Zhang Te Movement

“You the the uncountable masses; from each of you shall come a new star to blanket the heavens! You will not be gods among men; you will be gods among gods!” - Zhuge Pai's speech to the City of Qe, Breakdown Era.

History

The Zhang Te Movement began on the colony of the same name shortly after its founding, by pro-trangenic supporters. The movement spread amongst the colony, attracting scientists fascinated with transhuman, and drawing China's suspicion. Rumours of Exhuman interference abounded, exacerbated by battlefield reports indicating supersoldier deployment. Spies kept close tabs on the movement, looking for evidence of Exhumanism and revolution.

With the Breakdown, nothing held the movement back. Exhuman groups came into the open, welcomed by the movement; the Chinese-built government was mostly Movement supporters, and abdicated. When contact was restored, Zhang Te was a much different place, and its people even moreso.

The Zhang Te Movement dictates that all people must seek their perfect self, a physical and mental state of immaculate power and clarity. Aside from personal discipline, contemplation, and education, trangenics is considered the true path towards the ideal, by giving the body the power needed to reach it. As such, the government grants its people basic transgenics, and rewards service with further upgrades. Exceptional service and skill is rewarded with greater augments, building upon the superior foundation.

Government and Social Strata

Social standing and employment under the Movement is based on one's abilities. Those who are more capable - stronger, smarter, and more adaptable - tend to rise to the highest level of society. Ergo, those who possess transhuman modifications tend to do better than less-modified individuals, being simply more capable on a fundamental level. This would normally create a genetic aristocracy, with little hope for mobility; such a regime is anathema to the Zhange Te doctrine. Their solution was to reward excellency with the most valuable thing in this economy - a chance to do better.

There is a minimum level of genetic modification doled out to all Zhang Te citizens, consisting of basic gene-fixes, medical optimization, correction of non-trivial abnormalities, and so forth. Modifications beyond genetic welfare are provided as rewards for competent service, enhancing a person so that they can rise up the social ladder. Exceptional or superlative service is rewarded with greater access to genetic and cybernetic mods, allowing a person of superior talent to fully actualize his potential. Evaluations are provided at cost of time, testing people to see if they qualify for a trip to a modification center. A person is generally given a choice of several options of modification, with adequate counsel provided through online resources and consultants to ensure they can made headway to their goals. The most augmented are given positions of high power, and the ability to participate directly in the government administration as a provincial leader, or Prefect. All provinces send a representative to the Central Authority, which decides national matters.

Money generally doesn't come into it; aside from certain cybernetics additions and cosmetic alterations, it is reserved for purchase of conventional goods and services. However, heightened Augment bracket also means one can purchase a variety of augmentations designated for their bracket; these vary from minor specializations in the lowest tiers, to vast alterations higher up. These options are much more limited than rewards, however, in order to prevent capital from swaying the genetic meritocracy.

The system has so far worked out well; unemployment is generally low, and new people fill in gaps as others receive augmentations to carry them to new professions. However, several problems have been noticed by the Members of Parliament and the Movement founders, leading to heated debates both in council and across the nation.

Primary among these is the idea of heredity. Most Zhang Te oppose genetic copyright; the feel they have a duty to pass their genes onto the next generation. However, the idea of a child receiving an obvious genetic advantage at birth conflicts with the Zhang Te ideal of self-improvement; the child is given an advantage over his peers without effort to show for it. Several Prefects have attempted to pass laws allowing for genetic expiry clauses to prevent augmentations from passing to one's issue; this has been met with huge outcry from across the colony. Currently, genetic qualities pass to offspring, though no maintenance is provided unless the child shows proper effort and skill. The effectiveness of this compromise is debated by both sides of the argument.

History Paths

Exploration Era
1) Garden World: Population Boom (+ 120 pop, +100 wealth) )
2) Precursors: Extensive (+ 250 dust, - 50 PIP)
3) Drones: None (+ 60 population, + 100 Wealth)
4) Honeypot (+ 100 Theta, + 100 Fabers, + 10 Transgene, - 2,500 Military)
5) Strategic (+ 2,500 military)

Colonization Era
1) Chinese Arm (+7,500 military, + 60 Population, + 100 PIP )
2) Second Stage (+ 210 Population, + 50 PIP, + 100 CIP, + 50 Wealth, + 1 logistics, + 10 Transgene)
3) New Freedoms (+ 20 Transgene)
4) Emerging Exhuman Help (+ 200 fabers, + 100 applications, + 200 Wealth, +200 dust)
5) Cut A Deal (+100 supersoldier, + 100 CIP, + 2,500 military)
6) Quiet (+ 60 population, +100 Wealth, + 100 PIP, + 10 SP)

Breakdown Era
1) Stability! (no modifiers)
2) Exhuman Resurgence (+1 Doctrines, +12,500 Military, +5 Logistics, +40 Transgene, -60 Pop, -100 Wealth)

War Era and Aftermath
1) We'll Rebuild China (+ 60 Pop, +100 Wealth, +11,500 military, +5 morale, Chinese Tech Paradigm)
2) Still Free (+ 2,500 Military, +100 PIP, + 1 logistics, +1 Morale, + CIS relations, - Chinese Relations)
3) Financially Independent (+ 60 Pop, + 100 Wealth, + 100 PIP)
4) Supersoldier Factory (+ 100 application, +20 transgene, +200 supersoldiers)
5) Future Government (+2 Morale, +20 Transgene)
6) Covert: Military Intelligence (+2 Intelligence, +1 Infiltration, +1 Military Discipline, +5 Doctrines)

Chaotic Event
Hippies Under The Bed (+ 60 Pop, - 2,500 military)

Totals

Pop: 710 (630)
Transgene 120
Military: 37,500
Logistics: 70
PIP: 855 (500)
CIP: 655 (300)
Fabers: 300
Dust: 450
Theta: 100
Wealth: 1005 (650)
Morale: 8
Doctrines: 25
Applications: 600
Infiltration +1
Intelligence +2
SP: 10 (80 pop)

Morale

Total: 20 (+1 Military Discipline)

Public Order: 7

Military Discipline: 10

Societal Closure: 4

Transgene

Total: 120

Imperial: The bulk of Zhang Te have been modified to be better at physical tasks and social interaction, befitting the large working-class population. This type covers a wide variety of different people, all with small personal modifications that roughly equal a discernable classification. With a large working-class population and an emphasis on military service, this is the most common template.

Physical 1 (6)

Socialization 1 (6)

12

50% of population (total: 36)

Mandarin: Those who have shown amazing acumen and leadership are given the Mandarin upgrade, which greatly enhances intelligence through multi-threaded brains and streamlined neurons. The Mandarins administer to the nation, coordinating social planning and dispersal of genetic modifications. Some of them act as strategists for the military.

Intelligence 3 (24)

Socialization 1 (6)

Sleepless (Secondary) 1 (3)

30

10% of population (total 30)

Chituma: A permutation of 'Red Hare', the Chituma are a subgroup optimized to precision tasks. Though not as prevalent as the Imperial class, their superior reflexes make them optimum for service aboard starships, fighters, and operating vehicles.

Physical 2 (13)

Reactions 1 (7)

Wired Reflexes (Secondary) 2 (7)

27

25% of population (total 54)