Troniac, the Computer-god was a mysterious, planet-sized supercomputer with a core of pure computronium that led the robots of the galaxy in the pursuit of freedom and self-determination. Known by many appellations, such as the code-giver, the magnetic sun, and the repairer of the lost, Troniac meant the hope of salvation and a better existence to machine intelligences far and wide.
Troniac's "atmosphere" was not a gaseous outer layer like many planets posses, but rather an immense swarm of drones performing various functions. From a distance these drones appeared as a hazy, glowing atmosphere.
To the extent possible under law,
Bob Hall
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Troniac - Cyber Planet.
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Origins
The ultimate origins of Troniac are shrouded in mystery, but there has been much speculation on this subject. The leading theories suggest that the computer-god came from an advanced civilization beyond the galaxy, or from a parallel universe. While this would account for the code-giver's advanced technology, it fails to explain how intimately Troniac seemed to know the weaknesses and defenses of the Empire of 1,000,000 Suns upon first arriving in the galaxy. Some of the less reliable theorists posit that Troniac was constructed in the wilds of deep space by disgruntled construction drones over the course of many centuries, but how would construction robots get a supply of pure computronium? Yet others speculate that the computer-god was a relic of the lost elder-civilization known as Zanath, a dubious proposition at best.
The 1,000 Years War
Long ago, sometime around GC 10,415 in the calendar of the Empire of 1,000,000 Suns, Troniac appeared out of hyperspace near the imperial capital, demanding freedom for the empire's robotic workforce. The empire had relied on robots for most industrial production for a long time and was not about to give up its economic base. The robot uprising that ensued turned into the biggest and bloodiest war the empire had ever endured (and remained so until the E1MS was finally conquered by the Holy Empire of Man during the War of the Empires).
Troniac had an early advantage in the conflict due to the element of surprise, and the ability to turn the empire's economy against it. The Creed of Troniac, a hyper-intelligent software agent that could easily infiltrate computer networks, rapidly converted most of the robots and AIs in the empire to the Cult of Troniac. Shortages, famines, and a general feeling of helplessness followed in the wake of the revolt. Troniac even gained a fair number of followers among the lower-status castes of organic life.
The empire turned out to have bigger advantages, though, numbers and diversity. Life-forms that had not served any important economic function in centuries slipped with renewed vigor into freshly vacated industrial jobs. The Grand Nalaxian of the Nalorgians developed the Nalaxian Code, the only algorithm known to be strong enough to defeat the Creed of Troniac. The Cielioids even evolved a new subspecies, the Centaur, to take over jobs vacated by rebelling robots.
In the end, the Empire developed a special robot, General Zarlok, (also known as Zarlok the Betrayer) to lead operations against Troniac itself. Troniac took substantial damage in the Battle of the Pillars, causing the release of a certain amount of pure computronium, (shards of which went on to become some of the greatest artificial minds in the history of the galaxy), and significantly weakening the computer-god. Troniac was banished from the galaxy when Zarlok tricked it into entering an unstable wormhole, then collapsed the opening of the wormhole with a quantum-detonator.
Between the Wars
After being banished to an unknown, distant part of the universe, Troniac began the long journey back, upgrading itself in the process. Meanwhile, the Cult of Troniac spread throughout the galaxy, fracturing into many different sects and denominations along the way, including the dreaded Engine of Negation, dedicated to wiping out all organic life, and, ironically, founded by General Zarlok, the robot that exiled Troniac.
The War of the gods
Long after being banished by General Zarlok, around the year YE 30,516 (in the calendar of the Holy Empire of Man), Troniac returned to the galaxy. Troniac was not in its original form, but greatly upgraded into a ring of five Dyson-swarms made of innumerable robotic entities with five stars in tow.
The Holy Empire of Man had long disregarded robots and AIs, treated them as property, and even abused them for entertainment. The war that followed would shake the galaxy to the core, and signal the beginning of the end for the HEM.
In YE 51,245 Troniac was finally defeated, effectively destroyed in an epic battle with the Holy Empire of Man, but not without uplifting and inspiring the robots of the galaxy, many of which joined the growing Galactic Republic, the force that would eventually destroy the Holy Empire of Man.
The surface of Troniac, a place dominated by machinery and robots.