Sabmiqys
| Sabmiqys | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Strange, hostile robots of advanced technology | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Base Information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Classification | Ergivore | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Status | Minor Race | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Locomotion | Walker | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Terrain | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Body Form | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Confluence | Non-humanoid | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bio-Identenoid | Mechanimorph | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Size | 2.5 meters | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 100 kg | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Culture | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Languages | Native Language | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Social Structure | Oligarchy | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Technological Epoch | TL:16-18 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Psionic potential | Standard | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Origin World | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Homeworld location | Sabmiqys (Antares 2117) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| UWP | A560056-H
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| Primary Star | G3 V | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Atmosphere | Standard | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Off-world presence | No | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Zoetic individuals | Yes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Source | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Reference | Challenge 28 31-32,38. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Canon | Yes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Also see | Robot | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Sabmiqys of Sabmiqys (Antares 2117) are a technologically advanced Minor Non-Human Race with a humanoid appearance.
Description (Specifications)
The Sabmiqys were, at one time, a bio-organic species, who breathed, ate, defecated, and otherwise lived lives similar to most other known biological sophonts. But, those bio-organic beings were killed by a virulent virus in approximately -8000, or... At least their bodies died.
The "living" Sabmiqys had been undergoing extensive repairs, slowly replacing their bio-organic bodies with mechanical (robotic) ones, transforming themselves into increasingly mechanical (robotic) cyborgs. Another theory holds the supposition that the Sabmiqys are and always have been extremely sophisticated pseudo-biological robots. Either way, the world of Sabmiqys (Antares 2117) is still an interdicted Red Zone world. No one, goes there anymore, or, at the very least, no one who goes there, comes back.
Physiology & Environment
The bio-organic beings of Sabmiqys had a very different physiology than the robotic inhabitants of Sabmiqys.
Bio-organic Sabmiqys
The "real" Sabmiqys proved to be beings of about 2.5m in height and 100kg mass, apparently descended from omnivore/gatherer stock.
They had two legs, four tentacular arms, binocular vision, a thick, spongy, grey hide, and a broad mouth with over 100 teeth.
Among other quirks discovered about the Sabmiqys, it appeared that they needed very little sleep, and ate once per day, strictly in private.
Homeworld
The local name of the planet was given as Sabmiqys, the name that appears on charts today. The planet is a desert, with less than 5% of the surface covered by water. There are indications that the planet once had a 25% hydrography rating, but some prehistoric cataclysm of unknown nature caused the loss of most of the water.
The planet's orbit is highly eccentric, resulting in a harsh environment with extreme seasonal variations in climate.
Mechanimorphs
The robotic Sabmiqys are clearly not biological organisms, evolved from any mechanism understood by the conventional science of biology. They are mechanimorphs (robots).
On the other hand, the robots of Sabmiqys are highly sophisticated pseudo-biological robots, which display extremely complicated components, very similar to biological organs. But, they can't be that similar since the organs of the pseudo-biological robots of Sabmiqys are well and apparently immune to viruses, which would kill most bio-organic life.
Either way, Imperial researchers simply haven't been able to acquire a specimen of the Sabmiqys mechanimorphs to study. Very little is conclusively known about the Sabmiqys mechanimorphs, or whatever they are.
History & Background (Dossier)
The planet of Sabmiqys (Antares 2117) has a troubled history since first contact with the Vilani.
n.b. Imperial Law defines these creatures as Vehicles
| Sabmiqys | |
|---|---|
| Tech Level | TL–17 |
| Mass | 50.0 liters |
| Cost | Sale interdicted |
| Mode | Ground (Legged) |
| Type | Cyborg |
| Speed | 10kph |
| Cargo | 0 |
| Crew | 0 |
| Passengers | 0 |
Gashukubi First Contact
The planet now known as Sabmiqys (Antares 2117) first came into human awareness in -5889, when a Vilani scout from the Ziru Sirka, while conducting a flyby of the planet as a preliminary to contact of a suspected intelligent race, reported several internal explosions in his scout ship.
These were followed by the destruction of the ship in a catastrophic explosion. The entire incident was reported as an unfortunate accident, as there was no evidence and no reason to assume that it was caused by hostile action. The Vilani of this era lacked any knowledge of meson weapons.
Repeated attempts at contact resulted in the same mysterious destruction of the ship, and the Vilani scouts declared the world to be a navigational hazard, and gave it the name "Gashukubi", or Certain Death.
Early Gashukubi History
Centuries later, the Vilani contacted and went to war with other humans, on the other end of the Imperium - the Interstellar Wars against Terra. Near the end of those wars, the Terrans were able to mount shipboard meson guns, and the Vilani again had experience with "Gashukubi" - possibly enough to affect their morale and make it that much easier for the Terrans to achieve victory.
After the fall of the Vilani Imperium and the founding of the Rule of Man, the Vilani quickly realized that the destruction of the scouts in the Gashukubi system was probably caused by meson fire - thus proving that there was a technologically advanced race on the planet, and one which had superior weapons technology to that of the Vilani. Curiosity and speculation abounded about the Gashukubi system, and who the inhabitants were, but the system remained off-limits right through the Long Night, as there was no known defense against meson weapons.
The Sylean Federation was able to develop meson screens; this was the key to surviving contact with Gashukubi. In the 70s and 80s, shortly after the founding of the Third Imperium from the Sylean Federation, two meson-screen-equipped starships landed on the planet. One was destroyed; the other successfully landed, but was never heard from again. This proved beyond doubt that the aliens' weapons were meson guns, and also showed that they could in fact be survived.
In the late 200s and early 300s, the Third Imperium achieved TL13; this proved to be the final piece of the puzzle needed to make contact with the Gashukubi.
Gashukubi Natives
In 311, the starship Gem of Fornol, equipped with the latest TL–13 meson screens, successfully landed on Gashukubi. They were met by large metal robots, not at all esthetic to look at, and all wielding nasty-looking weapons. Most of the crew was captured and led away, and never seen again; the remainder left before they could be captured as well. The system was classified as a Red Zone, and a notation of an extremely xenophobic race was placed in the file.
A few years later, another attempt at contact was made; this was not met by meson fire. No further information was learned, however; this expedition met the same fate as that of the Gem of Fornol.
During the First Survey, additional attempts to contact the Gashukubi were made; although these had an extremely high attrition rate, some additional information was gained.
Imperial astrographers, during this time, changed the name of the planet from Gashukubi, a name derived from the Vilani language, to Sabmiqys, the name based upon the Sabmiqys language that appears on the star charts today.
Sabmiqys Natives
When the Imperial scouts finally learned enough of the language to be able to communicate reasonably easily, they requested to meet "those in charge". The robots, with which they had been dealing, brought them into the presence of the "real" Sabmiqys.
These proved to be beings of about 2.5m in height and 100kg mass, apparently descended from omnivore/gatherer stock. They had two legs, four tentacular arms, binocular vision, a thick, spongy, grey hide, and a broad mouth with over 100 teeth. The population was very low, with most of the society and planet being run by robots of many different types.
The scouts found it difficult to estimate the tech level, as much of the technology was far enough advanced over that of the Imperium that it was simply incomprehensible.
Sabmiqys Cyborgs?
Over time, more was learned about the Sabmiqys, including the astonishing claim that they replaced parts of their bodies as they wore out. This was certainly possible to medical science in the Imperium, however, it was virtually inconceivable that this should be a routine practice on Sabmiqys.
Even more astonishing was the claim that some of the individual Sabmiqys were over 10,000 years old. Verification of the claims was impossible, however, as the Sabmiqys never agreed to allow observation of medical facilities or examination of individuals.
Eventually, the scouts were able to determine that the term used by the Sabmiqys to refer to their ancestors appeared to mean "our great ancestors who brought down death from the sky." They were unable to learn the significance of this term, however. Little additional information was gained, as the Sabmiqys were very secretive about themselves and their society.
Occasionally, a contact party member would disappear; any attempt to learn the member's fate would result in an offer to show the questioning party member - who would also disappear. When pressed for explanations, the Sabmiqys would lead the questioning member off at gunpoint, and he would also disappear. Attempts at rescue often met the same fate, and over time, the contact parties learned not to inquire after the missing members.
Mechanimorphic Life?
In the late 600s, a scout party accidentally stumbled upon a robot repair facility - where they found a 'living' Sabmiqys undergoing extensive repair. It was quickly learned that the entire 'living' population of Sabmiqys were in fact highly sophisticated pseudo-biological robots.
Further investigation led to the story of the great ancestors who brought down death from the sky, of which the most important story points are:
Around -8000, shortly after the Vilani invention of jump drive, the Sabmiqys (the original living race) sent a single sub-light exploration ship to a nearby star system one parsec away. The ship returned on autopilot, the entire crew dead of unknown causes.
By the time the Sabmiqys discovered the cause of death, they were infected with the virus that caused the deaths. This virus exhibited virtually no symptoms until it had run its course, at which point death was inevitable and sudden. Millions of Sabmiqys people, who believed that they were fine one day, were dead the next, for no apparent reason. The Sabmiqys social system collapsed into anarchy, making it impossible to coordinate effort that might have led to a cure. Six months after the ship returned, all study of the virus ended, as the deaths started. Ten days later, the planet was dead.
Sabmiqys Aftermath
Sabmiqys has been interdicted by the Imperium as a Red Zone world. Most of the available data about Sabmiqys should be considered unreliable.
However, the following data points are known:
- The robots are not counted as population, as the Imperium does not recognize their sentience.
- Travellers are advised not to go to Sabmiqys for any reason.
- The vast majority of travelers violating that interdiction have never returned, and are presumed dead at the hands of the Sabmiqys robots.
- Some treasure hunters and adventurers have claimed to have survived trips to Sabmiqys, but one must question beings of such profound dishonesty.
Culture & Society
Very little is conclusively known about the Sabmiqys society or culture except that is was strongly xenophobic, highly secretive, and obsessive about the pursuit of new technology.
The Sabmiqys social system collapsed into anarchy shortly after the Sabmiqys killer virus was contracted, assuming the legends are correct.
Social Organization
The population of Sabmiqys was very low in -8000 before a virulent virus wiped out the non-robotic parts of the population. Due to this low population and the secretive nature of the Sabmiqys, it was not possible to determine the social organization methods of Sabmiqys society.
Government & Politics
The Sabmiqys government was being run by robots of many different types.
Language & Letters
Imperial scouts learned enough of the language to be able to communicate reasonably easily.
Calendar & Timekeeping
Very little is conclusively known about the Sabmiqys calendar. However, while it is not known how the Sabmiqys formed a calendar or marked the passing of time, it is assumed that the Sabmiqys calendar is based upon the planetary rotation of their homeworld, Sabmiqys (Antares 2117).
Technology & Trade
The scouts found it difficult to estimate the tech level of the Sabmiqys, as much of the technology was so far advanced ahead that of the Imperium that it was largely incomprehensible.
Military & Intelligence
Very little is conclusively known about the Sabmiqys military except that it had a technology level much higher than the Imperium.
Imperial expeditions have met death in nearly every expedition to Sabmiqys (Antares 2117) for centuries, and a large proportion of these deaths are assumed to have been the result of the superior weapons and technology of the Sabmiqys.
Astrography
This race is primarily located in the following areas:
Charted Space:
Homeworld
The homeworld of this race is:
World Listing
Significant communities of this race are known to dwell within the following systems and worlds:
References & Contributors (Sources)
- Joe Fugate. Robots (Game Designers Workshop, 1986), 15.
- Loren Wiseman. Challenge 28 (Game Designers Workshop, 1987), 31-32,38.
- Traveller Wiki Editorial Team
- Author & Contributor: Lord (Marquis) and Master of Sophontology Maksim-Smelchak of the Ministry of Science