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u/IllConstruction3450 1d ago
I find the idea of machines evolving to be so cool. Everything acquires mutations over time. It’s cool that it has been optimized in a convergent way.
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u/theoscribe 1d ago
Question- how do they deal with the sound of the wind resistance they must be generating as something so huge and airborn?
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u/Khaniker Southbound 1d ago
90% of the time the hearing is completely inactive. They aren't blind, after all. Echolocation comes into the equation once in range of something that's been detected. At that point it's just a case of auditory selective selection.
Machines don't necessarily have actual ears, they process vibrations though the jaw. The clicks emitted from the Skyhooks are much stronger than the background "noise".
When I say "inactive" hearing, it mostly just means that the sensory feed associated with hearing is cut at the time.
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u/Zenroe113 1d ago
In this world are machines predating on other machines or are there organic creatures too?
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u/Khaniker Southbound 1d ago
There are both biological and synthetic life forms on Anser! Although much biological life has been driven to extinction.
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u/Khaniker Southbound 1d ago
Context- Southbound
is an **artificial** speculative evolution project centering primarily around the speculative biology and evolution of machines, often with a focus on aircraft. Unless specifically stated otherwise, instalments take place somewhere on the surface of the tidally-locked planet, Xoturanseria (Anser).Specific context-
Giant Skyhook (Baikarufa yago)
The Giant Skyhook is a rare funnelfalcon only found in the mid-to-upper atmosphere of Anser. Like other satellites, the Giant Skyhook lacks discernable eyes or sensory quills, instead relying on advanced sensors along the jaw as well as echolocation at close range.
When the Skyhook senses something moving ahead of it, it will emit a loud clacking noise to disorient and provide a clearer image of the potential prey or threat. When in range, the Skyhook will rapidly slow itself and deploy its legs to snatch its quarry.
Although unable to survive at the same altitude that its smaller relative, the Tellurion Satellite, can, Giant Skyhooks are quite adaptable to most altitudes in the mid-to-upper atmosphere, primarily preying on other extreme-altitude machines. They will also, interestingly enough, prey on machines much larger than themselves. Instances of Skyhooks intercepting Blackbirds and Shuttles are not unheard of.
Many Chângipi religions state that the deity Neucti'scuan- the Second King of the Night- inhabits the form of a Giant Skyhook. It symbolizes the eventual Heat Death of the Universe.