The Nietzscheans are a subspecies of genetically engineered humans who religiously follow the works of Friedrich Nietzsche, Social Darwinism, and Dawkinsian genetic competitiveness. They claim to be physically perfect and are distinguished by bone blades protruding outwards from the wrist area and their physical appearance. The race's trinomial taxonomic name is Homo sapiens invictus, which means "Unconquerable Wise Man" in the ancient Earth language Latin. Although Nietzsche frequently wrote about the bermensch, Nietzscheans take offense at usage of the word "ber" which is used as a derogatory term to describe them. The term is usually used by Humans.

Nietzschean Tyr Anasazi and Fleet Marshall Ataturk in the background.

All Nietzschean prides originated from Pride Musevini.

The headstone to Drago Musevini's crypt

The Nietzschean subspecies originated at Ayn Rand Station. In CY 8400, Dr. Paul Museveni, a human geneticist, left Earth and headed out to deep space with about 3,000 followers. Dr. Museveni's views were not considered proper, and thus he was shut out of mainstream scientific society. Four months later, the Museveni Fleet arrived in the Omari Globular cluster just outside the Milky Way Galaxy. A habitable world was found orbiting the Beta Sirrius Omega star, Museveni and his followers named this planet Fountainhead and declared it the home world of the new Nietzschean sub-race. Ayn Rand Station was built in orbit around Fountainhead in CY 8402. The station was constructed by converting one of the ships from Museveni's origin fleet. Rand station would later become the political capital of the new Nietzschean Alliance. The settlements on Fountainhead continued to grow. The people willingly embraced the philosophy of Dr. Museveni, which was based on elements of Nietzsche, Rand, Darwin, and Dawkins.

Drago Museveni, the clone/son of Dr. Paul Museveni, was born in CY 8403 (It is revealed later in the series that Drago had actually time traveled to the future to obtain the DNA of Beka Valentine in order to further enhance the Nietzschean race). Drago's children were the first true Nietzscheans born, the result of genetic modifications. Because of his influence, the first Pride was formed: Pride Museveni. Drago had a philosophy all future Nietzscheans would come to emulate (most of which was taught by Rhade). Due to the modifications of their genetic codes, they developed 3 bone spikes called "bone blades" on each forearm.

Within four years, nearly 4,000 more Nietzschean children were born. These children were the first members of Homo sapiens invictus, and they were the first generation of Drago Museveni's genetic manipulations.

In CY 8422, Paul Museveni died under mysterious circumstances due to a rare type of arsenic poisoning. His son Drago, at age 19, took the mantle of leadership of the Nietzschean people. It was suspected by some that Drago had removed his father, but it was never proven. In CY 8423, the second pride in Nietzschean society, the Drago-Kazov Pride, was formed after Drago broke ties with Pride Museveni and formed an alliance with the Kazov clan. A year later, the Kodiak, Jaguar, and finally, the Three Rivers prides were formed.

Drago Museveni died of natural causes in CY 8456. Rheged Mossadim of the Three Rivers Pride was chosen as the new leader. 31 years later in CY 8487, the Nietzscheans decided to spread out, establishing Zarathustra, their first colony, in 3576 and Enga's Redoubt followed near the end of the year. Midden was established in CY 8505 and then Dawkinstown and Victoria in 3585. Barbarossa and Hawking followed roughly a year after that. Kagame's World was established in CY 8520 and Cestus Mortialis in CY 8525. The Nietzscheans established the colony of Enkindu in the year CY 8534. Four years later, the newly formed Nietzschean Alliance established the Bedford Forest Colony. The last of the Nietzschean Colonies was established at Hephaistos IV in CY 8542.

The Nietzschean Alliance continued to govern themselves. The strongest and most able of their men became the leaders, the new Alphas of the Nietzschean culture who compete in combat to determine the next ruler of the Nietzschean Alliance.

Formal first contact with the Systems Commonwealth was made in CY 8544. A quick, but cautious, alliance formed; the Nietzscheans were happy to find their long-lost human cousins returned to them. However they did not join the Commonwealth, preferring to keep their independence. They became loose allies instead, sharing culture, technology, and other interests. Eventually, in CY 8553, the Nietzscheans formally joined the Systems Commonwealth.

With their gospel of gene-based survivalism and self-improvement, the Nietzscheans quickly spread throughout known space, reproducing rapidly until by the 52nd century, they constituted 8 percent of the overall human population (and 2 percent of the overall Commonwealth population).

For centuries Nietzscheans lived as loyal Commonwealth citizens, obeying its institutions, serving in its military and energetically contributing to its welfare, until they decided to destroy it.

Nietzschean discontent with the Commonwealth had been growing for decades, with many viewing it as a decadent and insufficiently challenging environment for a people as energetic as Homo sapiens invictus. But this simmering unhappiness rose to a boil after the Magog invasion of 9766 and what many Nietzscheans regarded as an insufficiently aggressive Commonwealth response. Long a frontier-dwelling people, many Nietzschean worlds found themselves along the front lines of Magog/Commonwealth confrontation, and suffered greatly from Magog attacks. Dawkinstown, Hawking, and Kagame's World, were only a few of the Nietzschean planets and settlements terrorized by the Magog.

Talk of Nietzschean secession from the Commonwealth began in earnest during this period, with the leading Drago-Kazov Pride beating the drum for a full-scale insurrection. But many Nietzscheans opposed such a course of action, until the Treaty of Antares. This peace treaty signed with the Magog in 9781 was viewed by the vast majority of Nietzscheans as the ultimate betrayal of the losses they had suffered and the burdens they had borne in the fight against this implacable foe. The negotiators who made peace with the Magog may not have realized it at the time, but in the course of taming one enemy, they created a far more dangerous one in its place.

With the majority of Nietzscheans now backing a full-scale assault against the Commonwealth, preparation for the attack began in earnest. Nietzschean-owned shipping firms went on a ship buying and building spree, choosing vessels which could easily be converted from harmless civilian transports into lethal military vessels. Passenger liners became troop ships, cargo vessels became cruisers and destroyers, and couriers were converted into stealthy attack fighters.

Similarly, the Home Guard units on Nietzschean worlds were beefed up with new personnel and equipment, and even in the elite High Guard Argosy and Lancer Corps, Nietzschean officers and crew made plans to betray their ships and units and turn them over to the enemy. In secret, a vast armada of 10,000 vessels was assembled in the Hephaistos system, with smaller strike groups positioned throughout Commonwealth space, ready to pounce on unsuspecting High Guard bases and Commonwealth seats of power when the signal to strike was given.

At Hephaistos System, a rogue black hole allowed the insurrectionists to send distress signals to a large number of High Guard starships, summoning them into a trap where they could be picked off one by one. In CY 9784, over 200 top-of-the-line vessels were destroyed in this fashion, until the captain and crew of the heavy cruiser Andromeda Ascendant managed to draw off the fleet's fire long enough for much of the crew to escape and reach Slipstream. Their veil of secrecy about to be broken, the Nietzscheans struck, and struck hard. Their intent was to overthrow the Systems Commonwealth and replace it with a Nietzschean-dominated empire.

In the opening days of the war, the attackers inflicted devastating losses on the High Guard fleet and ground forces. Despite the Commonwealth's overwhelming military superiority, defeat appeared swift and certain, with the Nietzscheans already planning to establish a post-Commonwealth Nietzschean Empire.

But rather than roll over and accept defeat after these initial losses, the Commonwealth regrouped and fought back fiercely. Interestingly enough, some of the High Guard's few victories were actually achieved by Nietzschean commanders, for a sizeable minority of Nietzscheans (including Dylan Hunts friend Ismael Khalid) remained loyal to the Commonwealth and fought bravely to preserve its ideals.

A war that was supposed to end in weeks lasted over two years, and rather than resulting in a Nietzschean triumph, ended in the two sides' mutual annihilation. The last battle of the Commonwealth Civil War was fought in CY 9786 at the Witchhead Nebula when High Guard ships were ambushed by a sizable Nietzschean fleet. The two fleets destroyed each other almost completely. The Nietzscheans would've won, had a mysterious ship known as the Angel of Death not appeared (eventually revealed to be the Andromeda Ascendant briefly thrust back in time through a slipstream mishap). It led the Nietzschean fleet on a chase, then detonated the nebula, taking out at least 2/3 (66.667%) of the fleet. Shortly afterward, the Magog crossed the Quarantine Zone in strength and numbers never imagined. Swarm Ship fleets roamed all of known space, indiscriminately attacking Nietzschean and former Commonwealth worlds alike. With no central political authority remaining and reliable interstellar communications only a memory, individual worlds were left to fend for themselves.

Weakened by the war to overthrow the Commonwealth, the ruling Nietzschean Drago-Kazov Pride was betrayed and attacked by Pride Jaguar in CY 9787. The Nietzschean Alliance was shattered, and instead of replacing the Commonwealth with a Nietzschean empire, chaos reigned instead. Fountainhead was rendered uninhabitable in the Battle of Fountainhead from either a Pride Jaguar attack or a final act of vengeance from a remaining High Guard starship.

The remains of Nietzschean Progenitor Drago Museveni were recovered and entrusted to Kodiak Pride, one of the Drago-Kazov Pride's allies. More than two hundred years later, in CY 10021, the still-powerful Drago-Kazov Pride betrayed the Kodiak Pride and seized the remains of the Progenitor from them. Kodiak Pride was exterminated, and the Progenitor's remains were relocated to Enga's Redoubt, the Drago-Kazov homeworld.

As instigators of the civil war that ultimately destroyed the Commonwealth, Nietzscheans aren't the most popular denizens of the current post-Fall landscape. The war itself proved devastating to the Nietzschean people, with untold billions killed in battle fighting on both sides. Many Nietzschean Alliance planets were on the front line of hostilities and suffered greatly in the war, while Nietzschean populations on many Commonwealth worlds were subjected to internment and mob attacks. The inter-clan wars and general strife that began with Pride Jaguar's betrayal of the Drago-Kazov and continue to this day have proved even more pernicious to the long-term health and survival of the Nietzschean people. Dozens of once-powerful prides, such as Atreus, Kodiak, Al-Sharif, Three Rivers, and Banyamulenge, have been all but exterminated by other Nietzscheans, while still others have fallen prey to Magog, Than, or other hostile powers. Meanwhile, those prides which remain powerful, such as Drago-Kazov, Sabra, and Jaguar, spend much of their time defending territory from each other or putting down revolts by restless subjects. Despite this they remain a dominant power in the post Commonwealth era. Others, who have remained loyal to the Commonwealth, joined a number of humans lead by Sara Riley to the planet Tarazed, who they will live with in peace and co-existence.

After 300 years, with the re-emergence of the Andromeda and its plan to resurrect the Commonwealth, the Tarazed Nietzscheans and Sabra-Jaguar Pride joins Dylan Hunt's cause.

Unfortunately, the enigmatic being known as the Spirit of the Abyss, had caused a new Nietzschean uprising, resulting in the occupation of Sinti, the near loss of an entire High Guard fleet and the corrupt Commonwealth Collectors ally with it.

About 2 years after the Commonwealth reformation, the Drago-Kazov Pride and Sabra-Jaguar Pride Prides make a move on Tarazed, now the new Commonwealth capital. It was only opposed by a few defense forces, their very much surprising Alpha Matriarch and the Andromeda. It was forced to go through the Route of Ages to the Seefra System in order to use the Vedran sun to destroy the Abyss. It is later reported that Tarazed had survived the attack.

Nietzscheans are a directly derived sub-species Homo Sapiens Sapiens, that have been modified at the genetic level. They have the same amount of chromosomes as an unmodified Humans, although there is less variation and chance of mutation, removing the threats of everything from cancer to eye sight deficiencies.

Nietzcheans are immune to some poisons (aconite, ammonia, antipyrine, arsenic, atropine, camphor, hydrocyanic acid, iodine, lead, picrotoxin, & strychnine) and diseases (diphtheria, hepatitis a, hepatitis b, influenza, Lyme disease, measles, meningococcal disease, mumps, pertussis, pneumococcal disease, polio, rabies, rubella, tetanus, and varicella).

Nietzcheans are only immune to the Earth-based diseases and poisons that were developed and/or discovered Prior to their leaving Earth in 3477 (as listed above; this can also include other diseases and poisons from the time period and on). Nietzcheans, even with their strong immunological systems, are still susceptible to modern poisons and diseases.

They are able to breathe chlorine gas for short periods of time, although long-term exposure (longer than 30 minutes) will cause permanent harm, just as if they were a "normal" human.

Nietzcheans are able to survive in harsher environments easier than a normal human can, and pride themselves on thriving where normal humans wouldn't dare to tread. It should be remembered though that Nietzcheans are not indestructible, and most environments that are inhospitable to Homo sapiens are also inhospitable to Homo sapien invictus.

Biologically, Nietzcheans reproduce in exactly the same way as Earth humans do. One male and one female is all it takes to reproduce and create a Nietzchean child. Nietzchean enter puberty anywhere from 1014 years, with an average of 11.8 years of age.

Their bone blades are a natural outgrowth, and are fully developed by mid-puberty. The bone blades can be either perpendicular to a forearm or can lie on a forearm with blade tips pointed toward the arm elbow and are controlled by a voluntary muscle on each forearm that attaches to the bone blades. The bone blades are made of a bone-like substance, and can be used as a natural weapon in personal combat when blades are perpendicular to forearm to stab an opponent. The removal of the bone blades without anesthetic can cause a Nietzschean great physical pain, but the blades will grow back.

Finally, the Nietzschean lifespan is a maximum 150 years of age.

A holographic crystal displaying Freya Rajput's genetic information.

To a Nietzschean, reproduction is the single-most important event in their lives. They choose their mates with care, only reproducing with those who have genes that will strengthen the clan, the Pride, and the Nietzschean species as a whole.

To become married and reproduce, a Nietzschean must present their potential mate to their clan's (or pride's) Matriarch, who will do a genetic scan and determine if the genes of the potential mate are strong. If approved, the couple becomes married in a private ceremony, involving only the two of them. The male and female exchange bracers that signify that they are one. Nietzscheans are very, very choosy about their mates. The point is not just to get people pregnant. It's to make sure your children reach breeding age themselves. Love 'em and leave 'em is a valid reproductive strategy, but it's risky. You can win big, but you can lose big too. And in Nietzschean society, women definitely have full control of their reproductive options, which means they chose the men, not the other way around.

A Nietzschean will only reproduce with another Nietzschean, except in the most dire of circumstances (one example could be that a male Nietzschean who is about to die would procreate with a "normal" human, to carry on his genes). A Nietzschean would never reproduce with a member of any other species except for "normal" humans. They would feel that the Nietzschean species would become contaminated with impure genetic material. Nietzschean/Human hybrids do exist, but in very small numbers. They are noticeable by their shorter than average arm spikes, and also for the fact that they are smaller in size then the average Nietzschean, even though they are still larger in size than their "normal" parent.

It is normal for a Nietzschean male to have many wives and have children with each; with some families as large as one male with 10+ wives, and 30+ children.

Tyr Anasazi and Charlemagne Bolivar exchanging a typical Nietzschean greeting.

The Human philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche believed that strife and conflict would inevitably reshape men into something better and stronger than what they once were. As a superhuman species, Nietzscheans took his words to heart and used genetic engineering and nanotechnology to reshape themselves into the ultimate survivors. Yet, it is important to keep in mind that the actual philosopher Nietzsche was not only opposed to social darwinism, but was also opposed to biological interpretations of his thought. His philosophy is focused on artistic self-overcoming, not competition.

Nietzscheans have built their culture on the twin pillars of social Darwinism and Dawkinite genetic competitiveness. Their single-minded devotion to self-improvement and the propagation of their own genes can strike other species (even their non-Nietzschean Human cousins) as selfish and arrogant, yet in practice the Nietzscheans' boundless energy and willpower have made them valued contributors to the Systems Commonwealth and many other cultures and worlds. For all their genetic engineering and superhuman strength and endurance, Nietzscheans are still human beings, with human emotions.

The Nietzschean people have a prophecy that proclaims that one day, a Nietzschean will be born that is the genetic reincarnation of Drago Musevini. That person would unite the scattered tribes and would be able to unite them into one large, very powerful entity, one that would be able to overrun and rule the known worlds. Nietzscheans, no matter what pride, usually believe in the prophecy, however there are those who believe that it is still just a myth. Because of this proclamation, Nietzscheans are tested at birth to see whether their DNA is identical of their progenitor.

Nietzscheans pride themselves on their attractiveness, strength, cunning, and treachery.

When asked what he wanted, Sabra-Jaguar Pride Arch Duke Charlemagne Bolivar replied: "The usual hundreds of grandchildren, complete dominion over the known worlds, and the pleasure of hearing that all my enemies have died in highly improbable accidents that cannot be connected to me." ("Into the Labyrinth")

However, Gaheris Rhade had an idealistic view and was thoroughly disgusted with the reality: "Our people were meant to be living gods, warrior-poets who roamed the stars bringing civilization, not cowards and bullies who prey on the weak and kill each other for sport. I never imagined they'd prove themselves so inferior." ("The Unconquerable Man") It should be noted that Rhade lived during the reign of the old Commonwealth and his beliefs may not be unique of Nietzscheans from this time period.

From a conversation between Tyr Anasazi and Charlemagne Bolivar, it seems that the different prides take different approaches to the idea of "genetic superiority". Bolivar comments that the Kodiak bred for strength, size, attractiveness and "imaginative hairstyles", while his own pride, the Jaguars, and then the Sabra-Jaguar, value treachery, cunning, and "proper table manners". Due to television's limitations on casting, it's not apparent that there is a physical difference between different kinds of Nietzscheans (or between them and normal Homo sapiens for that matter), but it's quite possible that there might be what could be considered several "sub-species" to Homo sapiens invictus between several of the long established prides, where the average Kodiak would be taller and stronger than the average Jaguar born Nietzscheans. However, these preferential differences don't change the basic requisites for a Nietzschean (bone blades, bigger than Homo sapiens, 5 times the strength, etc.) as they do still register as the same species.

Similar to a wolf pack, the "pride" terminology is distinctly leonine, the organization of prides is dominated by an Alpha Male. The Alpha Male will usually listen to the advice of the other strong men in his pride, along with the stronger females. He will also listen to the advice of the pride's Matriarch.

Alpha Male: Leader of a Pride/Clan. The strongest, smartest, quickest Nietzschean Male of a Pride/Clan, or one who has learned to survive while all of his comrades have been removed.

Alpha Female / Matriarch: Strongest Female of the Pride or Clan. Not necessarily the wife of the pride/clan's Alpha Male (can be grandmother, mother, sister, cousin, or even daughter.) One of the primary duties of the Matriarch is to assure that the genes of a prospective mate (either male or female) are good ones, and that those genes will benefit the pride by reproduction.

Another duty is to make sure that weak genes are removed, so that they do not contribute to the pride/clan. This is accomplished by preventing weak genes from entering the pride/clan in the first place, but it also means that the Matriarch may need to remove weak male and female members of her own pride/clan in order to assure the survival of the rest of the pride/clan.

A Nietzschean becomes an adult when he or she reaches reproductive age, which can be anywhere from 1014 years, with an average of 11.8 years of age. When they become adults, they are expected to maintain their pride/clan's superiority, and to fight for the pride/clan when necessary. All Nietzscheans, both male and female, are brought up with these sacred teachings. In addition, females have the additional responsibility to produce strong alpha-personality Males to lead the pride/clan and keep it strong.

New Prides can be formed if a strong male and at least one strong female break off from their pride. The stronger a Nietzschean Pride is, the better a chance it has of becoming more powerful and defeating its enemy prides.

A Nietzschean is born into a clan (family). Numerous clans form a Nietzschean Pride. Prides consist of various clans who are somewhat genetically related to each other. They are usually named after powerful mythological and historical figures or creatures from the ancient planet Earth.

Nietzschean males and females have long full names, which include a short genealogy. Their names include their Primary Name, their Clan Name, their mother's name, their father's name, and finally, the Pride Affiliation.

The following is an example of a full and formal Nietzschean name:

If questioned about who their lineage is (in the case that there is more than one Nietzschean with that name) they will respond with their father's name followed by their grandfather's name.

Nietzscheans may also use normal, human names for their children if they so choose.

Primary names for Nietzcheans have evolved from their Earth origins.

Examples of Nietzschean Primary Names:

Following is a listing of Nietzschean first names, clan names, and pride names. A particular Nietzschean can only be of one Pride at a time.

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