Data Snek

Another feature of life on Mmrdene, of course, is the nature of its dataweave. As you might expect, the esseli don't use the same optronic nanocircs as the more hard-technology inclined species of the Empire; their information technology is entirely based upon cortextures and related neuron-based devices.

But to concentrate on the megabrains themselves is to ignore the complexities of the supporting technology. A great deal of effort has gone into integrating esseli biotechnology with Imperial-standard networking at the edges. Joint research has produced scaled-up versions of neural laces which empower massive cyborg brain-routers at the starport and the ground stations connecting to Mmrdene's geostats; and esseli technology has even been able to create radioganglia parallel to wireless microcells, albeit speaking a somewhat idiosyncratic IIP dialect.

Where it gets particularly interesting is when you need a higher-bandwidth uplink. You can't just sit down in a comfortable chair equipped to interface with your laser-port; esseli themselves make use of neither. The standard for data transfer on Mmrdene is neurocable; quite literally a long bundle of nerves in a fleshy or bark wrapper, carrying data from place to place; just holding one near a compatible socket makes the petals of the tip peel back and the nerves intertwine in accordance with their designed-in tropisms. When it's time to disconnect, a hormonal signal reverses the process. Esseli simply interface with their technologies using a compatible data-tentacle.

(You can have your own data-tentacle if you want. Believe me, if you even hint that you might be open to the idea, you will be offered several. Esseli culture may have forgotten their original form, but is absolutely convinced that the tentacle is the obviously superior limb. And that everyone should have one, or better yet, several.)

For those of us without data-tentacles, however, esseli biotech has produced an answer in the form of the vastening serpent. A snake in nature as well as name, the white-furred vastening serpent (containing, we are assured, no tentacle) is an endearing pet when not required to perform its duties. When it is called to them, however, it wraps itself comfortably around your neck like a scarf or stole, in which position a band of light-sensitive and bioluminescent cells is able to make connection with your laser-port. Having thus established a connection with you, the serpent's tail-tip may plug itself into any neurocable-compatible port or connect to a neurocable, and allow data to flow freely. The high biotech of the esseli produces data transfer rates similar to those of more conventional interface technologies.

(The serpent may nibble a little. This is quite normal - many esseli biotechnologies are powered at least partially by their hosts' bloodstream, and no harm will come to you. Think of it as a bonding experience.)

"Around the Fringe in 48 Bottles", Octavia Dalastel