Machine Men

Machine Men is the colloquial term for people who have gained Machine Bodies. While most were originally human, the term Machine Men can also refer to mechanized animals and other species. At rare moments, it also includes naturally born mechanical people like the Metanoids.

Physiology
Machine Men's bodies are mainly technological, possessing machines for body parts and organs to function. Some are barely functional, made with scrap metal and weak batteries. Others are constituted from reliable and regularly maintained components. The most advanced Machine Men are built with nanotechnology. Most if not all Machine Men possess a matrix that stores their memories and consciousness, essentially acting as their brains and souls.

Behavior
Because their electronic brains are able to store a human mind (and sometimes possess back-ups) in an undying body, Machine Men are essentially immortal. Consequently, Machine Bodies, as well as the status of Machine Man, are a widely coveted thing. This tends to make Machine Men cocky, arrogant, and overconfident. Depending on the type of Machine Body as well as the mindset of the person in turn, Machine Men can thus be very dangerous. Some Machine Men however do not possess the destructive qualities that others do and are fully capable of coexisting with organic life.

Influence
Because of the amount of Machine Bodies made available via their initial creation by the Machine Empire, any person who can find or afford a Machine Body can become a Machine Man. However, due to the fall of the Machine Empire, the availability and prevalence of Machine Bodies varies by region. Worlds that were formerly part of the Machine Empire often host the greatest concentration of Machine Men while still holding to the Empire's ideals. Because of this, many Machine Men choose to act as a ruling class, over toppling the rule of organic lifeforms and of Machine Men with inferior-grade Machine Bodies.

However in some communities, including La Metal, Machine Men and organic life have demonstrated the ability to coexist and even to outright reject the way of the Empire.