Scot, you forget, Yamatai has ALWAYS had power over the bodies of their population. Geshrin plague.
Furthermore, nobody KNOWS the plague was created by the corporation, though I believe there is strong suspicion amongst the populace that (uhm, whats-his-face) the Emperor had a hand in it. So this particular example is essentially invalid in this context.
But anyway, fwoo! You guys wrote a LOT. That took me awhile to read. Time for more of my say (sorry if you don't want to hear any more, Fred).
Let me first say that I'm not nay-saying here, nor attacking the NH-30, but I'm simply expressing concern about how the intended use of it doesn't mesh well with the IC cultural dynamic. In essence, Yoroko has the basic concerns down. I think it's pretty much factual to say that there are strong racial tensions between Yamataians and Nekos. There's just too much evidence to argue contrary to this.
With that in mind, having this NH-30 that would be made the new 'standard' body for EVERYONE doesn't seem realistic. While it varies based on the individual, I think few would care for switching to it.
Allow me to explain in example.
Take your stereotypical Nekovalkyrja. She obviously loves fighting, being strong, and thinking she's all-around better than any other race (considering, honestly, that they were made with that intent). She has her nice pretty NH-29 body, and has peacefully retired to the recreational life of being an empress politician. She still has great pride in her physical attributes. "Silly Yamataians, you can't fly." Culturally, she finds it difficult to understand the non-militaristic mentality of these civilians. They really have a completely separate way of thinking from her war-machine-mind. Lack of understanding leads to disdain. Disdain leads to mild hatred. The NH-30 is released. She considers how the switch would affect her. She would lose all her beloved warrior attributes, becoming merely an average person. On top of that, she would be completely indistinguishable from Yamataians who have switched, considering anyone can opt for those lovable Neko ears! She doesn't feel comfortable being considered the same as them. She isn't.
Now, take the stereotypical Yamataian 'NH-22' citizen. She lives a life of leisure on Yamatai, becoming a craftsman of (whatever). She's ignorant of the Star Army. It's pretty much all Nekovalkyrja, those sentient war-machines who are grown rather than born. While she has nothing against them in this regard, she finds the personalities of those that she has met to be bizarrely strict. Orderly, aggressive, demanding, and conservative. Born soldiers are nothing like a girl like her, who grew up in the suburbs wanting to become a veterinarian. She's maybe even a little afraid of them. The NH-30 is released. She considers switching. Physically, it would be no different, though she could get some cool cat ears! But that would be kind of weird. Only soldiers have cat ears. She considers the only other notable characteristic of it: military capability. Why on Yamatai would she ever need that? She isn't a soldier.
Now, before jumping to any conclusions, allow me to summarize my overall view: NH-30 is fine, it would probably be something the Star Army wants to have all its soldiers switch to. Optimal characteristics: full combat capabilities when serving them, average humans when they're not. Star Army would probably strongly consider making it mandatory that all new Nekos are of this model, as well as strongly encouraging soldiers to switch to it. In this regard, this would only affect very few Yamataians. This is the capacity that I would see the NH-30 serving. It's quite realistic.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but it seems this is not the express purpose of it. It seems it is meant to be a medium to merge the Yamataians and Nekovalkyrja into one race. From the slightly presumptuous examples above, it's doubtful this would happen, at least immediately. If this is the intent of the NH-30, it would take many IC years for the Nekos and Yamataian subcultures to merge, and probably not completely. The fundamental gaps between engineered soldiers and regular civilians is inescapable. Therefore, I do not believe a goal like this is realistic.
Hopefully this clarifies the fact that I am concerned this is just a quicky attempt at combining Yamataians and Nekos.
Furthermore, nobody KNOWS the plague was created by the corporation, though I believe there is strong suspicion amongst the populace that (uhm, whats-his-face) the Emperor had a hand in it. So this particular example is essentially invalid in this context.
But anyway, fwoo! You guys wrote a LOT. That took me awhile to read. Time for more of my say (sorry if you don't want to hear any more, Fred).
Let me first say that I'm not nay-saying here, nor attacking the NH-30, but I'm simply expressing concern about how the intended use of it doesn't mesh well with the IC cultural dynamic. In essence, Yoroko has the basic concerns down. I think it's pretty much factual to say that there are strong racial tensions between Yamataians and Nekos. There's just too much evidence to argue contrary to this.
With that in mind, having this NH-30 that would be made the new 'standard' body for EVERYONE doesn't seem realistic. While it varies based on the individual, I think few would care for switching to it.
Allow me to explain in example.
Take your stereotypical Nekovalkyrja. She obviously loves fighting, being strong, and thinking she's all-around better than any other race (considering, honestly, that they were made with that intent). She has her nice pretty NH-29 body, and has peacefully retired to the recreational life of being an empress politician. She still has great pride in her physical attributes. "Silly Yamataians, you can't fly." Culturally, she finds it difficult to understand the non-militaristic mentality of these civilians. They really have a completely separate way of thinking from her war-machine-mind. Lack of understanding leads to disdain. Disdain leads to mild hatred. The NH-30 is released. She considers how the switch would affect her. She would lose all her beloved warrior attributes, becoming merely an average person. On top of that, she would be completely indistinguishable from Yamataians who have switched, considering anyone can opt for those lovable Neko ears! She doesn't feel comfortable being considered the same as them. She isn't.
Now, take the stereotypical Yamataian 'NH-22' citizen. She lives a life of leisure on Yamatai, becoming a craftsman of (whatever). She's ignorant of the Star Army. It's pretty much all Nekovalkyrja, those sentient war-machines who are grown rather than born. While she has nothing against them in this regard, she finds the personalities of those that she has met to be bizarrely strict. Orderly, aggressive, demanding, and conservative. Born soldiers are nothing like a girl like her, who grew up in the suburbs wanting to become a veterinarian. She's maybe even a little afraid of them. The NH-30 is released. She considers switching. Physically, it would be no different, though she could get some cool cat ears! But that would be kind of weird. Only soldiers have cat ears. She considers the only other notable characteristic of it: military capability. Why on Yamatai would she ever need that? She isn't a soldier.
Now, before jumping to any conclusions, allow me to summarize my overall view: NH-30 is fine, it would probably be something the Star Army wants to have all its soldiers switch to. Optimal characteristics: full combat capabilities when serving them, average humans when they're not. Star Army would probably strongly consider making it mandatory that all new Nekos are of this model, as well as strongly encouraging soldiers to switch to it. In this regard, this would only affect very few Yamataians. This is the capacity that I would see the NH-30 serving. It's quite realistic.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but it seems this is not the express purpose of it. It seems it is meant to be a medium to merge the Yamataians and Nekovalkyrja into one race. From the slightly presumptuous examples above, it's doubtful this would happen, at least immediately. If this is the intent of the NH-30, it would take many IC years for the Nekos and Yamataian subcultures to merge, and probably not completely. The fundamental gaps between engineered soldiers and regular civilians is inescapable. Therefore, I do not believe a goal like this is realistic.
Hopefully this clarifies the fact that I am concerned this is just a quicky attempt at combining Yamataians and Nekos.