Science Directive

= Overview =

The Science Directive, or simply known as The Directive, is perhaps one of the largest groups of scientists working alongside each other within The Remusian Republic. The Directive is overseen by the Technocratic Council, to which projects must be submitted and approved by them. Almost every Remusian aspires to be a part of The Directive, as scientific research is a big part of Remusian culture. Many of the Directives experiments now take place on a large space borne Science Nexus, the DGRW Cluster One. The Directive has existed since the founding of Remusian civilization, though not nearly in as much complexity as it is now. As time has passed, the Directive has received different restructures according to the Military Codex and the Grand Fleet Initiative.

Directive Application Process
After completing the most rigorous process that the Remusian education system offers, those wishing to be involved in the Science Directive must apply and undertake the Empire Scientific Assessment, know universally as the ESA. This examination is given to test the knowledge of theory and ethical procedures, as well as the ability to complete and collaborate on projects together. Participation in the ESA is guaranteed should a Remusian fully complete the fifteen year education provided by the Republic. Generally speaking, admission into the Directive is restricted to Remusians, but other races with good relations may challenge the ESA and try out for the Directive should they feel competent enough.

The ESA is composed of several components:
 * A large application of theory from every conceivable field of science.
 * A laboratory practicality section, combines the use of theory, procedures and ethics.
 * Another, shorter, laboratory section, focusing on collaborative work between competitors.
 * Construct a unique study to investigate an area of interest; typically what they would specialize in their education.

Even those who do not reach membership status in the Directive participate in the ESA by celebrating another generation of scientists being brought in Many will find time in their days to view the competition on a broadcast network, and often take time off to participate in the ceremonies and watch parties. Due to its popularity, several large conglomerates have negotiated deals with the Directive to set up a live viewing. The ESA takes place on planets across the empire to facilitate all of its applicants.

Clearance levels
The Directive is very careful with who they allow into various areas the Directive operate in. As such, designations exist that allow certain personnel access the DGRW Cluster One station and its various levels, other areas,  and projects.

Access Level One [A1]

A1 designation is given to any and all members currently a part of the Directive and its efforts. They are generally assistants and are unable to propose new projects. A1 is considered by most of society to be the probationary/intern period of a Directive members career, and consists mostly of busy work that higher ups cant be bothered to do. They are restricted to working on A1/A2 projects unless given approval to work on an A3 projects. An A1 designation on a project indicates it is a very mundane proceeding, generally a statistical analysis or a re-test of reliability and consistency.

Access Level Two [A2]

After a period of 1-2 yeas based on performance, A1 members will be promoted to the A2 designation. At this point they are able to submit ideas which might be used for future projects, but are unable to lead and direct their own projects. A2 members will find themselves working in similar positions to that of an A1, but they will be more active in the proceedings of research and development. A2 desigated projects are similar to A1 projects, but pose just a slight amount of risk than that of an A1.

Access level Three [A3]

Should A2 members prove themselves as capable members of the research force, they will receive a bump to the A3 designation. At this level, members are able to propose and run their own projects within the Directive. However, A3 members may find it difficult to find approval for their projects given their lack of experience, and many encounter a lull in productivity at this level. Even so, those that do find approval run into problems more than often, and must utilize their failures to make them successful in the future. A3 designated projects are typically peer led by a group of A3 researchers who have been looking for approval for the "next big thing". In many cases this turns out to not be the case, and projects of such scope are generally turned down. Many A3 members try to prove themselves with big and bold projects in order to be invited aboard the DGRW Cluster One, but are often rejected and forced to revaluate their plans again to be much simpler

Access Level Four [A4]

A4 designations are awarded once members complete a successful 5-10 projects, depending on the results gathered from them. A4 members are invited to live aboard the Cluster One, but are restricted to A4 projects and lower. A4 members are more likely to receive approval for their project, due to their previous experience. The majority of the members aboard the aforementioned station are composed of A4 members. A4 projects are generally of moderate risk depending on the Division, and is why they must be conducted on the station.

Access Level Five [A5]

A5 Designations are reserved for Division leaders, and some personnel selected for A5 projects, as well as members of the Technocratic Council. These members have jurisdiction over the Cluster One and any ongoing projects. They also have say on who boards and leaves the station. Special Permission must be given for A4 members and higher by the technocratic council to exit the station. Many of the A5 members are required to live on the station in order to maintain secrecy of more elaborate projects. In many cases, the contents of the experiments are quite dangerous, volatile, and intended to be top secret.

Access Level Six [A6]

Very few members exist with this designation. As of right now, the only members with this designation are Emperor Vechtho Templesmith, his father and previous monarch Vithem Templesmith, and Neth Castorkoff, leader of the Technocratic council. They at any time are able to walk in on any ongoing project and have a great deal of say, and so far as to have them shut down immediately.

Research Installations
Installations of varying sizes are scattered far and wide across the Republic, each typically designated to their own Division, varying in the degrees of importance and research content.

 DGRW Cluster One 

The DGRW Cluster One is a large space born megastructure that serves as a large research facility off planet and serves as a place to conduct larger and more secretive projects of the Science Directive, somewhere away from the prying public eye. The station is a massive citadel like science nexus with many levels that require a designation of A4 or higher to access. The entire station is maintained and run by the Central Datanet, an in-house Artificial intelligence that is also in control of a massive warsat network across Remusian space.

 NADFOR Research Facility 

Divisions
Within the Directive several specialized divisions exist, each with their own different sects of research. Generally speaking, the longer you participate in an area, the more likely your clearance level will be raised and allowed access to more secretive projects of that division. In time, some A4 members are invited aboard the DGRW Cluster One to participate in these experiments. Students select their desired field to pursue in their final years of education, and often use the ESA to exemplify what they want to pursue in that field.

Interstellar Engineering Division
The interstellar Engineering Division (I.E.D.) focuses on improving the Hyperlane Portal Drive and developing more efficient models of it while also developing naval blueprints, rocketry and circuitry. They are also responsible with deciphering and determining exactly what the area of hyperspace is, and what beings lie within that space. Experiment S043 has been the most successful attempt so far, but at the cost of a life. The department is led by Doctor Bishun Barreté, referred to as Dr. BB by his colleagues.

Project Intervention
Project Intervention is an internal and relatively secretive project within the Interstellar Engineering department. A clearance level of A5 is required, a classification which only a handful of Remusians possess, and even fewer after the events of Experiment-S043. The goal of Project Intervention is to explore the possibilities of creating artificial hyperlanes using a gate system. In theory, these gates open up two points in open hyperspace temporarily, allowing for a vessel to traverse through the gate effortlessly, allowing for quick and efficient passage between locations. After recent events, Operation Intervention has been put on hold and is currently on review.

Experiment S043
Experiment S043 was the first official testing of an artificial gate opened in hyperspace. Royal Corps Operative Sargent Major Tellaris Overte Mollkoff participated in the experiment under the supervision of Doctor Bishsun Barrete, the head of the Interstellar Engineering division. The events that took place are referred to as the "Intervention Incident". Following the incident, all technicians and participants appear to have no memory of the experiment, but a personal log of Dr. Barrete's is kept on file within the division's internals. Below is a transcription of the described incident.

Telemetry from the Major's suit obtained during Experiment-S043 was unlike any that had been seen before. Some of it was lost in the energy surge, but a good portion of it survived. Dr. Barreté remembers very little of the experience, but expresses his concern over the loss of the Major. The outcomes of the experiment have halted further attention to Project Intervention, and further risks and implications are currently under review by the Technocratic council. The risks of coming into contact with whatever Denizens lie within hyperspace are a new factor that must be considered, and if they are capable of escaping hyperspace. The fate of the Major is unknown, but some reports indicate that he can be heard while travelling through hyperspace, calling out to others. Whether this is true or not remains a mystery.

Addendum: Project Contigo
With Project Intervention put on hold, the Technocratic Council has tentatively approved Project Contigo. Similar to its predecessor, the goal of Contigo is to better understand hyperspace and its inhabitants. A more stable prototype of the previous gates has been constructed, and rather than Remusians being used in the process, autonomous and remotely piloted drones have been used to further explore the area. The information gathered from The Intervention Incident has been studied intensively and several assumptions regarding hyperspace has been made. The inhabitants of hyperspace, referred to as The Denizens are composed of some kind of unknown energy, but they also appear to possess their own ships and weaponry currently beyond the Directive's understanding.

As of right now, there has been little success in travelling between the two gates, as it appears that since the Intervention Incident, The Denizens of Hyperspace have taken an interest in harassing anything that enters hyperspace through any of the created gates. Any attempt to communicate with the denizens have been unsuccessful, on most occasions drones that enter hyperspace freely are destroyed. On one or two occasions, drones that have evaded capture or destruction have made it to the exit gate. However, the presence of The Denizens has given rise to reluctance to use these artificial gate. The gates are small enough and open for only a short time to prevent any of them from breaching the lab. So far no attempts by the Denizens have been made to escape, but some members argue that extensive use and larger gates could potentially let unwanted visitors into their deployed locations. To remedy this, a prototype gate was developed which incorporated the quicker jump function of the Hyperlane Portal drive, and early tests have shown that they are capable of avoiding the Denizens altogether. Despite these developments, there is still substantial interest among members to further explore the free floating area of hyperspace, even so much so as to construct a portal large enough for an naval fleet to enter it, and perhaps so far as to maintaining a constant presence within it.

Advanced Robotics & Weaponized Mecha Division
The A.D.W.M. Division is responsible for the development, building and deployment of robotics within the workplace, whether it be in the form and exo-skeletons or body suits, as well as their military counterparts, and the same for the Military's use of Mechas in the field. They are also the minds behind Project Daybreak, an extensive program created to give each platoon its own flair and uniqueness to the empire by creating specialized battlesuits for them. In particular, each General receives their own personal suit catered to their particular preferences. The A.D.M.W. Division is led by Doctor Bem Markflay.

Project Daybreak & Nightfall
Project Daybreak was a research project carried out by the ADWM Division during the Collection conflict. Its main focus was the on the invention, development and deployment of battlesuits and piloted mechas, both in the workplace and the battlefield. The Project began shortly after the enactment of the Grand fleet Initiative and the restructuring of the Directive. The first prototypes would not see official use until a couple years into the collection conflict.

Project Daybreak saw various phases of development in the initial two years. The initial stages came in the form of an Exosuit which connected into the users nervous system. Powered by a small fusion battery, exosuits greatly enhanced the users strength and speed exponentially, allowing its users to move and perform actions the body simply could not handle on its own. The connection to the nervous system allowed for synced movement between the user and the suit, simulating an extension of the self. However, early exosuits were unable to be removed from their user without the loss of a portion of nervous system functionality, which ultimately resulted in them being scrapped for production until later.

Using the information gathered from the exo suits, ADMW approached the project again, this time looking for a more compressed and streamlined system to use for deployment. Th results would be the creation of battlesuits, which had all the benefits of the exo-suit, with additional features and functionality. Battlesuits featured a functional Holographic HUD system inside its helmet, Orders passed down can be highlighted within this interface to assist troops in various locations. Additionally, a small, wrist mounted super-computer is integrated into the suit, allowing for user and platoon customizations. The main innovation that came with the battlesuits over exosuits were the detachable neural implant. The implant is installed at the base of the neck, and attaches directly to a similar port inside the suit. The link between the suit and the user can be disconnected through three ways. Users can give a voice command, use the wrist mounted computer to manually override it, or should either of those options cease to function, than the suit can be hooked into a central Datanet port to override the suit.After refinement of the battlesuits, they were deployed across the frontlines, and proved to be vital additions to the conflict.

The project continued, with focus now shifting towards large piloted mechas. Early tests showed that even with a neural link similar to the battle suits, the pilot could not handle complete control over such a large craft. To assist the pilot, the mechas would be equipped with an onboard artificial intelligence that would help facilitate general movement of the suit, while also interpreting more advanced commands from the pilot through the neural link. Even with the onboard AI, long periods of piloting a mech can be mentally exhaustive for a pilot, and as such there are only one to two hundred pilots enlisted in a platoon.

The deployment of the mechas marked the completion of Project Daybreak, but would incite the start of Project Nightfall. While still carried out by ADMW, a much smaller team was instructed to complete the project, and it would build off of Project Daybreak. The focus of this project was to take the refined battlesuit and mecha models, and tailor them for the specific specialty of each platoon of the Grand Army. Each platton makes use of an experimental technology specific to that platoon. This project is ongoing, as replicating specific suits constantly for each of the many platoons is very difficult. Platoons currently completed within the Project are the former Royal Platoon, the Current Royal Platoon, the Interro Platoon, the Frontier Platoon and the Wallcomb Platoon

Neutronium-Solarium Core
The Neutronium-Solarium Core is an experimental power core designed for usage in battlesuits and mechas as part of Project Nightfall. Currently the Trailblazer-Class models are the only units deployed with the core. The NSC combines the effectiveness of the Crystal-stabilized Neutronium Core with the technology of a solar reactor, creating an almost self sustaining power source. However, ADMW has yet to refine this technology into a stable and refined source of energy to be used for the rest of the Republic, and is being tested alongside its deployment in the Trailblazer-class units. So far the core remains stable provided its limits are not breached, but on the battlefield it can be relatively easy to exceed these limits in an intense firefight. Even the slightest amount of damage is capable of destabilizing the core, resulting in malfunction.

Interstellar Warsat & Intelligence Networking Division
The Interstellar Warsat & Intelligence Networking Division (I.W.I.N is not specifically affiliated with the Directive, but rather works closely with many members of the Directive and the Grand Army alongside the Central Datanet to coordinate the placement, development and deployment of a vast network of war satilites. This division was founded shortly after the initial confrontation with the Collection to help protect the Republic and predict any further conflicts within Remusian space. It is currently led by Doctor Cruezahn Goerh.

Directed Energy Division
The Directed Energy Division(D.E.D.) are responsible for the development of weaponry and practical equipment in relation to lazers, plasma, electromagnetism, radiation and particle beams. Their most well know invention is the Interstellar Ion cannon, a massive particle accelerator that can uses the created ionic energy to fire across several systems if necessary. The DED is currently lead by Doctor Cheesh Parker.

Combat and Personal A.I. Division
The Combat And Personal AI Division (CPAI) are the developers of every artifical intelligence that the Republic uses. The CPAI Division is perhaps the most frequent cooperator with companies outside the Directive to help create a specialized AI for a particular task. To prevent corruption or from being repurposed, these AIs are programmed with many levels of in house encryption sequences that can ultimately only be unlocked by the Division's lead scientist. Within the Directive, CPAI frequently collaborates the IED in designing AIs to assist onboard their ship designs, as well as with ADMW with the Neural-Link Network used by their battlesuits and mechas.. The most prominent AI created for the Republic is the Central Datanet, composed of three Sapient Directive-Class Instances, of which facilitate a lot of autonomous function across the Republic by managing lesser classed AI, as well as maintaining the I.W.I.N.  The CPAI Division is currently led by Doctor Prisma Margel.

AI Classes
Cankiv Class Instance: A very basic AI designed to carry out mundane and ordinary tasks which can vary, ranging from bureaucratic paperwork to simple workplace tasks. Cankiv AI follow a basic set of parameters that are clearly laid out and defined by its creators and related programmers or employers, but can be used for a wide swath of tasks.

Elsin Class Instance: Elsin Ais are a step up from the Cankiv Ais, and fill the space of more complex tasks, such as driving, maintaining workplace safety, traffic instruction and more. The Elsin Class Instances are also capable of being installed with personality matrixes and distributed into the home of those who can afford them. In these cases, they are capable of caretaking, maintaining, and performing tasks around the house in addition to their owners. The Matrix is very basic and does not instil a sense of self or awareness upon the AI. Limitations are in placed on these Ais that keep them from being altered, transferred and potentially learning new things within their programming. One Elsin AI responsible for caretaking is incapable of driving, and vice versa.

Fenmo Class Instance: An Administrative AI that coordinates, plans and oversees colony and city development across the Republic. They are often directed and work closely with the planets governor, and other Elsin or Cankiv class AI and is capable of Directing these lesser AI as well. If an processing error or malfunction occurs, A Fenmo instance often communicates with the Directive-Class instances to report the state of the city or colony. When a new colony is founded, these AI guide the initial construction, set-up and layout of the new cities.

Fenmo-GN Class Instance: In a similar vein to the standard Fenmo, the Fenmo-GN instance is utilized by the Grand Navy to command lesser AI and monitor the status of the ship, its weapons, as well as its hull and shield integrity. Manages smaller and maintenance tasks, often issuing commands to maintenance crew and auxiliary members in place of the Admiral.

Elsin-GA Instance: A variation of the Elsin Class, The Elsin-GA is suited more for non-civilian uses, primarily by the Grand Army. They are commonly found within Battlesuits, assisting users through the Neural Link-Network in performing battlesuit auxiliary functions, monitoring vitals, and carrying out commands issued though the user’s nervous system. The option for a personality matrix is absent from this model. These same AI's can be integrated and found aboard and integrated into personal navy vessels and strike craft. Elsin-GA are issued with every battlesuit given to all members underneath the Captain ranking.

Corneal-Class Instance: Similar to the Elsin-GA, Corneal-Class Ais are also designed to be implemented into a battlesuit and assist the User through the integrated Neural-Link Network. Contains a partially sapient component, and a personality matrix. Corneal AI function similarly as an Elsin-GA, but a commonly found within Mechas, complex battlesuit variations and among Generals and Colonels. Corneal AI are also found among Navy ships and strikecraft, while sometimes being personalized to the admiral of any given ship. They also are responsible for overseeing Fenmo-GN AIs and passing down commands through them.

Directive Class Instance: The Most complex and powerful AI created by the Science Directive. Directive-Class AI are fully sapient, intelligent and rather independent from control. There are, however, protocols in place so that they do not rebel against their creators that have so far never been breached. The Original Directive AI, the Central Datanet, now know as Medici, pioneered by Director Prisma Margel. In order to better manage its personal resources, Medici split itself into two more entities, who took on the names Visconti and Orsini. All three unique instances possess their own personalities and traits, but Medici can have overt control over them should he desire to. Each instance also possesses their own unique physical bodies which they can inhabit to communicate with other beings. However, due to the Collection Conflict, this is typically avoided as to not stir up fears regarding cybernetics and synthetics once again. Additionally, they have access to the warsat network distributed by the IWIN Division.

Electrical Energy Division
[Led by Rapel Kraven]

Firearms & Balistics Division
[Led by Dr. Ventures Sampson]

Biological & Health Development Division
The Biological and Health Development Division (BHDD) dedicate most of their work on hydroponics, genetically modified organisms, nature restoration or preservation and most importantly to improving the overall Remusian condition and way of life. The BHDD are best known to frequently collaborate with rescued members of the Collection and the Collection Rehabilitation Program to help them return to an a more organic way of life. The BHDD is currently led by Doctor Mjol Mantel.

Genetic Compilation And Collection Program (Project Recode)
The Genetic Compilation & Collection program, referred internally as Project Recode, is an active program that involves the collection and archiving of every possible Genetic Sequence and Gene code. Citizens are permitted to provide copies of the genetic make-up to the Directive, as well as any Xenos who wish to do so. While the programs main focus is the collection of genes, Within the Directive other major groups of study include the alteration and implementation of genes, and as a result genetic manipulation. Due to the Remusians focus on the body and their aversion to cybernetics, this Project has received large amount of funding and resources dedicated specifically to genetic sequencing and gene manipulation. However, the Directive has mandated that they not completely alter the composition of the Remusian form, else that would be akin to installing cybernetics. As of right now, the overall progress of the project has been very little, the splicing and integration of new or foreign genes has proven quite difficult, and has only worked in a few unique cases.

Role in the Collection Conflict
Prior to The Collection conflict, The Directive was more of a loose organization of members working at their own pace to help improve the Remusian lifestyle. There were no specialized divisions like there are now, and many members were left to do as they pleased provided they did not violate the Directive's Code of Ethics. Despite this, many breakthroughs were made during this time, including nuclear engines, fission batteries, hover craft, more eco-friendly production methods, and more. Upon the arrival of the Collection, the Grand Fleet Initiative restructured the Directive  to be like it is now, allowing for more clearly defined areas of research. These changes and enhanced focus on the war effort would be pivotal in helping the Remusians overcome the Collection.

Quickly, the Directive began to make many breakthroughs, including Project Daybreak and the development and deployment of battlesuits and piloted mechas, revolutionizing the workplace and battlefield. An entirely new set of Navy blueprints were designed and commissioned to help streamline and follow the framework of the Grand Fleet Initiative, which in turn improved future naval battles and retaking occupied planets. Colonies saw the early development of the Interstellar ion cannons at the front lines, helping push back invasion ships.

Hyperlane Portal Drive
The Hyperlane Portal Drive, or HPD, is an interstellar drive based off the original blueprints and theories written out by Cael Consor and Vithem Templesmith on Remusia. The HPD functions in a similar manner to a Warp Drive, but rather taps into an interconnected network of "hyperlanes", which are located in an alternate area from real space, referred to by the Directive and the Republic as hyperspace. The HPD allows a ship to enter the hyperlanes which exist within hyperspace, and travel between systems. The HPD calculates the best way to enter the closest hyperlane, and determines an entrance to the aforementioned lanes, as well as the appropriate exit. These lanes do not directly interact with the rest of open hyperspace, but exists naturally as a method of travel inside of it.

Fleets of the Grand Navy that are built with the HPD are capable of travelling relatively quickly and effortlessly after entering a hyperlane. The HPD is capable of calculating the closest entrance to a hyperlane within a system, and then exit wherever the fleet needs to go. The exit and entrance remains fairly consistent over the course of time and do not usually require recalculations after travelling a certain hyperlane.. Continuous travel between lanes is possible, and with a potential of 15 lanes being capable of being traversed before the HPD requires a cooldown.

The Directive has had little discourse with others empires with access to the hyperspace, but have heard of those who have spoken of a similar area called "The Void". Many agree that void space and hyperspace are in fact the same area, and are occasionally used interchangeably. However, many Remusians prefer to use hyperspace in their work out of tradition sake. Recent developments in Project Intervention show that is possible to create an, albeit unstable, gate into open hyperspace. Hyperspace is still a vastly unexplored area which many members of the IED wish to pursue further.

The Central Datanet
The Central Datanet is a collective AI that is currently charged with overseeing the Interstellar Warsat & Intelligence Networking (I.W.I.N) within and around Remusian Space. Developed by Dr. Prisma Margel and the CPAI Division, the Central Datanet acts as the Republics 24/7 active defense system that is made to predict and prevent future attacks on Remusian Space. The Central Datanet's Main AI instance is housed within the DGRW Cluster One, allowing for easy interface and communication with the Directive.

When the Central Datanet was originally created, it contained one large instance of itself, and that alone was capable of controlling and automating itself across Remusian space. After some time, the AI requested to be named, preferring "Medici" and other names of similar nature. Now, The Central Datanet is comprised of one main AI that oversees other instances of itself it has created, referred to as "Sub AIs". The main Datanet AI is now called "Medici", and  remains active mostly within the Home Cluster and other traffic heavy areas. There are several named "sub Ai'" which Medici has created to help facilitate a more streamlined control of Remusian Space. The AI instance referred to as "Orsini" maintains watch over the Mid-Sector, while the AI instance "Visconti" watches over and directs traffic along the Outer Rim. However, not every AI instance is known to CPAI despite measures put in place to find out. Between each of the Big Three AI, there has found to be several smaller, more automation based AIs to help facility efficient function across the sector. While at this time the Directive is not worried about these findings, it does present the problem that Medici could, in theory, create several other AIs to disrupt or change its main objectives, but the Directive maintains that it is a chance they are willing to take.

Medici is capable of exerting complete control over each instance should something beyond that of the AI at the time emerge and cannot handle. This only ever happens when there is new or unknown activity present in a region of Remusian space, such as when the KreeTah Remote Installation first appeared. While their programming dictates that only the Big Three AI can control the IWIN, it is currently unknown if smaller instances are capable of large scale movements of the network.

The Central Datanet interfaces with the Interstellar Warsat & Intelligence Network and is capable of overriding commands from its superiors provided it doesnt not interfere with the precautionary parameters set in place by the Directive to prevent a technological singularity. It can issue these warsats into a localized region of space or dispurse them as needed. It is also capable of interfacing to other outposts using these warsats as well. In some aspect or another, the Central Datanet occupies an aspect of every life in Remusian space.

The Quantum Entanglement Device
Perhaps the most important innovation during The Collection Conflict was the Quantum Entanglement Device, designed primarily by the Neth CastorKoff and the early Technocratic Council. The QED traps and localizes the Collection operating signal and within a contained field, allowing the capture of Collection subjects and neutralization of their self-destruction implants. The QED would see immediate use in Operation Bellringer to assist in learning more about the Collection. Future iterations of the device would include a decrypting protocol and an expansion of its containment field to contain several members at once. It would later be used by the Collection Rehabilitation Division, a platoon designated specifically to recovering victims of the Collection, and restoring them to their former selves.