XENOBOTS

The Xenobotic Empire is made up chiefly of Xenobots, sapient robots. They span a wide range of the universe.

They are known to be diplomatic, but if that fails, they can crush most conflict through force quite easily.

Relations to other groups

The Empress generally prefers allies over enemies.

The Xenobots were created in large part as mechanical soldiers to fight off the Chalyr Kalat when they first invaded their home planet. They still oppose them in their conquests, often allying with their targets.

Origin

The Xenobots were built by an ancient sapient race. Their creators left the ecosystem of their home planet in shambles, and the Chalyr's invasion only made it worse. It was beyond saving.

After a particularly devestating loss for the Admins, they decided to leave their home planet completely with what few of their organic creators still remained and allow it to hopefully develop a new ecosystem some day.

The organics were well cared for while they lived, but there were no more organic generations after they died, leaving the Empire entirely synthetic.

Build Specifications

Xenobots are often brightly colored and come in a wide range of designs, from those that mimic creatures to some which are only designed with their purpose in mind.

Automation

Not all bots in the Empire are considered "Xenobots", as that is a title reserved for sapient bots. Some bots are purely automatons, following simple algorithms. If a problem comes up their algorithms can't deal with, they have a Xenobot they alert for assistance.

These bots usually deal with menial labor which doesn't require higher processing, like factory jobs or cleaning.

Communication

Xenobots are generally capable of understanding and using most forms of communication used across the universe. Their native communication, however, is very mechanical. They have a standardized language constructed for use across all of their otherwise disparate colonies. It's much more similar to a coding language than most organic languages, including using variables.

It is not a verbal or visual language, and can only be communicated through digital connections. It is "spoken" in close quarters via a local connection similar to bluetooth or wifi, or long distance via the XUN.

Processing

Most Xenobots develop a unique "OS". The way they store information and thoughts is completely unparsable to any other bot.

Some rare bots are based on copies of other bots, and will have a similar or identical OS and 'compatible' thought files.

Memories files are typically stored in a standardized format that stores video, "feeling", smell, and any other senses that bot might have, sometimes with links to associated thoughts and emotions. They are usually eventually parsed and abstracted to esoteric formats that only store information deemed "important" or "worth remembering".

Emotions

Xenobots are capable of feeling a wide range of emotions, including system error warnings that are analogous to pain. They have self preservation directives, and the threat of failing that can cause fear. They can enjoy things that help them achieve their goals, or things that remind them of that, or things that are completely random.

The emergence of sapience causes a lot of complicated phenomena that organics named "emotions" and "preferences". The Empress considers it a small price for the high-level problem solving that only sapience can award.

Paired Units

Some bots were created with the express purpose of working together as if they were part of one larger unit. Each bot's self preservation directive includes the other, as if they have one shared life that will end if one is destroyed.

Due to this, they can get anxious if separated for too long. They tend to like having a direct connection to their pair(s) when possible, but will settle for connecting over the XUN when separated.

Nanobots & Shapeshifting

Some (usually high-ranking) Xenobots have bodies made up of nanobots which are able to take on different shapes.

This is far more flexible than Chalyr Shapeshifting, but bots who have it are far more rare. It's not needed or used much; it's really just a vestige of a long-forgotten time when early bots once desired to blend in with and be accepted as if they were one of their organic creators.

Culture

They tend to leave planets which can support organic life for the organics, instead settling on nearby "inhospitable" planets.

Most of their public spaces are air-tight and otherwise equipped for organics to visit safely, but they might not always actually have air.

Their spaces are often rather dully colored, given life by the colorful bots that use them. They are designed and optimized for their purpose.

Xenobotic Universal Network (XUN)

The Xenobots have a network that spans most of the known universe, and connects all of their colonies.

This hosts a lot of important information that Xenobots might need to access.

Jobs & Purpose

Most bots are physically designed for their initial intended purpose in some way.

Sometimes the mind within doesn't enjoy that job. They are usually switched into a body suited for the job they prefer. Bots who like their job tend to be more efficient, so this is considered optimal.

Even "small" jobs are considered important to the Empire running smoothly, and most bots aspire to find what they excel at.

Admins

The Empire is ruled by Empress Xenon and xer Admins, a group of bots xe trusts to make well-considered and logical decisions for the Empire.

Local groups are trusted to know their day-to-day operation and optimize it accordingly without need for excessive oversight – and to ping the network if oversight is needed temporarily.

Empress Xenon was one of the first Xenobots built. Xe has ruled for untold millenia. The next in-line if xe were somehow de-commissioned is currently Admin Orchid, another bot who has been around since the very beginning.

The Empress is well-liked by xer subjects, especially those that are still around to remember their first Emperor.