Next Generation

From Champions MUSH

Next Generation is an amorphous organisation specialising in genetic engineering with particular attention to producing meta-humans.

Background

Throughout the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries, the increasing frequency of significant deviations from the genetic human "norm" prompted many researchers to a range of competing hypotheses. That humanity was rapidly approaching a genetic watershed, that mutations were not the result of genetic manipulation at all but merely a symptom of a change in the fundamental laws of nature, that mutations were in fact physical expressions of long-dormant psycho-kinetic potential that was only now being activated on a systematic basis, and so on.

Research into the mechanisms of mutation, its replicability using post-natal gene-therapy, the possible range of effects it could produce, and methodologies for harnessing, enhancing, and directing its potential, all became high priorities for research institutions across the globe. It was soon realised however that there was a limit to how detailed any such study could be without access to mutants and normal humans to act as controls. Researchers sought detailed analyses of mutant abilities and limitations, access to genetic samples, information on their development through the life-cycle, dependence on environmental factors, and inheritability.

Here mutant research clashed head-on with the ethical constraints of genetic study. Definitive experimental results required that mutants and control specimens be closely observed and studied throughout their entire life-cycle. Ethics committees, university boards, politicians, religious figures, and the general public the world over were unanimous in placing strict limitations on how comprehensive, invasive, or destructive experimental procedures could be.

There remained however the select few whose thirst for knowledge, advantage, or remuneration outweighed their scruples. Some saw mutants as a threat that had to be eliminated or contained and sought information that would help them achieve that end, some thirsted for mutant abilities themselves, still others wanted to play God, while the majority just saw an opportunity for a substantial paycheck.

Forced underground by a disapproving public and unforgiving legislature a loose network of researchers and like-minded entrepreneurs coalesced, consolidating their studies, pooling resources until finally Next Generation was born. Details of its activities and organisation are necessarily hazy. Though comprised of a diverse collection of individuals and agencies the members of Next Generation are firmly united in their desire for secrecy. The group's methods are ultimately criminal and it has erected elaborate counter-measures to avoid detection and capture.

Goals

As with any large organisation there is no single objective that drives all facets of Next Generation's operations. However, its primary focus is the study of mutants, in particular:

• The range of powers and abilities that mutants can manifest
• How these abilities manifest and operate physiologically
• Whether a mutant's development of meta-human ability can be precipitated or directed externally
• Whether "normal" human beings have similar potential that is simply untapped
• Whether mutants share common traits, which might in turn allow the identification of uniform vulnerabilities or limitations, perhaps leading to the development of "anti-mutant" weaponry
• The development and refinement of genetic engineering techniques and post-natal gene therapy that might unlock or enhance mutant potential
• The potential of mutants and mutation-generating technologies as sale-able weapon systems

To this end Next Generation has a constant need for mutants (subjects) and normal humans (controls) with which they can conduct systematic experiments. This need is met by an ongoing scouting and capture program that identifies and retrieves mutants and normals that are appropriate for study.

Similarly, these experiments require on-going funding. Some of this financial burden is borne by sympathetic criminals, entrepreneurs or government agencies who can see the long-term value of the research being undertaken. The short-fall is made up by a combination of criminal operations (in the form of theft of liquifiable assets or expensive equipment) or sales (of weapons, technologies or services).

Organisation

In the interests of secrecy the internal structure of Next Generation remains reasonably fluid but may be broken down into a number of sections:

• The Directorship: This constitutes the decision-making branch of the organisation. It consists of an unknown number of the most out-standing minds in Next Generation, whether scientific, adminstrative, entrepreneurial, or criminal. The directorship never congregates in any one place and no member is aware of the identities of the others. Its meetings are convened and conducted by the Chairman, who has no input into proceedings other than to organise the television relays to each director and distribute necessary briefing materials before each meeting.
• Research & Development: Curiously this is no longer the largest section within Next Generation but it remains the most revered. Experiments are conducted at a variety of facilities hidden around the globe. These studies are directed and overseen by supervisors who are never on-site but are responsible for the design of the experiment's protocols and analysis of its results. The supervisors are Next Generation's most prized asset and constitute some of the greatest scientific minds among the current generation. This remote control operation allows the scientists to maintain independent scientific careers and reduces risk of exposure to investigators or hostile forces.
• Communication & Administration: The constant need for reliable but secret communication has placed a significant burden on Next Generation. Much effort has been expended developing effective double-blind communication methodologies, genuinely secure cryptographic systems, and data storage networks that will limit Next Generation's vulnerability should any one operative or facility fall into opposition hands. The ultimate effect is that most Next Generation operatives work in isolation, almost completely ignorant of the identities of their colleagues (beyond those they have worked alongside) and certainly knowing next to nothing of the overall organisational structure of next Generation. As with the Internal Reconnaissance section, if Communication was ever identified and breached by investigators Next Generation would be devastated (not entirely obliterated however since precautions have been taken). The Directorship hope that the secrecy of these sections' existence will protect them while investigators focus on the activities of Acquisitions.
• Reconnaissance: This is currently Next Generation's largest section in terms of personnel. It is broken into two sub-sections:
  • Internal: This group is responsible for maintaining up-to-date information on operative locations and activities. The purpose of this is two-fold. First: to maintain security, so that the activities of potential traitors might be recognised before they can do any significant damage, and second: to facilitate efficient communication to operatives who are mobile without the operatives needing to communicate constantly with Next Generation. This makes communication with peripheral operatives entirely one-way, limiting the information any one operative has.
  • External: The operatives in this section also have a two-fold responsibility. Identifying and locating useful experimental subjects and maintaining surveillance on potential external threats to recognise investigations or operations that might put Next Generation resources at risk.
• Acquisitions: This is an operational group large enough to have achieved relative autonomy. Its purpose is to capture subjects and controls for experimental purposes. Its resources are spread across a global network of facilities. Retrieval teams normally consist of a half-dozen operatives, usually under the command of a team-leader with significant meta-human potential. The other team members are usually equipped with body armour and non-lethal weaponry (or at least non-lethal to the intended target). Each team travels in two vehicles, allowing rapid deployment and easy transportation of captives. Despite being a reasonably small part of its overall organisational structure this is to a very great extent Next Generation's "public face". Given that this distracts attention from many of Next Generation's more serious endeavours and weak-points the notoriety enjoyed by the Acquisitions section is actively encouraged by the Directorship.
• Operations: This branch undertakes special operations, thefts of equipment or capital, contract work, and assassinations. The Lethifer Protocol falls under the auspices of the Operations section.
• Manufacture: This section is responsible for the application of technologies developed by Next Generation to produce sale-able products or assets (usually in the form of custom-designed meta-humans or anti-meta-human weaponry). Once the technologies have been developed by R&D their production becomes the responsibility of the Manufacture section.