The Data Traders

Data Transport

Because faster than light communications are impossible, the Guild uses ships to transport data across known human space. It is the ability to transport large quantities of data that formed the basis of what is now known as the Data Trader’s Guild. In the end, the Guild performs a service for humanity that cannot be replicated through other means.

Excerpted With Permission

Data Trader’s Handbook

Copyright 3250, Interstellar Data Trader Guild

Ramona was working feverishly on the Quantum comms IP. So much so that she realized she needed a full reset. The instructions were very precise and probably beyond her ability as a mechanic. With a sigh, she stood back for a moment and took a deep breath. Just treat this as an exercise. Right, let’s begin again.

The mechanical parts of the design were very straightforward, and she had printed out six complete copies of each, just in case she had problems. Assembling the core units was also straightforward and followed standard patterns she had learned during her guard service. The follow-on manual steps were very confusing though. It involved setting up quantum entanglements which was not something that anyone really understood properly. The equipment to do this was included in the IP packet and she printed them out with the rest of the gear. However, she had no idea if the equipment worked or not.

After almost two days of working on the design, she finally got it fully assembled. The final product was not very impressive looking. Just two standard comms boxes designed to fit into a standard comms rack. They looked identical from the outside to a laser comms unit. All the front end connectors were the same and accepted normal inputs.

After taking a deep calming breath, she hooked data pads up to each one and configured connectivity between the pads and the comm units. Again, completely standard for a comm unit. Using the standard relay test programmed into the data pad, she attempted to establish a connection from one pad to the other.

Nothing. 100% signal loss.

With a sigh, she took the covers off and started testing subsystems one by one.

“What’s that gizmo fer?”

Ramona almost jumped out of her skin. She had been so focused on her task, she had been completely unaware of Wilson entering the room.

“Wilson! You scared the hell out of me!”

“Sorry sir. Ah, Trader. Ah, Journeyman Eddington.”

Ramona laughed. “Just Ramona. No harm done, you just startled me.”

“Is that a comms relay?” He peered down at the device. “Did you forget the laser assembly? Or is it RF? Where is the antenna?”

“No, it’s a quantum comms relay.”

“Oh.” He continued to examine the interior of the devices.

“Oh? That’s all you have to say? Oh?” Hands on hips, she just stared at Wilson incredulously.

Looking nervous, Wilson pulled back from the devices. “Oh, ah, um. I mean, ya, that’s really cool.”

“REALLY COOL??”

Wilson was getting extremely flustered. “Ah, um, ah, uh, I mean I ain’t never saw one of dem dar quantum comms units before or even heard of one. Ah, Journeyman…. Oh, uh. Ramona.” His eyes kept sliding to the devices in question.

Ramona finally realized that Wilson had no idea about quantum comms being banned or any of the controversy around them. “Well, some people say that quantum comms are impossible.”

Wilson gave his backside a furtive rub. “My da whupped the hell out of me for saying that.”

“Saying what?”

“That something was impossible. ‘BOY!’ he said, ‘it ain’t impossible, it’s just hard. I’m gonna whup your lazy ass until you do something useful about it.’ And he did. Whupped me good too.”

“And did you?”

“Did I what?”

“Do something useful.”

“Oh, yes ma’am. Uh, yes, uh Ramona. My da was a good motivator, that he was.” His hand moved back to his ass again until he realized what he was doing and clenched his two hands together in front of him. “Uh, I guess he didn’t have no quit in him. I learned that from my da, that’s fer sure. There ain’t no failure in life, you just ain’t done yet. Unless you give up, then you’ve failed.”

“or you die.”

“uh, yeah. Or you die, I guess.”

“Care to give me a hand?”

Wilson eyes opened wider than Ramona would have thought possible. “Oh! Oh! Yes, please!”