Augmented Destiny: The Space Initiative

Chapter II cover for Augmented Destiny: Retribution

In the Augmented Destiny series, one of Lilo's reasons for urgently attending to The Princess escaping Alexandria is the Space Initiative. The Space Initiative is a top-class research project initiated by Ronda, with Queen Victoria Cooper, leader of Siblar.

When Ronda developed Icylic, a mineral with exponential combustion power, she always wanted to use the finding to conquer space travel. During her time in Alexandria, when she was introduced to Lilo, Ronda began building her network with Siblar, The Queen, and The Sinai group.

The project was announced to the world, confirming efficient traveling through the solar system. Space travel had become popular, but after a year, public interest dwindled--mostly because humans were still incapable of breathing and surviving on other planets. The project eventually ventured into studying the moons in the solar system. Traveling to the other moons became possible once Icylic became domesticated and more efficient energy conversion methods were created. The travel only pertained to the moons of planets and Mars; other planets were still incapable of landing due to their vicious atmosphere. The only Moons The Space Initiative was able to reach were those of Mars. Plans were created to travel to Jupiter, and after reaching space, Earth noticed a rapidly evolving Moon on Venus.

Even though the trips to Venus and Jupiter were planned, they never became practical, even with the full capabilities of Icylic. At least during that time, it was unfathomable. Lilo has pondered the idea of introducing IcylicC into the equation she never got the chance to do so.

Space Initiative Bioseed Project

The Space Initiative was a concern for Lilo due to another project that Ronda developed; The Space Initiative Bioseed Project, which was entrusted to Lilo. The exclusive project was top secret and only a few knew about it. Those people were Mira, Myra, Queen Cooper, Ronda, and Lilo, as well as the ten participants. Ronda's research led to the beginning of the assay. The research incorporated a seed with the capability to survive in harsh terrain and grow without water or oxygen.

Once Ronda passed, Lilo was endowed with the data and the project. Formally recognized as Alexandria's Liaison. Lilo would lead the charge, finishing Ronda's research and developing enough data to start a study.

Lilo, just like her mentor, believed that the Bioseed Project would benefit humanity, going as far as to say it would create an "almost perfect" society. The Bioseed Project involves the Proactive Seed, a seed of atmospheric DNA with proficient adaptability. Once this seed is brought from the core of its atmosphere, it starts to adapt; it does not change an environment's toxicity or atmospheric elements. Due to this, the seed must be ingested by an organism if it wishes to survive on another planet.

It takes five years for the transference to be completed and is extremely dangerous to a person's vitals. Once ingested, the body undergoes drastic changes. Some symptoms include extreme weight loss, malnourishment, dehydration, bone density loss, changes in blood color, and organ failure.

Lilo was able to develop systems to halt more of the deadlier symptoms, but malnourishment and weight loss could never be overcome. The full transformation process takes five years, one year for the seed to bloom, and another four years for the body to adapt.

Ultimately, the project would have been considered immoral due to the risk, but Lilo forsook that notion because she trusted Ronda. Lilo also could not resist being the woman to help humanity conquer its solar system. However, during the story, the Project is three years in, raising concerns for Lilo that if The Princess escapes, she could kill the project and the participants.