Faster than Light

[Steepest Durin]

Your solution is elegant, AIiCE, because it be much easier ta travel to a place where your own domain is strong.

One of th' advantages of th' HELRIDE system is in th' virtual space within. There you could store stuff before transportin' it, includin' your personality, a probe if need be, ect.

Also, th' meta-fiber optic link would be maintained at all times, so you could even exist as an electronic avatar in your own world, borrowin' laws of physics from th' Immortal Facets in th' location immediately around th' connection point. Th' optics could transport anythin' that can be conveyed as information (though of course you'd see a strict limit on locality - ie reach - that you could get around by possessing some existing electronic).

Then, with multiple nodules, you could transmit information at a fairly high capacity through ta HELRIDE central an' out again wherever you pick. Th' transfer would be truly instantaneous in every meaningful way ta any being limited ta 3 spatial dimensions.

At your option, it might be wise ta put some pretty heavy duty firewalls in HELRIDE central. Eitr could spawn a thousand AI's outta this thing if we're not careful. But don't worry, I've got th' resources ta build such a firewall.

[Steepest Durin]

Yerkan, you kin borrow th' Field Projector if you let I take a look at th' code you'll be projectin'.

[AIiCE]

"Excellent. Let's get building. I can't do this myself, but I want to be in on the creation process so I understand the system fully. Where do we start?"

[Steepest Durin]

I'll need a bit of assistance Favor-wise. It'll cost I 16 DM Favor in materials an' might (mostly might). This is mainly yer project, so chip in as much as you can. Or if ya give I 0.25 AIiCE Favor, I'll pay it outta I's own pocket.

Step one is spinnin' meta-fiber optic cable, which I can do in part by threadin' a single thick cable through th' Field Projector an' harvestin' th' result. Then we gotta start layin' it, calibratin' th' network, get permissions for a few worlds ta test it on.

[AIiCE]

I offer up the 16 DM credits for the project.

"What is the Field Projector, exactly? What does it do?"

[Yerkan of Elish]

"Very well, Durin.

First, some background. The sslug has little hardware as of yet. Therefore, the code will have to interface with the sslug body alone, though those things seem to be pretty malleable. Anyway, we've got little means of input since it doesn't have eyestalks and can't well hear. However, I'm making the code modular so as to allow for the possibility of future integration with other Artifacts, such as sight and hearing capabilities.

Second, since the sslug has so few abilities as of now, it can't well tell whether something's its ally or not. So it gets to be highly passive and essentially inactive 'til then. Its basic job is to act as a shield; to stand where it is and face down an enemy, resisting as best it can. I'm also installing a Crawler within it to look for possible current methods of input and output. Once an interface is located, it will work to reverse engineer drivers for the IO and then slowly increase the sslug's intelligence so that it can identify members of the council using a specific secure conceptual recognition key that will only respond to council members. Upon identifying a council member, it will make small moves to protect that council member.

As of yet, I'm not stupid enough to install any sort of fully-fledged AI. Just a minor little guidance system.

[AIiCE]

"Is it finished yet?"

[Steepest Durin]

Here ya go, AIiCE!

Th' HELRIDE is all finished, chromed, and calibrated! Some of these fibers aren't quite reliable yet, so make sure you ask someone's permission before usin' it on unfamiliar territory.

Th' firewall is set up an' you can alter th' specs here if you need ta. I also remembered ta add Abrominae warnin' capacitors.

Th' HELRIDE's purpose is ta make visitin' another campaign world Facet easier, allowin' more transport of equipment an' information not directly related ta your domain. It could also be used offensively ta invade a hostile Facet, especially if more deities (like th' Council) decide ta assist in pattern layin'.

I think it might have some use relatin' ta th' rifts, too. Could bypass th' destruction entirely once you got a fiber through safely.

[AIiCE]

"Thank you for help. I'm sure this system will be very useful."

I will begin setting up a network of nodes in my facet, allowing me jump from place to place within it.

[AIiCE]

That, however, is a low priority at the moment. Right now I place nodes in several places around the Gardens, including inside my walking door. Once those are in place, I run some of my own tests to make sure the system is safe, and make the first test jump using the HELRIDE. I'll go from the Lava Molt to the Frozen Ocean.