The New Shorthands

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

These are intended primarily for the referee, but players may encounter them 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 "RR."

HRR 1:2, or just "RR = 2" Two robots for every human.

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

HRR affects the feel of a location, among other things.

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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