Super Mutant (Fallout)

Super mutants are created by exposure to the Forced Evolutionary Virus II from the vats of the Mariposa Military Base in California. They represent the finest form of super mutants, far more advanced than their primitive East Coast cousins created by imperfect strains of the virus.The Vault Dweller: "{120}{}{How does the Virus work?}" ZAX 1.2: "{157}{}{My research into the Forced Evolution Virus, or FEV, indicates that it is a shifting-absorptive virus. It copies DNA patterns much like RNA, storing these patterns in exons.}" "{158}{}{These exons, combined with the FEV, are re-injected into the host cells in typical viral infectious fashion. This causes the host cells to 'regenerate' their DNA.}" The Vault Dweller: "{159}{}{How do you catch FEV?}" ZAX 1.2: "{162}{}{FEV is not 'caught', per se. It is not air-transmittable. Typically, infection is through injection, or direct physical contact with an FEV sample.}" The Vault Dweller: "{164}{}{Why isn't FEV affected by radiation?}" ZAX 1.2: "{166}{}{The FEV is a megavirus, with a protein sheath reinforced by ionized hydrogen. It is therefore capable of absorbing neutrons without becoming radioactive.}" The Vault Dweller: "{168}{}{If the FEV re-infects the host with its assimilated viral patterns, how does it make a 'better specimen'?}" ZAX 1.2: "{169}{}{The FEV is pre-programmed with introns of corrected DNA appropriate to the proper type of species. It therefore attempts to correct the DNA of the individual.}" "{170}{}{However, as the FEV is partially reliant upon the DNA of the individual, and also includes portions of its own recursive code, the effects can be unpredictable.}" "{171}{}{When inoculated into an individual with significant genetic damage, such as through radiation, it will cause the body's systems to suffer massive overhauling, leading to organ failure and death.}" "{172}{}{In a genetically viable individual, it re-writes portions of DNA, causing accelerated mutation, usually leading to recursive growth due to the FEV's own patterns.}" "{173}{}{This recursive growth leads to an increase in muscle and brain mass, but is often accompanied by disfigurement and damage to existing neural patterns, causing loss of memory.}" The Vault Dweller: "{174}{}{What potential long-term side effects exist?}" ZAX 1.2: "{178}{}{As the FEV causes constant regenerative update to DNA, it would effectively render the subject largely immortal, as cell death would be offset by augmented growth.}" "{179}{}{Additionally, as the gametes of the reproductive system consist of 'half-cells' using split DNA, they could be perceived as 'damage' by FEV, which would 'repair' them, rendering the subject sterile.}" "{180}{}{However, as my laboratory facilities are damaged beyond repair, this is conjectural. I cannot offer physical proof. You will have to, in human terms, 'take my word for it.'}" The Vault Dweller: "{181}{}{Could FEV mutation be corrected with a counter-virus?}" ZAX 1.2: "{184}{}{No. FEV does not retain unaltered original copies of the subject's DNA. Only a virus which re-infected the subject with original DNA could reverse the effects. Additionally, there is no known way to remove the FEV itself.}" (ZAX.MSG)

Background
The first step to create super mutants took place with West Tek batch 11-111, used to infect 15 chimpanzees. Growth and immunity levels were unprecedented: attempts to induce cancers through radiological and chemical agents were not successful. Increased aggression led to isolating the subjects by the science team, while violent epileptic seizures caused two subjects to expire. The rest was terminated after all data was mined successfully.

Despite protests from the science team, on January 7, 2077, FEV research was transferred to the Mariposa Military Base, to continue under the lead of Leon Von Felden and Robert Anderson. Batch 11-111 has been chosen as basis for further development and human experimentation, with a near 100% success rate on lab animals, granting an approximately 60% increase in size and potential 200% intelligence increase.

A separate research effort was set up by Vault-Tec Industries in Washington, D.C. Vault 87 was established as an independent research center for Dr. Wayne Merrick, cooperating with the team at Mariposa. Despite his efforts, he was unable to improve batch 11-111 enough to reach satisfactory effects. Humans subject to his strains produced in the Vault 87 labs exhibited superior physical developments, such as increased size, strength, and endurance to environmental factors, but were also characterized by significant mental degradation and extreme aggression to non-mutants.

By comparison, the science team at Mariposa reached a full success, creating the FEV-II strain, able to create powerful super-soldiers, exhibiting superior physical prowess, resistance to combat damage, aging, and disease, as well as a negligible loss of intelligence. In certain cases, intelligence could even be increased by the virus. However, before the testing could begin in full, soldiers under the command of Roger Maxson rebelled and executed the science staff. With the Great War destroying the United States, Mariposa and research within was sealed by the soldiers and abandoned.

The Master
The vats were rediscovered in 2102 by an expedition led by Harold, a major Hub merchant. Accompanied by Richard Grey, a brilliant exile from Vault City, he managed to crack the base security and infiltrate the lower levels. However, within the vats, the automated crane crashed into the two, knocking Harold out and flinging Grey into the vat with FEV. Harold woke up in the wastes outside the base, mutating due to exposure to FEV fumes, but becoming a special type of a ghoul-like mutant, rather than a super mutant. Grey, on the other hand, underwent extreme mutation due to prolonged exposure to the virus in the vat. His intellect grew exponentially, allowing him to comprehend even the most complex issues easily (or so he thought). Grey methodically researched FEV, experimenting with animals and eventually, captured scavengers that strayed into the facility. It wasn't until a few failed mutations that he discovered radiation could be a deciding factor in the success of the change, leading him to pick subjects more carefully.

When his Lieutenant was created, he suggested a secondary reason for possible incompatibility. Reviewing available evidence, he concluded that failed mutations in relatively non-irradiated humans are caused by the inoculating effect of a mutated FEV released during the destruction of the Great War had on humans it came into contact with. While exposure to the mutated strain wasn't enough to turn the subject into a mutant, it was enough to cause complications with the pure strain of the FEV that would result in the death of the subject. Grey (now calling himself the Master) concluded that prime subjects can be found among Vault populations. Super mutants were sent to uncover sealed Vaults and capture their inhabitants for processing. This move gave the Master unprecedented amounts of human subjects and in 2137 he began to mass-produce mutants. The success rate was only 8-10%, but the Unity steadily grew.

The number of test subjects was further increased by raids on Hub caravans and the establishment of the Children of the Cathedral in 2156. Captive caravan drivers and zealots underwent processing, both in Mariposa and Grey's seat of power beneath the Cathedral. In his lair, the Master and his staff experimented with the FEV by injecting it into the brains of the subjects (usually the pineal gland, but also the amygdalae or medulla), triggering changes in brain chemistry. These experiments have limited success: four extremely powerful psykers were created, capable of theoretically wiping out the human race. However, the usual effect included the creation of zombie-like mutants like Dane. FEV experimentation by the Master was abruptly halted in 2162, when he was killed by the Vault Dweller and the vats were destroyed.

After the Fall of the Master
The destruction of the Unity and the Master caused the super mutant community to splinter and break apart. Bands of super mutants fled into the wastes in all directions, with charismatic mutants becoming leaders of warbands and even entire armies. The bulk of the super mutants led a disorganized flight northwards, into Oregon.

An army under Gammorin fled east, towards the Midwest, to carve out a place for themselves in the desolate wastelands. Eventually, they were united into a single fighting force by Paladin Latham, an Eastern Brotherhood commander thought lost. Defeated by the Brotherhood in 2196, they ended up integrating into the Brotherhood as its shock troops. Another group, led by Attis, attempted to rebuild Unity using the secret Vault as powerbase. Around 2208, they were wiped out.

Some super mutants remained in New California, attempting to integrate themselves. Though the Brotherhood of Steel worked to drive them away, some managed to stay behind and become productive members of society. The most successful attempt was led by Marcus, who founded the community of Broken Hills as a model for cooperation between humans and human-based mutants. Likewise, the New California Republic eventually adopted laws enshrining tolerance and deeming hate crimes based on mutation a criminal offense (around 2202) and allowed for mutants to apply for citizenship. Some even ended up serving in the Republic's elite special forces, the NCR Rangers.

Mid and late 23rd century
The situation became more complicated with the emergence of the Enclave. Their excavation of the Mariposa Military Base in 2236 resulted in the creation of second-generation super mutants from slaves used to unearth the ruins of the base. Though they were inferior to their first-generation brethren, due to uncontrolled exposure to the virus, they were strong enough to destroy the Enclave troops left as a mop-up operation. The Enclave sealed them inside the base by collapsing the entrance, but the damage was done. Eventually, the second generation mutants made their way outside the base. Together with the die-hard remnants of Unity plaguing the wastelands of northern California, they would remain an issue for years to come, affecting public perception of mutants. Less capable mutants, if captured, would face torture and mutilation at the hands of soldiers. Some politicians even began campaigning on an anti-mutant platform to gain votes with the more bigoted strata of Republican society.

As such, many super mutants migrated eastward. Marcus led the group once again, after Broken Hills perished when the uranium ran out. He founded a settlement at Black Mountain in 2277, using the radiation at the site as a natural deterrent to humans. However, a rift gradually developed between him and Tabitha, a nightkin officer from Unity. When Rhonda, her robot companion broke down, her mental condition deteriorated. She gradually began to ignore his leadership. In 2279, things came to an end. With no prospects for cooperation and clashes between nightkin and first-generation mutants becoming more and more commonplace, Marcus left Black Mountain to establish Jacobstown.

The two settlements became the primary concentrations of the super mutant population in the Mojave by 2281. Jacobstown became a haven for first-generation super mutants with a significant nightkin population led by Davison and Keene, enticed by the research and development efforts of Dr. Henry, working on a cure for nightkin mental illnesses caused by their Stealth Boy use. Black Mountain became the center of State of Utobitha, a figment of Tabitha's deranged imagination and home to a very hostile group of nightkin and second-generation super mutants. The nightkin harassed travelers and merchants on the I-15 for supplies and food. Although the victims reported the matter to the NCR Rangers, they were unable to divert men and resources to take care of the problem. Another problem emerged when Davison's group of nightkin left Jacobstown and attacked the Bright Brotherhood in their desperate quest to find Stealth Boys.