Gene Five

"'He who controls Gene Five controls the world.' - Councillor Robert Wigram, CEO and Majority Shareholder of Wigram Holdings and founding member of the Council of Twelve."Gene Five is a genetic 'binding agent' and the enabler of all Genetic and Cybernetic Modifications in the Atlas Coalition. It is derived from the genetic material of Hyperion V, and is currently one of the most valuable resources in the world.

History
Gene Five was a theoretical substance throughout the African War, and may countries tried to create it. At the time they knew it as the 'Super Gene' that would elevate humanity to a new age. Throughout the war, many different types of chemical were tried in enhancement procedures but with very rare exceptions nothing worked properly. It seemed as though true Genetic Augmentation was only possible through pre-birth manipulations in a laboratory.

PRGA Abominations
Early on in the war it became quite obvious that the People's Republic of Greater Asia had access to a rudimentary form of Gene Five. In 2040, this would be seen as extremely low quality Synthetic Gene Five, as the physical deformaties it caused on its subjects left them as little more than shambling mindless monsters. Despite numerous tests run by scientists prior to the Hyperion Project, not much could be achieved by copying the PRGA formula except for even more grotesque abominations. This did not deter the Coalition, who did use Abominations in a few select battles before General Eric Connelly outlawed their use in 2018.

Operation Cobalt Hue
In the aftermath of Operation Cobalt Hue, the soldiers that were irradiated in the accident were taken to Area 51, where they were subjected to intense Genetic Modification without the use of a Genetic enabler. Due to the Radiation damage, they were able to mutate to accept the modifications, becoming Proto-Hyperion Soldiers.

Hyperion V
Hyperion V was created as a frontline combat soldier. Originally, she was destined to grow to a similar height to Hyperion III and VII, but difficulties with her Tertiary Heart caused her limbs to lose blood flow and require amputation. Her future was unsure until the scientists at the Hyperion Project noticed how readily her body accepted Cybernetics. Mere hours of study later, and the scientists were on the phone with the Council of Twelve, telling them they had cracked the Super Gene once and for all.

Gene Five
Naming the new formula Gene Five, the scientists set up a process to recycle Hyperion V's wasted limb tissue into the highly valuable formula. Once she reached a level where she was capable of sparing large amounts of biological tissue, she began donating Gene Five personally in order to help those who needed genetic modification. Through Hyperion V, now going by the name Natalie McKellen, a vast majority of genetic disorders, cancerous growths and even diseases such as HIV became curable. Gene Five was a miracle cure, and the Atlas Coalition knew it.

Exclusivity
Due to the limited stock of Gene Five, the Atlas Coaliton stockpiled what they could and rationed it out only in extreme cases. It was primarily a fix for the wealthy, as the Atlas Governent charged obscene prices for its use. In the years that Gene Five has been available, it has increased the life expectancy for the 1% to well over 120 years old, although it is still relatively unknown what long time use of Gene Five treatments will do to the human body.

Pure Synthesis
At approximately 1839 hours on the 8th of May 2038, Doctor Konrad Valcz synthesized Gene Five in a landmark discovery. He managed to replicate the creation process by cloning some of Natalie McKellen's biological tissue. This process took 2 months from start to finish, and once his proof of concept worked he was celebrated in the scientific community as a hero. Doctor Valcz's designs allowed Gene Five to be produced on a large scale, and this meant that the less wealthy people could be granted the miracle cure as well.

Military Usage
Except this was not the case, as the Atlas Government had legal power over Gene Five, as they technically owned the substance. Doctor Valcz was also on their payroll, and as such the Gene Five he created went straight into the armoury of General Eric Connelly. The military went on to use Gene Five for countless applications, allowing them to increase their war machine to even greater levels.

Public Availability
Gene Five is available for use in Private Hospitals, and costs obscene amounts of money. It is seen as an unobtainable savior to most, the medicine they deserve but not one the Government will allow them to have.

Usage
Gene Five is used currently in multiple different ways, and is the lifeblood of the Atlas Coalition.

Genetic Modification
Gene Five is used in all Genetic Modification, and is split into five categories currently. Each type of modification utilizes the genetic material of other Hyperion Soldiers, and allows a shadow of their power to be gifted to subjects, creating Metahumans.
 * Type I
 * Type II
 * Type III
 * Type IV
 * Type VI

Cybernetic Modification
Gene Five is used in all Cybernetic Modifications, as it allows the brain to communicate with the prosthetic as if it were a regular flesh-and-blood part of the body. This is primarily known as a Type V modification, as it uses other genetic material from Hyperion V as well as the required Gene Five.

Gene Negative Five
As is usual with amazing products, there are knockoffs. In the case of Gene Five, there is a homemade Synthetic version of Gene Five created by back-alley chemists. It is highly dangerous and illegal, as it can cause massive mutation and is closer in effect to the barbaric PRGA Formula from the African War than it is to Gene Five, but at the end of the day it is some peope's only hope. It is sold commonly in Black Markets in slums and Resistance Colonies, and is generally avoided by all but the desperate and greedy. It can be used for back alley Metahuman modification, but it has become infamous for the horrifying side effects.

Gene Five-B
Gene Five-B is a highly rare substance that increases Genetic Effects at an exponential level. Or at least it does in theory, in reality it is a highly effective hallucinogenic poison as it does not interact with the subject's genetic material in a co-operative way like Gene Five does. It has been proven to work with pure Gene Five subjects in microdoses, but they all suffer serious physical and mental degradation from the effect. The Atlas Defense Force is currently investigating the source of Gene Five-B, and has issued several PSAs warning about the dangers of Gene Negative Five and Gene Five-B. ''"It's not worth the rush!" - Natalie McKellen, appearing in a PSA advertisement on online video websites.''