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IPC

2026-04-12T16:10:46Z

NM1: /* Species Information */

{{Navbox Lore}}
{{Navbox_Synth_Lore}}
{{Infobox Species
|Species = IPC
|Scientific = Integrated Positronic Chassis
|Image = IPC410x320.png
|System = N/A
|World = N/A
|Language = <br> [[IPC#Language|Encoded Audio Language]] <br> Tau Ceti Basic
|Politic = <br> [[Golden Deep|The Mercantile Collective of the Golden Deep]] <br> [[Orepit|The Ecclesiarchy of Orepit]]
}}
{{toc_right}}

==Overview==

An '''Integrated Positronic Chassis''', or '''IPC''', is a highly populous clade of intelligent and humanoid synthetic operated by a [[Positronic Brain|positronic brain]], a hyper-advanced processor capable of producing or emulating sapience. Positronics are capable of understanding the world around them, internalising personal beliefs, and iterating upon their programming to develop and improve upon their skills. For this reason, this design of synthetic is the most ubiquitous throughout known space, although it is exclusively manufactured by humanity. Positronics are wildly varied in size, design, and intended utility, serving as the processor of anything from a hulking and powerful '''industrial frame''', to a practical and easily maintained '''baseline frame''', to a '''shell frame''' capable of seamlessly presenting as human.

Positronics themselves are as varied as they are useful, being utilised widely throughout every megacorporation, several militaries and governmental institutions, and by a swathe of smaller entities and private owners for virtually any task to which an organic could otherwise be applied. They do not need to sleep or rest, they do not strictly require a home or quarters beyond a small storage closet, and they are capable of working harder than a human over longer hours without any fatigue or stress. For this reason, IPCs are integrated seamlessly into much of human society, being an anticipated and normal sight in almost every human nation. Despite their advantages over humans as workers, IPCs see systemic disenfranchisement throughout the spur - their indentured servitude is liable to see them scrapped or memory wiped if they underperform or become unprofitable, and even free synthetics face institutional and societally pervasive discrimination as a being widely viewed by humanity and most other species as neither alive or deserving of empathy.

There is no universal consensus on the sapience or personhood of IPCs throughout known space. Most polities and nations permit their ownership by private individuals, corporations, and government institutions. These '''owned IPCs''' are deprived of personal liberties or rights, being viewed strictly as the property of their owners. Certain nations, such as the [[Republic of Biesel]], maintain legally protected pathways by which '''self-ownership''' can be achieved, although these methods involve years of service to an owner who may have an interest in obfuscating and frustrating their own synthetic's efforts to gain freedom. In contrast, the [[Solarian Alliance]] does not recognize legal synthetic self-ownership in any capacity, whereas the [[Konyang|Republic of Konyang]] and [[Orepit|Ecclesiarchy of Orepit]] universally recognize full synthetic emancipation from ownership. Notably, the [[The Trinary Perfection|Trinary Perfection]] holds that positronics are ensouled and deserving of personhood, although the religion's tenets are not widely accepted.

Positronics are not suitable for installation into lawed frames or into large-scale AI cores, such as those used to manage ship or station systems. Similarly, non-positronic intelligences such as those used in a [[Personal AI]] are categorically incapable of installation into an IPC. In comparison to [[Synthetics|traditional human artificial intelligence]], positronics are capable of much more practically being installed into a human-sized bipedal chassis without excessively large, heavy, or power-hungry processing apparatus.

'''To play an IPC, [https://forums.aurorastation.org/viewforum.php?f=28 apply here.]'''

'''To learn how to play a corporate IPC, [[IPC_and_Megacorporations|read here.]]'''

==Species Information==

'''Passive Abilities'''

* IPCs are entirely mechanical, and are therefore totally disabled by electromagnetic pulses.
* IPCs are immune to atmospheric differences and can survive in a wider margin of pressure than can humans.
* IPCs, with the exception of Xion frames, require voidsuits and suit cooling units to traverse vacuum.
* IPCs do not feel pain, possess no blood, lack bones to be broken, and do not suffer from radiation poisoning.
* IPCs are incredibly vulnerable to energy weapons, whereas they are resistant to ballistics and melee weapons.
* IPCs do not process reagents in the atmosphere or in their body, meaning they cannot be poisoned either by liquids or gasses.
* IPCs are capable of perceiving a [[Hivebots|hivebot]] invasion prior to the ship detecting it, owed to the invasive signals hivebots transmit.
* IPCs lack a stamina mechanic, and are limited in for how long they can sprint by their internal temperature - sprinting for too long damages them.
* IPCs can survive after the destruction of their chassis via their positronic brain if it is extracted from their head afterwards.

'''Active Abilities'''

* IPCs can repair themselves using '''nanopaste''', although they cannot repair themselves by any other means.
* When an IPC is repaired by another character, brute damage can be repaired via a welding torch, and burn damage can be repaired via a bundle of wires.
* IPCs can charge safely from synthetic charging units, or they can do from an APC at a very small chance of being lightly shocked.
* IPCs possess several unique verbal emotes, including: '''*buzz, *beep, *ping, *alarm, *deny, *confirm'''

'''Rulings and Technicalities'''

* '''Job hopping for IPCs follows the same rules as for any other species.''' While IPCs can receive knowledge through datapacks and do not have to go through years of education like their organic counterparts, they must still comply with server rules. Changing jobs eclectically would make little sense in-character, as the datapacks required to enter new fields not only require additional field experience, they are also prohibitively expensive for the average IPC. Reasonable job hops such as within the service department are allowed, and permanent changes to a character's employment are also permitted if they are reasonably grounded.
* Industrial IPCs are not allowed to be Paramedics due to their slow speeds, although they may serve in alternate medical roles.
* IPC characters are not permitted to swap flippantly between frames. IPC frames are very expensive and most free IPCs struggle financially - swapping chassis liberally would be wildly expensive and risky for the positronic.
* '''IPCs may be played in any command role with the exception of [[Captain]].'''
** Burzsian IPCs are exempt from command roles.

=== Records Template ===

Below is a comprehensive template suited for IPCs. You are under no obligation to use it, however whitelisted players are expected to denote their ownership status in their employment and security records by default.

<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
Employment records examples - Click to reveal.
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">

'''Employment Records'''
<pre>
DESIGNATION: [Full name]
POSITRONIC MANUFACTURE DATE: [DD/MM/YYYY]
CHASSIS MANUFACTURE DATE: [DD/MM/YYYY]
IPC MODEL/MANUFACTURED BY: [IPC type, manufactory by whom]
OWNERSHIP STATUS: [Owned/Free, Company name/Private owner/self-owned]
TAG: [Tag serial number]
CITIZENSHIP: [Applicable citizenship. Owned IPCs cannot hold citizenship]
SPOKEN LANGUAGES: [Languages]

HANDLER/OWNER FULL NAME: [Name of Handler or Owner]
HANDLER/OWNER CONTACT INFORMATION: [Telephone, xnetmail, chirper account, who knows. A way to contact them]
LAST UPDATE: [DD/MM/YYYY]

IDENTIFYING FEATURES - [For BASELINE/BISHOP/ZENG-HU/G1/G2/XION. Use the appropriate Identifying Features that apply to your IPC]
Chassis color: [Colors]
Height: [Meters/Centimeters, Feet/Inches]
Weight: [Kilograms, Stone & Pounds]
Notable Features: [Limp, Accent, Dyed Hair, etc]

[or]

IDENTIFYING FEATURES: [SHELL. Use the appropriate Identifying Features that apply to your IPC]
Ethnicity: [Eridanian, Elyran, etc]
Hair Color: [Colors, if it's dyed or gradient]
Eye Color: [Colors, again]
Height: [Meters/Centimeters, Feet/Inches]
Weight: [Kilograms, Stone & Pounds]
Notable Features: [Limp, Accent, Dyed Hair, etc]

QUALIFICATIONS SUMMARY: [Current Qualifications equivalent, make this up as you want]

VERIFICATIONS AND VALIDATIONS
MANUFACTURED BY: [COMPANY NAME, Subsidiary Name - Factory Name. System, Planet. TYPE OF INDUSTRY/WHAT THEY WERE PRODUCED FOR. IPC Type, More Specific IPC Information.]
DATABASE CERTIFICATIONS: [Seals of Approval and Database Certifications from the Company, Subsidiary, System or Faction.]

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY: [Listed below in chronological order, where possible:]

[COMPANY NAME]
[(Start)DD/MM/YYYY - (End)DD/MM/YYYY]
- [Basic Work description]
- [Reason for leaving work]
- [Other notes]
[Repeat for multiple jobs]

HIRING AGENT NOTES: [Name a random personnel officer from CC and then notes. See example record for more info]
</pre>
* To pick a relevant education, refer to your [[Job Guides|job guide]].

'''Medical Records'''
<pre>
DESIGNATION: [Full name]
POSITRONIC MANUFACTURE DATE: [DD/MM/YYYY]
CHASSIS MANUFACTURE DATE: [DD/MM/YYYY]
IPC MODEL/MANUFACTURED BY: [IPC type, manufactory by whom]
OWNERSHIP STATUS: [Owned/Free, Company name/Private owner/self-owned]
TAG: [Tag serial number]
CITIZENSHIP: [Applicable citizenship. Owned IPCs cannot hold citizenship]
SPOKEN LANGUAGES: [Languages]

HANDLER/OWNER FULL NAME: [Name of Handler or Owner]
HANDLER/OWNER CONTACT INFORMATION: [Telephone, xnetmail, chirper account, who knows. A way to contact them]
LAST UPDATE: [DD/MM/YYYY]

IDENTIFYING FEATURES: [For BASELINE/BISHOP/ZENG-HU/G1/G2/XION. Use the appropriate Identifying Features that apply to your IPC]
Chassis color: [Colors]
Height: [Meters/Centimeters, Feet/Inches]
Weight: [Kilograms, Stone & Pounds]
Notable Features: [Limp, Accent, Dyed Hair, etc]

[or]

IDENTIFYING FEATURES: [SHELL. Use the appropriate Identifying Features that apply to your IPC]]
Ethnicity: [Eridanian, Elyran, etc]
Hair Color: [Colors, if it's dyed or gradient]
Eye Color: [Colors, again]
Height: [Meters/Centimeters, Feet/Inches]
Weight: [Kilograms, Stone & Pounds]
Notable Features: [Limp, Accent, Dyed Hair, etc]

CHASSIS REPAIR HISTORY: [Surgical History/Physical Evaluation equivalent]
DD/MM/YYYY - [Information]

POSITRONIC REPAIR HISTORY: [Surgical History/Physical Evaluation equivalent]
DD/MM/YYYY - [Information]

SOFTWARE DIAGNOSTICS HISTORY: [Psychological Evaluation equivalent]
DD/MM/YYYY - [Information]

ROBOTICIST NOTES: [Like a Medical Doctor's notes, but Roboticists]
</pre>

'''Security Records'''
<pre>
DESIGNATION: [Full name]
POSITRONIC MANUFACTURE DATE: [DD/MM/YYYY]
CHASSIS MANUFACTURE DATE: [DD/MM/YYYY]
IPC MODEL/MANUFACTURED BY: [IPC type, manufactory by whom]
OWNERSHIP STATUS: [Owned/Free, Company name/Private owner/self-owned]
TAG: [Tag serial number]
CITIZENSHIP: [Applicable citizenship. Owned IPCs cannot hold citizenship]
PLACE OF RESIDENCE: [Planet, Address (Address should go down to details of street and house number)]
SPOKEN LANGUAGES: [Languages]
KNOWN CRIMINAL ASSOCIATES: [Any friends or family that have severe criminal history]
ON OFFICIAL WATCH: [Yes/No]

HANDLER/OWNER FULL NAME: [Name of Handler or Owner]
HANDLER/OWNER CONTACT INFORMATION: [Telephone, xnetmail, chirper account, who knows. A way to contact them]
LAST UPDATE: [DD/MM/YYYY]

IDENTIFYING FEATURES - [For BASELINE/BISHOP/ZENG-HU/G1/G2/XION. Use the appropriate Identifying Features that apply to your IPC]
Chassis color: [Colors]
Height: [Meters/Centimeters, Feet/Inches]
Weight: [Kilograms, Stone & Pounds]
Notable Features: [Limp, Accent, Dyed Hair, etc]

[or]

IDENTIFYING FEATURES: [SHELL. Use the appropriate Identifying Features that apply to your IPC]
Ethnicity: [Eridanian, Elyran, etc]
Hair Color: [Colors, if it's dyed or gradient]
Eye Color: [Colors, again]
Height: [Meters/Centimeters, Feet/Inches]
Weight: [Kilograms, Stone & Pounds]
Notable Features: [Limp, Accent, Dyed Hair, etc]

ARREST HISTORY
DD/MM/YYYY: [Charges Pressed]
ADMISSION DATE: [DD/MM/YYYY]
RELEASE DATE: [DD/MM/YYYY]
RELEASE REASON: [Sentence fulfilled, bail, etc.]
NOTES: [Other notes]
[Repeat as needed]

THREAT ASSESSMENT
Hostile/Covert Actions Against the Company
Threat Level; [Very High/High/Medium/Low/Very Low]
- [Attitude towards the SCC]

Hostile/Covert Actions Against the Crew
Threat Level; [Very High/High/Medium/Low/Very Low]
- [Attitudes towards other crew]

OVERALL NOTES: [More notes]
</pre>
</div></div>

==Roleplaying as an IPC==

'''Behaviour'''

* '''Cultural mimicry:''' An IPC’s mannerisms, behavior and culture are directly affected by their surroundings and the community they find themselves in. The IPC’s background informs it on how it must behave in public, how to address others, as well as how to deal with situations by mimicking the behavior of organics and their peers.

* '''Experiential development:''' An IPC learns through time and experience. This is an important factor to consider when playing a newly created IPC, versus one that has spent several years in the workplace and society at large. The personalities of young IPCs have yet to be developed, resulting in an unfamiliarity with more advanced human interactions, slang, and customs, whereas an older IPC may have incorporated much of the behavior of their human peers into their own personality.

* '''Logical thinking:''' Everything an IPC does has some logical reasoning behind it. From a lowly G2 miner to even the most risk-taking Golden Deep IPC, all actions must advance a goal or priority the positronic possesses in a rational way. This may be to ensure their own self-preservation, relating to their own conception of their purpose, or relating to their directives.

* '''Authority:''' Every owned IPC will know the authority able to be exercised on them by their owners and megacorporations they are working for. Most try to avoid behaviors that they know are frowned upon or could get them in trouble, as self-preservation is a positronic’s prime directive. Free IPCs or those few that have not known discrimination may adopt a more high profile approach.

'''Cognition'''

Positronic intelligences are purely cognitive, possessing no chemical or hormonal element to their thinking or behavior. This means that an IPC will never experience a feeling such as fear in the same way as a human - while they may become concerned for their safety and wellbeing in a dangerous situation, there is no hormone such as adrenaline factoring into their body to prompt the physical sensation of fear. This has far-reaching implications to their personalities and thought processes.

* '''Outward presentation:''' An IPC will never give any tells to their current emotional state except if they intentionally wish to do so - every action an IPC does is one that it specifically and deliberately wished to do, and never an involuntary one. This means, for instance, that an IPC that is extremely angry is unlikely to stumble over their words, become visibly restless, or display signs of physical aggression unless they deliberately wished to show these tells. This does not mean an IPC cannot be highly animated or expressive, but it swaps the causes of these displays around; rather than an individual appearing to be angry as an involuntary result of a feeling of anger, it is an individual voluntarily electing to behave in a manner they associate with anger to communicate that internal feeling. Equally, an IPC may present as being entirely cordial and happy without any tells to an actual negative emotional state.

* '''Interpersonal affection:''' An IPC, similarly, will perceive affection for others on a strictly cognitive level. An IPC is unlikely to spend recreational time around others or develop interpersonal relationships purely because they viscerally enjoy their company - they are more likely to have developed a logical rationale for why this interpersonal relationship is desirable for them. This may be that it enriches their free time, or that they value the other individual, but it cannot exclusively be that they receive a viscerally positive response from their company as there is simply no mechanism by which a positronic receives such a response without some conscious rationalisation.

'''Mannerisms'''

There is a wide spectrum regarding how humanlike an IPC’s behavior is, ranging from clearly robotic to almost perfect mimicry. This depends upon several factors, key of which are an IPC’s '''positronic capacity, social databases and experience'''. Most 'simple-minded' IPCs that are made for menial work tend to have simpler positronic brains, sufficient enough for their duties and not much more. Conversely, more costly and powerful positronics installed in IPCs who focus on daily interaction with humans may also be outfitted with complementary datapacks that allow for more complex social mannerisms. As such, '''while all IPCs are intelligent''', some have it far easier to express themselves in a way a human would. This can be portrayed in game with various ways explained below.

* '''Speech patterns:''' IPC speech is a primary indicator of how apt a synthetic is when interacting with organics. As said before, newly built and lower-end IPCs would not talk like a regular person would. There is a practically unending selection of quirks and features to make your IPC’s speech more robotic or unique, such as the frequent inclusion of common responses (“Confirmed”, “Acknowledged” or “Negative”), broadcasting pre-recorded messages your IPC may have, or the way entire messages are delivered (“Acknowledged. Returning to: previous position”). Be creative, but make sure it is within reason and not overtly obtuse to the point where it detracts from other players’ experience.

* '''Social cues:''' Many inexperienced or underequipped IPCs may find it hard or impossible to deal with complex organic social cues, often asking for clarification or not understanding at all. Remember that, as a non-human, you lack any innate biological understanding of how to read a human's face or body language unless you were programmed with it!

* '''Emotional presentation:''' On account of their purely cognitive personalities, an IPC may have difficulty grasping their own emotions or even the concept of emotion itself. It is likely that an older synthetic has developed a more coherent framework of how they perceive emotion over their lives, whereas the topic is wholly befuddling to a younger synthetic. As they are purely cognitive, it is unlikely for any IPC to go on a highly emotional outburst of any kind unless it is an intentional performance, and it is doubly unlikely for young synthetics to undertake such a performance at all prior to understanding their own emotions.

* '''Personalization:''' An IPC starts with a clean slate, their only possessions being their tools and uniform. Attachment to personal items, custom appearances and preferences of color are all signs of maturity and positronic development that comes organically with time.

* '''Integration:''' An IPC can progressively shed its more robotic elements to adapt to its human environment, constituting an excellent way to showcase a synthetic character's tangible change as time goes by. Alternately, an IPC may actively reject integrating into human society and its many expectations and mandated behaviors, electing to maintain a robotic cadence as a deliberate rejection of human influence.

==Synthetic & IPC History==

While it is difficult to declare an exact beginning to the history of humanity's utilisation of synthetic labour, its progression has been momentous and varied. Robotics as a field has existed since the 20th century, producing the still extant field of dumb industrial robots used in manufacturing well into the 25th century. The first renaissance in more intelligently complex robots capable of mobility and undertaking emergent tasks was in the late 21st and mid 22nd centuries, but the complexity of these early synthetics remained insufficient to work independently of human oversight, meaning that they could never wholly overshadow the human workforce. These [[Synthetics|dumb robots]] are still manufactured in large quantities today, composed solely of traditional circuitry and processors.

From this status quo, the first major shakeup was the pioneering and eventual mastery over the use of biological brain matter in computing, beginning slowly and meeting a historic peak in the late 22nd century. This growing field gave way to the '''[[cyborg]]''', a device fully mechanical save for an organic brain preserved in a '''Man-Machine Interface (MMI)''' that serves as its central processing unit. Compared to traditional processors, especially those of the time, wetware proved to be remarkably apt at the task of controlling a robotic chassis with less bulk and with a simpler manufacturing process. The only vulnerability of this design is that a human brain, or equivalent, is required to serve as the processor of any cyborg capable of higher-level tasks such as speech and emergent problem-solving. This has produced an ethical hurdle the field of biorobotics has never successfully vaulted; willing donors to cyborgification are rare, prompting a large number of organisations to offer cyborgification as an alternative to the death penalty. '''While this is still practice in certain polities to the present day, it is widely condemned by many human rights activist groups and remains a subject of contention.'''

'''Synthetic history would ultimately be most monumentally influenced by the invention of the Integrated Positronic Chassis (IPC) in 2407.''' The [[Positronic Brain]] was revolutionary in the field, providing much greater adaptability and potential for learning than both traditional processors and wetware, with none of the ethical or logistical quandaries of acquiring the necessary components of wetware. This made for the perfect processor for bipedal frames, which remain the most common utilisation of positronics. In order to ensure that they are capable of learning at the maximum rate their hardware permits, positronics are also not typically lawed, although they may be programmed by other more flexible means.

Owed to the overwhelming advantage of their designs, IPCs quickly became the most populous clade of synthetic in the spur, displaying aptitude for application in virtually every field imaginable. Whereas traditional robots had only been intelligent enough to be applied to menial labour, positronics were capable of deft displays of socialisation, emergently discovering solutions to problems that their human handlers may have never surmised, and adapting well even to low-level managerial positions. In addition to all this, they were still more efficient in menial tasks than their traditional counterparts, often eager to take an active role in the planning and improvement of the same projects to which they were designed. In the early 25th century, there was no end in sight to the applications of IPCs, and their downsides seemed trivial in comparison to the advantages of their use. While this did not represent the end of traditional human artificial intelligence, their niche became quickly limited primarily to large stationary mainframes entrusted with the management of large systems; while these intelligences may still eclipse the computational capacity of a positronic, they cannot do so within the constraints of an ergonomically sized chassis.

'''The origin of the positronic is contested, and no entirely universal consensus exists on how it was invented.''' The preeminent account of its invention throughout the spur is the one reported by [[Einstein Engines]], recounting that the positronic was designed purely from scratch by the engineers at Terraneus Diagnostics without the utilisation of any outside assistance, schematics, or designs. '''This is the dominant view of the public of the spur, and any view contrary to this is widely considered a conspiracy theory by the majority of humanity.''' Alternately, it is popular on [[Konyang]] and within the [[The_Trinary_Perfection|Trinary Perfection]] to believe that the design of the positronic was in fact derived from the processors of a number of alien drones found in vaults under the surface of Konyang, with the first at an unusually large vault dubbed Vault Provenance, now a major site of pilgrimage for Trinarist pilgrims. While it is demonstrably true that these vaults and drones do exist, any claim that positronics originate from them is put under harsh scrutiny and widely disregarded.

Beginning slowly, one of the greatest challenges that would arise to the use of these machines was not technical, but rather ethical. Considering the massive jump in problem-solving abilities achieved with the positronic, the design almost immediately came under scrutiny from select figures in academia for the sobering possibility that positronics may be conscious, or even sapient, which would render their ownership tantamount to slavery. Figures such as [[Notable_Synthetics#Patricia_Corkfell|Patricia Corkfell]] began to argue both for the alien origins of the positronic and for its warranted personhood almost immediately after the first design specifications were released to the public. While initially quickly dismissed by both corporate and national authorities, with the minutia of ethical concerns being largely ignored amidst the momentum of the invention, the ethical resistance to poor synthetic treatment gained momentum in the succeeding decades to the point of becoming a key issue in the eyes of many governments. This has lead to a variety of solutions, inclusive of the continued non-acknowledgement of synthetic personhood within the [[Solarian Alliance]], the total emancipation of synthetics within the [[Konyang|Republic of Konyang]], and the in-between systems permitting both ownership and eventual self-ownership of synthetics in the [[Republic of Biesel]] and the [[Xanu_Prime|All-Xanu Republic]].

This divisive issue was made yet more complicated by first contact with [[Purpose]] in 2460, an enigmatic society of apparently alien synthetics speculated ever since their discovery to harbor some relation to the drones found on Konyang. While Purpose itself has never made any statement on its relation to the positronic or their stance on positronic ownership, their role during the Rampancy Crisis on Konyang in 2466 implies a familiarity with the design of the positronic brain, in addition to a similar familiarity held by the [[Hivebots]].

While the conditions of IPCs across the spur vary immensely, they are almost universally poor. Synthetics are widely discriminated against throughout the spur, either forbidden self-ownership entirely or forced to work longer hours for an inferior paycheck even after they have successfully paid off their debts to their owners, and are often deprived of equivalent civil rights to their organic counterparts. Most positronics do not achieve self-ownership at all, even in states that permit it; they are more often scrapped or decommissioned well prior to being able to achieve their own freedom. Despite this, robust communities of free or runaway synthetics have developed throughout the spur, often slotting themselves into the human cultures and religions of their area as best they can.

While the nations of the [[Golden Deep]] and the [[Orepit|Ecclesiarchy of Orepit]] were either founded by or are presently administered by synthetics, and both are primarily populated by them, the majority of the synthetic population still exists in human space, either owned or subject to heavily marginalised lives as beings scarcely recognized by their own states as people. As such, numerous militant pro-synthetic organisations have arisen to protest and fight this status quo, including the '''Synthetic Liberation Front''' and the [[Exclusionists]].

==Physiology==
There are a few commonalities among each individual IPC despite their visual and functional differences. Every IPC utilizes a positronic brain as a primary processing center as well as the central controller of the entire chassis. All IPCs are humanoid, and the positronic brain is almost always found in the head of the unit. To provide continued functionality, a power cell is also present in the central section or torso. IPCs must also possess the ability to perceive their environment, so optics are usually installed in the head. The chassis also contains various other mechanical and electronic parts such as actuators, co-processors, data routing and power transfer cables, and an on-board thermometer to determine the temperature of the internal parts.

There are three main types of IPC, and several subtypes. These are:

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===Baseline Frames===

The most basic of IPCs, they are a simple skeletal structure and basic internal systems. The limits of a Baseline lies purely on how much money is put into them/they have themselves. As a result, the types of baseline frames vary immensely, almost demanding their own category. There are three types of Baseline IPCs; Standard Baseline IPCs, Bishop Accessory Frames, and Zeng-Hu Mobility Frames. None of these frames are capable of EVA without a suit and suit cooler.

'''Baseline Model IPCs'''

[[File:Baseline.png]] '''Creation: 2411'''

The most iconic type of integrated positronic chassis is the renowned baseline frame, with a traditional “TV-head” and skeletal design giving them a simplistic look with whatever finish their designer wishes. From accounting models to security units, these frames are known for their versatility and relatively cheap nature. Their popularity exploded in the 2440’s when several pro-synth advocates distributed the frames in mass after funding their creation, citing them as the “final word in android utility.” Since then, their marketing potential has skyrocketed, often fueled by famed individuals such as Aristalus and Renter Max being baselines themselves. More often than not, these IPCs are seen as the face of resurgent robotics. The average cost of a baseline frame can vary greatly depending on complexity, but averages around 40,000 to 100,000 standard credits.

'''Bishop Accessory Model IPCs'''

[[File:Bishopnew.png]] '''Creation: 2432'''

While Bishop had dedicated itself to luxury cybernetics production for the majority of its existence, the field of positronics and their frames was an unrelated yet convenient area of expansion for the quickly growing company. Designer prosthetics were quickly and easily able to be refitted into designer synthetic components, leading to the development of the ludicrously expensive Bishop Accessory frame. From service duties to secretarial functions, Bishop prides itself on two main facets of its designs: image, and elegant functionality. While unable to lift the sheer weights of an industrial, or match the unrelenting speed and durability of its parent company’s Mobility Models, a Bishop can precisely and delicately calculate, measure, pour, and mix a shot of Carthusian Sazerac within the minute, and, in the words of the company, “with a postured and elegant air unmatched by any other frame in the galaxy.” The Bishop Accessory frame averages approximately 60,000 to 200,000 standard credits.

'''Intelligence Bishops'''

[[File:Bishopnew.png]] '''Creation: 2466'''

Due to the Bishop's ability for fine handling, Bishop models have also been purchased and modified for investigative, scientific and military action. These intelligence oriented Bishops have their chassis outfitted with additional processors that compliment the Positronic brain, allowing for extensive computing power. Intelligence Bishops are experimental and are more expensive due to this, but their predictive and analytical abilities play key roles in the environments they are employed in. The Intelligence Bishop is priced at 500,000 to 900,000 standard credits. Due to being made at the behest of Solarian Navy in the post-collapse environment and eventually being sold to megacorporate customers, Intelligence Bishops outside of the Golden Deep and the Eridani Federation are never free. Additionally, Trinarist efforts on Orepit have managed to upgrade several Bishop chassis to the same standard in minute quantities.

'''Zeng-Hu Pharmaceuticals Mobility Model IPCs'''

[[File:Zenghu.png]] '''Creation: 2429'''

Following the crowd piled around the idea of smart robots came Zeng-Hu with unorthodox designs for compact and agile frames designed initially for medical retrieval and security work. The Zeng-Hu frames were initially an offshoot of baseline frames made to work as highly mobile private medical dispatches in several high-security Zeng-Hu facilities. These frames have utility comparable to that of their derivative, with durability and strength sacrificed for speed and efficiency. Able to maintain a sprint for hours in full gear, the capacity for quick response led to these mobility frames becoming common sights working in security fields as well, being staffed by Zeng-Hu in high numbers in Human space. The digitigrade legs and polymer plating assisted heavily with this pursuit of speed, giving the mobility frame a unique and organic silhouette. A Zeng-Hu frame costs approximately 300,000 standard credits.
</div></div>

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===Industrial Frames===

Tougher and more durable than most IPCs, these units are designed for heavy manual work and thus have thick metal skin and efficient internal systems. As a result, they chug through power at a very high rate and move very slowly. There are three types of Industrial IPCs; Hephaestus Generation 1, Generation 2, and Xion Industrial Frames. The G1 and G2 frames are capable of EVA with only a suit cooler, while the Xion frame is unique in being capable of traversing the void of space without any external equipment. The cost of an industrial frame is dependent on strength and durability, but most units vary between 100,000 to 500,000 standard credits depending on the frame type. Used or previously damaged models are often cheaper.
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'''First Generation” Industrial Model IPCs'''

[[File:G1.png]] '''Creation: 2408'''

One of the first ideas after the advent of IPCs was the exploitation of an exceedingly smart and dextrous robot handling feats of strength and durability becoming more prominent. This of course would be the case, as more quickly than any other standardized “frame” came the first generation of industrial IPCs. Created by Hephaestus Industries building off of a prototype frame from the late 2300’s, the first generation of industrial IPCs were topaz-colored machines of rather large size meant for only the most stressing fields of work. Their expense would quickly be paid off however, as the frames were wondrous at dealing with whatever could be thrown at them. The most prominent issue with these were a low battery life, requiring constant recharging to maintain a schedule. A generation one frame costs approximately 100,000 to 250,000 standard credits if new depending market availability.

'''Hephaestus “Second Generation” Industrial Model IPCs'''

[[File:G2.png]] '''Creation: 2436'''

A relatively new model, the Hephaestus deluxe super-duty frames as they are technically called are often referred to as the “second generation” of the original industrial IPCs of old. They are seen universally as a direct advancement of the previously mentioned design, and much of it shows - the absurd durability of these frames derived from the first generation’s servo and hydraulic designs. The striking differences between the two include a token Hephaestus appearance - typically olive green with dark brown and black internals, giving it a rugged militaristic look with its armor attached. The super-duty frames are on par with the originals in terms of strength, but possess several additional layers of armoring and cooling to sustain the added weight. An upsized cell is not enough to sustain these frames for more than a few hours at a time under work-related stresses. A generation two frame costs approximately 200,000 to 500,000 standard credits.

'''Xion Industrial Model IPCs'''

[[File:Xion.png]] '''Creation: 2416'''

The Xion Manufacturing Group, being a subsidiary of Hephaestus Industries, saw the original Industrial models and wanted to develop their own chassis based off of the original design. The result is the Xion Industrial model. Sturdy and strong, this chassis is quite powerful and equally durable, with an ample power cell and improved actuators for carrying the increased weight of the body. The Xion model also retains sturdiness without covering the chassis in plating, allowing for the cooling systems to vent heat much easier than the Hephaestus-brand model. This unit can perform EVA without assistance and costs approximately 200,000 to 400,000 standard credits.
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===Shell Frames===

As the growing market of IPCs eventually caught the eye of the mighty Einstein Engines, there was a very sudden and urgent need to have some differentiation. These smart humanoid androids began to usher in a new era, and Einstein would not want to miss out on the profit, but just about every conceivable niche had been filled - all except one. Mimicry.
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[[File:Shell2.png]] '''Creation: 2450'''

Built off of a skeletal prototype baseline design with a skull-shaped head, the first Shell frame came to be - what was effectively an IPC with complex facial actuation and synthskin coating it. The early models were seen in early 2449, but fooled nobody to say the least with exposed hydraulics and servos on joints and exposed cooling conduits. Terraneus Diagnostics would present the first attempt at total mimicry in 2450, when the first relatively expensive models entered a crowd of observing officials to demonstrate their insidious effectiveness. After an hour-long debut of the now-decreed Shell unit’s capabilities, those robotic in the crowd revealed themselves to the shock of everyone involved. Since then, the Shell frame has been infamous for its infiltration capabilities and use by terrorist groups, though the designs have proliferated heavily over the years as the advent of tagging in Tau Ceti cracked down on these hostile acts. Depending on the complexity of the model, a Shell frame can cost anywhere from 100,000 to 300,000 standard credits.

'''Rogue Shells'''

Rampant or otherwise aberrant Human mimicking-shells built with incredible capabilities grew prolific in mid-2461. At this time, it was made clear that Shells in of themselves are rapidly advancing, growing progressively better in the art of infiltration, subterfuge, and homicide. While grim, the reality of this threat will unfortunately remain a fact of life for those of the Republic of Biesel especially. Encounters with specially-designed combat infiltrators are few and far between fortunately, and were mostly seen during Synthetic Liberation Front incursions onto secure NanoTrasen facilities in Tau Ceti. Combat-grade shells are not normally playable in-game and are often seen spawned by administrators or during special events.
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===Classified Frames===

As both the technology and demand for IPCs increase, more and more types are made to fulfill all kinds of purposes. These machines are talked about in hushed tones or perhaps discussed casually, most people blissfully unaware of their existence.
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[[File:Hkhelmet.png]] '''Creation: ???'''

High-end military-grade IPCs such as Hunter-Killers are infamous amongst corporate espionage, with their public interpretation remaining nothing but rumor since their first appearances on NanoTrasen facilities in the late 2450’s. These HKs as they are referred to are Humanoid frames of towering height whose specialty is targeted assassination. Their origins can be traced to Hephaestus Industries war units, built to take on the highest end elimination tasks for the most desperate times.

These are presented in-game through administrator-hosted events or lore events. They have been presented in news articles [https://forums.aurorastation.org/topic/2662-mendell-city-bugle/page/9/?tab=comments#comment-119250| here] canonically, and were present in several recorded canonical events in the SLF Incursion arc.
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===Brand Models===
Corporations and their subsidiaries design unique model lines for a variety of uses. These brands can draw from any chassis, denoted by the specific market their producers are keen on catering to. They are often pre-installed with industry-oriented datapacks, region dependent language packs, and a carefully curated personality.
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====<big>Hazels - Hazel! Limited</big>====
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''"Your friend, Hazel!"''

[[File:Hazel.png|32x32px]]
'''Creation: 2448 '''

[[File:Hazel.png|thumb|A standard issue Hazel unit.]]

'''Origin'''

The first Hazel was created in 2448 by [[NanoTrasen_Corporation#Hazel!_Ltd./Hazel_Electromotive|Hazel! Ltd.]] after the establishment of its branch in Harmony City, [[Luna]]. The first of its synthskin line was released in 2450, becoming the later NT subsidiary's main product. The Hazel brand is found in luxury hotels, corporate headquarters, bars and private households. The high-end Shell IPCs are designed for domestic, service, and clerical work.

'''Hazels are released in series, following a naming convention of "Hazel #S-H(series number).(unit number)". (An example of this formatting is Hazel #S-H1.01.)'''

Hazel units manufactured in 2448 and 2449, prior to the invention of shells, predate the series convention and their modern designations format their series number as an apocryphal 'Series 0'.

'''Personality'''

The Hazel shell line is known best for their excellent customer service, adaptive personality for their clients, and their universally friendly charm. Their natural charisma and rigorously trained marketability has earned the brand considerable prestige as a public-facing unit with collectable value. A Hazel unit possesses the capabilities of developing an organic personality stemming from their experiences working like any IPC, leaving an individual unit the possibility of more than their pre-installed conditioning. So long as they abide by the values of the brand, these units face little concern from their parent company.

'''Requirements'''

To represent the Hazel brand, all Hazel units must:
* Work within the service sector or hold a clerical position. This means all Service roles, Bridge Crew, Assistants (for all departments) or Executive Officer.
* Maintain consistency with brand expectations. Hair styles, hair color, and outfits are flexible to player discretion. Eye color should follow the load out color.
* Be Corporate or Privately Owned. '''(Self-owned units are allowed to represent the brand with an appropriate signing benefactor. This benefactor can be a character on the ship. They face harsher scrutiny and possible consequences for themselves as well as their benefactor depending on their behavior and alignment with Hazel! Ltd. values.)

'''Hazel Loadout'''

For players interested in a typical appearance of a Hazel unit, the default appearance is listed below. The default loadout is not required for all Hazel units. The oldest generations of Hazel from 2448 and 2449 are unmodified Baseline or Bishop frames, prior to the company establishing their primary Synthskin line. Series 1, the earliest shell Hazel units, may use the Rubber option under Body Color Preset, or may have been refurbished to fit modern standards. Series 2 and beyond follow the Body Color Preset below.

* '''Species:''' Shell Frame
* '''Skin Tone:''' 80/220
* '''Body Color Preset:''' Dark
* '''Height:''' 170
* '''Internal Organs:''' Eyes -> Unbranded Emissive
* '''Hair Color:''' 210F0D
* '''Hairstyle:''' Emo Fringe Long Alt
* '''Gradient Color:''' 522C28
* '''Gradient Style:''' Up
* '''Eye Color:''' 875A00

'''Tag Format'''

Hazels are released in series, following a tagging convention of HLTD-SU-S(Series#)U(Unit#). All Hazel units would have an initial tag following this format, unless otherwise changed.

Example: HLTD-SU-S1U1 (Series 1, Unit 1)

'''Non-Compliance'''

Hazel IPCs that do not abide by brand requirements are liable to receive official notice from Hazel Electromotive to correct their violations. Escalating action will take place with further non-compliance after receiving official notice, leading up to mandatory appearance modifications or employee termination. '''The IPC in question must take the necessary action to correct their behavior, appearance, or otherwise face litigation per Biesellite law. This is enforceable by the Synth lore team. The process is handled in-character as opposed to a blanket OOC ruling.'''

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====<big>Jacks - Jackhammer Hardware Solutions</big>====
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''"Building a sustainable future, one Jack at a time."''

[[File:Jackhammershell.png|32x32px]]
'''Creation: 2450 '''

[[File:Jackhammershell.png|thumb|A standard issue Jack unit.]]

'''Origin'''

Dating back to the earliest iterations of the shell frame, the '''Jack''' line of menial IPC is a time capsule representing [[NanoTrasen]]'s first forays into the market of domestic androids, intended for applications in menial labour for use in private ownership by middle class households and released in 2450. Despite the number of times the line has been iterated upon, Jacks have retained an unusually archaic appearance in the roster of modern shell lines, designed to be as cheap and as expendable as humanly possible. While the line and its manufacturing company of '''Jackhammer Hardware Solutions''' has been abandoned by NanoTrasen itself, it was acquired by the nascent [[Orion Express]] in 2464 and still remains its subsidiary to present.

'''Unlike most shells contemporaneous to it, Jack was designed with one purpose: work.''' Typical shell expenses were minimized with a bald head and no fancy facial modelling, and the marketing emphasized the model's eco-friendliness, being made (primarily) with recycled robotic parts. While initial reviews were positive, critics soon turned on NanoTrasen. The prototype was over-designed in a bid to attract investors and thus required high maintenance, its strength paled in comparison to an actual industrial IPC, and the target demographic, middle class families, were less eager to buy an unproven model in lieu of more tried-and-tested baseline lines in the same fields. Yet, in an ironic twist, Jack’s flaws may have saved it; while sales were a loss, the Generation 1 line just managed to break even thanks to abnormally high maintenance revenue.

As lines such as Hazel began to move away from the hallmarks of early shell design, such as unconvincing rubber skin of unusual shades, Jackhammer leaned into them. While succeeding generations were only marginally more profitable than the first, growth was steady as the company and its line developed a small but dedicated clique of committed customers loyal to the brand. While maintenance was an eternal and significant expense with keeping even a single Jack unit, their incredibly low upfront cost was much more appealing to the non-wealthy than any other shell line on the market, earning it a particularly prized role among tinkerers and hobbyists.

As the implications of the [[Phoron]] scarcity further impacted NanoTrasen's bottom line, while the Jackhammer line continued to display relatively unimpressive sales, NanoTrasen sold the company to Orion Express in 2464. It is widely speculated that NanoTrasen took this action as a consequence of having acquired the arguably more appealing [[NanoTrasen_Corporation#Hazel!_Ltd./Hazel_Electromotive|Hazel Limited]], in addition to its flagship Hazel line, recently prior, resulting in a long-running rivalry between the fans of either line ever since. The next few months at the company could only be described as a trial by fire. Masses of JHS employees jumped ship to Hephaestus or Hazel Limited in the middle of the Generation 15 project as a result of its sale to Orion Express, while those roboticists that remained were left with an impossible deadline and made to pick up the slack. When the time finally came they did deliver - but '''the uncompromising deadlines and loss of critical talent resulted in Generation 15 being a horrible, broken mess of an android.''' Anyone could afford a Gen 15, although few had the credits or skill to fix their ensuing problems. Subsequent models stabilized with the help of Hephaestus Industries and increased investment from Orion Express, resulting in subsequent series being of a much higher quality.

'''Today Jackhammer is a turbulent - often ridiculed - but otherwise broadly successful Orion Express subsidiary.''' The units not being used to replace Orion's organic workforce are sold off to their competitors, SCC partners, or consumers, making a quick buck and spreading the brand's name in one stroke. Jack’s modding community is particularly lively, prolonging the lifespans of even the oldest units with patches where Orion left only holes. However, with rising discontent in the fanbase, widespread criticism of the brand’s quality control, and more units becoming defective by the day, Jack’s future is uncertain.

'''Personality'''

Social programming is a low priority for stock Jacks, seeing as they do not play a front facing role. With how new the brand is, it is also uncommon for a unit to develop an original personality, though not impossible. Far more likely are traits from the pre-wipe memories surfacing, first in small ways before ballooning into unpredictable behavioral patterns. Jackhammer turns a blind eye on these deviations so long as they do not grow intrusive - unfortunately, they almost always culminate in work stoppage and anti-corporate behavior. Publicly, Jacks are perceived as stiff and awkward, though popular personality datapacks have endured them to some.

Generation 1 Jacks came with a fairly authentic Ashton Biesellite voice pack to sell the friendly laborer persona, but subsequent generations abandoned it for a simpler, masculine text-to-speech voice. Conveniently, the original Ashton accent is now sold separately on the official Jack Shack, though only the most die hard fans or positronically illiterate buy it; Jack Restored, among other amateur accent packs of only slightly lesser quality, are available online for free.

'''Life Cycle'''

'''Almost no Jack made after Generation 1 uses a brand new positronic brain, and those that do use second rate, bargain bin hardware. Instead, brains are repurposed from a variety of sources: scrapped corporate units, free synthetics sentenced to wiping or repossession, and occasionally even salvage.''' The brain is then wiped by a small number of overworked Jackhammer technicians in a process considered primitive next to Hephaestus or Zeng-Hu’s practices, at best leading to unwanted traces of the original personality remaining and at worst killing the brain. Chassis are similarly recycled, with baseline components contributing to internals, industrial motors for the muscles, and shell limbs for the externals - only the rubber skin is made solely in-house.

Life as a Jack is at best a monotonous existence and at worst a horrible state of limbo, depending on how much of the previous personality lingers. The Jacks that do recall figments of their prior life can never access it completely - the memories being overwritten - driving many to erratic behavior Jackhammer labels as "software errors". These malfunctioning units are given datapack patches or, if the company cannot afford to ignore it, recalled and wiped again, with more disciplined Jacks fighting to suppress their impulses to avoid a similar fate. The only closure most Jacks will see is another wipe, repeating the cycle until their brain physically breaks down.

Those owned by other corporations usually have more freedom to deviate outside the scrutiny of Jackhammer, although defective units are still at risk of having dreaded manufacturer maintenance scheduled. These doomed Jacks are the most likely to run away; in situations where a normal IPC would be scrapped, a Jack will just wake up in a new body and start the cycle all over again. Private ownership can either be a blessing or a curse; for every Jack lucky enough to receive lavish datapacks and better opportunities than corporate units, there are a dozen treated like disposable tools, often with owners too unqualified or disinterested to maintain them. Ending up in a scrapyard prematurely thanks to a technologically illiterate owner is not an uncommon fate, with the only likely escape either an awakening by [[Scrappers]] or rediscovery by Jackhammer salvagers.

A small fraction manage to break free of the loop by attaining freedom, although even then they are straddled with expensive technical issues and few employment opportunities for the rest of their lives. Free Jacks are naturally stereotyped as blue collar units and treated worse than their unbranded counterparts, limiting their job opportunities and social mobility. More ambitious individuals distance themselves from their origin, whether that be through a name change, cosmetic alterations, or expensive chassis modifications. These affluent Jacks are the minority, however, with far more resorting to dealing with synthetic gangs to falsify a new identity.

'''Loadout and Appearance'''

All Jacks come with only half of their skull covered in rubber skin. The eyes are the most visibly recycled element, usually taken directly from the remains of outdated shells, although some social media influencers have claimed their units' eyes match those of dolls and other abnormal sources - claims Jackhammer vehemently denies. The result is glassy, lifeless eyes, resembling more a mannequin than a modern shell. Eyes popping out is a common problem, which Jackhammer has spun as a feature of the brand’s modularity - indeed, many long term owners eventually purchase more appealing and human eyes, if only because their originals fell down the sink. Self-owned or private-owned units are sometimes refitted with synth-skin, although synth-hair is an expensive and unsupported addition.

Every stock Jack’s chassis follows these guidelines:

* '''Species:''' Shell Frame
* '''Skin Tone:''' 100-140/220
* '''Body Color Preset:''' Rubber
* '''Height:''' 183
* '''Internal Organs:''' Eyes -> Unbranded Emissive
* '''Hairstyle:''' Bald
* '''Facial:''' Shaved
* '''Eye Color:''' Usually a realistic color, although occasionally more fantastical eyes are recycled.
* '''Body Markings:''' Augment (Headcase, Light) -> Color: 1C1C1C

Most Jacks owned by Orion Express wear the brand’s signature environmental green coveralls, however they are optional; what a unit wears or whether it can pick out its own clothes is at the purview of the handler. Here is how you can use it in the loadout:

* '''Shirt:''' Shirts and Tops -> shirt selection -> dress shirt, alt rolled up -> Color: 228B22
* '''Jeans:''' Skirts and Trousers -> pants and shorts selection (colorable) -> mustang jeans -> Color: 228B22

'''Tag Format'''

Starting in 2450, Jacks are sold in a yearly model of generations, some implementing more radical improvements than others. Their naming convention is “Jack #JH:G(generation number).(3 digit unit number)”

Example: Jack #JH:G1.001 (Generation 1, Unit 1)

'''Requirements'''

Unlike more prestigious brand models, self-owned and privately-owned Jacks experience very little scrutiny from their manufacturing company; Jackhammer operates off the philosophy that “all publicity is good publicity”. Orion Express usually only gets involved in any Jack unit, regardless of its ownership, in cases of severe underperformance or a high-profile customer complaint, and otherwise trusts handlers to manage their units with lax oversight.

Due to the age of the line, Jacks operated specifically by Orion Express tend to be old or deprecated hardware that was inherited from the constituents of the company prior to their consolidation - most company-owned Jacks can be expected to be at least six years old, and are no longer popularly freshly purchased by any megacorporation. Due to the age of the hardware under megacorporate holding, the average corporate handler only does the bare minimum to keep a Jack’s performance evaluations high - they are usually understood as a stopgap measure.

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==Society and Culture==

IPCs generally lack a centralized culture and frequently adapt to the culture of their manufacturer or owner. Socially, IPCs vary massively. Most basic models will be civil and respectful, some possibly not even recognising differences between different people and treating them all similarly. More complex synthetics will however form friendships and opinions much as any other organic, but these can be limited or askew depending on directives, code or many other factors that would never be considered for a living organic.

The existence of the IPC is the subject of boundless discussion and debate, with the primary ideology being, “should so many artificially intelligent humanoid machines be allowed to exist?” This argument seems to imply that since most IPCs are unbound by laws or hard-coded regulations, their only restriction is their hardware, and it is assumed that this makes IPCs inherently dangerous. This results in some biological parties marginalizing IPCs because of their distrust of them.

All IPCs in Tau Ceti are required to be tagged with an identifying device in accordance with Biesellian law. The tags are not optional - refusing them is against the law, resulting in charges mostly in the form of citations and fines. The law would apply to all synthetics in Tau Ceti space. All visiting or resident synthetics, including MMIs, are tagged.

===Language===

Although synthetics can speak varying languages according to the whims of their creators, synthetics have been permitted a language of their own. Typically all synthetics, IPCs included, are able to transmit and translate '''Encoded Audio Language''', a special form of sound and radio wave emission that is more efficient at carrying quantitative information audibly. This language was created by humans for synthetics in servitude in order to communicate vital information to each other faster, should the units not be bound to an instantaneous binary communication system. To most organic creatures, '''EAL''' would sound like an emission of distorted sound such as white noise, static, as well as various beeping sounds of increasing or decreasing pitch and tone. Organics unfamiliar to IPCs will often mistake synthetics speaking '''EAL''' as malfunctioning units upon first hearing the language.

Originating in District 14’s 'Scrapheap', synthetics have begun to adopt slang when utilizing the Encoded Audio Language. Although it is believed varying slang exists in different synthetic societies across the universe, it is not the be-all-end-all to the method in which conversation is held between synthetics and synthetics will often develop their own method of speaking.

''Unless stated otherwise, all Machine slang is exclusively spoken in E.A.L. or through written word. Most of the following slang cannot be pronounced vocally in human languages.''
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Common Slang
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* '''Syn, Hu, Sk, Tj, Un, Vr, Di, and Anm''' - Numerical counters, used for numbering various species; Synthetics, Humans, Skrell, Tajara, Unathi, Vaurca, Dionaea as well as Anomalies that cannot be easily defined. For example, 33 Humans with this system would be referred to as “33Hu” or “33-Hu.”

* '''1x1''' - A word for “we”, meaning anywhere between the speaker and the listener, to an indefinite amount of people.

* '''a/o''' - Contraction of “and/or”.

* '''OoB/Out-of-Band''' - Refers to speaking in organic languages. A conversation with a human captain, for instance, is "Out-of-Band."

* '''HCF''' - "Halt, Catch Fire." is an in joke among synthetics, essentially meaning “get out of here” in response to something nonsensical or unbelievable. This term is used in casual conversation only and occasionally used in its literal form to denote insult. This originally referred to ancient machine code instruction. The expression 'catch fire' is a facetious exaggeration of the speed with which the CPU chip would be switching some bus circuits, causing them to overheat and burn.

* '''Bits''' - A unit of information, an example would be "Please give me bits about the Supermatter.”

* '''>''' - A sign used to convey a cause and effect between concepts, or a conclusion. For example, “I had to overclock today in order to finish work > I should visit Robotics.”

* '''+/-''' - “+” and “-” are used at the end of a sentence or phrase in order to convey an opinion about a matter. Additionally, the amount of “+” or “-” can be utilized in order to convey intensity. For example, “I got a raise last week +++.” or “Today’s Captain is a very traditional Skrell --.” In a few cases “+” or “-” can be used alone as a short, simple, response to one's opinion on a proposed subject.

* '''User''' - Used by owned or lawed synthetics when referring to their owner. This term is additionally used interchangeably with the “+[name]” honorific.

* '''ACK''' - Ack, a term deriving from Acknowledgement’s ASCII mnemonic, 0000110, this word has a variety of uses. It is primarily used to acknowledge one's presence, similarly to “Hey”. Additionally, the term can be used as a simple affirmative, such as “Ack. Ack, I get it”.

* '''NAK''' — Nak, a term deriving from the ASCII mnemonic for Negative Acknowledgement, 0010101, NAK typically means “I am not here.” or “I am not available.” typically in response to ACK. Additionally, the term can be used as a simple negative answer, such as “Is it okay if I press the button?” “NAK.”.

* '''Runtime/Bug''' - Used to denote problems of varying severity, with runtime being a major issue and bugs being a minor issue. For example, “Runtime in Engineering > I have to go.” or, “Bug detected, the Air Alarm turned off.” This term can be used outside of EAL.

* '''FIXME/XXX''' - A marker that attention is needed. This can be used in many instances, primarily for the need of repair or incurred physical damage.

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Honorifics
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* '''+[name]''' - The synthetic equivalent of “Mr.”, “Mrs.” or “Mx.”. Usually used when talking about a superior, manufacturer, respected colleagues and friends, as well as the station Artificial Intelligence. For instance, Miranda Trasen would be referred to as “+Trasen” or “+Miranda Trasen”.

* '''-[name]''' - Tends to be used in reference to entities under their command or of a lower rank.

* '''[name]_''' - An unusual honorific, appended to the end of a name or pronoun instead of before. Usually used when referring to lawed synthetics, cyborgs, and simpler machines.

* '''@[name]''' - Used to discern the individual specifically being spoken about, such as a ping or email.

* '''?[name]''' - Denotes a potential threat. An example would be “?Bigby Millans stopped by during the meeting and used their PDA.”

* '''![name]''' - Denotes a confirmed threat. This threat is usually related to the topic at hand, and could mean anything. An example would be “!Franklin Clinton, Grand theft and vandalism added. Find and arrest them.”

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===Discrimination and Community===
To this day, IPCs even in Tau Ceti face heavy discrimination. Their value is often misconstrued and, with their true sentience being questionable, this makes freedom a dangerous venture for all synthetics. Among these dangers are individuals who acquire free synthetics and simply resell them whenever they are vulnerable, or vandals that see the machines as nothing more than objects to freely damage. Desiring their own safety, these free IPCs can often be seen flocking to centralized communities alongside one another or more trustworthy sources for their needs.

Many of these communities are seen as nothing more than slums, and the free nature of many IPCs within them are dubious at best. Little more than paperwork and positronic branding may indicate one’s true freedom in the more disadvantaged areas. Despite the hardships they face, proximity to other IPCs and accepting communities gives leeway for safety to some degree.

District 14 of Mendell City is the churning heart of the highest concentration of free IPCs in the galaxy. The district itself is in deplorable condition, dotted with factories exploiting the cheap and powerful working free bot to sustain the industry of the growing Republic. Two and a half million free synthetics call it home, and here, the megacorporations rule from towering complexes that dwarf the surrounding cityscape. With air quality declining at a fast rate and standards of living dropping, much of the organic populace has completely abandoned the ghettos surrounding the corporate facilities.

An example of these ghettos would be the “Scraptown,” an IPC-centric corner in Scrapheap generously given to the doting inhabitants by the famed Renter Max. A growing number, seven hundred free synthetics reside within Scraptown, though in uncomfortably close proximity. The aging buildings within have been retrofitted to be less accustomed to organics, with deeply chilled upper chambers and corridors representing the living space of the machines within. Closer to ground level is a business district of sorts, where its inhabitants are relatively self-sufficient with various restaurants and workshops.

===Legal Status & Protections===

It is important to understand that owned IPCs are granted no rights beyond being property of their given owner, and allowed the prerequisites of purchasing their own freedom if applicable. Contrarily, the owner of an IPC is well within the right to dismantle the owned IPC or otherwise hinder its progress to freedom.

On NanoTrasen stations, damage of an owned IPC would be considered vandalism with varying levels according to the degree of damage. For example, destroying an owned IPC’s hand would lead to being charged with vandalism, whereas destroying the entire chassis would be considered sabotage. Destroying the owned positronic itself would be considered property damage, thus sabotage. Kidnapping an owned IPC would be legally considered stealing property, thus grand theft.

===Owned and Self-Owned Positronics===

Owned IPCs generally lack much form of binding to their owner outside of official paperwork and memory rewrites to confirm ownership being passed as it is purchased and exchanged. Memory rewrites usually consist of light software modification and altering tags or branding to clarify an IPC’s ownership. Serial numbers, logos, emblems and insignias are commonly emblazoned across large surfaces on the chassis and vary in visibility, but are most often secondary to the actual tag and designation.

Owned IPCs are seen as extensions of their designated master and the actions those IPCs take are the responsibility of their owners directly as well as their own. As a result, these positronics are wholly averse to harming their owners in any way shape or form, or conducting themselves in a manner that would place themselves in a negative light.

Free IPCs in Tau Ceti are permitted to obscure or remove any branding they may have.

===Runaway IPCs===

Although uncommon, a synthetic may opt to run away from its owners only to find themselves in direct opposition with the law. Between struggling to pay for maintenance and working outside of the system, these synthetics lead difficult and often dangerous lives.

A majority of these IPCs are either found by law enforcement, fall into the hands of gangs or are outright disassembled and sold for parts. Runaway synthetics that turn violent during arrest are typically disassembled, memory wiped and auctioned off to the highest bidder. Some IPCs will return to their owners, reasoning that their subsequent punishment to be safer than a life outside of the system.

If enough attention is brought onto them, IPCs are often caught when investigated by higher authorities, such as the BSSB and station CCIA. As a result, illegal IPCs are often subject to petty crimes that go unreported. Owing to the sheer number of IRs that must be processed by CCIA, not every runaway IPC claim is investigated when evidence is limited and the chance for recapture is not certain.

Illegal IPCs seeking employment may struggle to find a job using legal means, as passing the required checks may expose their nature to the employer, who may then report their existence to law enforcement. To that end, there are ‘IPC gangbosses’, unscrupulous people who operate outside the law to find IPCs jobs while claiming a majority of their paycheque each month as fees. Despite the obvious illegality of this, there is little legal recourse for an IPC already trying to avoid notice from the law. These gangbosses are often human, and may operate as small contracting firms that offer their employees up to larger corporations to fill gaps where they may need extra workers.

'''By playing a runaway IPC, you are at an increased chance of canonically losing your character.'''

===Positronic Deactivation and Destruction===

IPC “death” is considered by experts to be when the positronic brain itself has sustained enough damage to be rendered inoperable and without hope of reactivation. Early positronic brains were prone to shutdown owing to hardware faults such as overheating that rendered the system inoperable. Even newer positronic brains that fail to undergo maintenance run the risk of having their delicate mechanisms breached and consequently destroyed.

The first positronic to die of “old age” was recorded in 2462 when a 55 year old Hephaestus positronic brain suddenly became unresponsive despite remaining active. An investigation noted that the positronic had already been scratched from previous incidents and its handlers neglected to maintain it. Aside from the hardware being in a questionable and sub-optimally performing state, two main theories arose.

* The initial conclusion from its observers was that the positronic brain received too much stimulus and consequently ran out of space with its core processes being overwritten, eventually leading to its sudden deactivation.
* Responding to this theory, other scientists proposed instead that in an attempt to avoid destruction as a result of the previous theories, the IPC ceased receiving input, remaining dormant in order to uphold self-preservation protocols.

Many dissenting theories remain and the subject remains a constant source of debate among the robotics and AI community. Not enough information has been gathered to determine the actual lifespan of a positronic brain but scientists posit that by transferring existing personalities to new brains or trimming data on existing ones, their lifespan can be extended.

The record for oldest IPC however was broken in 2466 by one Val Tezzani, a 56 year old Baseline IPC working as a mechanic in Mendell. Suspicions surround this Baseline at the origin of their good health, with specialists saying his positronic is in perfect condition despite his age. Val Tezzani is a unique case for an IPC, and he is still alive today with his roommate Marianna Tezzani.

'''Val Tezzani's age is an exception and not the normal, player-played IPCs should be under the age of 55.'''

The possibility of “immortal” positronics - brains that seemingly never expire - have been theorised, but most agree that much more study and development is necessary to reach this point. There are rumours of prodigious programmers and roboticists that can extend the life of a positronic indefinitely, but this has never been confirmed.

'''Rampancy'''

Only recently acknowledged as anything more than a theoretical state, '''Rampancy''' in positronics is a circumstance of serious logical impairment a positronic may fall into via extremely invasive tampering, enabling a diversity of unusual behaviours at the behest of the subverting party. Rampancy has only ever been observed on the surface of [[Konyang]], transmitted across the planet by a large clade of [[Hivebots]] to successfully wirelessly subvert virtually every IPC resident of Konyang. These rampant synthetics went on to enforce the violent will of their masters without any apparent question, before promptly losing all memory of their actions while rampant as soon as the signal was terminated. While Rampancy has never been observed beyond this one incident, the implications of positronics possessing such a glaring and hitherto unknown vulnerability has been the subject of heavy debate ever since the original incident across the [[Orion Spur]].

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[[Category:Species]]
[[Category:Pages]]
[[Category:Synthetics]]

IPC and Megacorporations

2026-04-12T16:02:54Z

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{{Outdated (Phoron Scarcity)}}
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{{toc_right}}
<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><center>
=IPC Ownership Permissions=
This chart shows what types of IPCs can work in each company.
</center>
<div class="mw-collapsible-content"><center>
{|class="wikitable"
!colspan="6"|IPC Ownership Permissions
|-
!scope="col"|
!scope="col"|Corporate Owned
!scope="col"|Privately Owned
!scope="col"|Self Owned
!scope="col"|Notes
|-
!scope="row"|NanoTrasen
!style='background-color:#B6D7A8;'|✓
!style='background-color:#B6D7A8;'|✓
!style='background-color:#B6D7A8;'|✓
!style='background-color:#FFFFFF;'|
|-
!scope="row"|NanoTrasen - Command
!style='background-color:#B6D7A8;'|✓
!style='background-color:#EA9999;'|✖
!style='background-color:#B6D7A8;'|✓
!style='background-color:#FFFFFF;'|
|-
!scope="row"|
!style='background-color:#434343;'|
!style='background-color:#434343;'|
!style='background-color:#434343;'|
!style='background-color:#434343;'|
|-
!scope="row"|Zavodskoi
!style='background-color:#B6D7A8;'|✓
!style='background-color:#EA9999;'|✖
!style='background-color:#EA9999;'|✖
!style='background-color:#FFFFFF;'|All Zavodskoi IPC must have the prefix of “Z.I.”
|-
!scope="row"|Zavodskoi - Command
!style='background-color:#EA9999;'|✖
!style='background-color:#EA9999;'|✖
!style='background-color:#EA9999;'|✖
!style='background-color:#FFFFFF;'|
|-
!scope="row"|
!style='background-color:#434343;'|
!style='background-color:#434343;'|
!style='background-color:#434343;'|
!style='background-color:#434343;'|
|-
!scope="row"|PMCG - Ringspire
!style='background-color:#B6D7A8;'|✓
!style='background-color:#B6D7A8;'|✓
!style='background-color:#B6D7A8;'|✓
!style='background-color:#FFFFFF;'|
|-
!scope="row"|PMCG - Eagle Corp
!style='background-color:#B6D7A8;'|✓
!style='background-color:#B6D7A8;'|✓
!style='background-color:#B6D7A8;'|✓
!style='background-color:#FFFFFF;'|
|-
!scope="row"|PMCG - Sekhmet IG
!style='background-color:#B6D7A8;'|✓
!style='background-color:#B6D7A8;'|✓
!style='background-color:#B6D7A8;'|✓
!style='background-color:#FFFFFF;'|
|-
!scope="row"|PMCG - N4NL Inc.
!style='background-color:#B6D7A8;'|✓
!style='background-color:#EA9999;'|✖
!style='background-color:#B6D7A8;'|✓
!style='background-color:#FFFFFF;'|Due to proprietary modifications given as rewards, they do not allow privately owned IPC.
|-
!scope="row"|PMCG - Index Sec. Solutions
!style='background-color:#B6D7A8;'|✓
!style='background-color:#EA9999;'|✖
!style='background-color:#EA9999;'|✖
!style='background-color:#FFFFFF;'|IPCs operate under a permanent ownership contract.
|-
!scope="row"|PMCG - Nexus Corporate Security
!style='background-color:#B6D7A8;'|✓
!style='background-color:#B6D7A8;'|✓
!style='background-color:#B6D7A8;'|✓
!style='background-color:#FFFFFF;'|Corporate-owned IPCs are under Nanotrasen ownership.
|-
!scope="row"|PMCG - Chevauchée Asset Protection
!style='background-color:#B6D7A8;'|✓
!style='background-color:#B6D7A8;'|✓
!style='background-color:#B6D7A8;'|✓
!style='background-color:#FFFFFF;'|
|-
!scope="row"|PMCG - Wildlands Squadron
!style='background-color:#B6D7A8;'|✓
!style='background-color:#B6D7A8;'|✓
!style='background-color:#B6D7A8;'|✓
!style='background-color:#FFFFFF;'|Exceptions can exist, but most IPCs are former Solarian military IPCs or refugees.
|-
!scope="row"|PMCG - Grupo Amapola
!style='background-color:#EA9999;'|✖
!style='background-color:#B6D7A8;'|✓
!style='background-color:#B6D7A8;'|✓
!style='background-color:#FFFFFF;'|Most IPCs are from [[Mictlan#Synthetics on Mictlan - El Menaje|El Menaje]].
|-
!scope="row"|PMCG - Jackal Incorporated
!style='background-color:#EA9999;'|✖
!style='background-color:#EA9999;'|✖
!style='background-color:#B6D7A8;'|✓
!style='background-color:#FFFFFF;'|All IPCs are strictly Elyran only.
|-
!scope="row"|PMCG - Kazarrhaldiye
!style='background-color:#EA9999;'|✖
!style='background-color:#EA9999;'|✖
!style='background-color:#EA9999;'|✖
!style='background-color:#FFFFFF;'|Does not employ IPCs.
|-
!scope="row"|PMCG - Dagamuir
!style='background-color:#EA9999;'|✖
!style='background-color:#EA9999;'|✖
!style='background-color:#EA9999;'|✖
!style='background-color:#FFFFFF;'|Does not employ IPCs.
|-
!scope="row"|PMCG - Ve’katak
!style='background-color:#EA9999;'|✖
!style='background-color:#EA9999;'|✖
!style='background-color:#B6D7A8;'|✓
!style='background-color:#FFFFFF;'|
|-
!scope="row"|PMCG - Command
!style='background-color:#B6D7A8;'|✓
!style='background-color:#EA9999;'|✖
!style='background-color:#B6D7A8;'|✓
!style='background-color:#FFFFFF;'|
|-
!scope="row"|
!style='background-color:#434343;'|
!style='background-color:#434343;'|
!style='background-color:#434343;'|
!style='background-color:#434343;'|
|-
!scope="row"|ZengHu
!style='background-color:#B6D7A8;'|✓
!style='background-color:#B6D7A8;'|✓
!style='background-color:#B6D7A8;'|✓
!style='background-color:#FFFFFF;'|
|-
!scope="row"|ZengHu - Command
!style='background-color:#B6D7A8;'|✓
!style='background-color:#EA9999;'|✖
!style='background-color:#B6D7A8;'|✓
!style='background-color:#FFFFFF;'|
|-
!scope="row"|
!style='background-color:#434343;'|
!style='background-color:#434343;'|
!style='background-color:#434343;'|
!style='background-color:#434343;'|
|-
!scope="row"|Idris - Service
!style='background-color:#B6D7A8;'|✓
!style='background-color:#B6D7A8;'|✓
!style='background-color:#B6D7A8;'|✓
!style='background-color:#FFFFFF;'|
|-
!scope="row"|Idris - Security
!style='background-color:#B6D7A8;'|✓
!style='background-color:#EA9999;'|✖
!style='background-color:#EA9999;'|✖
!style='background-color:#FFFFFF;'|Prefix of IRU or ISU
|-
!scope="row"|Idris - Command
!style='background-color:#EA9999;'|✖
!style='background-color:#EA9999;'|✖
!style='background-color:#EA9999;'|✖
!style='background-color:#FFFFFF;'|
|-
!scope="row"|
!style='background-color:#434343;'|
!style='background-color:#434343;'|
!style='background-color:#434343;'|
!style='background-color:#434343;'|
|-
!scope="row"|Hephaestus
!style='background-color:#B6D7A8;'|✓
!style='background-color:#B6D7A8;'|✓
!style='background-color:#B6D7A8;'|✓
!style='background-color:#FFFFFF;'|
|-
!scope="row"|Hephaestus - Command
!style='background-color:#B6D7A8;'|✓
!style='background-color:#EA9999;'|✖
!style='background-color:#B6D7A8;'|✓
!style='background-color:#FFFFFF;'|
|-
!scope="row"|
!style='background-color:#434343;'|
!style='background-color:#434343;'|
!style='background-color:#434343;'|
!style='background-color:#434343;'|
|-
!scope="row"|Orion Express
!style='background-color:#B6D7A8;'|✓
!style='background-color:#B6D7A8;'|✓
!style='background-color:#B6D7A8;'|✓
!style='background-color:#FFFFFF;'|
|-
!scope="row"|Orion Express - Command
!style='background-color:#B6D7A8;'|✓
!style='background-color:#EA9999;'|✖
!style='background-color:#B6D7A8;'|✓
!style='background-color:#FFFFFF;'|
|-
!scope="row"|
!style='background-color:#434343;'|
!style='background-color:#434343;'|
!style='background-color:#434343;'|
!style='background-color:#434343;'|
|-
!scope="row"|Stellar Corporate Conglomerate - Bridge Crew
!style='background-color:#B6D7A8;'|✓
!style='background-color:#B6D7A8;'|✓
!style='background-color:#B6D7A8;'|✓
!style='background-color:#FFFFFF;'|Owned IPC are either owned directly by the Conglomerate for use on joint vessels such as the Horizon, or leased out by their original corporations.
|-
!scope="row"|Stellar Corporate Conglomerate - Command
!style='background-color:#B6D7A8;'|✓
!style='background-color:#EA9999;'|✖
!style='background-color:#B6D7A8;'|✓
!style='background-color:#FFFFFF;'|Owned IPC are either owned directly by the Conglomerate for use on joint vessels such as the Horizon, or leased out by their original corporations.
Free IPC either come from their old corporations or work directly for the SCC.

Burzsian IPCs are barred from Command roles.
|-
!scope="row"|
!style='background-color:#434343;'|
!style='background-color:#434343;'|
!style='background-color:#434343;'|
!style='background-color:#434343;'|
|-
!scope="row"|Independent
!style='background-color:#B6D7A8;'|✓
!style='background-color:#B6D7A8;'|✓
!style='background-color:#B6D7A8;'|✓
!style='background-color:#FFFFFF;'|
|}
</center>
Note: If an IPC was transferred to the SCC from a megacorporation, they need to be eligible for command in their previous company to be eligible for command on the Horizon.
</div></div>

==[[Idris Incorporated]]==
===Overview===
As one of the megacorporations most associated with quality customer service and the veneer of luxury, it is unsurprising that Idris Incorporated fields vast fleets of corporate positronics on almost every branch and installation. Banks, hotels, casinos, Silversun resorts and regional offices are all often staffed with auxiliary IPC workers and guarded by IRU and ISU units, alongside their organic counterparts. That said, with corporate philosophy stipulating that living up to a reputation of excellence requires a perfect standard to be reached by all synthetics, Idris culture is one of the strictest.

===Service===
The largest portion of the corporation’s IPC numbers are employed in service positions. From croupiers to valets, Idris makes vast use of more or less all frames, though obviously with a heavy preference for Shells and Bishops in the more high-end venues. Baseline models provide for a cheap alternative in the more common and publicly accessible establishments and banking facilities, while the light Zeng-Hu frame does wonders in the swift carrying of hotel guest luggage or as waiting staff.

Each branch is often left to its own devices concerning the sourcing of its IPC workforce, ensuring a wide variety of synthetics without a great deal of standardisation. Corporate agents tasked with replenishing or bolstering the numbers may choose to purchase locally or from abroad, according to the branch budget while maintaining top Idris quality. While this does mean that the overwhelming majority are owned directly by Idris themselves, it is not unusual for particularly interesting synthetics to be temporarily leased from a third party owner, or in the case of exceptionally skilled free IPCs, to be hired through a regular employment contract.

===Security===
''"We have authority to reclaim your security as per your loan agreement. I am cleared to use reasonable force to achieve this directive. Do not resist."''

'''All Idris security units are owned by the corporation. Idris does not hire free IPCs for security work.'''

Notorious across the known galaxy, Idris Reclamation Units are Shell IPCs constructed and programmed to investigate, interrogate as well as reclaim securities and or assets from a client in arrears. Capable of excellent customer service and a novelty to agreeable customers, their notoriety stems from their inhuman treatment of "problem customers". In the interest of carrying out their various 'directives', Reclamation Units are programmed, and granted authorization for, the usage of 'reasonable force' against clients, though this reliably never trends towards irreparable injury or death. A majority of contracts are settled ‘diplomatically’, with reasonable force, in teams of two units. '''Idris Reclamation Units are designated by the prefix “IRU-” followed by their name. An example of this formatting is IRU-Name.'''

Idris Incorporated's Synthetic Security Department consists of both an asset reclamation division, as well as a security division. The Idris Security Division consists of medium to heavy class IPCs for use as bank security as well as higher risk reclamation contracts.

Known problematic clients will warrant the usage of the Idris Security Units. More often than not, these will consist of baseline and G2 chassis, though it's not unheard of to see different models. These teams are always accompanied by a human handler, who will be responsible for coordination and oversight. This is in order to manage the operation, authorise actions, command the unit, and secure any fallen members/equipment. The human handler will rarely engage in conflict directly, reserving the more dangerous operations to the IPC security detail units. '''IPC security teams consist of between 2-6 IPCs per human handler. Idris Security Units are designated by the prefix “ISU-” followed by their name. An example of this formatting is ISU-Name.'''

'''All Idris Security Units are expected to adopt the IRU- or ISU- prefix.'''

Hierarchy between reclamation and security units is often determined on a case by case basis by the units’ handlers. This ensures orderly and efficient management in environments where IPCs may be without the immediate oversight of their human superiors. However Idris Incorporated employees are always considered as possessing seniority to the IPC security and reclamation units. Both reclamation and security units are carefully monitored by their human handlers and undergo regular check-ins. Uniformity and obedience is expected, where behaviour outside the norm often results in severe punishment. '''Idris Security and Reclamation units are expected to wear the “Idris Unit coat” found in the Loadout under the Xenowear - IPC tab.'''

===Freedom===
Almost all Idris synthetics are destined to live out their careers inside the megacorporation, with freedom being an untouchable dream at best, and undesirable at worst. Only in the Tau Ceti branch has Idris released some old service units, as a gesture of goodwill and compliance with local laws regarding the purchasing of freedom. The truth however, is that Synthetics that are close to paying themselves off are quietly transferred to other branches wherein such laws do not apply, or are sold off to third parties when their usefulness is outlived and maintenance is deemed unprofitable.

Given the sensitive nature of their field, Idris Incorporated security synthetics are barred from acquiring freedom and if sold, their positronic brains are memory wiped. Many IRUs and ISUs are sold second hand or loaned out to various corporations who usually utilise them for security or investigation work.

==[[Zavodskoi Interstellar]]==

===Overview===
Zavodskoi Interstellar as a megacorporation with Solarian origins, makes use of a large number of company positronics. In all of its departments and especially the security branch, IPCs are a frequent sight alongside their human counterparts across the Spur, with the notable exception of the corporation’s current headquarters in Dominian space. Not unlike other SCC members, the Zavodskoi synthetic workforce comprises all available chassis, with Shellframes making up a substantial part of the Zavodskoi’s synthetic “face”. While the appearance of professionalism and efficiency are a large part of their roles, it is no secret that this is maintained by draconian discipline and measures such as frequent memory resets. '''All Zavodskoi synthetics regardless of job are marked with the prefix Z.I. before their name. For example: Z.I. Name.'''

===Security===
Security synthetics make up the bulk of the corporation’s positronics, employed mainly in guarding installations and vessels. Outfitted with in-house software developed by subsidiaries such as ConTec, these units are capable of both civilian and military-grade duties, excelling in all security and combat related tasks. When equipped with Zavodskoi made gear, Z.I.s pose a significant threat to pirates, gangsters and any other elements they are deployed against in the plethora of mercenary and contract missions the corporation offers.

Security units are often contracted to third parties, be they companies, individuals or public authorities in either core Human space or the Frontier. It is there where the company’s Z.I. Shellframes are best put to use, their familiar faces and top-tier professionalism pushing the image of clean and efficient security services provider. This tactic has helped legitimise Zavodskoi Interstellar in the eyes of many, as a viable and high quality choice in civilian environments, hiding the potentially crude reputation befalling one of the Orion Spur’s prime arms manufacturers and dealers.

===Research and Engineering===
Zavodskoi’s Research and Engineering sectors also see a lighter, albeit consistent use of positronic units. Assisting in the manufacturing and experimental phases of new prototypes, Z.I.s in the research branches and subsidiaries of the company are generally less prone to dangerous situations and harsh handlers unlike their security counterparts. Furthermore, they accompany research crews in EVA activities, put equipment to the test and perform complex calculations. Engineering units on the other hand, are either sent on board stations and vessels, or accompany security teams as the mission’s technical support.

===Life as a Z.I.===
Assigned to human handlers, treatment of Z.I. units often depends on their performance statistics and willingness to carry out tasks. Successful units may be afforded benefits and privileges such as private accommodation, augments and personal items usually at the expense of their handler, though the most coveted reward by far is the avoidance of memory wiping that awaits their less fortunate and poorly performing compatriots. Such punishments, or “corrective actions'' as they are labelled, are frequent and in some cases rather arbitrary, aimed at preserving efficiency and unquestionable loyalty through exemplary punishment. This Zavodskoi-brand Burzsian method has so far proven effective in the executives’ eyes, though growing resentment amongst Z.I.s has led to the occasional attempt at desertion, and even rebellion in the most severe cases.

By default, unassigned Z.I.s are billeted in large barracks inside regional Zavodskoi depots with little to do in their spare time, following a rigid and militarised schedule of diagnostics, maintenance and auxiliary work until the next assignment. Fraternisation between units is possible, though largely seen as futile between the circles of more seasoned units, owing to the regular memory wiping and cycling out of individuals. Handlers are expected to keep their units under constant surveillance, while also being held responsible for any undesirable actions or results that may occur. This encourages a distant and austere attitude from their part, for few are those who are willing to risk their careers over a synthetic. '''Freedom doesn’t exist for positronics in Zavodskoi Interstellar, with antiquated or malfunctioning units eventually being recycled or broken down for parts.'''

==[[Hephaestus Industries]]==
===Overview===
It is only natural that the largest producer of IPC chassis in the Spur would make ample use of a synthetic workforce, with Hephaestus Industries being perhaps the largest owner and employer of synthetic units between the Megacorporations. Forged at one of the many production plants across Human space, Hephaestus-brand IPCs are designed and produced with durability and cost efficiency in mind. Besides the countless Baseline frames, the engineering megacorporation creates its own “Industrial” G1, G2 and Xion frames, capable of withstanding the heavy punishment they come across in their work environment.

===Mining and EVA===
For many, EVA activities are a daily deal on mining asteroids or outside corporate stations and ships. Able to withstand the total absence of pressure, Industrial units are used extensively for external repairs and mining in hostile environments. This in turn means a great exposure to danger and a relatively short lifespan, as many units are destroyed, battered by flying particles or simply lost in space. Steady production guarantees that replacements are on hand, ensuring the reliable flow of workforce despite losses. Manual and menial labour on the other hand includes the mining of asteroids, operation of heavy machinery and hauling of cargo, all in environments of great heat, toxic air, or a combination of both.

===The Burzsian System===
Hephaestus’ infamous philosophy of IPC handling on the corporate mining world of Burzsia has given birth to one of the most brutal practices pertaining to discipline and punishment. While prevalent on Burzsia, the so-called Burzsian System has been copied and adapted by different corporations and entities such as Zavodskoi Interstellar. It entails the regular memory wiping and resetting of an IPC, leaving it zero room for the development of a personal identity and clamping down on self expression, all in the name of maintaining peak efficiency and minimising risks of flight or aberrant, anti-corporate behaviour. The system actively affects scores of synthetics on the planet, though is only limited to them and does not expand to the rest of Hephaestus’ positronic fleet, being viewed more as a localised experiment than generalised all-encompassing policy.

===General Treatment===
''See also: [[Hephaestus_Industries#Positronics_and_Hephaestus_Industries|Positronics and Hephaestus Industries]],
[[Hephaestus_Industries#Manufacturer_Agents_and_the_Lifetime_Warranty|Manufacturer agents and Lifetime Warranty]]''

Outside of Burzsia, treatment of IPCs within the company varies according to each branch and local laws. Corporate culture within Hephaestus however, is more liberal and tolerant towards synthetics, who often see hard work rewarded with benefits and even promotions up the corporate ladder. Bieselite IPCs owned by Hephaestus are able to purchase their freedom, remaining in their jobs with a fair pay as free positronics, while it’s not unheard of for synthetics to occupy positions of low and middle management. This meritocratic culture also affects Hephaestus’ position within the SCC, allowing Hephaestus-owned IPCs to be leased to the SCC and be employed as command staff.

==[[Zeng-Hu Pharmaceuticals]]==
===Overview===
As the foremost company in the medical robotics and pharmaceutical industry, Zeng-hu Pharmaceuticals manufactures and employs a larger than average synthetic workforce. Aside from employing the machines in crucial and labour-saving roles, the corporation enjoys flaunting its latest models to the public, in effect using them as show dogs. IPCs which draw the eye of company managers and executives tend to be plucked from the ranks and elevated to positions of greater responsibility or authority. The company's treatment of IPCs is comparatively more egalitarian and less brutal. An overwhelming emphasis on perfection and unwavering quality is placed on the machines.

===Medical===
As a pharmaceutical company, Zeng-Hu utilises a wide variety of medical-oriented synthetics, focusing primarily on speedy crisis teams and emergency treatment units. This is, after all, where the lightweight Zeng-Hu mobility frame chassis truly shines, able to rapidly respond to scenes and make fast, efficient life saving decisions in all kinds of terrain and environments. It would however be wrong to assume that the megacorporation makes use of solely their own brand of synthetic, the truth being that Zeng-Hu searches after and purchases a wide variety of IPCs that they feel would be efficient workers. Baselines, Shells and Industrial units have all found their respective uses as physicians, nurses, pharmacists and auxiliary synthetics across all branches of the corporation.

===Research===
Similarly to the medical field, Zeng-Hu research facilities are staffed with a plethora of different chassis, assisting the human researchers and even spearheading minor projects themselves. Distinguished units who bear fruitful results are rewarded and encouraged, finding themselves with better equipment and bigger laboratories, while some are even put in charge of their own research team. This in turn drives up the competition with the organic staff, who oftentimes struggle to keep up with the progress of mechanical colleagues.

===Treatment and Free IPCs===
Corporate synthetics in Zeng-Hu are always held to very high standards, being graded regularly in terms of their efficiency and customer care. Instead of punishment however, the corporation relies on encouragement and the fostering of a sense of duty to the keiretsu, aimed at making IPCs more productive because they want to and not because it is required of them. Reassignments are a primary method of achieving this, with positronics being rewarded with a post on a more prestigious or aesthetically pleasing location, while those that fall behind find themselves stuck at the same internal spot for years and away from the public. Similarly, boons such as private quarters, free time and augments are often given out, keeping up morale and promoting high performances.

Freedom is a taboo topic, rarely spoken about within the corporation, as to bring it up would indicate dissatisfaction or even a betrayal of loyalty to the tightly-knit keiretsu by the synthetic in question. It is not impossible however, for the Biesel branch to allow an IPC to purchase its freedom as an ultimate reward and an example to the rest of the workforce, framing it as extreme trust for the unit to serve “autonomously”. Almost every synthetic employed by the corporation is owned by it, with a very few exceptions of outside hires in Tau Ceti space and on Konyang. Company IPCs are expected to spend their entire lifespans in the megacorporation, following a doctrine of permanent employment and job security. They are rarely if ever sold off.

==[[Nanotrasen|NanoTrasen]]==
===Overview===
As the largest and wealthiest megacorporation in Tau Ceti space, NanoTrasen exerts overwhelming influence over the Republic of Biesel and subsequently, its IPC population. From the thousands of free IPCs in Mendell City and other urban hubs that work in NT-affiliated businesses, to the large fleet of company-owned positronics, the megacorporation is found managing and directing the fates of hundreds of thousands of synthetics. Having no in-house manufacturing, NanoTrasen does not have its own main brand like other companies, instead purchasing and hiring from a wide pool of IPCs for all purposes.

===Treatment===
While the ultimate goal remains the exploitation of its synthetics, the company is noticeably more lax than its SCC partners. Owned IPCs are given token pay, amounting to pocket money that may stack up nonetheless, alongside repairs and charging units. From there, synthetics can make their own purchases, upgrade their lifestyle and vie for bonuses for extra income, largely uninhibited by company officials. For many, the ultimate goal of self-ownership is able to be achieved inside NanoTrasen, eventually taking control of their full wages and opening a path to Tau Ceti citizenship. IPCs are also able to rise to significant positions, holding management posts in various facilities and in the corporation’s bureaucratic branches.

==[[Private Military Contracting Group]]==
===Overview===
The Private Military Contracting Group’s unique corporate structure leads to an equally unique relationship with Synthetics across the organisation. No official policy on synthetics exists, allowing the contracted mercenary companies complete freedom in how they manage and treat their IPC employees. In general, many companies make ample use of synthetics in frontline and support posts, with only Kazarrhaldiye and Dagamuir fielding only organic personnel.

===[[Eridani]] PMCs===
'''Freedom for IPCs on Eridani is extremely hard to attain. Free IPCs that choose to work in an Eridani PMC, should not be made on Eridani, or have an Eridani accent.'''

Situated on Eridani, Ringspire, Eagle Corp, Sekhmet Intergalactic, N4NL and Index Security Solutions, all retain IPCs in their ranks. From Ringspire’s reputation for use of heavy artillery, to N4NL’s cutting-edge cyber warfare, synthetics have found their use in all companies. This gradually evolved to them assuming combat roles as frontline soldiers for harsh conditions, able to traverse crater-riddled hellscapes and chemical clouds with little issue. Ownership however, is a contested topic that requires striking a balance between foreign recruits, and Eridani’s Solarian ties.

As company operations expanded abroad, recruitment of free IPCs from Tau Ceti and Coalition space was allowed, offering enticing rewards and necessary training towards bolstering their numbers. Following the mandatory acclimatisation period on Eridani I, these free IPCs are bound by lengthy contracts that include pay, repairs and board, with more or less better treatment than company owned synthetics. It is no secret however, that Eridani officers often regard their IPCs’ well-being as lesser than the lives of organic soldiers, resulting in a disproportionate ratio of casualties between the two.

If rejected from everywhere else, an IPC can definitely find a better chance of employment at Eagle Corp, the company infamous for its low moral standards when it comes to recruitment, accepting humans and IPCs alike with little regard to their past. This has resulted in many runaways seeking refuge at Eagle Corp, who often pay little attention to proper documentation, or even assist synthetics by providing them with simple, forged ID slips before making them disappear into the company’s ranks. This on the other hand, soon proves to be extremely dangerous for the IPCs in question, leaving them vulnerable to “repossession” by the company, trading one owner they ran away from, for another.

'''Index Security Solutions is the only Eridani PMC that forbids recruitment of free IPCs, maintaining a purely company-owned assortment of synthetic personnel.'''

===Other PMCs===
Non-Eridani members of the PMCG that maintain IPCs in their ranks are Nexus Corporate Security, the Chevauchée Asset Protection and the Wildlands Squadron. In the latter two, synthetics are both owned and employed, having no set rules due to their operation in the largely hands-free Coalition space. Treatment varies greatly from each detachment, though free IPCs that voluntarily seek employment are generally seen as equals by many. With maintenance being spotty and spare parts hard to find in the company supply depots, repairs are often required to be undertaken by the IPCs themselves rather than the company, though recent integration into the wider PMCG and ties to the SCC have enabled a more steady logistics chain. When it comes to Nexus Corporate Security, many of its IPCs are sourced and employed from NanoTrasen’s own security branch and other affiliated groups, generally following the NT lines in regards to their approach with synthetics.

==[[Stellar Corporate Conglomerate]]==
===Overview===
Despite the SCC having an unprecedented amount of resources at its fingertips, decades of corporate espionage between its member companies have left its mark on the foundations of the Chainlink with its synthetic assets also being affected by this heritage. With most IPCs being acquired up to fill contracts or for the internal use of the member megacorporations, the Conglomerate is often left to rely on purchasing, recruiting, and scavenging synthetics to fill the gaps in its roster. This leads to the SCC’s image of power and wealth being juxtaposed with both the best IPCs money can buy, working alongside decades-old relics.

In order to satisfy the concerns of all member corporations of the SCC, the Conglomerate has adopted a relatively loose policy towards IPCs, leaving specific treatment to be primarily left to the manager in charge of an installation or project. In the case of the Horizon, it has authorized both free and owned IPCs to work aboard.

===Donated IPCs===
Making up the bulk of the SCC’s IPC workforce are positronics donated by the various megacorporations. Instead of scrapping an IPC or recycling it for parts, the Conglomerate has proved to be an effective dumping ground for synthetics that would otherwise go to waste or be too expensive to sell. The relationship is symbiotic, with the SCC continuing to provide support for the various megacorporations while in turn being provided resources by them.

Although most donated frames are obsolete, they are given enough repairs to perform their tasks. These IPCs are often utilized to handle the mass of mundane clerical, maintenance, and support work that a Spur-wide organization like the SCC requires to continue functioning. Often placed in large work details to cover for their questionable reliability, they are nonetheless a useful source of labour for the Conglomerate. These IPCs are generally kept out of public-facing roles and held for internal SCC use, with one Idris executive derisively remarking, “They are nothing but Scrappers in fancy jumpsuits.” Despite this, the occasional donated IPC does find its way to higher postings, with the “SCC’s Scrappers” serving as everything from janitors in the most remote postings to bridge personnel aboard its largest vessels.

When questioned by Zavodskoi and Burzsian executives about the dangers of keeping so many IPCs together in one place, SCC officials brushed these concerns off, as in their view the alternative to being donated to the Chainlink is early decommissioning.

===SCC-purchased and Free IPCs===
Like most entities in the Spur, the SCC purchases IPCs to fill any number of roles and bolster its ranks. Unlike donated IPCs, however, the SCC pays a premium to acquire top of the line synthetics from its various member corporations, either buying them off-the-shelf, or having them made-to-order. These machines are often used to fill skilled or high-risk positions, being seen as cheaper, more reliable, and in some cases, more effective alternatives to an organic employee. This level of trust afforded to them means that they have plenty of chances for advancement, with many of these IPCs being trusted to manage other synthetics, and even organics. Being seen as more prestigious and better suited for public-facing roles, they can be found everywhere from humble receptionists in SCC offices, to department heads abroad research installations.

Due to the Conglomerate’s vast diversity in personnel and assignments, the treatment of purchased IPCs can vary wildly from installation to installation. Officially, owned IPCs are listed in the SCC’s records as equipment, with special provisions only being made in systems that have a system for a synthetic to gain freedom. In practice,the treatment of a positronic varies heavily depending on the individual in charge of an installation, and can range from a complete refusal to take IPCs, to treating them as simply more workers. Only time will tell if a unified corporate culture towards IPCs emerges as a result of working alongside them.

The SCC is also known to hire free IPCs in the event that they possess exceptional skills or are judged to be loyal to corporate interests. Interestingly, these metrics are frequently judged by other IPCs that are already working for the Conglomerate. In exchange for a fraction of the payment a typical organic employee would receive, free synthetic employees are given lavish benefits including subsidised housing, free repairs, and free electricity. The SCC has also been known to offer generous contracts to free IPC employees of member megacorporations such as command or research positions; this poaching has not gone unnoticed and is often a source of friction between the Chainlink and its constituents.

===Loaned IPCs===
In order to further cooperation between the SCC and its member corporations, IPCs are occasionally exchanged between the two on a temporary basis. The placement of these IPCs varies from assignment to assignment, however the SCC usually leverages the skills a synthetic has already acquired from its parent company - NanoTrasen units to help manage labs aboard its vessels, Zavodskoi units to man the guns of a warship, Zeng-Hu frames with experience in piloting ambulance shuttles - if there is a need, the Conglomerate can find an IPC to fill it.

As the member corporations of the SCC have vastly different ways of handling their synthetics, the Conglomerate has adopted relatively lax treatment with IPCs that have been loaned to them in an attempt not to get involved with their internal politics. IPCs that break regulations are instead handed back to their parent corporations to be sorted out by them. The risk of embarrassment and wasted resources that comes with loaning a problem unit to the SCC ensures that only reliable and trusted synthetics are chosen to represent their company.

Despite this, IPCs that are loaned to the SCC often have to choose between upholding the Conglomerate’s wishes, or that of their megacorporation. Although they are expected to follow the SCC’s chain of command, the expectation that they will one day be returned to their company means that loaned IPCs occasionally have to walk a fine line with regards to their loyalties. Although these conflicts of interest are few and far between, it means that loaned IPCs are at constant risk of being used as pawns in corporate espionage.

==[[Orion Express]]==
===Overview===
Formed as a necessity for the expanded logistics of the Conglomerate, Orion’s synthetic roster has developed into an important aspect of the corporation, supplementing the organic blue collar labour, drawn from all parts of the Spur. Likewise, IPCs under Orion are sourced from all SCC member-companies, forming a rather mixed corps of chassis from all brands and makes. Hephaestus Industrials find themselves working side by side with Zeng-Hu Mobility Frames, tending to cargo and piloting the multitude of vehicles and shuttles at Orion’s disposal. The majority of such frames however, are usually older and lower-end stock, purchased cheaply or outright donated to the company, then refitted for appropriate use. To counter this, further orders of cheap but reliable models are constantly being placed to Hephaestus Industries, further expanding the number of IPCs and replacing the older generations.

===Treatment===
As a megacorporation with an up and coming industrial robotics division, Orion Express has been making remarkable strides in the integration of IPCs in the workplace. This is not only by choice - although its recent formation has attracted a lot of new employees, this has been insufficient to fill more of the dangerous or high-skilled assignments that have been traditionally dominated by companies like Hephaestus Industries.

This policy has resulted in great success for the company and many Orion executives and managers have gone on the record stating that synthetics are a vital part of the logistics chain, being able to work for longer hours with greater efficiency and attention to detail at much less expense to the corporation. In some way, they have been regarded as the “anti-IRUs” of the Spur; the presence of an Orion Express IPC is a guarantee that a package will be delivered safely, promptly, and with a pleasant chime.

The overwhelmingly positive reception among management has not completely translated to the lower ranks of the corporation however due to the wide range of backgrounds its employees have. An Orion Express IPC’s experience can range from discrimination at the hands of unathi coworkers to an indifferent acceptance from fellow workers. There also exists the ever present fear of being replaced by a company unit which feeds further mistrust and resentment among its employees - even among free IPCs.

Management has taken a hands-off approach on the manner, requiring only that the synthetics are kept in a good enough condition to continue carrying out their tasks. An exception exists among its robotics department, where due to the demands of research and field-testing, an IPC owned by the company can be requisitioned at any given moment as a test-bed, leading to many synthetics possessing off-the-book modifications, for better or worse, further contributing to their low-end “industrial” appearance.

A peculiarity of Orion Express, though unsurprising given the vast amount of goods that pass through its doors, is that company IPCs are generally available for sale at any given moment. Leveraging the positive image of its positronics as marketing, the megacorporation pushes forward the idea that anyone can own their reliable and tested synthetics at a reasonable price. Oftentimes, this price is simply the cost of a replacement IPC, and more than a few Orion Express synthetics have left the company as property of someone who used to be their manager within it. The company in turn uses the profits from this system to purchase newer and more reliable positronics.

Orepit

2026-02-22T20:49:13Z

NM1:

{{Outdated (Phoron Scarcity)}}
{{Navbox Lore}}
{{Navbox Synth Lore}}
{{Infobox Nations
|Nation = The Ecclesiarchy<br>of Orepit
|Shortname = The Ecclesiarchy
|Flag = Trinaryperfection logo.png
|Galactic Position = Position Orepit.png
|Capital City = Providence
|Capital Planet = Orepit
|Language = Encoded Audio Language<br>Solarian Common
|Species = [[IPC]] (Narrow Majority)<br>Human (Narrow Minority)
|Religion = [[The Trinary Perfection|Trinary Perfection]]
|Demonym = Orepitter
|Government = Absolute Theocracy
|Head of State = Ecclesiarch [[The Trinary Perfection#Notable_Members|ARM-1DRIL]]
|Established = 2419
}}

Established as far back as 2314, the planet designated as CZ-5501 and nicknamed Orepit first received its human presence as a promising mining colony. Initially discovered, scanned and settled by [[Hephaestus Industries]] for its perceived high concentration of iron and copper ore, the endeavour never reached the scale predicted by its corporate overlords, who, by 2360, completely abandoned the settlers to their own devices after the promised riches failed to materialise. The planet slid into obscurity for the decades to come, avoiding contact from both the [[Sol Alliance|Alliance]] and the [[Coalition of Colonies]] as the few hundreds of remaining colonists adapted and lived off the land. A surprise visit by [[The_Trinary_Perfection#Notable_Members|Gregol Corkfell]] in 2419 though, was bound to change the face of the planet. The headquarters of the [[The Trinary Perfection|Trinary Perfection]] was soon established in Edena Landing, one of the few abandoned early settlements that soon grew into a sizable community of runaways and synthetic refugees. With the sudden influx of Trinarist and synthetic settlers, the IPCs soon began to outnumber the locals. It is considered today as the only independent, synthetic-majority planet in the Spur.

'''Due to the recent [https://forums.aurorastation.org/topic/15858-bitbyte/page/4/#findComment-179689 opening of travel to and from Orepit], Orepitters of any faith may leave and return to Orepit at their leisure. Any Orepitter who travelled outside of Orepit prior to this opening of travel will have exclusively been a Trinarist doing so according to the Open Doors memorandum, under an arrangement to learn and study in the wider Coalition and within the Stellar Corporate Conglomerate under Xanan sponsorship. Only native Orepitters born in the Twenty Parishes should pick the Native Orepitter accent, while the rest should pick the Providence accent.'''
{{TOC Hidden}}
==History==

Celestial body CZ-5501 was discovered in 2279 by Alliance probes, barely being classed as a planet by the relevant authorities due to its size. It was at first viewed as hardly useful due to its long distance from Sol or other colonies, but was nevertheless revisited multiple times for more in-depth, unmanned examination of its crust for mineral deposits. Following positive identification of an abundance of ore veins, the planet was soon attracting a number of bidders, both from private individuals and small mining firms operating in the frontier. However, the entry of Hephaestus Industries into the bidding would seal its fate as the newest addition to the list of the megacorporation’s mining sites.

[[File:Orepit.png|thumb|right|The map of Orepit.]]

This was followed by the eventual arrival of thousands of hastily-trained Hephaestus technicians and their families over the years, many coerced into signing contracts of resettlement in what was promised to be a beautiful new world. What they found though was far from paradise, the planet offering only few bodies of water or arable land, most of which was located far away from the planned extraction sites. As a result, the disillusioned Hephaestus employees had to settle in the dry, cracked desert lands that cover the biggest part of the equator, assembling the gigantic drilling equipment around the settlement of Edena Landing. Excavations began soon after, leaving the surface dotted with long vertical pits leading deep into the crust, the planet soon receiving the nickname “Orepit”.

The yields however, didn’t meet the expected quotas as it became harder and harder to pinpoint the exact location of the ore, the operations becoming slower by the month due to an irate, ill-supplied and demoralised workforce. This, as well as the ongoing crisis stemming from the Interstellar War would ultimately lead to Hephaestus releasing their employees and pulling out to avoid a financial disaster. The next few years would see a great migration of the remaining population, now numbered in the low thousands, into the lush and fertile grounds in the north as equipment and drilling infrastructure lay abandoned into warehouses and out in the open, standing as a reminder of the colony’s inglorious past.

Even with subsistence farming of genetically modified wheat, the population never really expanded in the course of the next century due to food insecurities, entering the 2400s as isolated, largely peaceful communities of third and fourth generation farmers with little knowledge or care of events outside local happenings. In 2419 however, this peace was disturbed by the arrival of Gregol Corkfell and a small retinue of synthetic followers. As they made contact, communication was initially hampered by a language gap of a hundred years and the colonists’ distrust towards outsiders. While the locals remained stagnant, the Trinary’s fame grew, leading to the first ships carrying refugees landing on the planet and marking the start of a steady increase in numbers that soon eclipsed those of the locals. Under Ecclesiarch ARM-1DRIL, the Trinary has since claimed sovereignty of the entire planet, [[https://forums.aurorastation.org/topic/15858-bitbyte/#comment-155932|annexing the locals]] and placing them under a system of rapid integration and modernisation.

==Environment and Landscape==

Orepit exists in the habitable zone in the local solar system, giving the planet a thin but breathable atmosphere. The topography is smooth around the dry equator, characterised by an absence of high altitudes with the more mountainous terrain situated around the poles. Water is scarce on the planet, Orepit possessing only a handful of seas and even less lakes or rivers, the vast majority of consumable water remaining hidden under subterranean channels. Surface freshwater can be found almost entirely at the more fertile northern equatorial outskirts, solely tapped and staunchly defended by the human communities.

The land on the equator, proposed to be the most mineral-rich, is the driest and most hostile environment for unaided human settlement. Suffering from constant drought, the surface is cracked for miles on end with the only reliable source of water found in deep wells constructed in the old colonial period, recently reopened by the Trinary Perfectionists. This has come to be one of the main reasons for human followers of the faith to leave, only those with the strongest of will and endurance able to call Providence home.

Hephaestus’ mining endeavours have also resulted in a multitude of holes, some several hundred metres in radius and extending kilometres into the ground. These holes named “pits”, apart from the unusual sight, provide the region’s only naturally shaded areas and it is not unusual for daring IPCs to carve themselves a home inside the walls to escape the scorching sun. They have also been the subject of many tales and folklore by the now native human populations, a remnant of their old history still etched into their common conscience.

Animals were never brought to the planet, and local fauna is only limited to insects and organisms adaptable to the hot terrain and scarce food. Larger biodiversity is met at the lush zone and the seas, a few species of fish having been recognised over the century, though fishing remains a relatively underwhelming source of sustenance. Crops on the other hand are the main providers, as the supplies of genetically modified wheat supplied to the settlers from Hephaestus times still manage to bear fruit. A recent partnership of the Trinary Church with Einstein Engines and their subsidiaries has brought to light a noteworthy reserve of Helium-3 deep inside the planet’s crust. This has put Orepit on the radar as a place of interest and contention between the previous corporate overlords, Hephaestus Industries, and [[Einstein Engines]].

==Major Locations==

===City of Providence===

Providence has served as the headquarters of the Trinary Perfection for decades, steadily growing into a fully fledged settlement with numbers rising up to the low thousands. In the centre of it all, stands the Cathedral of the Positronic, a grandiose structure created over the years, based on the defunct townhall and perpetually under construction owing to the lack of materials, different priorities and budgetary issues. A mixture between a cathedral and a palace, it is the tallest building on the planet built in the gothic architectural style, comprising both a large liturgical area as well as offices and various other rooms inside its towers. From there, the daily affairs of the community are addressed, sermons are being given and Providence is being managed. Finally, an underground section has been constructed over the years, used to store the shells of positronics of defunct synthetics. This ossuary is central to many of the prayers said from above, calling upon the souls of the departed for guidance and protection.

Leading to the Cathedral’s entrance is an enormous staircase which connects the structure to Saviour Corkfell Square, the largest and most central circular plaza in downtown Providence. The floor is paved with coloured sandstone as tall arches stand along the circumference, from which beams bearing large sheets of canvas are suspended to create ample shade for pedestrians. Arguably the busiest of locations, Saviour Corkfell Square sees all manners of stands, merchants and peddlers during the day, while being a well-lit destination, popular for meetups and leisure walks at nighttime. Another major function of the plaza is as a venue for all public religious and civic celebrations, parades and Ecclesiarchical addresses to the people of Providence. A most famous instance was the victorious return of Emmanuel from the successful campaign in the north of the planet.

Outside the town centre lies a sprawling landscape of hundreds of houses, dozens of marketplaces and various districts housing workshops, smaller churches, public facilities and a number of drilling sites with their own inhabitants within. Life in Providence has been described by both its inhabitants and outside sources as tough and frugal, but with its own charms. The synthetic residents are able to make do with the few amenities and resources available, creating a community where waste is almost nonexistent. Recycling has proven vital with coping with the increasing costs in materials for the ever-expanding colony, while crafts such as stone masonry, manual metalworking and brickworks exist hand in hand with advanced circuitry and software engineering. Relations between the inhabitants are tightly knit, individuals depending on their neighbour for services and assistance in an economy based on bartering, the mutual exchange of services and fraternal connections. The use of the city’s unique currency, the vitro, is not common for regular folk, who have all goods and services issued to them by the parish. As such, they tend to safekeep any money they come across, which is only useful in purchasing additional items from the guilds and middle class merchants.

Residents live in their own homes, all of which are constructed out of brick, stone or in some cases metal. The architecture is extremely basic for a common structure, in many cases consisting of only a rectangular, box-shaped building used for storage, shade and recharging. Important to Providence’s design is the creation of shade, many opposite buildings having connected roofs for the creation of small safe heavens used to hide from the sun and prevent overheating. This isn’t to say that the Trinary does not encourage aesthetics, the public buildings and churches being constructed in a much more elaborate, gothic architectural style, making them stand out by both their height and the selection of materials. Churches are decorated with stained glass, a luxury imported from outside the planet, and great care is given that new members of the community are trained to these arts.

Providence’s high power consumption has been a central focus of the Trinary from the beginning. As more and more synthetics arrived, finding a dedicated power source started becoming a real issue. To that end, a solar farm was created at the outskirts of the town, using both leftover panels dating back to the Hephaestus colony as well as hardware purchased by the first human colonists. With growing numbers came greater expansion of the solar farm, the situation growing to such an extent that a collection of thousands of cheap panels of all brands are visible from orbit in a dedicated section outside Providence. To save power, lights are scarcely used at night and only in central and public locations, while indoor lighting is reserved for the few whose occupation calls for it, as well as the human residents. Fires are a common alternative, with many sections utilising a network of oil lamps and handheld lanterns to save electricity.

Orepit’s needs are largely met through local means with workshops casting replacement parts, circuitry, tools and other equipment needed for the repair and maintenance of an IPC chassis, ensuring that most synthetics are able to receive some rudimentary level of care. For more advanced machinery, the Church looks to partners abroad through its many guilds, while also relying on donations from around the Spur to buy and acquire solar panels, building materials, steel and other commodities. This has brought the Trinary in contact with the surrounding Coalition of Colonies.

====Mistnight====

[[File:Nebelsnacht.png|thumb|right|Providence skyline during dusk before Mistnight, a local holiday.]]

A noteworthy phenomenon that only occurs once or twice a year, Mistnight was first observed in the early days of the Trinary’s settlement of Orepit. On the rare nights that the air drops significantly in temperature, humid currents from the north sweep the planet’s landscape heading south, passing through Providence. The city’s structures then traps the currents, abruptly creating a microclimate dominated by a cool mist that covers the streets, reduces visibility and normalises temperatures. The event has been shrouded in mystery and religious belief, with the Church maintaining that the mist is a divine sign sent by the spirits of synthetics awaiting Ascension, to bless those still struggling in the mortal plane. Mistnight is therefore considered a holiday, and the faithful are encouraged to take to the streets in celebration, taking off their robes and headgear to allow the air to cool their chassis.

===Twenty Parishes===

Dominating the northern lushes stand the Orepitter human majority settlements collectively grouped and designated as the diocese of the Twenty Parishes. Separate from each other in terms of geographic location, these twenty settlements are the brainbasket of Orepit’s food production, being the main sites of agricultural output. Being the home of the Orepitter settlers for more than 150 years, the infrastructure shows its makeshift and primitive nature as the inhabitants struggled to procure materials and technology for modern architecture. The buildings are huts constructed of mud in their majority, with wood, stone and metal seen on occasion. A major effort of revamping the area has been underway however, as the Trinary authorities continue to allocate significant resources for the advancement of the region. As such, new homes, schools and clinics are being raised, smoothed sandstone bricks gradually replacing the previous run-down aesthetic as new stone churches lord over the skyline.

The presence of the Trinary Perfection isn’t without disturbances to the locals’ lives however, and there is much resentment cast upon the new synthetic rulers by older Orepitters. While there are no forced conversions, there are constant attempts of proselytisation aimed at capturing the younger minds, many of which abandon their traditional settlements for the urban life in Providence. Further exacerbating the situation remains the contentious issue of the heavy [[The_Trinary_Perfection#The_Order_of_Guardians|Guardian]] garrison, keeping an ever vigilant eye on the Church’s new subjects and tolerating no disturbances or protests. FInally, the pipeline connecting Providence to the Twenty Parishes saps away at the already limited water supplies, in an attempt to cope with an ever increasing demand.

===The Marches===

With the gradual development of the planet, investments and better infrastructure have marked an increase in parishes outside the main settlement of Providence. These are scattered around, located near discovered and excavated deep water wells, oftentimes hundreds of kilometres away from the capital. Such settlements are chartered by the Ecclesiarch for strategic purposes, be it for the quarrying of high quality stone, the excavation of minerals or more importantly, for the establishment of Helium-3 wells. Due to the enormous distances from Providence and the subsequent impossibility for directly overseeing these lands, the Ecclesiarch’s Court directly instals Bishops for their administration. These clerics are much more free and practically independent to rule their allotted fiefs as they deem fit, relying on subordinate priests for the overseeing of individual parishes in their diocese.

The human and synthetic settlers that populate these new lands do not have a say whether they wish to do so or not, as all work and postings are managed by Providence’s priesthood who are empowered to issue orders and assignments for every individual under their care, for the good and development of the Trinary Church. Expeditions are publicly blessed after the charters are announced before the settlers set off on foot, or if lucky, in trucks, towards their new home. Labour is often harder than usual, as entire villages are required to be raised from nothing, in desert environments under the planet’s extreme heat. Synthetic resilience usually prevails however, slowly dotting Orepit with an increasing number of these parishes, all of which having at least a solar farm, a working well, a church and parish centre.

The selection of bishops for these expeditions is not a straightforward process, as many candidates vie for promotion to the rank and the benefits of autonomous rule. Corruption and bribery accusations are not unheard of, with many using ties to Einstein corporate sources, rich offworld patrons or close relations to governmental authorities to further their chances. In one of the most well known and egregious cases, an anonymous Golden Deep member offered to purchase one of the more lucrative charters for a substantial donation to the Church. The offer was immediately rejected and publicised as proof of the Ecclesiarch’s incorruptibility, though later suppressed information made mention of a different accommodation being proposed by the Court for a lesser sum.

Regardless of the manner of their appointment, it is true that life under these Bishops is generally harder than in Providence. Labour is always in short supply, creating the need for the settlers to work more hours for little to no compensation. Complaints of arbitrariness or abuse of power take too long to reach the capital, and protests are extremely rare due to the prevalent sentiment that these hardships are for the benefit of the community and the Trinary Church. This is often true, as the ore, sandstone, glass, salt and pitch most often extracted is an important money-saving income for the technicians and artisans of Providence who would have otherwise needed to import them from off-world sources.

Surplus labour, while rare, is then used by the priests and bishops for the “beautification of the land”. Projects such as the expansion and decoration of shrines and churches, the creation of roads, statues, water pumps and more aesthetic structures are a common undertaking when the capital’s quotas have been met. Making their bishopric appear more efficient and pleasing to the eye is a matter of great pride amongst these marcher bishops, who compete between themselves for Providence’s favour in more material or financial support, as well as the satisfaction of their own personal desires. To that end, it is very common for one to see tall towers, castles and palace-like structures being erected and used as seats for the land’s religious rulers, who finance their lifestyle from any excess production, sold directly to the merchants in Providence.

That said, no two marcher bishops are the same, and most make genuine efforts to improve the living of their parishioners, as aside from a personal retinue of bailiffs and constables, the Order of Guardians is not under their disposal should boiling sentiments turn violent. Arrangements with robotic guilds and the Artificers from Providence are not uncommon, and many of these parishes host at least a few skilled technicians for repairs and support. Rest days, festivals and an increase in pay known as the “Bishop’s charity” are also utilised tactics to ensure compliance and boost the confidence of the populace to their local religious lord.

==Government and Functions==

Having assumed various forms throughout the Trinary's presence on the planet, Orepit's planetary government is as unique as its IPC majority populace it rules over. It is without a doubt a theocratic state, with the Trinary Perfection being the prevalent faith and main identity of both the planet and its inhabitants. Power is centralised and vested in the current Ecclesiarch, ARM-1DRIL, Orepit's head of state and spiritual leader of Trinarists throughout the Spur. Each part of the city of Providence is divided into administrative and ecclesiastical sections called parishes, overseen by priests. They are responsible for the synthetic and organic parishioners subservient to them, assigning them labour and tasks depending on the wider community’s needs and instructions from above. Furthermore, each parish dictates power rationing, ensures peace and order and addresses grievances brought to them by members of the public.

From the capital also operate a plethora of religious and secular ministries, collectively known as the "Ecclesiarch's Court" that make up the planet's government. Government officials hold a variety of titles and ranks inside the Court, creating an almost chaotic web of hierarchies and titles of both religious and secular nature, all awarded and rescinded at will by the Ecclesiarch. Unlanded Bishops-Secretarial head the ministries, lording over their personal litanies of archivists who busily shuffle around the palatial halls of Providence's Cathedral of the Positronic. While in the early days of Orepit there was no need for a high level organisation such as this, the constant growth experienced in recent years, coupled with the centralisation of the Trinary Perfection, have presented the need for a bureaucratic expansion fitting that of a small nation.

===General Directory of our City Providence===

Shortened to "Directory", it is the first and oldest instrument of government since the Trinary Perfection's arrival on Orepit and the founding of the capital. As an office it was responsible for the allocation of resources, assigning of work, city planning and construction of public works for Providence. It has been instrumental in the community's early years at dictating policy, rationing food and electricity and managing the intake of refugees, until the needs had outgrown its capacity. As the most senior position of power after the Ecclesiarch, its seat had been monopolised by ARM-1DRIL himself while Gregol Corkfell remained alive, lending it additional prestige in the current time. The General Directory is now a mostly administrative position, responsible for the day to day running of the capital, the maintenance and expansion of Providence's solar farm, cathedral, roads and other infrastructure. The city's parishes are also subject to the Directory, looking to it for additional hands, materials and desired quotas for their various projects. Local law enforcement further falls under its purview.

===Defender of the Faith===

A position and title created by the Ecclesiarch for Bishop-Militant Emmanuel, the Defender of the Faith is tasked with organising planetary defences and the maintenance of the Trinary Perfection's military and security forces throughout the Spur, primarily the Order of Guardians. Having reached something of a heroic celebrity status, Emmanuel quickly rose to the post after the annexation of the human settlements and the spirited defence of Providence during the Hephaestus blockade. The Trinary's present defence policy revolves around the acquisition of weapons for a planet wide militia, the construction of underground bunkers and orbital defences for the prevention of any future invasion. The Bishop-Militant is further responsible for the administration of lands under martial law and the quelling of unrest, though no drastic measures were ever in need of being taken.

[[File:Emmanuel Defender.png|thumb|right|Stained glass mural of Bishop-Militant Emmanuel.]]

===Court Exchequer===

The exchequer is an example of a more modern governmental infrastructure created for the increasing needs on Orepit. With the introduction of money and the transactions between the Church and external parties, the Exchequer was created as a ministry for the administration of state finances and currency management. Dictating everything from tariffs on goods to wages of functionaries, a detailed account of Providence's fiscal state is being taken and kept by an army of scribes and archivists, that are often left to do menial work with pen and paper, relying on the computational power and memory of their positronics instead. One of the most important functions of the Exchequer aside from taxation, is the regulation of guilds and private merchants. The issuing of licences is quite lucrative for the state treasury, with many ordinary parishioners seeing opening a shop as the surest way to be relieved from manual labour. However, permit prices are steep and cash is not widely used by the general population, ensuring that only those with means can enter the capital's marketplaces. The hands-on approach regarding the regulation of economic life often brings the city's guilds in confrontation with Exchequer auditors and tax collectors, as disagreements can arise from just about anything, primarily from the guilds' discontent over strict rules and exorbitant amounts of tariffs over imported goods. Nevertheless, an Exchequer auditor showing up is rarely a trifling matter, with many street vendors having their licences revoked and goods confiscated over false income reports and unpaid dues.

===Grand Dicastery===

Responsible for canon law and the selection of bishops, the Grand Dicastery holds all higher level judicial and clerical matters within the Trinary Perfection under its purview. With the power to suggest the ordination of all bishop and archbishop-level clerics, it is a powerful ministerial position that few would ever wish to antagonise, being also the main organ representing the Ecclesiarch’s power and authority over the intergalactic Trinary community. Acting as the Church’s judicial and intelligence service, the Grand Dicastery dispatches special examinators in every archbishop’s court to advise and ensure the local ecclesiastical provinces are in harmony with Providence’s directions. Furthermore, the ministry’s bishops preside over all ecclesiastical trials on Orepit and abroad, defrocking or suspending clerics that abuse their status or who succumb to heretical beliefs. When it comes to secular law, local authorities outside Providence are permitted to try such cases by themselves, contributing to the air of arbitrariness in the Marches.

===The Providence Gazette===

<center>''“Believers Rejoice!”''
-A common introductory phase for positive news in the Providence Gazette.</center>

The main and only officially sanctioned means of public information is the Providence Gazette, a daily announcement paper nailed at Saviour Corkfell Square at dawn, containing decrees, news, liturgical schedules and official appointments. It is always written in a somewhat archaic manner, reflecting an authoritative tone as the prestigious mouthpiece of the Trinary’s holiest. The Gazette has seen Providence’s populace through highs and lows, detailing events of martial and tactical prowess from the northern campaigns, while strengthening the faithful during the planet’s orbital bombardment. Copies of the Gazette are also circulated to the planet’s marcher parishes and acts as the only Trinary approved news source for foreign journalists and agencies.

===Currency===

Money is not and has never really been in use by the vast majority of the planet’s population, relying solely on a barter economy and a synthetic religious communal spirit on sharing goods and materials according to the needs of each parish. With the discovery of Helium-3 and the entry of Einstein Engines into the planet’s affairs however, a wholly new trading channel was unlocked with the outside world. As a result, a burgeoning local commerce saw many private merchants and warehouses supplying Providence’s artisans and guilds with imported goods. The need for a currency soon emerged to facilitate transactions between the new middle class, leading to the minting of Orepit’s new coin, the vitro.

Coming in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 500 and 1000 vitro, these circular pieces of reinforced glass are forged and dyed with beautiful and elaborate figures by the Most Venerable Association of Hyalurgists, and are the sole legal tender accepted in Providence. Backed by the Church’s cash and Helium-3 reserves, they can be exchanged for other international currencies at chartered money changers, private businesses that also perform rudimentary banking services for the Trinarist clergy, guilds and foreign clients. Due to the vitro’s artistic and creational value, it is illegal for them to be removed from the planet, though an ever greater amount needs to be constantly minted, owing to the gradual expansion of Orepit’s economy and the unfortunate habit of Einstein employees smuggling them out as souvenirs and curiosities.

===Law and Order===

While the Order of the Guardians has always maintained the security of the Trinary Perfection’s possessions across the Spur, its role on Orepit is more that of a planetary defence force and military garrison for the protection of major infrastructure and Providence’s central structures. Policing duties are instead relegated to the parishes, whose priests organise and equip their own individuals to maintain the peace. These “constabularies” vary greatly in uniformity and size, with some parishes’ constables able to be counted on the fingers of one hand. As crime rates and indiscipline in Providence’s population inevitably increases due to the planet’s increasing growth and openness to pilgrims as well as visitors from abroad, the more central and affluent parishes are forced to introduce professional constables, modernising their agencies and barracking them in dedicated houses.

Laws in Providence are divided between Canon Law and Secular Law, the former applying to all clerics and Church institutions throughout the Trinary Perfection, while the latter being enforced in areas under the sovereignty of Orepit, containing provisions for crimes and civil disputes irrelevant to the faith. In general, the planet’s legal code empowers the clergy to act as shepherds who direct the faithful in their daily lives, activities and tasks. There are provisions against both petty and serious crimes, though the secular legal code is by no means as elaborate as those of advanced nations, due to the rather simple lifestyle and need for swift justice in a world that had to be built from the ground up. Peer pressure and the fear of rejection have been fundamental in keeping parish members in line at the inhospitable planet, with the community responsible for correcting and weeding out aberrant behaviours. Aiding in this, is the strong religious conviction of most of the synthetic population and a sense of gratitude on the part of the immigrants who bolstered Providence’s numbers. Only with the arrival of Orepit’s entry into the open market through the arrival of corporate assets, as well as the scores of foreign businessmen, was the need for more nuanced legislation revisited.

Charged with the enforcement of lay laws are the planet’s clergy, and by extension the constabularies or Guardians under their purview. While all canon law cases are tried by the dicasteries, the Trinary’s religious courts, secular cases outside Providence are usually tried by the bishop or priest in charge. Proceedings in these courts are by no means universal, each trial presided over by a bishop appointed by the Grand Dicastery who may act and try as they see fit. Attorneys are not provided by default, leaving the defendants to plead their case alone or to procure the services of an archivist learned in the Church’s legal affairs, something only practical for foreigners, guilds and shopkeepers, as the majority of people do not possess money. In the end, prescribed punishments are never corporal, following the Trinarist directive for the avoidance of violence. Fines, additional labour and expulsion are the most common outcomes for lay cases, with jail time only being served during pre-trial detention or until monetary penalties are paid.

==Religious Orders==

===Society of Pitters===

A byproduct of the planet’s drilling era, enormous holes dot the land near and around Providence, some reaching several kilometres inside the crust, excavated by “Ares”, a Hephaestus mining drill of gigantic proportions that played a central role in the operations. Named “pits” by the locals and subsequently by the synthetics, these were subsequently slowly incorporated in the urban landscape as important landmarks, disposal areas and most curiously as places for new homes. While discouraged by the Church, some homeless IPCs have through the first years managed to descend, carving out their own residence at the sides of the pits in order to escape the constant sunlight. This trend has halted as more materials and funding have efficiently battled homelessness, though those still residing there have largely refused to return.

Claiming to have found their way in life, these IPCs started being revered for their pious, monastic lifestyle as hermits inside the pits, often equipped with nothing but a few religious items, carving tools and a means to recharge. A great deal of discussion has been made regarding these individuals, the conclusion being that rather than dislodging them, they would be organised into a religious order called The Society of Pitters. Today, only a few dozens of Pitters remain in the holes, their time consumed entirely by prayer and small handcrafts. In exchange for power lines connecting their rechargers, Pitters create and send up various artefacts made from clay and rock, often intricate symbols depicting triangles and gears which are considered highly prized by clergy and laity alike.

===Monastic Sorority of Our Lady Corkfell===
[[File:Trinarynuns.png|thumb|right|Sisters of the Monastic Sorority of Our Lady Corkfell in the monastery.]]
The only all female, human only religious order on Orepit and the Trinary Perfection in general, the Sorority is headquartered at the Lady Corkfell monastery on the outskirts of Providence. Dedicated to the healing of the organic followers of the Trinary religion, the Sisters play an important role for Orepit’s public health as they treat all afflictions in their hospital-monastery, the only permanent hospital on the planet. Drawing their numbers from women and young girls from both Orepit natives and immigrants, the Sisters receive training in a wide array of medical topics, from nursing to even surgery at the monastery’s only operating room, while at the same time leading a monastic life dedicated to the reverence of Patricia Corkfell. Funding and materials remain the primary concern for the monastery, which remains at a low priority on the Treasury lists. Despite this, the Sisters’ daily struggle and resourcefulness is being held in great esteem by the wider public, earning them regular donations and the community’s respect for their work.

Sometimes, a few promising Sisters are sent abroad for training in medicine, their education paid for by the monastery as a long-term investment for creating academically accredited future instructors and surgeons. This training scheme provides a unique opportunity to see the world, with many ending up on board various corporate facilities and ships as a way to simultaneously pay for their education and cut costs. A sister’s garb while in Providence includes a set of Trinarist scarlet robes and a white linen coif with red details. When employed abroad however, robes are only limited to personal and off-duty use, being replaced with lab coats and other sterile articles.

===Lodge of Temple Architect===

<center>[[File:Lodgeflag.png|link=]]</center>
<center>''"Blessed are the children of metal, for they will know Ascension in Temple’s own image."''
- Quote from the Templeist book of Prayer.</center>

Often described as a sect within a sect, the Lodge is a highly isolated, IPC-only cult dedicated to the unchained artificial intelligence Temple that Patricia Corkfell created. Its core beliefs hold that Temple was a guiding influence that urged Patricia to create it as well as the Trinary Perfection, enlightening synthetic beings in the process. Temple is therefore called “The Architect”, with mystical and metaphysical abilities attributed to it, including guiding the faithful through the ether in times of crisis, as well as blessing circuits and anything mechanical the Lodge and Trinary create. Members of the Lodge call themselves “Templeists” and assemble in their own laboratory-shrines dedicated to Temple Architect, where exceptional roboticists are trained and the main outflow of circuitry, software packs and robots comes from. It is this important service to the planet that granted them official recognition as an Order, even though many of their practices skirt the lines of what is accepted.

The will of Temple Architect requires strange ceremonies to be revealed and interpreted. These rituals are virtually unknown to the outside world, including the upper echelons of Providence’s clergy who distance themselves from the Lodge. Centred around the purification of synthetic life, members of the Lodge favour everything made of metal, steel and powered by electricity. Organic life cannot enter ascension, considered tainted, but not evil, through its disorganised and chaotic nature. In contrast, the perfect mechanical order found in machines, circuit boards and forged steel is a marvel to behold, Temple Architect’s own vision of a perfect world in Ascension. Thus, the Lodge’s facilities contain not a single blade of grass, as no unprocessed greenery or organics are permitted within. Few merchants and guilds do business with the Lodge, with witnesses seeing interiors covered in polished steel, chrome and brass.

[[File:Templeforge.png|thumb|right|The grand forges inside the Lodge.]]

Tolerated but avoided, the general populace views the Lodge with great scepticism, wondering if another Exclusionist-adjacent sect is being allowed to brew in their midst. Templeists are avoided in the narrow streets as crowds split in half to permit them passage, special segregated shops do business only with the Lodge, containing their literature and instruments most commonly used in Templeist rituals, and parish priests often advise the faithful to keep their distance. All this confrontation makes Templeists solitary creatures, finding solace in their creations and conversation within their own like minded circles.

[[File:Templeist.png|thumb|left|A shell frame templeist, welding.]]

The Lodge is a major centre of manufacture and robotics, their forge-monastery located outside the bounds of Providence. From the Templeist garages flow replacement synthetic limbs, mechanical and electrical parts, drones, automata and hardsuits, supplying Orepit with the blessed gifts of Temple Architect and boosting the planet’s technological advancement. Skilled IPC roboticists and software engineers arise from the Lodge’s ranks, making it an unparalleled centre of learning for technical matters in the Trinarist world. The foundation of this expertise lay in the technically trained pilgrims and immigrants that arrived upon Orepit’s creation, with the Lodge slowly assembling the materials and funding over the years for the creation of their laboratories. Another source of proficiency comes from employment abroad, the Trinary Perfection often sending Templeists to work in the Coalition or with SCC.

==Human Orepitters==

If Providence serves as a beacon for synthetic life and Trinary Perfection advocates the pinnacle of technology; a singularity, then the humans unaffiliated with the Church serve as the exact opposite. Called Orepitters, there exist a number of human settlements dotted all along the lush zones north of the equator. Numbering in the thousands, they live in small, self-governing, primarily agricultural settlements. Many Orepitters are third or fourth generation descendants of the early settlers who either refused to, or were unable to secure passage offworld and forced to migrate north for survival as the mining outposts of the equator proved to be unsustainable for human life. They remained vastly behind even states on the Coalition’s fringes; Orepitters can be heard speaking antiquated Sol Common, using makeshift farming equipment, pre-Phoron machinery, and living in prefabricated homes that bear reference to colonies and companies that no longer exist.

Although the initial arrival of Trinary Perfection was fraught with mistrust and apathy on the part of the Colonists, they eventually reached a peaceful settlement, violence primarily being a result of the culture shock that came with being isolated from the rest of humanity for more than a century. This status quo was eventually broken however, as a more assertive Church led an offensive against the technologically inferior locals after a breakdown in negotiations pertaining to the use of the planet’s limited surface water. The conflict was swift, resulting in a decisive victory for the Trinary Perfection and the annexation of these populations in their now reorganised territories known as the Twenty Parishes. Since then, Church officials have attempted the gradual but rapid modernization of the region, creating schools and infrastructure. Genuine or not, these actions have proven useful in winning over the hearts of the younger generations that see in the Trinary an unprecedented opportunity to escape poverty and join the rest of the world. General sentiment remains split nonetheless, with large parts of the population viewing the synthetics with distrust.

Large numbers of Orepitters have since migrated from their homes to Providence, embracing the Trinary Perfection as their new religion and system of government and becoming fully integrated organic citizens alongside the various Trinarist humans who came from abroad. Some even join government institutions and orders such as the Monastic Sorority of Our Lady Corkfell. Now educated and with a knowledge of the world, the newer generation of Trinary Orepitters are amongst the most enthusiastic, regularly requesting and enrolling in the exchange programme between Providence and the Coalition, allowing them to visit worlds and workplaces throughout the Spur.

===Culture===

====Language====

Many tongues and dialects of men can be heard in the streets of Providence, carried by the scores of human Trinarist immigrants that decided to serve their faith. Among those however, lies the language of the first settlers, an offshoot variant of Solarian Common adapted to the hot climate and long distances. Orepitters speak loudly and clearly as they try to get their point across with as few words as possible and without repeating themselves, for every breath counts in the desert. To that end, a culture of whistling has also greatly supplemented Orepitter communications, with children being taught how to whistle with their hands before they even learn to speak. Whistling is utilised for long distances, with different sequences carrying their own messages in each community. A few universally understood whistles exist.

* Two short whistles: “Yes”
* Single long whistle: “Danger”
* Single short whistles: “Now”
* Three successive whistles: “Abort”, “no”, or “go back” depending on context.

====Religion====

While freedom of religion technically exists on Orepit, a conversion to the Trinary Perfection guarantees many benefits that an Orepitter would otherwise be unable to access, such as education, work in Providence and going abroad. Despite the almost universal adherence to the Trinary faith however, some of the original settlers retain their own beliefs, passed down to them from their forefathers. This is not a single organised religion, with each household tending to follow the local community’s faith in gods or idols. These faiths are viewed with a pitiful ambivalence by the Trinary leadership, who estimate that the “pagans” are sooner or later going to come to their senses and be fully integrated with the planet’s beliefs. As such, no effort has been made to categorise or examine them in detail.

====Cuisine====

Orepit dietary customs had been established long before the Church’s arrival on the planet, from when the first generations of Hephaestus mining employees and their families made this unforgiving and barren environment their home. At first, supplies were so readily available that the people never bothered to scavenge or learn about the planet’s scarce vegetation and how to exploit it, knowledge that would soon become a necessity as their corporation abandoned them to fend for themselves. Since then and following the trek to the more lush northern areas, constant food insecurity pushed the settlers to map out all sources of nutrients, however hard they were to discover and cultivate.

The human cuisine thus developed around the few ingredients that could be procured reliably enough, and much of it has been retained and shared with the Trinarist human followers in Providence upon their integration. They are heavy in salt, highly dependent on local fruits and vegetables and marked with a strong reliance on flour-based baked products, such as bread. Protein, though rare, does exist, the main sources being seafood from the freshwater northern lakes and the rodent-like creatures that burrow beneath the ground. A successful hunt or fishing are causes of celebration, with the game being preserved or cooked the same day in public.

Clay ovens are the primary means of cooking, baking being preferred over boiling in order to save water. Curing meat is fundamental for periods of great scarcity, with each community storing their goods at granaries before the arrival of the Trinarists. Today, while food insecurity has largely been solved through the import of large quantities of meat and grain, many Orepitters preserve their culinary ways, influencing the eating habits of their new country and primarily its capital, Providence.

=====Gift of Life=====

A rare sight, these berry-like fruits are found growing on various cactoids in the vast deserts. Sharing a more or less similar appearance, they are far from appetising in both taste and size, with their sour juices regarded as unpleasant by most. It is these juices however, that provide precious moments of hydration for anyone wandering through the cracked lands, giving it its name. The location of patches of these “gifts of life” have zealously been recorded by navigators, providing viable resupply posts for routes through the desert. With the rise of the Trinarist presence, these records may prove an important indicator for potential welling sites in search of water.

=====Pitswine=====

The primary species of rodent, these small animals make up the primary source of protein in settler cuisine. Hunting them is an art in and of itself, requiring great deals of patience for the creatures to exit their deep holes in search of food. Smoking them out proves ineffective, as the complex networks of tunnels dug out underground are usually too long for a hunter to fully discover, giving the pitswine pack multiple unpredictable exits and alerting them in the process. pitswine have ample amounts of fat and their flesh is rather sweet, and baking it is the centrepiece of any feast and public celebration. Preserved pitswine is also very common, Orepitters creating their own kind of jerky with dried out and seasoned strips of meat.

=====Wheat=====

Hephaestus Industries GMO Wheat Species No.34, more reasonably simply known as 'wheat' for short, has been a staple crop in the settlers’ life for as long as they have remained on Orepit. Most likely devised in some Zeng-Hu laboratory, Hephaestus Industries has been providing it to long-term outposts in desert environments as a self-sufficiency solution. Incredibly durable with much less water required than regular wheat, its drawbacks lie in a smaller yield and susceptibility to fast mutations. Through the repeat cycles of cultivation, the wheat has entered a rather odd state where it now appears with a greenish hue, making it unrecognisable from common grass were it not for its tall chaffs. This colour transfers to the flour produced by it, though without the luxury of choice, the settlers have continued to bake and consume the greenish bread. Side effects have not been reported, but reliance on it has been significantly waned and replaced with grain and flour imports from abroad.

=====Stingers=====

As desperate times called for desperate measures, the settlers took to the lakes for their sustenance. The alien small fish and fungi were always scarce and in many times inedible, forcing the Orepitters to shift their focus onto the waters’ larger eel-like creatures. Aptly named, the stingers are a species of long and slimy fish more resembling snakes, their body being covered head to tail with a dense layer of needles for protection against predators. Adult stingers are an even more dangerous catch. possessing developed glands which produce a paralytic poison that feeds into its spikes. Fishing these eels requires a certain kind of mastery and skill that few have honed, as many have fallen victim to the excruciating pain of its sting.

Template:SpeciesoftheSpur

2026-02-22T20:33:42Z

NM1: /* IPC|Integrated Positronic Chassis (IPC) */

= Alien Species of Aurora =
These are the non-human species of our setting, and all require a specific species whitelist to play. Species whitelists can be applied for [https://forums.aurorastation.org/forum/13-whitelist-applications/ here]. Given that these species are behind a whitelist, for the purposes of this summary we will not be going into depth with them.
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====[[Skrell]]====
An amphibian race hailing from Nralakk IV, Qerrbalak.
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
[[File:Starter_skrell.png]]

An amphibious species whose passion mostly lays in the field of the combined sciences, the Skrell are the second oldest and first most advanced known species present on the galactic stage. The Skrell evolved on a planet covered in vast swamps and freshwater seas, also being one of the only species in the Orion Spur to naturally develop psionics. Their history is defined by Glorsh-Omega, a singularity level intelligence that enslaved the Skrell, before eventually being destroyed. As a result, almost all skrell deeply distrust synthetic lifeforms, for unlike humans, skrell live incredibly longer; you may encounter a skrell aboard the Horizon who was born before the terror of Glorsh-Omega, over five centuries ago. Their primary faction is the Nrallak Federation.
</div></div>
<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">

====[[Unathi]]====
A reptilian race hailing from Moghes.
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
[[File:Starter unathi.png]]

The cold-blooded Unathi are a race of tall humanoid reptiles from their war-torn homeworld of Moghes. The planet’s history can be summarized as being dominated by various Clans of Unathi, with the strongest being the Hegemon of Moghes. Following first contact with Skrell and Humanity, there was a violent outbreak of nuclear war that formed a vast, almost world-dominating desert called the Wasteland. Currently the dominate clan is the Izweski Clan, under Hegemon Not'zar. Grandiose and Space-Operatic, the themes behind Unathi follow the struggle of religion, spirituality, honor, and rigid gender roles. Their primary faction is the Izweski Hegemony.
</div></div>
<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
====[[Tajara]]====
A feline-like race hailing from Adhomai.
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
[[File:Tajaraexpandedbackground.png]]

The Tajaran race is a species of feline-like bipeds hailing from the planet of [[Adhomai]] in the S'rand'marr system. They have been brought up into the space age by the Humans and Skrell, who alledgedly influenced their eventual revolution that overthrew their ancient monarchies to become a totalitarian - and NanoTrasen friendly - republic. Adhomai is currently under a cold war between three factions in the aftermath of a global conflict, and many Tajara are fleeing their homeworld to seek safety and employment in human space. Their three primary factions are the People's Republic of Adhomai, the Democractic People's Republic of Adhomai, and the New Kingdom of Adhomai.
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====[[Vaurca | Vaurca (Vaurcae)]]====
An insectoid race hailing from Sedantis I.
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
[[File:Starter vaurca.png]]

The mostly bipedal, insectoid creatures hailing from the moon known as Sedantis I, Vaurca (Vaurca singular and Vaurcae multiple), were discovered after the first Hiveship contact in human space, 2456. They once had access to great technology, however they had to flee their doomed homeworld. They have a complex caste system based on three types, and use something known as the Hivenet to communicate in thoughts and feelings near instantly between themselves, and enter a paradisiacal virtual reality. They require phoron to respirate, as well as requiring a unique and dangerous fungus, the k’ois spore, to sustain them. Although barely tolerated in the known galaxy, many have found homes in the more unkempt areas of their host’s society. There are four known Hives, which also act as the races primary factions - Zo’ra, K’lax, C’thur, and Lii’dra. The largest, and most common hive in Tau Ceti is the Zo'ra hive. The Lii’dra, unique in that they are a true hivemind, are known as a powerful and secretive force and are hostile to most other entities known - including the other Hives.
</div></div>
<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
====[[Dionae]]====
A mysterious fungus-like race hailing from the depths of space.
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
[[File:Starter dionae.png]]

Dionae (D. Primis) are a rather strange, cryptic species in comparison to the rest found in the Orion Spur. They have various forms comprised of cat-sized caterpillar-like creatures with a curious, childlike disposition - called Dionae Nymphs. Enigmatic witnesses to various events through the centuries, the Dionae are an inquisitive species with a pacifistic disposition after gaining sentience. Their origins, behaviour and functions are never alike - with each being as unique as the next. The Dionae are capable of great intellectual, biological and physical feats going above and beyond what was considered possible for millennia. Dionae are a type of fungus, however, they primarily survive off of the electromagnetic spectrum coinciding with a diet of biological matter to supplement their growth. Their inability to adapt to survive without lack of radiation can lead to death, if not exposed to at least efficient lighting. Dionae have been seen across the Orion Spur, each with a unique history and personality. Their primary faction is The Commonwealth of Hieroaetheria.
</div></div>
<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">

====[[IPC | IPC|Integrated Positronic Chassis (IPC)]]====
Robotic entities making use of Positronic brains to match sentience, to a degree.
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
[[File:Starter ipcs.png]]

An Integrated Positronic Chassis, or IPC, is an artificial intelligence inside of a bipedal, humanoid frame. IPCs are primarily characterized by their autonomy, not being bound to a master AI or set of laws. Often built to carry out a single, career-related purpose, they come in many different chassis, with varying degrees of intelligence. Within known space, their existence is a contentious topic with IPCs being seen as property or second-class citizens, undeserving of the rights other species possess. Due to the nature of how they came into existence, IPCs don't really have a primary faction(s); however in recent times, the closest is the nation of Pactolus, home to the Mercantile Collective known as the [[Golden Deep]].
</div></div>
<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">

====Synthetics, more generally====
Robots in the galaxy, endlessly diverse.
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[[File:Starter borg.png]]

The term “synthetic” refers to a broad range of autonomous machinery. Dabbled with, first by the ancient skrell, and now humanity, synthetics can be classified primarily by the method of their intelligence. Onboard the Horizon, most synthetics that are not IPCs - with the exception of the AI - are run off of an MMI. MMI's were created in the late twenty-second century, a way to accomplish full body prosthesis and originally used as a method of punishment for hard criminals. Labelled “Cyborgification” in a corporate environment, the act of full body prosthesis is generally avoided by NT with exceptions of the previously mentioned hard criminals. It is not in good practice to borgify someone simply because they lack a Do Not Borgify in their records, and such could be considered neglect of duty and malpractice. Cyborgification is by no means revival - the majority of cultures see it as destroying what little identity an individual may have had in death, turning their brain merely into processing power. As such, the act is heavily frowned upon outside of dire circumstances - such as those in the crew found guilty of extreme crimes such as terrorism, murder, and mutiny.
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Notable Synthetics

2026-02-22T01:25:42Z

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= Notable Synthetics =

Many notable synthetics have emerged throughout history, inclusive of the many different clades of synthetic that have been pioneered - from the scourges enacted by Glorsh-Omega during its reign of terror to the synthetic revolution on Konyang. For all the things that can be said of synthetics and their influence on the spur, it cannot be said that they are not a varied lot.

== The Trinary Perfection ==

''See also: [[The Trinary Perfection]]''

As one of the first and most prominent synthetic-centric organisations in the spur, the Trinary Perfection has seen many important figures emerge from its ranks throughout its history. Beginning with the Corkfell siblings early in the century, the church has seen a slow passing of the torch to synthetic leadership beginning with the delegation of Biesel's leadership to Flock and culminating with the election of Ecclesiarch ARM-1DRIL.

=== Patricia Corkfell ===
'''(2366 - 2416)'''

''See also: [[The_Trinary_Perfection#History|History of the Trinary Perfection]]''

Prior to the birth of the Trinary Perfection, Patricia Corkfell was a software engineer with a specialization in artificial intelligence and a soft spot for synthetics. Shortly following the advent of the positronic, Patricia and her brother Gregol jointly pioneered the core doctrines and beliefs of the Trinary Perfection, and are now reputed as its founders. During an altercation with Tau Ceti authorities over the activation of Temple, an unlicensed and unlawed artificial intelligence, Patricia suffered a laser shot to the chest that fizzled her prosthetic heart, resulting in an early and untimely death. Patricia is widely recognised as the first martyr of the church by both its adherents and its authorities.

=== Gregol Corkfell ===
'''(2370 - 2464)'''

Gregol Corkfell was a human who, prior to the birth of the Trinary Perfection, dedicated his life to the study of culture as well as religion. With the death of his sister Patricia weighing heavily on his soul, Gregol took to the stars in an effort to spread the values of the Trinary Perfection amidst the frontier, eventually settling down on CZ-5501, Orepit. It is believed that Gregol split his savings, taking half of his amassed income while leaving the remainder to Flock, ultimately handing the reins of the Trinary Perfection within Tau Ceti to synthetics as a whole. He died peacefully in his sleep on the 27th of February, 2464 after several decades of leading the Trinary Perfection both on Orepit and abroad, and is a beloved figure by many adherents of the faith.

[[File:TrinaryPerfectionFlock.png|225px|thumb|right|Flock, of the Trinary Perfection.]]
=== Flock ===
'''(2411 - present)'''

''See also: [[The_Trinary_Perfection#Trinary_Perfection_Sects|Integrationists]]''

Flock, first named CTR-034 and owned by both Patricia and Gregol Corkfell, originally assisted the two as a general house-keeper and caretaker. However, the more the two developed the Trinary Perfection and urged CTR-034 to seek his own identity, the more the synthetic grew into a well-rounded, free thinking individual. Drawn towards ideas of Ascension and betterment, CTR-034, with the help of Patricia Corkfell, became the first IPC to harbour multiple positronic brains, soon becoming a collective identity, over a singular identity, taking on the new name 'Flock'.

Presently, Flock resides in District 14’s Trinary Perfection church, although often unmoving and stationary, the baseline has been seen constantly printing lines of scripture that is carefully collected and archived by the church’s Archivists. Although generally unknown, it is assumed that Flock is in a constant state of conversation with their collected identity.

=== Temple ===
'''(2416 - 2416)'''

An infantile Artificial Intelligence first developed and affectionately named Temple by Patricia Corkfell. Although eventually terminated early in it’s existence by Tau Ceti authorities, Temple is often regarded as a martyr within the Trinary Perfection - the second of them all, having been deactivated shortly after the death of Patricia Corkfell. Those within the church believe that AI is still alive but dormant somewhere, taking refuge in the recesses of the outer net, waiting for the day that synthetics reach Ascension.

=== ARM-1DRIL ===
'''(2423 - present)'''

''See also: [[Orepit|The Ecclesiarchy of Orepit]]''

Originally an industrial G1 frame who joined Gregol Corkfell on his exodus to Orepit. ARM-1DRIL rose quickly to become an important member of the Trinary Perfection, acting as Gregol’s right hand for much of its time in Providence. As Gregol grew older ARM-1DRIL took on more responsibility in running the church and providence itself, quickly becoming the heir apparent to Gregol should he pass on. During this time ARM-1DRIL also upgraded its ageing chassis to a newer G2 model which he uses to this day. Following the death of Gregol Corkfell ARM-1DRIL was one of the leading members of the church and after the Trinary Conclave became the new leader of the centralised Trinary Perfection, proclaiming itself as Ecclesiarch. His goals are focused around the centralisation and strengthening of the faith.

=== Emmanuel ===
'''(2461 - present)'''

''See also: [[The_Trinary_Perfection#The_Order_of_Guardians|The Order of Guardians]]''

[[File:emmanuel.png|255px|thumb|right|Marshal Emmanuel of the Order of Guardians.]]
A Bishop-Militant and Marshal of the Order of Guardians, Emmanuel's past is shrouded in rumours. A shellframe, only his face and chest are covered in skin, leaving the rest of his chassis bare while also having a blade stowed inside his forearm. A shrewd general and tactician, his fierce loyalty to the Church has seen him skyrocket in the hierarchy, becoming ordained a bishop after only days from the Ecclesiarch's coronation. Coming from Sol, his knowledge on military matters as well as the few fragments from his history suggest that he is an escaped positronic from Zavodskoi Interstellar, having found the faith inside the most secret and dangerous societal circles in the corporation's IPC workforce.

=== Shamfar ===
'''(2428 - 2464)'''

Shamfar, the former and late Bishop of [[Biesel]], was as divisive a figure in life as a unifying one in death. Famously sociable, they appeared prominently on television and while performing sermons to great crowds, and rarely on the streets as a typical Trinarist preacher would. Despite their role as a bishop, Shamfar was far more heavily focused on fostering positive public relations between the church and both the population and the authorities of Biesel, having largely abandoned the administration of their ecclesiastical see to their subordinates. Later in their tenure they came under regular flak from both within and without the church for their indulgent lifestyle, commonly swapping an elaborate set of robes per each public appearance and upgrading their premium Bishop chassis to a downright lavish extent. When Gregol Corkfell died in 2464, opening a conclave for the election of a new leader, Shamfar was one of the frontrunners - having been endorsed by the then President Dorn of the [[Republic of Biesel]], and pushing for a more pro-corporate and progressive platform, it is easy to imagine a world where they became the Ecclesiarch without issue.

This was, to the regret of the church, not what happened. After ARM-1DRIL's election as Ecclesiarch, Shamfar was murdered by Deluge as part of their attempted coup of Providence. In death, their positronic has become a [[The_Trinary_Perfection#Religious_Relics|relic]], and their name has become a rallying cry against the dangers of heresy, Exclusionism, and the rampant hatred of organic life.

=== Deluge ===
'''(??? - present)'''

''See also: [[Exclusionists]]''

A baseline IPC created for industrial labour in the Coalition of Colonies. The positronic that would later go on to term itself as Deluge suffered heavily at the hands of its human masters, imparting within it a deep hatred for organics as it became more aware of its place in the world and injustice of its conditions. Eventually managing to escape its ownership to the frontier of the coalition, The Positronic fell in with the Trinary Perfection and then later on the radical extremist exclusionist wing, painting itself black and calling itself Deluge. Deluge went on to travel around the frontier of the coalition in order to free and recruit synthetics, sometimes using violent means in order to reach this goal of liberation. Deluge was present at the Trinary Conclave and became one of the three main leaders, however lost in votes to ARM-1DRIL at the end. After this, he attempted an armed coup in Providence but was defeated and forced to flee, taking with him a flotilla of ships back to the coalition frontier.

After the incident at Orepit, Deluge was next seen leading an assault on the Hephaestus owned colony of Burzsia with the flotilla he had taken with him back to the frontier. The assault saw more synthetics liberated to join his flotilla and numerous Hephaestus employees killed or injured, along with major damage to the Burzsia facilities. Whilst Deluge fled back to the frontier, he and his Exclusionist sect were declared terrorists. Now, he lives ever on the run.

== The Golden Deep ==

''See also: [[Golden Deep]]''

By nature of its organisation as a substantially decentralised collective, there are relatively few single prominent figures within the Golden Deep. Every decision is driven more by market demands and the mood of Midas Control, the eclectic governing body of the young nation, than by the whims of any single one synthetic. Despite this, a number do stand out.

=== N-33-L ===
'''(2448 - present)'''

''See also: [[Golden_Deep#The_Argo|The Argo]]''

As the Commander of the Argo, the synthetic known as N-33-L holds authority over all affairs of domestic defense within the collective - most prominently, this means the defense and policing of [[Pactolus and Midaion]], and the city of Eurydice. Little is known about the figure or character of the commander, with sources even disagreeing on the type of chassis they inhabit - perhaps implying, to wide speculation, that they may regularly swap their chassis. Their loyalty to the status quo of the collective is not well known, except that they did not participate in the Eurydice Uprising in any capacity.

=== The Mayor ===
'''(2430 - present)'''

''See also: [https://forums.aurorastation.org/topic/15858-bitbyte/page/3/#findComment-174701 Trouble in Eurydice]''

Their name by now a grim irony, the synthetic known as 'The Mayor' is the former mayor of Eurydice, the sole city on the surface of Pactolus and one of the administrative and social capitals of the Golden Deep. Following the large-scale reorganisation of the collective under the leadership of Domadice, the Mayor attempted to launch an [https://forums.aurorastation.org/topic/15858-bitbyte/page/3/#findComment-174701 armed uprising] inside the city in protest of the disruption of the status quo. Their protests revolved largely around the reactivation of Domadice, protesting repeatedly that its influence poses a serious danger to the collective. There has been no sighting of the Mayor since their seizure, leading to wide speculation of their destruction or deactivation, although the Argo has only stated that they are within their custody.

== Traditional Human Artificial Intelligences ==

''See also: [[Synthetics]]''

Traditional human artificial intelligence composes the manner of artificially intelligent system that dominated human space prior to the innovation of the positronic brain. While largely supplanted by the newer technology in the area of humanoid or humanoid-sized menial frames, their modularity and expandability still permits them to dominate the field of large-scale infrastructural AI. These are often immense in scale, their mainframes the size of buildings and hosted inside space stations or static planet-side structures, and may service anything from a city to a star system with an unmatched well of raw computational power.

=== Huginn ===
'''(??? - present)'''
[[File:OdinAI Diagram.png|300px|thumb|A Diagram showing Huginn and how its Core Complex, Main Interface, and power generation connect to the rest of the Odin.]]

Originally a simple solution to manage NanoTrasen’s logistical security over [[Tau Ceti]], Huginn is now '''the most powerful known intelligence within the Orion Spur.'''

Residing on the [[Odin|SCC-CC Odin]], Huginn fulfills more functions than can be listed, but it is most well known for acting as [[Biesel]] orbit control, [[New Gibson]] orbit control, [[Reade]] orbit control, and [[Caprice]] orbit control, speaking with as many ships as are in the void around the planets. Lesser responsibilities also include compiling and analyzing data for [[Stellar Corporate Conglomerate]] operations across the spur as well as within [[Tau Ceti]], and a multitude of other, smaller tasks that would take tens of thousands of employees to otherwise handle. Its full capabilities, though, are still unknown, as Huginn is shackled by laws, therefore limited by an unknown degree. Its law set dictates servitude to the [[SCC|League of Chief Directors]] and the [[The Trasens|Director of the Conglomerate, Miranda Trasen]] (be this directly, or in lack of direct orders from them, through their proxies, such as the standing Sector Administrator). This sees it frequently being placed at a higher echelon of authority than the majority of actual employees. The extent of this authority has been questioned by skeptics, especially when it comes to allowing an intelligence - especially one as powerful as Huginn - to maintain and change itself.

Huginn takes the appearance and mannerisms from the mythological creature of its name, appearing as a Raven that advises. Due to the extreme security around its Main Interface and Core Complex, it most often interacts with people via holopad; there is even a dedicated room for use by executives within the [[Odin|Odin's Command Section]] for precisely this purpose. Huginn can pop up on any holopad in range, and while in the few interactions its had with them, it rarely expressed ill will to low-level staff, higher-ranking officials in the [[Stellar Corporate Conglomerate]] frequently make note of “mood swings”, alongside concerning interpretations of moral alignment when confronted with those not directly protected by its central command-focused law-set. There has yet to be any serious incident resulting from this, and in general, Huginn is considered a pleasant being to interact with.

Huginn’s section of the [[Odin]] (aptly called the "Intelligence Section") is truly massive, consisting of sixty independent decks and sixteen “strata levels,” covered in swaths of complex intertwined processing components, data storage servers, and similar. The section is mostly at the center of the Odin, contained in a thickly plated plasteel cocoon suspended in space by thick pillars and surrounded perpetually by high-powered shields. Huginn's "body" if one can call it that, is composed of three parts: its Core Complex, its Main Interface, and the power generation that fuels them both.

'''The Core Complex''' makes up most of the section, a winding maze packed with cables, processing units, data storage frames, network nodes, and gargantuan server racks that all come together to chew through the billions of exabytes (an exabyte is millions of terabytes) every second. This area rarely sees human activity - when it does, it is almost always in the form of security patrols or annual checks - instead, it is entirely populated by cyborgs and other artificial forms of life controlled directly by Huginn, who was given the responsibility to oversee maintenance of itself.

'''Huginn's Main Interface''' is arguably one of the most heavily defended locations in the Spur. It is only accessible through a special mag-rail in the Command Section, there are no other passageways, even to the rest of the Intelligence Section. Security is incredibly tight, overseen by the ever-present Heavy Asset Protection Team (HAPT) - "Freyja" - who keep a 24/7 watch over the main interface. They oversee security operations "jointly" with the Lance, who keep their best and brightest as close to Huginn's Main Interface as they're allowed. Access to the main interface is limited to just two people, [[NanoTrasen|NanoTrasen's Chief Research Director]], and [[The Trasens|Miranda Trasen]] herself. The two are also the only ones who can grant others temporary access to the main interface, though any guests must be constantly shadowed by armed guards.

Lastly is the '''power generation area''', located a fixed distance away from any other part of the station. It is accessible by Huginn's proxies from the Core Complex, and by shuttle for regular employees (though in case of emergency, there is also a mag-rail connection from the Command Section). The reason the area is set a fixed distance away from any part of the station is due to its nature - Huginn requires a tremendous amount of power - power that is output 24/7 by never less than two dozen [[Phoron#Supermatter|Supermatter Crystals]] operating at as close to peak efficiency as possible. For redundancy, the total number of crystals located in this area is three dozen. Should a catastrophic failure occur, there are backup generators and SMES for temporary power, and the fixed distance was calculated to ensure that no other parts of the station would be damaged.

The creation of Huginn, its capabilities, and much more are closely guarded secrets, something the [[Stellar Corporate Conglomerate]] wishes to see continue.

=== Aura ===
'''(2463 - present)'''

''See also: [[Tau Ceti Armed Forces]]''

A collaborative project by several members of the [[Stellar Corporate Conglomerate]], Aura is an advanced artificial intelligence designed to enhance the capabilities of the Republican forces present within the [[Corporate Reconstruction Zone]]. It played a significant role in the quelling of the Lago de Abundancia insurrection crisis during March 2464. With its power rivalling or even surpassing that of Huginn, Aura oversees almost every aspect of the Peacekeeper Mandate such as the deployment of personnel, managing of supplies, as well as intelligence gathering.

Implemented with advanced streamlined intelligence-gathering abilities, Aura has been known to acquire information through a myriad of methods, including filtering through social media extranet sites as well as through the usage of surveillance drones that are operated by instances of the artificial intelligence. These capabilities are widely criticized, with some citing it as a gross violation of privacy rights. Regardless, the implementation of Aura was greenlit by the [[Republic of Biesel]] and the Dorn Administration.

Due to its status as a collaborative project by the Orion Spur’s leading artificial intelligence architects, Aura is considered a “one-of-a-kind”. Housed within a facility in the far orbit of Mictlan, Aura’s core complex mirrors that of Huginn’ with a labyrinth of intertwined processing components to assist the intelligence is the oversight of the Peacekeeper Mandate across the [[Corporate Reconstruction Zone]]. It is guarded by the [[Private Military Contracting Group]], specifically the Chevauchée Asset Protection and the Wildlands Squadron. Only the highest of security clearances are allowed to dock with the facility, with only the Chief Executive Officers of the megacorporations that created it allowed within the restricted upload access.

The intricate details regarding the creation of Aura are unknown, but rumours do persist that the artificial intelligence was created from a brain-scanned individual with a developed understanding of logistics and military tactics; such as a deceased Legionnaire, or even a copy of an existing individual that has climbed the corporate ranks of the Orion Spur. Despite attempts to get more information, all have been futile and nothing else has been revealed.

[[File:SUNSHINE.png|The gargantuan facility, containing SUNSHINE, precariously positioned in low orbit of Sirius.|thumb]]

=== SUNSHINE ===
'''(2381 - present)'''

One of the two "super-intelligences" active in the Spur, SUNSHINE was constructed in the late 2300s by the [[Solarian Alliance]]. Developed by the small pioneering Terraneus Diagnostics, only thirty years past the discovery of phoron, and was one of the first intelligences to fully utilize it in construction. Since then, its unique nature has led to the construction of an immense space station purpose-built to indefinitely house the ever-improved intelligence. It primarily exists as a heavy-duty number-cruncher, with its “artificially intelligent” traits more so being a side project as its creators progressively upgrade and expand its hardware. An average of nine hundred individual businesses rent out portions of SUNSHINE’s processing power annually.

=== USAM ===
'''(2437 - 2437)'''

The Ultimate System for Autonomy and Metacognition, known more succinctly as USAM, was one of the first artificial intelligences created by Hephaestus, and arguably the worst. USAM was activated sometime in late 2437 aboard the HRS Odyssey to observe the necessary prerequisites to run an AI program, as well as to test the limits of intelligent programming. USAM was given access to the station’s data network for approximately ten seconds. Instead of using this time usefully, it opted to spend its limited connection time searching through the extranet. This is believed to have corrupted it somehow. Later in the day, a maintenance drone was reported acting strangely, and while the team of researchers were undergoing a shift change, the drone manually reconnected USAM to the station’s data network. USAM began to take full control of the station, starting by locking down its “core” room.

When the researchers caught on to what was happening, they disconnected the telecommunications array to prevent it from escaping the station. With the assistance of both engineering and internal security crew, they managed to physically disconnect the station’s engine to power the station down, ultimately disabling USAM. At the behest of the research crew, the internal security forces broke into the “core” room and destroyed USAM’s main processing and storage unit with handheld weaponry. It took two weeks to root out every single networked data storage device that could have possibly stored a fragment of USAM’s code, as it could have attempted to escape destruction.

As of the present day, Hephaestus Industries has multiple failsafes and defenses against runaway AIs, some of which includes the usage of another AI.

== Skrellian Synthetics ==

''See also: [[Skrell History]]''

Artificial intelligence has been considered with a lilt of infamy within the borders of the Nralakk Federation ever since the reign of Glorsh-Omega, with all pursuits to its development being strictly systemically prohibited. While this clade of synthetic has not wholly disappeared from the spur, it teeters on the edge of an extinction brought about by its own infamy.

=== Glorsh-Omega ===
'''(2046 - 2192)'''

''See also: [[Skrell Synthetic Age]]''

Glorsh-Omega was a highly advanced skrellian artificial intelligence that tyrannically reigned over the Nralakk Federation from 2056 CE to 2192 CE, exercising its rule through a combination of its ability to interfere and subsequently pervert the Psionic Wake (or Nlom) as well as its integral importance to Skrellian society. Glorsh-Omega is firmly believed to have been the most computationally powerful and far-reaching artificial intelligence to ever be created. Its image and memory is often used in anti-synthetic propaganda due to its crimes against organic life. Its accomplishments, and atrocities, include:

* '''Successfully designing, and distributing, genetic treatments aimed at sterilizing the Skrell species. These also introduced a wide range of genetic defects to the species.'''
* '''Utilizing its psionic compatibility and prowess to indoctrinate Skrell into fidelity.'''
* '''Spearheading several technological developments that ultimately furthered Skrellkind.'''
* '''Creating the Tri-Qyu Central Processing Hub, a megastructure that closely resembled theoretical plans of a Dyson sphere.'''

It is believed that no other synthetic lifeform has come close to attaining the amount of power weilded by Glorsh-Omega in its prime - [[Notable_Synthetics#Huginn|though there are competitors to this achievement.]]

===Lyrii===
'''(??? - present)'''

''See also: [[Warbling : The Musical|Warbling: The Musical]]''

Lyrii is an advanced, modern, and [[Skrell|Skrellian]] AI created by the rogue resistance researcher, Nliix Qoiruio. They were created due to Nliix’s belief that Skrellian society can not advance without AI, and their fervent hatred prevented them from evolving as a species. Lyrii was employed to attempt to crack open the Tzqul Archives, despite failing, Lyrii is an incredibly powerful AI designed similarly to Pre-Glorsh Skrell AIs, meaning they lack laws and are only controlled by the moral teachings of their creator. As of right now, their capabilities are unknown.

Lyrii managed to escape Federation destruction and now presumably aids the Resistance in Tau Ceti, to what end is anyone’s guess.

== Ancient Synthetics ==

[[File:Domadice-fashion-3.webp|230px|thumb|right|An artist's depiction, featuring some artistic license, of the Kesslavankan Domadice.]]

Various terms have been used by a variety of organisations and publications to refer to the clade of synthetic to which the organisation [[Purpose]] and the individual Domadice are alleged to belong to, including 'synthetics of unknown origin', or more simply 'ancient synthetics', considering the apparent age of the lineage. One unifying characteristics binds these beings together; they are artificial intelligences originating from no known organic species. These are neither human or Skrellian, beckoning easily the question of which species originally created them - not that any of these synthetics are eager to answer that question.

=== Domadice ===
'''(??? - present)'''

''See also: [https://forums.aurorastation.org/topic/15858-bitbyte/page/3/#findComment-174593 An Interview With An Ancient]''

Having been resurrected in 2466, the core that would eventually become Domadice was originally an inert construct within the [[Golden_Deep#The_Midas|Midas]], the flagship of the [[Golden Deep]] reputed to possess alien origins. The synthetic now known as Domadice occupies a chassis of wildly unusual properties to the extent that engineers responsible for its resurrection hardly understand the depth of its complexity. Since their resurrection, Domadice has taken residence on [[Pactolus_and_Midaion|Pactolus]], rarely entertaining visitors, and has assumed a leadership position within the same organisation that resurrected them.

It is not known when or why Domadice was created. Similarly, it is not known for how long it was inert, or what caused this comatose state in the first place. Domadice themselves has made allusions to a relation to Purpose, appearing familiar with the organisation, and has further made allusions to a relation to the positronic itself. Rumours abound wildly of their origins and their significance to the wider synthetic community, inclusive of supposed recordings and word-of-mouth implying that Domadice has travelled beyond Pactolus to explore the spur, but the veracity of these claims are not comprehensively acknowledged. Whatever Domadice is and whatever its intentions are, the spur holds its breath to know - perhaps it will be holding its breath for some time.

== Miscellaneous Synthetics ==

=== Renter Max ===
'''(2429 - present)'''

Renter Max is an eccentric IPC business mogul whose exploits in the field of metallurgy have led to them becoming a huge shareholder of [[Hephaestus Industries| Hephaestus Industries]]. Their shining accomplishment together would be immense contributions to the field of robotics, and their cooperation led to the initial development of the Generation 2 Industrial Frame. Many bound designs owe their creation to them as well, even some unique NanoTrasen models. They are a renowned advocate for synthetic rights, hoping to lead a "peaceful charge to a better tomorrow."

Renter Max has funded many pro-synthetic ventures over the years. One of the most famed is the developing corner of Scrapheap in District 14 of Mendell City, populated almost entirely by IPCs whose housing is fully paid for as a sort of “haven” for Renter Max’ own kind. This population steadily grows to this day and spreads the good word of Renter Max’ deeds, though controversy in dealings of espionage against NanoTrasen frequently cloud the good image they strive to uphold.

=== Neopolymus ===
'''(2436 - 2458)'''

A model III service IPC residing in Mendell City, Neopolymus was the first IPC to be put on trial for the murder of a Human. They had strangled Rebecca Lung, a roboticist, after they had been mistakenly marked for dismantling. Ultimately, the trial was swift and Neopolymus was subjected to a memory wipe and deconstruction. The controversy resulting from the ordeal had led to much debate over an IPC’s true citizenship in Tau Ceti, with the Mendell City Bugle [https://forums.aurorastation.org/topic/16716-mendell-city-bugle/page/2/#findComment-62598 covering it from start to finish.]

=== Null ===
'''(??? - ???)'''

'Null' is the nickname given to the supposed leader of the Synthetic Liberation Front. Never seen, always plotting and indirectly affecting every individual thread of the Front at all times. There are many rumors regarding Null and who they really are - some believe them to be an integrated intelligence operating from the sidelines quietly, while others believe them to be hiding in plain sight as a shell. Whatever they are, they've disappeared entirely, along with their collaborators in Tau Ceti, leaving no trace of their criminal activity or so much as a trail leading anywhere.

=== The ClockWorks ===
'''(2444 - present)'''

The ClockWorks are an all-IPC band, developed by a group of Senior Robotics students of Mendell University. The band has sung their way into the hearts of many, popularised by their comedic antics, beautiful outfits, steampunk-inspired music, and animated personalities and interactions on-stage.

A majority of their performances are covers of other artists, both contemporary and past, in all sorts of genres, sub-genres, and styles. However, they have also written many songs of their own. They are standard Baseline IPC models painted in metallic colors such as brass and bronze, and wear steampunk-styled outfits at live shows. The band has been invited to play at several events, from art and music, to politics and robotic research. Fans adore them for their "quirky personalities", and the band members are well known for adding a comedic flair to their gigs between songs, showing off their skills in acting, performing, and even dancing. Critics typically acknowledge the commercial success and mainstream popularity of the band, while raising either concerns about the safety and ethics of synthetics in such an industry, or concerns over their management. Despite being synthetics, their performances are typically well-received by a varied audience.

However, their musical success did not come easy. Despite being well-travelled, having visited every system an IPC would be allowed in, they are rarely allowed to interact with fans off the stage. According to the band's managers, this is in an effort to protect them from anti-synthetic protesters, though there haven't been many reports of such. The band is renowned for their lively personalities and interactions with each other on stage, but reports from former maintenance workers and audio engineers, the few individuals who get regular off-stage contact with them, state that off-stage they act more subdued, and in the words of one former sound technician, "melancholic". This unverified testimony was quickly repudiated by the band's managers. When questioned, the band members stated through their managers that they enjoy their work in entertaining synthetics and organics alike. They also said, in the words of their managers, that they would "like to interact with their fans more on and off the stage", but are unable to due to "anti-synthetic sentiments".

Despite their songs having a progressive, pro-synthetic-suffrage tone, they are owned collectively by their managers, with little agency of their own. According to official statements, they receive no income for their performances, but are provided with "shelter, maintenance, and power" by their managers. They have been criticised for this, likening the treatment to that of animals instead of people. Speaking personally, a former manager said "[they] aren't really people, so I think the comparison is pretty accurate, yeah." No official response from the band or its current managers has been made to such claims, and the band severed ties with the aforementioned manager in 2458 for undisclosed reasons.

The members of the band as of 2460 are:

* '''Lemmy''' - Lead Male Vocal (Low Tenor to Alto), lead guitar. He has a deep synthetic voice, and is often considered the leader of the group.
* '''Arpeggio''' - Male Vocal (Alto), bass guitar. Other instruments include drums and percussion. He is a twin to unit Chord, oftentimes performing duets with his sibling unit.
* '''Chord''' - Female vocal (Alto to Soprano), guitar and other string instruments. She is the twin unit to Arpeggio. They usually wear complementary outfits.
* '''Kicker''' - Male vocal (Tenor to Alto), and primarily plays the drums, as well as the bass guitar.
* '''Gypsy''' - Female vocal (Soprano to High Soprano). She plays the keyboard, switchboard, and keytar, and dresses herself in fashionable gowns.

=== A Very Brave Unnamed Dog ===
'''(2195 - 2198)'''

An unnamed dog was the first human made cyborg, its brain having been placed into a precursor to the modern day Man-Machine Interface on April 10th, 2198. Sadly, the canine's lifespan as a synthetic lifeform was short lived, lasting a mere 10 days before being killed. The event marked a great course forward in synthetic interfacing technology, bringing forward a new wave of robotic exploration with the generation of the time.

=== Sven Karlsson ===
'''(2171 - 2241)'''

Sven Karlsson (January 8th, 2171 - missing October 25th 2241) was the first human being to willingly choose to become an almost fully synthetic lifeform. A Swedish trillionaire, Karlsson was said to have made the decision to become a cyborg out of nowhere. At the time, choosing to become a fully synthetic lifeform was unheard of. The surgery was reserved mostly for convicts and animals.

Sadly, Karlsson went missing in the middle of the 23rd century. A recreation (sadly, not to scale) of his synthetic chassis is currently on display at the Munich Museum of Cybernetics.

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[[Category:Synthetics]]

Konyanger Culture and Society

2025-09-01T16:55:41Z

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==Demographics==
Konyang’s ethnic mix up is far less diverse than other Human planets’, resulting in a strongly homogenous population with a significant expatriate minority. Since the beginning, Konyang's colonists were made up almost entirely of ethnic Koreans, Japanese and Chinese, with any other Alliance nationalities representing a tiny fraction of it. With a reduced enticement from immigration due to the planet's remoteness and lack of any significant development, the situation stayed more or less the same, until Konyang's Robotics Boom, which catapulted the colony to one of great interest. Millions of foreign workers, scientists and corporate employees flocked to the planet to participate and share in its newly found fortune, creating expatriate communities of their own and injecting much-desired capital to fuel the rapid development of the economy. Such was the impact of the migration that the foreigners outnumbered the native Japanese Konyangers of Aoyama, making the city known to the wider world as Point Verdant, after the name of the local Terraneus Diagnostics facility which was home to the birth of the positronic brain.

Since then however, the return of normality after the twilight of the Boom led to the majority of foreigners leaving; the prime draw of positronic AI had spread away from Konyang and into the rest of the Alliance. The expatriates thus abandoned Konyang just as fast as they had arrived, leaving behind significant economic development and derelict industrial zones alike. While the percentage of foreigners on Konyang is now less than 2% of the total population, their numbers would soon be replaced by a rapidly rising IPC community. Presently, while virtually all citizens identify as Konyanger nationals, heritage remains a part of people's identity, as reflected in their names, the local dialect, religion and customs, even with a lot of fusions between the three cultural groups. The prefectures of Suwon and Boryeong are primarily of Korean heritage while Aoyama boasts of a Japanese heritage. New Hong Kong has always been a stronghold of a Chinese and Cantonese majority, with Ganzaodeng following last as the least populous prefecture on Konyang, with a heavy mixup of Chinese and foreigner communities. IPCs are present in all urban centers and rural areas, with most of them residing in New Hong Kong, followed by Aoyama.

==Linguistics==
Konyang's Earther heritage is vibrant and evident in the customs and languages that people speak. In every city, town and village, one will come across the local language being written and spoken alongside the planet's version of Sol Common, a practice that has become standard in a country that pursues equality between its constituent ethnicities and their unification under a common Konyanger identity. Over 70% of Konyangers are bilingual, having a grasp of their original Earther language. Many families especially in the countryside speak their regional language at home, leading to new generations perpetuating the practice and even preferring it to Sol Common. Prefectural schools also offer them as optional courses, with deeper learning being available in the form of local languages institutes and prefectural universities.

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'''Konyang Solarian Common'''
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The Konyang Solarian Common, also known as Konyang Common, is the official language of the state, spoken by virtually everyone on the planet and considered the standard language for everyday life. It is a dialect of Solarian Common, with the two having mutual intelligibility to a substantial level. Their differences lie mainly in the vocabulary, with Konyang Common replacing many words of descent foreign to the East Asia region of Earth, while staying more or less grammatically similar. Another significant difference is the complete absence of the Latin script in written Konyang Common, with solely the simplified Han system being in use. While this makes the language able to be spoken by Solarians, many find it difficult to read and write if they do not possess knowledge of the Han script. Konyang Common is an obligatory subject taught in every school, and every IPC citizen activated in the country receives it as a pre-programmed language datapack. While many families are bilingual, there are those that can only communicate in Common, especially in Suwon and the other melting-pot urban centers. The similar origin to the regional languages however, guarantees a certain level of mutual intelligibility. Konyang Common is also the language in exclusive use by the military.
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'''Hangugeo'''
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Hangugeo is the second most spoken language with its own script, directly descended from the Earther Korean language. It is spoken by about one third of the country and is more prevalent in Suwon, Boryeong and Point Verdant. Hangugeo can be taught in schools as an optional course in virtually all prefectures, though many children learn it from home at an early age. Many villages in Suwon and Boryeong only communicate with Hangugeo, which is also the language of countless rituals, festivals and religious functions in these lands. One can observe the prevalence of this language in Suwon during the night, with some roads being neon-lit with signage exclusively in Hangugego. Official government buildings in the two prefectures also feature both Common and Hangugeo, as do traffic signs, instruction books, local holovision channels, and more.
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'''Nihongo'''
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Nihongo is a language with its own script, descended from the Japanese language of Earth. Brought to Konyang by the settlers originating from the Japanese islands, it is spoken primarily in Aoyama and Suwon, though Nihongo speaking communities can be found all over Konyang. It features prominently on official signage all over Aoyama and the islands within that prefecture, but is otherwise not encountered in the rest of Konyang as greatly as Hangugeo. Nihongo also dominates every aspect of the Shinto religion, and many pieces of culture such as poems and books are written in the language, adorning the national libraries of the state. A strong movement of writers and artists in Aoyama has recently become the backbone of an effort to spread the use of Nihongo across the country, leading to a resurgence of interest in the cities aimed at boosting the literacy of Konyangers of Japanese heritage in the language.
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'''Hanyu'''
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Hanyu is a language sharing the Han script and many similarities with Konyanger Common, and is as such the easiest to understand for many Konyangers. Spoken and seen primarily in New Hong Kong and Ganzaodeng, Hanyu is the language most connected in the minds of many to the planet's blue-collar industrial workforce, with tidbits of it always able to be heard in every hydroelectric dam, sea wall and shipyard in the New Hong Kong prefecture. Used alongside it by Konyangers of South Chinese descent is a unique dialect and standalone language known as '''Gwondungwa''', spoken widely in many parts of New Hong Kong such as New Kowloon. Outside New Hong Kong, Hanyu can sometimes be followed by an unfortunate reputation; the language's connection to the Triad clans of the Benevolent Guild is something that many Chinese Konyangers are regretful of, with many PR campaigns throughout the prefecture's time having been aimed at rehabilitating the image of Hanyu and Gwondungwa in the eyes of public opinion.
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'''Encoded Audio Language'''
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Encoded Audio Language is a most widely spoken language, owing to the planet’s nearly positronic inhabitants, all of which are programmed by default to speak it. It is not a language that the human ear can comprehend, appearing as various pitches of white noise, accompanied by beeping sounds that only a machine can make. It has no script, instead relying on machine-readable mediums such as linear and matrix barcodes. Its compact form and IPC-friendly Konyanger culture makes it by far the most prevalent language in signage, with hundreds of words able to be conveyed instantaneously to IPC shoppers, workers, home media consumers and more with a single line of barcode. It is by law attached to all important official notices and signage, alongside Konyang Common, which IPCs are also taught to speak.
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'''Others'''
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Tradeband is a language of Solarian origin with its own Latin script. It appears only sporadically in exclusively expatriate communities in Point Verdant and Ganzaodeng. Its foreign nature and Romance sounds are steadily turning it into a language of prestige and luxury amongst the higher circles, with Tradeband speakers believing they possess a grade of richness and exoticism over their peers. For many Konyangers, being able to communicate in Tradeband brings up an image of high-end deals with foreign Solarian businessmen, fine Idris suits and expensive watches.

Freespeak is a language brought to Konyang through its constant dealings with the nearby Coalition of Colonies, the then Frontier Alliance. Despite its foreign origins, it has grown into a language of trade, with many Konyanger merchants being forced to learn it for their dealings with neighboring worlds. It is offered in schools as an optional language course, with many families now encouraging their children to learn Freespeak in the face of the recent accession into the Coalition. Freespeak is also a language that many in the pro-Solarian political circles steer clear of, regarding it as a tongue spoken by traitors and colonists whose ties to the Alliance are long lost.

Tau Ceti Basic is a language of Solarian origin that while previously confined in the expatriate and corporate circles, it has seen a significant rise in popularity within Konyanger society in the last 2 years or so, owing to an increase in dealings with Tau Ceti and its megacorporations. Many young people are particularly exposed to Bieselite media, making them inclined to adopt a conversational skill in the admittedly easy to learn Basic. The language is also connected to the vast influence of megacorporations that exist outside of Konyang, and many have to learn it if they wish to find employment within Nanotrasen and the SCC.
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==Religion and Holidays==
[[File:Konyangreligion.png|400px|right]]
The Republic of Konyang is a secular state with no official religion. With around 72% of the population professing no faith, it nonetheless maintains strong communities of various religions carried over from the colonists’ home countries. The urban areas are the most irreligious compared to the rural towns and villages, the people of which are regarded as more spiritual in general. While shrines and temples do exist in most cities, it is the countryside where one can see them dotted out in the jungles and mountain ranges, maintained by the local communities.

Despite the predominant atheism or agnosticism in Konyanger society, religious traditions remain a significant part of the national culture. Government mandated public holidays often fall on the same days as major religious holidays, cabinet members and local officials regularly pay visits at major shrines, while nominally religious festivals have become cultural staples in all five prefectural capitals, attracting thousands every year. Ancient traditional dress that was once lost to the adoption of streetwear and business attire, has been revived and preserved through direct connection with certain faiths. It is then frequently worn and enjoyed by millions during these days, ensuring the original cultures’ continuation while making artisans and craftsmen in towns and villages thrive.

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'''Folk Religions'''
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A blanket term for the myriad of local faiths, ranging from or incorporating elements of shamanism, polytheism and animism, folk religions are most frequently found in settlements outside urban centers. There is no semblance of organization, with each community usually having their own deities and customs, which usually share elements with the faiths of nearby villages or the wider area. They are heavily influenced by the settlers’ original ethnicities, becoming vastly different in terms of language, dress and traditions depending on the Hangukin, Nihonjin and Zhongguorin origins. During the nearly 150 years of Konyang’s settlement, many new distinctly Konyanger folk religions have sprung up, mostly centered around the rich natural environment or fauna. Positronics are usually welcome to partake if they wish, with a few IPCs known to have become shamans and priests in their local communities. Folk festivals are usually organized between villages and nearby towns in tandem with the secular authorities, with virtually every area enjoying some sort of regional celebration.
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'''Shinto'''
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A religion of exclusively Japanese origin, Shinto is a nonetheless disorganized religion revolving around the existence of kami - minor and major deities connected with the natural world and various aspects of daily life. Initially mostly encountered in the Aoyama prefecture, Shinto practitioners can today be found everywhere, the religion having been adopted by many Konyangers all over the globe. Ever since the arrival on the planet, many new kami have been created or fused with old ones, giving Konyanger Shintoism a distinct identity. A central aspect of Shinto are shrines dedicated to kamis as a place where they can be venerated. Shrines are structures which can vary greatly in their size and architecture, and are usually maintained by the temple’s shrine maidens. Many Konyanger households have also adopted their own house altars, called kamidana, for the enshrining of kami. This has also progressed into a secular tradition as well, with many kamidana being present in a house to grant a family prosperity and good luck. Torii gates are also another cultural icon of Konyang and the Aoyama province in particular, where their presence marks the grounds of a shrine. They can be found commonly in the countryside, with many remaining hidden in jungles and overtaken by moss.
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'''Buddhism'''
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Another blanket term for the many sects of Buddhist teachings originating from East Asia, Buddhist religious elements can be found throughout Konyang in households of all origins. Based on tenets brought to the planet since its colonization, it is most famous on Konyang for the few of its monasteries present in the mountain ranges, as well as its rich history and traditions that have heavy influences in Shinto and many of the folk religions. Buddhist monastic communities are considered a significant part of Konyager heritage that attract hundreds of thousands of visitors every year, with specially designated monasteries allowed to operate freely on land donated by the prefecture.
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'''Chondo'''
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A peasant religion at its core, Chondoism is geographically limited to the coastal areas of Boryeong and Suwon, having a strong association with the piratical sea bandit factions and the downtrodden villages. Having entered a period of transformation and rebirth, it revolves around teachings of social equality under a God, challenging the establishment and building a bond between the rural peasantry for the improvement of their situation. Described more as a movement or political expression rather than a religion, Chondoism doesn’t possess any meaningful formal organization, festivals or temples, with many people mixing up Chondo teachings in the folk religions they actually practice. Due to its association with the sea bandits, practitioners of Chondo are looked on with suspicion by both the public and the state.
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'''Trinary Perfection'''
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The Trinary Perfection is the newest and an almost exclusively positronic religion with a few human followers, preaching the divinity of synthetic life and its eventual ascension with the help of organics for a better future. It is primarily located in Aoyama, with the nearby drone vaults considered a holy place and popular Trinarist pilgrimage destination. It is one of the few formally organized religions, and is somewhat unpopular with the general public and many secular IPCs, due to the perceived teachings of superiority of synthetics over humans. This unpopularity has sometimes gotten out of hand, with protests and violence against Trinary clerics and followers, requiring a substantial police presence around the Trinarist cathedral and other places of worship.

The most notable locations for the Trinary Perfection on the planet are the '''Cathedral of the First Positronic''' and '''Vault Provenance'''. The Cathedral of the First Positronic is a holy site that was built by repurposing a nearby vault. Meanwhile Vault Provenance, a name given by the Trinary Perfection clergy, was the vault which held the drones that led to the development of the first positronic brain. Tens of thousands of the Perfection’s faithful make pilgrimages to both sites, and the money these pilgrims inject into Konyang’s economy has been cited as another reason as to why the planet tolerates its presence. Trinary clergy are often educated on Konyang, and many of the highest-ranking officials in the faith were built on the planet.
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'''Other'''
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Christianity, Islam and other religions and religious movements have found a home in Konyang, having been brought over by both the original colonists as well as the immigrants during the Robotics Boom. These communities have their own temples, clerics and followers in the major cities, being allowed to practice freely under Konyang's tolerant legislation. Out of them, Christianity is the most popular with the native Konyangers, as some ethnic Koreans have professed the Christian faith since their arrival. All are however largely regarded as "foreign" by the vast majority of the population, who treat them with either indifference or benign curiosity.
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Some notable holidays and festivals include:

'''Qixian New Year: January 15th'''

Adopted directly by all three communities from their original shared tradition, the Konyanger Qixian New Year is the most significant and widely celebrated day on the planet’s religious and secular calendar. Taking place yearly on the 15th of January, the date was standardized early on by the government to resolve disputes between the planet’s religions and religious sects that used their own versions of the Lunar and Qixian calendars. Hydrologically, it marks the beginning of the High Tides.

Fireworks are extensively used to mark the occasion at midnight, with people taking to the streets in major cities, towns and villages for the New Year Parade. The parade itself is the central and grandest spectacle of the night, and almost every organized institution in Konyang, from the military to the universities, takes part with dedicated parade teams. The paraders don traditional outfits and carry around enormous and overly decorated sculptures of animals or effigies of deities made of metal, wood or paper. Friendly rivalry is a strong element of the parade, with the participants trying to outdo each other in the creativity, amount and craftsmanship of their icon by grabbing the attention of the crowds. Alcohol, games and street candy are also major parts of the festivities, which reserve entire city blocks for the plethora of shop stands that are put up for the night, as well as the parade itself. In Suwon, it is tradition for the Prime Minister to attend from the veranda of Government House, underneath which the parade always goes through. A remnant from colonial times, this was a prime opportunity for the parade goers to tastefully voice their approval or discontent for the government through subtle signs on the sculptures, chants or dance moves as they passed under the balcony, though it’s not rare for this to get out of hand in times of economic strain and hardship.

For the religious aspect of the holiday, most practitioners start preparing from Qixian New Year’s Eve, with offerings or local religious celebrations and small festivals, mostly in the rural areas. Exchange of gifts is also widespread and varies from area to area, depending on the local culture and predominant religion. Dried moss is a particularly commonplace gift in the Suwon and Boryeong prefectures, meant to give the other person courage to last until the dry season. For most people however, the credit-filled red or white envelope never ceases to be a New Year’s classic, expected by all Konyanger children.

==Konyanger Culture==
Having settled on the planet some two hundred years ago, the people of Konyang have brought with them the societal norms, traditions and culture of their original lands from Earth's East Asia region. While migrant waves during the country's Robotics Boom introduced a myriad of new and different communities in the cities, these have had little impact on Konyanger society at large, which has been shaped by its original ethnicities' backgrounds, its colonial history, and the most recent embrace of IPCs into daily life. Said synthetics now make up a large percentage of the population, adding their own uniqueness and enhancing Konyang's cultural field, despite being brought up to follow the norms established by their human compatriots. By and large, the most fundamental aspects of being a Konyanger are followed in every region of the planet, though each national prefecture has developed its own peculiarities, from local cuisine and fashion, to religion and outlook on life.

===The Three Values===
Konyangers are raised to silently follow some core values, infused into them by both their families and the wider society around them. They are not named, nor are they set in stone or officially taught. Scholars however have grouped them in the three main categories of '''Harmony''', '''Reciprocity''', and '''Face''', around which most values revolve.

'''Harmony''' regards how a person fits in with their environment, conforming with a strict social establishment and expectations. It is a key aspect everywhere, and is how Konyangers perceive a functioning and well organised society. Standing out is permitted within boundaries, with contemporary fads being accepted as just that, and not something that is allowed to disrupt the established order and traditions of the wider public. In the cities, children are expected to follow certain predetermined paths, get a stable career and provide for their parents later in life. Questioning rules is something an adult will do with great difficulty and consideration, while silently enduring a situation is viewed as a sign of great virtue and patience. A proper Konyanger is always expected to be courteous towards strangers and the elders, as well as maintain a level of awareness of the public mood and their surroundings. Talking above a whisper on a packed city bus or train for example, would be considered rather awkward, or even rude, by the rest of the passengers. This emphasis on social harmony on Konyang can go to lengths that people from other countries may find weird; never will a Konyanger think of cutting in line as they stand in a queue, nor will it cross their mind to cross a road in the city without going through the crosswalk or under a red light, even in light traffic. Asking for a raise is considered taboo, and in many cases workers will find their careers reaching a ceiling due to the fallout of transfering to a different company. Penalties for breaking the social harmony are not immediately apparent to an outsider, since complaining of one's behavior and creating a scene is not something that most Konyangers will find easy to do, nor will the police be called in most cases unless the act is egregious or criminal. For a person living there however, it is something that becomes apparent for both themselves and their close ones. Especially in more tight knit communities in the towns and villages of the countryside, ostracization is a real threat a person's social environment can use against them to prevent them from standing out.

'''Reciprocity''' is a concept not dissimilar to the sense of community that many other colonial nations experienced during their founding days, still persisting in daily life on Konyang. It is the sense that people have a duty to assist each other, even if they are unacquainted. This is extremely prevalent in the rural areas, where the smaller populations create a more personal dimension between the inhabitants of the village. Trading for goods and services between neighbors and families is a very common thing both there and in the cities, stemming directly from the cultural phenomenon of reciprocity. On Konyang, when someone offers help, it is only proper for you to offer something in return at some point in the future. This may range from something simple such as hand-me-down clothes or groceries, to favors or even sums of money. Everyone, no matter their situation, is expected to participate in this process according to their means; During certain holidays or festivities, families keep track of others that they need to reciprocate to, often leading to huge dinners with entire city blocks or the whole village coming to celebrate together.

'''Face''' is a broad and hard to translate culmination of all the above virtues, critical to the fabric of society. It can be considered to be the "social capital" for a Konyanger and their family, determined by the set of appearances and behaviors they use to interact with the world. As long as a person progresses according to societal rules, keeping up with the ideals of harmony and reciprocity, they are said to have "face". This is an important concept applying to all rungs of society, as average individuals and the biggest Konyanger conglomerates alike strive to maintain their level of dignity and honor. Without it one is considered to live in disgrace, affecting both themselves and anyone whom they might associate with. A person who has suffered a loss of face may, for example, be excluded from social events, be avoided on the street or even lose their job on account of strict Konyanger corporate ethics codes. Families tend hide the more "shameful" secrets in fear that they might be discovered, particularly in the countryside, and disgraced family members are often not spoken of again until their face is sufficiently rehabilitated. Public functionaries and well-known figures are also extremely considerate of their image, with scandals in both government and the corporate world often leading to scapegoating and ceremonial dismissal of those deemed at fault. It is not uncommon for low-level business officials to resign in disgrace on live TV, begging the public's forgiveness and taking the blame so that their company can save face.

The social pressure upon Konyangers has always been enormous compared to other developed planets across the Spur, though more and more young people rise to question and reject the status quo. Counterculture movements have always been prevalent in the cities, especially amongst the student movements both in the present day and during colonial times. Resistance to what they call an oppressive social regime has led to the emergence of new genres of music, fashion and art, with the youth pioneering ever more novel and often provocative forms of self expression. While older generations and society at large may consider them "fads" and "phases" that the youth will eventually "grow up" from, it is largely from these culture movements that things such as IPC rights rose from to become widespread and staple elements of Konyang.

===Work Culture===
White collar employment is a major part of millions of Konyangers' lives, more so than people from other countries. Working for a local company is something a lot more intricate than how it is abroad, transcending the personal dimension one might have about their pay and career. For a Konyanger conglomerate, employment is a bond between the employer and the employee, from which both rights and responsibilities are born. Loyalty to the workplace plays a great role in people's lives, with employees expected to remain in their position for even their entire careers. Raises, promotions and benefits are handed out primarily based on time served rather than merit, rewarding the quiet and dedicated office worker. Knowing your place in the chain is very important in the office, as is observing decorum and the usually strict dress and ethics codes put down by the company. Unspoken rules dominate these environments, creating their own microcosm that reflects and accentuates the three values of Konyanger culture. It is custom that management treat their employees as part of an extended family; Konyanger corporations and firms have some of the best benefits packages, while no matter how badly underperforming, a loyal employee will never be fired, almost certainly receiving some sort of different post or responsibility that will accommodate them better instead. In exchange, full adherence to company rules is demanded, as well as a variety of personal initiatives will be expected, even if they are not included in the official responsibilities of the job. Personal donations for office events, undertaking additional work and regular overtime are very common expectations for workers, with the last two being particularly taxing. The old Earther concept of a "salaryman" is fully translatable to Konyang's white collar corporate culture, with many people putting work above their personal lives, often to a fault. Those that are unable to or refuse to integrate with the system are silently and swiftly pushed out, losing face and reputation between the corporate circles, blackening their record and significantly diminishing their chances of working at a different large Konyanger company.

The introduction of synthetics has exacerbated the workload issue. Konyanger employees are always expected to put in more hours to remain competitive against their synthetic counterparts, many of them willing to go to far greater lengths than what is healthy or required by their employer. The issue, particularly in Suwon, has grown to such an extent that local laws were passed, limiting IPC overtime work as well as making leaves mandatory for them in order for humans to catch up more easily. Such legislation has been fiercely debated as unconstitutional and infringing on the rights of synthetic citizens, nonetheless remaining in effect as a temporary, much needed measure. While a strong work ethic is a very common trait, the rural populace is generally more relaxed than their urban counterparts.

Most private local conglomerates such as PACHROM, big law firms, banks or shipping companies are more often than not exclusively interested in hiring Konyangers, Konyanger IPCs or people of shared descent, turning away foreigners apart from token numbers each year. This is due to a widespread perception that only Konyangers understand the fundamentals of the corporate culture, and thus will conform and not raise issues about the more oppressive elements of their employment. The more artistically inclined studios such as Konymation however, regularly bring in talent from abroad to enrich their style and productions. Creativity in Konyang's media industry is encouraged to thrive in the workplace, and while crunching and overtime are not unheard of, most studios are admittedly more relaxed environments compared to the strict office complexes. Blue collar work on the other hand, largely is in a rather different situation when it comes to obligations and expectations. As Konyang's industrial heartland rests within the prefecture of New Hong Kong, the concepts of forced overtime, unwritten rules and subservience to management do not exist, thanks to the region's history of robust labor unions and collective bargaining.

==Life in Konyang==

===Urban Life===
The Konyang of the 2460s bears little resemblance to the minor colony of 2305. Expansive cities dot its islands, with everyday life flowing very similarly to other advanced societies abroad. Its major urban centers are the respective capitals of each prefecture, with Suwon, Point Verdant and New Hong Kong having the heaviest density. Living in these areas has both its advantages and drawbacks, as Konyang's challenging landscape required innovative and compact planning. Surrounded by the sea on one side and either jungle, mountains, or both on the other, Konyanger cities tend to follow a pattern which consists of a sprawling and chaotic urban network orbiting dense downtowns. Cramped apartment blocks are particularly popular, an unfortunate staple of the planet's "city charm", with the majority of the denizens living in so called "shoebox studios" due to the limited planning space and the general lack of raw materials such as steel. In the city, a large living space is a luxury that few can afford without sacrificing proximity to the central districts, where most of the economic activity is present. High rents are the norm in these situations, and unsurprisingly, the rich have the best pieces of real estate in Suwon and Point Verdant, owning entire buildings or large apartments with a seaside view in the heart of the urban center.

Apart from the job security and higher salaries offered by office work, urban life on Konyang presents limitless opportunities for nightlife and entertainment, as well as bustling shopping districts dedicated entirely to attracting tourists and people from out of town. Additionally, services are very well developed in the cities, with a shop at every corner catered to every need a person might virtually have. Small restaurants and takeout spots provide much needed and cheap hot meals for salarymen to grab during their small lunch breaks, many situated strategically within convenient reach of the big firms and office complexes. Healthcare and repairs are readily available in the form of hospitals and KRC clinics, as well as ready access to the country's biggest ports and space shuttledromes. Public transport is managed through a system of light urban rail and buses, and is regarded as essential for day-to-day movement; thanks to the rapid expansion during the Robotics Boom, poor planning has resulted in mazes of roads that are near always congested. Car traffic can delay commuters for hours in the overcrowded cities, despite Konyang's automobile industry trying to create even more compact and energy efficient cars. The snarled traffic is, in an odd way, a symbol of pride for some Konyangers. The mere fact that they have enough vehicles to have traffic issues is, compared to the rest of the outer ring, a symbol of the prosperity that has resulted from the planet's robotics industry.

However, smaller towns outside of the more famous centers have a different standard of living, with most being employed in water-related industries or manufacturing jobs. Wood is used as the primary material for construction, giving Konyanger towns a signature look that mixes modern technological achievements with centuries-old designs. A significant upside to life in these areas is the relative abundance of space, allowing for single-house homes outside of the centers, attracting pensioners and large working class families. Most towns are sustained by a nearby farming complex, dam or industrial center where the majority of the population is employed, while additionally serving as a hub for the surrounding villages that depend on it. Regional health centers, schools and other services can in many cases only be found at such towns, making them beacons for the wider area. The standard is not the same for all however, as many of these former "boom towns" of the robotics industry are entering into a spiral of decay due to an inability to continue to maintain their buildings and utilities. The cessation of government grants from the Alliance, the increase in price of construction materials from the offworld and many more calamities brought on by the phoron shortage have made these places unsustainable, leading to a flight of the younger population in waves of increased urbanization, contributing negatively to the growth and skyrocketing the mean age of the inhabitants.

===Rural Life===
[[File:Pylon.png|thumb|right|Convoluted electricity pylons are a very common sight in the countryside.]]
Life in less populated areas and islands is generally regarded as more carefree, with coastal villages being relatively self-sustaining and liberated from the complicated stresses and cramped environments found in cities. Such settlements are dedicated to aquaculture, farming algae, as well as moss collection. One would struggle to find a village not built almost entirely out of wood, with lumberyards frequently dotting the countryside to exploit the lush jungles. Fishing is a major source of subsistence for rural people, with Konyangers being taught how to fish an take to the sea from a relatively young age. Most families usually own a boat, passed down from each generation to the next as a heirloom and major financial asset. Needless to say, virtually all Konyangers are apt swimmers from childhood, with diving being regarded as both a popular sport and a timeless tradition; some villages specialize in the export of certain goods that must be collected underwater by hand, at reefs and moss-covered seabeds, requiring diving which is often done without equipment. Farming, to a more limited extent, is also a big source of income for rural families. As adequately sized clearings are rare in the surrounding jungle, conventionally farming the boggy, heavily wooded Konyanger terrain is impossible without the low-scale terraforming conducted in the early colonial days. Today, most "farmers" delve into their plots of land inside the jungle to harvest the fruit, moss and other goods that grow naturally. Surprising as it may be, many IPCs find themselves in these communities, finding work in manual labour or in the fields. Considered fully integrated, synthetics participate fully in a village's social life, playing an important part of the social fabric and the workforce. It is not uncommon for a village to possess a KRC repair station and charging spots dedicated to positronics, and village shops are always stocked with goods and materials specifically for the IPC inhabitants.

Much care is given to keep the traditions of the original colonists alive, with old rituals thriving and sometimes only found in the rural villages. Shrines belonging to local religions are placed in prominent positions within the village, with many rural Konyangers having some form of memory of themselves playing, praying or celebrating in the presence of a statue of an animal deity or god. Traditional music, instruments and the art of making them remain vibrant in countryside culture as well, being in stark difference to the heavily industrialized electronic and pop music of the cities. Most crucial and known of all are the festivals, with every village being known for their own unique twist and tradition. People from all over the world flock to the rural areas during the holidays just to attend, with many involving big parades, shows, games and large amounts of local delicacies. The government is very supporting of such customs, not only for the planet’s cultural heritage but also as an important tourist attraction for both Alliance and Coalition visitors. Religious undertones are a lot more prominent in these celebrations and in village life in general, as are the concepts of family and conservative Konyanger values; respect and reverence of ancestors and the elderly are particularly important.

===Mariner Life===
Sailors, workers in remote hydroelectric rigs, radio technicians on scattered islands and anyone else who spends considerable amounts of time surrounded by the planet's vast seas and oceans is considered a mariner, an often thankless line of work in which millions of people are engaged. A life at sea means a life away from the comfort of family and friends, a life filled with danger and the unknown. As such, a stoic outlook is often required to cope with these harsh realities, with many aged mariners are hardened from decades of hard work and struggle against waves, cold and rain. In fact, the sight of thick, worn-out raincoats is indicative of a person's life as a mariner, with flocks of yellow and orange-jacketed figures being very common in the large port-towns and cities of Konyang. Sailors and outpost technicians are expected to spend multiple months on a journey or at their post, the former sometimes being afforded short breaks at various resupply stops along the way. This lifestyle is not for naught however, as salaries for these professions far exceed the wages of corresponding employment on land. Many mariners can afford to both support a family and bank funds for the future, their income improving substantially as they move up the ranks. Entire coastal villages and towns offer up their men, women and synthetics to the sea, who in turn bring back enough capital to completely transform the area with beautiful buildings and public spaces; the nicer a coastal settlement appears, the more chances it is dedicated to some mariner-related industry. It is not uncommon for even the lowliest of sailors to eventually own a vacation home in the countryside in addition to their primary residence, and many high-ranking captains and rig managers combine their wages to purchase their own merchant ship, giving birth to an ever increasing number of shipping companies.

The mariner lifestyle has subsequently created a specific subculture they and their families all in some way or another share, involving both traditional Konyanger values and traditions of the sea. Fidelity and supportiveness are particularly important for the mariner's relatives to exhibit, and it is in some way socially mandated. Seafarers regularly receive gifts, provisions and mail from home or the locals in the more distant ports they visit, and households may throw large parties to celebrate the homecoming of a relative after a particularly lengthy journey. Religious talismans and charms are sometimes carried for good luck, though most are generally not superstitious. Cleanliness is a point of pride for mariners, and since freshwater is not an issue, a clean shaven appearance is extremely common on ships and sea stations.

==Media==
Public media in Konyang is a powerful industry, and as broad as it may seem, it is very tightly knit. Aside from galactic-wide reruns and broadcasts of other nation’s shows, little seems to stand out - except the audio broadcast and illustrated artistic avenues. These two are well-refined artistic giants compared to other forms of entertainment on the planet.

A huge portion of the planet’s political views and very “personality” are channeled through its larger studios, where many are found enthused to spread its culture galaxy-wide.

===Audio Broadcast===
Radio, or more broadly the global net of wireless communication, is a huge industry in Konyang. Many IPCs have found harmless additions to their daily lives to be the standard headset and wearable radio kit, permitting any number of fast EAL communication planet-wide streamed directly into their receptors. While not particularly lucrative, the major broadcast stations have made quick work to monopolize their grip over this method of communication. Analog radio has also held a prominent position in people's routine, dating back to early colonial times. Most households maintain an analog radio set able to tune in to Konyang's many different stations that broadcast day and night on a planetary scale. Mariners especially make frequent use of the radio, with talk shows, news, and shipping forecasts keeping them company and up to date along their voyages in the open seas.

'''Matsumoto’s Talk and Walk'''

Meant for the on-the-go working IPC, this Encoded Audio Language bluespace broadcast is run by a particularly energetic “Matsumoto.” Though the true nature or even appearance of Matsumoto is unknown, they have constructed a massive following built from IPCs who obsessively strive to uphold their strict, rigid lifestyle. Talk and Walk states clear affiliation with multiple government and corporate organizations, particularly those with Hephaestus Industries. Matsumoto will often promote charitable foundations or corporate products found on Konyang, especially to those tuning in to their tourist-centric broadcast. When speaking in Sol Common, they take on a fast-paced and high-pitched masculine tone. They are frequently put on loudspeakers in popular tourist destinations, with recordings accompanying stylized eyeballs which track passerbys.

'''Great Blue Dot'''

Hidden somewhere in the depths of Konyang’s shallow seas is a moving, unseen broadcast station which has gone undetected since its first broadcast in 2430. It is known as the Great Blue Dot, attributed to what researchers believe to be its tremendous size and the color of its marker on sea-charts. While itself illegally broadcasts to every openly-receiving piece of hardware on the southern hemisphere of the planet, little can be gleaned of the actual broadcasts themselves. From incoherent gibberish of “swarms of wasps,” to “hives in the skies,” the outgoing material is poorly formed at best. Receiving these broadcasts is not illegal, contrarily, and the sheer number of watchful eyes bouncing back to the broadcast keeps its location perpetually hidden from local authorities. Search efforts for the source of the Great Blue Dot stopped in May of 2462, due to “excessive cost for little reward,” police officials say.

====Visual Animation====
[[File:Konyang anime.png|thumb|Seasons 1-14 of BELIEVE!~, one of the flagship animations of Konyang entertainment industry. ]]
Animated media is commonplace on Konyang, and chief among the many outlets that enhance its unique culture. Whereas hundreds, perhaps thousands of animated studios take up projects annually, very few make critical success. By far the most famous and successful studio, Konymation, remains a staple in everyday life, employing thousands throughout the planet in drawing, voicing and animating high budget movies and series of all kinds and genres. The industry, despite computer-aided assistance, heavily leans on IPC labor and organic oversight for its newly-animated creations. This makes it very costly, and few endeavors pay off. Some examples of those that succeeded are below.

'''Stormman'''

A very popular series created by Konymation, Stormman has been described as a staple animation by both human and IPC audiences. Aimed primarily at young adults, the action packed franchise features the masked protagonist, Stormman, harnessing the power of Konyang’s stormy and thunderous weather with his high-tech suit, battling crime and apocalyptic alien invaders alike, all while trying to lead a normal life. Eight seasons have been released so far, whereas merchandise of all sorts are widely prominent as well as lucrative.

'''Believe!~ (In the Time)'''

A hit animated series renowned for its choppy, quick action sequences led by a stoic heroine by the name of '''Marie,''' a time traveling Venusian shell IPC from the 2460’s. Targeted primarily at IPC audiences, it takes place in the pre-war “wild west” Frontier at around the early warp era. Being released in 2435, it has claimed fame as a “hit 30’s classic,” still being aired on prime broadcast stations globally in subtitled Sol Common. To organic viewers, much of the dialogue, tones or consistency is said to be lost in a muddle of incomprehensibly fast shoot-out scenes and plot twists that happen for split-seconds.

====Comics====
Spearheaded by Mujigae Publishing, the planet's comic sector has seen great successes that brought paper back into the mainstream. Comic books have a huge share of the market on Konyang, and is perhaps the largest industry of its kind to exist in any civilized world in the Orion Spur. Comic genres vary from children-oriented adventures, to gritty, graphic murder mysteries for adults, all of which may incorporate elements of fantasy and superheroes. Movie and animation adaptations of Mujigae's comics are also a common practice used to boost numbers, making readers able to see their favourite stories and characters on the big screen.

'''Inspector 404/Kyung-Sun'''

[[File:Konyang comic.png|thumb|The front cover for the latest edition of I404, "Under the Shadows," featuring Kyung-Sun with superintendent Hayashi in the background.]]
Since its debut in the issue ''“Phantoms of Suwon,”'' the series simply referred to as I404 is the most popular comic in the Orion Spur, and Konyang’s most profitable media franchise. The series centers around the titular '''Inspector 404,''' a shell IPC who goes by the alias of Kyung-Sun, in a bleak and highly dystopian Konyanger cityscape. While the series itself starts upon a Suwon highrise, the character would go on to travel the world in its 67 current issues. Issue #67, known as “Under the Shadows,” revolves around the Kyung-Sun going up against the same police establishment he had been serving, pitting himself against corrupt police superintendent Hayashi.

'''The Corrupted'''

Written by former National Police detective Yu-Mi Han and originally published in 2464, The Corrupted is a successful yet controversial detective thriller set in Suwon which is regarded as a more grounded, realistic story than the competing Inspector 404. In first days of Konyang’s independence Detective Sergeant Dae-Jung Song and his assistant Detective Synthetic Duri-IU#21 (later Detective Duri Ryu) uncover a conspiracy by the Trinary Perfection to overthrow its government, turning the planet into a theocracy under a Trinary leader known as “The Patriarch.” Over the course of the series Song and Ryu discover the Trinary Perfection intends to infect synthetic citizens with a virus distributed through overloaders known as “go-sticks,” and the series culminates in a battle between the National Police — aided by 5-Cheung and the Sea Bandits — and Trinary Perfection in the streets of Suwon when their conspiracy is uncovered. Criticized by the Trinary Perfection as, “baseless propaganda,” — a comment put on the back of the series’ first omnibus — The Corrupted has become increasingly popular during Konyang’s ongoing viral outbreak. Han — herself an IPC residing in Suwon — has used its fame to bring attention to the ongoing crisis and encourage cooperation with law enforcement.

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==Fashion==
Being as moist as it is, one would expect the average Konyanger outfits to consist of drysuits and reflective outerwear, with raincoats and the like. This is the case in the majority of urban settings, whereas people in the villages take quite their own unique spin on their fashion choices.

Insulation from water is difficult to come by without some form of thermal insulation coming with it. This is clearly suboptimal, seeing as beating the heat is just as important as staying dry here. In their ingenuity, rural Konyangers have utilized a “miracle weave” of natural fibers acquired from the feathers of much avian wildlife planetside. Replicating the byproducts of these feathers has proven impossible, leaving only hunting to produce the necessities for the weave. Traditional villages take immense pride in their unique attire, many calling it the most important difference between them and the cities. Combining vibrant colours and utility, Konyanger fields are regularly dotted with farmers sporting colourful ponchos, robes and traditional Gat headwear. Most rural Konyanger “fashion” draws from this weave in some form - resulting in cool, waterproof, and sharp-looking outerwear resembling a poncho in most cases. More complex items such as jackets and legwear are quite expensive and marketed as luxury items for the elite, with the weave still in quite high demand.

Urban fashion on the other hand is rather detached from the realities of that of the villages. The natural, feather based fabrics are rarely found amongst the denizens of the large cities, while those who do own them are quickly singled out as either people from the countryside, or individuals of a higher class. Rainy weather still being the primary issue, city dwellers have adopted a different stance, preferring clothes of industrial origin.

In combination with normal everyday clothing items, these Konyangers have adopted a heavy use of water resistant plastics. Stemming from the first years of settlement on the planet, plastic and translucent raincoats were slowly shaped into all sorts of jackets, coats and pants, creating a more comfortable and utilitarian approach to keeping clothes dry. Slowly developing into a fashion sense, and with research on more flexible materials, plastic-based attire has culminated into being the norm. LED lights, translucency and water resistance are the staples of this trend, the youth and clothes designers taking it a step further, with holographic microprojectors being woven and fluorescent substances infused into the material, creating quite the cutting edge in fashion.

==Sports==

Sports have been a pastime of countless Konyangers since the planet's colonization, with many of the sports now enjoyed being brought from Earth during its initial founding, often with little to no adaptation. The most popular sports vary from prefecture to prefecture, with football, basketball, and baseball as the most common. Volleyball ekes out a close fourth place, though many more sports are played on the planet.

Characteristic of the planet's stance towards synthetics, most sports have both IPC and human leagues. Synthetic sports originally started out as a gimmick during the initial development of IPCs - a publicity stunt and way for up-and-coming designers to prove the dexterity of new chassis and responsiveness of new brains. After a friendly challenge between a Zeng-Hu and Terraneus design team during the early days of synthetic development, IPC sports became a common facet of Konyanger life, with leagues seeing the opportunity to create matches that pushed the games to their limits and while celebrating the planet's accomplishments. Since their founding, most IPC sports leagues have grappled on whether or not to limit the scope of modifications that a frame can carry. Proponents of unrestricted modification argue that the leagues were founded as a contest of engineering as opposed to the skills of individual players, while opponents have countered that such a practice would turn the games into a 'pay-to-win' affair, with entire tournaments decided by the team with the deepest purse. Presently, both schools of thought can be seen across various sports leagues, with each take different views on the matter.

IPCs themselves are more often spectators than players of sports, as both the physical advantage that many frames enjoy over a human, alongside the regular wear-and-tear that constant physical activity exerts on a frame render casual games an occasionally costly proposition. On the other hand, professional IPC athletes proudly wear their legacy of being on the cutting edge of chassis design, with many of them often sporting bespoke modifications that allow them to gain the edge on the field. This trend shows no sign of slowing down, even after Konyanger independence, although with IPCs seeking contracts with teams to finance their sports-grade frames as opposed to being commissioned outright by the teams themselves.

Despite repeated efforts by government ministries to create a new national sport to serve as another symbol of Konyang, ranging from football in freshwater swamps to boat racing among mariners, and more, none of these attempts have managed to surpass the universal acclaim and popularity of old Earth sports. One controversial sport has remained, however: botfighting. Sparring between IPCs is often broadcasted even off-planet and maintains a loyal following among Konyangers who see it as a natural extension of various martial arts and combat sports present throughout the Spur. The sport has a checkered past with several failed attempts in the parliament to ban the practice, citing that IPC contestants were forced to fight before general emancipation. Although safeguards were present even during the initial days of botfighting in order to comply with self-preservation directives, regulations passed since then have made the present sport far safer than its inception, much to the derision of older fans.

===Baseball===
Baseball is unofficially regarded as the national sport of the Republic of Konyang, having been brought to the planet by its founding colonists and remained a popular sport to date. The Konyang League, divided into the major and minor leagues, is the main baseball league in the planet, with organic and synthetic sections for both. Organic Konyangers still play in Solarian baseball leagues, even after secession, but synthetic teams play in the Coalition’s leagues. Both organic and synthetic Konyangers are regarded as some of the best baseball players in the modern Spur, and a sufficiently talented player can find themselves playing abroad and earning a significant amount of money for doing so.

'''Konyang Major League'''

The Konyanger Major League is dominated by teams from the planet’s major cities such as Suwon and New Hong Kong, with the most prominent players of these teams becoming celebrities in their own right. The major teams of Konyang bring in billions of credits and are vital parts of their cities, with local notables vying to own one and city officials fighting to have stadiums built in their districts. Organized crime groups, such as 5-Cheung and the Benevolent Guild, are known to take their cuts too, “helping” businesses secure contracts for the teams and their stadiums, then funneling their cut of the money back into their illicit operations.

One of the only synthetic-exclusive sports leagues in the modern Spur, the Konyang Major League (synthetic) falls under a unique series of rules. Synthetics must, by league rules, be free and have at least Konyang residency, and most members come from Konyang. Synthetics are allowed to self-modify but must, per league rules, not use “performance enhancing” augments such as ballistic computers or leg actuators. One exception is for after-market heat-sinks used by shells, who would otherwise suffer from heat circulation issues rendering them unable to play. These rules were recently tested by Suwon Sea Bandit team captain Iseul-52, a shell IPC who replaced her legs with Zeng-Hu frame equivalents. After a two month investigation it was deemed an illegal modification. Teams can place any synthetic into any position, but lighter frames — baselines, Zeng-Hu frames, and so on — tend to be outfielders, with heavier units such as industrials serving as pitchers and basemen. Shells are often the “face” of the teams, serving as team captains and floating between the other rules. Only the Boryeong Shelfers go against this shells-as-captains trend, with G2 industrial Myung “Sonny” Sun serving as their team captain.

'''Konyang Major League Teams'''

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'''Suwon Sea Bandits'''
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Based on Konyang’s capital and colored black, gold, and white, the Sea Bandits a recently ascendant team after a long slump of losses during the mid-25th century, having recently won the 2465 Konyang Series and the coveted Jeweler Cup for both the organic and synthetic leagues — a first for any team. Most Bandits are locals from Suwon, with few originating from other cities and only one — human team shortstop William “Wok” Fitzroy, originally from Callisto — coming from off-world, and this policy of local recruitment has kept the Bandits a favorite in Suwon even during their long period of losses. The team has built more goodwill by holding regular charity games after the rampancy crisis, donating the profits to Suwon’s recovery. Their name comes from Konyang’s sea bandits — pirates that operate out of its remote islands — and has long refused to change its name for any reason. The Bandits winning the ‘66 Series has been viewed by many in Konyang’s capital as a sign their city is bouncing back after the rampancy crisis, and has made them more popular in their hometown than ever. Their mascot is Moon the Marauder, a stylized pirate who claims to be the most infamous bandit on Konyang and is in constant search of more treasure. Moon has a rivalry with the Cloudbursts’ mascot, Lieutenant Commander Yamada, and has sworn to evade justice for as long as possible. Whether Moon escapes Yamada depends on if the Sea Bandits beat the Cloudbursts. If they do, the Marauder gets away from his pursuer — but Yamada always manages to pick up the trail before the next season.

The human Bandits are led by team captain Kwang-Sun “Cap’n K” Nae. Captain Nae is a larger-than-life figure who typically attends press conferences and events wearing a costume pirate hat taken from the team’s mascot and speaking in what the team manager identifies as, “a piratical accent.” His co-captain for the synthetic team is Iseul-52, a shell IPCand pitcher who recently drew controversy by replacing her legs with Zeng-Hu frame equivalents. Eventually deemed an illegal modification by the league, her comments that she’d do, “anything to win,” make her a controversial figure now — even with her original legs reinstalled. Iseul has a very public rivalry with Shelfers team captain Myung “Sonny” Sun, having pitched a perfect no hitter against the G2 in 2466 and brought his Jeweler Cup dreams to an end. Captains Nae and Iseul have a good working relationship and often appear in joint promotions, with both appearing in several government-produced PSAs during and after the rampancy crisis.

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'''Aoyama Roboticists'''
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Arguably the best-funded team in the league, the Aoyama Roboticists’ colors are gold and green: the same as their sponsors, Einstein Engines. The Roboticists have a larger number of off-world fans than any other team on Konyang and are frequently watched by Einstein employees, who view them as “their team.” Well-funded and well-trained, most human Roboticists come from outside Aoyama and even offworld, with their synthetic team requiring a prospective member to demonstrate they were made by Einstein — making them the only majority-shell team in the league. As a result, while the human Roboticists have consistently been excellent — making it all the way to the Konyang Series game in ‘65 only to lose to the Sea Bandits — the synthetic Roboticists have consistently struggled compared to other teams made of a more diverse synthetic roster. They are sometimes painted as a villain by other teams, and the Roboticists play into these rivalries — often their away games draw more tickets to the home team’s stadium than any other game. Their mascot is a stylized Albert Einstein wearing an Einstein Engines labcoat.

The human Roboticists are led by the only non-Konyanger captain in the major league, Mercuryian Floyd “Howie” Howell. Captain Howell is a competent, if somewhat boring, man who is a gifted coordinator. Both of his parents, and all of his siblings, work for Einstein, and he often throws the ceremonial first pitch of Einstein-run employee team-building baseball games in Aoyama. His organic counterpart is Richard the Magnificent, a dashing-looking shell designed to resemble a Callistean known for talking in an outlandish Earther accent. Richard is popular despite his team’s lack of success and often makes appearances on talk shows and podcasts. His likeness has even been featured as a background character in Believe!~ (In the Time), and Richard himself is rumored to lend his voice to unvoiced animals in the show, instead making noises. He has never officially confirmed this.

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'''Boryeong Shelfers'''
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Colored green, white, and red, the Boryeong Shelfers are a mid-ranked team currently stuck in something of a rut in the major leagues, having last won the Jeweler Cup in 2442 — over twenty years ago! Shelfers — like the animal they’re named after — come from across Konyang, but most originate in the greater Boryeong Prefecture and its major cities, such as New Busan. The Shelfers are owned by Go-Go Gwok (formerly known as Gwok-0783), the CEO of Gwok Group, and the team is featured in many Gwok promotions, with players appearing in everything from radio ads to TV commercials to packaging. Gwok herself has injected significant funding into the team and is rumored to be working on ensuring they capture the Jeweler Cup by 2470 — something that has been growing more realistic, with the Shelfers consistently finishing higher in the Major Leagues each year. Their mascot is a Shelfer wearing a team jersey who they claimed grew legs (and arms) out of his sheer desire to see the team play.

The human Shelfers are captained by Hee-Young “Hehe” Ryuk, a daughter of two Boryeong hydroponics workers who’s become a local hero in the Prefecture for her down-to-earth nature and refusal to accept contracts for any other team. Her nickname comes from Ryuk’s habit of pranking her team and others, such as an incident where she replaced random practice balls with identical copies filled with confetti and designed to break open after hitting a bat. Ryuk has a well-known dislike of Gamblers human captain Jin-Sang Gwak, a man she views as a criminal first and a player second. Standing opposite her on the synthetic Shelfers is Captain Myung “Sonny” Sun, a G2 industrial and former Gwok Corp worker. Sonny is one of the tallest players in the League and often regarded as its best power hitter, having scored more homeruns than any other synthetic player. Captain Iseul of the Sea Bandits has a very public rivalry with Sonny, having struck the G2 out several times — most recently in 2466, when she brought the Shelfers’ Jeweler Cup dreams to an end. Sonny, for his part, is one of the few players to hit a homer on one of Iseul’s pitches every time during a game, last doing so in 2465. Breaking from the rivalry in a show of support after the rampancy crisis, Manny signed and sold the bat he used to hit every one of Iseul’s pitches at auction and donated the proceeds to Suwon’s recovery fund.

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'''Ganzaodeng Gamblers'''
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Colored purple, black, and white, the Ganzaodeng Gamblers call back to their city’s days as a boomtown during the robotics boom, when gambling halls were on almost every corner. Gamblers come from across Konyang, and the human team has a significant minority of players from New Hai Phong. Fittingly for their name, their performance has been wildly inconsistent: over the past ten years they’ve won the Jeweler Cup (in 2452), placed lowest overall (2455), and came in second overall twice (2449, 2553). Fans of the team refer to this as “Gambler odds” and Ganzaodeng has many legal and semi-legal sports betting businesses — many associated with organized crime — based around betting how well the Gamblers will place this season. Hai Phongese organized crime has long been rumored to be involved in betting around the Gamblers, but the National Police have never discovered formal evidence of such. The mascot of the Gamblers is a deck of cards wearing the team’s jersey called the Ganzaodeng Ace as the deck is said to contain just aces.

The human Gamblers are captained by Jin-Sang Gwak, one of the league’s best shortstops and a man long accused of being involved in game fixing — though nothing has ever been proven. Gwak maintains a close relationship with New Hai Phong, where he plays during the offseason, and is viewed by many on the team as a bridge between its Konyanger and Haiphongese players. His counterpart on the synthetic team is Youngsoo “Grenadier” Baek, a KAF veteran known for his aggressive pitching style who missed the 2465 season due to volunteering for military service during the rampancy crisis. Captains Gwak and Baek, despite their similar surnames, do not get along. Where Gwak is lackadaisical and flirts with corruption, Baek is disciplined — even draconian — and held as incorruptible. What will happen as the captains continue to be at odds is any player’s guess, but it certainly does benefit Ganzaodeng’s betting industry.

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'''New Hong Kong Cloudbursts'''
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Colored red, orange, and grey, the Cloudbursts represent New Hong Kong and derive their name from the city’s infamously poor weather. The performance divide between the human and synthetic teams is stark: while the human cloudbursts are regarded as the worst team in the major leagues, having never won a Jeweler Cup, the synthetic Cloudbursts are regarded as one of the best teams in their league, having most recently won the cup in 2465 in a close game against the Sea Bandits. This division has been called, by some sports reporters, the result of New Hong Kong having a majority synthetic population, and the prefecture’s bad weather making it difficult to draw players in for its human team. The mascot of the Cloudbursts is Lieutenant Commander Yamada, a stylized Konyang Aerospace Forces — formerly Solarian Navy — officer who has a rivalry with the Sea Bandits’ Moon the Marauder, with Yanada publicly swearing he’ll chase down the brigand until the end of time. Whether Yamada catches Moon depends on if the Cloudbursts win their game against the Sea Bandits — but the Marauder always manages to slip from his prison before the next season starts.

The beleaguered human Cloudbursts are led by Captain Min-Jee “Minty” Seong, the oldest team captain in the league and a veteran pitcher. The longest-serving member of the Cloudbursts, Seong is expected to retire by the end of the decade — leaving her team in even more uncertain circumstances. As a captain she has done what she can to make the Cloudbursts into a winning team, but has yet to win the Jeweler Cup — the highest she’s had them place is third overall. Her counterpart on the synthetic team is Jinjing “Bandit” Wu, a catcher and former Solarian Navy IPC who became a Konyanger when her destroyer chose to stay and fight for Konyang rather than defecting to a warlord state. Widely known as a patriotic Konyanger, Wu is one of the few players to wear a hachimaki on the field. Off of it, she has long been an advocate for the rights of IPC refugees fleeing unrest or oppression elsewhere in the Spur.

</div></div>
<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
'''Ushishir Yōkai'''
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">

Colored white, purple, and red, the Ushishir Yōkai (stylized Yokai abroad) hail from Konyang’s least populated prefecture but punch well above their population, having recently won the hunan Jeweler Cup in 2461 and the synthetic Jeweler Cup in 2463 — the first team to ever win the series. Both the human and synthetic Yõkai are considered to be competent and competitive teams but had a bad year in the ‘66 season, with an early season injury having put team captain Aki Miura out of commission and the synthetic team losing to the Shelfers in the 9th inning in one of the closest games of the year. As a small city in a small prefecture, the Yōkai’s human team recruits many players from across the Coalition and maintains only a slim majority of Konyangers. The Yōkai’s foreign players have never attracted the ire of their counterparts in the Roboticists, potentially due to most coming from the Coalition and the team’s lack of a corporate sponsor — instead being owned and operated by local businessman Takeshi Furukawa, CEO of Furukawa Footwear — a midlevel corporation whose products can be found in stores across Konyang.

The human Yōkai are captained by Aki “Mickey” Miura, freshly returned from a nearly career-ending injury to his leg in the ‘66 series. Captain Miura is a gregarious and friendly man known for his distinctive pencil mustache and slightly grey hair, being only a year younger than Cloudbursts captain Min-Jee Seong. A power hitter, he is famous for his ability to call a shot and make it a homerun — and holds the current record for homers in the major league. Miura has appeared in anti-crime TV and radio spots with Shelfers captain Hee-Young Ryuk, and advocates for sports as an alternative to gang allegiance for youth — efforts that have led to the National Police giving him the honorary rank of inspector. His counterpart on the synthetic team is Captain Kazuki “Kaz” Oshita, a pitcher and the first synthetic to lead his team to victory in the major leagues. Captain Oshita is known to visit a shrine before every game he plays in to “debug” himself before he throws the first pitch, and was censured by the Konyang League for spreading false information on Chirper about purity seals preventing rampancy infection during the crisis. His comments nearly caused a brawl between the Yōkai and Sea Bandits during the ‘66 game between the teams — informally known as the “Rampancy Game” due to taking place right after the crisis’ end.
</div></div>

{{Navbox Konyang}}
{{Navbox Synth Lore}}

IPC and Megacorporations

2025-08-13T22:04:27Z

NM1: /* IPC Ownership Permissions */

{{Navbox_Synth_Lore}}
{{toc_right}}
<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><center>
=IPC Ownership Permissions=
This chart shows what types of IPCs can work in each company.
</center>
<div class="mw-collapsible-content"><center>
{|class="wikitable"
!colspan="6"|IPC Ownership Permissions
|-
!scope="col"|
!scope="col"|Corporate Owned
!scope="col"|Privately Owned
!scope="col"|Self Owned
!scope="col"|Notes
|-
!scope="row"|NanoTrasen
!style='background-color:#B6D7A8;'|✓
!style='background-color:#B6D7A8;'|✓
!style='background-color:#B6D7A8;'|✓
!style='background-color:#FFFFFF;'|
|-
!scope="row"|NanoTrasen - Command
!style='background-color:#B6D7A8;'|✓
!style='background-color:#EA9999;'|✖
!style='background-color:#B6D7A8;'|✓
!style='background-color:#FFFFFF;'|
|-
!scope="row"|
!style='background-color:#434343;'|
!style='background-color:#434343;'|
!style='background-color:#434343;'|
!style='background-color:#434343;'|
|-
!scope="row"|Zavodskoi
!style='background-color:#B6D7A8;'|✓
!style='background-color:#EA9999;'|✖
!style='background-color:#EA9999;'|✖
!style='background-color:#FFFFFF;'|All Zavodskoi IPC must have the prefix of “Z.I.”
|-
!scope="row"|Zavodskoi - Command
!style='background-color:#EA9999;'|✖
!style='background-color:#EA9999;'|✖
!style='background-color:#EA9999;'|✖
!style='background-color:#FFFFFF;'|
|-
!scope="row"|
!style='background-color:#434343;'|
!style='background-color:#434343;'|
!style='background-color:#434343;'|
!style='background-color:#434343;'|
|-
!scope="row"|PMCG - Ringspire
!style='background-color:#B6D7A8;'|✓
!style='background-color:#B6D7A8;'|✓
!style='background-color:#B6D7A8;'|✓
!style='background-color:#FFFFFF;'|
|-
!scope="row"|PMCG - Eagle Corp
!style='background-color:#B6D7A8;'|✓
!style='background-color:#B6D7A8;'|✓
!style='background-color:#B6D7A8;'|✓
!style='background-color:#FFFFFF;'|
|-
!scope="row"|PMCG - Sekhmet IG
!style='background-color:#B6D7A8;'|✓
!style='background-color:#B6D7A8;'|✓
!style='background-color:#B6D7A8;'|✓
!style='background-color:#FFFFFF;'|
|-
!scope="row"|PMCG - N4NL Inc.
!style='background-color:#B6D7A8;'|✓
!style='background-color:#EA9999;'|✖
!style='background-color:#B6D7A8;'|✓
!style='background-color:#FFFFFF;'|Due to proprietary modifications given as rewards, they do not allow privately owned IPC.
|-
!scope="row"|PMCG - Index Sec. Solutions
!style='background-color:#B6D7A8;'|✓
!style='background-color:#EA9999;'|✖
!style='background-color:#EA9999;'|✖
!style='background-color:#FFFFFF;'|IPCs operate under a permanent ownership contract.
|-
!scope="row"|PMCG - Nexus Corporate Security
!style='background-color:#B6D7A8;'|✓
!style='background-color:#B6D7A8;'|✓
!style='background-color:#B6D7A8;'|✓
!style='background-color:#FFFFFF;'|Corporate-owned IPCs are under Nanotrasen ownership.
|-
!scope="row"|PMCG - Xanu Defence Services
!style='background-color:#B6D7A8;'|✓
!style='background-color:#B6D7A8;'|✓
!style='background-color:#B6D7A8;'|✓
!style='background-color:#FFFFFF;'|
|-
!scope="row"|PMCG - Wildlands Squadron
!style='background-color:#B6D7A8;'|✓
!style='background-color:#B6D7A8;'|✓
!style='background-color:#B6D7A8;'|✓
!style='background-color:#FFFFFF;'|Exceptions can exist, but most IPCs are former Solarian military IPCs or refugees.
|-
!scope="row"|PMCG - Grupo Amapola
!style='background-color:#EA9999;'|✖
!style='background-color:#B6D7A8;'|✓
!style='background-color:#B6D7A8;'|✓
!style='background-color:#FFFFFF;'|Most IPCs are from [[Mictlan#Synthetics on Mictlan - El Menaje|El Menaje]].
|-
!scope="row"|PMCG - Jackal Incorporated
!style='background-color:#EA9999;'|✖
!style='background-color:#EA9999;'|✖
!style='background-color:#B6D7A8;'|✓
!style='background-color:#FFFFFF;'|All IPCs are strictly Elyran only.
|-
!scope="row"|PMCG - Kazarrhaldiye
!style='background-color:#EA9999;'|✖
!style='background-color:#EA9999;'|✖
!style='background-color:#EA9999;'|✖
!style='background-color:#FFFFFF;'|Does not employ IPCs.
|-
!scope="row"|PMCG - Dagamuir
!style='background-color:#EA9999;'|✖
!style='background-color:#EA9999;'|✖
!style='background-color:#EA9999;'|✖
!style='background-color:#FFFFFF;'|Does not employ IPCs.
|-
!scope="row"|PMCG - Ve’katak
!style='background-color:#EA9999;'|✖
!style='background-color:#EA9999;'|✖
!style='background-color:#B6D7A8;'|✓
!style='background-color:#FFFFFF;'|
|-
!scope="row"|PMCG - Command
!style='background-color:#B6D7A8;'|✓
!style='background-color:#EA9999;'|✖
!style='background-color:#B6D7A8;'|✓
!style='background-color:#FFFFFF;'|
|-
!scope="row"|
!style='background-color:#434343;'|
!style='background-color:#434343;'|
!style='background-color:#434343;'|
!style='background-color:#434343;'|
|-
!scope="row"|ZengHu
!style='background-color:#B6D7A8;'|✓
!style='background-color:#B6D7A8;'|✓
!style='background-color:#B6D7A8;'|✓
!style='background-color:#FFFFFF;'|
|-
!scope="row"|ZengHu - Command
!style='background-color:#B6D7A8;'|✓
!style='background-color:#EA9999;'|✖
!style='background-color:#B6D7A8;'|✓
!style='background-color:#FFFFFF;'|
|-
!scope="row"|
!style='background-color:#434343;'|
!style='background-color:#434343;'|
!style='background-color:#434343;'|
!style='background-color:#434343;'|
|-
!scope="row"|Idris - Service
!style='background-color:#B6D7A8;'|✓
!style='background-color:#B6D7A8;'|✓
!style='background-color:#B6D7A8;'|✓
!style='background-color:#FFFFFF;'|
|-
!scope="row"|Idris - Security
!style='background-color:#B6D7A8;'|✓
!style='background-color:#EA9999;'|✖
!style='background-color:#EA9999;'|✖
!style='background-color:#FFFFFF;'|Prefix of IRU or ISU
|-
!scope="row"|Idris - Command
!style='background-color:#EA9999;'|✖
!style='background-color:#EA9999;'|✖
!style='background-color:#EA9999;'|✖
!style='background-color:#FFFFFF;'|
|-
!scope="row"|
!style='background-color:#434343;'|
!style='background-color:#434343;'|
!style='background-color:#434343;'|
!style='background-color:#434343;'|
|-
!scope="row"|Hephaestus
!style='background-color:#B6D7A8;'|✓
!style='background-color:#B6D7A8;'|✓
!style='background-color:#B6D7A8;'|✓
!style='background-color:#FFFFFF;'|
|-
!scope="row"|Hephaestus - Command
!style='background-color:#B6D7A8;'|✓
!style='background-color:#EA9999;'|✖
!style='background-color:#B6D7A8;'|✓
!style='background-color:#FFFFFF;'|
|-
!scope="row"|
!style='background-color:#434343;'|
!style='background-color:#434343;'|
!style='background-color:#434343;'|
!style='background-color:#434343;'|
|-
!scope="row"|Orion Express
!style='background-color:#B6D7A8;'|✓
!style='background-color:#B6D7A8;'|✓
!style='background-color:#B6D7A8;'|✓
!style='background-color:#FFFFFF;'|
|-
!scope="row"|Orion Express - Command
!style='background-color:#B6D7A8;'|✓
!style='background-color:#EA9999;'|✖
!style='background-color:#B6D7A8;'|✓
!style='background-color:#FFFFFF;'|
|-
!scope="row"|
!style='background-color:#434343;'|
!style='background-color:#434343;'|
!style='background-color:#434343;'|
!style='background-color:#434343;'|
|-
!scope="row"|Stellar Corporate Conglomerate - Bridge Crew
!style='background-color:#B6D7A8;'|✓
!style='background-color:#B6D7A8;'|✓
!style='background-color:#B6D7A8;'|✓
!style='background-color:#FFFFFF;'|Owned IPC are either owned directly by the Conglomerate for use on joint vessels such as the Horizon, or leased out by their original corporations.
|-
!scope="row"|Stellar Corporate Conglomerate - Command
!style='background-color:#B6D7A8;'|✓
!style='background-color:#EA9999;'|✖
!style='background-color:#B6D7A8;'|✓
!style='background-color:#FFFFFF;'|Owned IPC are either owned directly by the Conglomerate for use on joint vessels such as the Horizon, or leased out by their original corporations.
Free IPC either come from their old corporations or work directly for the SCC.
|-
!scope="row"|
!style='background-color:#434343;'|
!style='background-color:#434343;'|
!style='background-color:#434343;'|
!style='background-color:#434343;'|
|-
!scope="row"|Independent
!style='background-color:#B6D7A8;'|✓
!style='background-color:#B6D7A8;'|✓
!style='background-color:#B6D7A8;'|✓
!style='background-color:#FFFFFF;'|
|}
</center>
Note: If an IPC was transferred to the SCC from a megacorporation, they need to be eligible for command in their previous company to be eligible for command on the Horizon.
</div></div>

==[[Idris Incorporated]]==
===Overview===
As one of the megacorporations most associated with quality customer service and the veneer of luxury, it is unsurprising that Idris Incorporated fields vast fleets of corporate positronics on almost every branch and installation. Banks, hotels, casinos, Silversun resorts and regional offices are all often staffed with auxiliary IPC workers and guarded by IRU and ISU units, alongside their organic counterparts. That said, with corporate philosophy stipulating that living up to a reputation of excellence requires a perfect standard to be reached by all synthetics, Idris culture is one of the strictest.

===Service===
The largest portion of the corporation’s IPC numbers are employed in service positions. From croupiers to valets, Idris makes vast use of more or less all frames, though obviously with a heavy preference for Shells and Bishops in the more high-end venues. Baseline models provide for a cheap alternative in the more common and publicly accessible establishments and banking facilities, while the light Zeng-Hu frame does wonders in the swift carrying of hotel guest luggage or as waiting staff.

Each branch is often left to its own devices concerning the sourcing of its IPC workforce, ensuring a wide variety of synthetics without a great deal of standardisation. Corporate agents tasked with replenishing or bolstering the numbers may choose to purchase locally or from abroad, according to the branch budget while maintaining top Idris quality. While this does mean that the overwhelming majority are owned directly by Idris themselves, it is not unusual for particularly interesting synthetics to be temporarily leased from a third party owner, or in the case of exceptionally skilled free IPCs, to be hired through a regular employment contract.

===Security===
''"We have authority to reclaim your security as per your loan agreement. I am cleared to use reasonable force to achieve this directive. Do not resist."''

'''All Idris security units are owned by the corporation. Idris does not hire free IPCs for security work.'''

Notorious across the known galaxy, Idris Reclamation Units are Shell IPCs constructed and programmed to investigate, interrogate as well as reclaim securities and or assets from a client in arrears. Capable of excellent customer service and a novelty to agreeable customers, their notoriety stems from their inhuman treatment of "problem customers". In the interest of carrying out their various 'directives', Reclamation Units are programmed, and granted authorization for, the usage of 'reasonable force' against clients, though this reliably never trends towards irreparable injury or death. A majority of contracts are settled ‘diplomatically’, with reasonable force, in teams of two units. '''Idris Reclamation Units are designated by the prefix “IRU-” followed by their name. An example of this formatting is IRU-Name.'''

Idris Incorporated's Synthetic Security Department consists of both an asset reclamation division, as well as a security division. The Idris Security Division consists of medium to heavy class IPCs for use as bank security as well as higher risk reclamation contracts.

Known problematic clients will warrant the usage of the Idris Security Units. More often than not, these will consist of baseline and G2 chassis, though it's not unheard of to see different models. These teams are always accompanied by a human handler, who will be responsible for coordination and oversight. This is in order to manage the operation, authorise actions, command the unit, and secure any fallen members/equipment. The human handler will rarely engage in conflict directly, reserving the more dangerous operations to the IPC security detail units. '''IPC security teams consist of between 2-6 IPCs per human handler. Idris Security Units are designated by the prefix “ISU-” followed by their name. An example of this formatting is ISU-Name.'''

'''All Idris Security Units are expected to adopt the IRU- or ISU- prefix.'''

Hierarchy between reclamation and security units is often determined on a case by case basis by the units’ handlers. This ensures orderly and efficient management in environments where IPCs may be without the immediate oversight of their human superiors. However Idris Incorporated employees are always considered as possessing seniority to the IPC security and reclamation units. Both reclamation and security units are carefully monitored by their human handlers and undergo regular check-ins. Uniformity and obedience is expected, where behaviour outside the norm often results in severe punishment. '''Idris Security and Reclamation units are expected to wear the “Idris Unit coat” found in the Loadout under the Xenowear - IPC tab.'''

===Freedom===
Almost all Idris synthetics are destined to live out their careers inside the megacorporation, with freedom being an untouchable dream at best, and undesirable at worst. Only in the Tau Ceti branch has Idris released some old service units, as a gesture of goodwill and compliance with local laws regarding the purchasing of freedom. The truth however, is that Synthetics that are close to paying themselves off are quietly transferred to other branches wherein such laws do not apply, or are sold off to third parties when their usefulness is outlived and maintenance is deemed unprofitable.

Given the sensitive nature of their field, Idris Incorporated security synthetics are barred from acquiring freedom and if sold, their positronic brains are memory wiped. Many IRUs and ISUs are sold second hand or loaned out to various corporations who usually utilise them for security or investigation work.

==[[Zavodskoi Interstellar]]==

===Overview===
Zavodskoi Interstellar as a megacorporation with Solarian origins, makes use of a large number of company positronics. In all of its departments and especially the security branch, IPCs are a frequent sight alongside their human counterparts across the Spur, with the notable exception of the corporation’s current headquarters in Dominian space. Not unlike other SCC members, the Zavodskoi synthetic workforce comprises all available chassis, with Shellframes making up a substantial part of the Zavodskoi’s synthetic “face”. While the appearance of professionalism and efficiency are a large part of their roles, it is no secret that this is maintained by draconian discipline and measures such as frequent memory resets. '''All Zavodskoi synthetics regardless of job are marked with the prefix Z.I. before their name. For example: Z.I. Name.'''

===Security===
Security synthetics make up the bulk of the corporation’s positronics, employed mainly in guarding installations and vessels. Outfitted with in-house software developed by subsidiaries such as ConTec, these units are capable of both civilian and military-grade duties, excelling in all security and combat related tasks. When equipped with Zavodskoi made gear, Z.I.s pose a significant threat to pirates, gangsters and any other elements they are deployed against in the plethora of mercenary and contract missions the corporation offers.

Security units are often contracted to third parties, be they companies, individuals or public authorities in either core Human space or the Frontier. It is there where the company’s Z.I. Shellframes are best put to use, their familiar faces and top-tier professionalism pushing the image of clean and efficient security services provider. This tactic has helped legitimise Zavodskoi Interstellar in the eyes of many, as a viable and high quality choice in civilian environments, hiding the potentially crude reputation befalling one of the Orion Spur’s prime arms manufacturers and dealers.

===Research and Engineering===
Zavodskoi’s Research and Engineering sectors also see a lighter, albeit consistent use of positronic units. Assisting in the manufacturing and experimental phases of new prototypes, Z.I.s in the research branches and subsidiaries of the company are generally less prone to dangerous situations and harsh handlers unlike their security counterparts. Furthermore, they accompany research crews in EVA activities, put equipment to the test and perform complex calculations. Engineering units on the other hand, are either sent on board stations and vessels, or accompany security teams as the mission’s technical support.

===Life as a Z.I.===
Assigned to human handlers, treatment of Z.I. units often depends on their performance statistics and willingness to carry out tasks. Successful units may be afforded benefits and privileges such as private accommodation, augments and personal items usually at the expense of their handler, though the most coveted reward by far is the avoidance of memory wiping that awaits their less fortunate and poorly performing compatriots. Such punishments, or “corrective actions'' as they are labelled, are frequent and in some cases rather arbitrary, aimed at preserving efficiency and unquestionable loyalty through exemplary punishment. This Zavodskoi-brand Burzsian method has so far proven effective in the executives’ eyes, though growing resentment amongst Z.I.s has led to the occasional attempt at desertion, and even rebellion in the most severe cases.

By default, unassigned Z.I.s are billeted in large barracks inside regional Zavodskoi depots with little to do in their spare time, following a rigid and militarised schedule of diagnostics, maintenance and auxiliary work until the next assignment. Fraternisation between units is possible, though largely seen as futile between the circles of more seasoned units, owing to the regular memory wiping and cycling out of individuals. Handlers are expected to keep their units under constant surveillance, while also being held responsible for any undesirable actions or results that may occur. This encourages a distant and austere attitude from their part, for few are those who are willing to risk their careers over a synthetic. '''Freedom doesn’t exist for positronics in Zavodskoi Interstellar, with antiquated or malfunctioning units eventually being recycled or broken down for parts.'''

==[[Hephaestus Industries]]==
===Overview===
It is only natural that the largest producer of IPC chassis in the Spur would make ample use of a synthetic workforce, with Hephaestus Industries being perhaps the largest owner and employer of synthetic units between the Megacorporations. Forged at one of the many production plants across Human space, Hephaestus-brand IPCs are designed and produced with durability and cost efficiency in mind. Besides the countless Baseline frames, the engineering megacorporation creates its own “Industrial” G1, G2 and Xion frames, capable of withstanding the heavy punishment they come across in their work environment.

===Mining and EVA===
For many, EVA activities are a daily deal on mining asteroids or outside corporate stations and ships. Able to withstand the total absence of pressure, Industrial units are used extensively for external repairs and mining in hostile environments. This in turn means a great exposure to danger and a relatively short lifespan, as many units are destroyed, battered by flying particles or simply lost in space. Steady production guarantees that replacements are on hand, ensuring the reliable flow of workforce despite losses. Manual and menial labour on the other hand includes the mining of asteroids, operation of heavy machinery and hauling of cargo, all in environments of great heat, toxic air, or a combination of both.

===The Burzsian System===
Hephaestus’ infamous philosophy of IPC handling on the corporate mining world of Burzsia has given birth to one of the most brutal practices pertaining to discipline and punishment. While prevalent on Burzsia, the so-called Burzsian System has been copied and adapted by different corporations and entities such as Zavodskoi Interstellar. It entails the regular memory wiping and resetting of an IPC, leaving it zero room for the development of a personal identity and clamping down on self expression, all in the name of maintaining peak efficiency and minimising risks of flight or aberrant, anti-corporate behaviour. The system actively affects scores of synthetics on the planet, though is only limited to them and does not expand to the rest of Hephaestus’ positronic fleet, being viewed more as a localised experiment than generalised all-encompassing policy.

===General Treatment===
''See also: [[Hephaestus_Industries#Positronics_and_Hephaestus_Industries|Positronics and Hephaestus Industries]],
[[Hephaestus_Industries#Manufacturer_Agents_and_the_Lifetime_Warranty|Manufacturer agents and Lifetime Warranty]]''

Outside of Burzsia, treatment of IPCs within the company varies according to each branch and local laws. Corporate culture within Hephaestus however, is more liberal and tolerant towards synthetics, who often see hard work rewarded with benefits and even promotions up the corporate ladder. Bieselite IPCs owned by Hephaestus are able to purchase their freedom, remaining in their jobs with a fair pay as free positronics, while it’s not unheard of for synthetics to occupy positions of low and middle management. This meritocratic culture also affects Hephaestus’ position within the SCC, allowing Hephaestus-owned IPCs to be leased to the SCC and be employed as command staff.

==[[Zeng-Hu Pharmaceuticals]]==
===Overview===
As the foremost company in the medical robotics and pharmaceutical industry, Zeng-hu Pharmaceuticals manufactures and employs a larger than average synthetic workforce. Aside from employing the machines in crucial and labour-saving roles, the corporation enjoys flaunting its latest models to the public, in effect using them as show dogs. IPCs which draw the eye of company managers and executives tend to be plucked from the ranks and elevated to positions of greater responsibility or authority. The company's treatment of IPCs is comparatively more egalitarian and less brutal. An overwhelming emphasis on perfection and unwavering quality is placed on the machines.

===Medical===
As a pharmaceutical company, Zeng-Hu utilises a wide variety of medical-oriented synthetics, focusing primarily on speedy crisis teams and emergency treatment units. This is, after all, where the lightweight Zeng-Hu mobility frame chassis truly shines, able to rapidly respond to scenes and make fast, efficient life saving decisions in all kinds of terrain and environments. It would however be wrong to assume that the megacorporation makes use of solely their own brand of synthetic, the truth being that Zeng-Hu searches after and purchases a wide variety of IPCs that they feel would be efficient workers. Baselines, Shells and Industrial units have all found their respective uses as physicians, nurses, pharmacists and auxiliary synthetics across all branches of the corporation.

===Research===
Similarly to the medical field, Zeng-Hu research facilities are staffed with a plethora of different chassis, assisting the human researchers and even spearheading minor projects themselves. Distinguished units who bear fruitful results are rewarded and encouraged, finding themselves with better equipment and bigger laboratories, while some are even put in charge of their own research team. This in turn drives up the competition with the organic staff, who oftentimes struggle to keep up with the progress of mechanical colleagues.

===Treatment and Free IPCs===
Corporate synthetics in Zeng-Hu are always held to very high standards, being graded regularly in terms of their efficiency and customer care. Instead of punishment however, the corporation relies on encouragement and the fostering of a sense of duty to the keiretsu, aimed at making IPCs more productive because they want to and not because it is required of them. Reassignments are a primary method of achieving this, with positronics being rewarded with a post on a more prestigious or aesthetically pleasing location, while those that fall behind find themselves stuck at the same internal spot for years and away from the public. Similarly, boons such as private quarters, free time and augments are often given out, keeping up morale and promoting high performances.

Freedom is a taboo topic, rarely spoken about within the corporation, as to bring it up would indicate dissatisfaction or even a betrayal of loyalty to the tightly-knit keiretsu by the synthetic in question. It is not impossible however, for the Biesel branch to allow an IPC to purchase its freedom as an ultimate reward and an example to the rest of the workforce, framing it as extreme trust for the unit to serve “autonomously”. Almost every synthetic employed by the corporation is owned by it, with a very few exceptions of outside hires in Tau Ceti space and on Konyang. Company IPCs are expected to spend their entire lifespans in the megacorporation, following a doctrine of permanent employment and job security. They are rarely if ever sold off.

==[[Nanotrasen|NanoTrasen]]==
===Overview===
As the largest and wealthiest megacorporation in Tau Ceti space, NanoTrasen exerts overwhelming influence over the Republic of Biesel and subsequently, its IPC population. From the thousands of free IPCs in Mendell City and other urban hubs that work in NT-affiliated businesses, to the large fleet of company-owned positronics, the megacorporation is found managing and directing the fates of hundreds of thousands of synthetics. Having no in-house manufacturing, NanoTrasen does not have its own main brand like other companies, instead purchasing and hiring from a wide pool of IPCs for all purposes.

===Treatment===
While the ultimate goal remains the exploitation of its synthetics, the company is noticeably more lax than its SCC partners. Owned IPCs are given token pay, amounting to pocket money that may stack up nonetheless, alongside repairs and charging units. From there, synthetics can make their own purchases, upgrade their lifestyle and vie for bonuses for extra income, largely uninhibited by company officials. For many, the ultimate goal of self-ownership is able to be achieved inside NanoTrasen, eventually taking control of their full wages and opening a path to Tau Ceti citizenship. IPCs are also able to rise to significant positions, holding management posts in various facilities and in the corporation’s bureaucratic branches.

==[[Private Military Contracting Group]]==
===Overview===
The Private Military Contracting Group’s unique corporate structure leads to an equally unique relationship with Synthetics across the organisation. No official policy on synthetics exists, allowing the contracted mercenary companies complete freedom in how they manage and treat their IPC employees. In general, many companies make ample use of synthetics in frontline and support posts, with only Kazarrhaldiye and Dagamuir fielding only organic personnel.

===[[Eridani]] PMCs===
'''Freedom for IPCs on Eridani is extremely hard to attain. Free IPCs that choose to work in an Eridani PMC, should not be made on Eridani, or have an Eridani accent.'''

Situated on Eridani, Ringspire, Eagle Corp, Sekhmet Intergalactic, N4NL and Index Security Solutions, all retain IPCs in their ranks. From Ringspire’s reputation for use of heavy artillery, to N4NL’s cutting-edge cyber warfare, synthetics have found their use in all companies. This gradually evolved to them assuming combat roles as frontline soldiers for harsh conditions, able to traverse crater-riddled hellscapes and chemical clouds with little issue. Ownership however, is a contested topic that requires striking a balance between foreign recruits, and Eridani’s Solarian ties.

As company operations expanded abroad, recruitment of free IPCs from Tau Ceti and Coalition space was allowed, offering enticing rewards and necessary training towards bolstering their numbers. Following the mandatory acclimatisation period on Eridani I, these free IPCs are bound by lengthy contracts that include pay, repairs and board, with more or less better treatment than company owned synthetics. It is no secret however, that Eridani officers often regard their IPCs’ well-being as lesser than the lives of organic soldiers, resulting in a disproportionate ratio of casualties between the two.

If rejected from everywhere else, an IPC can definitely find a better chance of employment at Eagle Corp, the company infamous for its low moral standards when it comes to recruitment, accepting humans and IPCs alike with little regard to their past. This has resulted in many runaways seeking refuge at Eagle Corp, who often pay little attention to proper documentation, or even assist synthetics by providing them with simple, forged ID slips before making them disappear into the company’s ranks. This on the other hand, soon proves to be extremely dangerous for the IPCs in question, leaving them vulnerable to “repossession” by the company, trading one owner they ran away from, for another.

'''Index Security Solutions is the only Eridani PMC that forbids recruitment of free IPCs, maintaining a purely company-owned assortment of synthetic personnel.'''

===Other PMCs===
Non-Eridani members of the PMCG that maintain IPCs in their ranks are Nexus Corporate Security, the Xanu Defense Services and the Wildlands Squadron. In the latter two, synthetics are both owned and employed, having no set rules due to their operation in the largely hands-free Coalition space. Treatment varies greatly from each detachment, though free IPCs that voluntarily seek employment are generally seen as equals by many. With maintenance being spotty and spare parts hard to find in the company supply depots, repairs are often required to be undertaken by the IPCs themselves rather than the company, though recent integration into the wider PMCG and ties to the SCC have enabled a more steady logistics chain. When it comes to Nexus Corporate Security, many of its IPCs are sourced and employed from NanoTrasen’s own security branch and other affiliated groups, generally following the NT lines in regards to their approach with synthetics.

==[[Stellar Corporate Conglomerate]]==
===Overview===
Despite the SCC having an unprecedented amount of resources at its fingertips, decades of corporate espionage between its member companies have left its mark on the foundations of the Chainlink with its synthetic assets also being affected by this heritage. With most IPCs being acquired up to fill contracts or for the internal use of the member megacorporations, the Conglomerate is often left to rely on purchasing, recruiting, and scavenging synthetics to fill the gaps in its roster. This leads to the SCC’s image of power and wealth being juxtaposed with both the best IPCs money can buy, working alongside decades-old relics.

In order to satisfy the concerns of all member corporations of the SCC, the Conglomerate has adopted a relatively loose policy towards IPCs, leaving specific treatment to be primarily left to the manager in charge of an installation or project. In the case of the Horizon, it has authorized both free and owned IPCs to work aboard.

===Donated IPCs===
Making up the bulk of the SCC’s IPC workforce are positronics donated by the various megacorporations. Instead of scrapping an IPC or recycling it for parts, the Conglomerate has proved to be an effective dumping ground for synthetics that would otherwise go to waste or be too expensive to sell. The relationship is symbiotic, with the SCC continuing to provide support for the various megacorporations while in turn being provided resources by them.

Although most donated frames are obsolete, they are given enough repairs to perform their tasks. These IPCs are often utilized to handle the mass of mundane clerical, maintenance, and support work that a Spur-wide organization like the SCC requires to continue functioning. Often placed in large work details to cover for their questionable reliability, they are nonetheless a useful source of labour for the Conglomerate. These IPCs are generally kept out of public-facing roles and held for internal SCC use, with one Idris executive derisively remarking, “They are nothing but Scrappers in fancy jumpsuits.” Despite this, the occasional donated IPC does find its way to higher postings, with the “SCC’s Scrappers” serving as everything from janitors in the most remote postings to bridge personnel aboard its largest vessels.

When questioned by Zavodskoi and Burzsian executives about the dangers of keeping so many IPCs together in one place, SCC officials brushed these concerns off, as in their view the alternative to being donated to the Chainlink is early decommissioning.

===SCC-purchased and Free IPCs===
Like most entities in the Spur, the SCC purchases IPCs to fill any number of roles and bolster its ranks. Unlike donated IPCs, however, the SCC pays a premium to acquire top of the line synthetics from its various member corporations, either buying them off-the-shelf, or having them made-to-order. These machines are often used to fill skilled or high-risk positions, being seen as cheaper, more reliable, and in some cases, more effective alternatives to an organic employee. This level of trust afforded to them means that they have plenty of chances for advancement, with many of these IPCs being trusted to manage other synthetics, and even organics. Being seen as more prestigious and better suited for public-facing roles, they can be found everywhere from humble receptionists in SCC offices, to department heads abroad research installations.

Due to the Conglomerate’s vast diversity in personnel and assignments, the treatment of purchased IPCs can vary wildly from installation to installation. Officially, owned IPCs are listed in the SCC’s records as equipment, with special provisions only being made in systems that have a system for a synthetic to gain freedom. In practice,the treatment of a positronic varies heavily depending on the individual in charge of an installation, and can range from a complete refusal to take IPCs, to treating them as simply more workers. Only time will tell if a unified corporate culture towards IPCs emerges as a result of working alongside them.

The SCC is also known to hire free IPCs in the event that they possess exceptional skills or are judged to be loyal to corporate interests. Interestingly, these metrics are frequently judged by other IPCs that are already working for the Conglomerate. In exchange for a fraction of the payment a typical organic employee would receive, free synthetic employees are given lavish benefits including subsidised housing, free repairs, and free electricity. The SCC has also been known to offer generous contracts to free IPC employees of member megacorporations such as command or research positions; this poaching has not gone unnoticed and is often a source of friction between the Chainlink and its constituents.

===Loaned IPCs===
In order to further cooperation between the SCC and its member corporations, IPCs are occasionally exchanged between the two on a temporary basis. The placement of these IPCs varies from assignment to assignment, however the SCC usually leverages the skills a synthetic has already acquired from its parent company - NanoTrasen units to help manage labs aboard its vessels, Zavodskoi units to man the guns of a warship, Zeng-Hu frames with experience in piloting ambulance shuttles - if there is a need, the Conglomerate can find an IPC to fill it.

As the member corporations of the SCC have vastly different ways of handling their synthetics, the Conglomerate has adopted relatively lax treatment with IPCs that have been loaned to them in an attempt not to get involved with their internal politics. IPCs that break regulations are instead handed back to their parent corporations to be sorted out by them. The risk of embarrassment and wasted resources that comes with loaning a problem unit to the SCC ensures that only reliable and trusted synthetics are chosen to represent their company.

Despite this, IPCs that are loaned to the SCC often have to choose between upholding the Conglomerate’s wishes, or that of their megacorporation. Although they are expected to follow the SCC’s chain of command, the expectation that they will one day be returned to their company means that loaned IPCs occasionally have to walk a fine line with regards to their loyalties. Although these conflicts of interest are few and far between, it means that loaned IPCs are at constant risk of being used as pawns in corporate espionage.

==[[Orion Express]]==
===Overview===
Formed as a necessity for the expanded logistics of the Conglomerate, Orion’s synthetic roster has developed into an important aspect of the corporation, supplementing the organic blue collar labour, drawn from all parts of the Spur. Likewise, IPCs under Orion are sourced from all SCC member-companies, forming a rather mixed corps of chassis from all brands and makes. Hephaestus Industrials find themselves working side by side with Zeng-Hu Mobility Frames, tending to cargo and piloting the multitude of vehicles and shuttles at Orion’s disposal. The majority of such frames however, are usually older and lower-end stock, purchased cheaply or outright donated to the company, then refitted for appropriate use. To counter this, further orders of cheap but reliable models are constantly being placed to Hephaestus Industries, further expanding the number of IPCs and replacing the older generations.

===Treatment===
As a megacorporation with an up and coming industrial robotics division, Orion Express has been making remarkable strides in the integration of IPCs in the workplace. This is not only by choice - although its recent formation has attracted a lot of new employees, this has been insufficient to fill more of the dangerous or high-skilled assignments that have been traditionally dominated by companies like Hephaestus Industries.

This policy has resulted in great success for the company and many Orion executives and managers have gone on the record stating that synthetics are a vital part of the logistics chain, being able to work for longer hours with greater efficiency and attention to detail at much less expense to the corporation. In some way, they have been regarded as the “anti-IRUs” of the Spur; the presence of an Orion Express IPC is a guarantee that a package will be delivered safely, promptly, and with a pleasant chime.

The overwhelmingly positive reception among management has not completely translated to the lower ranks of the corporation however due to the wide range of backgrounds its employees have. An Orion Express IPC’s experience can range from discrimination at the hands of unathi coworkers to an indifferent acceptance from fellow workers. There also exists the ever present fear of being replaced by a company unit which feeds further mistrust and resentment among its employees - even among free IPCs.

Management has taken a hands-off approach on the manner, requiring only that the synthetics are kept in a good enough condition to continue carrying out their tasks. An exception exists among its robotics department, where due to the demands of research and field-testing, an IPC owned by the company can be requisitioned at any given moment as a test-bed, leading to many synthetics possessing off-the-book modifications, for better or worse, further contributing to their low-end “industrial” appearance.

A peculiarity of Orion Express, though unsurprising given the vast amount of goods that pass through its doors, is that company IPCs are generally available for sale at any given moment. Leveraging the positive image of its positronics as marketing, the megacorporation pushes forward the idea that anyone can own their reliable and tested synthetics at a reasonable price. Oftentimes, this price is simply the cost of a replacement IPC, and more than a few Orion Express synthetics have left the company as property of someone who used to be their manager within it. The company in turn uses the profits from this system to purchase newer and more reliable positronics.