KTF/The History of the Klingon Augment Virus
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The History of the Klingon Augment Virusby Deanna Rose Bressie There is no doubt that the Klingon race is the most proud, honorable, bravest race in the galaxy. Their prowess in battle is legendary, their stories serving as both entertainment and as warnings of the fierceness of their warriors. However, there was a time when scientists of the Klingon Empire thought they could improve their race’s traits with genetic manipulation. Using Augment embryos leftover from Earth’s Eugenics War, Klingon scientists started experimenting with ways to enhance a Klingon’s already formidable strength. This had unexpected, disastrous results that almost led to the extinction of the Klingon race. The history of the Augment Virus does not start in 2154, when Klingon scientists discovered augment embryos on a destroyed Bird of Prey in orbit of Qu’Vat. Rather, it begins with the origins of the Augments themselves. The Augments were designed to be five times stronger, remarkably agile, and twice as intelligent as a normal human, resistant to sickness and with enhanced senses, possessing heart muscles twice as strong and lung efficiency 50% better. ((1)) Along with twice the average life span and an improved resistance to energy weapons, the Augments were also aggressive, arrogant, ambitions, and a diminished sense of morality. While it is unknown exactly when the Augments were developed, the Augments rose to power and held dominance over a large portion of Humanity, beginning in the early 1990s. In 1992, Khan Noonien Singh took control of over one quarter of the Earth, mostly in Asia and the Middle East. During the following four years, known as the Eugenics War, the Augments seized power in over 40 nations. With overdeveloped egos to match their physical enhancements, they lead as tyrants, treating humans as little more than slaves. Entire populations were wiped out. Some cities were destroyed, while some were left untouched. Slowly but surely, the non-enhanced humans banded together and overthrew the Augments, with the last being Khan Noonien Singh in 1996. Unknown to the general population, when the Augments were overthrown over 80 (including Khan) were unaccounted for. The official number of casualties from the wars was placed at 30 million, although some historians believe it to be closer to 35 million, with another figure established as being 37 million. ((2)) After the Eugenics Wars, it would be determined that all remaining Augment embryos would be placed in cryogenic stasis. By 2130, the Augment embryos were stored on Cold Station 12, a top secret facility run by Humans and Denobulans under the Interspecies Medical Exchange. The facility was used to store hazardous viruses and pathogens for research purposes, as well as over 1,800 embryos of 20th century Augments, left over from the Eugenics Wars. ((3)) Doctor Arik Soong, a geneticist, was the senior medical director and facility chief of staff at Cold Station 12. Sources
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