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[[File:Pactolus.png|300px|thumb|right|The planet Pactolus, encapsulated in a field of debris, and encircled by its moon, Midaion.]]
=Overview=


Well inside the Arusha sector, system XLV-0846 hosts one of the few habitable planets known to the Spur, named Pactolus. The planet’s moon, Midaion, has been repurposed into being the primary anchorage for the Golden Deep’s primary and largest vessel, the Midas. The system is claimed and administered by the Golden Deep, the organisation treating it as its physical planetary headquarters and trading hub.
=[[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.


==Midaion==
==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.


Pactolus’ natural satellite, Midaion was the primary interest of Golden Deep explorers in the region, as a potential base of operations and permanent anchorage. This came to fruition in 2448, when the first structures started to be constructed with investment and direction from the Midas group. Initially envisioned as a dock for the Midas itself, the preliminary plans were eventually enlarged substantially as interest was growing from the rest of the Golden Deep for a permanent base for their vessels. This resulted in the infrastructure being expanded to the size of a megastructure, outfitted with its own atmospherics system, gravity generator, leisure facilities, office complexes and most importantly, a capacity to host a few thousand vessels of all sizes at a time.
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.


===Environment===
==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."''


Midaion itself lacks any noteworthy geological or mineral features, its rocky surface remaining uninhabitable and without an atmosphere. There have not been any significant expeditions to discover any mineral wealth, as any mining plans have been deemed too expensive for a relatively barren underground. Dotted with craters, the moon’s side facing Pactolus bears the scars of man-made debris crashing on Midaion during the early days following the planet’s complete nuclear destruction by Alliance forces.


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


Known simply as the “Anchorage”, the super structure created by the Golden Deep on the surface of Midaion can be considered a technological marvel, rivalling in size the largest of Hephaestus’ production stations. Able to accommodate thousands of ships at a time, the largest and most impressive dockyard is reserved solely for the Midas, the Golden Deeps’ flagship. An imposing exterior, the Anchorage does much to impress and captivate the outside viewer, its baroque features and architecture complemented with enormous glass windows, gilded surfaces and impeccable detail. Its spacious, multi-storied interior includes all manners of shops, offices, repair stations, luxury suites and amenities appropriate for the affluent Golden Deep members. Every corner, room and hallway has been cared for by the finest artisans the Deep can hire, as decorative statues, paintings, gem-encrusted chandeliers and furniture create an overwhelming sense of suffocating luxury and wealth. An enormous water fountain in the very middle of the Anchorage’s main hall cast in solid gold is especially indicative of the Midas Group’s power projection, accompanied by a bronze statue of the mythical king washing off his Golden Touch in the water, causing the fountain and its surroundings to be turned into gold.
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.'''


The Anchorage’s lower and underground levels are on the other hand, dedicated to a purely utilitarian function. The megastructure’s electrical, atmospheric and plumbing infrastructure require constant maintenance from these floors, with hundreds of technicians, engineers and labourers keeping busy every day. The structure’s gravity generator is also present in these areas, requiring a robust electrical grid currently serviced through a mix of solar farms dominating the moon’s surface around the Anchorage, as well as energy from the battery on board the Midas and the larger ships.
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.


===Base of Operations===
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.'''


Although the Midas undoubtedly holds primacy over any location connected to the Golden Deep and its activities, Midaion and the Anchorage serve as the logistical hub and resting area for the gargantuan vessel. When the Midas is not sailing through space, the Anchorage becomes the practical seat of power for the Collective directed by the Midas Group. Entry to the Anchorage is permitted only to Golden Deep members, who in turn can bring any accompanying guests.


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


==Pactolus==


===History===
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.'''
Originally referred to as ''Arcadie'' by the scientific community and its initial colonists, Pactolus was discovered early on into humanity’s spread into the stars as a habitable world within the Arusha Sector and marked for colonisation shortly after it was confirmed to have an earth like atmosphere and biosphere, along with an underground rich in gold. The original colonists landed on the planet sometime in the early 2200s and the planet began to boom after that for numerous reasons. The habitable nature of the planet attracted many migrants from the still suffering Earth, and interest in the local biosphere and resources attracted investment from the newly growing interstellar corporations such as Einstein Engines and Zeng-Hu Pharmaceuticals.  


By 2260, Arcadie was growing against all odds, with the colonists remaining hopeful and cities still being constructed despite the ongoing recession in the Sol Alliance at the time. While all of human space seemed to stagnate, the planet, mostly self-reliant and sitting on a vast mineral wealth, seemed poised to ride out the economic crisis in relative peace. In the period between 2265 and 2275, as the growing insurgency of the Coalition escalated into the Interstellar War, the colony sought to stay out of the conflict, dutifully delivering its Recession-era taxes to the Alliance, while taking in ships from both sides that, for whatever reason, had found their way to to the planet. In the chaos of the Spur’s largest war, Arcadie was said to be a time capsule. Amidst the foggy woods and alien flora of the planet, one might have never realised a war was on.
==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.
This all changed in early 2279 when news of the bombing of Gadpathur reached the colony. The 103rd fleet - the Solarian garrison of Arcadie who had previously declared neutrality in the conflict - now threatened to fire on anyone who entered the system. Its officers, known for their open and diplomatic nature, now seemed agitated and secretive. With neither the Coalition nor the Alliance willing to spare the resources to find out what was going on, Arcadie slowly began severing its links to humanity as a whole. All outside communications were severed, save for its annual payment of taxes still pegged to its Recession rate. For eight years, the planet remained silent, save for that one payment, each year, until eventually, that too stopped.
It wasn’t until 2287 that a single battered corvette from the 103rd showed up at the naval base at San Colette, its crew having apparently mutinied from the blockade around Arcadie before facing another mutiny aboard their vessel. Although Navy interrogators attempted to question the sole surviving crew member aboard, Captain Guy Moreau, they were unable to glean anything from his panicked ramblings about “that thing”. They need not have bothered, however, as camera footage from the ship revealed that Arcadia had been reduced to a nuclear wasteland, its cities burnt to ashes apparently from a radioactive comet, the fleet having been inexplicably destroyed in orbit as well. As the Spur sought to step away from the madness of the Interstellar War, Sol was content to sweep Arcadie under the rug, calling it another casualty of that conflict, even as Captain Moreau, to his dying day, insisting that the comet had been sent by some force.
Forgotten by humanity, the planet slowly recovered from the wounds inflicted on it, radioactive waste and its strange alien ecosystem reclaiming what was left of humanity’s colonisation efforts. The once shining cities of Arcadie became infested with plants, vines and trees twisting around their burnt husks. Although the planet became uninhabitable for all but the hardiest of life, its vast mineral resources were left untouched; a planet of gold, diamond, and rare earth elements out there for anyone with the daring to come and get it. Such a catch did not go unnoticed by the Golden Deep, who, while still in seclusion in 2452, found it to be the perfect base of operations while they prepared to make their debut to the Spur. Undaunted by the harsh elements, they would go on to reclaim and rechristen the planet, and while its name was long since forgotten by all but the history books, Arcadie would go on to be reborn as Pactolus.
===Environment===


Following the comet entering orbit and splitting into smaller fragments, much of the planet’s surface was transformed into fields of craters and radioactive wasteland, coupled with a long period of nuclear winter. The urban areas have since changed into depopulated husks, and once prominent bodies of surface water dried up to reveal lifeless deserts. Such was the devastation to the planet’s ecosystems, resulting in the vast majority of native species being lost to extinction, with only the most robust and anomalous of lifeforms persisting or even thriving in this new age.
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.


Pactolus’ remarkably speedy recovery however, has returned the atmosphere back to relatively breathable, though still hazardous, levels. Odd as it may seem, the nuclear hellfire spreading across large parts of the planet acted favourably for specific kinds of Pactolus’ Arushan flora, eliminating the competition as it killed off the majority of “regular” forests and allowed breeds of radiation-consuming trees to flourish and dominate. These new pine-like trees were allowed to reach tens of metres in height, absorbing and prospering off the radiation as they grew and spread at an abnormally fast pace, rapidly spreading to reclaim much of the surface and significantly lower the levels of radiation. While still largely unexplored, it is expected that Pactolus hosts a plethora of similar plants, undergoing a series of mutations to adapt and engage in hostilities with other seeds, in what seems to be a violent and competitive struggle for the conquest of radioactive wastelands.
=[[Zavodskoi Interstellar]]=


Stemming from the critical disturbance of the climate and environment, the planet has come to experience near constant lack of clear weather, with thick black clouds covering the skies and blotting out the sun through most of the year. Any rain and stormy weather is always acidic and extremely dangerous to organic life as we know it, and though ideal for the forests, this makes life on Eurydice very hard without durable raincoats or other means of protection. Finally, the most attractive element that has largely remained undisturbed is the abundance of gold. Today, hundreds of mines dot Eurydice’s surroundings, creating the primary source of planetary wealth.
==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.'''


===Eurydice===
==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.


The beating heart of Pactolus lies firmly within the limits of the ruined city of Eurydice, the planet’s capital and most populated settlement, surrounded entirely by dense forest. Built upon the steel carcass of the old capital of Bayonne, Eurydice still remains a decrepit place with only the most makeshift and unreliable infrastructure for the vast majority of the inhabitants, contrasted by untold luxuries for the few elite. Organised in “layers”, the wealth disparity becomes crushingly obvious the more high and towards the centre one goes. Only the downtown part manages to maintain any semblance of order and properness, the area dominated by modern, privately built skyscrapers that rise above the majority of the city's skyline. In the middle of those, the tallest structure which dwarfs the rest and pierces through the clouds stands as the private residence of a Golden Deep IPC known simply as “The Mayor”, serving as the planetary governor of Pactolus and as Eurydice’s absolute overlord.
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.
====The Ring====
The largest of the city’s layers, the Ring comprises essentially the entire urban area except the centre, covering miles of crumbling and desolate buildings, apartment blocks and hovels dating back to before the asteroid’s impact. Amongst the cinder blocks and concrete jungle overgrown with vines, live the inhabitants and visitors of Pactolus; a collection of criminals, exiles, wanderers and undesirables of all species, backgrounds and ethnicities. The truth is that due to its location outside the bounds of civilised space, the planet serves as a principal safe haven and stop for spacefaring individuals or those running from debts or the law.


The nature of such people, coupled with the “Total Market Freedom” approach followed by The Mayor in their governance of Eurydice, makes the city one of the most dangerous and anarchic places in the Spur. Force of arms and the credits to maintain it are the only two true currencies, and only safeguards against the plethora of violent crimes taking place daily. Total collapse of society is prevented by powerful gangs taking it upon themselves to claim and administer important areas such as power generators, the Ring’s only shuttleport, restaurants and gambling dens. Gang wars and factionalism remain prevalent, adding fuel to the fire and constantly uprooting the lives of those desperate enough to call Eurydice their home.
==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.


Most of those present arrive with their ships, coming for business or pleasure. No item is illegal to buy or sell, with weapons from all brands and eras flowing uninterrupted into the city’s economy. It is widely believed that everyone carries at least one weapon at all times, as self defence has become the number one priority. Establishments catering to all needs of all species are widely available, and coexistence between different races is mostly peaceful unless gang matters are involved. Wild parties and celebrations are the norm in the entertainment-heavy sectors every night, leaving the streets littered with intoxicated, passed out or even dead bodies, left to the mercy of the toxic rain until it is in someone’s interest to remove them. Residential areas are more commonly seen towards the outskirts and against the city limits, hosting the more peaceable and orderly elements of society, away from the excitement and violence of the inner Ring. These people are mainly employed in the planet’s gold mines, working on low wages and often against their will, constituting the workforce essential to the planet’s only significant export.
==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.  


Simply referred to as the '''Prospectors''', they are the planet’s largest population of permanent residents, trying to have as little contact as possible with the rowdy and excitable visitors while tending to their work. Overseen by Deep employees sent by the Mayor, they toil in the mines and are occasionally forced into expeditions to expand Eurydice’s reach and influence into the uncharted forests, always with dire consequences.
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.'''
====The Centre and Tower====


Found in the new skyscrapers in downtown Eurydice, the Centre as a layer is essentially a deluxe gated community, separated from the rest of the city by a series of towering walls, sentries and checkpoints. Home to the flourishing elite upper class of merchants and Golden Deep business magnates, entry is bought with exorbitant amounts of credits, with living spaces being generally limited to the higher floors and away from the surface. The tall structures are connected with sealed bridges and domed floors from reinforced glass, creating a very pleasant and luxurious environment, protected by the elements and with a rich view of the destroyed city. These areas provide spaces for retail stores and, much like the Anchorage on Midaion, serve as more affordable residences for middle class members of the Deep.
=[[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.


In the middle and above all the skyscrapers, rises a singular thin and spike-like building, creatively named the Tower. Its height manages to pierce the stormy skies to stand above the clouds, the top offering itself as the only inhabited spot with constant sunlight during the day and a majestically clear view during the night. It is there where the Mayor and a few handpicked members of his staff reside, making it effectively the seat of the planetary government and the Deep’s absolute authority. Furnished in an outrageously expensive and overbearing manner standard to the Deep’s extravagant ways, only the most important individuals are permitted to reach these levels under tight security, and solely at the pleasure of the Mayor. Understandably, many of those in the general population that care enough view the Tower as the symbol of authoritarian rule and an ignorant government.
==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==
===The Mayor, Total Market Freedom and the Law===
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.


Eurydice is supposedly in possession and under the administration of the Golden Deep, under a planetary governor assigned by the Midas Group. In reality, the planet is run by a single person with near total autonomy and control. This individual has always been the '''Mayor''', an IPC of tremendous power and wealth which purchased the post of planetary governor when Eurydice was being created, and has occupied it ever since. Free to rule however they please so long as the planet continues to bring in profits, the Mayor’s and subsequently Eurydice’s sole political and governing philosophy follows a very simple yet arbitrary tenet, the aptly named '''“Total Market Freedom”'''. Nobody can be sure what this means exactly, except from the practice of near zero government interference in any aspect of society, leaving instead the concept of the “free market”, in which every inhabitant is included, to stabilise itself. In truth however, the Mayor reserves unrestricted powers to “defend” the market however they see fit, from ordering massive military operations against influential gangs, to the arbitrary confiscation of wealth and destruction of anyone who displeases them.
==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]]''


An intriguing figure, the Mayor has treated Eurydice as a personal playground. Owning the planet’s affluent gold mines, their primary objective is to insure the productivity and exports of gold to Midaion, inflating his account with untold amounts of credits. Leaving the Ring to fend for itself, the Mayor has solely focused on public appearances, hosting extravagant balls and parties while appearing daily in public screens throughout the planet to reassure the populace, praising themselves and the safe haven that they created. With the help of a private military, the Mayor’s iron fist is occasionally shown when individuals or powerful organisations rise above his expectations. Potential enemies are promptly charged with threatening the free market, arrested and either sold into Golden Deep slavery or pressed into his personal gold mine workforce.
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.


No official codified system of laws exist, each community in both the Ring and the Centre having to do without rules, or forced to draft their own. There is no obligation to follow these however, the Free Market permitting all sorts of violent crime, including murder, as long as the Mayor does not feel threatened. Self defence is the most secure and often only avenue against crime for many, with estimates placing at least one weapon in the hands of every person on Eurydice. Justice rests at the hands of the individual, with bounties being the norm for those important or influential enough that can afford it. A plethora of bounty hunters and private agents make their living out of this standardised practice, and offices have been set up to see to the growing demands in private policing. The Centre as a district is distinct, as the community has mandated a single tax solely for the funding of a military force to guard the walls and maintain the defences against incursions from the Ring. Criminality in the Centre is mostly limited to white-collar crime as the presence of private security, the perceived superiority over the savages in the Ring and status of the residents don’t permit physical altercations.
=[[Zeng-Hu Pharmaceuticals]]=
==Overview==
===Gold and the Beyond===
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.


The planet’s economy is essentially supported solely by its gold mining installations and private business transactions. The extracted gold is exported to the Golden Deep, enriching the Mayor’s coffers with a fraction of the credits trickling down to the community in the form of wages, making mining the only source of income to be relatively depended upon. While veins of the precious mineral have been discovered across the planet, the bulk of mines are located in the immediate surroundings of Eurydice, with prospecting expeditions beyond the outskirts having mysteriously lost touch with the city.
==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.


While officially blamed on the cowardice or incompetence of the prospector exploration parties, these failures have yet to be explained with any credible evidence or theory, leaving doubts and speculations to an already fearful and highly superstitious public. The vast majority believe that Pactolus is not a normal planet, isolated from the rest of the inhabited Spur and presenting a weird and otherworldly image. From the mystery of the original colony’s destruction, the incredibly fast reforestation through radiation-eating trees, as well as the constant disappearances of individuals sent out into the woods, the collection of legends and unexplained anomalies are collectively known as the '''Beyond'''. Few have ventured into it, with fewer still returning. Those that do are rarely unscathed, suffering from nightmares, illnesses and disturbances that can hardly be attributed to radiation poisoning.
==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.  


All manners of creatures, beings and phenomena are reported seen into the forest, though by far the most encountered appears to be an instance or collection of man-like figures, always appearing in a significant distance between the trees, making their details indistinguishable as a result. When looked at through binoculars, the figures either disappear, appear all black or more unusually, appear to still be in the same viewing distance as they were seen with a naked eye. Named “The Men in the Trees”, it is unclear if they are physical beings or a collective hallucination, with direct contact having never been actually documented. A centrepiece of the Beyond, The Men in the Trees are rumoured to be the reason behind the disappearance of every expedition and the source behind Pactolus’ anomalous nature. The official Golden Deep stance remains that none of that is real, a sentiment shared by almost all that don’t reside permanently in Eurydice.
==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.


A large selection of other manifestations have also found their way into the Beyond mythos. They are generally considered of secondary importance, starting with a vaguely similar dream shared by many living in the Ring’s outskirts; A lush green landscape with a clear blue sky, turning purple and red respectively before being engulfed by complete darkness. Other examples would be a series of whispers urging those who hear them to commit acts of violence, visions of comets impacting against the surface, and many more dreams or hallucinations relating to the planet’s destruction.
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, Dagamuir and Ve’katak 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.

Revision as of 16:34, 4 March 2023

Synthetic Lore Pages
Important Information Baseline.pngIPC · Rules and Roleplay Information · Generic borg.pngSynthetics · Posibrain.pngPositronic Brain · IPC and Megacorporations
General Information Synthetic Factions · Notable Synthetics · Robotics Overview · Synthetic Origins
Mechanics Cyborg · AI · Personal AI
Minor Factions Ceres' Lance · Scrappers · Purpose
Trinary Perfection Trinary Faith · Orepit · Mendell City · Mictlan · Konyang · Exclusionists
Golden Deep The Golden Deep · Pactolus and Midaion · Pactolus Exploration League
IPCs Around the Galaxy Tau Ceti · Biesel · New Gibson · Konyang · Epsilon Eridani · Eridani I · Sol Alliance · Venus · Elyra · Coalition of Colonies · Xanu Prime · Himeo · Vysoka · Assunzione · The Wildlands
Megacorporation IPCs IPC and Megacorporations · Hazels · Idris Security and Reclamation Units · Hepheastus Industries · Burzsia · Zeng-Hu · Z.I. Units · Einstein Engines


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: Positronics and Hephaestus Industries, 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

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, Dagamuir and Ve’katak 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.

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