"Well, Frankie, these are called GigaLinkers," Nolan explained.
"GigaLinkers?" I asked, my curiosity piqued.
"Do you remember what I said back when we were hunting those slave traders? GigaLinkers are massive floating islands that are used to connect between islands. Well, this is one of them," Nolan elaborated.
"Really? But other than being massive, they don't look very special. They just look like a normal banyan tree," I remarked.
"Is that so?" Nolan asked me curiously and continued with his explanation. "Incidentally, these trees are called SignalBanyan, and the person who found the unique property of this tree was a drifter. According to him, these trees may look normal and appear similar to banyan trees from Earth, but they have developed a unique trait that allows them to emit a signal similar to radio waves or phone signals.
They developed this trait to protect themselves from insects, birds, and sometimes even larger animals. He somehow found their unique property and used them to his advantage to create the very first prototype of the EcoSync about twenty-five years ago.
At first, it was only used on the continent of TerraNova, but soon, other races started showing interest in this technology, and it began to advance rapidly about ten years ago. The result is what we now know as EcoSync." Nolan explained the history behind these remarkable trees and the technology derived from them.
"Then how is it floating? How did the tree get that big? What are those massive tubes that are connected between this island and the ocean? Is someone maintaining these things?" I bombarded Nolan with a flurry of questions.
Nolan chuckled and said, "Woah, Frankie, calm down. I know you're curious, but you don't have to ask me all these questions at once."
"Alright, go ahead," I said, eager to learn more.
"Let's see, so basically, the GigaLinkers aren't created by just humans; they're the result of a collaborative effort between humans, Avains, Volcarians, and Glacians. At the core of this astonishing achievement lies a unique mineral called Gravitite, with metallic properties that defy gravity. Avains are the ones who hold the key to harnessing this mineral's power to create floating islands—a closely guarded secret passed down through their lineage.
Now, Gravitite is a precious resource, and it takes an immense amount of this mineral to form even a single floating island. This is where the Volcarians come into play. Their remarkable ability involves growing metals like one would cultivate plants. With their help, we secured substantial quantities of Gravitite, a crucial step towards this ambitious project.
However, the challenge doesn't end there. To create a single GigaLinker, we need thousands of smaller SignalBanyans. This isn't just time-consuming; it's also financially burdensome. This is where the Glacians step in, masters of botanical science due to their homeland's harsh conditions which are basically covered in ice and snow all year long.
Together, we develop a super growth solution that allows us to nurture SignalBanyans into towering giants, reducing the number of GigaLinkers needed.
Now, let's talk about creating artificial islands. Humans and Avains work hand in hand to construct these artificial Islands that are used as a base for the GigaLinkers. Using a small amount of Gravitite, we make the islands float in the sky. Then, we plant a regular SignalBanyan and repeatedly apply the super growth solution until it reaches towering heights. This innovation reduces the time and resources required to create GigaLinkers significantly.
But that isn't the end of our challenges. We have to find a way to provide water and nutrients to these massive SignalBanyans. This is where the enormous pipes come into play. They draw in ocean water, filter and purify it, and deliver both water and essential nutrients to the SignalBanyans, ensuring their healthy growth.
A single GigaLinker, you see, has an astonishing radius of approximately 100 kilometers. It's no small feat, I tell you. To ensure their smooth operation, we usually assign a small team of attendants for every three Islands. Their job is crucial; they're responsible for monitoring the GigaLinkers around the clock. If any issues arise, whether it's a technical glitch or a minor malfunction, they're on the scene to report and fix it promptly.
Now, here's the magic: these GigaLinkers are strategically placed every hundred kilometers along the major trading routes all around the world. It's a masterpiece created by the efforts of many different races that revolutionize our world. Thanks to these modern wonders, we can now easily communicate with people from all corners of the globe, something that's nothing but a dream of the past. It transforms the way we live, work, and communicate with one another.", Nolan's explanation painted a vivid picture of the significance of GigaLinkers and how they had reshaped their world, overcoming challenges along the way.
Truly, this was mind-blowing. It made me realize how this world had taken a completely different approach compared to Earth in establishing global communication. However, I couldn't help but notice a few potential flaws, just as Nolan had pointed out. These GigaLinkers were primarily placed in important cities, towns, and trading routes, leaving the people living in rural areas out of this technological marvel. As a result, those on rural islands would essentially be left in the dark about what was happening in the wider world.
I looked at Nolan, my curiosity not yet satiated. "Nolan, this is truly amazing technology, but I can't help but notice a few potential flaws. Firstly, these GigaLinkers are primarily placed in important cities, towns, and trading routes. What about the people living in rural areas? They seem to be completely left out of this technological marvel."
Nolan nodded thoughtfully. "You're right, Frankie. It's true that the GigaLinkers are strategically located to connect the most crucial points of our world. However, it's not that we've forgotten about rural areas. The challenge lies in the immense resources required to create these floating islands. It's a bit like building bridges; you start with the most critical connections. But as technology advances and resources become more available, we hope to expand the network to include more remote regions."
I considered his response and then brought up another concern. "And what if a massive tsunami or some other catastrophic event were to strike one of these floating islands, destroying it? It seems like it would take an enormous amount of time and money to recreate another floating island to replace the one that was lost. In our world, we've created satellites to establish global communication. Have you ever considered a similar method to achieve worldwide connectivity?"
Nolan paused, taking a moment to consider my question. "You bring up a valid concern, Frankie. While GigaLinkers are sturdy, they aren't immune to natural disasters, and rebuilding them can be a daunting task. As for the idea of satellites, it has crossed our minds, but it's a complex endeavor. Gravitite, the mineral that makes GigaLinkers possible, has certain limitations when it comes to space travel. We're actively researching solutions, but as of now, GigaLinkers remains our most reliable means of global communication," Nolan explained, shedding light on the challenges they faced in extending this technology to rural areas.
"Well, that makes a lot of sense. Even on Earth, launching satellites into space is an incredibly complex and costly endeavor, so I can understand the challenges they face," I replied, acknowledging the difficulties of such a task.
"Then what happened to the inventor of EcoSync? Is he still alive? If it's possible, I'd love to meet him," I asked Nolan with curiosity.
"Unfortunately, he passed away five years ago due to illness and old age. I can sense your admiration for him. He truly was an extraordinary individual who single-handedly revolutionized our world. His name will undoubtedly be remembered throughout history," Nolan replied, revealing the fate of the visionary inventor.
"That's a shame. Then, can we at least visit the GigaLinkers as tourists, maybe get a closer look?" I inquired, hoping to see these incredible structures up close.
Nolan shook his head. "I'm afraid not, Frankie. GigaLinkers are considered crucial infrastructure, and no outsiders are allowed inside. Moreover, these massive structures are jointly owned and maintained by the four different governments. Trespassing into a GigaLinker would be seen as a criminal act," he explained, dashing my hopes of getting a closer look at them.
Nolan's tone grew more serious as he continued, "Depending on your actions on the GigaLinker, your sentence may vary. If you simply trespassed to have a look at it, you'd likely face a massive fine. However, if you do something that endangers the GigaLinker itself, you could be sentenced to a lifetime in prison, or in extreme cases, even face execution."
He then offered some exceptions to this strict rule, saying, "There are a few exceptions, though. GigaLinkers that are close to the mainlands like TerraNova are generally open to the public as tourist spots. Since they are very close, even if something happens, they can be fixed easily. Another exception is that if you somehow get caught in a huge storm or find yourself lost at sea, you can use the GigaLinkers for refuge."
The protection of these remarkable structures was evidently taken very seriously, much like important structures back on Earth. Security was a top priority.
"Really?" I exclaimed, genuinely intrigued. "Then, if possible, I'd love to visit the GigaLinkers near TerraNova," I expressed my newfound interest to Nolan.
Nolan considered it for a moment. "Sure, why not? But for now, I think we've spent enough time here discussing GigaLinkers. Let's head back and continue our journey to Mirage Island."
"Agreed," I replied, and we all reentered NS Scorpion, resuming our journey to Mirage Island.