IPCs in Biesel

IPCs in Biesel

Tau Ceti Synthetics and Citizenship

A vast number of synthetics have, through various circumstances, found themselves calling the Republic their home. Most of these IPCs are located on Biesel, and by extension its capital, Mendell City. While Tau Ceti is indeed a beacon of hope and relative safety for synthetics, their position in society still remains a precarious one, both from a financial and a security standpoint. Freedom, and even citizenship, for integrated positronic chassis has firmly been established and is something the Republic takes pride of. Either through labour, negotiations, the goodwill of their owners or other occasions, IPCs may find themselves free from ownership, able to pursue their own destiny as independent individuals. Unfortunately for many, such destiny usually involves a hard and at times, short existence.

Free IPCs are afforded few actual opportunities to improve their lives, existing in a grey area between the relative stability of corporate owned assets, and the solidified protection of the state for citizens. With the recent introduction of the Synthetic Residence Card by the government, free synthetics are able to more clearly and safely navigate through the process of staying in Tau Ceti, finding employment, owning property, and more. While free IPCs were previously allowed to own property without a card, they have been grandfathered in.

For many free IPCs, citizenship is viewed as the ultimate goal in integrating into society. Citizenship entitles an IPC to increased legal protections, almost, if not on par with that of a natural-born human citizen, including complete protection as well as legal representation from being owned ever again. NanoTrasen and its subsidiaries are also obligated to pay IPC citizens working for it an equal wage as compared to humans. This compensation typically comes in the form of increased benefits such as repairs, insurance, and a pension, as opposed to a simple wage increase however. They also pay the same tax rate as regular citizens and no longer have to maintain the residency fee.

Obtaining a citizenship is difficult, but straightforward. An IPC is eligible to apply for citizenship after meeting one of two criteria:

• An IPC has served within the Tau Ceti Foreign Legion for three years.
• An IPC has been employed as a free synthetic within NanoTrasen for six years and has a command-level income.
• This is to ensure that the IPC is a productive member of society and can pay taxes when made a full citizen.

In practice, the road to citizenship is far longer owing to the fact that the Republic has numerous applicants, as well as the red tape involved in the process. Preferential treatment is often given to IPCs that have served in the TCFL, although the stated term of service of three years is often longer for synthetics which don’t have a specialization within the Legion. Negotiations have also begun with other SCC-affiliated companies to extend the same citizenship privileges as NanoTrasen does, but no deal has materialised as of yet.

Free IPCs in Tau Ceti

Free IPCs (in this case, those granted citizenship) are held to the same legal expectations as Humans in regards to their positronic - which is, in turn, given responsibility and ownership of the chassis which houses it. They, however, are subject to dismantlement over infractions which Humans would normally serve minor sentences over. Free IPCs are rarely given trials.

On NanoTrasen stations, damage of a free IPC to the core positronic would be considered assault with varying levels according to the degree of damage. For example, destroying a free IPC’s hand would lead to being charged with minor assault. Bringing extreme harm to their chassis (several missing limbs, internal damage) would be considered assault.

• No degree of harming a free IPC is considered murder in Tau Ceti. In regulations, such is referred to as Automacide.
• Irreparable destruction of a free positronic is not considered grounds for capital punishment.
• Kidnapping a free positronic is legally considered kidnapping.
• Placing a free positronic into a bound chassis is grounds for capital punishment.

Synthetic Residence Card

The Synthetic Residence Card is a card that all IPCs within Tau Ceti are encouraged to receive once they gain freedom, as monitored by their tags. Possession of the card entitles an IPC to the right to own property, find employment, enlist in the Tau Ceti Foreign Legion, and gain additional legal protections against repossession. On the other hand, the IPC in question is expected to pay a flat residency fee, as well as a value tax on any property they own.

The initiative has been well-received by the pro-synthetic community as well as IPCs themselves, although critics have pointed out that the system awards too many rights to non-citizens, potentially shields runaway IPCs, and increases the overall tax burden on all Tau Ceti citizens.

Attaining Freedom

Integrated Positronic Chassis’ owned by both private individuals and corporations have a number of legal means of achieving their release. These measures and laws are regarded as very progressive owing to the fact that IPCs can attain freedom on their own merits. Regardless, it is still very difficult to attain because of the nebulous nature of the worth of an IPC’s work, its estimated value, along with loopholes exploited by their owners in order to keep them for as long as possible.

The government keeps track of all IPCs within Tau Ceti space via the usage of tags, and in the case of synthetics that reside in the Republic, these tags also track an IPC’s progress towards freedom through its estimated value, number of hours worked, and its actual age. In theory, this allows Tau Ceti to protect IPCs from being owned for too long and providing evidence in case a dispute over whether or not an IPC is eligible for freedom has to be settled. In practice, the tags are only marginally effective in this purpose as owners tend to set arbitrary wages, assign inflated values to IPCs, or in some cases, simply untagging and hiding the synthetics. While smaller businesses or private owners are unlikely to get away with such behaviors owing to their limited resources, megacorporations are more prone to holding onto their IPCs owing to the influence and bargaining power they have.

Another way IPCs commonly gain freedom is that they are set free by their owners. This can happen for any number of reasons; an IPC getting too old to be cost effective, an act of charity by a sympathetic owner, or being purchased by a pro-synthetic group such as the Trinary Perfection explicitly for the purpose of being set free.

All positronic constructs designed for IPC chassis who find their way into Tau Ceti or are constructed within are entitled in theory to two basic rights:

• Positronics, once tagged, are added to a registry within Tau Ceti ensuring (for the most part) that the data regarding their progress to freedom is secure and accurate.
• Positronics without ownership within Tau Ceti who are not free are automatically property of the Republic of Biesel, who most often sells the rights to the brain and its chassis to a megacorporate employer.

IPCs are capable of purchasing freedom, with two simple prerequisites listed below.

• The IPC in question having paid its own cost off in full ten times over.
• The IPC in question being at least one year of age.

The most important part of this is to realize that the "funds" allocated to purchasing the IPC's freedom are a theoretical number which rises depending on the projected monetary output of the IPC in its given profession. This means that, once you buy your chassis off, you are not a millionaire - you would be entirely broke, in reality, meaning that leading into freedom requires some sort of forethought and planning.

While these laws do exist, some Megacorporations are unwilling to part with their IPCs due to sensitive data or other reasons. Some Megacorporations are also unwilling to hire free IPC workers. For more information, click here.

Life of an IPC

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

Owned IPCs

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

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

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

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

Free IPCs

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

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

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

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

Urban and Rural Synthetics

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

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

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

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

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

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

IPCs and the Law

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

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

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

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

Rapid Maintenance Depots

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

Education

Synthetics throughout the majority of human space -be it in the Alliance or the Republic- receive their skills and knowledge at creation or through the direct transfer of information through the use of datapacks. As such, education of any level is largely considered superfluous by both them and their owners or employers, resulting in the lack of any official infrastructure or interest in regards to academics for IPC. However, since positronic brains are able to be taught through both experience and in a classroom, the notion of schooling and formal education has not yet fully eclipsed, even if it still always remains the exception.

The Republic of Biesel, marketed as the foremost beacon of equality for all, has throughout its brief history hosted voices calling for the educational emancipation of its synthetic denizens. Bolstered by a wave of early experiments in regards to if an IPC can successfully attend school being successful, a brief movement gained traction petitioning the authorities for opening synthetic education prospects was championed by the Trinary Perfection, and joined by a portion of citizen IPCs. While promptly dying out in the face of more pressing national issues such as the Solarian invasion, questions were raised inquiring as to whether or not it was illegal that free and citizen synthetics were being denied access to academic level education and degrees.

Therefore, and by having nothing to lose, Nanotrasen paid courses were made available to the synthetic workforce, covering a wide variety of subjects for employees working on corporate facilities. While seen as a net positive by the politically active and IPC supporting intelligentsia, the reality would soon be revealed as the system remains to this day underutilised by the synthetic population. As Tau Ceti only requires a certification for skillset dataset installation, and not any formal education, the Nanotrasen degrees are both prohibitively expensive and rather useless for the average IPC. However, an important advantage of such academic credentials is the national and international recognition, allowing the few synthetic holders the opportunity to seek employment abroad, mainly in the Coalition of Colonies and other areas outside of the Stellar Corporate Conglomerate’s firm grip.