Microfactories
|
This is the secret of Pi3 Orionis; while the other colonies know about
their existence they have not yet managed to get a sample. They are based
on very advanced micromachinery, developed by the Minskians. The factory
is seeded from a decimetre-sized cubical seed. The seed slowly grows underground,
absorbing nutrients and building drone microbots to supply it with material.
Thin feelers are sent out to parasitise on surrounding trees for energy.
Within a few weeks to a few months the factory has grown to a black cube
around a meter large, producing the products it had been programmed for.
When given the right signal it will open (otherwise it will explode; boobytraps
are extremely common on Pi3) and release its contents. While in principle
it could be re-used indefinitely, it tends to stunt the growth around
the site and become easy to find. Usually microfactories are instead put
into a dormant mode and left fallow for a year or two, possibly baited
for the enemy.
|
Squids
|
A squid is a device for measuring the current
brain state and reporting it. Originally based on Superconducting Quantum
Interference Devices (SQUIDs, hence the name), but now usually built from
Werner spin detectors in a headband, hairpin, scalp net, laurel wreath or
collar. Using the squid the overall brain activity can be monitored in real-time
to the same precision as a PET scan of the 1990’s (large, immobile versions
in hospitals or psychodesign labs have a much higher resolution but are
mainly used for medical treatment). On Atlantis, people have squids integrated
in their wearables and project a standard visualisation of their current
brain state. Anybody can view it, although by convention the highest resolution
is only sent to people actually talking to the person. It makes it possible
to see not just the current state, but some indices regarding overall brain
chemistry and cognitive style. This can be interpreted with a Psychology
roll (Atlanteans use Awareness) and helps determine the real mood of the
other person, his or her reactions and overall personality. It is of course
possible to send faked or edited data (inking), but this is regarded as
extremely impolite. To prevent it, Atlanteans sometimes make sudden emotional,
unexpected questions just to check that the squid is not inking: if it is
the response will not look right. |
