Nodeworks Interstellar Network

The Nodeworks Interstellar Network (Nodeworks, The Net) is a distributed communications network spanning throughout Order space. The system is designed for both traditional data access as well as full immersion via the ENSES human data interface. The net consists of tens of thousands of supercomputing nodes and millions of data processing subnodes.

The Net is home to quadrillions of OI and full time human users.

Nodeworks was originally created as a way of mitigating lag while transferring data between star systems. Limited to the speed of light, data clusters would send massive data packets via high powered laser transmission. Each star system had a 'node' supercomputing cluster which would be a clone of the master database in The Crucible. Individuals in the star system would access this node and have near instantaneous data access instead of needing to wait potentially years for information.

With the advent of gates, quantum bit flip systems, and WQP communications, Nodeworks now acts as a simulated real-time network throughout the entire Order. OIs, ENSES-humans, and Virtuals can transfer their avatar to a node closest to their desired data point without physically traveling there themselves. Users perceive data access and communications at near instantaneous speeds while in reality it could take minutes to hours for data to arrive.

Depending on the user's computing power and the available resources on the Net, users can perceive time at a decelerated scale compared to real time. Functionally, this allows users to experience thousands to hundreds of thousands of years in virtual reality in their natural lifespan. As computing power increases, this could allow individuals to experience virtual immortality.

Reality bound individuals can access the Net through standard data interfaces. These include personal computers, mobile devices, implanted devices, and gene-engineered T/R systems. However, in order to experience Nodeworks the same way its native citizens, humans require ENSES surgery. The ENSES suite facilitates interpretation between organic thought and electronic data.

OI naturally exist and function from within the Net. It could be said that OI manifest in our reality only through data interfaces and synthetic bodies, and their true forms exist only as data in nodes.

After the Second Virtual War, functional immortality became accessible to humanity as a whole. Using the Virtual Algorithm, individuals can safely be virtualized into Nodeworks. As of today, Virtuals make up 21% of the total Nodeworks population.

Using the time dilation effect, a certain section of the Net is used to punish and torture prisoners. This closed node specializes in isolating an individual's mind for up to millions of virtual years. Minor offenders can experience rehabilitation within minutes of real-time, while major offenders may be pushed to brain death.