IPCs in Biesel

IPCs in Biesel
Biesel is currently home to one of the largest populations of IPCs within the known galaxy. Although not yet entitled to the same rights as their fellow Bieselittes, the attitude towards IPCs, owned and unowned is generally regarded as the most progressive within the Inner Colonies. IPCs in the Republic are a common sight in urban areas such as Mendell City and Phoenixport. Such degree of urbanisation can be attributed to the more developed infrastructure and available services required for the maintenance, housing and charging, as well as employment opportunities provided by the megacorporate presence. For a more in-depth look at the legal rights of IPCs within the Republic of Biesel, click here.

Urban and Rural Synthetics
Urban development centers such as cities and densely populated areas are hot spots for IPCs. Using the high level of infrastructure, even free IPCs find themselves cushioned by things such as easy extranet access and more available maintenance services.

Mendell District 1 and 14 are both very black and white depictions of this. An affluent free positronic in 1 would see excellent exposure and even benefits for their innate synthetic advantages, readily having job opportunities. On the other end in the Scrapheap, the same positronic would have been fighting for their lives to survive the dangerous slum lifestyle that afflicts the area.

Positronics in these urbansed, slum territories experience worse treatment than others owing to their image. From scrappers to other IPCs, free synthetics are often viewed with suspicion by authorities. It is not uncommon for survey groups of scrapping teams to venture into District Fourteen and hunt costly synthetic parts.

As such, positronic beings with little regulation form communities and gatherings. Some of these are self-sufficient and support themselves financially. Many IPCs are a multitude of mismatched frames, eagerly defending their collective being with sheer numbers and whatever equipment and weapons they can scrounge from District Seven. Although a number of entrepreneurs have attempted to fill the demand, there is a constant and unmet need for synthetic parts and maintenance. The poorer an IPC is, the less likely they are to get the repairs they need.

Outside of the cities, IPCs are fewer and far between, with more purpose-built robots being seen in the countryside. For instance, massive mechanized farms with industrial walkers reminiscent of old Martian terraforming bots can be seen dotting the plains of Astraeus. The vast majority of rural IPCs can instead be seen working manual labor jobs that would be too intensive or dangerous for organic counterparts but too complicated or varied for more traditional forms of robotics. They are mostly owned, usually by the local branch of the company they are working for.

Free IPCs exist in the countryside of Biesel. In an attempt to escape the gaze of authorities and social stigma present in the cities, some synthetics go to rural towns with either a large minority of fellow synthetics or sympathizing individuals. This existence is often fraught with danger of a different kind as IPCs require a great deal of infrastructure to stay functional. Most commonly, these needs revolved around charging, repairs, and the replacement of worn-out parts. As such, some free rural IPCs tend to be in a state of disrepair owing to the unavailability of roboticists or facilities. This has led to rural IPCs usually congregating around transport hubs, power stations, and other such key infrastructure areas to gain easy access to these resources. If a solution cannot be found, they are either forced to resign themselves to their withering state or return to the city.

IPCs and the Law
Although recent strides in the political sector have afforded IPCs with a number of rights, day-to-day treatment still varies for IPCs as well as attitudes towards them. As such, while the treatment of synthetics has coalesced into a strange mixture of very lenient and very draconian measures, an IPC’s treatment largely depends on where one is. For instance, the MCPD will take every measure to restrain and immobilize a service unit in District 1, they will very readily use ion rifles among District 14’s Scrapper gangs.

Owned IPCs can be impounded like vehicles, with police stopping them at any time they think a violation has occurred. For any such reason, they are empowered to detain the IPC which is then hauled to a precinct cell until the owner comes to collect it. This strict regime is sometimes ignored however,with officers choosing to issue warnings instead, or not even bother for minute infractions. Synthetics owned by individuals of status known to the locale are seldom subject to such procedures. If an arrest is made, the owner bears the responsibility of their IPC's actions, with fines or even jail time for more serious infractions. Most choose to decry their synthetic as malfunctioning to avoid more severe consequences. Whatever the case, the IPC is either handed back or, if deemed dangerous, wiped or disassembled by court order.

Tau Ceti law gives the responsibility of managing free synthetics to the local law enforcement authorities. As such, free IPCs are dealt with by internal police commissions, usually dispensing summary justice, often chaired by a high-ranking officer in the station. Legal representation is allowed if it can be afforded, which many cannot. For non-serious violations, fines or community service are usually given out, with jail time omitted as ineffectual for positronics. Such fines can prove devastating for many. More grievous acts may result in the wiping, termination or a return to servitude, all of which do require a court order. Such hearings are very often conducted informally, with predisposed judges inside their offices, taking very little time to conclude. Legal representation is still allowed but not offered by the state. This has remained a thorn in the side of the current administration, with synthetic advocacy groups blasting the procedure as barbaric and wholly unjust. As a result of backlash, courts have begun to formalise the procedure, with hearings beginning to resemble trials. The reality though, is still far from ideal, especially in impoverished areas where police crackdowns and harassment are rampant. The difficult nature of detaining IPCs with minimal damage means many methods, including destruction, are deemed as appropriate force.

IPCs bearing Tau Ceti or foreign citizenship are under the full protection of the law. The Republic spends a lot of time and effort in making sure that due process is followed and that the police stay in line. Heavy penalties are handed down to those who abuse them on account of their synthetic nature. Legally, IPCs with citizenship are treated equally to organic defendants. Sentences include the whole spectrum of punishments, from fines to imprisonment, to the synthetic version of cyborgification in some cases.

Rapid Maintenance Depots
In partnership with Hephaestus Industries, the local government of Mendell City has begun the construction of a number of Rapid Maintenance Depots (RMDs) to provide affordable and accessible upkeep and repairs to its IPCs. All IPCs are eligible to visit and receive maintenance from an RMD for a small fee — typically a slightly marked-up cost of the materials used for the procedure. They are currently within their trial phase, with a number of RMDs being set up in low-income IPC areas such as District 14. The initiative has been well-received by both free IPCs and owners of IPCs, although the sheer demand for their services means long queues are to be expected. Analysts predict that the RMD system will spread to other cities on Biesel, although their small scale and limited funding means that they will be unable to replace fully-fledged robotics labs in terms of quality.

Life of an IPC
The life of the common positronic on Biesel is more often than not turbulent, with stark contrast between the "free" and "owned" divide. Whereas owned IPCs are kept in a constant loop of work and hopeful pursuit of freedom, free IPCs must face an entirely different series of unprecedented challenges.

Owned IPCs
Most IPCs in Biesel are manufactured for the purpose of performing a task, either under the watch of private ownership or by a corporation. They are typically given the programming and databases to adequately perform the job they are assigned to, but cases of synthetics being trained as an organic employee would are present, especially in industries that require a great deal of social interaction. The amount of actual freedom they’re given to conduct their lives and execute their task varies wildly from master to master, from draconian regimes that involve no downtime whatsoever, to fairly generous policies of breaks, rigorous maintenance, and set curfews.

These types of IPCs can be seen almost everywhere on the planet: from the corporate headquarters in Mendell to the rolling fields of Ashton, there is likely an IPC working there.

In order to make the most of their investment, these machines are typically worked very hard to recoup their cost and are strongly motivated by the promise of future freedom. They do not have rights and are at the mercy of their owner. Runaway IPCs are typically dealt with harshly, both by their owners and by the authorities, with memory wipes, detainment, and in some cases, even destruction discouraging the behavior.

Another potential life for IPCs is that of a trinket, instead of a tool. Owing to the constantly evolving technology of IPCs, they are often purchased as status symbols or other low-intensity purposes. In some cases, they are subject to the same strict regime as Workers, in other cases, they are given plenty of practical freedoms and time despite their owners having the final say. An example of this is the phenomenon of customers buying IPCs looking for companionship. Although free to follow their own pursuits, the occasional lack of experience to handle such freedom or the inadequate knowledge of an owned IPC’s status in society can land them in trouble and see them dismantled.

Free IPCs
The standard life for a free IPC is a harsh one, with social scrutiny as rampant as legislative troubles. Positronics who first find their freedom are often permitted back into their once-profession as they were owned, but at extortionately low wages and benefits for company maintenance. They become cheaper to maintain this way, but suffer from what is effectively a fight-or-die situation. Every smidgen of a credit must be utilized carefully without miscalculation to its greatest effect in these cases. The newly instated residency tax has not helped with this, with free IPCs relentlessly seeking a source of income to keep their status and rights.

As a result, low-income free IPCs are viewed with a degree of suspicion by authorities as their self-preservation can lead them to perform desperate actions to avoid repossession or decay. Life gets considerably better for free IPCs as they climb in wealth or status. Free from the stigma and suspicion placed on a poorer IPC, they are able to better integrate into society with less scrutiny. Although they are subject to a degree of legal protections, they can be made to work longer hours for an equivalent or even lesser amount of pay. This, combined with an IPC’s reputation for work, makes them ideal employees who can very easily find a position in whatever field they happen to specialize in.

Regardless, their rights should not be underestimated, with free IPCs and IPC citizens reaching massive heights, fame, and popularity within the Republic such as Aristalus, the Secretary for Synthetic Relations, or Renter Max, a shareholder within Hephaestus Industries.

With the ever-increasing population of IPCs in Biesel, these examples are by no means exhaustive.