Augmentation

Augmentation is a process by which the Eldan enhanced and controlled organisms through the use of advanced nanotechnology. The Eldan were able to imbue organic organisms with enhanced capabilities such as increased strength and quickness, as well as the ability to channel primal energy for both defensive and offensive attacks.

As with other forms of Eldan technology, augmentation was developed as a system to both perfect and control the natural world - but without their guidance, augmentation creates cybernetic monsters out of whatever biological organisms are available. Since the Eldan's disappearance, automated augmentation systems have emerged as a threat to both Exile and Dominion alike.

Augmented creatures
Many Eldan augmentation facilities continue to operate all over Nexus leading to areas where aggressive, augmented creatures will attack and infect anything in sight. They are generally easy to recognize, with cybernetic enhancements evocative of Eldan technology and enhanced musculature that makes them fierce melee combatants. Sentient augmented creatures might even retain the ability to operate more complex weapons like blaster pistols. Once augmentation begins, there is no known way to revers the process - and most scientists have come to believe that death is probably preferable.

Augmentation survivablity
Scans of augmentation victims reveal the nanites that infect such individuals are virtually impossible to remove by force. In fact, since the augmentation soon takes over higher brain functions in most species, including involuntary systems such as breathing and circulation, an augmented individual would be unlikely to survive even if the nanites departed willingly.

Augmented clones
The combination of augmentation and Eldan cloning technology leads to terrifying, half-mindless monstrosities. A fresh clone generally possesses little in the way of a conscious mind, allowing augmentation nanoparticles to infect the nervous system first and spread through the body without triggering autoimmune responses. Augmented clones are extremely susceptible to suggestions, though their intelligence degrades rapidly and they generally are only good for one or two basic orders - "kill," "protect," or "dance," for example.