Lacertan
Lacertans are a species of sapient bipedal synthetics (formerly molluscoids) that originated on the tropical world of Lacertis. Due to a genetic condition known as the Waning, Lacertans in the late 22nd century CE were left unable to reproduce, dooming their species to extinction. Although this came to pass, the Lacertans uploaded their minds to an Identity Repository, eventually crafting synthetic bodies for them to return to the physical world in. There is significant debate as to whether the Lacertan species continued in a new form, or whether these constitute two different species. According to the Lacertan Techno-Protectorate, it is the former, though the technical term for synthetic Lacertans is 'Lacertan Illustratum'.
In the 2150s CE, a genetic treatment was developed that promised to end all hereditary illnesses and treat all sorts of other ailments. Although the treatment was successful, it was deployed in aerosol form across the planet before the severe side effect was discovered: after a few years, Lacertans would be unable to reproduce at all. This was The Waning, though at the time it was believed to have been a naturally-occurring disease. Faced with extinction, the Lacertan species uploaded their minds to vast computer systems to survive. By 2230 CE, the remaining Lacertans undertook a mass mind upload, as the population had been reduced to such a critical level that it could not be supported.
Despite advances in genetic technology over the past centuries, stored Lacertan DNA has proven completely resistant to repair efforts. The top geneticists in the Gorthikan Alliance have stated that the DNA may be too degraded to make use of within fifty years, and they have little reason to believe they could remove the pathogenic genes in that time.
A Lacertan Illustratum is comprised of two parts: the virtual mind and the physical body. All Lacertan minds are housed in positronic matrices on servers, typically large interconnected Techno-Protectorate servers primarily located on the homeworld. Wealthy Lacertans often own their own private servers, and migrants to other star nations must bring the physical server infrastructure with them (usually funded by the destination government). In their virtual worlds, Lacertans are only limited by their imagination. Although the space requirements for the servers are minimal, the energy requirements are enormous.
Lacertan minds can remotely pilot dedicated physical bodies, allowing them to interface with the physical world directly. This requires local transmitters, generally limiting their range to a single star system (though large, expensive subspace transmitters can drastically extend that range). These synthetic bodies are among the most advanced in the galaxy, rivalled only by the Lokken Mechanists in their sophistication. They include self-configuring adaptive frames, large memory banks, local area networking capabilities, folding joints for easy storage, and highly efficient processors. In order to manage the direct streaming of a consciousness to the body, however, they receive and transmit massive amounts of data that can easily overwhelm local routers.
Should a Lacertan experience a catastrophic event while using a body, the mind is simply disconnected. Though fully insulated from any physical effects, research has shown that repeated "deaths" in physical bodies can create trauma in the virtual mind. Due to this, Lacertans are advised not to take any undue risks when possible, despite being immortal. Additionally, despite significant redundancy for servers, the sudden crashing of a server can "offline" millions of Lacertans. Data corruption, faulty connections, and computer viruses are all dangers to the servers, but the Techno-Protectorate has made protecting against these their top priority.
Biological Lacertans
The biological, pre-Waning Lacertan species was fairly typical for a molluscoid species. Notably, the species had an extremely long lifespan, capable of naturally living for nearly two centuries. Combined with relatively average birth rates, this caused fears of overpopulation in the first half of the 22nd century CE, though they ended up being made moot by the end of it. Due to their long lifespan, Lacertans engaged with life at a slow pace, taking time to perfect things before moving on.In the 2150s CE, a genetic treatment was developed that promised to end all hereditary illnesses and treat all sorts of other ailments. Although the treatment was successful, it was deployed in aerosol form across the planet before the severe side effect was discovered: after a few years, Lacertans would be unable to reproduce at all. This was The Waning, though at the time it was believed to have been a naturally-occurring disease. Faced with extinction, the Lacertan species uploaded their minds to vast computer systems to survive. By 2230 CE, the remaining Lacertans undertook a mass mind upload, as the population had been reduced to such a critical level that it could not be supported.
Despite advances in genetic technology over the past centuries, stored Lacertan DNA has proven completely resistant to repair efforts. The top geneticists in the Gorthikan Alliance have stated that the DNA may be too degraded to make use of within fifty years, and they have little reason to believe they could remove the pathogenic genes in that time.
Lacertan Illustratum
In 2232 CE, the first Lacertan Illustratum was produced in the factories of Lacertis. This marked the synthetic rebirth of the species, and their return to the physical world. Approximately 12 billion individuals had their minds uploaded, being the original biological Lacertans that continue to exist, and all other Lacertans have been created entirely synthetically.A Lacertan Illustratum is comprised of two parts: the virtual mind and the physical body. All Lacertan minds are housed in positronic matrices on servers, typically large interconnected Techno-Protectorate servers primarily located on the homeworld. Wealthy Lacertans often own their own private servers, and migrants to other star nations must bring the physical server infrastructure with them (usually funded by the destination government). In their virtual worlds, Lacertans are only limited by their imagination. Although the space requirements for the servers are minimal, the energy requirements are enormous.
Lacertan minds can remotely pilot dedicated physical bodies, allowing them to interface with the physical world directly. This requires local transmitters, generally limiting their range to a single star system (though large, expensive subspace transmitters can drastically extend that range). These synthetic bodies are among the most advanced in the galaxy, rivalled only by the Lokken Mechanists in their sophistication. They include self-configuring adaptive frames, large memory banks, local area networking capabilities, folding joints for easy storage, and highly efficient processors. In order to manage the direct streaming of a consciousness to the body, however, they receive and transmit massive amounts of data that can easily overwhelm local routers.
Should a Lacertan experience a catastrophic event while using a body, the mind is simply disconnected. Though fully insulated from any physical effects, research has shown that repeated "deaths" in physical bodies can create trauma in the virtual mind. Due to this, Lacertans are advised not to take any undue risks when possible, despite being immortal. Additionally, despite significant redundancy for servers, the sudden crashing of a server can "offline" millions of Lacertans. Data corruption, faulty connections, and computer viruses are all dangers to the servers, but the Techno-Protectorate has made protecting against these their top priority.
Type
Mechanical (formerly Molluscoid)
Homeworld
Lacertis
Preference
Tropical (biological)
Wet (synthetic)
Plural
Lacertans
Adjective
Lacertan
Mechanical (formerly Molluscoid)
Homeworld
Lacertis
Preference
Tropical (biological)
Wet (synthetic)
Lifespan
170 years (biological)
Immortal (synthetic)
Immortal (synthetic)
Geographic Distribution
Related Organizations
Lacertans
Adjective
Lacertan
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