Heya. This was a previously passed app, which I lost the contents of. Re-wrote and am re-apping it at @WowGain 's request. A lot of the content might prove to be different from what I remember, but the essence of it remains the same. Name: O.R.E.D stands for 'Organic Reconnaissance and Exploration Drone'. Description: O.R.E.D instances are modified to varying degrees, always having some sort of biological lifeform as the base. The most common set of modifications are the insertion of a chip into the brain of the organism, containing their own copied consciousness (Similar to an AI core). These chips allow for the organism to think and feel, essentially 'awakening' the animal and granting them sapience. An alternative is removing the brain entirely and replacing it with the same device. Further modification are possible, such as the grafting of additional digits, the installation of vocal cords, or the installation of machinery in their digestive systems that convert food into energy for the electronics. It's not uncommon to tweak an organism and greatly increase its life expectancy, or grant them various survivability traits. Abilities: The largest boon granted by the O.R.E.D installation is that a previously standard animal is transformed into a sapient, thinking being. While owners might jump at the chance to turn their precious dog into a real boy, it isn't a decision to make lightly. O.R.E.D is permanent. After installation, there's no way to turn that particular instance of the animal back into a feral creature. The newly born O.R.E.D retains mannerisms from the animal it was based around, likely needing to work through its instincts and learned behaviour with its new sapience. It's common for them to panic upon becoming self aware for the first time. From there, their personality can advance and grow, much like a child (Or more accurately, an AI being booted up for the first time). They can start up at any developmental stage, though OOC, I recommend them being like an amnesiac/new AI instead of a newborn. Conditional Abilities (Optional): An organism keeps its biological abilities upon becoming an O.R.E.D, allowing unique creatures to retain any cool shit they can do. Has applications in the reconnaissance and espionage field. O.R.E.Ds could potentially transfer bodies, as their consciousness is stored in a physical device. It's possible to create a reinforced containment unit for the chip, such as giving an animal a durasteel skull to serve as a blackbox. Limitations: EMPs can shut down O.R.E.Ds. They require time to reboot depending on the size of the chip and organism. While the device can recover fully from blasts if given time, repeated exposure in quick succession will damage and eventually destroy the chip, though the AI core may survive. O.R.E.Ds destroyed in this way either remain in a comatose state, or have their organic bodies die and require replacement. Both of which require a cloning app, as they count as a death. Destroying the device kills the creature as well. If the creature itself is killed, the shock and lack of power will gradually cause the chip to shut down, albeit, giving them a window of survival after the body is killed. One can extract the chip from the dying/dead body to preserve it. Fair, since a small animal is inherently weaker and easily killed. However, a proper shut down caused by the death of the physical body will most likely require a cloning app to repair the chip. Organisms that do not have the physical capability to hold the chip or bear weight are unable to be turned into O.R.E.Ds. These include phase matter beings and organisms like Jellyfish. Conditional Limitations (Optional): Limitations may depend on the nature of the organism before it was transformed into an O.R.E.D. Instincts and behaviour that helped it in life may prove to be detrimental to a newly Sapient organism. Small, domesticated, and non-predatory animals are the most popular subjects to be made into O.R.E.D, due to the minimal risk of a problem springing up. How the process actually works is up for debate, especially likely among AI rights or ethics groups. One interpretation of O.R.E.D creation is that one is essentially copying an animal's consciousness and then proceeding to lobotomise the original creature. This, obviously, won't fly with animal rights groups who follow this interpretation. O.R.E.D instances who become aware of this fact might experience an existential crisis, depending on personality. This limitation is more of an RP opportunity than a technological flaw, and just something to think about. Issues may arise depending on the species it was performed on. A particularly aggressive or predatory creature may develop a hostile personality upon being 'awakened' by the procedure. Certain creatures may run into issues due to conflicts in their biology as well, such as biochemistry making them overly aggressive. How does it work: The O.R.E.D, despite how it's advertised, doesn't simply turn an animal into a sapient being upon insertion. First, the brain of the animal has to be scanned and uploaded into the specialised chip, similar to the transfer of an organism into a robotic body. I'll leave it to staff discretion if taking a person and shoving them into an animal needs a cloning app. The chip is then carefully and surgically inserted into the brain of the organism. Either a surgeon or roboticist can do this, though the former is more appropriate. It's considered risky for one to do it by themself, and as with all surgical procedures, it bears a risk of failure. The alternate method is to extract the brain and integrate a larger storage core, After proper installation, the O.R.E.D, now dubbed as such, becomes aware that it's in control of an organic body, and able to move as it did before. From there, it's able to function and act, essentially becoming a cyborg version of whatever creature it was before. From here on out, more modifications can be made to the organism. The chip gains constant power from the organism's bioelectricity, functioning with minimal power requirements. Alternate sources of powers can be installed. Flavor text: The O.R.E.D technology was first invented by 'Sigma Drones', a Civspace company specialising in autonomous robotics. They've made it open for use, and other companies/organisations are able to easily recreate it. Early models that utilised O.R.E.D technology were mainly small animals (Like rabbits), with several sent into the fringe for field testing. The first two specimens were rabbits, both named Oreo, who were present and wandering hubs in 3280 and 3284. The former died horribly by being sucked into a volcano (Because it was a bad character and I sucked at RP). The latter eventually split off from Sigma and went on to live in the fringe, with his bunny GF who also had the procedure done with assistance from the company. Referenced Technologies (Optional): None. Attainability: Open. Not difficult to make in a lab. Only real prerequisite is being able to create artificial sentience, as a necessity. Tags: [Civilian] [Genetic] Category: Robotics
