Table of Contents

Races | Technology

SHORTWAVE RADIO NETWORK OF THE EXOHUMANS

Overview

The Shortwave Radio Network is the backbone of Exohuman communication on VOI 700 D, developed and maintained by the Weber Communication Company (WCC). It became the primary means of long-distance communication, enabling settlement coordination, emergency response, trade, and public broadcasting as well as the weekly distribution of GAIA firmware and medical knowledge packets pressed by the New Kourou Shellac Corporation (NKSC) — later nationalized as the Federal Shellac Manufactory, after the settlers lost access to digital networks due to the crash of the Last Frontier.

Unlike Earth, where instantaneous quantum communication was the norm, the ExoHumans on VOI 700 D had no internet or satellite infrastructure, making shortwave radio the only viable alternative. This system played a crucial role in ensuring inter-settlement cooperation, allowing settlers to exchange vital information, security alerts, cultural content and the Kernel’s critical software updates for the Local Hubs of GAIA.

By the Gamma Age, the network was nationalized and heavily controlled by the Federal Confederation, restricting civilian use.

The Weber Communication Company

The Weber Communication Company (WCC) was a pioneer in ExoHuman communications, developing the first and only planetary-wide communication network following the crash. Klaus Weber, recognizing the absence of internet infrastructure, spearheaded efforts to build a long-range shortwave system that could operate without reliance on Quantum Fusion Batteries (QFBs). Instead, Weber assured the Settler’s Council that his team would develop a network powered by alternative energy sources such as:

While this design allowed ExoHumans to preserve QFBs for critical life-support systems, it also made the network susceptible to disruptions caused by storms, volcanic activity, and prolonged twilight conditions. Nonetheless, the deployment of the Shortwave Radio Network without tapping into the already scarce QFB reserves remains one of the greatest engineering feats of the Beta Age.

Development and Purpose

The Shortwave Radio Network was created to replace the planetary internet that settlers could not establish due to the crash of the Last Frontier. The Free State of Settlers attempted to restore digital infrastructure, but several barriers made it impossible:

As a result, ExoHumans turned to shortwave radio as the only feasible communication system.

Network Infrastructure

The Shortwave Radio Network was built around a decentralized relay system, ensuring reliable transmission across settlements.

1. Primary Relay Stations

Each settlement housed a primary relay station, responsible for amplifying and transmitting signals to remote areas.

2. Mount Atrana Communication Outpost

Located in the Atrana Mountains, the Mount Atrana Communication Outpost served as the primary signal amplifier, ensuring:

3. The Shortwave Communication Device (SWRWC)

The Weber Communication Company produced different models of the Shortwave Communication Device (SWRWC), commonly known as the Weber, tailored for different user groups.

GAIA Firmware & Knowledge Broadcasts

From the earliest days of the network, the GAIA Kernel in New Kourou piggy‑backed on WCC’s shortwave channels to keep its scattered Local Hubs alive.

During the Gamma Age, the process tightened:

Lifeline in the Dark: Even with no internet, the Shortwave Network ensured every GAIA node spoke the same language, keeping medicine databases, security protocols, and legal code in lock‑step across the planet.

Tactical Advice for Dungeon Masters

The Shortwave Network presents rich storytelling opportunities across different historical periods:

Beta Age (Frontier Survival & Exploration)

Gamma Age (Government Control & Resistance)

Relay Stations within the exohuman Society: