Evolution or not?

I am working on a Soft(?) Military Sci-fi story and I am really sucks at developing a conflict in it. I have a few ideas, but I want comments on it: (Note: People lives in different planets, setting somehow like Star Wars)

Questions I want to ask(after reading the story):

• Innocent citizens are trapped in the middle: should they choose to become a beast or become a machine?
• What will you choose?
• Are the two forms truly evolution?
• What will they (Beast and robots) become ultimately?
• Can you propose a third option to the innocent citizens?

Story: An evil alien from another galaxy came to the Milky Way by Space-time warping and wants to rule the whole galaxy. He disguises as a evolutionary scientist and turns some soldier into Therianthropies(Mutants) using genetic engineering, which, when transformed into Beast form, they have enhanced strength, speed, stealth, defense, (anything). Additional bonus includes adding genes that forces the Mutant soldiers to be absolutely loyal to their Master (or rather, not to attack the Master) And the success rate is 50% (half half) Some people, including 1 out of 5 armies has betrayed the Federation and joined the scientist to accept this kind of mutation. They believe this is the real evolution of human, as they have increased stat. All soldiers received this kind of treatment, and they started war on the Federation to gain more resources and called themselves "The Union". Normal soldiers and even Mechas (Humongous ones) cannot beat them, and the Federation suffers from a huge loss. So they turn on making the soldiers into Super Soldiers by infusing them with mechanic bodies, granting them immense strength or even infinite life and many abilities (since machines, you know), and the result is successful. However, the success rate is also about 50%.

Re.1: Probably the latter, considering the fact that they'll still have free will.

Re.2: Would, not will. And the latter if I really had to choose. I'm not big on being a puppet, you know.

Re.3: No.

Re.4: I haven't the foggiest. Depends on the numbers and on the external factors, quite likely.

Re.5: Yes, exodus.

An additional note: There is a huge difference between absolute loyalty to someone and inability to attack them directly, you know. You should make sure you know which it is going to be if you want other people's opinions, because I'm pretty sure with "absolute loyalty" almost nobody is going to choose the first side even if this is just a possibility or an off-hand joke that isn't actually true.

Thanks. On the second thought, I believe the logic should be that the mutants have absolute loyalty to their master, so they can't attack their master as it is deemed to be a betrayal.

Well, I don't think absolutely no people will choose to be the mutants — since it gives the user enhanced strength and abilities that normal people don't possess. (It is like some people value strength over autonomy)

I think you underestimate human ingenuity and tenacity. The species Homo Sapiens didn't achieve dominance by being the biggest, strongest, toughest creatures around. They did so by being the smartest and most cunning, and by using tools and coordinated teamwork over individual effort.

Besides, not everybody will be keen on the idea of getting transformed into some beast/machine thing. To some, the very notion of taking the body that they've been comfortable in all their lives, and twisting it into something inhuman, would be horrifying.

Also, evolution is not about becoming the biggest and strongest, or even the smartest and most cunning. Evolution is the ability to adapt to changing environmental conditions, and pass those traits on to future generations. It's about perpetuating your species, not becoming the biggest individual badass.

edited 19th Mar '17 9:48:56 AM by pwiegle

Adding on to that, just because some people value security over autonomy in terms of government or even relationships, this doesn't necessarily mean they're going to be fine with being absolutely loyal to one specific person on the genetic level, to the point where they have no free will when it comes to that person. Additionally, I feel like people who really value the idea of being stronger and deadlier than the majority are going to be less likely to accept the idea of being totally subservient to one person.