All of biological humanity had been improved by decades of genetic enhancement before the Hounds attacked, and these improvements carry over into the present day.
They consist of :
+1 Dexterity (to 11) 2 pts (counting reduction for keeping Speed at 2) +3 Constitution (to 13) 6 pts +3 Intelligence (to 13) 3 pts LS : Immune to Disease 3 pts Acrobatics 8- 1 pt Total : 15 pts
All Humanity also has the disadvantage :
Hunted (The Hounds, more powerful, 8-) 15 pts
In addition to the improvements mentioned above, all humans, whether superhuman or not, have been engineered so that their bones do not weaken due to prolonged periods in free fall, and so that they will slowly re-grow any lost limbs and organs without external aid. Genetic engineering has also increased the average human life-span to one hundred years and greatly reduced the effects of senility in old age which means that old people can continue to contribute to society.
There are also large numbers of superhumans, many genetically engineered, some of them natural-born. All genetically engineered superhumans in the UN are built on 150 pts plus up to 100 pts of disadvantages. However, they must spend 50 of those points on the following abilities :
LS : vs all but Ageing and Eating/Sleeping 22 pts Any two of : IR Vision, UV Vision, LS : Doesn't Eat/Sleep 10 pts 5 points Visual Flash Defence 5 pts Mind Link to any 4 people, need them to have mind link as well 12 pts Acrobatics 8- 1 pt Total : 50 pts
As part of the engineering process all superhumans can speak and hear in any sound-carrying medium without distortion, and are incapable of shedding tears. The superhumans life-support comes mainly from having a cold-fusion powered metabolism.
It is also possible for PC's to be AI's.
Like humans, all AI's have the disadvantage Hunted (The Hounds) and are built, like humans, on 150 points plus up to 100 points of disadvantages. All AI's in a mobile body (which can be anything from completely human to utterly non-humanoid) must have the following 56 points worth of abilities :
LS : Full 30 pts IR Vision 5 pts 5 points Visual Flash Defence 5 pts Eidetic Memory 10 pts Speed Reading 3 pts Lightening Calculator 3 pts Total : 56 pts
and may have the Distinctive Features disadvantage if they wish, though they can also look totally human if they so desire. However, many AI's are quite proud of their heritage, and have bodies which appear obviously robotic. AI's may have the same powers as a human, including psionic powers, although the mechanisms may be slightly different. The LS : Immune to Disease which an AI has as part of its Full Life Support also renders the AI immune to computer viruses.
The artificially intelligent part of an AI is purely software dependant, but it must have hardware of sufficient complexity to allow the personality software to run. This means that AI's can switch their personalities between any compatible bodies relatively easily. Almost all AI's use analogue processing.
All careers which are open to humans are open to AI's; there have been, for example, several AI Cardinals in the Roman Catholic Church, and there are currently several AI Bishops.
All of Humanity has the following Everyman Skills, from their upbringing and education.
Acrobatics Deduction Breakfall Paramedic Climbing Shadowing Concealment Stealth Conversation Tactics Computer Programming 4 points in Native Language AK : Home Settlement KS : Space/Planetary Environments (8-) PS : One Skill (8-) TF : Small Space Vehicles
The Acrobatics, Breakfall and Knowledge skills all derive from the spread of Humanity through space and across all the worlds of the solar system. The Tactics skill comes from the necessity that, in 2335, everyone, even if not militarily trained, knows the rudiments of military thinking.