Priority

Priority is a classification system that determines the amount of bytes that a program is given consistently to provide as a means of payment and recompensation to work done for the city and the system. It is automatically divided out by Firewall with the use of Datum citizenship records, and via communication system maintained by The Wire.

The four major categories of Priority are as follows:

Obsolete

The program does not have an official occupation or affiliation with anyone who does provide the city with a service. They are most often homeless and possess little material wealth.

Due to the outbreak of The Infection, a majority of the population of the Taxon sector has now been displaced and considered Obsolete, and have been struggling to survive as vagrants and refugees in the small remainder of their home sector and among the other lower city Districts.

Low

The program makes a minute contribution to the function of Datum, on par with working part time or full time at a position of little significance. They may possess a single instance of small or compact real estate with some belongings, usually in tandem with other Low priorities. This is the largest slice of the population of Datum and populate the lower sectors of the city.

High

The program holds a position of reasonable or considerable importance, most likely in management or within one of the larger processes like The Wire or Origin. They have a level of comfort and financial ease that Low priorities usually cannot afford, and live above on the upper layer of Datum.

Essential

Programs that play such a important role within the structure of Datum that they are given considerations above all other Priorities. Individuals such as the Prime Controller of Firewall, The Head Designer of Origin, or Main Director of The Wire are considered to be in this allocation.

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In addition to these listings is a Malicious indication, which is used to denote an individual that is considered harmful and a threat to the function of Datum. These individuals lose any byte gains from their priority until this indication is cleared or changed.

It is considerably difficult to move up Priority, due to the requirements, fees, and approval processes that are put in place by Firewall as a measure to maintain a status quo.

"You're born into it, and there ain't shit you can usually do to get out of it."

Shadowhawk, of the Custodians