Nietzschean

“A Nietzschean never beats himself up - we're self-absorbed, not masochistic.” Telemachus Rhade, Nietzschean, First Officer of the Andromeda Ascendant

Physical Characteristics

Besides being distinguished by bone blades protruding outwards from the wrist area Nietzscheans are bigger, faster and stronger than normal Humans. They are immune to most poisons and diseases. They can eat a much wider variety of foods, survive in harsher environments, and pride themselves on thriving where normal humans wouldn't dare to tread.

Reproductive Method

Nietzscheans most commonly practice a modified pair bonding form of reproduction which various males compete to win the favor of reproductive-age females, who choose their consorts on the basis of genetic fitness more than emotional compatibility. It is not uncommon for a high status male to have more than one female consort.

History

The Nietzschean subspecies originated at Ayn Rand Station, a colony founded by Human geneticist Paul Museveni. Since then, Nietzscheans have spread throughout known space, reproducing rapidly until they now constitute 8 percent of the overall Human population.

Social Characteristics

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 Human subspecies, Nietzscheans took his words to heart and used genetic engineering and nanotechnology to reshape themselves into the ultimate survivors.

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 a mighty force in any faction they find themselves in