#### Muscle efficiency enhancement

Candidates recieved a course of 150 injections spread amongst every muscle in their body. The serum was designed to enhance muscle responsiveness and efficiency "by a factor of five". This overall increased reflexes and made the candidates five times stronger than they were previously. This, coupled with their enhanced skeletal structure, allowed candidates to lift objects over ten times their weight, such as medium sized vehicles, with ease. Candidates had to adjust to their new strength, even something as simple as moving their arm could cause damage to their surroundings, due to the enhanced reflexes as well as the strength.

#### Hyper metabolism stabilisation

Candidates recieved an implant into their body that regulated their metabolism, this essentially meant that candidates could go for weeks without food or water, and possessed immense endurance, hardly fatiguing. This was the easiest augmentation for the candidates to adjust to.

#### Super blood replacement

Candidates had their blood slowly drained and replaced with a new "super blood" made with modified blood cells. This blood was three times more efficient at carrying oxygen to the organs, and had a regenerative property that allowed for enhanced healing of external and internal wounds. This was one of the more deadly proceedures, and led to many deaths amongst the candidates as their bodies rejected the new blood.

#### Organ efficiency upgrade

This augmentation was essential in order for the Super blood to work effectively. Almost every organ was enhanced with implants and modifications to allow it to accept the new super blood. Similarly, the immune system was enhanced to ensure that candidates would be near immune to most diseases. Candidates hearts were made hyper efficient, which combined with the muscle enhancements and the super blood, gave the candidates immense endurance. This was also incredibly deadly, and led to many candidates suffering heart failiure due to the strain.

#### Visual cortex enhancement

Candidates were injected in their eyes with a serum designed to improve vision by a factor of five. Candidates were able to see much farther than previous, and pick up on minute details that normal eyes may not register. They also enhanced the brain to allow for faster intakes of information, which also led to candidates recieving a form of photographic memory.

#### Techno-organic grafting

The final augmentation was the grafting of technology into and onto the candidates' bodies. A temperature regulator was installed to allow candidates to survive in hostile climates without discomfort. Pressurization implants were attached to the candidates' chests to allow the candidates to survive in higher altitudes. Reinforcement strips were attached to the candidates limbs, and is one of the big identifiers if an individual is an NX-01; these strips were designed to further augment their strength, briefly allowing them a period of double strength, which would theoretically allow a candidate to lift a small starship as a maximum. Lastly, a neural interface was installed into the back of their heads, which would allow direct interfacing between candidates and technology. This combined well with their Quantum Battle Skins, which would feed tactical information directly into their brains.

#### Genetic resequencing

The 'cherry on top' of the augmentation proceedure, and the most deadly, was the genetic resequencing. Led by Dr. Columbia himself, this stage entailed subjects recieving modifications to their DNA to provide final enhancements. This stage was essential for the other augmentations to work correctly, otherwise, Dr. Columbia theorised that the candidates would die within weeks. Dr. Columbia based this stage on the recent genetic memory discovery, in that, the human genome records the history of genetic ancestors, and by tracing back far enough in the genome, the DNA of ancient humanity can be found. The candidates DNA is modified to be similar to the ancient human DNA, which was more complex than modern day human DNA. This modification allowed the candidates' bodies to accept the augmentations, and allowed them to access precursor technology more effectively than other humans. Many candidates died horrific deaths from this stage, as their DNA would randomly break down, causing candidates to literally liquify. Some candidates survived, but were crippled beyond help.

## Personnel

### Scientists and trainers

The following personnel oversaw the augmentation and training of the NX-01 program:

* Lead scientist: Dr. Benjamin Columbia
* Head of training: SGTMAJ Alexander Rhylls
* AI assistant: Cynthia
* Dr. Agnes Masters
* Dr. Alexei Spaliovich
* Dr. Jen Oliver

### Candidates

The following is a list of known candidates that survived augmentation proceedures

* Icaria-NX1001 - killed during Kirsk counterattack during the Union-Zultan Second Great War
* Dallas-NX1004 - Considered one of the most effective super soldiers and had a high kill count, died during the fall of Anaxia during the Second Great War.
* Colorado-NX1006 - Listed as MIA. Likely KIA during the fall of Buran.
* Ontario-NX1008 - KIA after intentionally causing a reactor breach to destroy a Zultan Warship during the Gharcon campaign.
* Tijuana-NX1012 - Listed as MIA. Likely KIA during the fall of Buran.
* Caracas-NX1015 - Listed as MIA. Likely KIA during the fall of Buran.
* Bogota-NX1018 - Listed as MIA. Confirmed KIA during combat with Zultan General Sha-Krae-Dal during the battle of Kraxia.
* Salvador-NX1021 - Listed as MIA. Last seen during retreat at Argus.
* Lima-NX1025 - Listed as MIA. Likely KIA following battle of Voi.
* Panama-NX1027 - KIA following insurrectionist bombing of New Harmony Hospital.
* Rio-NX1034 - One of the last survivors of the NX-01 program, assisted in training of NX-02 candidates, died due to accelerated ageing due to side effects from genetic modifications.
* Medellin-NX1036 - Listed as MIA. Circumstances unknown.
* Cali-NX1039 - KIA during orbital battle of Voi.
* Natal-NX1042 - Listed as MIA. Likely KIA during the fall of Buran.
* Maine-NX1045 - Considered the leader of the NX-01 soldiers, the highest ranking amongst them and the best of them. Died during the climax of the orbital battle of Voi, hijacking a Zultan Warship and using it to destroy a Zultan fleet. Only NX-01 to be awarded a Galactic Medal of Heroism.
* Madrid-NX1051 - KIA during insurrectionist skirmish in 2191.
* Rome-NX1056 - Listed as MIA. Likely KIA during battle of Maxia.
* Vienna-NX1059 - Listed as MIA. Likely KIA during the fall of Buran.
* Bucharest-NX1063 - Listed as MIA. Last seen during retreat at Argus.
* Paris-NX1069 - KIA during insurrectionist skirmish in 2191.
* Budapest-NX1075 - Listed as MIA. Circumstances unknown.
* Milan-NX1083 - Status unknown.
* Sofia-NX1087 - Listed as MIA. Likely KIA during insurrectionist ambush in 2189.
* Naples-NX1093 - Listed as MIA. Last seen during reatreat at Argus.
* Turin-NX1096 - Served as mentor figure to Washington-NX1137. KIA in combat with insurrectionists in 2194.
* Amsterdam-NX1105 - Listed as MIA. Killed during battle of Chistophis.
* Krakow-NX1109 - Status unknown.
* Jersey-NX1111 - A very effective super soldier, turned the tide in the battle of Sethria. Died in combat with insurrectionists in 2193.
* Riga-NX1117 - Listed as MIA. Likely KIA during the fall of Buran.
* Essen-NX1121 - Listed as MIA. Circumstances unknown.
* Vilnius-NX1125 - Listed as MIA. Circumstances unknown.
* Dublin-NX1127 - KIA during orbital battle of Voi.
* Hanover-NX1130 - Listed as MIA. Likely KIA.
* Lyon-NX1134 - Status unknown.
* Tallinn-NX1135 - KIA during insurrectionist skirmish in 2191.
* Florence-NX1136 - Listed as MIA. Likely KIA in 2187.
* Washington-NX1137 - The only living NX-01 super soldier as of 2206. In service at the end of the Second Great War and saw no active combat during that conflict. Instrumental in the ending of insurrectionists in the outer territories. Currently serves in SPECOPS in an unidentified role.

### Discharged

The following were candidates who failed the training or augmentation proceedures. Some are still alive as of 2206, but are not considered official NX-01s

* Miami-NX1007 - Discharged due to failiures in augmentation process. Paralysed from the waist down. Alive as of 2206 as a desk operative for the Shadow Directorate.
* Vermont-NX1008 - Discharged due to failiures in augmentation process. Died at some point before 2206.
* Sacramento-NX1009 - Discharged due to failiures in augmentation process. Died at some point before 2206.
* Meridian-NX1010 - Discharged due to failiures in augmentation process. Died a particularly horrible death due to augmentation rejection.
* Quito-NX1022 - Discharged due to failiures in augmentation process.