A clone (also known as an "alt" between the mecha pilots) is an individual identical to another obtained by genetic techniques, although the cloning has advanced enough to create clones with differences in the phenotype of the original individual, that is, with different appearances.
The ancient race of the Forerunner reached a pinnacle of genetic engineering that humanity has not yet been able to match. Current human knowledge of cloning has not even come close to the shadow of the mountain that Forerunner knowledge represented.
It is recorded in Forerunner texts that man was created as a servile race, retaining some genetic similarity, although with shorter lives and less intellectual capacity. But the seemingly distant threshold of the Forerunner Science never intimidated human scientists, who, since the digital age, have been working on experiments with cloning.
At the beginning of the thirtieth century cloning was banned in many countries, although the Great Powers never ceased their investigations. However, human cloning has always been a taboo subject, poorly accepted and looked upon with suspicion by most governments, including those who supported its study.
The advances made in cloning, until a few centuries ago, were not sufficiently refined enough to allow the creation of many clones in a reasonably short period.
The discovery of the Gateway jump in 2287 was a boom in both human expansion and demographic growth, which made human cloning unnecessary for colonial purposes or for obtaining armies quickly, which was also tremendously costly.
In the last century, renewed studies in the genetic field, sponsored by mysterious sources of funding, began to stimulate some scientists of the Novum Dolorum colony leading to all types of scientific investigations. Among them was Doctor Drake, the infamous archvillain that came to create a clone army, who made unauthorized use of the facilities of the scientific colony. But after the defeat of the army at the hands of the mercenary clans, the hegemony decreed the closure of all investigations at the facility. Drake, foreseeing all possibilities and having hacked the security system of Novum, escaped to the uncharted regions, where he continues his nefarious investigations.
But before creating his own army, Dr. Drake's knowledge had already fuelled Drochah's army, known as the League of Ages. This enabled the forerunner to shed wave after wave of armies seemingly out of nowhere in their attempt to seize the known galaxy.
3313 to 3315. The Clone Purge
The threat created by Dr. Drake rallied the Great Powers of the galaxy against the uncontrolled existence of clones, triggering very negative reactions to the clones and the tightening of immigration and demographic control laws against them.
The hostile tendency towards the clones culminated between the years 3313 and 3315 in which a purge was initiated against them, This established a limit to the times that an individual could be cloned by common agreement by the three Great Powers.
This limit was fixed at eight, since several studies demonstrated psychopathic behaviours in the ninth and later clones. In some cases, lower limits were enforced.
Following the new clone rulings, many clones feared for their lives. Some tried to flee to the uncharted areas, others abandoned the lives they led to join pirate clans, and there were also clones that grouped together and tried to resist. This created numerous rebellions and riots that led to a stronger answer on the part of the galactic authorities, leading to the creation of Death Squads, whose aim was to locate and execute the illegal clones.
Although the existence of a small number of clones is now tolerated (far from what some commanders eventually created), they are still looked upon with suspicion and remain under the watchful eye of the authorities.
For their part, the Craftsmen echoed the anti-cloning laws, establishing a maximum presence of alts in their tournaments similar to the limits imposed by the various governments. This also eliminated an excessive presence of clones in some clans that in the past had led to several issues and unsportsmanlike conduct.
Related entries:
- Clone purge (aka alt purge)
- Clone limits on Mecha Games
- Dr. Drake Novum
- Droch'ah
- League of Ages
(By GJ - 685605)
