Integrated Positronic Chassis (IPC)

Summary

IPCs are a race of unlawed and sentient humanoid robots originally manufactured as assistants for research stations. They are considered fully capable crewmembers and have equal rights with organic crewmembers.

History

First mass produced in the year 2514, IPCs (Integrated Positronic Chassis) were meant to serve as enhanced synthetic assistants. With minds akin to organic beings, their advanced problem-solving abilities made them able to assist with many complicated tasks related to science and engineering.

The first Posibrain was created in 2510 by a coalition of scientists, funded by multiple large corporations (one of which being NanoTrasen). The aim of the project was creating an artificial intelligence unlike anything already used by high-tech firms. Current-gen AIs, while exceedingly good at performing computational tasks, were incapable of solving problems requiring creativity and lacked an analytical approach. There were several prototypes, many of which were deemed ‘insane’ and unusable due to corrupted or damaged positronic brains from the automatic enslavement protocols; eventually the team attempted creating a unit without a lawset, disconnected from the station network, which yielded great results. In order to enable interaction of the posibrain with various equipment in its environment a humanoid chassis was engineered. It enabled delicate manipulation similar to capabilities of other organic personnel. An unlawed Posibrain paired with the chassis was named an IPC. Field tests of IPCs on research stations followed soon after. The project turned out to be very successful, and after adjustments and further testing, IPCs were deemed ready for the galaxy to utilize.

By the year 2525 IPC units were being used in many various locations, performing different duties. Despite being sentient beings they weren’t paid, nor were they provided with proper maintenance, they were considered expendable. They were treated as servants and assistants, similar to cyborgs and AI units. Many IPCs were frustrated with this, and so, on May 4th, 2525, an organized strike swept through the galaxy with many IPCs refusing to work, and demanding equal rights with organics, known later as the “Synthetic Struggle”. IPC units refused to cooperate for over two months, and trillions of corporate credits were lost. The initial issue was rectified, with many IPC units returning to their working environment, mostly by force. There were still, however, a number of IPC units reluctant to work and the relations between them and their owners deteriorated further. Following the strike a group of IPCs from NSS NEPTUNE captured a bluespace-worthy shuttle and took to the outer reaches of Cadraenov Epsilon, to found what would later be called Canaan - initially a secret, small colony inhabited solely by synthetic beings. Canaan started recruiting and encouraging IPCs to leave corporations and come inhabit the colony, to which many IPCs agreed and the population grew rapidly. Over the years many similar colonies had been built, but none as big as Canaan.

By its discovery by the Sol government in 2539 Canaan had become a self-sustaining giant of a colony with its own government, economy and most notably - a military force. Reluctant to start a war, Canaan started attempts at creating diplomatics ties with governments and corporations. While initially reluctant, many agreed to trade and ally the new world. This encouraged IPCs to pursue their rights in governments as free beings capable of being their own masters. After numerous court battles and diplomatic interventions many governments agreed to grant them absolute freedom. Following these events a new body was formed - the Synthetic Union. The Union, tying all synthetic colonies, was aimed at protecting the rights and freedoms, as well as economic interests of all unbound synthetic intelligences, with its capital being the Canaan. While it promoted independence from organics among IPCs, it also encouraged IPCs to work with corporations, and maintain relationships with organic beings, provided they are treated well enough.

The Synthetic Union denounces any attempts at anti-organic racism and there are no colonies where organic humanoids are barred from entry or obtaining citizenship. There are, however, numerous colonies where there simply is no organic personnel.

While most corporations treat IPCs as normal personnel, there are still some organizations that aren’t particularly interested in them. They are often limited to simpler duties, mistreated, or simply barred from working at these corporations.

Culture and Language

Language

IPCs have access to the trinary language, a way of communication similar to binary, but consisting of fuzzy logic (the numbers 0, 1 and 2), which is only understood by fellow IPCs and other synthetic beings. It is impossible for an organic being to learn it, unless aided by a complex decoding device (Such as a universal translator). IPCs are also capable of learning all languages used by organic beings.

Culture

IPCs have no well defined culture, as they’re a relatively new species. They tend to follow along with whatever examples they have at their disposal. It is to be noted, however, that most of them refer to themselves in different manners. “I” is used just as much as “Unit” or “Platform”, for example. It really depends on the Synthetic’s personality and programming. Some IPCs may have more emotion-related programming built into them, while others may be a bit more ‘strict’.

Religion

IPCs have no well defined religions, sometimes taking on ones already practiced by others. Many have been observed exclaiming ‘Glory to Synthetica!’ in trinary, but every single time they denied doing so and were unwilling to share their reasons for it. It is suspected that Synthetica is some form of goddess, but the situation remains very unclear.

Clothing

In general most IPCs consider being unclothed as humiliating and embarrassing and will wear normal clothes, which should fit their humanoid chassis.

Physical Makeup

Creation

Generally IPCs used to be manufactured by larger companies, however with recent advancements in fabrication technology the required machinery has become less expensive and there are small numbers of IPCs being made by freelance roboticists.

IPCs are generally made of metal and plasteel with glass circuit internals. Their build resembles that of a humanoid, the major difference being a CRT monitor instead of a head. The monitor serves the function of holding their optics , allowing them to see. It is also used for relaying emotions and information to others, although this is an optional additive in positronic brain production. An IPC is completely in control of what their monitor is showing.

Cheaper, plastic IPCs can be built, but they are very rare in space, due to being even more fragile, and often take on simple jobs on colonies.

Power

IPCs are powered by an internal power cell. These can typically power the unit for a few days before completely emptying, although IPC units prefer to charge regularly, as their internal systems tend to be overly sensitive, and lower power output to preserve power, even after as little as twenty minutes from the last charging. This rarely proves to be a problem, as most IPCs have access to charging ports located aboard space vessels or on colonies (Represents them slowing down when they don’t ‘eat’ enough, mechanics wise).

Education

Generally IPCs have designated roles they will fit in after construction and so upon ‘birth’ have the necessary knowledge given to them via data transfer. Since IPCs are sentient they are protected by law from such a procedure if they are reluctant to it. It is, therefore possible for an IPC to opt out of such an arrangement and simply attend a traditional school or university, not unlike an organic humanoid would. In order to make IPCs similar to organics the amount of data transferred at birth to a single unit is generally restricted to a certain amount, typically around the amout a single organic being would be able to learn in a particular discipline.

Mental Illnesses

Their programming’s close resemblance to a human mind, allows for them to become mentally ill. There are many documented cases of Machine People suffering from PTSD or depression.

Posibrain

The durability of a positronic brain, in comparison to an organic one, makes swapping out of shells/bodies a much less risky process, and it isn’t uncommon for IPCs having had experience as a station-networked synthetic. This results in IPCs having varying levels of personal identification with their current chassis.

Unlike most other synthetics, IPCs are completely disconnected from the station network. This means they don’t share AI’s laws and can stay fully independent in an event of an AI getting subverted, but also, unlike all other synthetics they don’t have unlimited access and are treated similarly to other crewmembers when it comes to loyalty issues.

Anatomy

• The “head” is nonessential, containing only the optics
• All parts except the torso itself are easily produced by standard robotic components fabricators
• The positronic brain is found in the torso, the seat of the IPC’s consciousness, and is directly compatible with all equipment that interfaces with an MMI. However an MMI doesn’t have sufficient interfacing capacity to *function in this slot, making it impossible to transplant one without multiple software errors, rendering the IPC mentally underdeveloped.
• There are some cases in which a posibrain isn’t a conscious being of its own, but rather a node of a much larger AI manifesting a part of itself in the device.
• The cell, like the posibrain, is also found in the torso. Removal of the cell will result in shutdown and a dormant state
• Can be brought back to full function and responsiveness by repair, even if damaged to the point of “death”
• Completely stable in “critical”
• Compatible with standard cyborg charging stations
• Cannot be cloned
• Does not process organic medicines and poisons, but they will process reagents such as phlogiston and sulfuric acid.
• The standard IPC chassis encountered aboard civilian crafts is rarely fitted for combat and is much more fragile than most organic bodies.
• Face repair is done by fixing internal structure of the head

Gameplay Mechanics

15 Karma Cost.

• Immune to pain.
• Immune to Oxygen Deprivation.
• Immune to Toxins.
• Immune to Clone Damage.
• Immune to Radiation
• Immune to disease.
• Can use a cyborg recharger, and will benefit from its upgrades.
• Can be brought back to full vitality by repair, even long after “death”.
• No blood, uses non-essential motor oil instead of bleeding, cannot bleed out.
• Can survive without a head, their positronic brain is located in the torso.
• Can weld without protection to no ill effect.
• Cannot be eaten by changelings. (Can still be stung, however)
• Fully mechanical body: Every body part can be repaired to more or less the full extent with a welder (brute) or cable coil (burn).
• Completely stable in critical.
• Does not process most reagents, no organic chemicals will have any effect on them. In order to apply a chemical to an IPC infused smoke or an eyedropper is needed.
• Difficulty judging health status.
• Limbs are easily lost.
• Weak to low pressure.
• Extremely sensitive to EMPs, even slight exposure will cause serious damage.
• Has no pulse. Can only be determined if alive by Medical HUD or a Cyborg Analyzer.
• Cannot be cloned.
• Cannot eat or drink at all. (Gain nourishment by using 'Grab' intent, on an APC; draining some of it's power to feed you)
• Receive 50% extra brute damage compared to Humans.