Engagement Contest Entry - Engagementus Maximus

[Hazard]

The inbreeding would be negligable, one male, but millions of females would prevent the effect.

Debatable, while it's true that a population of atleast 200 individuals is the absolute minimum for the genetic diversity necessary to maintain a viable human population, this banks on a male-female ratio of 1 on 1, as well as the Parent generation being completely unrelated as far as possible.
It's an unfortutante, but known, fact that if related people reproduce the child is more vulnerable genetically recessive genes prevalent in the family. Those genes that decrease (or fail to increase) the chanches of breeeding become less common and eventually die out, it's the basic mechanism behind evolution.
Even if millions of women are impregnated, the children would still be half-siblings, while Ranma's genetic code is very well represented in all it's own possible combinations among the people involved. If a few generations pass, it's likely that a large amount of the people are going to show the particular traits Ranma inherited himself.
There are a few ways to lessen this effect, most notable among them using the sperm of one of Ranma's kids to impregnate a woman who had not borne him a child, this increases the genetic diversity much better than letting the kids rut with eachother.

The inbreeding would be negligable, one male, but millions of females would prevent the effect.

And having only 1 man available isn't a closed population? Please, the effect may be very small, but as I said before, as the time passes, Ranma's own genes will if not outright dictate dominate the Human Genome.
I shudder at the Eugenics bit though, Racism is a very large factor in such a thing. It's quite possible people will develop a system not unlike the Andorans in The Wheel of Time, where succession of the throne is for a large part decided by how close you are to the First Queen of Andor. They are pretty laid back there, but humanity is quite stupid and there will most likely develop some kind of Church of Ranma.
The more pure-blooded you are, the higher on the social ranking you'll be... One wrong development and I can see a distopian future where those with little relation to Ranma are little more than slaves.

[Tovath]

On the genetic diversity side there are no dougt some pergnit women in the world who will give brith to boys and of corse the World's goverment will be keeping an eye on them. This will provent problems with inbreading, but will not help Ranma.

[Shadowbakasama]

To improve this story line you need to eliminate the stored genetic material from other males that is kept in Sperm Banks, and I think a series of riots and terrorism should be mentioned, maybe a flashback, news story, or side story.
Maybe some mention of the rushed cloning projects that have sprung up. I think that most of the men will want to clone themselves to continue their families. I figure most clones will the inserted invirto in the wife. They may have incentives to have 1 clone boy and one or more Saotomes to a family and arrange a marriage between siblings (clone boy + girl child of Ranma & wife) making incest very popular for non-blood related siblings in the future.
One way to nix cloning is for the virus to have damaged the Y chromosone of all the men, resulting in clone birth defects in addition to sterility. Genetic engineering could probably double the X chromosome resulting in uncommon ressessive birth defects on girl clones of men.

[crystlshake]

There is also the small chance that there may be a few women carrying children that lucked out with a genetic mutation and will be born immune. I suppose it depends on if the child is protected or not while sharing blood with the mother. The mother may act as a barrier preventing the pathogen from affecting the child until they are exposed to the environment. Since females seem to be immune they may carry a type of antibody or some such that would be shared with the child.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid ... +clone+now

[Innortal]

Well, to be fair, aside from Saffron, the rest of the Phoenix are screwed. They all took a dip in Drowned Male, which would sterilize them if they took their cursed form.
So like Jetta from Gold Digger, that would leave Kiima that last fertile Phoenix in the world, assuming that Saffron is shooting blanks in this life.
And let's not forget possible crossovers.
Usagi, for the glory of Crystal Tokyo!

[Shadowbakasama]

It's unclear how long they kept Ranma as a girl, if his stay was over 10 months before they found a cure then there will be no fertile newborn male babies unless they have been kept in clean rooms since birth until they can receive the cure.
Of course that still leaves a 12-15 year gap where all childrens will be Ranma's, or from surviving Sperm Banks.
I guess one way to rationalize a series of riots and terrorism would be the sudden appearance of nihilistic death cults that go after male bubble babies and sperm banks to ensure that humanity dies out. This would explain why so many military units are guarding Ranma. Ranma and his curse are probably considered a Cosmic level Secret and Ranma's curse has been played off as an Urban Legend with a huge misinformation campaign. Obviously this campaign included launching those with direct personal knowledge that couldn't be trusted to the Moon or Mars.

[Daniel Jess Gibson]

Hm. Wouldn't that completely, utterly and royally screw up each and every future generation? (at least the next one), what with -all- newly-born boys being half-brothers to the girls? (or will people look past the age difference?)
Inbreeding is -so- out

The problem would be solved once the transforming water becomes available. The other element is to keep the second generation moving to other places to seek their mates, people in Europe got to Asia, the Australians go to South America, etc. The problem would go away within a generation or two.

To improve this story line you need to eliminate the stored genetic material from other males that is kept in Sperm Banks, and I think a series of riots and terrorism should be mentioned, maybe a flashback, news story, or side story.
Maybe some mention of the rushed cloning projects that have sprung up. I think that most of the men will want to clone themselves to continue their families. I figure most clones will the inserted invirto in the wife. They may have incentives to have 1 clone boy and one or more Saotomes to a family and arrange a marriage between siblings (clone boy + girl child of Ranma & wife) making incest very popular for non-blood related siblings in the future.
One way to nix cloning is for the virus to have damaged the Y chromosone of all the men, resulting in clone birth defects in addition to sterility. Genetic engineering could probably double the X chromosome resulting in uncommon ressessive birth defects on girl clones of men.

All of these are good points, and in SSM I might investigate them. However, in a strickly Ranma fic with Ranma as the main POV character, going into the technology and deep philosophical aspects is not appropriate. He wouldn't understand and frankly, he wouldn't care. Now explaining to Ranma how they are going to get his samples . . . that would be hilarious.

There is also the small chance that there may be a few women carrying children that lucked out with a genetic mutation and will be born immune. I suppose it depends on if the child is protected or not while sharing blood with the mother. The mother may act as a barrier preventing the pathogen from affecting the child until they are exposed to the environment. Since females seem to be immune they may carry a type of antibody or some such that would be shared with the child.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid ... +clone+now

'no man conceived after this moment will be affected.'

Cologne specifically tells Ranma, and the doctor doesn't contradict her.

Well, to be fair, aside from Saffron, the rest of the Phoenix are screwed. They all took a dip in Drowned Male, which would sterilize them if they took their cursed form.

They probably would, without the extraordinary precautions that they took with Ranma.

So like Jetta from Gold Digger, that would leave Kiima that last fertile Phoenix in the world, assuming that Saffron is shooting blanks in this life.

If Kiima has her cursed form, she may not have to worry. If she's any part Akane, people might take action against this `second front`. If Safforn is shooting blanks, they just kill him and start over, assuming he is capable of impregnating a female human in the first place.

And let's not forget possible crossovers.
Usagi, for the glory of Crystal Tokyo!

They'd never have a better chance at Crystal Tokyo. They'd only have one man to kill, and a handful of other targets.

It's unclear how long they kept Ranma as a girl, if his stay was over 10 months before they found a cure then there will be no fertile newborn male babies unless they have been kept in clean rooms since birth until they can receive the cure.

She looked at the low wall that surrounded the two tatami mat-sized enclosure that had been her home for over three months.

They would have put Ranma in this defensive enclosure very swiftly.

[pspinler]

he has had to give up Martial Arts

That's something that didn't make sense to me even in the initial story. Why does he have to give up martial arts?
In fact, I'd think you'd want to strongly encourage him to continue martial arts 1) to promote his own health, and 2) as a method of self defense, since he's very important now.
-- Pat

[B'man]

Possibly scared of the small possibility of him hurting himself by accident. Or maybe "sweat == hot water" (which doesn't have a basis in canon, but meh)?

[Daniel Jess Gibson]

Possibly scared of the small possibility of him hurting himself by accident. Or maybe "sweat == hot water" (which doesn't have a basis in canon, but meh)?

Especially damage to one thing (actually two). Also under high stress, high output activities cuts the number of male children. So he has to reduce his physical activity to produce as many males as possible.

[DBHay]

Ranma Saotome; On His Majestys sexual service.
Ranma Saotome; 006 Licensed to drill.
Ranma Saotome; Sore member.
Ranma Saotome; The spy who had me fill a cup.

[Daniel Jess Gibson]

Ranma Saotome; On His Majestys sexual service.
Ranma Saotome; 006 Licensed to drill.
Ranma Saotome; Sore member.
Ranma Saotome; The spy who had me fill a cup.

Very sick, appropriate but sick.

Ranma Saotome; 006

Where is this.
The village.
Who are you?
I am number 2.
Who is number 1?
You are number 6.
I am not a number, I am a free man splash free woman splash would you cut that out!

[Tuisto]

All I can seem to say about this idea is "What The Fuck!"
Though the idea of Akane in the Hague for almost successful genocide... hmm....
....hmm
....hmm
Buwahahaha!!

[MacShimi]

It might be worth mentioning here that there are some rather interesting Taoist practices relating to choosing your child's sex. These practices are derived from the physical hygiene sects, and therefore require intense physical training combined with meditation. Practitioners are purported to be able to absolutely determine the sex of their child.
While you may be disinclined to believe it I do not speak from book-learning nor do I speak from wishful thinking. I speak from knowledge gained from personal experience. So I see no reason whatsoever for Ranma being unable to both develop this talent, or to be taught it be one of its practitioners in the interest of species survival.
Furthermore if you investigate Chinese Medicine (specifically the production of jing or vital essence) you will see that male potency (ability to bear offspring) can be substantially increased by exercise. So these well-minded people are in fact creating a problem. Again I speak of matters that I have seen proven, not matters where I have an opinion or which I have seen suggested from second or third-hand sources.
I am not trying to establish myself here as a know-all, I simply speak here on the basis of personal experience and suggest that your story should take these facts into account. I am willing to discuss any of this in an e-mail if requested.

[Daniel Jess Gibson]

All I can seem to say about this idea is "What The Fuck!"
Though the idea of Akane in the Hague for almost successful genocide... hmm....
[snip]
....hmm
[snip]
....hmm
[snip]
Buwahahaha!!

Thank you. Just think how proud Happosai will be. Until he find out how the process actually works.

It might be worth mentioning here that there are some rather interesting Taoist practices relating to choosing your child's sex. These practices are derived from the physical hygiene sects, and therefore require intense physical training combined with meditation. Practitioners are purported to be able to absolutely determine the sex of their child.

Considering all the fertilization will probably be done in vitro, it may be that Ranma will only be producing sons.

Furthermore if you investigate Chinese Medicine (specifically the production of jing or vital essence) you will see that male potency (ability to bear offspring) can be substantially increased by exercise. So these well-minded people are in fact creating a problem. Again I speak of matters that I have seen proven, not matters where I have an opinion or which I have seen suggested from second or third-hand sources.

I think the doctors realize that telling Ranma not to practice martial arts at all, is like telling the Earth to stop revolving. He specifically cheats, as mentioned in the story, so he is getting plenty of exercise, but none of the flashy stuff likely to damage the equipment (from the doctor's point of view) or get him in trouble (from Ranma's point of view).
How would they punish him? How about a daily medical exam? Or how about they bring the examining tools in on a block of ice? Or how about a pretty lady doctor as onna-Ranma's new doctor. With the entire world depending on it and contributing, there are ways.