Cybernautics/Sockets

A cyber-system of any level can be jacked into any matching cyber-socket, i.e. a level 1 socket can mount a level 10 cyber at full performance.

The benefit of a high-end cyber-socket is protection against forcible removal of the cyber-system. If the user hasn’t disengaged the locking mechanism from within, the Engineering check to disable the security is a DC of 20 plus the socket level.

If you find the changing time of cyber-systems is inconvenient, you can pay for a flash-mount cyber-socket. The benefit of a flash-mount cyber-socket is a dramatic decrease in installation (and uninstallation) times.

RIP AND TEAR
Most cyber-sockets are a level 1 augmentation: 1 hour surgery time, 1 rank medicine required of a professional cybernetic surgeon, 100 credits for the installation and 120 credits for the hardware.

Some chop shops offer this package for free on-site with any purchase of an equivalent cyber. Others will require you to make your own accommodations.

RECOVERY
Immediately following surgery the patient wakes up at 1 HP and 0 SP. Most chop shops will not offer aftercare - it’s on your feet and out the door.

Those that do offer aftercare normally require advance payment. Clinic recovery service is 100 credits/day for 5 HP/day, while hospital recovery service is 300 credits/day for 10 HP/day. These costs may be waived for big spenders or the patron-insured.

If you ever want to return to a less intrusive lifestyle, you'll need to source new organics and the services of a surgeon, once again dropping you to 1 HP and 0 SP on the operating table.

DISORIENTATION
The patient wakes up with the cyber already in place. But if you’re only paying for the socket at that time, you’ll be missing vital pieces and their replacement. Cyber-sockets provide limited life support to keep the organism working until a cyber-system is installed.

Anytime a cyber-socket is empty a condition is in effect. This cannot be resolved until a cyber is installed.

PLUG-AND-PLAY
If a cyber is compromised, taking it out and putting it back in again performs a factory reset that restores its full functionality. A physically damaged or sundered cyber must be repaired like any other object.

With a socket, all cybers are modular enough to be self-installing without specialized tools or skills (except the spine, unless you’re double-jointed; you’ll need someone to help with that).

Cybers are hotswappable. Take one out, put another one in, no problem. But the initialization and acclimation process takes time as does parking the hardware and disconnecting a cyber.