Chapter 51: Working Theories
Pulling out a chair and sitting down, I took a moment to spare a glance around the room. It was a decent sized room, a little smaller than what I had become used to with my new position, but still a normal size for a meeting room. It was also sparsely furnished, with only a single table and a few chairs around it with the only source of light coming from a circular light on the ceiling.
However, compared to the rest of the mountain laboratory, it was in very good shape.
"So," turning to the figure across from me, I tapped my finger on the table. "You wished to share some theories you had with me." I wasn't overly pleased with the timing, the Green Lanterns were still hanging around, accepting my offer to remain within my Empire. However, I had left Korg with the task of watching over them.
He wasn't overly pleased with that task and I couldn't blame him. I was the only one with the power to take on a Green Lantern at this time and I was leaving him alone with them. But the lab and the work being done here was too important to the future of my plans. I wanted to be informed as much as possible on the ins and outs of their progress. That way I could plan a future timeline for when I would once again be able to expand once more.
Currently, with the way things were going, I was looking at maybe two to three years before the cloning was done. Not something I was overly pleased with, but it did buy me plenty of time to make a peaceful relationship with the Green Lanterns and also give the Empire of Tears time to build up their Red Lantern Corps. Once that was done, war would be unleashed upon the Green Lanterns giving me all the freedom I needed to wage war as I chose. As slow as rebuilding the cloning process was taking currently, it ultimately would help me in the long run.
If I had access to an army of Spike-Viltrumite clones right now I probably wouldn't be able to stop myself from just going out there and conquering. General Dru-Zod for all his military expertise, was much the same way, a man of war who craved battle and bloodshed.
Unfortunately for me, it seemed some of his bad habits had passed onto me.
"I did...your grace?" I nodded my head shortly at the correct title to address me as, I waved my hand as a sign for him to get on with it. As much as I wanted to know everything about the lab and its inner workings, I also wanted to return to the Green Lanterns quickly, I didn't fully trust them. "I am aware that you wish for us to rebuild the cloning technology within this lab, but it's highly damaged."
"I am aware of that fact, yes," I replied, my voice showcasing my annoyance. "If the only reason you have called me here is to repeat things I already know then I will not be pleased."
The man coughed uncomfortably at that. "N-no, that is not why I have called you here." I rose a brow, silently conveying his need to get on with his point. "We have many scientists focused upon rebuilding the cloning technology, but I was reading your report upon the instability of clones and the deterioration of loyalty over time."
"Yes, they had rebelled upon Krypton, nearly destroying our planet." And from what Zod had said, they played one of many parts in Krypton's destruction. Honestly, the amount of ways in which the planet was being destroyed is quite frankly, a little ridiculous.
The Extremists in the clone war activated a weapon that should have destroyed the planet though was stopped leaving it only doing slight damage to the planet's core. Something that helped build up a great deal of radioactive material that further established the core leading to its eventual eruption. One of these radioactive substances being Kryptonite that caused a disease to plague Krypton for years, this disease being called the Green Death.
And while I had no proof from my time in this world, in the comics there was another version of how Krypton was destroyed. It being at the hands of Rogol Zaar, but I'm not certain on whether that's still the case or not.
"Well, I have looked into possible reasons as to why the clones became unstable and I have come up with two possible theories." This caught my attention. "The first is that the drugs used to accelerate the growth of the clones created a sort of mutation in some if not all of the clones that over time, took a hold. In the case that only a few of them did possess this mutation, I theorise that it is contagious."
"Like a disease?" I deduced, the scientist nodding his head.
It did make sense, a mutation that was contagious and was passed between clones through contact.
However, there was one problem with that.
"Unfortunately, when the clones first started showing signs of instability they were studied closely. No sign of mutation was found." The scientist frowned at that, though nonetheless seem unperturbed by the news. It told me that this was something he had probably considered and expected from Kryptonians.
"I expected as much." He said, proving my thoughts. "My second theory is a little simpler, but perhaps that's why it has avoided notice. Clones especially those you desire, forcibly undergo accelerated growth to their physical prime. But physically, while they may be in their prime, mentally, they are not."
That made me pause.
It was just as he said, too simple and quite obvious. However, it also seemed right in line with why it had escaped my people's notice. They had reached a stage in life that technology had removed all those simple and obvious flaws. Technology was now at a stage where it was either in perfect working order or not even going to work. To fix said problem, it was a complex series of issues that could not be solved by something as simple as switching it off and on again.
That mentality made perfect sense as to why something as simple as the mental age of the clones was the cause for their instability. "You're saying they're going through puberty?" It was an amusing thought though, a group of teenage clones that were effectively throwing a temper tantrum and in doing so, nearly destroyed an entire planet.
"Of a sort, yes." The scientist nodded his head. "It is simple, but I have been reviewing the systems needed to streamline a cloning system. The data proves there is a chance of mutation which may be a further contributing factor, but it is very rare, almost impossible. However, the theory of the mental age being a major factor is quite a solid foundation and something that I have posed to others working on the cloning project. They found it amusing, or annoying that I was not focusing upon working however they agreed that it was a possibility."
"I see and what do you propose could be a solution to this then?"
The scientist coughed, a little uncomfortable. "That would be the simple solution of not accelerating the growth of the clones. Instead, allowing them to develop naturally." I smiled at that because while he was right, the number of resources needed to build a facility like that would be immense.
But it opened opportunities to me also.
Accelerated growth of clones with a high potential of future instability was profitable. Just gift them to the Spikes and be done with it. However, I was conscious of how much power I could be gifting to the Spikes as they could believe themselves above me. If this worked, and it would have to be tested, but it if could work, allowing clones to grow naturally, then it would provide me much in the way of opportunity.
I could rapidly rebuild the Viltrumite race and flood their race with those raised to be loyal to me. Slowly affecting and influencing their race for centuries in the future. I could also produce new Kryptonians in the future. Even when I started mixing the DNA of alien races together, producing more powerful half-breeds, I could remove that risk of instability that could develop a powerful being capable of defeating me.
It was decided, the facility upon here would produce rapid growth clones that would be given to the Spikes to build up their numbers with powerful soldiers. However, I would build another facility, one that would focus on producing clones that did not undergo accelerated growth. It would take time and a lot of resources, but I had two nearly three years before the cloning technology was built, plenty of time to work on building up the facilities needed.
"I thank you for bringing this to my attention. You showed initiative with this." I smiled, extending one hand to him, the scientist hesitantly shaking it. "Initiative is exactly what I need from people. I am going to promote you to a new, official position as Head of Cloning. I will think of a title for it in the future, but you are in charge of that project."
"I, t-thank you, I don't know what to say."
"Yes," I replied simply, the scientist happily nodding his head. "But I wish for something to be made clear. This position comes with its responsibilities and duties that you will be required to fulfil. I am a strict man, I do not want to excellence from those I have promoted to positions of command, I expect it. You will find me firm, but fair. Do well, surpass my expectations, you shall be rewarded appropriately. Fail me, and you shall be punished appropriately."
In my old position of command, I had given second, third and even fourth chances to my officers. They made mistakes, they apologised and I forgave them. That had led to my betrayal, I was too trusting and too forgiving in the past.
Not anymore.
My officers only had one chance.
If they failed, they would be punished appropriately to their rate of failure. Whether that being stripped of command or executed. However, the rewards would match the punishment, balancing risk with reward. Equal incentive to succeed and not to fail.
It was up to them to give everything they had to succeed to avoid failure at all costs.
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