So one might say, if the Grand Human Union is such a peaceful, benevolent place why does the Star Legion have such devastating firepower as embodied in First, Second and Third Raters?
The answer is monitors and forts.
A monitor is a 10 to 30 million cuft warship. They are heavily armored with force fields and armed with massive energy weapons and missile launchers. Unlike battleships they typically do not embark battleriders or troops. They also typically do not have shunting capability. That means that they are limited to accessing subspace using a gate.
That means that monitors are used as both system defense ships and gate defense platforms.
The development of the battleship was a direct result of the deployment of monitors which greatly outclassed the frigates and battleriders that existed at that time.
However dreadnoughts and superdreadnouths were a response to the even larger and more powerful forts developed to defend systems.
A fort is a grav powered installation typically grav anchored on the subspace side of a gate or in orbit near the real space side of a gate. With BG engines typically only within the 4 to 6 g range a fort can move only sufficiently to move to its place of station and make a poor target for ballistic weapons (like unpowered missiles.) Because it does not have to mount a powerful BG engine a fort is not limited to 250 million cuft. As a matter of fact it usually mounts more powerful force field armor than all but the most powerful superdreadnought as well as having a massive structural frame supported by structural integrity fields and physical armor as well as internal armor force fields.
Forts also typically mount massive energy weapons, missile launchers (for use in real space) as well a numerous battlerider squadrons. Forts are often located near each other where they can provide mutual fire support.
Like other combat vessels forts deploy either sensor drone nets or purpose built sensor arrays to enhance their abilities to detect incoming enemies.
Enemies who defeat gate defense forts often find themselves facing another layer of defensive positions on the far side of the gate in real space.
Friday, September 29, 2017
Subspace Combat
In subspace combat the nature of the environment makes missiles useless. No matter how good their engines a missile effectively travels no faster than any other vehicle. This makes them easy prey for energy weapons.
Like missiles, railgun projectiles are really just matter enhanced with gravitational engines. They tend to lose momentum quickly and become ineffective at any kind of range.
Energy weapons ranges are drastically reduced, but their effectiveness within their useful range is unimpaired. Typically energy weapon ranges are reduced by 20, that is they are half as effective as they are in normal atmosphere.
Force fields are just as effective in subspace as in real space, but as a gravitic phenomenon are less detectable in the high gravametric environment of subspace. In other words a ship protected by a standard force field is harder to detect. Against the high gravometric background of subspace force field stealth technology is less effective.
On balance this makes it hard to detect protected warships at greater ranges, but distortion fields and masking are less effective at close ranges.
The heavy electromagnet interference in the subspace environment makes long range and active sensors not nearly as good as in real space. This is one reason road beacon stations are seeded so close together and why off road vehicles and ships must depend upon inertial navigation and gravitational topology plotting and can only detect subspace beacons when they are fairly close to the system that has anchored them. This also makes the kinds of weapon ranges seen in real space battles untenable in subspace. Because of the high EM background EM masking and stealth become more effective.
Once away from the beacon stations of the Major Routes and Blue Highways accidentally meeting another vessel is unlikely. So battles in subspace tend to occur at gates or near system beacons. Of course this is where systems concentrate their own defenses when they expect an attack as well as where standard defenses are anchored.
Like missiles, railgun projectiles are really just matter enhanced with gravitational engines. They tend to lose momentum quickly and become ineffective at any kind of range.
Energy weapons ranges are drastically reduced, but their effectiveness within their useful range is unimpaired. Typically energy weapon ranges are reduced by 20, that is they are half as effective as they are in normal atmosphere.
Force fields are just as effective in subspace as in real space, but as a gravitic phenomenon are less detectable in the high gravametric environment of subspace. In other words a ship protected by a standard force field is harder to detect. Against the high gravometric background of subspace force field stealth technology is less effective.
On balance this makes it hard to detect protected warships at greater ranges, but distortion fields and masking are less effective at close ranges.
The heavy electromagnet interference in the subspace environment makes long range and active sensors not nearly as good as in real space. This is one reason road beacon stations are seeded so close together and why off road vehicles and ships must depend upon inertial navigation and gravitational topology plotting and can only detect subspace beacons when they are fairly close to the system that has anchored them. This also makes the kinds of weapon ranges seen in real space battles untenable in subspace. Because of the high EM background EM masking and stealth become more effective.
Once away from the beacon stations of the Major Routes and Blue Highways accidentally meeting another vessel is unlikely. So battles in subspace tend to occur at gates or near system beacons. Of course this is where systems concentrate their own defenses when they expect an attack as well as where standard defenses are anchored.
Wednesday, September 13, 2017
Extensible Hulls
Small craft, such as brakes and HUVs often use extensible hulls to maximize usable space while in space or on the ground, yet allow for a more streamlined shape while transiting atmosphere. Extensible hull craft also allow for smaller hanger footprints while being carried aboard larger craft. They also sometimes allow hull compact enough to use transport portals, a reason many brakes and HUVs are held to 8 ft by 13 ft. cross sections to allow their use in standard 10 ft by 20 ft transport portals.
Slide compartments are skinned in hull sheets made of smart material that can expand to allow the underlying structure to slide out while maintaining an air tight envelope. The use of structural integrity fields allows both greater stress to be tolerated by the sliding section and helps maintain airtight integrity.
Slide compartments are skinned in hull sheets made of smart material that can expand to allow the underlying structure to slide out while maintaining an air tight envelope. The use of structural integrity fields allows both greater stress to be tolerated by the sliding section and helps maintain airtight integrity.
Tuesday, August 22, 2017
(Mem)branes
Branes or Valter force membranes or v-branes are coherent sheaves which describe two dimensional manifolds located in three dimensional gravitic topology where matter interactions can be controlled in a localized space. Barnes manifolds, which are associated with B/G engines, are a type of v-branes. Higher level force field technology uses complex v-brane manifolds to describe their operation, but there are many other devices which use branes which are routinely used by Highland technology.
Anhydrous Branes are used as shower enclosures. Modern showers have body sprays which operate in a cycle using cleaning fluid and water rinse, then upon completion of the shower the user passes through the anhydrous brane which provides instantaneous drying. Water is prevented from passing the brane resulting in the hair and skin of the user being dried as the water is retained inside the shower.
Airlock Isolation Branes are used to retain atmosphere in lieu of solid doors in spacecraft. They make airlocks which cycle atmosphere obsolete. Well built airlocks still have quick cycle doors and emergency force fields to guard against brane failure considering the result of catastrophic failure.
Valter is a play on John Gutierrez last name which is derived from the "walter" from the Proto-Germanic vald- "rule" and hari "army".
Anhydrous Branes are used as shower enclosures. Modern showers have body sprays which operate in a cycle using cleaning fluid and water rinse, then upon completion of the shower the user passes through the anhydrous brane which provides instantaneous drying. Water is prevented from passing the brane resulting in the hair and skin of the user being dried as the water is retained inside the shower.
Airlock Isolation Branes are used to retain atmosphere in lieu of solid doors in spacecraft. They make airlocks which cycle atmosphere obsolete. Well built airlocks still have quick cycle doors and emergency force fields to guard against brane failure considering the result of catastrophic failure.
Valter is a play on John Gutierrez last name which is derived from the "walter" from the Proto-Germanic vald- "rule" and hari "army".
Monday, August 21, 2017
Highland Department of Roads
The Highland Department of Roads maintains the system of gates, beacon stations, and waystations along the Major Routes in subspace. They also operate the hyperdrills that stabilize subspace and make possible the placement of gates in planetary orbit. Workers of the department are called roadies.
Along with members of the Grand Postal Service roadies also maintain and operate the hypercable system. They work with the posties in ensuring messages are delivered once they have exited the hypercable system for delivery to systems not connected.
As might be expected with such a wide range of responsibilities there is no typical roadie.
Within the Grand Human Union the department maintains huge traveling road camps in subspace, typically built on large 500,000-1,500,000 cuft ship platforms which contain quarters, workshops and hangars for hyperdrills, mining craft and other supporting vehicles.
Subspace contains no natural occurring bodies to provide construction material so road camps typically ferry raw materials from asteroid belts and gas giants in handy systems in normal space into subspace to provide stock for the huge industrial nanofactory fabricators located in the road camp workshops and for the portable fabricator machines used to construct the gates, beacon stations and waystation frames. Much of the interior of these structures are constructed by follow on contractors.
Typically thousands of workers support the typical road camp and the camp supports dependents as well. Many couples work the road camps and spend most of their lives traveling along the roads.
Operating roads still require a cadre of specialist technicians to support the repair robots which maintain the beacon stations. Some live at one of the waystations and travel down their route in brakes or HUVs configured as repair vehicles, returning to family after a few days on the road seeing to their charges.
Others are under the care of technician couples working from saucer shaped ketches, 15,000-50,000 cuft vessels containing living spaces, workshops and stock storage holds, most commonly staffed by extended family. In many ways this class of roadies most closely resembles the lighthouse keepers of maritime days, living in relative isolation as they move down the road of their section, maintaining beacon stations, picking up repair stock at roadie depots on the waystations and repairing hypercable installations.
Another responsibility of the Department of Roads is the DOR stormwatch channel. Stormwatch sensors located in beacon stations transmit gravametric information to weather centers located at certain waystations in each road section. The weather stations analyze the information and post storm warnings to be broadcast from the beacon stations to local traffic on the DOR stormwatch channel.
Keeping the stormwatch sensors operating is a part of the job of the maintenance road crews. Most of the storm analysis on the establish network is done by AI, but on new roads or ones still under construction people still have to aid in storm detection.
Along with members of the Grand Postal Service roadies also maintain and operate the hypercable system. They work with the posties in ensuring messages are delivered once they have exited the hypercable system for delivery to systems not connected.
As might be expected with such a wide range of responsibilities there is no typical roadie.
Within the Grand Human Union the department maintains huge traveling road camps in subspace, typically built on large 500,000-1,500,000 cuft ship platforms which contain quarters, workshops and hangars for hyperdrills, mining craft and other supporting vehicles.
Subspace contains no natural occurring bodies to provide construction material so road camps typically ferry raw materials from asteroid belts and gas giants in handy systems in normal space into subspace to provide stock for the huge industrial nanofactory fabricators located in the road camp workshops and for the portable fabricator machines used to construct the gates, beacon stations and waystation frames. Much of the interior of these structures are constructed by follow on contractors.
Typically thousands of workers support the typical road camp and the camp supports dependents as well. Many couples work the road camps and spend most of their lives traveling along the roads.
Operating roads still require a cadre of specialist technicians to support the repair robots which maintain the beacon stations. Some live at one of the waystations and travel down their route in brakes or HUVs configured as repair vehicles, returning to family after a few days on the road seeing to their charges.
Others are under the care of technician couples working from saucer shaped ketches, 15,000-50,000 cuft vessels containing living spaces, workshops and stock storage holds, most commonly staffed by extended family. In many ways this class of roadies most closely resembles the lighthouse keepers of maritime days, living in relative isolation as they move down the road of their section, maintaining beacon stations, picking up repair stock at roadie depots on the waystations and repairing hypercable installations.
Another responsibility of the Department of Roads is the DOR stormwatch channel. Stormwatch sensors located in beacon stations transmit gravametric information to weather centers located at certain waystations in each road section. The weather stations analyze the information and post storm warnings to be broadcast from the beacon stations to local traffic on the DOR stormwatch channel.
Keeping the stormwatch sensors operating is a part of the job of the maintenance road crews. Most of the storm analysis on the establish network is done by AI, but on new roads or ones still under construction people still have to aid in storm detection.
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
The University System
Residential educational institutions in New Diasporia, at least in the Highlands tend to follow the monastic traditions rather than the German based university model of the progressive period. These institutions are infused with the rhythm of the liturgy through participation in the Mass and the Liturgy of the Hours. While not all students will participate in each activity, some members of the community will participate all functions on behalf of all the members.
Even the largest universities tend to be divided into colleges. Each college is centered around the four part structure of its chapel, library, dining hall, and houses. For many colleges the fifth structure consisting of the monastic community of monks and/or sisters also exists.
There are several key elements which make these schools different from those that existed in the progressive era. First the requirement that students attend formal meals in hall. This has many benefits in both physical health and spiritual wellbeing. Next of course the houses are all gender segregated. More over each house has its own chapel, where is reserved the Blessed Sacrament. Broadly speaking the environment of each house room, often decorated and named, is designed to edify the occupants rather than drag them down to some common level of perceived equality.
Although education continues to in some way an optimal combination of lectures, seminars, tutorials, exams and coursework, it is not limited to the relationship between teacher and student or even between student and student, but also between all and God.
Since it is impossible to build the total man or woman without recourse to the
pillars of grammar, mathematics, and rhetoric this is the basis of education in all subjects. History and language, mastery of both Latin and Greek, as well as modern language stands as primary requirements for later mastery of science and engineering.
As in previous times there is no substitute for the rule of thumb which says that one must spend at least 10,000 hours to master a field. The idea that one can putter around for a few hours a day for eight months a year and somehow earn a degree as an expert in the subject has been purged. Students are expected to spend a majority of their time on studies, for most of the year. This makes time off, primarily on Sundays and feast days, as well as the joyous seasons of Christmas and Easter all the more sweet.
Even the largest universities tend to be divided into colleges. Each college is centered around the four part structure of its chapel, library, dining hall, and houses. For many colleges the fifth structure consisting of the monastic community of monks and/or sisters also exists.
There are several key elements which make these schools different from those that existed in the progressive era. First the requirement that students attend formal meals in hall. This has many benefits in both physical health and spiritual wellbeing. Next of course the houses are all gender segregated. More over each house has its own chapel, where is reserved the Blessed Sacrament. Broadly speaking the environment of each house room, often decorated and named, is designed to edify the occupants rather than drag them down to some common level of perceived equality.
Although education continues to in some way an optimal combination of lectures, seminars, tutorials, exams and coursework, it is not limited to the relationship between teacher and student or even between student and student, but also between all and God.
Since it is impossible to build the total man or woman without recourse to the
pillars of grammar, mathematics, and rhetoric this is the basis of education in all subjects. History and language, mastery of both Latin and Greek, as well as modern language stands as primary requirements for later mastery of science and engineering.
As in previous times there is no substitute for the rule of thumb which says that one must spend at least 10,000 hours to master a field. The idea that one can putter around for a few hours a day for eight months a year and somehow earn a degree as an expert in the subject has been purged. Students are expected to spend a majority of their time on studies, for most of the year. This makes time off, primarily on Sundays and feast days, as well as the joyous seasons of Christmas and Easter all the more sweet.
Thursday, August 2, 2012
Ownerhsip for the common good
One of the basic premises of Christian social cultural interaction is the responsibility of the landowner to utilized his land not only for his own profit, but also for the common good. An extension of this is the concept that except in certain limited cases it is everyman's right to access public and privately owned land for the purpose of recreation and exercise. This is often called the right to roam and is instilled in Highland law. It does not include garden land, commercially developed land, with the exception of most agricultural or common land.
Access rights apply primarily to access on foot. Rights to fish or hunt are often constrained to some extent. As are rights for exploitation, for example the difference between picking berries to eat and picking them to sell, or even bake into a pie.
Since roads are relatively uncommon on most high TL Highland worlds access to most areas is by portal or air. Beyond that most places are joined by tracks or trails, some of which are quite long. Cross country hiking, in places where the fauna is not dangerous, or only a little dangerous, is common practice.
One may not disturb others or damage property. Use of powered vehicles, especially land bound vehicles may be restricted, either by the landowner or more broadly by the local government.
This is a strong positive right, in that only the government can restrict it under most circumstances. Private landowners have a right to privacy in their own homes, the right to limit hunting and fishing on their own land and the right to set aside gardens of reasonable size. Larger tracks of agricultural land is generally accessible, though the roamer bears responsibility to ensure that no damage results to crops due to his presence.
These rights do not apply to Church land which is used for religious purposes, such as Church grounds, monasteries and convents. It does apply to mountain, moor, heath down and waterways used for mundane purposes, including supporting cloisters and charities.
This right includes permission to camp in wilderness areas, provided zero-foot print camping methods are used. It also includes the right to ski, ride and fly to these areas.
Access rights apply primarily to access on foot. Rights to fish or hunt are often constrained to some extent. As are rights for exploitation, for example the difference between picking berries to eat and picking them to sell, or even bake into a pie.
Since roads are relatively uncommon on most high TL Highland worlds access to most areas is by portal or air. Beyond that most places are joined by tracks or trails, some of which are quite long. Cross country hiking, in places where the fauna is not dangerous, or only a little dangerous, is common practice.
One may not disturb others or damage property. Use of powered vehicles, especially land bound vehicles may be restricted, either by the landowner or more broadly by the local government.
This is a strong positive right, in that only the government can restrict it under most circumstances. Private landowners have a right to privacy in their own homes, the right to limit hunting and fishing on their own land and the right to set aside gardens of reasonable size. Larger tracks of agricultural land is generally accessible, though the roamer bears responsibility to ensure that no damage results to crops due to his presence.
These rights do not apply to Church land which is used for religious purposes, such as Church grounds, monasteries and convents. It does apply to mountain, moor, heath down and waterways used for mundane purposes, including supporting cloisters and charities.
This right includes permission to camp in wilderness areas, provided zero-foot print camping methods are used. It also includes the right to ski, ride and fly to these areas.
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Nanomaterials
Products using nanomaterial and biomaterial technologies become common at TL F. They should not be confused with nanotechnology, which is a much more advanced technology which requires a much greater capability in cybernetics and nanomachines. Nanomaterials use particles and structures in the nanoscale, that is 1-100 nanmeters.
Nanomaterials are primarily passive or respond to macro stimuli as opposed to nanotech devices which are in reality nanomachines. Nanomaterials started to become available in the early 21st century. They were primarily constructed during this period through gross chemical engineering process and only later do manufacturing process utilize nanotech factories or other advanced techniques.
Nanomaterials provide a wide range of material characteristics. Nanomaterials are widely used in surface coatings, material finishes and films. An important aspect of nanomaterials is the quantum mechanical effects that allows the properties of nanomaterials to be vastly different from the same substances which do not have these properties.
Many devices at TLE and above use nanomaterials in their construction. In many cases the use of these materials allow devices to be smaller, lighter, and work better than using conventional materials. Such products range from use in the fields of medicine to electronics, fabrication, chemistry (where nanomaterials act as a catalyst) to optics.
Nanomaterials are primarily passive or respond to macro stimuli as opposed to nanotech devices which are in reality nanomachines. Nanomaterials started to become available in the early 21st century. They were primarily constructed during this period through gross chemical engineering process and only later do manufacturing process utilize nanotech factories or other advanced techniques.
Nanomaterials provide a wide range of material characteristics. Nanomaterials are widely used in surface coatings, material finishes and films. An important aspect of nanomaterials is the quantum mechanical effects that allows the properties of nanomaterials to be vastly different from the same substances which do not have these properties.
Many devices at TLE and above use nanomaterials in their construction. In many cases the use of these materials allow devices to be smaller, lighter, and work better than using conventional materials. Such products range from use in the fields of medicine to electronics, fabrication, chemistry (where nanomaterials act as a catalyst) to optics.
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Post-nano Modern Building construction.
Throughout human history people have used many different materials and methods to construct buildings. Often the methods of building construction used for residential buildings have varied considerably from those used for the construction of commercial, public and industrial structures.
Many of these materials and construction methods were widely used for many years, if not centuries. Some were completely replaced by later methods or only found in certain niches. Many survived through the Progressive Era into the the time of the New Diasporia. It is still possible to find structures of stone, brick, wood, steel and glass, but most modern methods of the construction of buildings use monosurface construction. This building method uses a building shell of ceramic nanotech material formed in a single piece. Interior support members are formed in a uni-structure with the outer walls.
The structural cross section of the outer shell consists of a skin which is capable of absorbing light and heat and converting it to power. The surface has the property of instant chameleon pigmentation control, that is, it can change color under the control of its inhabitants. Beneath the skin an insulating layer keeps the interior cool in summer and warm in winter. Over the insulating layer a mechanicals space exists where power and fluid transport systems are installed. These spaces exist between the support members. Over these spaces the interior walls are fastened. These walls are removable, allowing rapid access to the systems beneath.
Window panes are capable of being adjusted from opaque to transparent and also have the ability to allow light to only pass from outside to inside, allowing for the perfect privacy barrier.
Natural materials are still used for trimming, though often they are coated or treated with advanced materials to prevent water damage, rotting or other problems, and to enhance their own structural capabilities and beauty.
Building design is a mixture of engineering limitations, artistic license and social trends. Residential design specifically is constrained by the above aspects. In the nineteenth and early twentieth century the limitations of heating technology resulted in the dominance of small rooms with many doors, to better utilize the inefficient heating technologies. Meals were cooked by domestics or the female spouse and served in a separate dining room (or eaten at the kitchen table, dependent on class and social circumstance.) In the late twentieth and early twenty-first century improved HVAC systems and a lifestyle shift resulted in the prevalence of large open floor plans, with kitchen, dinning area and living/media space all joined together.
Post-nano modern homes tend toward a large number of bedrooms, suitable for the large families of the New Diasporia era. Bedrooms tend to be either fairly small or else larger and used as nurseries with multiple inhabitants. Houses are designed around the hub, which is a multi-function room used by the whole family for most activities. Portable wireless devices, and the general lack of interest in what a Progressive Era person would call "major media" means that while video and audio technology is embedded throughout the home, spending hundreds of hours a week planted in front of flat or three dimensional viewing screens is not a common practice. Large viewing surfaces and three dimensional projectors allow instant access to media from the houses central inter-web, but information is much more likely to be accessed via anyone of a number of portable devices which are commonly worn by most family members.
While autonomous robotic devices are quite rare, computer control is built into almost every device in the home. Cooking is usually a collective activity, and most families demand children both engage in work about the house and expect them to spend time mastering the skills necessary to assist.
Homes tend to be very self sufficient, with power collected from sunlight and heating using geo-thermal systems. On most worlds stand alone wells and septic systems are preferred to collective systems.
Many of these materials and construction methods were widely used for many years, if not centuries. Some were completely replaced by later methods or only found in certain niches. Many survived through the Progressive Era into the the time of the New Diasporia. It is still possible to find structures of stone, brick, wood, steel and glass, but most modern methods of the construction of buildings use monosurface construction. This building method uses a building shell of ceramic nanotech material formed in a single piece. Interior support members are formed in a uni-structure with the outer walls.
 |
| Typical mechanicals space w/ access panel removed. |
The structural cross section of the outer shell consists of a skin which is capable of absorbing light and heat and converting it to power. The surface has the property of instant chameleon pigmentation control, that is, it can change color under the control of its inhabitants. Beneath the skin an insulating layer keeps the interior cool in summer and warm in winter. Over the insulating layer a mechanicals space exists where power and fluid transport systems are installed. These spaces exist between the support members. Over these spaces the interior walls are fastened. These walls are removable, allowing rapid access to the systems beneath.
Window panes are capable of being adjusted from opaque to transparent and also have the ability to allow light to only pass from outside to inside, allowing for the perfect privacy barrier.
Natural materials are still used for trimming, though often they are coated or treated with advanced materials to prevent water damage, rotting or other problems, and to enhance their own structural capabilities and beauty.
Building design is a mixture of engineering limitations, artistic license and social trends. Residential design specifically is constrained by the above aspects. In the nineteenth and early twentieth century the limitations of heating technology resulted in the dominance of small rooms with many doors, to better utilize the inefficient heating technologies. Meals were cooked by domestics or the female spouse and served in a separate dining room (or eaten at the kitchen table, dependent on class and social circumstance.) In the late twentieth and early twenty-first century improved HVAC systems and a lifestyle shift resulted in the prevalence of large open floor plans, with kitchen, dinning area and living/media space all joined together.
Post-nano modern homes tend toward a large number of bedrooms, suitable for the large families of the New Diasporia era. Bedrooms tend to be either fairly small or else larger and used as nurseries with multiple inhabitants. Houses are designed around the hub, which is a multi-function room used by the whole family for most activities. Portable wireless devices, and the general lack of interest in what a Progressive Era person would call "major media" means that while video and audio technology is embedded throughout the home, spending hundreds of hours a week planted in front of flat or three dimensional viewing screens is not a common practice. Large viewing surfaces and three dimensional projectors allow instant access to media from the houses central inter-web, but information is much more likely to be accessed via anyone of a number of portable devices which are commonly worn by most family members.
While autonomous robotic devices are quite rare, computer control is built into almost every device in the home. Cooking is usually a collective activity, and most families demand children both engage in work about the house and expect them to spend time mastering the skills necessary to assist.
Homes tend to be very self sufficient, with power collected from sunlight and heating using geo-thermal systems. On most worlds stand alone wells and septic systems are preferred to collective systems.
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Village of Santa Monica
The Village of Santa Monica is a typical Highland population center. Located on the Blue Highway world Cecilia's Promise, Santa Monica is named after the mother of Saint Augustine because the settlers claimed waters of the bay to be "as clear as the tears of Saint Monica as she prayed for the salvation of her son, Augustine."
Like many such habitats the center of the village is the parish church, the Church of Saint Monica. With a population of about fourteen hundred, the Village of Santa Monica is about standard size for a population center on Cecilia's Promise. This does not include the nearby agricultural residences, which make up a separate dispersed settlement.
The architectural style of Santa Monica is post-nano modern. Like all villages the town is a collection of individual residences, commercial structures and official buildings. Official structures, besides the parish church, include the Parish Seat, that is the local government center, the Grand Post Office, and the Transmat Portal.
Official Structures
Parish Seat
The Parish Seat is a two story structure which includes the the office of the village council, the constable's office and the central repository, the local mirror of Cecilia's Promise inter-web.
Grand Post Office
The Grand Post Office is the local branch of the Highland spanning system. In the case of Santa Monica the office itself is attached to Params Deliveries and General Fabrications. The local Postie position is part time, and occupied by the proprietor of that establishment. Message traffic is downloaded vie satellite and package goods delivered via the transmat portal, which is also under the administrative control of Mistress Param, owner of said establishment.
Transmat Portal
Santa Monica's transmat portal is a standard mix use permanent portal. Mixed use means that it is designed to be used by both pedestrians and cargo. Permanent means that it is commonly maintained in an open state, that is both portal openings are more-or-less fixed in their connected state. Dry goods and drums are translated through the portal using transport sleds. The farside of the portal is located in Ellisa, a small port city near the planetary capital.
Commercial Establishments
Params Deliveries and General Fabrications
Commercial buildings are dominated by Params Deliveries and General Fabrications, which has one of the village's commercial nanotech factories. Hettie Param is the local Postie and also handles commercial package mail. Much of the small industrial raw material importing, used to support home and small commercial nanotech fabrication comes through Params. The General Fabrications portion of the establishment tends to concentrate on the making of low to medium tech quick fabs, which require fairly simple design specs and a limited number of stock materials.
Moranti Livery
The village itself is small enough that every structure is within walking distance, indeed this is one of the criteria that distinguishes a village from a larger entity, such as a town, which may have some form of public transportation network, either transmat or vehicular. However residence do sometimes need to travel to the surrounding agricultural homesteads or desire to visit local wildlands. The irregular nature of such activities makes the personal ownership of transport capsules economically wasteful. Moranti's has capsules for rent at reasonable rates for a multitude of uses. Some are small enough to use the transmat portal, others are large enough to use for general hauling. Autopilot capsules act as taxi's and delivery vehicles.
The Clay Jar Pub
For nearly all of human history there has existed establishments where people could buy meals and enjoy a sociable drink. In many places such businesses become community hubs. The Clay Jar pulls in business from the surrounding agriculture community as well as from Santa Monica.
Wing's Inn
Primarily an eating establishment Hosea Wing's hostel also has a dozen or so bedrooms which can accommodate village visitors. The Inn has two semi-regular residents, but most of the other rooms are typically available for travelers. Breakfast is typically included in the price of a room.
Broadline Fabrications
A general purpose technology fabrication facility, Broadline provides the main local source for nanofactory produced items, which are typically made to order from their extensive design catalog. The dozen or so employees include two design engineers who can spot design items or turn external designs into product at a modest cost. Their large nanofactory machines also provide the main fabrication facilities for the surrounding agricultural community.
Greengold's Market
Primarily an outlet for local agricultural products, such as dairy and meat, Greengold's also carries a small number of processed food items. Most residents travel to Ellisa regularly to get larger quantities of drygoods and stock food items.
Church of Saint Monica
The Parish Church complex includes the church itself, the associated rectory, the residence of pastor Fr. Martin Wolf, St. Augustine Hall, the parish's fellowship building and the parish school. The parochial school serves approximately 800 students.
Like many such habitats the center of the village is the parish church, the Church of Saint Monica. With a population of about fourteen hundred, the Village of Santa Monica is about standard size for a population center on Cecilia's Promise. This does not include the nearby agricultural residences, which make up a separate dispersed settlement.
The architectural style of Santa Monica is post-nano modern. Like all villages the town is a collection of individual residences, commercial structures and official buildings. Official structures, besides the parish church, include the Parish Seat, that is the local government center, the Grand Post Office, and the Transmat Portal.
Official Structures
Parish Seat
The Parish Seat is a two story structure which includes the the office of the village council, the constable's office and the central repository, the local mirror of Cecilia's Promise inter-web.
Grand Post Office
The Grand Post Office is the local branch of the Highland spanning system. In the case of Santa Monica the office itself is attached to Params Deliveries and General Fabrications. The local Postie position is part time, and occupied by the proprietor of that establishment. Message traffic is downloaded vie satellite and package goods delivered via the transmat portal, which is also under the administrative control of Mistress Param, owner of said establishment.
Transmat Portal
Santa Monica's transmat portal is a standard mix use permanent portal. Mixed use means that it is designed to be used by both pedestrians and cargo. Permanent means that it is commonly maintained in an open state, that is both portal openings are more-or-less fixed in their connected state. Dry goods and drums are translated through the portal using transport sleds. The farside of the portal is located in Ellisa, a small port city near the planetary capital.
Commercial Establishments
Params Deliveries and General Fabrications
Commercial buildings are dominated by Params Deliveries and General Fabrications, which has one of the village's commercial nanotech factories. Hettie Param is the local Postie and also handles commercial package mail. Much of the small industrial raw material importing, used to support home and small commercial nanotech fabrication comes through Params. The General Fabrications portion of the establishment tends to concentrate on the making of low to medium tech quick fabs, which require fairly simple design specs and a limited number of stock materials.
Moranti Livery
The village itself is small enough that every structure is within walking distance, indeed this is one of the criteria that distinguishes a village from a larger entity, such as a town, which may have some form of public transportation network, either transmat or vehicular. However residence do sometimes need to travel to the surrounding agricultural homesteads or desire to visit local wildlands. The irregular nature of such activities makes the personal ownership of transport capsules economically wasteful. Moranti's has capsules for rent at reasonable rates for a multitude of uses. Some are small enough to use the transmat portal, others are large enough to use for general hauling. Autopilot capsules act as taxi's and delivery vehicles.
The Clay Jar Pub
For nearly all of human history there has existed establishments where people could buy meals and enjoy a sociable drink. In many places such businesses become community hubs. The Clay Jar pulls in business from the surrounding agriculture community as well as from Santa Monica.
Wing's Inn
Primarily an eating establishment Hosea Wing's hostel also has a dozen or so bedrooms which can accommodate village visitors. The Inn has two semi-regular residents, but most of the other rooms are typically available for travelers. Breakfast is typically included in the price of a room.
Broadline Fabrications
A general purpose technology fabrication facility, Broadline provides the main local source for nanofactory produced items, which are typically made to order from their extensive design catalog. The dozen or so employees include two design engineers who can spot design items or turn external designs into product at a modest cost. Their large nanofactory machines also provide the main fabrication facilities for the surrounding agricultural community.
Greengold's Market
Primarily an outlet for local agricultural products, such as dairy and meat, Greengold's also carries a small number of processed food items. Most residents travel to Ellisa regularly to get larger quantities of drygoods and stock food items.
Church of Saint Monica
The Parish Church complex includes the church itself, the associated rectory, the residence of pastor Fr. Martin Wolf, St. Augustine Hall, the parish's fellowship building and the parish school. The parochial school serves approximately 800 students.
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