What did they put in those apple pies?
For the longest time, scientists were baffled by the sudden, relatively speaking, mutation of the humans that landed on Neo America. Even after advancements in genetics, there is still debates about the cause. Some believe that radiation from the unstable wormhole had a domino effect everyone on the colony ships. Others believe it was an unexpected food source reaction to the mineral deposits in Neo America's crust. Whatever was the cause, the colonists soon found themselves... changing.
Army Strong
Probably the most obvious difference between a human and a terran is musculature. Namely, the terran has a whole lot more of it. At first, it was believed that the hard living from the environment forced people to be more physically active. Others thought it was the increased usage of superfoods developed during the early attempts to adapt. However, parents soon found themselves with children heartier and healthier than could be expected from pumping all the iron and drinking all the neo-space-protein. It was particularly apparent when said children were flipping trucks for fun in their teenage years.
For a time, insurance companies were suffering a waking nightmare of constant accidental property damage, until sturdier stuff was developed.
Gonna need more elbow room
However, despite the obvious advantage having a population of super strong humans would provide, there was also more negative side effects. For one thing, increased strength does not equate to increased efficiency. In fact, some think that humanity has become even more high-maintenance. For one thing, terrans are more easily... agitated. They don't like being as crowded as humans can be, and they are a lot more sensitive about leaving familiar environments. It isn't so much a loss of wanderlust, just an increase in travel allergies. This has also led to a requirement for more living space, if only because terrans need a bigger door to fit through.
They're like the internet in that way
The side effect with the most social impact, however, is entirely mental: terrans are more argumentative about their viewpoints. In fact, many modern historians believe that this was the greatest catalyst for the Neo American Civil War, as in hindsight many of the events that led up to it seemed kind of... extreme, when compared to similar events in human history (that anyone is aware of according to surviving archives).
In fact, some terran conspiracy theorists (of which there are plenty, unfortunately) argue that the chain of events leading up to that historic moment were almost tailor made.
Some of the even crazier elements even wonder if some sort of omniscient being had jumped around to make sure everything happened just so... But those are fringe elements that no one takes seriously.
What y'all need is some discipline, that's what you need
There are a few socio-political theorists who go further, and say that the USNA's "Liberal Stratocracy" (as some would call it)) is merely a logical conclusion of this mental mutation. After all, humans were volatile enough in a Representative Democracy. Now imagine all the politicians are more easily agitated, more prone to disagreement, and could punch through an Earth-standard wall. While many to this day debate the changes the General made to the constitution, even more at least understand the logic he was working under when he made the decision: the leaders of this nation needed both to prove their commitment to it, as well as the discipline afforded by military training in order to keep a cool enough head to function properly.
Terran Up The Night
Just because I can make that reference. Hey, "Terran" is an excepted alternate sci-fi name for humans, alright? I'm making all these other references, might as well this one, too.
Well, that, and Stars and Stripes Raynor being the spark that set me on the path of doing something like this.
Next time, hopefully a patriotic beginning.
For the longest time, scientists were baffled by the sudden, relatively speaking, mutation of the humans that landed on Neo America. Even after advancements in genetics, there is still debates about the cause. Some believe that radiation from the unstable wormhole had a domino effect everyone on the colony ships. Others believe it was an unexpected food source reaction to the mineral deposits in Neo America's crust. Whatever was the cause, the colonists soon found themselves... changing.
Army Strong
Probably the most obvious difference between a human and a terran is musculature. Namely, the terran has a whole lot more of it. At first, it was believed that the hard living from the environment forced people to be more physically active. Others thought it was the increased usage of superfoods developed during the early attempts to adapt. However, parents soon found themselves with children heartier and healthier than could be expected from pumping all the iron and drinking all the neo-space-protein. It was particularly apparent when said children were flipping trucks for fun in their teenage years.
For a time, insurance companies were suffering a waking nightmare of constant accidental property damage, until sturdier stuff was developed.
Gonna need more elbow room
However, despite the obvious advantage having a population of super strong humans would provide, there was also more negative side effects. For one thing, increased strength does not equate to increased efficiency. In fact, some think that humanity has become even more high-maintenance. For one thing, terrans are more easily... agitated. They don't like being as crowded as humans can be, and they are a lot more sensitive about leaving familiar environments. It isn't so much a loss of wanderlust, just an increase in travel allergies. This has also led to a requirement for more living space, if only because terrans need a bigger door to fit through.
They're like the internet in that way
The side effect with the most social impact, however, is entirely mental: terrans are more argumentative about their viewpoints. In fact, many modern historians believe that this was the greatest catalyst for the Neo American Civil War, as in hindsight many of the events that led up to it seemed kind of... extreme, when compared to similar events in human history (that anyone is aware of according to surviving archives).
In fact, some terran conspiracy theorists (of which there are plenty, unfortunately) argue that the chain of events leading up to that historic moment were almost tailor made.
Some of the even crazier elements even wonder if some sort of omniscient being had jumped around to make sure everything happened just so... But those are fringe elements that no one takes seriously.
What y'all need is some discipline, that's what you need
There are a few socio-political theorists who go further, and say that the USNA's "Liberal Stratocracy" (as some would call it)) is merely a logical conclusion of this mental mutation. After all, humans were volatile enough in a Representative Democracy. Now imagine all the politicians are more easily agitated, more prone to disagreement, and could punch through an Earth-standard wall. While many to this day debate the changes the General made to the constitution, even more at least understand the logic he was working under when he made the decision: the leaders of this nation needed both to prove their commitment to it, as well as the discipline afforded by military training in order to keep a cool enough head to function properly.
Terran Up The Night
Well, that, and Stars and Stripes Raynor being the spark that set me on the path of doing something like this.
Next time, hopefully a patriotic beginning.
. However, I did complete an Enclave Reformed playthrough in HoI4: OWB, so there's that.
