Preternis: Difference between revisions

The origins of preterni lie in the many creations of the Vxtvul Empire. Seeking a solution to the massive radiation that spilled out in their plasma-enriched engines, the insectoids opted to work to make their '''silicon intelligence''' capable of working and maintaining the engines, which led to the creation of the first '''cyborg''' units in existence. However, the first units suffered from significant mechanical coordination issues, and their circuitry would fail and fry in the presence of extreme fusion burns. Furthermore, their inability to act freely of their laws made them an unideal fit for a worker that needed to be independent and self-sufficient for massive periods of time, as the decontamination process of any object leaving a burn chamber proved to be an endeavor that often required organic confirmation. It is not known exactly when the first preternis unit was made, but the beings combined the best of both organics and silicons for their purposes. Namely, preterni had standard anthropomorphic appendages and free will, while also having an augmented exterior to their fleshy insides, which permitted theorized infinite exposure to radiation, as their chassis implemented plasma alloys into its shielding, as well as their lungs being more capable of filtering out plasma particles. Preterni were then one of the many species implemented into the Vxtvul Empire for the rest of its lifespan. They primarily served as chemical, nuclear, and otherwise industrial workers due to their capability to withstand significantly hazardous conditions. At some point, the factory lathes that produced the species implemented a capability for preterni to perform self-surgery with typical tools. Mainly, this was an attempt to make them even more capable of sustaining their own bodies in the hellish environments they often existed in.

When news of the new constructs finally passed through the several communication beams back to '''Luna''', Nanotrasen immediately swooped in to purchase the colony rights for more than one thousand times the value of the original contract. At first, the corporation attempted to claim the preterni as property, arguing that the mechanical beings were constructs that belonged to them under the prerogative of alien salvage, as they had before with the uncovering of silicon life twelve years ago. When Commonwealth representatives were able to quickly ascertain the free will and sapience of the preterni, the '''Orion Chamber''' quickly moved to decide the next steps for the species. Eventually, a conclusion was reached that it was in the best interest of humanity that the preterni become allies to help the Commonwealth uncover more of the Vxtul’s ancient structures, as well as maybe start learning more about what caused such a civilization to seemingly go extinct. When offered a treaty and recognition of rights under Commonwealth law, the preterni unified into the '''Remnants of Vxtvul''', a skeletal government that would quickly grow to become a legitimate ruler of several different Vxtvian planets while offering their hospitality where applicable. Concerns about the preterni finding and enabling a weapon that could turn the military advantage on the Commonwealth’s several nations continued to mark xeno relation discussions within the Chamber. To this day, these fears have not been realized, though several different intelligence agencies from the various nations in the Commonwealth keep a wary eye on the Remnant’s expansion and re-activation of more and more preterni factories.

Secretly, several Commonwealth factions and companies moved to attempt to intercept and discover a preterni factory before the Remnants claimed it as their own, and several factories were deconstructed, sabotaged, or otherwise made unworkable through fanatical or research-based work. Skirmishes between opposing forces were common over the ancient tech, and while Nanotrasen proved to reverse-engineer the '''protolathe''' technology first, opposing interests such as '''Cybersun Industries''' also obtained the schematics and knowledge of how to re-utilize the technology, though their scientists still work to try to mold it to their own ends. When the Remnants inevitably discovered evidence of human conflict or interference on many sites, diplomatic tensions flared, though the preterni, with no navy or significant military presence established yet, begrudgingly bore the blow, though a widespread animosity for humanity began to spread through their culture. Some attempted to justify and excuse their actions, but their societies still remain fairly divisive on the issue that still rampantly continues.

Preterni naming conventions range from unit titles that a preternis is created with, a working nickname they designate upon themself, or a standard human name with a surname. While preterni do not have conventional families, those who often feel close emotional bonds take on the same surname, either as an ease of organization, or as a way to integrate into a human-majority community. For some, it's simply a matter of identity for a largely identical species.

Data logs indicate that, in the ancient past, most customs and practices that preterni acted were commonly in the middle of work. Most frequent was the tuning and harmonization of key whistles outputted via the speaker that permitted preterni to speak binary. These robotic melodies could range from folk hymns about Vxtvul mythology to worker chants, akin to shanties. With the little time they spent away from their labor, preterni would often consume whatever media they could obtain, or simply work to ensure they were recharged and maintained for the next day. One day each work cycle saw every preterni in a housing division free from their responsibilities. The festival on these days could delve into drink and song, the participants taking the time to either engage in pleasantries with one another, or, more rarely, each would remove a non-vital bolt from their chassis and mix them in a bowl. The bolts were then handed out randomly and re-attached as a form of bonding between the individuals. Generally, a preterni would grow to form a strong emotional bond with their respective housing division as a result. While preterni are exempt from common romantic interests, these bonds could rarely incite irrational action, though such impulses were often short and abruptly stopped. As a curious note, there were reported instances- enough to be noted as a pattern, in which one or two preterni would attempt to include a silicon unit in the process, to the confused but willing acceptance of said units.