Common Core:Felinids
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Created by genetic alteration, the Felinids have long suffered mistreatment and oppression due to being viewed as genetic chimeras and abominations.
Gene Therapy
The mastery of the human genome was a key step in giving humans complete control over their bodies. The alterations possible via gene therapy are extensive, such as the treatment of genetic disorders, right through to cosmetic changes to things like eye colour. No treatment, however, was as controversial as going beyond the human genome, into the realms of splicing. One such treatment was animalisation- the splicing of the human genome with selected traits from various animals. Despite their widespread availability and range of possible treatments, animalisation was viewed by many as a step too far, beyond simple alteration into outright adulteration. Mutants of these types were viewed as no longer human, but some lesser species, tainted by animal DNA, and this mistreatment forced them away from Earth. The frontier regions and further human space are therefore inhabited by a significant diaspora of animalids, including felinids. Here, they live in relative peace compared to what they would experience in the core, with many present animalids being descended from those who initially received treatment centuries beforehand.
Felinids are a particular subbranch of animalids, created (perhaps obviously) via the introduction of selected genes from cats into humans. This treatment led to the development of vestigial ears, a tail, and light facial alterations. The side effects include the development of excessive body hair and mental changes, as well as a potential risk for additional side effects due to tampering with the genetic code. The effects take several weeks to be noticeable post-treatment, with the process being described as "agonising" as the body is forced to unnaturally shift and change.
The Incident
In recent years, however, there has been a major uptick in the number of felinids specifically in the galaxy, linked back to a major incident involving cloning. A large batch of Cloning Factor A, a critical chemical utilised in cloning, was deliberately contaminated by the chief chemical engineer, Eleanor Normandy on duty at the Trasen-Pauling Chemical Plant on Prosperity on the 14th of January, 2560, with a large quantity of Interdyne Pharmaceutic's KitX serum. The effects of this sabotage were unnoticed for around 2 weeks, when many cloning subjects at Nanotrasen gene clinics began to display the signs of animalisation. The scandal would create waves across human space, quickly becoming too large for Nanotrasen to cover up. This led to the decision to close many cloning facilities due to lost consumer trust, with Nanotrasen reserving the technology only for internal use- and making Interdyne the primary company for selling the technology to the public, having managed to take over their competitor's market share with promises of "strict quality control".
Eleanor Normandy would die during interrogation, having had a microchip implant within her brain remotely detonated during questioning. Her true employer was never found.