Hybrids. UniClass status is legally required for ALL hybrids, a law which is heavily enforced by the Ministry, hence the UniClass encompasses over 99% of Einheit City's hybrid population. The UniClass makes up the near entirety of middle and upper income levels in Einheit City, and makes up 41% of the overall population. Except in special exceptions, UniClassers are the only citizens permitted to live inside the Toride, which houses almost all of the UniClass population. Essentially a title of evolutionary superiority, the UniClass are a social elite, guarded and provided for by the Ministry, so long as they remain in comformity with its laws.
Like registered outer class citizens, all UniClassers have their DNA entered into the Ministry's identification database, making identification while passing through Ministry checkpoints a quick and easy matter, as well as allowing the Ministry to keep a meticulous record of its UniClass citizens.
UniClassers are the only citizens who may legally apply for weapon permits. While there are extremely strict laws and regulations about who may own certain weapons, it is possible for UniClassers to legally own certain firearms provided that they have a spotless record and are model citizens. See the Weapons page for more information.
UniClassers receive great amounts of state assistance. Education and health care of the highest quality are all readily available. Physical fitness levels for UniClassers are generally high, due to Ministry-implimented social programs encourage active lifestyles and exercise. Unemployment is virtually non-existent, both because of the wide range of opportunity, and due to the fact that UniClassers are heavily discouraged from leading idle, unproductive lives. While outer classers are sometimes used as a source of cheap labour in Midcity factories for a few UniClass businesses, UniClassers are heavily encouraged by the Ministry to remain self-reliant from the outer class, and to favour employing hybrids over outer classers, even if it means higher production costs.
In order to apply for UniClass citizenship, one must first be a hybrid, or a purebred willing to undergo Genetic Re-Assignment, also known as artificial hybridization.
By city law, 'hybrid' means an individual whose DNA is of two or more biological Familae, with a hereditary footprint of no more than 50% of a singular genetic build. In other words, a wolf/fox would, by Ministry and UniClass definition, not be considered a true hybrid, due to the mixture being still within the Canidae Family. But a wolf/leopard, on the other hand, would be considered a true hybrid due to the combined Felidae and Canidae DNA. Likewise, a 1/4 dingo - 3/4 deer would not be considered 'hybrid enough' because they have more than 50% of a singular genetic build, but a 1/2 dingo - 1/2 deer would be considered a hybrid.
On a final note, hybrids who have genetic disorders or serious hereditary illnesses that could pose a risk to a healthy gene pool are often restricted from bearing children. For all other purposes they are treated as totally equal UniClassers, with the only difference being that reproduction is illegal for them. Also, UniClassers with severe mental disabilities are often taken into state custody. Some are never seen again.
For Purebreds Applying for UniClass Status
For purebreds who seek UniClass status, they must consent to undergo genetic re-assignment in a Ministry gene treatment center inside the Toride in order to become a hybrid. This is a very difficult process to begin with, since very many applicants are rejected due to the Ministry's high standards of approval, which leaves most purebreds unable to become hybrids even if they desired to.
To begin the process, a purebred may approach any Genetic Re-Assignment office in the Midcity where they will then undergo a rigorous screening process in which their potential to be a productive hybrid will be examined. This is determined by a number of factors, including but not limited to education level, intelligence, physical strength, health, age, occupational skill or talent, and overall loyalty to the Unity idea. Lacking in any of these areas will work against one's chances for becoming a hybrid, and can result in one being rejected altogether. It is estimated that at least 85% of all applicants are turned down.
If they are considered to be potential UniClass material, they will then undergo a series of background checks and highly advanced lie-detector tests to ensure that no ulterior motive or traits incompatable with UniClass society are present. Purebred individuals who are revealed to have malignant traits, or ill-intent in pursuing hybridization or UniClass status will have their applications rejected, and may face fines, arrest, or execution, depending on individual circumstances.
If a purebred is approved, they will then be entered into the Genetic Re-Assignment waiting list. Since the Genetic Re-Assignment process is rather time and resource consuming, only a certain number of individuals can undergo it at a given time. Depending on how desirable the individual's traits are for UniClass society, they may be in the queue for anywhere from a few weeks to several months, or possibly years. For example, younger, educated, and healthier purebreds who show exceptional loyalty will be given priority status over applicants who are in less ideal condition. Hence many of the more dedicated UniClass-seeking purebreds enroll in Ministry-funded Unity indoctrination schools in order to gain educational credit to advance more quickly through the queue.
Once the purebred is allowed to proceed, the next step is the actual genetic re-assignment process, or artificial hybridization as it is sometimes called. By use of a Ministry procedure derived from Architect technology, purebreds may become UniClass citizens by having their DNA seamlessly combined with that of one or more other race, with the result being a literal hybrid, both in genetic makeup and physical appearance, completely indistinguishable from a natural-born hybrid. The process is highly safe and efficient, though the treatment itself takes roughly eight nights, during which the individual will be put into an artificial coma in a genetic alteration tank until the hybridization process is complete. Note that there are some claims perpetuated by fringe elements of the outer class that artificial hybridization can cause a host of degenerative illnesses later on in life in a small minority of cases. The Ministry flat-out disregards these claims as slander.
While undergoing genetic reassignment, the individual may be subject to extensive wet-wiring in which their central nervous system will be accessed. Memory alteration/removal is very common here to (this could range anywhere from selective removal of only a few areas, to heavy memory wipe depending on individual circumstances). This is to ensure that when their evolution is complete, they are a new person altogether, one who has entirely shed his or her corrupt past life, and emerges as an entirely new being. In most cases, recollections of friends, family, or any other positive memories from purebred life are erased forever. After genetic re-assignment is complete, the individual will be registered as a UniClass citizen.
Over the next few weeks they will be entered into a series of Ministry-run citizen orientation classes in which they will be acquainted with the laws and general requirements of UniClass life. Along with this, the new UniClasser will be met with a state counselor who will help them find employment. Given the sheer range of opportunity available to UniClassers, unemployment is virtually non-existent.
During this time the Ministry works very closely with these new UniClassers, eager to assist and inform, as well as to watch them very closely detect any signs of anti-Unity sentiments. In the rare cases where anti-Unity elements are found, the individuals in question are assigned to mandatory correctional rehabilitation in order to eliminate anti-Unity traits and to better mold the individual to living a co-operative pro-Unity lifestyle. The Citizen Rehabilitation Collar, sometimes accompanied by more thorough Unity re-education are the most common methods in which this will be done.
Whether one has finished their few weeks of orientation, or required additional Ministry-provided educational therapy to adjust more properly to Unity, by this point the citizen will be well on their way to becoming self-sufficient enough to support themselves and move out of the dormitories, and into more long-term living accomodations in the Toride.
For Hybrids Applying for UniClass Status
While over 99% of hybrids in Einheit City are already registered UniClass citizens, there is still a tiny minority of those who are not. Aside from those few outlaw hybrids who, for whatever reason, fled UniClass society to live in constant peril among the purebred populace, usually outer class hybrids are a result of having purebred parents who did not properly submit them to be raised by the Ministry as UniClassers, and have been kept away from the Ministry ever since. Though this is extremely illegal, often resulting in certain death for the parents should their crime be discovered, it does happen from time to time. Hybrids under the age of 16 who were never registered as UniClassers are required by law to be taken into Ministry custody, where the state will see to it that they are cared for and raised as educated and productive UniClassers.
However, there are still occasionally adult hybrids who were either not found by the Ministry when they are minors, or were somehow prevented from seeking UniClass status well into their legal adult years. When an adult outer class hybrid approaches the Ministry and expresses intent to apply for UniClass status, they will undergo a deep investigation to find as to why exactly they did not apply UniClass status earlier on, and to determine that there is nothing suspicious at play. In most cases where the hybrid has been honest about their reasons, the Ministry understands whatever unusual circumstances led to this, and will see to it that the individual is allowed to proceed to UniClass status, where they will then be transported to the Toride and be given basic dormitory living quarters and an employment counsellor to start off their new life in UniClass society.
The next step involves orientation into UniClass citizenship. Over the next few weeks they will be entered into a series of citizen orientation classes in which they will be educated in all the basics of the UniClass; laws, government, history, and most importantly, Unity. Along with this, the new UniClasser will be met with a state counselor who will help them find employment or enroll in higher education. Given the sheer range of opportunity available to UniClassers, as well as the Ministry's firm requirements that all UniClassers contribute to the well-oiled machine of utopia, unemployment and illiteracy are virtually non-existent.
During this time the Ministry works very closely with these new UniClassers, eager to assist and inform, as well as to watch them very closely detect any signs of anti-Unity sentiments or criminal tendancy. In the rare cases where anti-Unity elements are found, the individuals in question are assigned to mandatory 'additional citizen education' in order to eliminate any anticivil traits, and to better mold the individual to living a co-operative pro-Unity lifestyle. The Citizen Rehabilitation Collar, sometimes accompanied by more thorough Unity re-education are the most common methods in which this will be done.
Whether one has finished their few weeks of orientation, or required additional Ministry-provided educational therapy to adjust more properly to Unity, by this point the citizen will be well on their way to becoming self-sufficient enough to support themselves and move out of the dormitories, and into more suitable living accomodations in the Toride.
When one becomes a UniClass citizen, their basic needs are immediately provided for by the Ministry. Healthcare, a steady job, and adequate housing inside the Toride are available to all UniClassers. While there are certainly some UniClassers who are not as wealthy as others, even those on the lower rungs of UniClass society, dwelling in the lower levels of the Toride and holding menial jobs, are far better off than most purebreds will ever be.
However, living in accordance with Unity requires a vast amount of scrutiny from the Ministry to ensure the safety and conformity of all citizens. Covert surveillance directed upon the UniClass is rampant. To what degree, none but the Ministry know. Of course most UniClassers are aware of this fact and are quite comfortable for it, knowing that it is simply in the best interests of society. It is a well known fact that the Toride holds millions of hidden cameras and microphones, nevermind the Ministry's vast network of undercover agents and informants. Even then, for UniClassers venturing outside the Toride, the Ministry could very well be secretly observing their every movement, every word... Every breath. In the rare event that any threat or corruption should endanger the UniClass from within, one should assume that it will not go unnoticed for long.
Purebreds. Though technically, "outer class" simply means the absense of UniClass citizenship rather than an alternate official group, since the UniClass is considered to be the only true class there is.
Everyone who does not qualify for UniClass status will find himself or herself categorized as outer class, and will dwell outside the Toride. Since Unity's core value is hybridization, the outer class is virtually entirely made up of purebreds. Outer classers hold a 43% unemployment rate, and by and large are extremely impoverished. Those with legitimate jobs are often overworked and underpaid, though many are forced by circumstance to take on illegitimate industries; drug peddling, prostitution, and similarly dangerous lines of work are commonplace. Estimates of drug abuse are similarly high. Violent crime rates amongst purebreds are extremely high, especially in the Undercity, where Ministry presence is far less than it is in the Midcity.
Racketeering is especially rampant, and it isn't uncommon for the Undercity crime lords to be just as ruthless, if not moreso, than the Ministry, regardless of the fact that the Underlords themselves are purebreds too. Being that the Ministry only cares to intervene when socio-political rebellion is detected, and that most crime groups are not foolish enough to openly challenge the Ministry, the outer class is largely left to the mercy of the aforementioned crime syndicates. Criminal exploitation of purebreds is extremely common, and is, for all practical purposes, ignored by the Ministry since it is not deemed to be of any consequence to the UniClass hybrids.
Outer classers are banned from living inside or freely entering the Toride. Normally the only time which a purebred might briefly see the inside of the Toride is when a UniClass status-seeking outer classer is escorted in by Ministry personnel to the Genetic Re-assignment center. But even then that is only after meeting the initial UniClass citizenship requirements and being processed through the long waiting list. It might be possible in some rare cases for select purebreds to enter the Toride, though these are also under EXTREMELY controlled and secure circumstances, and only when the individual has been meticulously screened by the Ministry, and is usually someone bound for Genetic Re-assignment anyway.
UniClass citizenship is mandatory for all hybrids, though it is estimated that a very tiny number, less than 1% of Einheit City's hybrids, are for some reason or other, outer classers.
Hybrid children born to purebreds amongst the outer class are usually found by the Ministry at an early age, are removed from their purebred parents (who are usually executed or sent to a CLF for attempting to keep a hybrid child), and are taken into the Toride to be cared for by the state or adoptive parents. But inevitably there are still a tiny number who go undiscovered and end up never even seeing the Toride's interior. Although they are required to attain UniClass status, adult hybrids who actively refuse UniClass status are classified as traitors, and may be imprisoned or executed. Outer class hybrid minors under the age of 16 are treated more leniently, are simply taken by the Ministry (by force if necessary, with or without their consent) to the Toride to be conditioned into becoming proper members of UniClass society.
Then there are also a much smaller number still who were at one time UniClassers, and through some very rare or unusual twist of events, became classified as outer classers. These are uncommon, but they do exist here and there, usually as a result of desertion from UniClass society. Yet such individuals are extremely few and far between, due to the Ministry often eliminating them for their treason, and for purebreds despising them simply on the basis of their hybrid genetics.
Ironically, outer class hybrids are the lowest of all social classes in Einheit City. From one end they are ruthlessly hunted by the Ministry, and from the other end they are heavily persecuted by bitter purebred outer classers, who for so long have suffered under hybrid rule. Even those purebreds who may have no personal dislike for outer class hybrids generally have no choice but to shun contact with them, for fear that they too could be punished by the Ministry or less-tolerant purebreds for having friendly contact with the aforementioned hybrid outlaws.