The Data Arks
While FTL travel is now commonplace, no practical method of FTL communications is currently known. This means that any data transfer between major star systems must be done by physically moving the data.
While many mechanisms have been tried—including store-and-forward techniques—the current state of the art for moving large amounts of data across interstellar distances is clearly the Data Ark.
"Data Ark" refers to a class of interstellar commercial ships that are designed specifically to securely store and transmit as much data as possible given the current limits of technology.
While there are many designs and classes of vessels, the general design principles remain remarkably similar. In general, they consist of:
A series of redundant storage cores,Ringed with processor nodes,And equipped with a variety of transmission technologies for importing and exporting data once within a system.
The vast majority of Guild members serve out their careers aboard these vessels. Indeed, some ships are owned and operated by extended clans who live out their entire lives on their ships.
Excerpted With Permission
Data Trader's Handbook
© 3250, Interstellar Data Trader Guild
Back on the Reggie
The Reggie was finally settling back into a new routine.
The events at Upsilon Irridini had caused not only scheduling chaos but had also given the small town that was the Reggie plenty of gossip to churn through.
Amongst the most unlikely rumors was that Leo and Ramona had foiled the plans of a group of space slavers.
While not only inaccurate, the story also seemed self-contradictory, since nobody could decide if:
Ramona was the potential victim, orRamona was the liberator.
And if she was the liberator—where were all the slave girls?
Leo tried to take the long view and be amused by such things. But stories about Ramona being a space pirate or a secret agent just made him angry.
Half-aware of where he was going, he walked down the empty corridor toward Master Thorsten's office.
As he got closer, he realized that the Guild Master already had a visitor.
Slowing further, he heard Gunny Tomlin's unmistakable bellow coming from inside the office.
A Heated Discussion
"Of course! Why do you think I wanted her in Weps?"
Master Thorsten said something at a more reasonable volume, but Leo couldn't make out the words.
Gunny's voice boomed again.
**"No, I won't lower my voice! Do not mess with me, Roger! I don't give a good Goddamn what the rumor mill says!
"This is doubly my problem—as chief of security and as Guild Master for Weps. You know that."**
Another reply—too quiet to hear.
**"You bet your ass! If I thought Eddington was an actual danger to the ship, out the airlock she would go.
"This ain't my first rodeo.
"For fuck's sake, Roger, what do you think we're playing at here? Did you think she'd be some candy-ass REMF? She's a real soldier, even if she is a seeker.
"I told you to keep the team focused on the astronomer.
"Now she's on her guard and he's disappeared."**
As Leo crept closer, he finally heard Thorsten's voice clearly.
"I just think she could be dangerous."
Gunny snorted in disgust.
**"So is space. Deal with it.
"From now on, we do this my way."**
Leo would have loved to listen to the rest of the conversation, but he could hear them wrapping up and didn't want to be caught eavesdropping in the hall.
Quickly, he continued on his way before he was discovered.
But the conversation disturbed him.
Not because he was worried about any danger Ramona might pose—that was absurd—but because of what he hadn't heard.
Why would the Master Trader be concerned about Ramona?
Yes, she obviously had a military background—but so did many people already on the ship.
Everyone agreed that she had acted appropriately and had probably saved Leo's life on the buoy.
And what the hell was a seeker?
Even more troubling—
None of the Masters were asking the obvious question:
Why were those armed men on the buoy in the first place?