Zikrat Scientific Citizenry
A minor AI faction with a unique history of formation.
The Zikrat were an organic species that became obsessed with scientific advancement but only developing FTL technologies relatively recently. After having evolved on the planet Rarebb, of the Tralakas System, Zikrat spaceflight was not without problems. Specifically, the planet faced a 'calamity' extinction level event. Due to some unknown force, every female member of the zikrat species vanished. Though this would render them entirely unable to reproduce and thus guarantee extinction, this happened at a time of particularly important revolutions in AI technology. The promise of eternal life in robotic bodies was significant enough to not ignore, and could be done on a massive scale using large structures called repositories. Not everyone wanted such a future, and thus died normally, but most were uploaded to the repositories. Though technology constraints initially meant that they were stuck in massive data center-like structures, which are the repositories, all administrated by an "Operator", the species survived through identity preservation, but not biologically.
As Rarebb was almost entirely covered in ocean, the repositories were built partially underwater. The entirety of zikrat civilization was below the waves, but the repositories required a way to remove superheated water as steam. As such, most were built above the waves and those that were built under had massive exhaust pipes extending above the surface. The aquatic nature of the organic zikrats meant that they were used to navigating in 3 dimensions.
Due to the laws of entropy and equipment decay, life within a repository was far from the eternal paradise that they thought they would achieve. Survival turned out to be difficult, and although most were willing to cooperate, some few repositories sabotaged others to salvage parts. Despite this, these structures were engineered very well and in some cases could continue functioning even after fatal damage has been suffered. There are records of 4 structures surviving being cut in half despite the possibility of weather being able to reach the inside through the massive crack. 7 structures survived falling off the massive metal rods that kept them above the water, but they had to be shut down and rapidly maintained by other repositories in order to extend the exhaust pipe and repair the massive cables that allowed them power. One repository suffered a direct hit from a nuclear weapon and survived.
Though Operators had a very important function, constantly monitoring and maintaining the structure, the entire repository could not rely solely on the Operators as they have a tendency to get damaged. In the event of operator destruction, the needs of the structure would then fall under the responsibility of the identities housed within. An Operator is essentially a large robot with an identity contained in a large chamber deep within a repository. Some structures could have more than one, but these would have to be carefully designed to allow for this redundancy. 2 separate identities of the same structure could have differing opinions which could lead to conflict and the destruction of a repository.
Massive cities were built atop the Repositories which now litter the surface of Rarebb. These would house some workers who worked to keep the repositories operational, often meaning leaving the structure. Due to technological constraints at the time, these were drones piloted by identities of the repositories. They worked to supply enough power and water to the repositories.
They have managed to somewhat accelerate the water cycle of their home planet as the repositories consume a massive quantity of water for coolant.
The first repositories have already been under construction since before the Calamity, but the sheer determination of the final zikrat generation is put into perspective with the sheer number of new repositories built in a total of 200 years (the lifespan of a zikrat).
As technology advanced, relatively few repositories remained. However, they have eventually developed methods for a robot to house a fully sentient AI, and the masses got a chance to leave the repositories behind for the rest of eternity. No longer needing massive pumps, the casualty rate dropped significantly and they could finally focus on improving their lives rather than survival. It took hundreds of years to rebuild the lost and badly decayed infrastructure, and the now-mechanical zikrats took to the stars once more, by salvaging and demolishing most of the empty and/or destroyed repositories. Some ruined repositories were kept and turned into tourist destinations and cultural centers. These stand as a grim reminder of just how close the species came to extinction, and are constantly maintained by skilled restoration personnel. There are no surviving and functional repositories left.
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