The New Shorthands

Several descriptors are used throughout the setting to quickly describe organizations, stations, habitats, corporations, and facilities.

These are GM-side constructions, shared here so that players can make their own estimates. They might also show up in official documents or background information.

HALT

HALT-xxxx

Where:

H = HELIX
A = ATLAS
L = LUNE
T = TERRA

Higher numbers indicate greater influence. While zeros are theoretically possible, scores are 1-4.

HALT measures the relative influence of the four major AI blocs on things other than people. For example, a company, or a bar, or a space station will have a HALT score. Example:

HALT-1441

This installation is strongly influenced by ATLAS and LUNE, while HELIX and TERRA have comparatively little influence. Large entities have HALT scores, but sub-components of them might have different ones. A spaceport might be HALT 1422, but a certain restaurant at the spaceport might be HALT 4321.

HALT does not indicate ownership.

HALT, as applied to individuals, is scored on a scale that starts between 25-100. The upper end is not known.

HRR (Human-Robot Ratio)

HRR describes how much of an organization's activity is performed by humans versus robots. HRR is usually shortened to "R."

HRR 1:2, or just "It's an R2 type of place" Two robots for every human.

HRR 1:100, or spoken, "R is 100" One hundred robots for every human.

IC (Infrastructure Class)

IC-0: Local significance only.

IC-1: Regional importance.

IC-2: Important transportation or industrial facility.

IC-3: Major strategic installation.

IC-4: Civilization-critical infrastructure.

Examples of IC-4 locations include:

major beam corridor facilities
primary transportation hubs
critical resource depots

AD (Automation Dependence)

The easiest way to understand this is to posit what happens if automation fails:

AD-0: Humans can perform most functions manually.

AD-1: Operations become slower.

AD-2: Operations become difficult.

AD-3: Operations become severely impaired.

AD-4: The facility effectively ceases functioning.

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