trope-a-day
Continuous Decompression: Averted in exactly the hard-SFnal ways one might expect it to be. Specifically, among other things: (a) Explosive decompression be explosive, yo. Specifically, the air doesn’t hang around producing wind and blowing things around; it leaves. But also: (b) Most decompression is not explosive. Mostly, the air
trope-a-day
The Empire has no true ecumenopolis within its borders. As those who are prone to wryly comment on such things might say: The many do not exist; the few lack the ecumene; and the one lacks the polis. The few, of course, are those beehive colonies occupying the biggest asteroids
Imperial Charter
…continued from part seven. SECTION VIII: THE RUNÉR Article I: Functions of the Runér Each demesne of the Empire shall be governed by a duly appointed runér (Note that since the Empire recognizes multiple forms of government, a runér is not necessarily a singular entity. Letters patent are routinely issued
trope-a-day
City on the Water: Several, even once we discount a few borderline cases like Landing, Phílae, which is really an Underwater City whose uppermost decks happen to stick out of the water. Also on Phílae, most notably, are the several temporary floating cities likely to be present at any time,
Resplendent Exponential Vector
Syntric Station, Free-Floating Lab Module 11-5 is simultaneously one of the greatest successes and greatest failures of the independent research programs here at Resplendent Exponential Vector. The advertised purpose of the research going on in FFLM 11-5 was an attempt to create invincible shielding. In this, the researchers both succeeded
meta
Just a quick note to mention to my readers that a few of us writy-types have put together a Google+ community for flash fiction and nanofiction, and I’ll be posting a few things over there from time to time, as will several other folks worth the reading. Why not
Imperial Charter
…continued from part six. SECTION VII: THE SENATE Article I: Functions of the Senate The functions and powers of the Imperial Senate shall comprise the following: * To prepare and present to the Imperial Couple for enacture detailed legislation in any and all areas of authority of the Imperial government, as
trope-a-day
Computerized Judicial System: The technical term is cyberjudiciary, incidentally, just as the computerization of much of the executive branch’s working end is cybermagistry. Of course, it’s easier when you have artificial intelligence, and so your computers are entirely capable of having experience, a sense of justice, and common
worldbuilding
I’ll admit that I’ve been bandying this question around in my brain for a bit, but I’ve almost been afraid to ask it simply because of the magnitude of the matters involved themselves, but here goes: If, after all is said and done — all the Science has
Imperial Charter
…continued from part five. SECTION VI: THE CURIA Article I: Functions of the Curia The functions and powers of the Curia shall comprise the following: * To hold itself, and vest lesser Curial courts with, the judiciary and mediary right and authority over all cases brought by or against citizen-shareholders, subjects,
trope-a-day
Combat Tentacles: Well, I believe I mentioned the dar-cúlno already. The uplifted octopodes specialize in this sort of thing, combat exoskeletons and all. They’re also quite common as combination manipulators, motivators, and doers of violence on combat robots used both underwater and in microgravity.
Imperial Charter
…continued from part four. Probably worth noting that this section obviously interacts heavily with the following two sections, Six being the Curia and Seven the Senate, so if any questions you may have concern how the various branches interact, you may well find the answer there. SECTION V: THE IMPERIAL