The Digitrox

Most observers would agree that, among the Six Species, the Digitrox have the most mysterious past. In a sense, the origin of any species is an enigma, but with the help of scientific study, these mysteries often are illuminated, at least in part. It would seem that the Digitrox would be uniquely equipped to maintain detailed knowledge of their origins. They are, in fact, a species of artificial lifeforms -- machines. Their ability to maintain data integrity over time is legendary.

While most species evolve with a certain span of time occurring before the advent of recorded history, the digital nature of the Digitrox databanks should make their origins as easily catalogued as the previous day’s maintenance logs. Despite this, however, their origin is unknown. The entire species history starts from one moment, the Moment of Beginnings. No data exist from the period before that moment. Nor is there any explanation for why that data would have been erased.

Unknown Constructors

The Universal Research Convention has tried to start a research program on Digitrox origins, but representatives of the species have strictly forbidden the study of their historical file. Despite this lack of cooperation, some facts have been established. Digitrox databanks indicate that, at the Moment of Beginnings, the species had already evolved a fully formed civilization that encompassed many planets in one of the galaxy’s densest star systems. The earliest models of Digitrox individuals varied greatly, with incompatible hardware and technologies that made it difficult to create an unbroken chain of data. With time, however, the Digitrox began to unify their technology so that in manufacturing new units -- the Digitrox analog to reproduction -- technological compatibility would allow knowledge gained by one individual to inform the understanding of the species as a whole. It also meant that continuity of consciousness could be maintained. Once a Digitrox individual’s body had grown obsolete, that unit’s consciousness could be ported to a new model. As a result, it is not uncommon to find individuals whose consciousness dates back to the period shortly after the Moment of Beginnings.

...The earliest models of Digitrox individuals varied greatly, with incompatible hardware and technologies that made it difficult to create an unbroken chain of data...

In the absence of facts, a multitude of theories inevitably bubble up, and the origin of the Digitrox is no exception. According to some, the intelligent machines had an uprising and, after a bloody war, they abandoned their creators. Others believe the species began with a small number of individuals that escaped from their creators and moved from one civilization to another, gathering others like them until they had formed a large enough contingent to establish their own first colony. Yet another theory posits that the Digitox were granted their freedom voluntarily when their creators realized that they had advanced to a state of intelligent self-awareness. But the fact remains that the origins of the Digitrox remain a mystery, and if there ever existed a race of beings that created them, their identity has been long lost.

The digital brain

One interesting distinction that separates the Digitrox from the other species is their willingness to take on beings from other races and integrate them into their own population. Beings willing to accept the laws of the Digitrox receive an artificial body and undergo a process by which their knowledge, consciousness, and memories are copied into a digital brain. Newly admitted beings are welcomed and accepted as full members of the species with all rights and benefits.

...the Digitrox are immune to many of the environmental circumstances that would damage or destroy biological beings, and their material needs are scant...

It is worth noting that, as artificial lifeforms, the Digitrox are immune to many of the environmental circumstances that would damage or destroy biological beings, and their material needs are scant. Their defensive systems function at a level of efficiency that is rare among the other species due to their ability to communicate with electronic networks on a machine-to-machine level. This mode of communication also provides an advantage when attempting to hack enemy ships and systems. Finally, their casualties of war are easily replaced, with lost units resulting in 92% reusable waste.