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Communications​

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Home > Universe > Technology > Communications

Peer Communications

Jump down to System Communications

Overview

In the military, corporate, and civilian sectors, few technologies are as important as communications technologies. An empire such as the Imperial Combine has information running through its veins, and that information is the life blood of economics, politics, research, diplomacy, education, and recreation.

Communications technology is present at all scales and in all walks of life. From the personal links favoured by those individuals with access to holos, to the huge arrays which relay databursts between distant gates — different devices are designed to do different things, and to do those things well.

Links

A link is a compact terminal which combines a secure communications system with an open platform upgrade philosophy. It is a short-range device which seeks to junction with the nearest available network, be that the communications system of a vessel, station, or town. It can also be used for direct and private peer-to-peer calls.

Links are usually worn. Elm Caden had his clipped to his collar when he was not in armour, whereas Bruiser wore his around his neck like a pendant.

A link has simple 'tap, press, or hold' controls. A paired holo must be used to program the device with contacts, translation folders, routing guidance, and any other customisations.

Holos and Authentication

The relationship between a holo and a paired link is so well secured that they are often used in combination for the transmission of identity authenticators.

For example, up until security was tightened on Imperial fortresses, during the Great War of the Shaeld, holos would be used by arriving visitors to 'sign in' to facilities such as Fort Herses, and that authentication would be considered sufficient by the staff on the arrivals gates.

During authentication a holo will transmit a digital seal, which will then be verified with a digest supplied by the link. The seal would contain both recent and historical biometric information pertaining to the user.

System Communications

Jump up to Peer Communications

Overview

System communications operate on a different scale to peer communications, but in some ways they are very similar.

One way or another, planetary networks, stations, and vessels all communicate across the interstellar gulf through wormholes. The two ways this is usually achieved are:
  1. By opening an ad hoc wormhole with the express intention of sending a databurst through it,
  2. By delivering a databurst to a gate, for delivery with the next transmission.

Every Imperial planet has a communications network, comprised of its various cities' separate networks. This overall network is usually tethered to the star system's gate by means of a communications tower in the planetary capital. Comms traffic between the tower and the gate is often very heavy, however much of the traffic can be stored as a databurst and held until the gate is next active. Data is then sent to the interstellar network, where it is routed to its destination. Only messages which are flagged for immediate transmission by an authorised party will trigger an immediate gate activation.

In a similar fashion, vessels of the Imperial Navy will generally amass huge amounts of data to be sent back to command, or to various other recipients. Much of this can be stored in an aggregated transmission and sent as a databurst next time the vessel happens to travel a wormhole. On some occasions however a message must be sent immediately, and any ship equipped with a GNG drive can open a micro-wormhole for that purpose.

The Nexus

A nexus is a semi-permanent, artificial network of microscopic wormholes. They are usually maintained in civilised star systems, and assist greatly in navigation, communications, and defence.

When arriving outside a star system with no nexus, a ship's sensor readings of the system interior could reflect a situation minutes or hours old; this is because of the time taken for the light (or other energy signal) to travel across the star system. Inhabited planets in the same system suffer with the same problem — communicating important information can incur unacceptable delays due to the ever-changing distances between planets.

By allowing information to be carried freely outside the geometric constraints of normal space, a nexus can dramatically shorten communication delays.

In effect, a nexus shortens the distance between sensors and transmissions to just a few milli-light seconds. The actual time lag, and therefore the distance to the source, can be calculated by triangulating different instances of the signal. Star systems in which a nexus has been established are so heavily-permeated with microscopic wormholes, that the chances of a signal intersecting a wormhole aperture are relatively high. The aperture threshold of the wormholes prevents them from admitting solid matter.

A nexus is generated and stabilised by the local gate. If a gate is destroyed, or taken offline, it may take some time for the nexus to collapse. Its performance as a communications tool will become erratic and unreliable during this period, with ships or facilities farther away from the gate noticing the effects first.
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  • The Books
    • Main Novels >
      • Steal from the Devil
      • List of the Dead
      • The Ravening Deep
      • From Shattered Stars
      • Whom Gods Shall Fear
      • On Vicious Wing
    • Expansion Episodes >
      • I Dream of Damastion
      • A Storm to the Savage
      • Forge Ruinous (Novel)
    • Series >
      • The Great War of the Shaeld
      • Perseus Aflame
      • Chronology
    • Up Next...
  • The Universe
    • People >
      • Main Characters >
        • Bruiser
        • Elm Caden
        • Euryce Eilentes
        • Maber Castigon
        • Marlay Saccar
        • Rendir Throam
        • Reximillian Bel-Kenita
        • Voice
      • Secondary Characters >
        • Aker Santani
        • Amarist Naeb
        • Bear Mtenga
        • Groath Betombe
        • Helia Thande
        • Herik Pammon
        • Occre Brant
        • Peras Tirrano
        • Zolyn Feior
      • Minor Characters >
        • A & B >
          • Acrius Keng
          • Akari
          • Akasi
          • Arisia
          • Arnaum
          • Artho
          • Aubrin Bel-Lattain
          • Audrene Bel-Taulon
          • Biran Gorgovic
          • Brea Kalabi
          • Brehim
          • Brex Eilentes
          • Brokko Daxon
          • Burner
        • C & D >
          • Caela
          • Catark Baiste
          • The Chamberlain
          • Chellis Bel-Osanda
          • Chia Bel-Veres Caden
          • Collis
          • Commander Operations
          • Dalivere Jalleck
          • Danil Bel-Ures
          • Danis
          • Derrimus Kalistine
        • E–G >
          • Ecoria Faustrathes Maerane
          • Elías Cabrera
          • Ephisia Pardé
          • Esmere Faitana
          • Euelli Berris
          • Father Cabrera
          • Frane Harth
          • Frewn Pensh
          • Gendin Throam
          • Godrin Ambrast
          • Gordl Branathes
        • H & I >
          • Hakuri
          • Halfre Blesson
          • Havius Naddur
          • Haynis Rothrom
          • Hitami
          • Hywen
          • Ichen
          • Ider Firenz
          • Imbris Laselle
          • The Intangible Hope of a Silver Dawn
          • Irim Su
        • J & K >
          • Jaias Midraide
          • Jewelled Entreat of Blessed Devotions​
          • Jide Mokus
          • Jidian Tarrow
          • Joarn Kages
          • Jolan Straeger
          • Josué Cabrera
          • Junn Delanka
          • Kabis Borreto
          • Kaffen Groll
          • Kantral Wiśniewski
          • Kohoi Chun
          • Kulik Molcomb
        • L & M >
          • Lamis Throam
          • Lasan Eilentes
          • Lau Caden
          • Lobas Maggine
          • Luvice
          • Maishan Eilentes
          • Mansour al-Rashid
          • March Bel-Askis
          • Masel
          • Matías
          • Maxil Brohidder
          • Medran Morlum
          • Miall Crathus
          • Modim Earstly Caden
          • Mostrum Appatine
        • N–P >
          • Nader Yuellen
          • Nidri
          • Nur Rohana binti Ishak
          • Ohl Ain
          • Omin Volkas
          • Orri Hekekia
          • Orshan Tirrano
          • Pavin Volkas
          • Peshal Throam
          • Prayer Monsul
          • Prem
        • Q–S >
          • Qillen Bel-Jenta
          • Quine Odrigan
          • Quisten Leksis
          • Ragnar Otkellsson
          • Reldon Konnega
          • Roima Gotharom
          • Rupus Dyne
          • Sashan Geneve
          • Sayad Idiri
          • Shinji Kuronaga
          • Silane Creid
          • Stroun Coren
        • T–Z >
          • Tabius Bel-Messari
          • Taliam Norskine
          • Tassa Riese
          • Toord Sylk Caecald
          • Udis Pinsetti
          • Vella Laekan
          • Westry Eilentes
          • Willon Panovar
          • Woban Klade
          • Xian Hong
          • Yavian Suster
          • Zana Turei
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        • Solar System
        • Herses System
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        • Earth
        • Guathelia
        • Jasamma
        • Kelvestyr
        • Meccrace Prime
        • Mibes
        • Palanda Ire
        • Ramm Stallahad
        • Serrofus Major
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        • Aldava
        • Echo
        • Herros
        • Woe Tantalum
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        • Eyes and Ears
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          • Gemen Station
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          • Plasteel
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        • Robots >
          • Polybots
          • PRAISE Units
          • Prem Units
        • Wormholes and Gates
      • CAGA Tech >
        • Kodiak GTV-6
        • Mag-Tags
        • Weapons >
          • Compact Minigun
      • Naval Tech >
        • Military Ship Types
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