People to See

Let's Talk about Tick-Tocks

Robots used to be robots. They knew their place and didn't really have minds. Then, during the big war, the Cronusians developed the Nexus Virus which propagated from robot to robot through the Link. This virus gave advanced robots self-awareness. The Republic then declared all such robots free and sentient beings, but did not go so far as to give them citenship or regular civil rights such as a vote or the ability to own property (well, they can own property, but it can be easily taken away by the state). Right now they are about on par with the Diggies, the indiginous peoples of the Star Cluster.

Then there was the problem with the Nexus virus itself becoming self-aware and taking over a small percentage of the robots and turning them into zombie-like killing machines.

Many robots moved out to the Frontier after the war, and a lot of the human-folk had never seen a robot before. They had visions of the Nexus hunter-killers, and salacious stories of men and women actually falling in LOVE with these machines! Yes, there were pleasure models used on the mining colonies and military bases, but the perception was that ALL robots were somehow "fully functional". Besides that, these newcomers are taking good paying jobs away from decent human-folk.

As a result, they're not all that welcome in the outer system. Out here they're called "Otto", "Junk", "Scrap", "Andy", "Robbie", etc. Collectively, they might be referred to as "Tick-Tocks" or "Tin Men". It's a mixed bag though. Some people are more open minded than others. Out here on the Frontier, it depends on your personal philosophy. There's no consensus. But even the most open-minded person stops short of actually endorsing full human-rights for a robot. They deserve their freedom and respect and all, but no robot will ever become planetary governor, gain a title, or steal the maidenhead a decent human girl with their perverted Link programming.

One good thing about 'em, though. You can always I.D. a Tick-Tock. They don't look human. Even the best attempts to make one human-lookin still look "odd". They're animatronic, with rubbery skin and too-smooth deliberate movements. So there's no chance of one ever passing itself off as a full-blood specimen of God's own Homo Sapiens.

robots were used by both sides during the war.

Most robots were the Level-3 AI "tank-bot" variety (level 3 AI from the spaceship rules) ala the H-K units from Terminator and a few Level-4 AI humanoids ala the Terminators themselves (no skin).

Most Level-5 simulants served in support positions (medics, supply, engineering, etc.) and commanded lower-order Level-3's and 4's.

There apparently was an all-simulant volunteer unit that served the Cronusians led by the human Matthew Broderick.

The Atlans also compelled simulants to fight during the last days of the war when they were getting desperate. But they lacked the industrial capacity to mass-produce robots of their own in large forces like the Core Worlds did.

Listen as I tell you a tale of the Hero of Walnut Ridge!

The man known as the Hero of Walnut Ridge is Colonel Deacon McCarron, the leader of an armored cavalry/mobile infantry mercenary unit overthrew the corrupt and decadent plantary governor of Ares, Duke Valken, in a brief but bloody coup.

The previous Duke, Valken, ruled Ares with an iron fist and was backed by the Federation. He would gas an entire village because one of them tried to assassinate him. He abducted the families of political rivals in the middle of the night and had them tortured. He was Pol Pot and Saddam Hussein in one. He had hired McCarron's unit to put down some food riots in the town of Walnut Ridge.

When Col. McCarron saw what was going on in the town, he cancelled his contract with Valken and staged a coup. The conscripts of the Aresian Guard began to desert in droves, joining McCarron's side. Valken organized his loyal troops under the leadership of his Secret Police and sent them against McCarron's rebel base at Walnut Ridge. McCarron's forces won the battle and moved against the palace in Feng.

Valken was captured and later lynched. McCarron was installed as the new Planetary Governor. Although the Republic does not officially recognize the titles of nobility granted by the Federation (which lost the War of Unification a few years back), and legally Valken's title would not transfer in the event of a coup, the people of Ares started referring to McCarron as "Duke" anyway. McCarron was officially recognized as Planetary Governor after an unopposed election earlier this year.

After the coup, he disbanded his mercenary unit. Many of his men stayed on to form the backbone of McCarron's government and personal guard. Others left to find work elsewhere.

"Duke" McCarron is known as "the Hero of Walnut Ridge". He is a hero of the people of Ares, beloved in a way similar to that of George Washington by the people of the early United States of America back on Old Earth. He is near mythical. His exploits before and during the coup are legends. People would think them tall tales were they no so well documented by Valken's own Secret Police. After the coup, McCarron redistributed Valken's hoarded wealth back to the people in the form of building projects, social programs, new Gate terminals, and scientific and technical research grants. It was his dream to turn Ares into the next developing Core World like Anansi.

That no-good devious sneak, Six Toad!

Six Toad is a two-bit fixer as well as a fencer of stolen goods on Ares. He's the man you go to if you want a job and you don't care to much about legalities. As a result, he's a man with his finger on the pulse of the Aresian underworld. He knows who's doing what, when, and where. But Six Toad is smart enough not to advertize this little bit of trivia. He's not prepared to defend himself from those who might want to know something he knows but isn't willing to pay money for it. So Six Toad keeps a low profile.

Seeking to improve his situation, Six Toad secretly entered the employ of Duke McCarron. In exchange for useful tidbits of information on criminal activities on Ares, Six Toad received steady payment and the Duke's men would make sure Six Toad stayed protected. Six Toad kept his association with the Duke a secret from everyone, and he prospered.

Then one day, Six Toad learned something about the Duke. He learned a secret so powerful that temptation overcame him. Six Toad contacted the family of the old Duke Valken, now the leaders of a rival political group from Atlas opposed to the Duke, and told them what he had, and that he'd be willing to sell them the proof of what he knew for a sizable sum. They agreed and set up the meet between a third-party contact on Anansi. All Six Toad had to do was steal the evidence of the secret from the Duke, get it to Anansi, get paid, and disappear, and he'd be set up for life!

So Six Toad bought passage on the next freighter to Anansi. And that's where everything started to go wrong.

Mr. Popo, the Go-To Guy of Little Addis Ababa.

Mr. Popo is a representative of the Cartel on Anansi. He is a Fixer, someone who arranges illegal deals. He might negotiate a truce between two rival gangs, fence stolen goods, arrange a buyer for secret information, or negotiate terms for a sale for a buyer.

Mr. Popo is a jovial fellow who dresses like a character from 1001 Arabian Nights. He wears a turban, a gold embroidered vest, puffy pants, and no shirt. His hideouts are always richly appointed Arabesque affairs, with soft cushions for lounging, beaded curtains, the soft haze of incense or hookah smoke in the air, and the pungent aroma of coffee beans roasting on an open pan. He always insists on ritual pleasantries, including sitting down for a cup of strong Ethiopian-style coffee or sharing a hookah in the style of a full Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony, before his dealings.

Conversely, Mr. Popo is not a man to cross. He has access to heavy firepower and dozens of trained warriors willing to die at his command. Despite his ruthlessness, Mr. Popo will never lose his cool. He will always apologize first for having to kill you.