Inzhu (Synthetic Race)

This is a transcript taken directly from Arkhanon's factbook.
<> Declassified to members of the SCI War Council WARNING: CLASSIFIED DATA

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Case File 2.613 Gamma, or Case File 2.613, and all known reports from, by, or related to Case File 2.613, are to be destroyed between 08/21 and 08/30 of 20XX. Any references to Case File 2.613 are to be snuffed, and personnel who acknowledge the existence of Case File 2.613, or information pertaining to it, are to be eliminated.

Description

The Inzhu are a partially organic synthetic race, accidentally "created" during an attempt to synthesize organic material with a robotic shell. After creation, it was discovered that the introduction of human DNA into the mix resulted in a high degree of sentience within the sample group. With a design reminiscent to the head of a Tardigrade, main body of a Human, and inverse knees, the seven foot tall creatures are perfectly willing to work with humanity, on one condition; Humans must answer questions truthfully when asked, in order to help expand the neural network these "biomachines" posses.

Though originally designed for peacekeeping purposes, both the AI and the "hivemind" that is created when four or more Inzhu are within sight of each other were granted citizenship, and have the ability to live out comparatively normal lives.

"Hivemind" Mentality

The Inzhu are capable, when within a certain radius of three or more Inzhu, of creating a form of "hivemind". This grouping of intelligence acts as an artificial mind that computes at a rate 250x faster than any commercial AI or computer. When connected to each other in this way, they automatically share data and memories with each other, and can broadcast these into "packets" transferrable to other "minds" within a few hundred kilometers. This allows the entirety of the Inzhu "species" to gain intelligence from other units as soon as one learns something.

Since Inzhu units are synthetic, they do not have genders. Pronouns are of non-importance. Units refer to each other in speech as "Unit" or "Sibling", with the identification number or chosen nickname following. Units speak to each other through near-unnoticeable transmissions of data, though if a human is conversing with them they use that human's most familiar language, ranging from anything between English to ǃXóõ. Units are known to be very considerate to humanity, and treat them as a child to a benevolent father, though if an anti-synthetic activist attempts to assault an Inzhu, they will react with near-deadly force, but will keep the human alive so that they may be arrested for the attempted attack.

Usage

Inzhu units are treated as citizens, so there is no job an Inzhu may not apply for. However, since Inzhu are such advanced machines, age does not apply. Inzhu are given one restriction; any non-militarized synthetics are not permitted to personally own firearms. So far, at least two Inzhu are in the Arkhanonian Naval Forces, being Naval Airman "Lesion" and Lieutenant "714" or "Sev".

Controversy

Humanity does not have the answers to all questions the Inzhu ask. Most notably, the first iteration of Inzhu asked Dr. Lemnos Higan the hardest question to answer: "Creator, does this unit have a soul?" Soon after his answer of [REDACTED], the laboratory went dark for forty-eight hours. A rescue team was sent in to investigate, and they found Dr. Higan and "One" (as they are called now) having a very detailed conversation over coffee. Dr. Higan had suffered minor head trauma as a result of "One's" response to his answer, but was otherwise unharmed and cheerful. Apparently, "One" apologized to Dr. Higan after a power surge caused by "One's" utter dismay at his answer knocked a light fixture out of the ceiling and collided with the back of the doctor's head. No further investigations were released, and Inzhu since then have carefully steered away from the topic.