Separated at Birth: America and Drakia

[Mister Abbadon]

Well

and in the United States technological innovation drove other grand new projects totally alien to Drakian sensibilities.​

Well, let's hope the United States isn't starting to go down the road of weaponizing hyper advanced artificial intelligence to manage their economy and military.

 

[Leonidas]

When you first hinted at the Drakians' ambitions at creating a new artificial "master race," I was expecting a horrific sci-fi nightmare program complete with dramatic sound effects as the protagonist uncovers the glowing vats and realizes what's Really Going On. However, after reading this chapter, I was surprised that my reaction ended up being "wow, this doesn't sound unrealistic for OTL." After all, it's basically just a larger-scale eugenics program brought to twisted fruition and mixed with a massive dose of Hitlerjugend-esque indoctrination. The truly disturbing thing about this isn't that it's viscerally foreign (a la the human batteries in The Matrix) but that its most banal elements, such as budgetary concerns and inexperienced doctors, make it sound even more real. What does it say about our world that such appalling ideas of institutionally promoted abuse and bigotry are all too familiar?

 

[TheLoneAmigo]

Can't help but draw comparisons between the Dragon's Nests and Ceausescu's orphanages... per this. Obviously differences in terms of resourcing, but I wonder if the psychological damage wouldn't be similar?

 

[Manaarii]

Awesome new chapter, nice to see this timeline continue.

Human Instrumentality Project​

Hum...OH OH!
Nice reference
Also, this

Human Instrumentality Project? And a set-up that is basically an inverse Darling and the Franxx? Man, that would even be beyond the wildest dreams of the grimmest edgelords out there. Seriously, such a setting and background would make for a good anime. It would good excuse for teenage violence only for their notion of superiority to be utterly broken by learning about the truth, THE FUCKING TRUTH about their less-than-ideal genetic origin. Perhaps, the protagonist in the story would be sickly who tries to hide his ailment for his own dear life.

As a former grim edgelord I totally agree with this statement, it would make an awesome plot for a good anime or a decent live action movie.
I wonder how many Drakensis per year they will be producing by 1970, 1980, 1990 and 2000 (Drakia still exist by then).

When you first hinted at the Drakians' ambitions at creating a new artificial "master race," I was expecting a horrific sci-fi nightmare program complete with dramatic sound effects as the protagonist uncovers the glowing vats and realizes what's Really Going On. However, after reading this chapter, I was surprised that my reaction ended up being "wow, this doesn't sound unrealistic for OTL." After all, it's basically just a larger-scale eugenics program brought to twisted fruition and mixed with a massive dose of Hitlerjugend-esque indoctrination. The truly disturbing thing about this isn't that it's viscerally foreign (a la the human batteries in The Matrix) but that its most banal elements, such as budgetary concerns and inexperienced doctors, make it sound even more real. What does it say about our world that such appalling ideas of institutionally promoted abuse and bigotry are all too familiar?

What was described in this chapter really felt like it could happen OTL (instead of a horror novel).

 

[weeb]

>Human Instrumentality Project
Drakia really does feel like SEELE don't they?

 

[Falecius]

Why I do suspect that the the limnic eruption problem is not going to self-correct anywhere as quickly as the Drakian scientists (still on Stoker's paybook?) thought?

 

[the Imperium of Canada]

Most of the adult Drakensis (those who survived to adulthood) would prove to be fanatically loyal, well-educated, physically fit, arrogant, domineering, violent, emotionally stunted, and alienated from the rest of humanity that they had been told was a lesser species.

I'm sure this won't backfire on Drakia in anyway

 

[Dr. Hochmeister]

That was one disturbingly realistic take on a eugenics program. Give it a generation and I suspect even some Drakians will be unnerved by what they've created. Nobody's going to want to put a generation of psychopaths in charge of themselves, regardless of whether or not they're "genetically superior." Drakia's really going to be an international pariah state at this rate.

Also intrigued by the references to AI and the space race this chapter, I assume the "AI" is more akin to OTL's machine/deep learning and pattern recognition algorithms than a true "intelligence," still useful but not anywhere near a true intelligence. And once again, I gotta point out the clock is ticking on nukes; if they've got all the tech to make computers and explore space they'll have all the theoretical knowledge to hypothesize nuclear reactions.

 

[Falecius]

That was one disturbingly realistic take on a eugenics program. Give it a generation and I suspect even some Drakians will be unnerved by what they've created. Nobody's going to want to put a generation of psychopaths in charge of themselves, regardless of whether or not they're "genetically superior." Drakia's really going to be an international pariah state at this rate.

Also intrigued by the references to AI and the space race this chapter, I assume the "AI" is more akin to OTL's machine/deep learning and pattern recognition algorithms than a true "intelligence," still useful but not anywhere near a true intelligence. And once again, I gotta point out the clock is ticking on nukes; if they've got all the tech to make computers and explore space they'll have all the theoretical knowledge to hypothesize nuclear reactions.

I think "AI" stands for "Artificial Insemination" here.

 

[Whachamacallit]

On the other hand, as much as it is a minor detail, I quite digress on the meteorological effects that such a reservoir would have made. Doesn't the rainforest make their own rain? I doubt it would increase the precipitation of the region, since the amount of water won't be really added. What just happened is a change in the water cycle. Instead of the countless plants' respiration, it would be the evaporation from the lake that would now cause that rain.

Instead, I would even argue for the opposite. The respiration provided by the plants would have been more efficient in giving off the moisture and humidity needed for the region's weather system than a giant, inland sea would give. That lake would need to collect heat first before it would even evaporate, ditto when drought comes and the water levels in the dam do lower. If anything however, the new inland sea would certainly make for a harsh weather and even more erratic climate patterns.

Huh, I knew the rainforest produces it's own rain, but I had thought that rainfall would increase with the flooding because more water would be trapped in the Congo Basin that would add more water at any given time, since the water can't readily escape to the sea any longer. But you do raise a decent argument to the contrary.
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And man, reading that a nurse reads a book to the kids every night in the Agoge made me think that those shits must be insufferable. And then it turns out that they're even worse!

 

[Spimi Remun]

I’ve been eagerly waiting for your take on Homo Drakensis , and I’ve gotta say, you did not disappoint.
The corruption, the inbreeding, the budgetary problems, the resistance, the abuse and bullying... all far, far more realistic than Stirling’s “master race.”
And of course, the way they did it is just perfect as well, although I doubt that they meant to. Take a bunch of kids who aren’t actually perfect, indoctrinate them with the idea that they actually are, and their natural inferiority complex will have them going to absolutely ridiculous lengths to hide any possible imperfections or faults. And, of course, their indoctrinated superiority complex will have them projecting their faults and constantly searching for any weakness in everyone around, including eventually their masters. As someone up thread already said, there’s no possible way this could go horribly wrong for the Drakians.

 

[pattontank12]

This is making me wonder if they'll be working on human gene therapy for the next generation of Drakensis in the 70's with all the potential horrors it can imply.

 

[xsampa]

Or maybe one of the supermen will rebel against their human masters

 

[pattontank12]

Or maybe one of the supermen will rebel against their human masters

(I couldn't help myself)

 

[Spimi Remun]

Or maybe one of the supermen will rebel against their human masters

That does seem pretty likely; the “supermen” have been conditioned to find and detest weakness, after all. The Drakians meant to create their own replacements; I wonder how they’ll feel about actually getting what they thought they wanted?
Of course, the fact that the “supermen” aren’t actually super makes it even odds that any attempt at rebellion will fail. The schadenfreude here is absolutely delicious.

Though I do feel kinda awful for these poor kids. They may be insufferable vicious arrogant little psychopaths, but it’s not really their fault, is it?

 

[ClockworkDawn]

"Behold, I teach you the overman: He is this lightning; he is this frenzy.”

The superman (small s) has arrived. Giving a bunch of abused, traumatized people who have been told they are perfect ultimate power over the state will most likely not end well. Anyone getting Red Guard vibes from the Drakensis description thus far?

I do wonder what the plan for the Drakensis is. Are they to be released into the general population and allowed to pick and chose their paths? Or do they have positions specially prepared for them when they come of age?

 

[the Imperium of Canada]

"Behold, I teach you the overman: He is this lightning; he is this frenzy.”

How much do the Drakensie have in common with OTL Nietzsche's concept of an Overman?

To my knowledge Nietzsche's Overman is essentially a Blue and Orange Morality philosopher-king, and had little to do with genetics.

 

[Generalissimo Maximus]

Oh, a new update! Can't wait to-

[The header is an image of a bunch of children]

oh

oh no

 

[Born in the USSA]

Perhaps, we could just rename the whole colony and empire and be over with the "Draka" brand. We could use the reigning king's name and namesake colony that time, or "Georgia".

How about Azania? May as well have the Classical fetish deeply rooted by the time they strike out on their own after all.

 

[Manaarii]

Imagine if the HIP and the Drakensis produced by this will (in the long term) be the causes of Drakia's downfall...that would be one of the most ironic thing ever!