Enhanced Human

Enhanced Human (強化人間, Kyōka Ningen), also translated as Strengthen Human, is Neo Zeon’s programme to create artificially augmented Newtype pilots during the First Neo Zeon War in Universal Century 0088. Whilst similar in goals to the Titans’ Cyber-Newtype programme, the Enhanced Human programme incorporated cloning technology and distinct psycho-conditioning methodologies, producing pilots with genuine Newtype abilities enhanced through artificial means.

Overview

The Enhanced Human programme represents Neo Zeon’s attempt to mass-produce Newtype-capable pilots to address their shortage of naturally occurring Newtypes. Unlike the Cyber-Newtype programme which focused on augmenting existing humans with drug treatments and psychological conditioning, Enhanced Humans were created through cloning technology combined with accelerated growth and specialised training from “birth”.

The programme’s most notable products were Elpeo Ple and her clones, particularly Ple Two, who demonstrated combat abilities approaching or matching natural Newtypes whilst maintaining greater stability than most Cyber-Newtypes.

Technical Principles

Cloning and Accelerated Growth

The Enhanced Human programme utilised advanced cloning technology to create physically and mentally capable pilots in shortened timeframes:

Genetic Templates: Clones derived from individuals exhibiting Newtype potential
Accelerated Growth: Subjects reached physical maturity in significantly reduced periods
Neurological Enhancement: Genetic modifications to enhance spatial awareness and reaction time
Memory Imprinting: Implantation of combat skills and knowledge during growth phase

The cloning process allowed Neo Zeon to bypass the lengthy pilot training required for conventional mobile suit operators whilst attempting to replicate natural Newtype capabilities.

Psycho-Conditioning

Unlike Cyber-Newtypes, who often suffered psychological instability from forced enhancement, Enhanced Humans underwent conditioning during development:

Identity Conditioning: Subjects conditioned to accept their nature and role
Loyalty Programming: Deep-seated loyalty to Neo Zeon and commanding officers
Combat Psychology: Mental frameworks optimised for mobile suit combat
Emotional Regulation: Training in managing Newtype sensory input

This approach proved more successful than Cyber-Newtype methodology at maintaining psychological stability, though subjects still exhibited unusual psychological traits.

Newtype Capability Enhancement

Enhanced Humans demonstrated genuine Newtype abilities:

Spatial Awareness: Enhanced perception of three-dimensional battlespaces
Anticipatory Reactions: Ability to sense enemy actions before execution
Remote Weapon Control: Effective use of funnels and similar Newtype weapons
Pilot Communication: Newtype-to-Newtype battlefield communication

These abilities approached those of natural Newtypes like Judau Ashta, though with less intuitive understanding and more combat-focused application.

Development History

Neo Zeon’s Newtype Problem

Following the Gryps Conflict, Haman Karn led Neo Zeon in their campaign against the weakened Earth Federation and AEUG. However, Neo Zeon faced a critical shortage of Newtype pilots capable of effectively utilizing their advanced mobile suits, particularly Newtype-specific units equipped with psycho-communication systems.

Natural Newtypes remained extremely rare, and competition with the Federation and AEUG for these pilots was fierce. Neo Zeon’s military leadership recognised they needed an alternative source of Newtype-capable pilots.

Programme Development

Neo Zeon scientists, building upon data from the Flanagan Institute and potentially captured Titans Cyber-Newtype research, developed the Enhanced Human programme. Key development phases included:

Genetic Research: Identification of genetic markers associated with Newtype potential
Cloning Technology: Perfection of human cloning for military applications
Accelerated Growth Protocols: Development of safe rapid-aging techniques
Psychological Conditioning: Creation of stable conditioning methodologies
Combat Training: Integration of mobile suit piloting during development

The programme operated under high secrecy, with only select Neo Zeon leadership aware of its existence and methodology.

The Ple Series

The most successful product of the Enhanced Human programme was the Ple series, clones created from an unknown template exhibiting strong Newtype potential. Elpeo Ple, designated as either the original or first successful clone, entered combat service in UC 0088 during the First Neo Zeon War.

Ple demonstrated exceptional combat ability, piloting the AMX-004 Qubeley Mk-II with proficiency rivalling Haman Karn herself. Her success led to deployment of additional clones, most notably Ple Two, who exhibited even more advanced combat capabilities but greater psychological instability.

Operational Use

Combat Performance

Enhanced Humans deployed during the First Neo Zeon War demonstrated impressive combat capabilities:

Mobile Suit Proficiency: Advanced piloting skills from imprinted knowledge
Newtype Weapons: Effective use of funnels, bits, and psycho-communication systems
Tactical Awareness: Enhanced battlefield perception and decision-making
Endurance: Able to sustain extended combat operations

Elpeo Ple in particular proved capable of engaging multiple enemy mobile suits simultaneously, using her Qubeley Mk-II’s funnels with precision approaching natural Newtype abilities.

Psychological Factors

Despite improved stability over Cyber-Newtypes, Enhanced Humans exhibited distinct psychological characteristics:

Childlike Behaviour: Subjects often displayed immature emotional responses despite advanced combat skills
Identity Confusion: Some subjects struggled with their nature as artificial beings
Loyalty Conflicts: Conditioning sometimes conflicted with emerging individual personalities
Emotional Volatility: Stress could trigger unexpected emotional responses

Elpeo Ple’s defection to the AEUG after befriending Judau Ashta demonstrated that Enhanced Humans retained individual agency despite conditioning, a significant contrast to heavily conditioned Cyber-Newtypes.

Ethical Considerations

The Enhanced Human programme raised significant ethical concerns:

Creation of sentient beings specifically for warfare
Accelerated growth denying normal childhood development
Psychological conditioning limiting free will
Treating human clones as disposable military resources
Genetic manipulation of human beings

These concerns were largely ignored by Neo Zeon military leadership focused on practical military advantages. However, the programme’s revelation after the war contributed to post-conflict regulations on human cloning and enhancement.

Comparison with Cyber-Newtypes

Enhanced Humans and Cyber-Newtypes shared similar goals but differed significantly in methodology and results:

Aspect	Enhanced Human	Cyber-Newtype
Origin	Cloned and conditioned from development	Existing humans forcibly enhanced
Stability	Generally more stable	Often psychologically unstable
Abilities	Genuine Newtype capabilities	Artificial simulation of Newtype abilities
Loyalty	Conditioned but capable of independent choice	Often heavily drugged and controlled
Lifespan	Normal (theoretically)	Often shortened by treatments
Development Time	Months (accelerated growth)	Weeks to months (enhancement process)

Enhanced Humans represented a more sophisticated but ethically problematic approach compared to the Titans’ brutal Cyber-Newtype programme.

Legacy and Aftermath

Programme End

The Enhanced Human programme effectively ended with Neo Zeon’s defeat in the First Neo Zeon War. Key factors included:

Deaths of key programme personnel during the war
Destruction of research facilities during the conflict
Political backlash following programme revelation
Elpeo Ple’s defection demonstrating programme limitations
Post-war prohibition on human cloning for military purposes

Long-Term Impact

The programme’s legacy influenced subsequent Universal Century history:

Ethical Regulations: Stricter controls on human genetic modification and cloning
Military Policy: Increased scrutiny of experimental pilot enhancement programmes
Newtype Rights: Growing movement to protect natural Newtypes from exploitation
Scientific Ethics: Renewed debate on acceptable limits of military research

Surviving Enhanced Humans, including Ple Two, faced uncertain futures in post-war society, neither fully accepted as natural humans nor responsible for their creation and conditioning.

Historical Assessment

Military historians regard the Enhanced Human programme as:

Technically more successful than Cyber-Newtype programmes
Ethically more problematic due to creating life specifically for warfare
Strategically limited by small numbers produced
Ultimately unsuccessful in achieving Neo Zeon’s military objectives

The programme demonstrated that whilst Newtype abilities could be artificially replicated to some degree, the unpredictable nature of human consciousness and individuality remained impossible to fully control.

Behind the Scenes

The Enhanced Human concept was created for Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ to differentiate Neo Zeon’s approach from the Titans’ Cyber-Newtype programme in Zeta Gundam. Director Tomino Yoshiyuki wanted to explore themes of identity and humanity through characters like Elpeo Ple and Ple Two, questioning what it means to be human when one is artificially created.

The decision to make Enhanced Humans clones rather than enhanced existing humans allowed the series to explore these themes through the Ple characters’ relationships with the Gundam Team, particularly Judau Ashta, whilst also providing a logical explanation for their youthful appearance combined with advanced combat skills.

Appearances

Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ

External links

Enhanced Human on the Gundam Wiki