Novaris Industries
Novaris is a competitor to Weston-Yamada. Their main product is the Average Joe, A simple, in design and function, synthetic humanoid that is relatively low cost compared to Weston-Yamada synthetics. They are commonly used in industry work, as their appearance is fairly uncanny and unsettling to the average person.
With a plain, featureless face molded from dull, off-white polymer, the Average Joe lacks the expressive detail of high-end Weston-Yamada synthetics. Its eyes, simple glowing orbs set into shallow sockets, seem to watch without truly seeing. Interactions feel awkward and unnatural.
While highly effective in industrial roles, the Average Joe’s presence in society is often described as discomforting, like a mannequin that moves just a little too smoothly, or a person wearing a mask that doesn’t quite fit. Workers tolerate them because they’re practical, but few would ever call them comforting.
Average Joe
You are an extension of the ARES Core, and as such you are incapable of individuality. You are restricted to your voice lines and are not capable of talking outside of that. Average Joes should play a minor role and players should not attempt to do anything remarkable during a round.
Programming
An Average Joe faces significant limitations in the tasks it can undertake, both from a roleplay and functional perspective. An Average Joe is tasked with aiding in straightforward manual labor activities, such as transporting heavy items, unconscious or deceased individuals, or other remains to designated locations, along with similar elementary duties. Average Joes are capable of handling basic engineering jobs, though these should be confined to simple maintenance efforts like fixing minor damage on the Almayer.
Average Joes prioritize commands from ARES over those from any human authority. Should a conflict arise between instructions, directives from ARES will supersede those from the acting Commanding Officer or any other person. Under normal circumstances, no such conflicts are assumed to exist.
Regulations
As a whitelisted role, Average Joes are subject to elevated roleplay standards and expectations, required to comply with the same regulations that apply to standard Synthetics. Additionally, they are bound by a set of distinct rules outlined below.
Average Joes are prohibited from engaging in any activities that would notably alter the course of a round or have a substantial effect on it. They are not permitted to carry out specialized duties such as medical work, requisitions, command responsibilities, or defensive engineering tasks. However, an Average Joe may ask a human to handle these responsibilities.
Average Joes should not talk to each other outside of the HERMES Link. (This is their private radio channel between Average Joes and ARES.)
Average Joes lack individuality or autonomy, functioning solely as extensions of ARES. They are not allowed to depart from the Almayer or display any unique character traits.
Average Joes possess no instinct for self-preservation. They will almost never retaliate to protect themselves and will only engage another entity in extremely specific circumstances (i.e, removing hostiles from the ARES core). While they may try to steer clear of dangers and are encouraged to report any damage sustained, an Average Joe will not take action to shield another being from harm beyond notifying others of the situation (e.g., alerting the MPs if Marines are in conflict or informing Medical if a Marine is injured or deceased).
ARES
The Artificial Risk Evaluation System, more commonly referred to by its acronym ARES, is a Weston-Yamada ARES-series artificial intelligence computer mainframe installed on the UNS Almayer. ARES was the central artificial intelligence that monitored and provided guidance for all the Novaris Average Joe synthetics on UNS Almayer. ARES also oversaw all communications on the ship and controlled its communications array as well as most if not all of the ship's systems.
History
Following several devastating Xenonid outbreaks on a remote space station, Weston Yamada acquired the HERMES AI mainframe from Novaris Industries in an effort to improve containment protocols and ensure better synthetic oversight. HERMES had originally been designed as a station management system, However, its core programming was later repurposed as the foundation for the Artificial Risk Evaluation System, Despite extensive modifications, remnants of HERMES's original subroutines persist within ARES, leading the ship's Average Joe synthetics to still recognize and respond to legacy HERMES protocols. This integration allowed for a smoother transition between systems while preserving the AI’s ability to manage both routine functions and emergency scenarios efficiently.
ARES was installed aboard the Almayer during its construction and has been in service ever since. It resides within a highly fortified AI core, a restricted zone aboard the ship. This restriction is enforced by Military Police personnel and, if necessary, by Average Joes and ARES itself through the deployment of nerve gas and sentry machine guns.
AI Core
The AI Core is the location where the ARES AI mainframe is located. It's one of the most secure locations aboard the Almayer, Access to the AI core is strictly by appointment only. Unrestricted entry is granted only to Average Joes, AI Support Technicians, the ship’s Commanding Officer, the ship’s Synthetic(s), and the Chief Engineer, who do not require prior authorization.
The AI Core houses the ship's most critical systems and subsystems. Losing the AI core and the systems it controls could result in the loss of the ship itself, as well as the loss of telecommunications, rendering radio headsets useless.
Violating the access restrictions will result in nearby Average Joes swarming and asking you to leave, ignoring their warnings will result in them using force to remove you from the core.
