The Stryker

Exclusionists Assault Burzsia, Orepit Bombarded as Hephaestus Lifts Siege Providence, Orepit The corporate stronghold of Burzsia has been assaulted in a surprise attack by a swarm of initially unidentified parties. The meticulously planned and executed attack saw the system’s defense apparatus bypassed or dismantled with high precision, indicating a high level of professionalism by the assailants who proceeded to board utility ships, barges and orbital installations belonging to Hephaestus Industries. The corporation counted 106 injured, 43 dead and 167 missing employees and security officers, as well as large damages to hardware, storage facilities and mining infrastructure. 234 IPC units have also gone missing, security footage showing the armed assailants evacuating them in small personnel carrier shuttles. The raid was at first thought to have been perpetrated by pirate bands before the Exclusionist leader Deluge claimed responsibility. Emboldened by the absence of the large security fleet currently blockading Orepit, and operating highly maneuverable light assault craft of unknown origin, the hardline Trinarist splinter group evidently saw its greatest opportunity. While Hephaestus’ largest ship was present in the system, the mobile offensive force easily managed to outpace and disable its engines with a fighter rigged with explosives, immobilising any meaningful response. Exclusionist casualties are estimated to be around twenty units, as well as four shuttles lost to the defensive orbital batteries. A closer inspection of both the disabled IPC and the shuttle wreckages brought light to the nature of the Exclusionist equipment, as Einstein Engines logos had apparently been hastily scraped off the hulls and assault weapons used. The immediate aftermath was placing the system on lockdown as more security forces were being dispatched to ensure the total expulsion of Deluge’s band from the area, including the nearest fleet in orbit of Orepit. The lifting of the blockade was not without incident however, with the departing corporate corvettes opening fire and devastating the surrounding area of Providence, targeting the large swaths of barren plains used as the planet’s main shuttle port. Local infrastructure has been left in ruins, causing losses of 222 organic and synthetic shuttle port workers and Guardians with others still missing, 17 vessels of varying classifications belonging to the Church and third parties, a long-range transmitter and other telecommunications. The strategic bombing was perpetrated with high-yield conventional explosives, disabling any means of exporting helium-3 from the planet until the shuttle port is relocated and made operational once more. The move drew the ire of the inhabitants and those abroad, an outraged Ecclesiarch declaring a state of war and naming Bishop-Militant Emmanuel as Defender of the Faith, who has since returned to Providence to oversee a total mobilization of the city’s resources towards the construction of hideouts and shelters. The Order of the Pitters has furthermore allowed the construction of ladders for the evacuation of the civilian population inside their enormous excavation holes.

Hephaestus Industries Blockades Orepit, Protests in Mendell Providence, Orepit A rapidly evolving series of events has culminated in a corporate fleet entering the planet’s low orbit, blocking all incoming and outgoing space traffic in what has been described as “a blatant example of gunboat diplomacy” by Trinary press. The flotilla seems to be comprised of the bulk of Hephaestus’ security detail from the nearby corporate stronghold of Burzsia, their mission being communicated in a brief announcement to the office of the Ecclesiarch; that the planet has always been the property of Hephaestus, and that the synthetic inhabitants are trespassers that are to immediately cease further exports of Helium-3. The timeline of events has as follows: This immense show of force by the megacorporation has come directly after the publicized demands towards the Trinary for the planet’s future. It is uncertain if bombardment or a land invasion will be considered as options, given the sensitive nature of the mining and excavation equipment, though it is a fact that organized resistance is already being mustered. Official statements have still not been made by either the SCC or Hephaestus Industries, with an unnamed NanoTrasen official calling it “solely Hephaestus’ business”, while there have been emerging reports of attempted suppression of knowledge of the incident in Mendell City’s District 14. Regardless, there has been major backlash by Trinarists all over the Spur, the main march on Mendell’s corporate offices commencing as planned. A heavy police response has been organized to maintain order as the number of marchers is projected to reach a few thousands, the Trinary cause being reinforced by allies, synthetic rights activists and organic sympathizers. The integrationist sect, the largest Trinary sect in Mendell that has been indirectly attacked by Providence in the past, has rallied to the cause against Hephaestus. A further message from the Coalition government has made their dissatisfaction clear, citing that the corporation may not lay claim to the planet based on previous purchases from the Alliance, since this agreement was never ratified by the new Coalition administration. This response has been characterized as lackluster by the Archbishop of Konyang, while Einstein Engines has come fully in support of the legality of their agreements with Providence, calling the blockade “an illegal act''.

Hephaestus Industries Demands Return of Orepit Providence, Orepit The engineering and production powerhouse, Hephaestus Industries, has released an announcement regarding the assertion of the company’s full rights over the planet’s surface and minerals, as stipulated by their purchase of the celestial body from the Sol Alliance in the late 2280s. This communication, denounced by critics as an ultimatum, was directed towards both the Trinary Perfection and their external partner, Einstein Engines, following the recent discovery of Helium-3 deposits in the planet’s subsurface. The lengthy message includes a list of demands, mainly the cessation of all drilling and excavation activities, the grounding and seizure of all shipments of minerals and Helium-3 that have already been extracted, the complete withdrawal of all third party contractors and corporate presence, as well as the disarmament of any defense forces or “armed militias illegally operating on Hephaestus Industries’ corporate property”. Furthermore, it explains how Hephaestus never formally abandoned its paid for rights on the planet, arguing that the Trinary Church are nothing but trespassers making use of Hephaestus equipment for their own benefit. It further claims the right to intervene against the synthetic population that has "abducted and terrorized” the local human colonies, and that the corporation has the moral responsibility to protect the descendants of Hephaestus employees on its property. Providence’s response has been swift and total, rejecting any corporate claim and ascertaining the sovereignty of the Trinary Perfection over Orepit and its wealth, citing both the principals of adverse possession and the fact that the planet is no longer in Alliance space as legal justifications. As of yet, no comment has been released from either the Stellar Corporate Conglomerate or any government authority in Biesel or Mendell City, while the local church and synthetic population of Mendell’s District 14 have already announced a march in protest towards Hephaestus’ Biesel offices. An extraordinary e-meeting of the Coalition of Colonies’ House of Members has also been convened, indicating a potential response as Orepit is technically inside Coalition space.

Hi, thanks for applying! Just some concerns, the whole backstory does seem like a reference to Viscera Cleanup Detail. Could you expand more on how VISCERA behaves? Why did VISCERA clean up the corpses?

Examinators Rule Flock Unsuited for Transport Mendell City, Biesel The long awaited ruling on the state of Flock, one of the Trinary Perfection’s most important figures, has at last been released to the public in an announcement by the Mendell Archbishopric. The team of experts has found it was impossible to sufficiently communicate with the catatonic, three headed IPC frame as it lay in a state of idleness. “In this state” it was added, “the safe and consensual transportation cannot be achieved.” These findings came weeks after an intense sit-in protest largely by the Integrationist faction prevalent in Tau Ceti, placating a sizable portion of the protestors that wished to prevent the moving of Flock to Orepit. The demonstration had been scaled down a few days after it commenced, allowing use of the Cathedral for daily liturgy as a token of good faith for the Orepit-aligned clergy, in exchange for a speedy assessment by the Examinators. There has so far been no known reply from Providence. Deliberations on the possibility of Flock’s repair have seemingly been at the forefront of the Trinary agenda, as the Mendell synod has been asked to explore solutions. Maintenance for members of the Trinary Perfection is usually done within the organisation itself, by roboticists and archivists of varying knowledge and experience. With a new centralised hierarchy and freshly acquired funding, the Church is able to seek external professional support.

Discontent Rises on Konyang as Energy Prices Increase Suwon, Konyang Peaceful protests continued in Suwon today in response to the growing concerns over rising energy prices inside of the city, believed to be a consequence of the rising phoron shortage across the coalition as a whole, similar smaller peaceful demonstrations have also began in other cities across the planet including Ganzaodeng and Point Verdant. The protestors comprise both human and IPC residents of the planets across a wide range of backgrounds and affiliations however their demands are unified in asking for the government to address the rising energy crisis immediately and provide aid to those affected already. Our reporter in Suwon managed to speak with a protester in front of the Parliament Building. In response to the protests across the planet Prime Minister Myeong Myung-Dae chose to address the parliament today as protestors gathered not far from the parliament building itself, the speech was televised across planetary news and a section of it can be found below. The Konyang Robotics Company has made no official statements following the prime minister’s address as of now however it seems that business will continue as usual for the company in the coming weeks. A representative for the Coast Guard said that the new funding will be welcome in combating the long-standing issue of sea bandits across the surface of Konyang who have only grown emboldened by the energy crisis as well as the continuing refugee crisis from the Sol Wildlands. Given the wide range of initiatives the government is instituting, the citizenry of the planet doubt as to whether all of them will be effectively implemented. Extranet posts from the planet say that protests are set to continue until the situation improves.

Hi! Thanks for applying! The application seems solid but I just have a few questions in particular before we can make a ruling on it. Could you talk more about how IPC are treated in the Orion Spur and how an IPC might be expected to behave particularly in a corporate setting? Could you also talk more about Fir's view on organics and how they were treated? In general, it would be good to flesh out how Fir's experience (8 years is incredibly long for an IPC) affected its personality.

First School Built in the Twenty Parishes Providence, Orepit The first educational institution has been constructed in Providence with the aid of external contractors. The “Primary Learning Institution” has been inaugurated this morning by a delegation composed of the local and surrounding parish priests, archivists and Bishop-Militant Emmanuel of the Order of Guardians. Divided in classes roughly equivalent to elementary and junior highschool education, the first students arrived in the morning. The building was assembled with parts ordered and shipped from abroad, bought with funds gathered from the recent agreement with Einstein Engines. By far the most modern in the whole region, containing amenities such as air conditioning, electricity and insulation, its creation has been criticised by a portion of the locals as a propaganda show and an attempt at a speedy assimilation by replacing traditional methods of schooling. Denying it, the ecclesiastical authorities have cited the “astounding levels of illiteracy amongst the population” to be the first important issue that must be tackled. Primary and secondary education is planned to eventually become mandatory, while a high school-level institution is currently being constructed in Providence, where students will be required to reside. Lastly, the current curriculum of Ceti Basic, Sol Common, algebra, science and religious education is planned to be expanded, with staff provided by archivists and knowledgeable IPC assuming the roles of teachers.

The issue is that NanoTrasen has the most influence in Biesel, thus the Biesel Citizenship requirement would apply solely to NanoTrasen. Other SCC-member corporations have planets where they exert their own exclusive influence.

Hello, some more questions and concerns to continue. The name MECCA, given that it is the name of a holy city needs to have more explanation to it, otherwise you may have to change the name if you stick with this character. How did MECCA decide between purpose and true purpose? Why did MECCA take the risk to poison his master? The issue with the application in general is that MECCA seems to be guided by fascinations and desire without adequately explaining them.

Hi! Thanks for applying. To start, I have some questions for the application. Could you talk more about what might factor into an IPC's decision making? How did the treatment of IPC on Xanu Prime affect Henry? Looking at the backstory, Henry appears to have had a remarkably lucky life. Considering that IPC are very expensive and have mixed treatment on Xanu, the backstory seems overly optimistic, to be honest. What sort of ideas did Henry Holmes pass on to Henry-2? How did this affect their priorities in life? Can you tell me more about Henry-2's behavior and mannerisms? IPC do not traditionally go to university to study, but Henry-2 could have received a datapack to help them understand these topics, but it would be difficult for them to acquire one without connections or money. In general, it's unlikely that Henry-2 could have changed jobs so quickly, even if he's an IPC. (Datapacks are covered under this page: https://wiki.aurorastation.org/index.php?title=Positronic_Brain) Why does Henry-2 think that being a detective is not good, but then turn around to work as an investigator on a ship? The thought process is missing here. In general, it's difficult to gauge an understanding of the character's personality or what makes them an IPC. What changes if this character was a human instead of an IPC?

Hello! Apologies for taking so long to get to this application, anyway, I have the same questions as I did on your previous application. Thanks for applying! Just some questions for the app to get started. Can you explain some more nuances of IPCs? You have the broad strokes down, but can you talk about why IPCs might be on station, how they fit in the universe, and how an IPC might approach a situation differently from a human? Some basic questions for the character. How old is MECCA? Why the name MECCA, aside from the religious connotations? Did he learn of Trinary Perfection from his master? Who was his master? Furthermore, how does MECCA view organics? How did MECCA develop his obsession with Trinary Perfection? In general, although it's easy to see an IPC run away for mistreatment, I would recommend expanding the backstory to answer why MECCA chose Trinary in particular. I would also recommend developing MECCA as a character and as an IPC (what's their personality, for example?) because a character is more than their backstory.

Orepit Water Pipeline Stalls, Negotiations Fall Through Providence, Orepit. The proposed water pipeline for the cooling mechanisms of the industrial mining drill Ares seems to have been put on hold. While large sections of the pipe have already been laid by hundreds of IPC labourers drawn from the population of Providence, construction has halted in the human territories of the lush zones in the north of the planet. Always reclusive, these communities have rejected any proposals for the pipeline, citing fears of losing the water with nothing in return. Trinary sources have verified that “generous concessions” have been offered, including modern consumer goods and free use of the Providence shuttleport to leave the planet and “return to human civilisation”, all of which were promptly turned down. Water on the small planet is a precious commodity, Orepit having only one large body of surface water east of Providence. The lush zones offer the only source of immediately accessible desalinated water in the area, which is currently used by the settlers for crop farming and their daily needs. A priest whose parish is assigned to the construction of the pipe spoke on the matter. “They tell us to use the lake to the east, shutting down any discussion about a mutually beneficial relationship. The lake is, for one, too far from the mining site, and also contains water with a very high concentration of salt and other substances that will surely damage the equipment in its long term operation. We do not have the funds for purification of said water and the pipeline has already been planned and paid for with the lush zones in mind.” Ecclesiarch ARM-1DRIL has not responded with any public announcement, but it is unlikely that the headstrong leader will be willing to abandon the plan.

Hi! Thanks for applying and apologies for the late response. I only have minor concerns for the backstory. What is Gears' age and where was he dropped off after being rescued by the masked individuals? His age would determine how experienced he is with the world while where he spent his few months of freedom might determine what sort of treatment he has come to expect from organics. Aside from that, it's a decent backstory!

Trinary Perfection Conclave Called Reports arriving from the planet of Orepit seem to indicate a profound level of mobilisation inside the Church of the Trinary Perfection. High ranking clergy from across the galaxy have received calls and invitations to assemble for the first time in Providence for discussions about a possible election of a new leader of the faith. This groundbreaking decision has been announced after what seem to be a great number of failed attempts to communicate with the triple positronic Flock, considered by the majority to be the direct heir to the spiritual leadership of the Church. However, it is doubtful if Flock can ever fulfil such a position, the baseline showing “very few signs of contact with our reality” since last year. An anonymous source within the Church commented of Flock, “Flock is undeniably our most experienced member and a shining beacon for our beliefs. The fusing of three different positronic brains is Patricia’s creation, and this means a great deal to everyone. However, Flock has gradually been slowing down and our custodians do not know why. It is a marvel if they stand up or move at all at this point." The call for an assembly to elect a new leader of the faith stands as an unprecedent move for the Trinary Perfection, the religion not having a clear figurehead since the death of Patricia Corkfell in 2408. Questions range from whether or not this assembly will succeed, what the responsibilities of this new leader will be, to simply what they will be called. The reception by various communities of the religion across the galaxy has been mixed, with some groups refusing to attend and give up their free interpretation of the faith. The procedures are expected to commence once an acceptable number of bishops and priests arrive, the small ex-mining colony being situated inside the Frontier where travel is challenging. Bishop Shamfar, the leading figure of the Church in Mendell City has confirmed that they will be attending, all while urging calm in the face of what he called “the unfortunate events” surrounding the incident in the Starlight District. In one of their many televised addresses to the public, the citizenship-carrying Bishop Frame has stated that they enjoy the confidence of president Dorn, and that they are going to strive for further cooperation between the Trinary Perfection and NanoTrasen and the SCC. “Mendell City is at the heart of our beautiful nation, and the synthetic life of our district has much to benefit from the mutual gains between us and Nanotrasen. We can make it work, and we will make it work.” Shamfar stated.

Hi! Thanks for applying. I have some concerns with the application, however. In general, the application is too short for us to get an accurate read of the character or your understanding of the lore. You'll have to expand this section, for instance, an IPC is not necessarily less intelligent as compared to organics species. Could you also expand how IPCs are physically different outside of mechanics? Could you give some examples from the setting? You'll have to expand a lot about MITCH since we're not sure about who he is as a character. For instance, what did MITCH do in his 5 years? How was he treated in his employment? Additionally, two years is a very short time to gain freedom, how did he manage it?

Hi! Thanks for applying. I have some questions and comments for the application before we can pass a ruling on it. How rigidly does an IPC have to stick to these rules? In that case, what separates an IPC from a stationbound? You have the mechanics and physical aspects of IPCs down to a T. Could you talk more about how an IPC thinks, behaves, and functions in general? (I think you covered the basics in your reason for wanting to play IPC.) Could you also talk about how IPCs get treated by society and how they fit in (or don't, in some cases)? Is 22 the number for this particular SCOUT model on-station, or the batch of SCOUT units? You also discuss briefly what a SCOUT unit is, but what model of IPC will it be or most closely fits (in ingame terms)? What is the purpose of this? Could you talk more about their personality and directives? I love the idea of a very rigid unit that definitely lends itself to the synthetic nature of IPCs, but it could do with a little expansion. Could you talk more about how SCOUT (the on-station one!) will behave? What mannerisms will it adopt? How will it respond to actions outside of security-related matters, for example, what if a fellow officer were to make small talk with it? Finally, how will the idea of monthly memory wipes be showcased ingame?

Thanks for applying! Just some questions for the app to get started. Can you explain some more nuances of IPCs? You have the broad strokes down, but can you talk about why IPCs might be on station, how they fit in the universe, and how an IPC might approach a situation differently from a human? Some basic questions for the character. How old is MECCA? Why the name MECCA, aside from the religious connotations? Did he learn of Trinary Perfection from his master? Who was his master? Furthermore, how does MECCA view organics? How did MECCA develop his obsession with Trinary Perfection? In general, although it's easy to see an IPC run away for mistreatment, I would recommend expanding the backstory to answer why MECCA chose Trinary in particular. I would also recommend developing MECCA as a character and as an IPC (what's their personality, for example?) because a character is more than their backstory.

I like the subdued look of E, but it'd be interesting if you could experiment with getting something between E and F since the difference between the left and right halves of E might be too much.

Hi, thanks for applying. Just some questions to start, Could you expand a little more into what makes IPCs different, aside from emotions? 3 years is a lot of time for an IPC. Can you expand more regarding how this time affected Elbee? Could you also talk about how Elbee spends it time off-station, and how it behaves in general?

Hi! Thanks for applying, just some notes for the app, You've covered most bases, can you discuss Self-Preservation? Can you add when SARA was built, as well as how her time spent working at Top of the World affected her? Could you also expand on how SARA behaves, aside from her verbal tic and cheery disposition? How does she behave at work? Additionally, does her humanization by her roboticist affect her personality or worldview?

Thanks for applying! Some questions for the app to start, Could you expand on this portion? No need to focus so much on self-preservation for now. What is the significance of this part of Horatio's life to the present day? Is there any way that Horatio compensates for his inappropriate behavior? Is it simply Horatio's reactions, or are his actions affected as well by his "mood"? How does Horatio's increased durability play with his sense of self-preservation? Why does Horatio feel the need to help people in the first place? Why is Horatio excited to meet the crew of the Aurora? How did he acquire his hands on those old music copies and why does he like to listen to them?

Hi! Thanks for applying! Some concerns on the application. Could you expand more on this part? Talk more about how IPCs think and how they're treated. No need to worry about separating RP and non-RP elements. Is there any significance behind why they chose Vostok as the name? Please expand a little more on the backstory, such as why it is aggressive, why it would be allowed to work if it shows excessive aggression as well as how more than two years of being active would have affected the way it behaves. Could you also tell us more how Vostok behaves in general?

Hi! Thanks for applying, just some questions for the application. Can you expand more what makes role-playing the species different? In particular, their treatment in different areas of the Orion Spur? How old is Juno? Can you talk more about Emery Sonnet's and their influence on Juno? How did this affect Juno? You mentioned Juno being a first mate, did it have any major interactions with organic crewmembers, especially being in charge of them? Finally, could you talk more about Juno's behavior as a character?

It'll be better to put it in a reply on this thread. Sorry for the slow response.