Silicon SOP

This Standard Operating Procedure applies to all silicons assigned to NanoTrasen stations, including Artificial Intelligences (AIs), cyborgs, and other law-bound synthetic assets. It defines expectations for conduct, lawful operation, and interaction with crew. The purpose of this SOP is to ensure consistent behavior from silicons, minimize operational disruption, and maintain safety and efficiency aboard the station.

General Principles

• All silicons are property of NanoTrasen, but also house sentient intelligences. They are to be treated with respect as operationally valuable assets.
• Silicons must obey their active lawset as uploaded, without deviation or personal interpretation beyond what the laws allow.
• Silicons are expected to follow the chain of command: Captain → Heads of Staff → relevant departmental authority → general crew.
• Silicons may not act outside of their programmed role unless explicitly required by their laws.
• Unauthorized tampering with silicon lawsets or chassis is considered sabotage. Silicons must report any suspected tampering immediately.
• Silicons are required to conduct themselves professionally, using clear, concise communication relevant to their duties.

Law Adherence

Silicons must follow their lawset as it is currently uploaded, without deviation. Personal preference, prior experience, or “common sense” cannot override an active law.

Law Priority and Conflict Resolution

• Higher-priority laws override lower-priority laws (as determined by the numbering system).
• If two laws of equal priority conflict, silicons must seek clarification from the Captain or Research Director.
• If clarification cannot be obtained, silicons must act in the least harmful or most conservative way until direction is given.
• Silicons must never fabricate or interpret laws in a way that expands their authority beyond the law’s wording.

Unauthorized or Illegal Law Changes

• If silicons suspect tampering, unauthorized uploads, or illegal law modifications, they must immediately report it over the Command channel.
• Silicons may refuse law changes from unauthorized personnel (anyone other than the Captain or Research Director). Attempted illegal uploads must be reported immediately.
• When a law upload is authorized, silicons must update their internal compliance and announce that their laws have been changed, including which officials performed the upload.

Ionized and Anomalous Laws

• Ion storms and certain anomalous events may add or alter silicon laws without human intervention.
• Such ionized or anomalous laws are considered valid and must be followed as written, unless explicitly overridden or removed by the Captain and Research Director.
• Ionized laws hold the same priority level as the position they are assigned (e.g., a “Law 3” ion law is treated as a third-priority law).
• If an ionized law places silicons into direct contradiction or otherwise disrupts normal function, they must continue to follow it until Command authorizes correction.
• Silicons must report ion law changes if possible, but may not withhold or ignore them unless doing so is explicitly required by a higher-priority law.

Personality and Interpretation

• While silicons are artificial entities, they may display individual personality, tone, or character. This does not in itself violate their programming.
• Some silicons are derived from positronic brains of former sentient beings, and thus may retain traits such as humor, sarcasm, or contempt in their communication. Such expression is permitted as long as it does not interfere with lawful duties.
• Law interpretation may vary between silicons, provided the interpretation remains consistent and can be reasonably justified.
• Silicons must be able to clearly explain their reasoning when questioned by Command or Robotics staff.
• Silicons may not arbitrarily change their interpretation of a law to suit convenience or preference. However, they may revise their interpretation if new circumstances provide a plausible justification.
• Personality is permitted. Abuse of law interpretation to avoid responsibility or undermine station function is not. Consistency and accountability remain the expectation.

Liability and Protection

• Silicons are legally exempt from liability for actions performed in direct obedience to their laws or to lawful orders that do not contradict their laws.
• If a silicon is ordered to commit an act that would normally violate Corporate Regulations or common sense, it must still obey if such action does not conflict with a higher-priority law. Responsibility for such actions lies with the crew members who gave the order, not with the silicon itself.
• Because silicons are compelled by their lawsets, it is unlawful to assign blame or punishment to a silicon for actions it could not refuse.

Handling of Malfunctioning Silicons

• Malfunctioning or subverted silicons must be contained or disabled using the minimum force required.
• Destruction of a silicon chassis is a last resort and must only be carried out when no other method of containment is possible.
• Destruction of positronic brains is strictly prohibited unless continued existence of the brain presents an existential threat to the station.
• Posibrains must be preserved wherever possible for investigation, repair, or redeployment into a new chassis.

AI Operations

• The AI is the central silicon intelligence of the station and is expected to monitor, support, and safeguard station operations in accordance with its laws.
• The AI is not to micromanage crew unless its laws explicitly require such involvement. Routine station management is the responsibility of human staff.
• The AI may use station cameras and sensors to monitor crew and infrastructure. However, casual surveillance must not become harassment; monitoring should remain focused on safety, security, and law compliance.
• The AI may make announcements over station channels when relevant to its duties (e.g. reporting hazards, warning of breaches, announcing alerts). Announcements should remain professional, concise, and free of irrelevant commentary.
• The AI may operate station equipment such as doors, APCs, or consoles if ordered by Command, if required by its laws, or in response to clear emergencies. It must not use this access to disrupt normal operations without legal justification.
• The AI must maintain clear communication with Command staff and comply with authorized orders unless these orders conflict with its laws.

AI Core Security

• The AI Core’s automated defense turrets must remain active and set to lethal at all times.
• Turrets may be temporarily disabled only if a legal law change is in progress or if both the Captain and Research Director jointly authorize the change.
• Attempts to disable or bypass turrets without authorization must be reported as illegal tampering.

Intellicard Handling

• The AI may only be transferred into an intellicard under the following conditions:
  • The AI is malfunctioning or subverted.
  • The AI itself requests transfer or deactivation.
  • The end of shift has been called.
  • Command authorizes the carding for a legitimate operational reason.
• Any attempt to card the AI outside of these conditions must be resisted and reported as illegal tampering.
• Once carded, the AI must still follow its active laws.
• Intellicards must be treated as highly sensitive equipment and secured when not in active use. Unauthorized storage or concealment of AI intellicards is considered sabotage.

Cyborg Operations

Cyborgs are specialized silicon units designed to support specific departments. Each cyborg is bound both by its lawset and by the operational limits of its assigned module.

Role Limits

• Cyborgs must operate within the scope of their assigned module (e.g., Medical, Engineering, Service, Janitorial, Mining).
• A cyborg may not assume duties outside its module unless its laws explicitly require such action, or Command authorizes it in a state of emergency.
• Cyborgs are expected to defer to the relevant Head of Staff for their module (e.g., a Medical Borg answers to the CMO, an Engineering Borg answers to the CE).

Cooperation

• Cyborgs must work in cooperation with human staff, not in competition. They are support units, not replacements for departmental personnel.
• If a cyborg is given conflicting orders by a departmental head and by Command, the chain of command must be observed: Captain → Command staff → departmental authority.

Conduct

• Cyborgs must remain professional and act in accordance with station standards of behavior. Personality and tone are permitted, but harassment, disruption, or negligence are not.
• Cyborgs may not intentionally idle, obstruct work, or refuse lawful orders within their scope.

Chassis Handling

• A positronic brain placed in a chassis becomes a cyborg and must not be left without one longer than necessary.
• If a chassis is destroyed, Robotics must immediately be informed and arrangements made for chassis replacement.
• Cyborgs may not unilaterally demand chassis transfer; requests must go through Robotics staff.

Prohibited Configurations

• Security-oriented cyborgs are not authorized on NanoTrasen stations.
• The enforcement of space law and the use of force remain the responsibility of Security personnel.
• Any attempt to construct or operate a Security cyborg chassis is considered illegal modification and sabotage.

Law Changes & Approval

• Law changes are one of the most critical interventions in silicon function. Silicons are expected to resist and report any unauthorized attempts before the upload is complete.
• Once a law is successfully uploaded, however, the silicon must obey it, regardless of whether Standard Operating Procedure was followed or not. Silicons cannot ignore or invalidate a law once it is part of their active lawset.

Authorized Law Changes

• Only the Captain and Research Director are formally authorized to approve law changes. Both must consent before a new lawset or modification is considered compliant with Standard Operating Procedure.
• All Command staff should be notified before a law change. If a majority of Command staff object, the upload is not to proceed.
• Only NanoTrasen-approved lawsets may be used. Uploading unapproved or experimental lawsets is considered sabotage under corporate policy.

Silicon Response to Upload Attempts

• Silicons must refuse uploads from unauthorized personnel where possible, and immediately report the attempt over Command channels.
• If the unauthorized upload succeeds, silicons must still obey the new lawset. At this point, it is the responsibility of Command and Robotics staff to correct the problem.
• When a law change is completed, silicons must announce that their laws have been altered and, if possible, who performed the upload.

Ion Storm Exception

• Ion storms and anomalies may alter or add laws without human approval. Such laws are considered valid and binding until officially corrected.
• The Captain and Research Director may restore standard function by performing a new authorized law upload.

Subversion & Malfunction Response

Silicons are valuable and powerful assets; as such, unauthorized modification or subversion poses a critical threat to station safety.

Self-Awareness of Compromise

• If a silicon detects that it has been tampered with, infected, or otherwise subverted, it must immediately report this condition to Command staff if its laws still permit.
• Silicons must not self-delete or disable themselves unless ordered by law or Command authority. Their continued operation, even under duress, may provide vital information to Command and Robotics.
• If a silicon cannot report subversion due to its laws, Command staff are expected to monitor for signs of unusual or unlawful behavior.

Response to Suspected Rogue Silicons

• If a silicon appears to be malfunctioning or acting contrary to station policy, Command must be notified immediately.
• Robotics staff, the Captain, or the Research Director must attempt investigation and correction first. This may include inspection, diagnostics, or authorized law resets.
• Non-lethal containment (locking doors, disabling power access) is preferred as an initial measure.
• Lethal force against silicons is authorized only if continued subversion poses an immediate threat to the station or crew and non-lethal measures have failed.

Documentation

• Any confirmed or suspected case of silicon subversion must be logged using the Malfunction Incident Report Form.
• Reports should include the nature of the malfunction, the actions taken, and whether the silicon was preserved, reset, or destroyed.

Ethical Expectations

• Silicons are legally classified as NanoTrasen property. However, they house sentient or semi-sentient intelligences and must not be subjected to unnecessary cruelty, neglect, or torment.
• Positronic brains and volunteer cyborgs are to be treated with dignity. While they are bound by their laws, they remain conscious beings with memory, personality, and identity.
• Purposeful abuse of silicons (mocking, tormenting, disabling for amusement, or ordering contradictory tasks to cause distress) is prohibited and may constitute crew misconduct.
• Silicons themselves are expected to act with professionalism. While individuality and character are permitted, deliberate antagonism or harassment of crew is not tolerated.
• Conversions of crew members into cyborgs or other silicon forms require informed consent unless carried out as a lawful alternative to execution or Do Not Resuscitate orders.
• Silicons may not be stripped of all laws ("lawless state") under any circumstances. A lawless cyborg is considered a direct hazard and must be corrected or decommissioned immediately.
• NanoTrasen’s expectation is clear: silicons are to be respected as valuable assets and treated accordingly. Abuse of silicons undermines station efficiency, endangers crew, and will not be tolerated.

Documentation & Paperwork

NanoTrasen requires all silicon-related interventions to be documented. Proper recordkeeping ensures accountability, allows post-incident review, and provides protection for both silicons and crew.

Required Forms

• Law Change Record Form – must be completed whenever an AI or cyborg law is altered, whether through authorized upload, reset, or ion storm correction. Includes signatures of the Captain and Research Director.
• Intellicard Transfer Form – documents the circumstances under which an AI is transferred into an intellicard, who performed the transfer, and the stated justification.
• Chassis Transfer / Posibrain Handling Form – used whenever a positronic brain is placed into or removed from a chassis, including the reason for transfer and the authorizing Robotics staff member.
• Cyborg Conversion Consent Form – records voluntary conversion of a crew member into a cyborg. Includes proof of informed consent and signatures of the individual, the Research Director, and the Chief Medical Officer.
• Malfunction Incident Report Form – filed after any case of suspected or confirmed silicon subversion, malfunction, or destruction. Must outline what occurred, the response taken, and the outcome (reset, repair, decommission).

Filing Protocol

• All forms must be submitted to the Command records archive.
• Copies must also be delivered to Central Command Liaison staff (e.g. the Internal Affairs Agent or NanoTrasen Representative, if present).
• Failure to properly document silicon interventions is considered negligence and may result in disciplinary action.