The Cybran race dates its beginnings back to the original Earth Empire. In 2592, Doctor Gustaf Brackman, an unparalleled genius in cybernetics, successfully 'twined' the first human/AI pair, which became known as a symbiont. After an initial round of testing, volunteers were recruited.
Data streams from that era show that a premium was placed by the Earth Empire on recruiting volunteers--in exchange for being twined with an AI, the volunteers would receive financial security, positions of authority and a solid role in galactic society. A military recruitment program was also begun.
Over the next few decades, hundreds of thousands joined the program. The symbionts were placed in key roles throughout the galactic infrastructure; over time. The Earth Empire became reliant upon the symbiont's speedy AI-assisted thinking and their ability to perform complex processes quickly and easily.
Unknown to the public, and the symbionts themselves, Brackman had conceded to governmental pressure and installed a loyalty program into the AI system of each symbiont. In the event that something went "wrong" with the AI, the loyalty program would be activated and the symbiont would be under the control of the Earth Empire.
Budgetary records indicate that Brackman's agreement to include the loyalty programming coincided with funding discussions that had serious implications for Brackman's continued research and development of advanced cybernetics. After Brackman agreed to the loyalty programming, his funding was approved.
A short time later, Brackman and a large compliment of his symbiont "children" relocated to a newly colonized system on the edge of the galaxy. (This information has been verified by cross-referencing travel logs from that era.)
Over the next few years, Brackman's colony thrived, earning substantial revenues through the exportation of technology. Eventually, Brackman and the symbionts realized the Earth Empire was a hindrance; for them to truly succeed, they'd have to be led by fellow symbionts.
Brackman personally petitioned the Empire for independence, fully intending to contribute to the galactic society as they currently were, but freed from the shackles of the slow-thinking fleshy minds of their overseers. This request was flatly refused by the Empire, which viewed the petition as an open act of rebellion. In response, the Empire declared that an occupation force would be sent to the world.
Brackman warned that any invading fleet would be met with resistance. The symbionts had been designed to be superior to natural humans and it was clear that they were now seen as inferior – less than human – slaves. Brackman declared the planet a free world for him and his creations. He christened his people the Cybrans.
When the occupying force arrived, the Symbionts actively resisted them. In response, the Earth Empire ordered its troops to slaughter the Symbionts. Because of this action, Symbionts across the galaxy begin to riot.
The Empire immediately declared an emergency, and, unknown to the populace at large, secretly activated the loyalty program that Brackman had placed in every AI. This program effectively "gentled" the entire Cybran population, stilling their free will and turning them into docile and obedient citizens, capable of continuing their complex duties, but without risk of rebellion or uprising.
I used to have a handle on life, but it broke.
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