(This is inspired by an actual idea that was recently proposed at a convention dealing with interstellar colonization. It sounds kind of nuts at first and I've taken considerable liberties but if you really want to read the whole proposal, it's in the book "Great Mambo Chicken & The Transhuman Condition: Science Slightly Over The Edge" By Ed Regis Addison-Wesley, 1990. The book is somewhere between fascinating, ridiculous, and disturbing but still a good read.) M. Keaton > > --What is your societies name? Project T-14579 > > --Summarize your society in a few lines. This will be used on a society > > cover page. A research commune who are pushing the envenlope of the definition of what it is to be human. Originally founded as Heg. research project T-14579, a group of scientists were recreated using nanite technology. Each team member was injected with nanites which would locate within the brain, attach itself to an available neurotransmitter, and begin to transmit the actions of the nearon to an identical set of nanites outside of the researchers. This second set of nanites would create a mechanical reproduction of the actions which occured within the scientists mind. Ostensibly, this project should have created a mechanical model of a functional human mind, a simulation of sentience. As the project continued, however, it became obvious that the nanite replicant was incapable of functioning independantly of the input of the first set of nanites. In a further developement, the replicant minds formed their own "bodies" significantly different from human forms. In order to maximize their lack of physical limitations, the new forms were more tree-like than human, with multile branches and fingers but no especially developed motor apparatus (relying, instead, on traditional mechanical conveyances instead). Realizing the project would reach an end due to the replicant's dependance on the human neurons, the Heg. secretly authorized project directors to activate a second function of the original sets of nanites injected into the researchers' brains. This set of nanites expanded to encapulate the individual neurons which habored them, absorbing the scientists' minds, then, in turn, these nanites were absorbed into the replicants, actually harvesting the remaining organic materials of the human bodies to create the necessary nanites to form a singular being. Technically, these new beings were human, since the brains and wills of the original project members still lived within the bodies created for them by their own minds. While the Heg. made this assertion in order to prevent possible political repercussions if their experiments were exposed, they were actually correct--the resulting entities actually were free-willed and consistent in persona with their progenitors. Distressed at their betrayal and, further distressed that the Heg. might further interfer with their researches, the project hybirds broke away from the Heg. during the Century of Fire. They now continue their researches, unhindered by any signicicant need for external resources and reproducing, when appropriate though individual and/or group mytosis. > > Geography > > --Where is your society located? You can get geography details from Deep in the heart of old Heg. space. > > --How much does your society interact with others? (I.e.) How close are > > you to other players? Project T-14579 interacts with other societies (through electronic medium, creating the illusion of a normal human appearance) for the singular purpose of accumulating knowledge. Otherwise, they wish to be left completely alone and will allow no direct contact whatsoever. > > --How big is your society? Does it contain a habitable or marginally > > habitable planet? Does it cover multiple systems? If so, how spread > > out is it? You needn't give a population figure, just an estimate of > > large, tiny, etc. One planet (better yet, the small moon of one planet) > > --Is your society particularly rich or poor in any resources? Resources are mostly NA in this case. > > History > > --What did your society do during the rise of the Hegemony? Be born > > --What did they do during the Century of Fire? Hide > > Culture > > --Societies often display a degree of schizophrenia regarding goals. > > What are a few major divisions? The primary divisions in T-14579 are regarding the limits of "ethical" research and the level of external contact with other societies. Further, the project still struggles with the quandry of, if they can recreate the phenomena which "freed" them, should they force this on other peoples to elevate mankind to "his next logical stage of evolution." > > --Does your society have any areas (technological developments or > > skills) where it's better or worse then the average of Human space? Insanely high tech. and research abilities with virtual no knowledge ouside of matter directly relevant to them (these guys could design a toaster that could also terraform a planet but they can't make toast). > > --Is there any special emphasis towards or away from the military? No military knowledge at all except for highly developed, automated protective systems and an extensive knowledge of mechanical systems (ECMs, Black Ice, nasty computer viruses, etc.) > > --Do they have any special relation with Psionics? Mass hatred, > > promoted in the gene pool, etc. Lacking any gene pool to speak of and with only marginal biological neural tissue present encased at this point in silica and steel, T-14579 is Psionicly "blank". > > --Are there any setup effecting aspects of your society I haven't asked > > about? Nah, I just think the idea is cool. ---------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, send mail to celandra-off@phoenyx.net.
