Doctor Sven (Last name unknown) was a geneticist employed at the New Hope Research Facility. Sven was assigned to the facility by the Department of Health in order to develop a cure for the children of Imulsion miners afflicted with Rustlung. Under the supervision of Dr. Niles Samson, the facility used transgenic experimentation by inserting the DNA of indigenous creatures from the Hollow in the children, mutating them into highly aggressive and violent chimeras Dr. Samson referred to as Sires. While working with one of the subjects, Sven was viciously attacked - prompting many of his coworkers to resign over safety concerns and the unethical experimentation of children. It is unknown if Sven survived the attack, but his work at New Hope eventually led to the creation of the Locust Horde.
Biography[]
Early Life[]
Not much is known about Sven, except he was born either before or during the early years of the Pendulum Wars in Tyrus. He then received an education in biology, medicine, disease research, and genetics. Sven later became a professional geneticist.
Pendulum Wars[]
New Hope Research Facility[]
During the Pendulum Wars, the miners of Imulsion and their families became afflicted with a fatal lung condition known as Rustlung. Fearing political and economic ramifications if the the public learned of Imulsion's toxicity, the Coalition of Ordered Governments - under the Department of Health - opened the New Hope Research Facility to house, study, and treat the children of Imulsion-poisoned miners in order to find a cure for Rustlung. During their research, Dr. Sven and the other scientists studied the progression of Rustlung by injecting the children with daily doses of concentrated Imulsion. They discovered that while most cells degrade from cellular stress when exposed to Imulsion, others cells underwent point mutations.
Most of the children continued to suffer and perish from the effects of Imulsion, but Dr. Samson saw the mutagenic effects of Imulsion beneficial for genetic engineering. Dr. Samson theorized that the DNA of indigenous creatures from the Hollow held a genetic immunity to Imulsion due to their proximity, and ordered the scientists to insert their DNA into the human children. While some results were achieved, the children were physically deformed as they mutated into monstrous chimeras that Dr. Samson referred to as the Sires. In addition, most of the children lost their mental capacities and became mindless, feral, and highly aggressive. Sadistic in nature, the Sires routinely attacked members of the New Hope staff.
Fate[]
Sven was viciously mauled by a male Sire despite sedating it - as Dr. Niles Samson claimed they were harmless in a sedated state. It is unknown if Sven survived the attack. It is otherwise unknown what became of Sven after possibly surviving his attack. Regardless, Sven died at some point given the time period he worked at New Hope. His attack prompted many employees, namely Dr. Doug Sato and Dr. Stephanie Zimmer, to resign. His attack also led to the activities at New Hope getting leaked to the public, causing the facility to be shut down by the Coalition.
Document[]
Sato's letter to Stephanie Zimmer
To: Stephanie Zimmer
From: Doug Sato
Subject: WTF?!
Steph, we need to talk. Seriously. I'm worried about our safety. Niles keeps saying that the subjects are harmless under sedation, but I just saw Sven get mauled by one of the males. Like ripped up, bloody mauled. This place isn't safe anymore. Maybe it never was.
I'm already working on my resignation letter, you may want to as well.
Doug