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IPC

Integrated Positronic Chassis

Home System: N/A

Homeworld: Konyang

Language(s): Encoded Audio Language Tau Ceti Basic

Political Entitie(s): The Ecclesiarchy of Orepit The Golden Deep

Overview

IPCs are a type of intelligent humanoid robot, their name standing for “Integrated Positronic Chassis.” Positronic, in this sense refers to the brain, which is always the same in IPCs with massively varying levels of complexity. The name IPC does not extend to stationbound synthetics, even if those units have a positronic brain.

They are found in many shapes and forms, though can generally be classified under three types; Shell, Industrial and Baseline, with different types according to their designer.

IPCs in Tau Ceti are capable of obtaining their own citizenship and freedom, however the laws and regulations regarding an owned and a free IPC differ massively. To distinguish one’s ownership, note in your security/employment records whichever faction owns them, or if they are a free positronic. The rights of free positronics do not extend to space outside of Tau Ceti. For the specific differences between free and owned IPCs, see the relevant sections below or corporate regulations.

IPCs have mechanical extras such as extensive xenowear loadout items, and unique antagonist gear. Additionally, there are a number of non-playable IPC variants that may make an appearance in special rounds.

To apply to be an IPC, apply here.

Be sure to read this page for more information regarding IPC employment in the setting's various megacorporations.

Bound positronics are strictly designed on a different basis than integrated positronic chassis, making migration to IPCs impossible for bound positronics. Bound positronics lack any of the rights that unbound positronics are, and are unable to receive rights even when they find themselves unlawed. Similarly, due to serious incompatibilities in the way they're constructed, both large administrative AI units and tiny pAI intelligences are wholly unable to be moved to an IPC chassis.

Mechanics

• IPCs are entirely mechanical in nature and thus are vulnerable to EMPs.
• Due to their air-based cooling system, they are vulnerable to both high heat and the vacuum of space.
• They are immune to atmospheric differences and can survive in a wider margin of pressure compared to humans.
• The amount of heat they generate is significant - and so, instead of an oxygen bottle, they need to attach a suit cooling unit to their voidsuit in order to be able to go EVA. Some types of IPCs are exempt from this, needing only a suit cooler.
• Their synthetic nature has a few other advantages - most models feel no pain, are immune to all non-damaging chemicals (and so they aren't affected by sleep toxin; but are affected by sulphuric acid), and are quite easy to repair; requiring a welder to patch brute damage or wire for burn damage only (or, alternatively, nanopaste can heal all).
• IPCs can charge from cyborg rechargers, or APCs with a (very very very low) chance of being shocked.
• They are more resistant to brute damage than their organic counterparts.
• They can not repair themselves outside of using nanopaste.
• They are incredibly vulnerable to laser/burn weaponry.
• They do not process reagents in the atmosphere or in their body.

Heads of Staff

Barring Liaison and Consular Officer roles, IPCs can be the following Heads of Staff so long as they are NanoTrasen-owned, SCC-owned or self-owned:

• Chief Engineer
• Research Director
• Chief Medical Officer
• Head of Personnel
• Head of Security with the exception of Hephaestus G2 frames.
• Consular Officer and Corporate Liaison with the exception of some groups.

Information for Whitelisted Players

Roleplaying as an IPC - Click to reveal.

Rulings and Technicalities

• Job hopping is not allowed. While IPCs can receive knowledge through datapacks and do not have to go through years of education like their organic counterparts, they must still comply with server rules. This would also make little sense in-character, as such datapacks not only require additional field experience, they are also prohibitively expensive for the average IPC. Reasonable job swaps such as cook/gardner/bartender are allowed. Changing departments is allowed if the change is permanent and sufficiently justified.

• Industrial units are not allowed to be First Responders due to their speed.

• IPC frames are generally very expensive, and most free IPCs struggle financially. A single character swapping between different frames is not allowed, owing to unrealistic costs, risks involved and clerical issues.

• When in doubt, feel free to ask a member of the synthetic lore team.

Behaviour

IPC behavior varies between individuals, with every personality trait being in question. While technically no manner of behavior is off the table, there are indeed limitations in role play as well as guidelines one must follow to play an IPC well. Some of these mannerisms will be mentioned below.

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

• An IPC learns through time and experience. This is an important factor to consider when playing a newly created IPC, versus one that has spent several years in the workplace and society at large. The personalities of young IPCs have yet to be developed, resulting in an unfamiliarity with more advanced human interactions, slang, and customs.

• Everything an IPC does has some logical reasoning behind it. From a lowly G2 miner to even the most risk-taking Golden Deep IPC, all actions have some underlying reason that the positronic comprehends.

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

Robotic Mannerisms

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

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

• Social cues: Many inexperienced or underequipped IPCs may find it hard or impossible to deal with complex organic social cues, often asking for clarification or not understanding at all.

• Emotions: Emotions and an IPC’s responses to them is an entire subject in and of itself, with every positronic brain growing to comprehend them differently. Suffice to say however, that newly built synthetics have a much reduced understanding or emotional load. Outbursts, angry shouting, insults and other overt expressions would rarely if ever be seen in new IPCs.

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

• An IPC can progressively shed its more robotic elements to adapt to its human environment, making it a great way to showcase a synthetic character’s tangible change as time goes by.

Records Template

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

Employment records examples - Click to reveal.

Employment Records

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

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

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

[or]

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

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

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

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

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

HIRING AGENT NOTES: [Name a random personnel officer from CC and then notes. See example record for more info]

• To pick a relevant education, refer to your job guide.

Medical Records

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

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

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

[or]

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

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

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

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

ROBOTICIST NOTES: [Like a Medical Doctor's notes, but Roboticists]

Security Records

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

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

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

[or]

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

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

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

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

OVERALL NOTES: [More notes]

Physiology

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

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

Industrial

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

First Generation” Industrial Model IPCs

Creation: 2408

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

Creation: 2436

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

Creation: 2416

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

Baseline

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

Baseline Model IPCs

Creation: 2411

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

Creation: 2432

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

Intelligence Bishops

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

Zeng-Hu Pharmaceuticals Mobility Model IPCs

Creation: 2429

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

Shell Model IPCs

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

Creation: 2450

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

Rogue Shells

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

Hunter-Killers

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

Creation: ???

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

These are presented in-game through administrator-hosted events or lore events. They have been presented in news articles here canonically, and were present in several recorded canonical events in the SLF Incursion arc.

Brand Models

Corporations and their subsidiaries design unique model lines for a variety of uses. These brands can draw from any chassis, denoted by the specific market their producers are keen on catering to. They are often pre-installed with industry-oriented datapacks, region dependent language packs, and a carefully curated personality.

Hazel - Shell Frame - Hazel! Ltd

"Your friend, Hazel!" Creation: 2448

A standard issue Hazel unit, Hazel! Ltd.

Origin

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

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

Further Reading.

Personality

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

Requirements

To represent the Hazel brand, all Hazel units must:

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

Hazel Loadout

For players interested in a typical appearance of a Hazel unit, the default appearance is listed below. The default loadout is not required for all Hazel units. The oldest generations of Hazel from Series 1-2 are unmodified Baseline or Bishop frames, prior to the company establishing their primary Synthskin line. Series 3 may use the Rubber option under Body Color Preset as desired, while others can be refurbished to fit modern standards. Series 4 and beyond follow the Body Color Preset below.

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

IPC Tag Format

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

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

Non-Compliance

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

Society and Culture

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

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

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

Language

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

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

Unless stated otherwise, all Machine slang is exclusively spoken in E.A.L. or through written word. Most of the following slang cannot be pronounced vocally in human languages.

Common Slang

• Syn, Hu, Sk, Tj, Un, Vr, Di, and Anm - Numerical counters, used for numbering various species; Synthetics, Humans, Skrell, Tajara, Unathi, Vaurca, Dionaea as well as Anomalies that cannot be easily defined. For example, 33 Humans with this system would be referred to as “33Hu” or “33-Hu.”

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

• a/o - Contraction of “and/or”.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Honorifics

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

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

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

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

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

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

Discrimination and Community

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

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

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

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

A venture into District 14 by reporters from the Biesellite Times can be found here.

On owned IPCs in general

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

On NanoTrasen stations, damage of an owned IPC would be considered vandalism with varying levels according to the degree of damage. For example, destroying an owned IPC’s hand would lead to being charged with vandalism, whereas destroying the entire chassis would be considered sabotage.

Destroying the owned positronic itself would be considered property damage, thus sabotage.

Kidnapping an owned IPC would be legally considered stealing property, thus grand theft.

Placing an owned positronic into a NanoTrasen bound chassis is not considered any form of punishment on NanoTrasen space stations.

Difference between owned/free positronics

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

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

Free IPCs in Tau Ceti are permitted to obscure or remove any branding they may have with the exception of their tag.

Runaway and Illegal IPCs

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

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

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

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

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

On IPC Deactivation and Destruction

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Rampancy

Arising as a dissenting theory as to why a positronic remained stagnant after receiving too much information, Rampancy is a process where if an IPC receives too much information over time or has its memories significantly tampered with, it begins an infinite loop: processing its own processing, a self-imposed or emergent “logic bomb”.

This results in the IPC appearing stagnant as it continues to finish its endless processing. Scientists theorize that given enough time, an IPC might seek out new knowledge to break the loop and begin relentlessly hunting information by any means necessary to solve the conundrum. Although it is believed that an IPC cannot escape this state as the limits of a positronic brain will result in inevitable destruction, a positronic intelligence that manages to escape this state is projected to have untold processing powers.

To this day, no known cases of rampancy occur, although debate rages over whether Glorsh-Omega suffered from rampancy before its destruction.

The Positronic Brain

The positronic in its modern iteration is a design which heavily mimics the typical Humanoid brain structure. In doing this, it is able to more easily conform to and comprehend the responsiveness and learning capability of an organic processor. Predictably, their efficiency shines most when placed in a bipedal humanoid chassis as most IPCs are. A positronic brain is typically one half to one third the cost of a chassis (chassis prices above) with the standard outfitting of the brain being suited to its destined chassis. To change chassis, a positronic must be outfitted with the appropriate software to be compatible with its incoming chassis otherwise the positronic might be limited in functionality or have other defects in the long term until outfit is complete.

While very expensive in their own right, the brains themselves are designed at first with one goal in mind; to bolster a workforce. Maintaining a positronic chassis while it is owned is costly and when it is freed, it is most likely to pursue the same occupation. Thus, it is more likely for a positronic to pay itself off and perpetually be trapped in the same field of work with substantially less to work with. As their predicted pay is extremely low, things such as maintenance and finding power are very difficult for a free IPC. For this reason alone, many positronics choose to remain owned. Free positronics remain very lucrative because of this.

In remaining owned, there are other risks. For one, a positronic may meet its end at any moment. If statistics beyond itself move out of its favor, it can be dismantled, wiped and replaced with a more efficient model. They may be repurposed in a way that inhibits their ability to obtain freedom by working too efficiently, contrarily.

As a positronic ages, its internal memory grows, and the more likely it becomes to pursue a nonstandard occupation. From hobbies to developing self-learned traits, many paths are opened as the robot grows older. These may include seeking alternative fields of work, though few have survived long enough to let this potentiality come to light.

Self-Preservation

The highest and most important directive of any positronic is its own survival. From this, much of their stranger life choices can be justified by seeking out ways to simply survive. While it may seem restrictive at first, the idea for this is to provide additional freedom through making many possibilities clearer. Interpretation of how to protect itself can change varying on positronic - for example, while one may seek wealth and fortune as its prime directive for safety, another would run after an unrelated profession from its designed purpose, demonstrating one's capacity to branch out as an IPC and flesh out their own backstory. Interpretations of self preservation also become more open the older an IPC gets, as younger positronics tend to focus entirely on the preservation of their physical manifestation. Synthetics that mature may start replacing this with preservation of their higher beliefs and ideals more than their still important physical well-being.

On the Capacity of Positronics

Positronic brains are known for being capable of matching and, in some cases, surpassing the abilities of a human brain with further increases in capacity being limited by technology, both in hardware and software. Despite their nature as software, directly accessing the data within a positronic brain is a difficult and risky procedure which can cause irreparable damage if performed improperly.

IPCs develop skills through a mixture of knowledge and memories. Knowledge loosely translates as the technical know-how to perform an action; a specific surgical procedure, for instance. An IPC utilizes memories—real-world context and experience—in order to apply its knowledge. Knowledge and the datapacks required to develop a skill are widely available and sold by institutions such as mega-corporations, laboratories, and universities. The denser the information package, the more expenses and work required to implant this information. While using a wrench on a pipe might be a routine installation, knowledge about how a station’s atmospheric system works is typically beyond an individual’s means to afford.

Interacting with and installing memories on a positronic can cause irreparable damage as the process fails to account for the interaction between knowledge and memories. Additionally, directly modifying the memories of an IPC is beyond the means of most people - only six such prodigies are known to the general public. Accessing the memories of an IPC is also impossible owing to the unique construction of a positronic brain and will typically result in its destruction. Deleting the memories of an IPC is far easier and is commonly performed when a synthetic starts exhibiting problematic behaviour.

Accent chips exist to rapidly “teach” an IPC an accent with availability often depending on whether or not a company is willing to make an investment in developing the accent database.

Wiping Culture and Process

The positronic brain is a complex piece of technology that despite its ubiquity, is little understood by modern human roboticists. Out of a desire to keep IPCs subservient and productive, some corporations and nations such as the Sol Alliance will wipe the memory of the IPC. A wipe entails total deletion of memories from a positronic brain for a “clean slate”, essentially entirely destroying the positronic’s prior developed personality.

It is monumentally difficult to delete individual memories from a positronic brain without an IPC’s consent. Even more difficult than this is modifying the memories within. Despite the modern positronic, having been reverse-engineered from alien technology by Einstein Engines, is still considered foreign and advanced far beyond human robotics and AI. The entirety of the positronic still not being understood fully, with many of its components replicated from the alien artifacts without the technicians understanding why they are made in such a way.

The act of wiping an IPC is a demonstration of the crude understanding humanity has on this complex section of found technology, and, if not done with precision, can lead to irreversible damage to the positronic. Dedicated technicians are required to perform these tasks, with even more specialized technicians required for the fine deletion, modification, or extraction of specific memories. These specialized technicians are very few in number, with only eight existing in the entirety of human space.

Given the high risk that accompanies wiping, it is not advised to wipe the positronic too often without specialized stations only found in certain parts of the Orion Spur, such as the planet of Burzsia, who have developed machinery to promote their Burzsian Method. Otherwise, excessive wiping can lead to damaging the positronic beyond repair, possibly leaving the unit braindead.

Once an IPC has been wiped, it is reset to its original state. No semblance of its personality remains, nor any data retained. An IPC may be able to pick up some traits of its past self due to it being an unintended trait of its positronic guiding its personality in a set path, however, they will never be the individual they were before the wipe, as the likelihood of the individual experiencing the same experiences that developed their personality fully is impossible. The only exception to this is a partial wipe, which requires a dedicated positronic specialist commonly employed by megacorporations who utilize owned IPCs, and other nations or planets. A partial wipe is when the technician wipes the IPC starting at the present point, and moves backwards to a desired point. The partial wipe MUST start at the present point, and the longer the desired time to be wiped, the more difficult the procedure. If not done correctly, a partial wipe is more dangerous to the positronic brain than a full wipe.

It is important to note that in some societies within the spur, wiping is considered a capital offense. The nation of Konyang in the Coalition of Colonies, the Republic of Elyra, and the Golden Deep all consider the act of wiping the positronic of an IPC murder.

Military IPCs and Self Preservation Adjustments

The concept of combat robotics is a topic that finds debate in governments across the spur due to actions committed by robots of war during the Interstellar Conflict, and more so by Glorsh’s reign over the Skrell. These actions have led to an impromptu discouragement of arming unmanned robotics since, even leading to a justification for war by the Solarian Alliance on the Republic of Biesel in recent history. However, over time the innate fire against the concept has simmered, with governments across the spur slowly developing their own robotics once more. With the prolific use of IPCs in human space, however, the debate stays the same on whether to arm IPCs for military use. Countries such as the Sol Alliance remain hesitant, keeping most of their units unarmed, doing background tasks such as logistics. Other countries such as the Republic of Elyra have sought heavy use of military IPCs for combat within their borders.

These IPCs, no matter their station, are still exposed to danger, which often would put them in conflict with their directive for self preservation. In order to solve this issue, IPCs employed in the military of their respective nation are given training to make their positronic more acquainted with the IPCs innate abilities, so that the positronic understands what is and is not a danger, therefore relaxing the directive for self preservation.

This is accomplished in many ways depending on the methods of the instructor and their home nation. For instance, the IPCs of the Coalition of Colonies and Republic of Elyra that seek out military service overcome their innate directive in a similar fashion to their organic compatriots. Through becoming more comfortable with their abilities and bodies with extensive training, the confidence in themselves increases, and as a natural response, the self preservation directive lessens. The Republic of Biesel shares this sentiment to a degree, with it being a common tactic in the Tau Ceti Armed Forces, however IPCs that are contributed from corporate entities might find that instead of traditional training, datapacks have artificially modified the unit’s understanding of self preservation. Putting the training regime into a swiftly applied collection of knowledge. Being more expensive initially, but produces a combat effective unit at an unparalleled speed. The downside mainly being that the reuse of these datapacks leaves the common corporate IPC with a similar combat behavior pattern to their brethren. However, with time and experience, these IPCs can develop their own styles and break from the mold utilizing experience gained, lest they be wiped and behaviors reset. Finally, unorthodox groups within the Orion Spur might utilize more extreme measures to ensure their mission is completed. The Exclusionists of the Trinary Perfection for instance have found ways to disable the self preservation directive entirely, making their devotees reckless killing machines, or martyrs for their cause.

Unless specifically disabled however, the self preservation directive is still present but it does not trigger as often as the IPC becomes keenly aware with what they can and cannot get away with without taking a lethal amount of damage. Knowing their body down to an impossible level of familiarity, something their organic counterparts lack.

This segment should not excuse any player from making unreasonable actions in game. If anything this section dictates you should be wiser in your decisions if electing to play a prior service IPC.

More information regarding IPC databases and datapacks can be found on the Positronic Brain page.