Ectogenesis

Ectogenesis is the practice of growing a human fetus in an artificial uterus called the ectopod. People born this way are called ectogens, ectoborns or tube babies (though the latter is mostly considered an offense).

Ectogenesis is a favored method of reproduction in Terra where long-term relationships and childbearing families are increasingly rare. Instead, about half of the Terrans are ectoborns created by the Department of Health and nurtured by the Department of Youth to prevent societal collapse.

It is an open secret that the Karakorum breeds genetically engineered ectoborn children for Terran military schools. The most spectacular examples are the Tier Zero units, but lower-tier soldiers also recieve smaller and safer modifications. This is, however, not acknowledged by the government partly to prevent the leaking of military intelligence and partly because many Terran religious groups oppose human genetic engineering.