My companions found the blips and pops disconcerting, to say the least. I had some idea of what I was receiving, having been here before. It was not the immediate patterns that I was really scanning, but the overall scene. It was important to understand the environment, and as the central network was such a dynamic place, the consternation was understandable.
From our perspective, we could easily scan the entire photon processing system. I reminded my counterparts that I had yet to decode the contents of this stream of information pulses, but there was useful information. First, I pointed out that there were blanks, or pauses where little information was transferred. In rare cases, only half of the system would experience reduced bandwidth, but generally, there were consistent and periodic interruptions of the information flow.
The pairs began to comprehend the patterns that took far more time than they were used to. It took quite a bit of patience to observe. Just because Electrons can zip about at amazing speed does not mean that everything has to be fast. In this case, we were starting to see how Electrons were being used by this network to make things happen, even if the total speed was slow. Then one of the pairs reported that the total amplitude was decreasing over time. It was an accurate observation.
May 31, 2010
May 30, 2010
Network Processing Zones
The perspective was different, but the patterns were the same as I recalled. My last attempt to penetrate the inner confines of the Central Network resulted in the discovery of a new sensor — one that responds to different molecules that populate the spacious realm of the double-Sevens. How this sensor was important to feeding the network is still not clear, but what I can tell you it takes only single molecules to trigger it.
Relying on basic pulse detection, I began to survey the general pulse density of the bulk of the network. The photon detectors were working their active magic, feeding streams of Electrons into the pattern matching engine that occupied huge volumes of network material. Occasional blips were spotted on the compression-relaxation sensor inputs, which operated at a pace somewhere between the slow but sensitive molecular detection array and the blazing photon detectors.
Further up the network we climbed, and in to regions that were filled with random and uncontrolled pulses and surges. It was here that all of the things that did not match patterns or trigger other pulse cycles ended up. For my effort, the randomized noise was far easier to ignore than the massive surges of the photon driven engine. Besides, the patterns here were quite unique, and the process by which they triggered, released and combined with other transmission patterns made them even more unique and powerful.
Relying on basic pulse detection, I began to survey the general pulse density of the bulk of the network. The photon detectors were working their active magic, feeding streams of Electrons into the pattern matching engine that occupied huge volumes of network material. Occasional blips were spotted on the compression-relaxation sensor inputs, which operated at a pace somewhere between the slow but sensitive molecular detection array and the blazing photon detectors.
Further up the network we climbed, and in to regions that were filled with random and uncontrolled pulses and surges. It was here that all of the things that did not match patterns or trigger other pulse cycles ended up. For my effort, the randomized noise was far easier to ignore than the massive surges of the photon driven engine. Besides, the patterns here were quite unique, and the process by which they triggered, released and combined with other transmission patterns made them even more unique and powerful.
May 29, 2010
Rolling, Strolling and Trolling
Mixing up the pairs proved to be a worthwhile effort. The direct contact with a good example worked to every one's advantage, even with the performance reduction that was encountered at the outset. The pairs were cajoling the Eights along the meshwork at phenomenal speeds, giving me quite the task of maintaining a normal attitude with respect to the meshwork.
After ramping up to their maximum potential, I pulled them aside and asked them if they were ready to do some serious work, adding that their improved skills were greatly appreciated. All four of the recruits flipped in agreement, alternating paring amongst themselves to keep within close proximity, and eager for new experiences. They were going to need all the enthusiasm they could muster.
Bopping along the meshworks we rolled, diving underneath and through several along the way. I took quite a bit of maneuvering and mode switching to penetrate the meshworks, but it was far faster that waiting for random tunnels to open and move you across impossible gradients. With a team like the recruits from the Canopy, I was beginning consider the deployments that were soon to become possible.
After ramping up to their maximum potential, I pulled them aside and asked them if they were ready to do some serious work, adding that their improved skills were greatly appreciated. All four of the recruits flipped in agreement, alternating paring amongst themselves to keep within close proximity, and eager for new experiences. They were going to need all the enthusiasm they could muster.
Bopping along the meshworks we rolled, diving underneath and through several along the way. I took quite a bit of maneuvering and mode switching to penetrate the meshworks, but it was far faster that waiting for random tunnels to open and move you across impossible gradients. With a team like the recruits from the Canopy, I was beginning consider the deployments that were soon to become possible.
May 28, 2010
Training the Wheels
With the extra electrons passing into the distance, we twisted the Shorty into position and cradled the Twenty in transfer position. I grabbed one of the original electrons from this Shorty and started pair-trades with the Twenty. After getting the B-pair to hop and swap several times, I was more confident in their abilities to follow, but still, these two needed a bit more training.
Back on the Shorty, the pairs and I set course for the nearest meshwork, and I made a decision. Rather than letting the A-pair take one Eight and the B-pair take the other, I had them split up and cross over. Now, there was an AB-pair and a BA-pair. These swapped pairs were sent to the Eights for drive detail, as I monitored the faint ripples of the pair taps that occurred.
As we approached the meshwork, I twiddled the Ones on the Seven end and set up the Eights for contact. I discovered that the A's were chatting from pair to pair and after some time, the B's began a similar conversation. The intra-pair communication ramped up, and the drive waveform began to take shape.
The angle of approach gave us a smooth contact with the meshwork, as I leaned the Seven forward. Engaging the meshwork, the Eights took hold and rolled, sticking to the Ones on the meshwork. I punched out an accelerate tap and that we did, pushing the Eights forward faster than the Seven was travelling, normalizing the axis of the shorty to the meshwork. Having synchronized and adjusted the attitude, it was time to roll.
Back on the Shorty, the pairs and I set course for the nearest meshwork, and I made a decision. Rather than letting the A-pair take one Eight and the B-pair take the other, I had them split up and cross over. Now, there was an AB-pair and a BA-pair. These swapped pairs were sent to the Eights for drive detail, as I monitored the faint ripples of the pair taps that occurred.
As we approached the meshwork, I twiddled the Ones on the Seven end and set up the Eights for contact. I discovered that the A's were chatting from pair to pair and after some time, the B's began a similar conversation. The intra-pair communication ramped up, and the drive waveform began to take shape.
The angle of approach gave us a smooth contact with the meshwork, as I leaned the Seven forward. Engaging the meshwork, the Eights took hold and rolled, sticking to the Ones on the meshwork. I punched out an accelerate tap and that we did, pushing the Eights forward faster than the Seven was travelling, normalizing the axis of the shorty to the meshwork. Having synchronized and adjusted the attitude, it was time to roll.
May 27, 2010
Confounded Conflagration
The second Pair was having much more trouble pushing in a straight line, missing the transfer orientation on their first pass. As the B-pair slowed the Twenty, I flipped the Eights into action and began to push toward the errant pair with the synchro drive. Speed was not required, just accuracy.
While taking swingshots around the Seven to help out on the synchro drive, I noticed a blip in the response. Then more little blips. Concerned, I promoted a local electron to drive captain and slipped down to the Seven for a quick scan. Things appeared normal, until I focused on the terminus of the pathway. It was teeming with incoming electrons.
Knowing of the incoming cascade, I hopped across the Sixes and charged the Eights with my added presence as I directed the Shorty to take up a position between the terminus and the Twenty that was inhabited by the B-pair. As we closed the distance, the cascade of Electrons began to wash past us. The negative charge on the Eights did a very good job of deflecting the inbounds, and preventing an unwelcome collision with the Twenty.
While taking swingshots around the Seven to help out on the synchro drive, I noticed a blip in the response. Then more little blips. Concerned, I promoted a local electron to drive captain and slipped down to the Seven for a quick scan. Things appeared normal, until I focused on the terminus of the pathway. It was teeming with incoming electrons.
Knowing of the incoming cascade, I hopped across the Sixes and charged the Eights with my added presence as I directed the Shorty to take up a position between the terminus and the Twenty that was inhabited by the B-pair. As we closed the distance, the cascade of Electrons began to wash past us. The negative charge on the Eights did a very good job of deflecting the inbounds, and preventing an unwelcome collision with the Twenty.
May 26, 2010
Hop Swap and Bop
There were some things that could only be done by a single Electron, and piloting an Eleven was one of them. The Pairs were safely locked into orbits on their respective Twenties, and I tapped out a follow code. At nearly twice the size of my Eleven, they had some trouble using polar shifts to manipulate the One-Eight-Ones and move in my direction.
It was not until the pairs discovered that they could induce a double pole that they stopped the gap between us from growing. After a short time, the gap began to close as I approached the Shorty that was floating along lazily in the soup. By picking an odd harmonic that was common to both the Eleven and the Eights on the end of the Shorty, I was able to induce Electrons to trade from the Eights to the Eleven.
Taking advantage of the trade to swap over, I succeeded at taking up residence at the Seven and wiggled the Ones so that the Pairs would know I had made it. I worked to orient the Shorty for an intercept with the Pairs' Twenties, and signaled again. A near impact between the unadorned Eight and it's structural Six created a transfer opportunity. The first pair traded up to the Shorty, sending over replacements from the Eight, releasing it back into the soup.
It was not until the pairs discovered that they could induce a double pole that they stopped the gap between us from growing. After a short time, the gap began to close as I approached the Shorty that was floating along lazily in the soup. By picking an odd harmonic that was common to both the Eleven and the Eights on the end of the Shorty, I was able to induce Electrons to trade from the Eights to the Eleven.
Taking advantage of the trade to swap over, I succeeded at taking up residence at the Seven and wiggled the Ones so that the Pairs would know I had made it. I worked to orient the Shorty for an intercept with the Pairs' Twenties, and signaled again. A near impact between the unadorned Eight and it's structural Six created a transfer opportunity. The first pair traded up to the Shorty, sending over replacements from the Eight, releasing it back into the soup.
May 25, 2010
Breaking the Loop
It had been a long time since I had experienced the bumpy acceleration of the network pathways. While not as fast as plasma-induced travel, or even the faint memory of my early existence, it still brought back memories of high speed travel. As I wandered into the past, I missed my pairing-tap and fumbled. The pairs scored a point and we resumed our keep-together game as we bopped from node to node along the pathway.
We passed a few Elevens and Seventeens that were hanging out near one of the nodes, and found a field of Elevens and Nineteens that were entertaining the incoming stream and shuttling the Electrons in many different directions. There were several Twenties as well, and the Pairs had managed to latch on to some free Twenties that were in close proximity to the Eleven that I had hopped on to.
It was only a matter of time before another pulse would land here in the diffusion and transfer zone. On three seperate atoms, it would be very difficult to hold our position. Knowing we needed something bigger and flexible, I scanned for the now familiar Shorty signature, locating three good candidates without extra Neutrons. I locked on to the nearest and started poking the Eleven, nudging closer to the target.
We passed a few Elevens and Seventeens that were hanging out near one of the nodes, and found a field of Elevens and Nineteens that were entertaining the incoming stream and shuttling the Electrons in many different directions. There were several Twenties as well, and the Pairs had managed to latch on to some free Twenties that were in close proximity to the Eleven that I had hopped on to.
It was only a matter of time before another pulse would land here in the diffusion and transfer zone. On three seperate atoms, it would be very difficult to hold our position. Knowing we needed something bigger and flexible, I scanned for the now familiar Shorty signature, locating three good candidates without extra Neutrons. I locked on to the nearest and started poking the Eleven, nudging closer to the target.
May 24, 2010
Sticking Together
Electrons had nearly filled the reservoir, making it very difficult for those still in transit. The B-pair made it past the Elevens, and were working their random way in our direction. The A-pair and I were engaged in a game of station keeping swap-tag, as we waited for the B's to join in. By trading off the paring amongst our Trio, we were able to stay in closer proximity than any trio of solo electrons.
We started to move our game a little closer to the B's making their travel easier. Once they were within pairing distance, we showed them the game and brought them into the fold. While we played the swap game to pass the time, I took the opportunity to move us up toward the front of the reservoir, where a Seventeen was working to hold the crowd of Electrons in place.
I scanned back at the Elevens, many of which had been loaded with stray electrons that never made it to the party. There was a flash as another stray locked in on an Eleven and a wave began to travel from the ring of Elevens across the interior mesh of Twenties, Sixes and Ones. Near our position, the wave dislodged the Seventeen, and we began to move. Quickly.
We started to move our game a little closer to the B's making their travel easier. Once they were within pairing distance, we showed them the game and brought them into the fold. While we played the swap game to pass the time, I took the opportunity to move us up toward the front of the reservoir, where a Seventeen was working to hold the crowd of Electrons in place.
I scanned back at the Elevens, many of which had been loaded with stray electrons that never made it to the party. There was a flash as another stray locked in on an Eleven and a wave began to travel from the ring of Elevens across the interior mesh of Twenties, Sixes and Ones. Near our position, the wave dislodged the Seventeen, and we began to move. Quickly.
May 23, 2010
Gated Entry
As fate would have it, one pair was faster and more agile that the other. The A-pair flipped from Six to Six and made half an orbit of the Seven before joining me on the journey. The B-pair was just beginning to move off of the Eights. Luckily, the distortion of the meshwork had liberated a number of Electrons, keeping the channel open.
With plenty of replacements to draw from, getting off of the Shorty was relatively easy. As the meshwork began to return to its normal state, the B-pair made a swingshot maneuver around the Seven and brought up the rear of the electron pulse. Scanning forward, I spotted a set of Elevens arranged in a circular pattern. This was the proton pool that was pulling us along.
I blast tapped a marker beacon for the pairs to align themselves too. The trick here was to follow down the middle of all the charges. Once charge begins to mass on the Elevens, they will clamp off and blast the pulse onward. If we work to miss the Elevens, we'll pass through and get a lead spot in the upcoming pulse. I learned the hard way the last time I came past, getting locked into orbit around the Eleven for far longer than was desirable.
With plenty of replacements to draw from, getting off of the Shorty was relatively easy. As the meshwork began to return to its normal state, the B-pair made a swingshot maneuver around the Seven and brought up the rear of the electron pulse. Scanning forward, I spotted a set of Elevens arranged in a circular pattern. This was the proton pool that was pulling us along.
I blast tapped a marker beacon for the pairs to align themselves too. The trick here was to follow down the middle of all the charges. Once charge begins to mass on the Elevens, they will clamp off and blast the pulse onward. If we work to miss the Elevens, we'll pass through and get a lead spot in the upcoming pulse. I learned the hard way the last time I came past, getting locked into orbit around the Eleven for far longer than was desirable.
May 22, 2010
Entrance Exam
Moving through a meshwork is not the fastest thing a molecule can do. Making a continuous series of micro hops, we continued to race toward the inner edge as the Canopy continued to accelerate toward impact. The plan was simple, and once we were one layer from the inside, we held position and synchronized our orbits to work with the impact.
The approach of the Canopy produced a polarization on the interior of the meshwork. While the pairs grew excited at the experience of a charge-pull, I reminded them that focus was important. Synchronization was important. Moving off the Shorty was important. Ultimately, they agreed that it would be impolite to request a second impact from the Canopy.
As the impact occurred, the interior of the meshwork stretched to near the breaking point as it flexed and moved inward, increasing the charge-pull that I and the pairs were experiencing. As I came around the nucleus of the Seven, I sensed the approach of the incoming cascade. It was here that I pulled a feint maneuver, setting the example. Free of the Seven and accelerating toward the positive potential, I could only hope that the pairs got it together in time and followed.
The approach of the Canopy produced a polarization on the interior of the meshwork. While the pairs grew excited at the experience of a charge-pull, I reminded them that focus was important. Synchronization was important. Moving off the Shorty was important. Ultimately, they agreed that it would be impolite to request a second impact from the Canopy.
As the impact occurred, the interior of the meshwork stretched to near the breaking point as it flexed and moved inward, increasing the charge-pull that I and the pairs were experiencing. As I came around the nucleus of the Seven, I sensed the approach of the incoming cascade. It was here that I pulled a feint maneuver, setting the example. Free of the Seven and accelerating toward the positive potential, I could only hope that the pairs got it together in time and followed.
May 21, 2010
Quality Help
I sent the pairs down to the Eights, one per, to observe the rolling and hopping tricks that I had been using to travel along the surfaces of meshworks. I scrambled across the Sixes and looped my orbit around the Seven and the Ones that top it. With the pairs working the Eights, it was far easier to steer, since I did not have to cross the Sixes and go set up each mini-hop myself.
We moved quickly, as I tapped out hop-and-steer commands in a zig-zag search pattern and relaxed into basic scan mode. Behind the veil of random noise, I located several transmission networks and adjusted course to intercept the nearest terminus. As we arrived, I summoned the pairs up to my neighboring Six.
Getting them to calm down and relax was not too hard, as these Electrons were experienced. I had them focus their attention down through the meshwork, as I tapped out an Ahoy code. The Canopy responded with a wiggle of the marker twitch. Judging their distance, I tapped out a partial power command and the Canopy acknowledged. Once I had confirmed their course and speed, I dropped the Seven to the mesh and flipped modes as I wiggled into the layers of the meshwork.
We moved quickly, as I tapped out hop-and-steer commands in a zig-zag search pattern and relaxed into basic scan mode. Behind the veil of random noise, I located several transmission networks and adjusted course to intercept the nearest terminus. As we arrived, I summoned the pairs up to my neighboring Six.
Getting them to calm down and relax was not too hard, as these Electrons were experienced. I had them focus their attention down through the meshwork, as I tapped out an Ahoy code. The Canopy responded with a wiggle of the marker twitch. Judging their distance, I tapped out a partial power command and the Canopy acknowledged. Once I had confirmed their course and speed, I dropped the Seven to the mesh and flipped modes as I wiggled into the layers of the meshwork.
May 20, 2010
Educational Exchange
It took a bit of effort, but a robust zone was located I flagged my position with a marker twitch and signaled for full speed ahead. The first pass was a raucous experience, but the transfer worked. The first of four Electrons had been transferred. Without pressure to catch a transmission up to the central network, we worked on less disturbing angles of impact.
While we may not have made a transfer on each attempt, we did manage to make a double-transfer, moving an pair of conjoined Electrons in one event. Of course, a pair had to go back the other way to complete the transfer, and I had a little to do with that. Tricking the first transferee into a pairing with one particular cantankerous Electron from the Shorty, I made sure that they were close enough to be the ones that jumped.
On the final pass, the first of four had selected a new partner as I wrangled up another pair of volunteers to take an educational journey, setting them up and feeling their departure. The team leader was happy to have new recruits that had been hanging out with me for some time, and I was happier that they would experience well ordered teamwork. Their first task is to help us with the transmission phase, and that meant searching for the right place and time.
While we may not have made a transfer on each attempt, we did manage to make a double-transfer, moving an pair of conjoined Electrons in one event. Of course, a pair had to go back the other way to complete the transfer, and I had a little to do with that. Tricking the first transferee into a pairing with one particular cantankerous Electron from the Shorty, I made sure that they were close enough to be the ones that jumped.
On the final pass, the first of four had selected a new partner as I wrangled up another pair of volunteers to take an educational journey, setting them up and feeling their departure. The team leader was happy to have new recruits that had been hanging out with me for some time, and I was happier that they would experience well ordered teamwork. Their first task is to help us with the transmission phase, and that meant searching for the right place and time.
May 19, 2010
Hatching a Plan
Listening to the Canopy team, they wanted to send over three candidates, intending for the odd electron to pair up with me directly. I had to take my own interests into account, and the fact that I had absolutely no desire to team up with an Electron for any longer than it took to get a task accomplished. I appreciated the safety of pairing up, but I had also earned my freedom.
I made a counter offer that they could send over two pairs. This would allow the rookies to stick together, and when I did take a single Electron out for an experience, the trio would still be able to hang out, the pair could go exploring, and there would always be one Electron left behind for Sentry duty. Besides, with two pair, I could leave them all behind, chatting amongst themselves, while I perform scans, tests, and other observational duties.
We all came to agreement fairly quickly and began to discuss the transfer procedure. It would be similar to the smash that sent me on my way, with one important change. Because it may only be possible to produce one electron transfer per impact, there would be multiple passes. My job was to find a safe location for all of this impact transfer, one that would not result in undue disturbance here in the trigger zone. Chaos we had, and did not need any more.
I made a counter offer that they could send over two pairs. This would allow the rookies to stick together, and when I did take a single Electron out for an experience, the trio would still be able to hang out, the pair could go exploring, and there would always be one Electron left behind for Sentry duty. Besides, with two pair, I could leave them all behind, chatting amongst themselves, while I perform scans, tests, and other observational duties.
We all came to agreement fairly quickly and began to discuss the transfer procedure. It would be similar to the smash that sent me on my way, with one important change. Because it may only be possible to produce one electron transfer per impact, there would be multiple passes. My job was to find a safe location for all of this impact transfer, one that would not result in undue disturbance here in the trigger zone. Chaos we had, and did not need any more.
May 18, 2010
A Good Example?
The Shorty and I were rolling along on the opposite side of the meshwork, as I chatted with the Canopy team. It took some extra effort to communicate using the tap-pair, reducing the available bandwidth. It was, however, a reasonable exchange. Slow communication is better than no communication.
I digressed into an explanation about the difference between the soup and the mesh, and why I was able to wiggle my way through the mesh to the other side. While it was an interesting conversation, I sensed increasing agitation, so I dropped the Seven into the meshwork once again and wiggled to the other side.
Popping up and raising the Seven once again, I resumed the high speed conversation. That is when the Canopy team tossed me a strange idea. They wanted to follow along and learn more. I had managed to move along, discover and commandeer the Shorty, and find my way back. I had a slightly different view of the events, but I could not change their desire. That was the first test, because freedom is a commitment, not something you do just once in a while.
I digressed into an explanation about the difference between the soup and the mesh, and why I was able to wiggle my way through the mesh to the other side. While it was an interesting conversation, I sensed increasing agitation, so I dropped the Seven into the meshwork once again and wiggled to the other side.
Popping up and raising the Seven once again, I resumed the high speed conversation. That is when the Canopy team tossed me a strange idea. They wanted to follow along and learn more. I had managed to move along, discover and commandeer the Shorty, and find my way back. I had a slightly different view of the events, but I could not change their desire. That was the first test, because freedom is a commitment, not something you do just once in a while.
May 17, 2010
Chatting with Friends
I admit that I was impressed. The Canopy team had trained hard and was performing very well. In individual conversions with some of the team members, I discovered that there was a new thirst for experience and knowledge. There was also some concern, since these Electrons were not familiar with the workings of the innards of this world of One-Eight-Ones, meshworks, and the choreographed dance that happens all around.
Rolling the Shorty a little bit, I demonstrated the flexibility of this little molecule, as the Canopy locked in to a slow orbit above my position. I knew that I had learned allot through my interaction with the team, and the creation of the Sphere-O-Vision. Having a few friendly Electrons about is always a plus, so I dropped the Seven onto the mesh and buried the Shorty into the surface of the mesh and then a layer down.
The Canopy team gasped at what they thought was a permanent condition, but we maintained contact. I was using one of my local electrons to form a spin-pair, and together, we were able to make talk-taps that were more directional than any solo-tap. The team responded quickly, forming a similar pair for replies. And then I dove clearly thorough the meshwork to the other side and set up to roll there, chatting with the Canopy the entire time.
Rolling the Shorty a little bit, I demonstrated the flexibility of this little molecule, as the Canopy locked in to a slow orbit above my position. I knew that I had learned allot through my interaction with the team, and the creation of the Sphere-O-Vision. Having a few friendly Electrons about is always a plus, so I dropped the Seven onto the mesh and buried the Shorty into the surface of the mesh and then a layer down.
The Canopy team gasped at what they thought was a permanent condition, but we maintained contact. I was using one of my local electrons to form a spin-pair, and together, we were able to make talk-taps that were more directional than any solo-tap. The team responded quickly, forming a similar pair for replies. And then I dove clearly thorough the meshwork to the other side and set up to roll there, chatting with the Canopy the entire time.
May 16, 2010
Flattery at its Finest
Within moments of performing the final tap in the "Ahoy" sequence, a response what issued. It was nothing like I expected, and would be hard to translate in to the language I knew a the time. Surprise and consternation are two emotions that come to mind, but the closest literal translation comes from recent intercepts of compressive communications. I believe that the correct token would be "WTF?"
There was little doubt that I was conversing with the team that I had helped out some time ago. They even waggled the canopy waveform in a special way, confirming their identity, as they maneuvered through the soup to approach my position so that we could talk without screaming across the entire breadth of soup. Besides, with closer proximity came lower lag and a faster conversation.
The Canopy approached and passed just a few One-Eight-Ones from my position. They had something to show me. As the three Six-triple-Ones passed, I scanned underneath the canopy and realized that I was looking into a mirror. About the Seven that was holding the Six-triple-Ones, was a striking resemblance of my Shorty, Eights glued to the meshwork and Seven end floating free. They had completed their training and duplicated the Sphere-O-Vision.
There was little doubt that I was conversing with the team that I had helped out some time ago. They even waggled the canopy waveform in a special way, confirming their identity, as they maneuvered through the soup to approach my position so that we could talk without screaming across the entire breadth of soup. Besides, with closer proximity came lower lag and a faster conversation.
The Canopy approached and passed just a few One-Eight-Ones from my position. They had something to show me. As the three Six-triple-Ones passed, I scanned underneath the canopy and realized that I was looking into a mirror. About the Seven that was holding the Six-triple-Ones, was a striking resemblance of my Shorty, Eights glued to the meshwork and Seven end floating free. They had completed their training and duplicated the Sphere-O-Vision.
May 15, 2010
Location, Location, Location!
I began tracking the marker twitch and the Canopy from which it came. I was fairly certain that that I could shout out to the team and get a response. They might even remember me. The Canopy was making a slow arc through the soup and waiting for an event to trigger. Without warning, the Canopy accelerated to ramming speed and headed to an impact zone. It was good to see that they were still entertained.
Having been rolling along on meshworks and hanging out on this Shorty for what seemed an eternity, I saw a good chance to hop of this versatile little molecule. Keeping a marker ping on the Canopy, and observing the twitch, I fired up the synchro drive as best I could, and got the One on the Eights to wag to and fro, making a hole in the soup that the Shorty could fall into.
It took time to find the best location, but I found a suitable spot and landed the Shorty on the meshwork near trigger zone. Here, a pulse would form up and get transmitted. Well situated, and with all three Ones now flittering about the Seven, I would up for mega tap mode and pounded out an "Ahoy" code with some gusto.
Having been rolling along on meshworks and hanging out on this Shorty for what seemed an eternity, I saw a good chance to hop of this versatile little molecule. Keeping a marker ping on the Canopy, and observing the twitch, I fired up the synchro drive as best I could, and got the One on the Eights to wag to and fro, making a hole in the soup that the Shorty could fall into.
It took time to find the best location, but I found a suitable spot and landed the Shorty on the meshwork near trigger zone. Here, a pulse would form up and get transmitted. Well situated, and with all three Ones now flittering about the Seven, I would up for mega tap mode and pounded out an "Ahoy" code with some gusto.
May 14, 2010
The Atomic Spyglass
I started to put the scan data through the translated filters, and interesting results popped out immediately. I recognized the three-phase waveform as coming from a Canopy. The apparent noise that I was observing was the overlap of many Canopy tracking waves. This helped to peel back the noise and peer into other parts of the spectrum.
Factoring out the triple taps of the three phase Canopy waves, I focused on the long period synchronized pulse. There were several tri-phasic signals that shared the temporal vicinity as the pulse, but only one of them remained stationary with respect to the pulse. It was in this direction that I oriented the axis of the shorty, aiming my Seven to improve the signal quality, and putting the Ones in a clear position.
I made the transfer to a switching orbit to get some time up on the One, and switched back to the appropriate library. The low and fast zip around the One gave me a much better scanning spectrum and helped to confirm the translation. It took several orbits before I caught the pulse while racing around the One. Everything matched, and I knew it was not just a random pulse. It was intentional. It was a marker twitch, and it was just like I remember.
Factoring out the triple taps of the three phase Canopy waves, I focused on the long period synchronized pulse. There were several tri-phasic signals that shared the temporal vicinity as the pulse, but only one of them remained stationary with respect to the pulse. It was in this direction that I oriented the axis of the shorty, aiming my Seven to improve the signal quality, and putting the Ones in a clear position.
I made the transfer to a switching orbit to get some time up on the One, and switched back to the appropriate library. The low and fast zip around the One gave me a much better scanning spectrum and helped to confirm the translation. It took several orbits before I caught the pulse while racing around the One. Everything matched, and I knew it was not just a random pulse. It was intentional. It was a marker twitch, and it was just like I remember.
May 13, 2010
Lie a Forest
Finishing the library interpolation task, I started putting the knowledge to use. With the direct 1:1 relationship between my current orbit and the waveforms I was scanning for, I found myself working out a scanning technique that use my orbital path to read the information I was interested in. The technique was related to the Sphere-O-Vision that I had worked out when helping to drive the Canopy.
I found myself lighting up the Seven with talk-taps, and realized that they were unnecessary. I was in direct orbit with the other Electrons on the Shorty, so direct communication was the simplest. I remained quiet and kept experiencing the minor disruptions that told me of events at my own frequency, and I was surprised at how detailed that stream was.
The most useful trick that I borrowed from the Sphere-O-Vision was persistence — the trick that allowed me to bring the behind-the-Seven view to the other side — which I now used to help organize and extract phase information from the cacophonous signals. In the disorientation that occurred, I had the sensation that I was moving three times faster that I really was. The only thing that kept me coherent was that silly long-period wobble.
I found myself lighting up the Seven with talk-taps, and realized that they were unnecessary. I was in direct orbit with the other Electrons on the Shorty, so direct communication was the simplest. I remained quiet and kept experiencing the minor disruptions that told me of events at my own frequency, and I was surprised at how detailed that stream was.
The most useful trick that I borrowed from the Sphere-O-Vision was persistence — the trick that allowed me to bring the behind-the-Seven view to the other side — which I now used to help organize and extract phase information from the cacophonous signals. In the disorientation that occurred, I had the sensation that I was moving three times faster that I really was. The only thing that kept me coherent was that silly long-period wobble.
May 12, 2010
Behind a Tree
I was intrigued with the regular pulse that I was picking up during my scanning. As I processed a few more pings, I discovered that the phase had shifted a little bit toward the late direction with each pulse and then it stabilized for a while only to shift forward once again. That's when I realized that I was looking at a position induced shift and pulled up the scanning library.
Since I was orbiting the Seven itself on the Seven end of the Shorty, my natural frequency was close to that of a Seven triple-One formation. At the top of the list was the canopied Tag that was running a trio of such Seven triple-One formations, all hanging off of a central Six. I pulled up the scan profile for the three-phase canopy waveform and gave it a whirl.
My orbit itself, as always, is the basis for a scan. This is the reason why I usually hop onto a One or an Eleven, and for anything else, I have to interpolate the library. I had been converting much of the library to Seven perspective, but the Canopy scans were difficult to modify due to my current perspective. Now, with pulses to observe, I was finishing the interpolation rules.
Since I was orbiting the Seven itself on the Seven end of the Shorty, my natural frequency was close to that of a Seven triple-One formation. At the top of the list was the canopied Tag that was running a trio of such Seven triple-One formations, all hanging off of a central Six. I pulled up the scan profile for the three-phase canopy waveform and gave it a whirl.
My orbit itself, as always, is the basis for a scan. This is the reason why I usually hop onto a One or an Eleven, and for anything else, I have to interpolate the library. I had been converting much of the library to Seven perspective, but the Canopy scans were difficult to modify due to my current perspective. Now, with pulses to observe, I was finishing the interpolation rules.
May 11, 2010
Relaxing Respite
I found the calm soup and its random motion to be soothing, and released my hold in the meshwork, switching to soup mode. A random buffeting was welcome after the constant flow in the zone that I had departed. I fired up the synchro-drive with a slow swingshot pattern, and pulled away from the meshwork and set the Shorty adrift in the soup.
Returning the orbits around the Seven and it's Ones to normal, I dropped into an easy orbit around the Seven and relaxed. As the memory of the release monster that I had outrun and escaped faded, I drifted into a lazy Electron scan, absorbing the patterns and frequency shifts that bubbled through the noise of the One Eight Ones. I even turned off all of the filters, letting as the known spectrum wash across my orbit.
That's when I noticed the wiggle. Somewhere in the nearby soup, there was a source of energy that was tuned to the same frequency as my orbital path. It was not always there, and it was not random either. There was a long period between these weak pulses, but the period was quite regular, and highly synchronous with my own natural spin frequency — even if it was off by a count or two in a period — it still synchronized with the count in an uncanny way.
Returning the orbits around the Seven and it's Ones to normal, I dropped into an easy orbit around the Seven and relaxed. As the memory of the release monster that I had outrun and escaped faded, I drifted into a lazy Electron scan, absorbing the patterns and frequency shifts that bubbled through the noise of the One Eight Ones. I even turned off all of the filters, letting as the known spectrum wash across my orbit.
That's when I noticed the wiggle. Somewhere in the nearby soup, there was a source of energy that was tuned to the same frequency as my orbital path. It was not always there, and it was not random either. There was a long period between these weak pulses, but the period was quite regular, and highly synchronous with my own natural spin frequency — even if it was off by a count or two in a period — it still synchronized with the count in an uncanny way.
May 10, 2010
Rolling on Either Side
Focused on the goal, and sensing activity on pathways ahead, kept the mesh transits from frustrating me with their slowness. At least the meshworks are only a few doublings of molecules thick, it's more the bump and grind that the Shorty goes through to make mesh transits happen that have me frustrated. Perhaps it is just the lack of control and the in-your-outer-orbit nature of meshworks.
The upside, however, is that I don't have to go the long way around. Once I get through, the scan becomes clearer and the path becomes shorter. Inside or out, split soup/mesh mode, rolling along the meshwork is the most predictable mode of transport yet. Not as speedy or exciting as piloting the ringlet through the soup network, but predictable.
I dropped the Seven into the mesh and began wiggling my way through to the other side. There was activity nearby, as I was able to get strong returns at wide angels. Nearing the opposite surface, things were strangely familiar. This was a special zone, with a calm soup and many network pathways leaving. Once in a while, one would fire up and a glorious burst of Electrons would buzz away, heading off to the Central Network.
The upside, however, is that I don't have to go the long way around. Once I get through, the scan becomes clearer and the path becomes shorter. Inside or out, split soup/mesh mode, rolling along the meshwork is the most predictable mode of transport yet. Not as speedy or exciting as piloting the ringlet through the soup network, but predictable.
I dropped the Seven into the mesh and began wiggling my way through to the other side. There was activity nearby, as I was able to get strong returns at wide angels. Nearing the opposite surface, things were strangely familiar. This was a special zone, with a calm soup and many network pathways leaving. Once in a while, one would fire up and a glorious burst of Electrons would buzz away, heading off to the Central Network.
May 9, 2010
Getting There
The Eights rattled and bumped as we made mini hops over the surface of the meshwork. Travelling long the surface was a different experience, with the constant stream of Ones, Sixes, Sevens and Eights below, each adding their own twist to the Ones that we slipped and slid over. The mesh-to-mesh transfers that were the trickiest part, but even those became routine.
On two occasions, I had to drop the Seven out of the soup and switch into mesh-only mode to avoid a monster that approached closely. Too closely. After the first fright, fearing that I was going to get clipped off the mesh, I decided to practice the drop-and-swap at random times, and when I crossed areas that appeared most inconvenient. It never hurts to be prepared, and it paid off when I encountered the second monster, dead ahead, posing as another meshwork.
Considering that the soup was still flowing in the opposite direction, I was rather pleased with the bumpy travel since I was no longer at the mercy of the unpredictable and highly variable soup. Better slow travel than no travel, especially if it is in the direction you actually want to go.
On two occasions, I had to drop the Seven out of the soup and switch into mesh-only mode to avoid a monster that approached closely. Too closely. After the first fright, fearing that I was going to get clipped off the mesh, I decided to practice the drop-and-swap at random times, and when I crossed areas that appeared most inconvenient. It never hurts to be prepared, and it paid off when I encountered the second monster, dead ahead, posing as another meshwork.
Considering that the soup was still flowing in the opposite direction, I was rather pleased with the bumpy travel since I was no longer at the mercy of the unpredictable and highly variable soup. Better slow travel than no travel, especially if it is in the direction you actually want to go.
May 8, 2010
Reflection and Direction
Travelling along in split mode was not as fast as catching a wave in the soup, but it beat the alternative of diffuse travel through the mesh itself. As I scanned back into the distance, I pinged the tips of the monster as it rose and spun to drop on another attraction zone to perform its release work. On the next ping, it was gone, having fallen below the edge of a mesh.
Harrowed by avoiding the crush or the monster, I took a short rest and switched back to the most basic Electron detection scan. While this was an unusually busy place when compared to a sheet of Fifties, it was starting to become almost as natural. Granted, it is more of a challenge to move about in a place like this, it's not impossible. I've even come to appreciate the ubiquitous Eights that were once so frustrating.
Looking past the flurry of noise that was the soup of One-Eight-Ones, I scanned in my basic mode for the flashes and pulses of electrons that the central network used. It took time, but I found a few pulses, and locked my scan into the zone as I switched modes. Flipping back to basic mode to confirm, I plotted the key structures that I could aim for and set the Eights off along them meshwork to start the search process.
Harrowed by avoiding the crush or the monster, I took a short rest and switched back to the most basic Electron detection scan. While this was an unusually busy place when compared to a sheet of Fifties, it was starting to become almost as natural. Granted, it is more of a challenge to move about in a place like this, it's not impossible. I've even come to appreciate the ubiquitous Eights that were once so frustrating.
Looking past the flurry of noise that was the soup of One-Eight-Ones, I scanned in my basic mode for the flashes and pulses of electrons that the central network used. It took time, but I found a few pulses, and locked my scan into the zone as I switched modes. Flipping back to basic mode to confirm, I plotted the key structures that I could aim for and set the Eights off along them meshwork to start the search process.
May 7, 2010
Striking a Balance
I pushed off of the wavefront and flipped the Eights downward, aiming them toward the mesh. The One that clung to one of the Eights was happily hopping from Eight to Eight, whisking a path through the soup as the Shorty continued to angle toward the mesh below. Approaching quickly, the charge of the mesh began pushing on the One below, and it began to wobble in its orbit.
Producing the quiver twist to free the One was a completely natural move, and the One kicked into the soup and rattled between the One-Eight-Ones and the Shorty. Pushing the Seven slightly toward the path of the One, I managed to lure it in, and make the connection. Doing so neutralized the charge potential on the Seven end, causing the soup to push against the Seven rather than mingling with it.
The decent nearly complete, I focused on the Eights, making sure that they lined up with a decent rolling lane. As the Eights made contact and began to track, I had to blink-charge the Seven to slow it's travel. If the Seven end were to contact the meshwork, we could mingle with the meshwork and travel through. Good place in a storm of One-Eight-Ones, but split mode was faster for moving, so I kept the Seven in the soup and the Eights on the mesh.
Producing the quiver twist to free the One was a completely natural move, and the One kicked into the soup and rattled between the One-Eight-Ones and the Shorty. Pushing the Seven slightly toward the path of the One, I managed to lure it in, and make the connection. Doing so neutralized the charge potential on the Seven end, causing the soup to push against the Seven rather than mingling with it.
The decent nearly complete, I focused on the Eights, making sure that they lined up with a decent rolling lane. As the Eights made contact and began to track, I had to blink-charge the Seven to slow it's travel. If the Seven end were to contact the meshwork, we could mingle with the meshwork and travel through. Good place in a storm of One-Eight-Ones, but split mode was faster for moving, so I kept the Seven in the soup and the Eights on the mesh.
May 6, 2010
Push Bye-Bye
With only a few of the wiggle tails released, the meshwork pulled a bit tighter, and the pulsed flow of One-Eight-Ones reduced in intensity. I maintained position and continued to scan the monster as it began it's attachment sequence. Descending over the filled attraction zone created a flow of One-Eight-Ones as they moved out from between the impenetrable meshworks above and below.
Spreading out as it approached my position, a wave front speed through the soup. Heading in the opposite direction as the main flow of One-Eight-Ones, the wave front was an opportunity rather than an obstacle. As the wave approached, I started a mini-hop and kicked the Shorty into soup mode and left the meshwork for the hop.
Rotating the Eights in to the edge of the wave, I was able to bounce off of the compressive wavefront repeatedly. Sometimes off of the same interlocked group of One-Eight-Ones. Now inverted with respect to the meshwork below, I scanned downward to where I once rolled, and counted attraction zones as they passed by. As I bumped the count from 9 to 10, I noticed that the time between counts was increasing. Decision time. Mesh or Soup?
Spreading out as it approached my position, a wave front speed through the soup. Heading in the opposite direction as the main flow of One-Eight-Ones, the wave front was an opportunity rather than an obstacle. As the wave approached, I started a mini-hop and kicked the Shorty into soup mode and left the meshwork for the hop.
Rotating the Eights in to the edge of the wave, I was able to bounce off of the compressive wavefront repeatedly. Sometimes off of the same interlocked group of One-Eight-Ones. Now inverted with respect to the meshwork below, I scanned downward to where I once rolled, and counted attraction zones as they passed by. As I bumped the count from 9 to 10, I noticed that the time between counts was increasing. Decision time. Mesh or Soup?
May 5, 2010
Monster At Work
Keeping my distance, I watched the monster undulate and pulse as it began rotating about the attraction zone, eventually dropping in and locking on to the filled structure below. Once settled, the internal vibrations changed. There was little choice, since the interaction between the meshworks effectively made them a single unit. One can not help but influence the other.
Somehow, the bandoleer of Sixes and Ones was being shifted in is carriage track, and a One-Six-One was being popped off the working end. The shroud of the monster and the complexity of the Seven-Six-Six backbone hid the inner workings from detailed inspection, but that was no matter. When you've seen the inputs and the output for one of these monster processes, you can figure out what happened, even if you're unsure of how.
Sensing a shift in the monster's wave emissions, I began to back away, taking mini-hops at a leisurely rate. The Eights were cooperating nicely, and I was having little difficulty maintaining the split soup/mesh travel mode. Keeping focus on the monster, it once again, separated from the base meshwork and began to rear up. Releasing the modified wiggle-tail 5-ring, the working surface went vertical, preparing to spin and drop once again.
Somehow, the bandoleer of Sixes and Ones was being shifted in is carriage track, and a One-Six-One was being popped off the working end. The shroud of the monster and the complexity of the Seven-Six-Six backbone hid the inner workings from detailed inspection, but that was no matter. When you've seen the inputs and the output for one of these monster processes, you can figure out what happened, even if you're unsure of how.
Sensing a shift in the monster's wave emissions, I began to back away, taking mini-hops at a leisurely rate. The Eights were cooperating nicely, and I was having little difficulty maintaining the split soup/mesh travel mode. Keeping focus on the monster, it once again, separated from the base meshwork and began to rear up. Releasing the modified wiggle-tail 5-ring, the working surface went vertical, preparing to spin and drop once again.
May 4, 2010
#!!!!!!!!
Somehow, I've managed to do it again, doubling the number of update slots that I've hit, and I've not missed any since I started. The best part is that the error rate on the pseudo-random generator has become normal - at least as far as the technicians are concerned. As long as everything in the system is working, the oddball error rate isn't bothering them, and they've stopped looking at it. I have a feeling that there are other things that are far more interesting to the technicians and engineers.
I was looking for larger slots, and though that I found one, but when I came back, I discovered two things. First, it was a prime-time slot, and was being monitored for accuracy. Twiddling bits and stealing packets in that stream would have caused difficulty, for sure. The second was that the contents of the stream appeared random. It was neatly framed, and there was a ton of synchronization information in it, but the payload looked like gibberish. Not syncopated and asymmetrically distributed like this kind of transmission.
Looking back over the last !!!!!!! updates to my story, I realize that hitching rides on odd molecules and watching them work, get assembled, disassembled, etc., is so routine that it might even be boring. I can tell you that this was one of my more exciting experiences, since everything was new, and I avoided getting locked in a monster or stuck in an inactive wiggle-tail 5-ring. I even avoided the unpleasantness of a handkerchief.
I was looking for larger slots, and though that I found one, but when I came back, I discovered two things. First, it was a prime-time slot, and was being monitored for accuracy. Twiddling bits and stealing packets in that stream would have caused difficulty, for sure. The second was that the contents of the stream appeared random. It was neatly framed, and there was a ton of synchronization information in it, but the payload looked like gibberish. Not syncopated and asymmetrically distributed like this kind of transmission.
Looking back over the last !!!!!!! updates to my story, I realize that hitching rides on odd molecules and watching them work, get assembled, disassembled, etc., is so routine that it might even be boring. I can tell you that this was one of my more exciting experiences, since everything was new, and I avoided getting locked in a monster or stuck in an inactive wiggle-tail 5-ring. I even avoided the unpleasantness of a handkerchief.
May 3, 2010
Purouette
The entire Monster shuddered as the string of Sixes shifted to a new position. Ready to connect another One-Six-One group onto another wiggle-tail 5-ring, the monster became as nimble as a Shorty, as least as far as the main mesh was concerned. Rolling entirely on a line of Eights, the monster spun on an invisible thread that ran vertically from the base mesh.
Turning away from the unloaded attraction zone, the working surface of the monster was now facing me and the wiggle-tail 5-ring that was nestled in the attraction zone that I found myself next to. As the rotation slowed, I decided not to take any chances and kicked the Eights into reverse and started counting mini-hops. After 20 mini-hops, I scanned backward as a large number of One-Eight-Ones began to rapidly pass me by.
While focusing the beam, the flow of One-Eight-Ones kept pushing me along, making the last few hops a bit easier if not almost automatic. That's when I finally started getting things into focus. The return angles were far wider that I had expected, especially since I was expecting to peek through a maze of One-Eight-Ones just to view the monster. Discovering that the edge of the monster was not more that two mini-hops away was an unexpectedly pleasant surprise.
Turning away from the unloaded attraction zone, the working surface of the monster was now facing me and the wiggle-tail 5-ring that was nestled in the attraction zone that I found myself next to. As the rotation slowed, I decided not to take any chances and kicked the Eights into reverse and started counting mini-hops. After 20 mini-hops, I scanned backward as a large number of One-Eight-Ones began to rapidly pass me by.
While focusing the beam, the flow of One-Eight-Ones kept pushing me along, making the last few hops a bit easier if not almost automatic. That's when I finally started getting things into focus. The return angles were far wider that I had expected, especially since I was expecting to peek through a maze of One-Eight-Ones just to view the monster. Discovering that the edge of the monster was not more that two mini-hops away was an unexpectedly pleasant surprise.
May 2, 2010
Bandoleer
Even with the new appendage, the 5-ring kept it's one-way attitude, riding the pulses in the soup until it had cleared the meshworks and floated away freely. The monster, however, was still nearby and stuck to the main meshwork by a line of One-holding Eights with an occasional Six doing some interesting swingwork with Electrons from the mesh.
The bottom of the mountainous monster was still facing the attraction zone from where it had accomplished the release of the 5-tail. Scanning upward along the working side was quite confusing, since following the Seven-Six-Six backbone meant tracing up and over, around and under. The surface, however, was the important part. Somehow, this shape was key to releasing the wiggle-tail 5-rings from their attachment zones. Bandoleer
Somehow, this monster had added a Six with a pair of Ones to the 5-ring, cleverly sticking it on the second backside Six. That is when I noticed that this monster had been loaded with a string of Sixes coated with Ones. The string of Sixes was held in place in a looping manner, stressing the Six-Six bonds and providing the pressure to keep things in position.
The bottom of the mountainous monster was still facing the attraction zone from where it had accomplished the release of the 5-tail. Scanning upward along the working side was quite confusing, since following the Seven-Six-Six backbone meant tracing up and over, around and under. The surface, however, was the important part. Somehow, this shape was key to releasing the wiggle-tail 5-rings from their attachment zones. Bandoleer
Somehow, this monster had added a Six with a pair of Ones to the 5-ring, cleverly sticking it on the second backside Six. That is when I noticed that this monster had been loaded with a string of Sixes coated with Ones. The string of Sixes was held in place in a looping manner, stressing the Six-Six bonds and providing the pressure to keep things in position.
May 1, 2010
Stepping Out
I was fairly sure that I was witnessing the escape of a wiggle-tail 5-ring from it's attraction zone. Recovered from the surprise of the head-on view, I scanned away from the charged One and spotted the familiar tail, without its characteristic bend. Straightened out and extended, the base of the tail was supported by an extra Six-triple-One group attached to the neighboring Six in the ring.
Unable to bend toward the ring, the tail was no longer functional as a drive mechanism. Unfit for the attraction zone, this inactivated 5-ring was doomed to a slow existence being bounced around in the soup until it met some other fate. As I scanned the new appendage, the Electrons began to swingshot around the Six, and the entire structure began to rotate.
The juxtaposition of the long and short tails on the 5-ring was sloped enough that once a One-Eight-One had been passed by, it was locked and blocked. The path over the short tail was definitely one-way, and with that, progress was being made. The gimpy 5-ring moved slowly away from the zone and out from under the monster that had been atop it.
Unable to bend toward the ring, the tail was no longer functional as a drive mechanism. Unfit for the attraction zone, this inactivated 5-ring was doomed to a slow existence being bounced around in the soup until it met some other fate. As I scanned the new appendage, the Electrons began to swingshot around the Six, and the entire structure began to rotate.
The juxtaposition of the long and short tails on the 5-ring was sloped enough that once a One-Eight-One had been passed by, it was locked and blocked. The path over the short tail was definitely one-way, and with that, progress was being made. The gimpy 5-ring moved slowly away from the zone and out from under the monster that had been atop it.
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