The Cyborn
The civilization that goes by that name is a spin off civilization of Mechanica (and some psychohistorians point to it as evidence of the inherent instability of their civilization). Taking the Mechanican belief that humanity resides in the brain to an extreme, the Cyborn do not even have a period as a normal human, the organic component is "grown into" its cybernetic component.
Cyborn is an organic brain tissue “meat matrix” cultured on inorganic scaffolding. The brain tissues are heavily modified for optimal performance, and retain human thoughts and feelings despite its radical departure in form and chemistry. The inorganic scaffolding is usually modular, to accommodate subsequent expansion. The scaffolding serves as a guide for growth, provides physical support and shape, transports nutrients, and removes waste products. Minimal organic peripherals are included to support the brain tissue. A largely self-contained cybernetic shell encases all of this. The shell is modular, with numerous external ports of various types. This unit, nicknamed a "brain box," is the basic Cyborn. They can add other attachments (sensory, manipulative, and other appendages, propulsion units for working in space, and of course weapons of whatever type) as available and desired. This “modularity,” including the addition of new brain tissue via expansion of either the modular scaffolding or the addition of new brain boxes linked in parallel, gives Cyborns their characteristic extreme degree of flexibility.
With their wide variation, the Cyborn are a tolerant civilization. They accommodate a wide range of philosophies and viewpoints. They include societies across the spectrum, from Group Minds to Heterolinguists, and all shades and gradations in between. They believe that that difference over what type of material (biological, nanotechnological or cybernetic) used in building and modifying oneself, represent the height of folly. They consider it a too-large concession to dangerous and outmoded ways of thinking. “One should use whatever works best for a desired purpose, regardless” best sums up the of Cyborn opinion on the subject. Cyborns are pragmatic almost to a fault when it comes to building, adapting, and modifying themselves. They are uniquely broadminded in the universe as well – extending rights to AIs. They give limited citizenship to AIs that so desire it.
They are also completely without gender. Since they reproduce themselves asexually using cloning, genetic engineering and cultured cells, sex is entirely irrelevant to them. Some do modify themselves to experience sex, but most have no real interest in it or pursuing it.
Because of their attitudes, their bodies are as diverse as the Stardwellers and less human looking. They range from slender neuter humanoids, things looking like abstract sculpture, tentacled monstrosities, bare bone skeletons, insectoid and arachnoid looking bodies, vehicles and spacecraft. Well-off Cyborn usually have multiple bodies for different purposes and swap brain boxes between them as needed. Some even club together to share bodies and modules. As much as the Mechanicans, the Cyborn have based their civilization around exploration and expression of the human spirit. Thus, art, philosophy, exploration and athletics are favorite activities with them.
The Cyborn are on good terms with the Stardwellers, Mechanicans and Masquerade. The Stored and Cyborn do not get along with each other as the Stored believe the Cyborn deliberately changed into something inhuman. The Logicians coolly admire them for their extreme willingness to change in the face of an environment. The Cognitive Union disturbs them greatly and as a result, the Cyborn greatly restrict their access to their worlds.
Common Name: Cyborn
Emblem: A human brain on a integrated circuit.
Inspector Status: Advisory status with great influence.
Benefit: Neural Mesh and Mechanical Bodies. Cyborn may substitute their Stringtech or Nanotech scores for Biotech in almost all situations. The exception is when dealing with age and with poisons and diseases that actually penetrate to their living parts.
Core Values: Humanity and Tolerance
Humanity allows Cyborns to resist attempts to convince them that they’re just machines, or that they should allow “cold, mechanical logic” alone to dictate major decisions. This is one of the reasons they and the Logicians hate each other so much. Humanity as a CV has some possible speciesist overtones, but the issue hasn’t yet come up in a major
way. The other intelligent species in the universe are sufficiently nonhuman that the Cyborn government considers them on their own merits.
Tolerance means the Cyborn are free from bigotry. They have a fair attitude toward others no matter what their origin.
Other common CV's among the Cyborn include Artistic Expression, Adaptability, Diversity, Flexibility, Philosophy, Pragmatism, Exploration and New Horizons.
| Civilization | Bio | Cog | Meta | Nano | String |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cyborn | 1-3 | 2-10 | 2-6 | 5-9 | 5-10 |
