The Project Rebirth was a research and development undertaking during World War III that produced the first post-natal genetic augmentations in humans. It was led by the United States with the support from Korean and Chinese scientists.
Background[]
The basic concept for the Rebirth was established as part of a Defense Department think tank in the 2030s when bionic prosthetics, stem cell treatments, and Epigenetic therapies had begun to produce the first replacement organs and limbs that could be considered physical augmentations. During the Price administration, as a result of government’s fundings towards bioengineering, which eventually led to the 2040s biotech boom, a National Security Council led commission submitted their findings, suggesting that funds be designated toward the creation of organs that could be used to improve a soldier's performance in battle. Early augmentations were limited to bionic implants to amputees, with Defense Department guidelines forbidding "elective amputation." The 2040s also saw the first use of computer-brain interfaces for soldiers in the field.
In 2049 President Jacobi re-opened the NSC report, and approved funding for the Project Rebirth under DARPA. The program first arose as a plan to enhance veteran US soldiers into powerfully augmented special operations commandos. The goal was to extend and enhance the careers of America's elite special forces units in the face of Japanese augmentation programs.
Genetic engineering[]
Early work was focused on the creation of enhanced organs that could be implanted and even controlled with the aid of accompanying bionic implants. Pre-war examples included hearts that could slow their beats, controlled adrenal glands, and Vascular Crimps that could close off blood flow to a damaged limb. However, the program quickly shifted to genetic enhancement to improve the performance of the entire body. After the Thanksgiving Attacks research and development accelerated radically. Lung, Heart, Liver, Lymphatic, musculature, and bone genetic treatments paired with hormone control via the first bionic brain cases gave US special forces a far higher degree of survivability and focus in the battlefield. Combined with lightweight Armor, their combat effectiveness was second to none.
Later in the war, many of these augmentations became standard issue among all armored troops, while Project Rebirth advanced its more extreme goals via full body replacement.
Legacy[]
Rebirth's focus on durability would go on to shape the future of military-grade augmentations, but its focus on improving physical performance has largely fallen away as it had little practical use as Armor technologies grew more advanced. Modern military augmentations are largely focused on survivability and endurance enhancements, and do little to improve a soldier's physical strength or speed.