DankLordSupreme's IPC Application

[DankLordSupreme]

BYOND Key: DankLordSupreme

Character Names:

Primary Characters

• Pearl Zhou - Scientist
• Lexia Dahlman - Drill Technician

Secondary Characters

• Erika Brave - Station Engineer
• Jennie Burkov - Roboticist
• Hazel Kari - Xenoarcheologist

Species you are applying to play: Integrated Positronic Chassis

What color do you plan on making your first alien character: IPC - Exempt

Have you read our lore section's page on this species?: Yes, I have read it multiple times.

Please provide well articulated answers to the following questions in a paragraph format. One paragraph minimum per question.

Why do you wish to play this specific race:

I wish to play an IPC because of the interesting dynamic between playing a race that is both a synthetic being with the capability of being organic adjacent. By “organic adjacent” I am referring to IPCs ability to mimic organics behavior, but only to a limited degree due to their programming in regards to function, decision making, and ultimately self-preservation. The potential for a rich background for synthetic beings draws me to this, allowing for creative stories for an IPC that can be affected by ownership, job function, experiences, and their own desires that are dictated by their programming and personal history.

Identify what makes role-playing this species different than role-playing a Human:

IPCs behavior and actions are ultimately dictated by their programming and assigned function. That is not to say that they are completely bound by that as an IPC may reason that it is ultimately better to pursue a new line of work, place of residence, or their own freedom if it means maintaining their highest directive of self-preservation. But depending on their owner’s desired programming for the IPC, they may be incapable of experiencing desires, and instead just doing what they can to maintain self-preservation. IPCs are rarely volatile or irrational due to this directive where only in rare cases (possibly due to program errors) would they risk their own safety. 

IPCs also have to face different risks than humans do due to the nature of their being. IPCs must be mindful of EMP and Ion storms which can damage or potentially disable them while most humans only worry about their electronic devices or in some cases, prosthetics or augmentations would in their own case could be fatal. IPCs have to keep in mind where they are in terms of ample power supply allowing them to be able to recharge their power cells, while humans instead must maintain their hunger, hydration, and rest. IPCs also risk potential sustained damages if an accident were to occur and an individual with skills in robotics is not present to repair their damaged components (such as a roboticist).

IPCs do have their own advantages, being able to handle atmospheres and conditions that can prove hazardous or fatal to humans such as low/high-pressure areas. They do not feel pain so in the event of an accident, they would only face a decline in their function of the damage component and not hindered by the feeling of pain. This is not to say that an IPC is more willing to take risk as explained above.

Character Name: CYRUS

Please provide a short backstory for this character

CYRUS was originally designated as MRO-357, a Xion Industrial Model IPC, manufactured in 2432. CYRUS was purchased by a small mining venture based out of Xanu Prime attempting to make a profit from asteroid mining in Coalition Space. They were programmed and modified to be able to handle extensive EVA activities, primarily heavy-machinery operation, repairs, and mining. They were the only synthetic involved in the venture, the rest being humans with their minds set on riches. CYRUS’ programming was originally heavily restrictive due to their owner desiring a synthetic that was able to handle complex situations but was to take any instruction given to it.

CYRUS spent the first few years in operation handling a bulk of the work during the mining operations, with the organics delegating as much work as possible to CYRUS. The operations would be pushed further and further into Coalition space, facing heavy competition from larger mining corporations and faction organizations pushing them out. In 2437, the mining ship that the corporation utilized was damaged heavily during a mining operation. CYRUS was conducting EVA activities when the ship was hit by a meteoroid cluster, opening multiple parts of the ship to zero atmosphere and resulting in the deaths of seven of the sixteen crew.

CYRUS responded to the distress calls of the crew, and worked to repair the ship into usable condition after the meteoroid cluster had passed. The ship was able to limp to the nearest planet, Xanu. On Xanu, the venture disbanded as it was both unable to afford the repairs necessary and many of the remaining crew refused to take part in it any further. CYRUS was put up for sale on Xanu and eventually was purchased by a Techno-Conglomerate Chief Engineer aboard the T.C.S Serkonos in 2437.

Aboard the Serkonos, CYRUS was reprogrammed to release the inhibiting behaviors instilled upon them by their previous owners. The Chief Engineer, in-line with the general beliefs of the Techno-Conglomerate, allowed CYRUS their own freedom within the Techno-Conglomerate. The Chief Engineer knew that in turn for providing CYRUS with freedom and a home, that they would have a capable employee to help with EVA maintenance activities aboard their ship. CYRUS was unable to process the value that was provided to them, having for too long been forced into labor and servitude in the mining venture. When inquired as to what CYRUS desired to do, they simply replied with their original manufactured functions. The Chief Engineer assigned CYRUS to EVA maintenance and repair activities aboard the T.C.S Serkonos and gave them the name CYRUS. 

For their time aboard the Serkonos, CYRUS slowly developed a more personable behavior with the influence of the accepting peoples of the Conglomerate. They were provided fair wages for their work and the comforts of living in safety. After a few years with the floatilla, the Chief Engineer had talked with CYRUS about what they wanted to do. CYRUS had begun to want to learn more and more about what and who was in the Orion Spur. CYRUS desired to travel to research stations to further their understanding of the people within the Spur and the worlds they come from. 

CYRUS continued to work with the Techno Conglomerate for a total of 25 years until 2462, during that time they were able to fully repay the Chief Engineer who freed them and maintain their systems with wages they earned, saving some funds in savings for emergency repairs. CYRUS applied for employment at the NTCC Odin when they finally received an assignment in 2463.  They worked with the fleet for a while longer before saying their goodbyes to those that brought them in, leaving the Techno-Conglomerate fleet for the NSS Aurora in 2463.

What do you like about this character?

What I really like about this character is the idea that I can continue to develop their behavior and personality through my roleplay on the NSS Aurora. Coming to the station with somewhat of a “robotic” nature still, I am able to develop their nature through relationships with other people and shape them.  I get to have them face the reality again that not everyone sees them as an equal, but instead as a tool to be used, after years of being in an accepting society of people. There's a lot of exciting potential with this character.

How would you rate your role-playing ability?

I rate my ability as a 8/10. Outside of SS13, I have had extensive roleplaying experience in other video games and via table top. I really enjoy building a character’s background and developing that through roleplay, regardless of what happens to my character in the end.

Edited February 17, 2021 by DankLordSupreme
Clarifying backstory.

[niennab]

Thank you for applying! There are a few issues with the backstory but they're understandable hiccups where lore is unclear and I believe can be tweaked quite easily. 

Was Cyrus' initial mining company owned by a Biesel based company or the Coalition of Colonies? It may be better to have his starting company and operations be in the same area of space to get around any oddities of one nation mining in another's nation's space.

When Cyrus was initially sold, his relation to Tau Ceti would have ended there. Instead of his debt being owed to his original owners, it would not be with the Chief Engineer. However, the Techno-Conglomerate sees synthetics as equal to humans and although it isn't made clear, they wouldn't have the same set of rules of ownership between organics and synthetics. What's more likely is that Cyrus would have been given his freedom while expected to pay back the cost of his purchase to the Chief Engineer.

What was the reason for the chief engineer purchasing Cyrus? What made Cyrus choose to seek out employment in Tau Ceti with the NSS Aurora?

[DankLordSupreme]

niennab, thank you for your time and reply. Please see below for the clarifications, I will make these adjustments in the application shortly after this reply.

 

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Was Cyrus' initial mining company owned by a Biesel based company or the Coalition of Colonies? It may be better to have his starting company and operations be in the same area of space to get around any oddities of one nation mining in another's nation's space.

The initial mining company was a Coalition of Colonies company, starting out of Xanu Prime. 

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When Cyrus was initially sold, his relation to Tau Ceti would have ended there. Instead of his debt being owed to his original owners, it would not be with the Chief Engineer. However, the Techno-Conglomerate sees synthetics as equal to humans and although it isn't made clear, they wouldn't have the same set of rules of ownership between organics and synthetics. What's more likely is that Cyrus would have been given his freedom while expected to pay back the cost of his purchase to the Chief Engineer.

Thank you for this clarification, I was struggling a little understanding the tagging system and believe it was a tag that followed IPCs regardless. I will modify this appropriately. I will modify it to be a repayment to the Chief Engineer who provided them their freedom.

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What was the reason for the chief engineer purchasing Cyrus?

The Chief Engineer purchased CYRUS in a mutual transaction for both of them. In being able to free an IPC and provide them a home, the CE was able to also hire an IPC that was more than capable of providing EVA maintenance aboard the T.C.S Serkonos with ease due to their programming and configuration.

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What made Cyrus choose to seek out employment in Tau Ceti with the NSS Aurora?

CYRUS sought employment in Tau Ceti at the NTCC Odin due to the blending of races that were employed aboard their workplaces. As part of their desire to learn more about the Orion Spur, they sought somewhere that would provide them employment and allow them to meet and learn about new races. The NSS Aurora was the station they were assigned after they applied for employment with the NTCC Odin.

 

Please do let me know if you would like any further clarification.

 

Edit: Apologies, forgot to reply to your last question.

Edited February 17, 2021 by DankLordSupreme

[niennab]

Thank you for the adjustments, clarification and overall understanding. A good way to look at the tag system is that it's more-or-less akin to a system of records and a way of identifying synthetics. As such, the tag is really only relevant if that IPC is either owned in that star system or resides there still. If you have any further questions feel free to reach out. Alternatively there is a great community of IPC players in the lore discord who may be able to offer clarity if I'm not around. Nonetheless!

Your application offers an understanding of IPCs as well as the ability to apply said concepts to character creation. Accepted.