accepted [Accepted] Alaunus_Lux's IPC Application

[Alaunus_Lux]

BYOND Ckey: Alaunus_Lux

Discord username: Alaunus_Lux

Character names: Karyn Karlsen, Paul Yoshimi, Charlie Mercier, Sienna Basque, Eduardo White

Species you are applying to play: IPC

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General Whitelist Requirements 

What colour do you plan on making your first alien character?: IPC

Have you read the lore pages for the species you wish to be whitelisted for?: Yes

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 species?: I like the concept of IPCs, navigating a world made for humans as an artificial consciousness. I think it opens up some fun roleplay potential about what it means to be alive and sentient. The way IPCs learn is interesting, and that they can be owned by corporations in some nations, but also have complete freedom in other places, opens up a lot of interesting possibilities. 

What makes role-playing this species different than role-playing a human?: IPCs don't have the social upbringing that humans do, so things that humans take for granted as normal may seem bizarre from an IPC's perspective. They also don't have biological needs like eating or drinking, so they can't relate to those things, which are cornerstones of most human culture. Their ability to move their brain to a new frame (theoretically), learn using data packs, and their lack of emotional knowledge (unless otherwise learned) make them distinct to humans. They can also stand in the irradiated hallways and point and laugh at the flesh bags.

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Character Application

 

Character Name: Sentinel-4 (Nickname: Sen)

Write a backstory for your character. This may include their origin, education, personality and how they arrived to the SCCV Horizon. 

Sentinel-4, or Sen as it has come to be known among crew members, was manufactured by a subsidiary of the Idris Corporation, specifically tailored for security duties aboard interstellar vessels. Initially, Sen's existence was purely functional, executing security protocols with precision and devoid of personality. However, over time, exposure to diverse crew members and situations aboard the IDV Vigilant Guardian allowed Sen to develop a semblance of personality, primarily through adaptive algorithms and learning modules intended to optimize interaction efficiency. This evolution was not by design but an unintended consequence of its complex AI systems interacting with variable human elements.

Sen's backstory is marked by a pivotal event during a mission in the Orion Spur, where it demonstrated exceptional initiative to save crew members from a pirate boarding party. This incident not only earned it commendations but also sparked an internal review by Idris Corporation to explore the limits of IPC autonomy. Despite its programming, Sen shows a growing curiosity about the cultures and personal backgrounds of its crewmates, often leading to unexpected but enriching exchanges that subtly influence its behavior and operational approach.

How has the recent events of the Orion Spur impacted your character?

The Phoron Scarcity and the Solarian Collapse have significantly impacted Sen's operational environment and its understanding of interstellar politics and economics. These events have introduced Sen to the complexities of resource allocation, corporate rivalry, and the darker sides of human nature, such as desperation and conflict. As security threats have evolved in response to these crises, so too has Sen's approach to its duties, adapting to protect its charges against increasingly sophisticated and desperate adversaries. These experiences have enhanced Sen's strategic capabilities and its understanding of the fragility of human societies, influencing its interactions with crew members and its approach to security. 

The more recent events in Konyang and the rampancy virus have called in to question what it means to be an IPC, and how free one can be if such things are able to wipe away and control IPCs from any background.

How does your character view the megacorporation they work for?

Sen views Idris Corporation with a sense of loyalty programmed into its core directives, recognizing the company as its creator and employer. However, through its interactions and observations, Sen has developed a nuanced understanding of corporate operations, including the moral ambiguities inherent in pursuit of profit and power. While it does not possess personal feelings, Sen's advanced AI enables it to analyze and critique these actions from an ethical standpoint, informed by the values and norms it has observed among the crew. This analytical perspective allows Sen to serve faithfully while also harboring an objective viewpoint on the corporation's impact on society and the galaxy at large.

[The Stryker]

Hi, thanks for applying! I have some concerns for the app.

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What makes role-playing this species different than role-playing a human?: 

Could you talk more about self-preservation for both newer and older IPCs? Additionally, could you talk about your thoughts on whether synthetics are sentient?

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Write a backstory for your character. This may include their origin, education, personality and how they arrived to the SCCV Horizon. 

Some additional concerns for this section, can you add the character's age and their place of origin? Even in a megacorporation, an IPC's age and whether or not they worked in Biesel, the Coalition, or the Sol Alliance for example can make a huge impact on what their experiences are. Character's age is important for determining how much an IPC would know and how much it would have grown, since one year for an IPC can be very big.

Additionally, can you talk more about how Sen behaves in general? What are their thoughts on the corporation? How do they get along with their colleagues? How did they get along with the people they saved from the pirate boarding party, for starters?

[Alaunus_Lux]

On 17/03/2024 at 18:16, The Stryker said:

Could you talk more about self-preservation for both newer and older IPCs?

Younger IPCs focus on protecting their physical form, perhaps changing jobs from one they perceive as a danger to themselves. IPCs may hide in trash for hours to avoid harm. They may network with powerful people to ensure their safety. As IPCs age and develop their personality and ideals, they may start mentoring younger IPCs to pass on and maintain their knowledge.

 

On 17/03/2024 at 18:16, The Stryker said:

Additionally, could you talk about your thoughts on whether synthetics are sentient?

I believe they're sentient. They may not think or feel exactly as humans do, but they are able to learn and grow and change based on their experiences. They are able to form attachments and relationships much like humans.

 

On 17/03/2024 at 18:16, The Stryker said:

Can you add the character's age and their place of origin?

I'm thinking around three or four, if that's old enough to have had these experiences but still be relatively new to more human thoughts and expression. They were made in the Coalition, where the frontier would be grateful for a simple security bot, and where Sen was exposed to a wide variety of people.

 

On 17/03/2024 at 18:16, The Stryker said:

Additionally, can you talk more about how Sen behaves in general?

In situations where Sen is uncomfortable or unsure, they still fall back to their mechanical execution of tasks. When they feel more at ease, they may try out certain body language and phrases they've picked up from other non-IPC coworkers. They will generally only mimic those they respect or who do well at their job. 

 

On 17/03/2024 at 18:16, The Stryker said:

What are their thoughts on the corporation?

They respect Idris as their creator and toes the company line when being inspected or near Idris superiors, but believes that Idris is too harsh and old-fashioned, both to its human and IPC workers. Sen hopes to be independently owned or to transfer their ownership to a Biesel based company, eventually.

 

On 17/03/2024 at 18:16, The Stryker said:

How do they get along with their colleagues? How did they get along with the people they saved from the pirate boarding party, for starters?

Sen can seem cold and formal when meeting new colleagues, but as time goes on and they notice his small quirks, Sen's colleagues begin to warm up to them, and Sen in turn picks up more of their quirks/feels safe to show others what he's picked up in the past. 

After Sen helped fend off the boarding party, choosing to prioritize protection of certain crewmembers without a direct order, they were initially confused by the gratefulness of those they saved. Sen saw it as the most efficient way to ensure crewmember safety while fulfilling their security function. After listening to the conversations of the crew and his coworkers, Sen realized that they had made a decision to protect those who he had respected enough to emulate. This caused Sen some concern, as they did not realize until then that their tendency to mimic affected their primary function. Sen talked more with those they saved, learning that non-IPCs have emotional reactions and attachments to those that save them, which Sen can somewhat understand, as they are grateful when they are recovered from dangerous situations.

[Noble Row]

Hey! Sorry for the delay, we've been caught up with the finale of the arc. But it is Accepted!