The war had seen rise of many technological advancements, but only one was credited with turning the tide. The headless clone battalions were elite trained troops who linked into cloned versions of themselves. The clones were genetically altered to be stronger, faster and tougher. They also were grown with a small protrusion where the head would normally be. This was known as the "cortical bulb". The cortical bulb was a simple organ responsible for involuntary actions such as breathing and sweating. After maturation of the clone the cortical bulb would be mapped and then merged with a computer equipped with a myriad of sensory inputs that would be attached to the spinal column. The DNA used to make each clone would be specific to one unique operator. The soldiers chosen for these elite battalions underwent numerous genetic, psychological and intelligence tests before being cleared. Controlled remotely, the clones were perfect for ground warfare. With the added benefit of learning from mistakes on the battlefield. The clones would die if the battle was lost, but the operator would learn. Clones couldn't be interrogated for information, and if they were captured they could lead troops straight to enemy hideouts. Additionally the neck mounted CPU was also equipped with a small self destruct charge for emergency use. The clone battalions ended the war swiftly and with less human casualties.
Public opinion was split on the clone issue. Congress had declared unequivocally that the clones were in fact not human, but some still saw the use of clones as inhumane. The armed forces positioned their stance on the issue bluntly, fewer troops were dying. The question was asked, what would come of the clones after the war had ended? Certainly some would still be used for military operations, but that still left a surplus. So the Headless Clone Fighting League was created. The HCFL was created as a way to raise money for military research. The clones didn't have weight classes, the classes were broken into percentages of augmentation. The lowest and most popular class was twenty-five percent. Fifteen percent of that was the neck mounted CPU, which only left room for only small augmentations such as; knuckle enhancements, knee replacements, spine and rib reinforcements, and adrenal boosts. The Next class was forty percent. These clones could be outfitted with many augmentations including double arm replacements. The last class was called forty plus. These clones often stopped looking like humans and started looking more like robots, with armor plating and total limb replacement. The twenty-five percent class was the most popular because of its fast, visceral fighting style. The Fights were very popular and advertisers scrambled to part of the excitement. They went so far as to tattoo the logos directly on the clones. The operators, former soldiers, became celebrities and would often be courted by different companies to enhance their clones. This created a swell of advancement in the clone technology and enhancements. Which is fortunate, because fifteen years later war was declared again and the clones were called back to the theater of war.
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