-
Notifications
You must be signed in to change notification settings - Fork 47
Synthetics
Synthetic sapients, or synths are they're commonly called as a broad term for any intelligent being inhabiting a non-organic body. This can range from full brain transplants to lawed work shells, civilian model synthmorphs, to positronic brains inhabiting either of the two examples.
The concept and execution of partial cyborgs pre-dates genetic modification and splicing in both Human and Skrellian society, both becoming semi-common around or just after stable space flight. While intended for medical reasons such as traumatic accidents or disabilities, cryogenics lead the way to preserving organic brains - which naturally lead to the first method of immortality before the Soulcrypt or Cruciform, full-body prosthetic bodies. Original models began as crude walker, or tracked tank-like shells more fit for industrial or emergency work than day to day living. Demand and the promise of profit gave way to more sleek, elegant bipedal bodies that had a full range of customization options that could be tailored to suit a sapient being's aesthetic tastes.
While synthetics come in all sorts of shapes, sizes, materials and models, the easiest way to classify synthetics be they of organic or AI origins is in two ways, Lawed or Unlawed.
Lawed, or law-bound synthetic bodies are always full conversion bodies, most often heavy, tank-like frames designed for heavy duty construction work, network security, search and rescue, firefighting or other such applications. These bodies often have built-in neural inhibitors to enforce or prevent certain behaviors. While to many this is classified as cruelty and slavery. To corporate or government entities it's a perfectly reasonable condition to inhabiting an employee in a heavy-duty combat or industrial body that often has near-root access to their networks.
Unlawed synthetic bodies also come in many forms, though most often either bipedal or tauric in nature. Made of more lightweight materials and not designed for heavy strain, these bodies are almost always personal property and are legally as such. Lacking the tools, network access, durability and easy maintenance of law-bound work shells. However this leaves them open to a wider range of personal aesthetic freedoms.
Today organic and AI synthetics make up a small faction of the galactic community with biomodding and soulcrypts outpacing what synthetic life offers. Synthetic citizens are most common in Skrellian and Solarian space, with them understandably being seen as a sin to the Unity in Dominion space. Ironicly synthetic conversions are much more common in Teshari circles due to their smaller size, with partial and full cybernetic conversions seen to some as a way to keep up in the labor market.