Assassin Fully Augmented project

The Assassin Fully Augmented project was initiated by the Prime Paragon on d96 (Daedalus Mission Calendar) to develop a prototype to create a near perfect physical specimen fitted with a complete range of cybernetics -- a walking arsenal that will (once the final stages of development have been completed) be able to mingle undetected and interact in a human-normal population.

The AFA series of man devices will fulfill an important role in the advancement of the Mondite movement- carrying out a variety of missions including but not limited to security, espionage and political assassinations within and beyond the environment of the Reticulum and eventually herald the first true steps on the Mondites of self-determined evolution.

If initial operations are successful, Daedalus would become an assembly plant and preliminary staging area for all future AFA candidates, due to its extreme isolation and its unknown existence to the Reticulum.

Dr. Amet Mastaba considered that the inherent implications for the advancement of the Mondite movement were not recognised by his peers. He believed that the unification of man and technology represents a liberation from the flesh- a heretofore unattainable state that is central to teachings of the Prime Paragon. He intended to demonstrate this more clearly to the movement once this project has been taken to its successful conclusion.

Stage 1
Stage One involves the successful development of a fully integrated cybernetic organism. A desirable AFA candidate will be resistant to prosthetic rejection with a metabolism that can withstand extreme chemical and surgical treatments. Augmentations will endow the subject with extra-human strength, endurance and reaction time. Simultaneously keeping the subjects safe and the installation secure will no doubt present base personnel with numerous unexpected challenges.

A secondary line of research during this stage is to expand upon the previously developed genetic engineering techniques of the RF427 Project as well as the ABA (Assassin Biologically Augmented) project and benefit both projects. It will enable the scientists to develop a more robust candidate through progressive gene-swapping. Elaborate DNA/RNA mapping will alert to potential candidate deficiencies so that developmental problems can be immediately addressed.

Stage 2
Stage Two will move the candidates through a series of treatments that will completely wipe their memories, such as an experimental surgical technique. As an extremely delicate procedure. the development of unwanted side effects would require to switch to the standard electroshock method. This leaves subjects in a highly stressed and disoriented state, most dangerous and difficult to control. Various mimetic analog insignia will be implanted and recalled to indicate the level of success achieved in each candidate during this stage. At this stage there may also be additional data implants designed to speed up the candidate's progress through the third stage.

Stage 3
Stage Three involves relocating candidates from Daedalus to another installation to participate in a broad-based training program ranging from use of military hardware to Mondite philosophy to covert actions. At this stage candidates will be turned over to the hands of other units.

Stage 4
Stage Four involves the full physical and electronic camouflage of all prosthetics, plastic surgery for the purposes of establishing new identities, specialized customization, maintenance and upgrade refitting. Various elements of the camouflage for the AFA project have to be fully and successfully implemented.

History
The preparation for creating the first AFA candidates went well. Out of 260 potential test subjects 13 were suitable for First Stage implementation, significantly higher than the original estimated figure of 2%. The unsuitable candidates were expended.

Mastaba finally decided upon a suitable form of mimetic analog insignia and programmed the biological operative instructions for several of his mother's favorite pieces into an RNA-Doppler chip that will be implanted into all Stage Two AFA candidates. This would help him to determine if subjects have been successfully mindwiped- they will be able to play the flute.

The first of the operations begun a wondrous new age. As spoke the philosopher: "Here's to the new age of gods and monsters."

The project went on beyond the most optimist expectations but without success because of unforeseeable physiological complications. The experiments go into shock when removed from their cages for the first time, become savage and animalistic or lapse into a dangerous delusionary state.

Mastaba encountered difficulties with the mindwipe operation, unable to successfully complete it on the first two attempts. Since then a usual side effect was widening the rift (perhaps temporarily) between the conscious and the subconscious mind. Test subjects become desperate to write things down, some even biting their own fingers to write in blood on the walls. No sooner do they finish writing than they immediately look over what they have written. None of them seem to recognize or remember their own writing. It seemed to Mastaba that the subconscious mind, isolated from the sensation, thought and memory of current experience, becomes desperate to reestablish communication with the conscious mind. Mastaba intended to test the procedure on an illiterate subject and report his observations.

After numerous further attempts there was no progress in overcoming the psychological trauma attached to the procedure, something that could not be anticipated. When the ultimate Mondite goal of freedom above flesh appears to be achieved, every subject fell prey to insanity and a fear of being changed that manifests itself through a dangerously distorted sense of reality. This condition, while initially psychological, triggers a severe alteration of brain chemistry that has rendered every subject completely useless.

Out of sheer frustration Mastaba shifted over to some of the genetics work and put the surgical assembly of AFA prototypes on hold. As of later, the scientists have manufactured a startling variety of curiosities.

Mastaba's treatment of Odon's Hatching Fever made him discover that performing Stage Two first would be the solution for the metamorphosis related schizophrenia problem.

Eventually Mastaba was inspired by the progress of Durrell Zane in using Phyxx technology to create a One Man Assault Fighter. He decided to utilize various other elements of Phyxx technology in developing the AFA prototype.

One day he created what he thought was the first successful candidate leaving only one potential test subject.

While he was preparing for his second success, the project was cut short when a reanimated Phyxx Soldier escaped from the Cellbock and in less than an hour single-handedly devastated the base. Before evacuating with all surviving personnel, Mastaba finished his operation and then left.