_PROLOGUE_

So listen. I had an idea. It's not coming to RR yet, but... well, here's a potential prologue for it on my day off.

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Prologue

GRANT REQUEST FOR USAGE OF CONTROLLED MUTATION AND EXOTIC MATERIALS RADIATION TO FACILITATE TERRAFORMING CAPABILITIES AND PROVIDE FOR ECOSYSTEMIC REVITALIZATION

PROBLEM

     The human race has, through the use of industrialization and mass-reproduction, introduced a varying number of extermination-level events in the past 250 years, while multiplying our own numbers to exceed that of 9.8 Billion as of latest recorded census (see Markus K., ‘An Examination of Varying Birth Trends’. DESA 2034 / see United Nations Population Division. 1980. World Population Totals For 1970 - 2050, According to the 18 United Nations Revisions of World Populations Estimates and Projections. DESA. 193(3)304.). 

     While many of the potential dangers of this unprecedented level of global development have been offset through the use of genetically modified ‘supercrops’, the use of hormone manipulation and breeding programs in livestock, and chemical seeding of several meteorological patterns, this loss of biodiversity is leading to a gradual but inevitable collapse of the planetary ecosystem. While this may not directly offset living conditions in most heavily industrialized localities, the loss of said planetary ecosystem and that of certain specific biomes is likely to lead to extreme migrational patterns, the rise of dangerous new viral pathogens, and, most threateningly, a potential algae bloom that is projected to take up 9.7% of the surface of the Pacific Ocean (see Richard B., Samantha V. 2029. “Dangerous Blooms: Biological Conditions for Exponential Algae Growth and Decay).

SOLUTION

     We propose the use of limited test exposure to Exotic Materials Radiation (EMR) in controlled test environments on a few select species from independent, endangered biomes can be used as a means of accelerated mutation, which can be pruned for beneficial outcomes. CRISPR and other biological modification tools require a degree of specificity that can take decades to unlock in each individual genome sequence, and often has unintended side-effects. 

     By instead promoting chaotic reformation through EMR exposure, a larger variety of adaptations and beneficial mutations can be generated without requiring in-genome direct modification, allowing creatures to rapidly cycle through new biological tools. Through this process, useful biological sequences can be acquired, tested, and selected to be reinserted into the control population’s base sequences, allowing for a faster process of trait generation.

     As seen in our facility’s previous work, EMR exposure leads to nearly uncontrolled variance in cells, which, in excess doses, usually leads to high indices of cancer and tumorous growth, without demonstrating many of the hallmarks of traditional alpha radiation. However, as was later proven in Marikov’s theory of Chaotic Nullification, random chance variables can be reduced by a rate of N=x^f7(cx34) when EMR is modified through limitation, such as lead, uranium counter-radiation, or silver light refraction. Limiting both exposure and wavelength, EMR can be used to modify only specific body parts or biological traits in response to outside stimuli, allowing for an exponentially accelerated evolutionary process. Through this process, we can uncover a variety of useful and previously unknown or unpredictable new traits, which can then be cross-bred or gene-edited into a base population.

     Through this process, our labs have already developed the first subaquatic organism capable of consumption and 99.9% digestion of heavy plastics and industrial oils in what was previously a baseline sample of Grass Carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus).

BUSINESS CASE

     Besides the afforded financial benefit relating to the ongoing survival of more usable resources and a wider amount of the human population, this technology and process opens up a series of avenues for further potential ventures relating to gene-editing and bio-tailored organisms. Modifying lichen and moss to promote an ability to produce deeper roots and higher conversion of salinity to pure water, creating major routes along the Sahara Desert which would possess large amounts of farmable biomatter and stable terrain, is only a simple potential application.There are also applications in the sterilization of hazardous waste sites, such as PROTEAN Labs Hazard Zones 4 (Mashonaland West), 17 (Kingston), 32 (New Orleans), and 317 (Taipei).

     Alternatively, we have already seen how the project can allow for the metabolization of industrial waste; this opens up an avenue for the biological recycling of waste products, or even the manufacturing of chemical agents through species mutated correctly. In less stressful environs, terraforming organisms or modified species can be used to promote real estate opportunities through force-evolving them to be accommodating to human presences, modify landscapes for easy development, and act as either natural preservatories or modified “preserved” environments for tourism or leisure.

     Additionally, the possibilities for medical applications are potentially limitless, both in terms of direct product crafting or product testing. Many species can have their needs and biological tolerances adjusted in uniquely beneficial ways to allow the testing of specific new medicines. Additionally, as was found in the modest creation of penicillin, the vast spectrum of potential mutations leads to an equally vast spectrum of possible new results and forms of medicinal supplies.

     As a final specific application for the grant, the applications for food products and nutrition are exceptional. Mutation can lead to ‘naturally’ occurring new forms of supercrops which can produce more, faster, and in a significantly larger amount of varieties.

     Ultimately, the possibilities for potential growth, profit, and innovation are almost literally as limitless as those uncovered with computer coding, and getting ahead of the competition to be the first to support these sorts of programs is crucial to ensure our competitive edge and support the global basis for our survival, financially and literally.

USE OF FUNDING

     The primary source of expenditure would be in the acquisition of raw materials, as PROTEUS Labs and our specific installation already possess resources and tools necessary to support the experiments as projected and track / locate the biological modifications occurring. However, due to the rarity of Exotic Materials (EM), and the specificity of certain environs which require repair and modification, the projected budget for project acquisitions is no less than 133.7 million UED (United Euro Dollars), geared in a 2:1 ratio for EM over species. Additionally, licensing and inspections are projected to cost no less than an additional 387,000 UED, +/- 17,000, depending on if we can secure certain individuals on the Ethics Board beforehand.

     Once materials and subjects are acquired, power draw and storage are believed to be the most costly elements of the process, with .47 Trillion kWh required for every year of operations, with projections showing a minimum of six years for the project to produce clear and dynamic final products. With PROTEUS Labs cold-fusion reactors and kinesis motors, this power can likely be offset by the closure of the New York and Cape Cod facilities, though addition of a backup cold-fusion reactor in our facility would offset potential losses further and provide additional support in case of power grid failure.

     Lastly, construction of a multi-environmental, sealed biosphere similar to the Project Bubbles biosphere in which preliminary environ recreation could be enacted will be essential. Assuming the same techniques and materials are used, the dome could be constructed in approximately 17 months for 50 million UED at a conservative estimate.

KNOWN ISSUES

     The potential danger of uncontrolled mutation creating unforeseen effects is near 100% guaranteed, and is in fact the desired end result of the project as currently envisioned. Operational security and the quality of containment materials at our current facility is more than capable of limiting and controlling any potential biological outbreaks, biohazardous materials, acidic residue, hyper-aggressive bioforms, or narcotic secretions, but the potential for employee casualties is currently projected at 92% certainty, diminishing by 7% each following year until year 4, at which point it is projected to move to approximately 99.8%. However, due to the containment capabilities of the location, the capacity to hermetically seal and deprive of oxygen any given room of environment within the facility, Class IV level hermetic seals and environmental shielding, and provided micro-bombs, we currently predict these casualties will not exceed industry standard by more than 16%. 

     Potential risks include public outcry due to the endangered nature of many of the specimens required, as well as religious backlash from specific groups on the subject of both EMR usage and genetic manipulation. It is recommended to start moving into a highly aggressive public relations campaign to highlight potential benefits and moral aims of the project. Additionally, an increase in lobbying funds and a 30% redirect from lawmakers with no less than 2 degrees of separation from PROTEUS direct holdings should promote sufficient goodwill and a significant enough shift in public policy to allow for the approval of the project from the international community.

     Additionally, a high-lethality danger scenario (as illustrated with the failure of Project Locust Loci and the quarantining of 43.5% of Australia’s wilderness preserves), is the possibility of uncontrolled or exponential reproduction. In the event that the behavior or genome relating to said behavior manifests without proper intent or control, it could potentially cause a runaway terraforming effect that would only further harm the unbalanced environmental regions and biomes this project is meant to address, and potentially render the Earth uninhabitable up to 50 years before current projected timelines (creating a variant extinction event we are labeling a Permian extinction). 

     The addition of gene AGT-704 into all released organisms could be used as the basis for a programmable pathogen that could easily kill all creatures possessing said gene, or its specific sub-variants as needed, averting such incidents and re-establishing control with minimal loss of life.

BOARD VOTE

YAY: 7

NAY: 3

ABSTAIN: 1

PROJECT GRANT APPROVED