Replika

Gestalt: A person that is not a →Replika.

A Replika is a biomechanical, synthetic culture-based reproduction of a Gestalt template. Created by copying the neural pattern of a Gestalt by a Bioresonant technician. template memories are suppressed, but their skills are kept intact to preserve the Replika's predictability and productivity. Gestalts chosen by AEON to serve as a neural pattern are permanently cryogenically preserved and erased from public memory to serve Eusan Nation as an "incorruptible ideal".

Origin

Etymology

Based on the dictionary, a Replika is simply a biomechanical person. There is a archaic form of the term - Replikant, meaning Copy or replica. It is likely derived from the English replicant transcribed into German orthography (c → k). The archaic meaning for replicant itself is "one who replies".

There is no Kitzeh variation of Gestalt, suggesting that the term originated after the Eusan Nation split from the empire. This is further reinforced by the negative definition of Gestalt - any person that is not a Replika is a Gestalt. Based on it's archaic form of Urgestalt, meaning original form, meaning Gestalt was a Retronym.

Thus Replikas are still Gestalts in the the sense of personalities or figures, but Urgestalts were the original, ideal as compared to the inferior Gestalts of the Replikas. Later Ur- was dropped making the term unmarked, signaling that Gestalt more and more was considered the default. Marked nouns, like gendered derivations, could reflect an otherized and second class role in the Nation's society.

Inspiration

With the archaic term of Replika being Replicant, Replicas are likely heavily inspired by the wikipedia:Replicants, the biomechanical servants from Blade Runner, Additionally the revolver being named Einhorn ("Unicorn") is a reference to deleted scene in Blade Runner, wherein Deckard has a vision of a unicorn, an implanted Replicant memory. Replikas and replicants themselves are also likely inspired by Dune's Ghola's, Ghola derives from the Persian “غلام” (gholam), meaning slave or servant They are people reanimated from the flesh of a dead person to serve a specific purpose for their new master. Gholas have to experience extreme trauma to recover their genetic memories, with the ghola of Duncan Idaho uniquely retaining memories from multiple past lives. This reference is reinforced by the allusion to Herbert's Hunters of Dune (in German: "Die Jäger des Wüstenplaneten") by one of Ariane's imperial book's in the code room - Die Jäger des Sternnebel.

Description

Replikas have varying heights, ranging from a modest 152cm (~5ft) to an outstanding 260cm (~8.5ft). All known Replikas—excluding the MNHR—have a polyethylene shell, and may have additions to their frame which dependent on their role, such as carbon-fiber or titanium reinforced shells; armor-plating; and titanium skeletons.It is established that the blood of the Replika units is actually Oxidant and that their bioengineered flesh is not edible to humans.

Shell and Frame

The outermost of the Replika's body is their polyethylene shell, and their flesh, which appears to be concentrated around the face, with the shell covering the rest of the Replika's body. The shell provides protection of the Replika's Biocomponents and Modular Frame, an internal heavy skeleton, much stronger than the Gestalt equivalent. The Frame provides structure for a Replika's body. Both Replika shells and frames support Modularity, evidenced by Elster being able to replace her arms and breastplate with alternative parts. beneath the frame, the inner flesh and organs of the replika reside. The inner flesh seems to line the interior of the torso's shell/exoskeleton, and possibly other areas that likely have nervous system connections (e.g. the facial plate area). It is supported by Oxidizing fluid. Oxidizing fluid is toxic for human consumption. Replikas also have facial plates, that appear to be non-modular and are connected to their skull. The faceplates of certain Replika types (the STAR specifically) seem to allow for the mounting of masks. Because some Replika frames do not have information on the skeleton they use, it is possible that they use biological skeletons made from an artificial culture like other Replika biocomponents

Internal Systems

The Replikas Central Organ System are the torso-based organs that we see exposed when Elster is wounded in the chest following the fakeout ending, these organs appear equivalent to Gestalt organs including lungs, implying that she needs air to breathe, further supported by her usage of an AVA suit, (Though this may just be due to the extreme cold of Leng.) There also appear to be parts of a digestive tract. We also know that there is a heart in this part of the body as Replikas have a heart rate, demonstrated by a heart monitor near the Eule Patient and another one in Falke's room. The Replika brain is plainly shown to us in the Med Bay, the brain appears to be partially Biological, and partially electronic, with two flat objects on the outer left and right of the brain, and a rectangular one in the middle, above the Cerebellum and between the two Hemispheres. the biological parts of a Replika's brain are likely responsible for their thoughts, sensations, emotions, persona degradation, and other parts while their memory and logic modules seem to stem from the mechanical inserts into the brain. It is possible that the root of bioresonance is within the brain. Replikas lack Gestalt feet, instead having a more hoof-like appendage, originally in the game this was shown as a claw, but newer updates have removed this so all depictions are in line with the artistic intent of the Replikas having a hoof.

Behavior

See also: Replika Known Issues

Replika memory is much worse than Gestalts, as mentioned by Adler. This is evidenced by März getting lost without her mapping module, and the presence of an Eidetic Module for Replikas which enhances memory.

Persona Degradation is described as deviating from its original pattern, which "may lead to the Unit being less efficient for its intended purpose."

Persona Stabilization is described as the "focused manipulation of the individual to ensure they remain as close to the original pattern as possible, and thus productive, loyal and docile for as long as possible."

Classification

See also: Replika Overview

Replika Units are classified by a four-letter acronym that describes their role, and are named after birds: For example, the acronym in the Replika type ADLR (Adler) is fully written out as "Administration, Data Processing, Logistics Replika" (Administration-, Datenverarbeitung-, Logistik-Replika) and its designated bird is Adler, which translates from German to English as Eagle. This can be repeated for the rest of the Replika types, such as the Ara translating from German to English as Macaw, and Elster translating as Magpie. For a list of Replika types and their representing bird, see Unit Class Designation. The last letter in the acronym will also always be R, for "Replika".

There are 6 generations of Replika, 5 of which are known. Generation 1 Replikas do not appear in SIGNALIS. It is unknown what the Generation number indicates.

Logo	Portrait	Designation	Type	Frame	Height
		ADLR "Adler" Eagle Administration-, Datenverarbeitung-, Logistik-Replika Administration, Data Processing, Logistics Replika	Generation 5 High Command Specialist	Biomechanical with Polyethylene Shell and Titanium Skeleton	175cm
		ARAR "Ara" Macaw Allzweck-Reparatur-Arbeiter Replika All-Purpose Repair Worker Replika ARAR Unit Roster	Generation 2 Low-Cost General Purpose	Biomechanical with Titanium-Reinforced Polyethylene Shell	185cm
		EULR "Eule" Owl Einfache Universelle Leichte Replika Simple Universal Light Replika EULR Unit Roster	Generation 4 Low-Cost General Purpose	Biomechanical with Polyethylene Shell	175cm
		FKLR "Falke" Falcon Führungskommando-Leiteinheit-Replika Operational Command Control Unit Replika FKLR Unit Roster	Generation 6 High-Tech Bioresonance Command Unit	Biomechanical with Polyethylene Shell and Bullet-Resistant Armor Plating	250cm
		KLBR "Kolibri" Hummingbird Kommando-Leiteinheit Bioresonanztechnik-Replika Command Control Unit Bioresonance Technology Replika KLBR Unit Roster	Generation 6 High-Tech Bioresonance Command Unit	Biomechanical with Polyethylene Shell and Bullet-Resistant Armor Plating	152 cm
		LSTR "Elster" Magpie Landvermessungs-/Schiff-Techniker Replika Land Survey/Ship Technician Replika LSTR Unit Roster	Generation 5 Kosmo-Pioneer Specialist	Biomechanical with carbon fiber-reinforced Polyethylene Shell and Titanium Skeleton	178 cm
		MNHR "Mynah" Mynah Minenarbeit-, Nukleartechnik-, Hochsicherheits-Replika Mining, Nuclear Tech, High-Security Replika MNHR Unit Roster	Generation 3 Industrial Specialist	Biomechanical with High-Security Reinforced Armor-Plated Servoshell	260 cm
		STAR "Star" Starling Sicherheitstechniker-Aufseher-Replika Security Technician Guard Replika STAR Unit Roster	Generation 4 Low-Cost Combat Unit	Biomechanical with Polyethylene Shell and Bullet-Resistant Armor Plating	220 cm
		STCR "Storch" Stork Sicherheitstechniker-Controller-Replika Security Technician Controller Replika STCR Unit Roster	Generation 5 Combat Lead Unit	Biomechanical with Polyethylene Shell and Bullet-Resistant Armor Plating	240 cm
	NA	KNCR	NA	NA	NA
NA	NA	SAPR "Schnäpper" Schwere Anti-Panzer Replika Heavy Anti-Tank	NA	Biomechanical with High-Security Reinforced Armor-Plated Servoshell	260 cm