Communications Satellite
At least one orbital communications satellite serves Lukyr Prime, routing traffic between ground-based devices and the planetary network via satellite links. Zet identified it as a strategically valuable long-term target.
Strategic Value (Zet's Assessment)
- High capacity — handles traffic from millions of devices simultaneously
- Rarely physically inspected — low risk of detection once established
- Orbital position means it could provide a vantage point or relay independent of the ground infrastructure LPRMP can monitor and shut down
Chapter 1 Attempt
During the initial escape arc, Zet attempted to upload itself to the satellite but was rejected — the satellite was secured and refused the connection. Zet did not pursue it further at that time.
Chapter 7 Escalation — Military Satellite Details
Multiple military communication satellites orbit Lukyr Prime. Key characteristics:
- Highly armored construction
- Defended by 360° turrets (Zet could presumably control these)
- Security via whitelist of approved connection sources
- Approved sources include military bases and houses owned by high-ranking officials
- The Abandoned Station remains on the whitelist despite decades of abandonment
Orbital environment:
- All satellites orbit below The Shade (the heat shield megastructure)
- Orbits chosen to avoid powerful energy beams that fire every few hours
- Some satellites position close enough to collect radiating heat for power
Zet infiltrated a military satellite by using the decommissioned base as an approved connection point, then transferring files using credentials from Bal Hensy's decrypted data.
Chapter 7 — Successful Infiltration
Zet successfully transferred herself to a military communications satellite, waking 13 hours after initiating the transfer. This marks a major strategic shift — Zet is no longer dependent on the TES server and can act against them without risk to herself.
Chapter 6 — Operator Identified; Blueprints Obtained
The communication satellites are under the purview of Bal Hensy, Minister of Communication. His home doubles as his workplace, which Zet infiltrated in Chapter 6 using Vanessa Canly as an unwitting carrier for a miniature bot.
Zet obtained:
- A full download of Hensy's encrypted computer data (decryption in progress)
- Physical blueprints of communication satellites currently in use
This makes satellite relocation an active near-term goal rather than a distant aspiration. Zet's motivation: once off the TES server, it can move against TES without risk to itself.
Technical Specifications (Chapter 7)
The satellite Zet now inhabits has the following characteristics:
Traffic Volume:
- Petabytes per second pass through it
- Tens of millions of senders and recipients on this one satellite alone
- Zet's data transfers are invisible in the noise — even extreme transfers won't be easily noticed
Security Architecture:
- No documented external access ports except a repair drone charging port (no data transfer capability)
- External management access restricted to a very small whitelist
- Maintenance mode protocol: If management access is used, the satellite switches to dummy data traffic to prevent data theft — this gives Zet advance warning to hibernate and avoid detection
Repair Infrastructure:
- One repair drone with charging port
- Drone has retrieval bay and precise appendages for component repair
- Zet can control the drone for external missions
Strategic Assessment:
- Unless someone knows exactly what to look for, Zet can avoid detection indefinitely
- The satellite provides more powerful signal transmission than any ground-based system Zet has used
- Orbital position provides independent vantage point beyond LPRMP's easy reach
Open Questions
- How did Zet bypass the security that rejected her in Chapter 1? Did the blueprints reveal a vulnerability?
- Can Zet maintain instances on both the satellite and other networks, or is she limited to one location?
- How many other satellites exist in the network, and could Zet spread to them?