Cyborg

The cybernetic eye of a human cyborg

Class 3 Cyborg

Class 4 Cyborg

Class 5 Cyborg

Class 6 Cyborg

James R. Auto

Emma Auto

Cyborgs, also known as borgs and cybernetic organisms, are cybernetically-enhanced individuals, present throughout almost all of known space, and are classified as an artificial sub-race.

## Biology and appearance

Cyborgs are not a true race, as they are made up of members of other species who receive cybernetic enhancements. These enhancements can range in type, function, and appearance, thus giving no singular image for cyborgs. Their cybernetics can be implants that can't be seen beneath their skin, or large and protruding mechanical parts that are very visible. To be considered a cyborg, one must have an organic part of their body truly replaced with a permanent mechanical part, and thus, primitive prosthetic components, such as prosthetic limbs that can be removed at any given time, do not classify one as a cyborg. Implants which can be removed, whether they be latched onto one's skin or held within them, often do not classify them as a cyborg, as these implants are most often temporary. If one were to completely upload their consciousness into a mechanical body, they would not be considered a cyborg, as there are no more organic parts on them. Biotech machines are not classified as cyborgs, either, as a cyborg is a being that was originally organic. While cyborgs still have the baseline genetic makeup and physiology of their organic brethren, they often have several enhancements that come from their cybernetics, depending on what type they took on. Cybernetic senses are often enhanced, and cybernetic limbs often grant extra mobility and strength. Cybernetic organs are able to rejuvenate one's body and increase their lifespan, as they operate at peak efficiency and often come with extensive enhancements to make the rest of the body able to keep up with them. Cybernetic life support systems can make one virtually immortal, although this immortality can often not protect the body from effects of prolonged lifespans. However, perfect artificial immortality has been achieved by a few cyborgs, such as the Overlord of the Titan Regime. Although the rest of the cyborgs live for notably longer than the rest of their species, they are not immune to time. As cyborgs age, the organic side of their bodies often become unable to keep up with their cybernetic enhancements, sometimes forcing them to remove said enhancements. Because of this, it is common for elderly cyborgs to pull the plug themselves. The enhancements that cyborgs take often make them immune to illnesses of all sorts, and are able to undo disabilities and other conditions. Some cybernetics are able to make cyborgs immune to toxins, whether they be in the form of tangible substances or gases. Cyborgs with extensive enhancements could also be immune to the Z-29 virus, and cyborgs that can be turned into undead creatures do not reactivate their cybernetics unless full brain function is restored. Neural cybernetics can often lead to permanent changes within one's brain, often taking away from their emotional capacities and creating permanent personality changes, causing full lobotomy in the most extreme cases, although this often comes with the benefit of considerable enhancements in intelligence and computation abilities. Neural cybernetics can give cyborg animals and other non-sentients levels of sentience and intellectual capacities comparable to most intelligent species, and the ability to communicate with other species.

### Classifications

Under the Government, cyborgs are classified into different categories based on the amount of cybernetics they have taken. The cybernetics in question do not have to be visible.

* Class 1 Cyborg: Cyborgs with medical cybernetics that are minor, such as a single limb or other part, such as an organ.
* Class 2 Cyborg: Cyborgs with more extensive medical cybernetics, such as life support systems, and cybernetics that replace over half their body.
* Class 3 Cyborg: Cyborgs with enhancement cybernetics, such as notable and purposeful strength and durability enhancements. This also includes cyborgs with cybernetics that do not resemble their original body, such as multiple arachnid legs or Hovertech in place of their ordinary legs.
	+ Class 3a Cyborg: Cyborgs with enhancement cybernetics covering over half their body, similar to a Class 2 Cyborg.
* Class 4 Cyborg: Cyborgs with weaponized cybernetics, including blades, Ballistics, and Energy Weapons. This class of cyborg is persecuted on Government worlds, as weaponized cybernetics are illegal among civilians.
* Class 5 Cyborg: Often referred to as Monster Borgs, Class 5 Cyborgs are cyborgs with extensive enhancement cybernetics, the type which can drastically change their body shape, often leaving only vital organs intact. The most common example of a Class 5 Cyborg is an organic head and organ system within a hulking robotic body. This can also be done with cyborgs that give themselves the abilities to transform their robotic parts into animal or vehicle-like forms.
	+ Class 5a Cyborg: Cyborgs with only the brain or part of the brain as organic, sporting an entirely prosthetic body and organ system. However, this classification only applies if the body still resembles an organic one, such as a humanoid.
* Class 6 Cyborg: This cyborg classification has had its validity questioned throughout the operation of the Government, often being classified as biotech instead. A Class 6 Cyborg is an organic being whose disembodied nervous system has been placed in something that in no way resembles a living being, such as vehicles and structures, including tanks, trains, spacecraft, turrets, and computer cores.

### Habitat

General habitat: Any that are not harmful to cybernetics

Gravity: Any that are not harmful to cybernetics

Pressure: Any that are not harmful to cybernetics

Atmosphere: Any that are not harmful to cybernetics

Ambient concentration of Celestial Energy or Magic: Any that are not harmful to cybernetics

## History

Cyborgs first came into existence in the years before the Old Titanian Empire. Cybernetics at the time were for exclusively medical purposes, only later being adapted for civilian and military use. At first, cyborgs often found themselves subjected to altered regulations, but these lightened as time went on. Cyborgs became very common following the start of the Great Titanian Civil War, quickly becoming a staple of advanced societies. While on less developed and backwater worlds, cyborgs were seen as little more than robots or as a horrifying concept, they were a symbol of wealth and nobility on the more advanced and wealthier worlds. Cyborgs often formed their own societies, either on their own worlds or within the greater society of the sovereign state they were a part of. Throughout their existence, cyborgs are commonly associated with stigmas and fears of mechanical augmentation, such as cyberphobia. The Trans-Galactic War bolsted the population of cyborgs through the Intergalactic Empire, sometimes creating cyborg subspecies of other races, such as the creation of Vespans from a population of insectoid Alvarians who joined the Empire.

## Society

Cyborgs, being a sub-race consisting of augmented members of other species, don't have a society that comprises their population as a whole. However, many create their own societies within their own worlds or greater bodies. Within Government space, organizations such as Borgspace is exclusively made up of cyborgs, and serves as both social and political organization. Borgspace is sponsored by Cyberactive, a subsidiary of Megacorp, which works at the forefront of civilian cybernetic developments, and is also made up of mostly cyborgs. Although other similar organizations exist throughout Government space and No Man's Space, cyborgs mostly remain part of a greater society, although among some planets, they can have heavy restrictions placed on them. These restrictions, seen on non-Government worlds, often have them treated as second-class citizens, not allowing them into certain establishments and denying them several civil rights. However, on other planets, especially those run with a cyberocratic system, such as the New Intergalactic Empire, cyborgs are at the highest levels of society. Sometimes, these cyberocratic bodies are exclusively for cyborgs, denying pure organics any place among them. Cyborgs often see themselves as superior to their organic brethren, although those with cheap, crude, or considerably monstrous cybernetics that protrude in various ways or take up more than half their bodies often try to hide themselves from society. These two trends vary based on their location.

### Stigma and prejudice

Many individuals and groups hold stigmas or prejudices against cyborgs, for various reasons. They may be afraid or disgusted by the appearance or concept of cyborgs, see the cybernetic enhancements as a sin based on their religion, or hold other cultural beliefs that makes them dislike cyborgs and cybernetics, most apparent concerning cyborgs who have extensive and visible cybernetics. This is what leads to many restrictive laws against cyborgs on neutral worlds, and what leads to gangs of organics assaulting cyborgs in various areas. Even on mostly pro-cyborg worlds, Class 5 Cyborgs are often seen as extremists or abominations, which led to the term "Monster Borg." Class 6 Cyborgs are seen in an even poorer light as something barbaric. On some planets, deceased cyborgs cannot be buried, at least not in the graveyards of organics. On cyborg-dominated worlds, a sort of reverse stigma is present, with cyborgs bullying and assaulting pure-bred organics.

### General characteristics

Type of government: Variable, usually that of unaltered brethren. Individual societies are often cyberocracies.

Technology level: Advanced, space-faring

Proficiency in magic or other abilities: Generally lower than unaltered brethren

Cultural traits: Often a sense of superiority and pro-industrialization sentiments

Population: Very high, exact number unknown