Editing TL:16-18

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[[TL:16-18]] or the “Extra High Technology Epoch,” is past the present interstellar age, and represents the cutting edge of un-mastered technologies that are extremely rare in [[Charted Space]] in [[1115]], which include true [[artificial intelligence]], affordable [[robot]]ic labor, and increasingly advanced [[FTL]] [[jump drive]]s.
* TL:16-18 tech is commonly known as High [[Stell-Tech]] or [[ExHi-Tech]] (Extremely High Technology).
* TL:16-18 [[sophont]]s are commonly known as meso-sophonts.

=== Library Data Referral Tree ===
Please refer to the following [[AAB]] [[Library Data]] for more information: <br> 
* [[Proto-Tech]]
** [[TL-0]] [[Found Tools Period]]
* [[Ur-Tech]]
** [[TL:1-3]] [[Tool Making Epoch]] 
** [[TL:4-6]] [[Division of Labor Epoch]]  
** [[TL:7-9]] [[Processor Epoch]] 
* [[Stell-Tech]]
** [[TL:10-12]] [[Gravitics Epoch]] 
** [[TL:13-15]] [[Biologicals Epoch]] 
** [[TL:16-18]] [[Artificials Epoch]] 
* [[Ultra-Tech]]
** [[TL:19-21]] [[Matter Transport Epoch]]
** [[TL:22-24]] [[Transformations Epoch]]
** [[TL:25-27]] [[Psionics Epoch]]
* [[Dei-Tech]]
** [[TL:28-30]] [[Trans-galactic Epoch]]
* [[Omni-Tech]]
** [[TL:31-33]] [[Pocket Universe Epoch]]
* [[Post-Technological Period]]
** [[Singularity]]
 
== Description ([[Specifications]]) ==
[[Robotics]] and [[Artificial Intelligence]] are two of the promising technologies believed to be reachable within this [[Tech Epoch|epoch]]. [[Artificial personhood]] and more advanced [[jump drive]]s promise to introduce new kinds of [[societies]], while making new frontiers more accessible including the viable colonization of multiple [[galactic arm]]s.

=== Communications ===
EDUCATION: No information yet available.

ENTERTAINMENT: No information yet available.

NEWS: A combination of more advanced [[pseudoreality communicator]]s and [[artificial personhood]] promises new kinds of breakthroughs for communications technologies. The [[Ansible]] is still not achievable, but ways to skirt those limits seem vastly more achievable.

=== Energy ===
LARGE SCALE POWER: Very large-scale [[antimatter]] research reactors are becoming more viable and less dangerous. [[Zero Point Energy]] (ZPE) reactors are in a very early experimental phase. The theory of ZPE is becoming better understood.

SMALL-SCALE POWER: No information yet available.

TRANSMISSION NETWORKS: No information yet available.

=== Transportation ===
LAND, SEA, AIR: Almost all surface craft on major technological worlds throughout [[Charted Space]] have been transitioning to grav platforms as the technology becomes affordable and available. [[Grav]] [[Speeder]]s become vastly more common, where they were once considered the luxury playthings of the rich and famous.

SPACE: The line between planetary and interplanetary [[gravcraft]] becomes increasingly blurred. [[G-Carrier]]s are still common, but more advanced gravcraft with longer endurance and greater thrusts are becoming more common. 

FTL: The [[Hop Drive]], which can cross tens of parsecs of astronomic distance is an exponential improvement over the early generation [[jump drive]]. While more advanced late generation jump drives can now broach nine [[parsec]]s, even the most early generation hop drive can cross a full ten parsecs. More advanced hop drives can cross tens of parsecs in distance.

EXOTIC: No information yet available.

=== Manufacturing ===
MANUFACTURING: [[Makertech]] reaches its apex and approaches 50% matter conversion efficiency. Some makertech modules can even exceed 50% conversion efficiency. Old-fashioned robotic manufacturing is still vastly more cost efficient at scale, but nothing can replace makertech in a pinch. [[Nanotech]] commercial products are increasingly penetrating the interstellar marketplace and becoming more available. Older taboos about nano-substances are beginning to fade with newer generations.

MATERIALS: No information yet available.

MACHINES: No information yet available.

=== Processors ===
COMPUTERS: Early [[artificial intelligence]] is expensive and still can’t match the heuristic and intuitive capabilities of a fully biological sophont brain. But it is true AI even if machine [[brain]]s cannot dream or experience emotions yet. They can certainly make qualified independent decisions. This technology greatly frightens many [[sophont]] [[societies]], who outright ban it in response. [[Robot]]s become self-aware and begin a process of replacing [[makertech]] laborers with an often unplanned transition to a [[post-scarcity economy]] imminent within a few generations as societies learn how to cope with a tremendous economic paradigm change. Many of the more capable minds create portable [[robot]]ic bodies for themselves to better participate in biological sophont societies. Some fear the [[technological singularity]].  

DATA STORAGE: No information yet available.

ROBOTICS: No information yet available.
 
=== Sociology ===
GOVERNMENT: Improved [[robot]]ic labor and [[artificial intelligence]] threaten the ‘’status quo’’ and many systems of centralized governance. Rule by [[supermind]]s seems possible for the most advanced [[societies]]. Many more traditional societies are fragmenting under the many pressures of TL:16-18 technologies. Many of the more capable minds create portable robotic bodies for themselves to better participate in biological sophont societies. Many sophonts fear the [[technological singularity]], which many see as the “end being near.”

POLITICAL ECONOMY: No information yet available.

CLIODYNAMICS: No information yet available. 

=== Trade ===
TRADE: No information yet available.

FINANCE: No information yet available.

SCIENCE: No information yet available.

=== Environment === 
STRUCTURES: Larger and larger spacebourne habitats become possible. Larger planets can harbor densely packed populations in the trillions and even quadrillions. [[Arcologies]] are becoming even more sophisticated and increasingly diverse sophont populations are learning to cohabitate. [[Artificial person]]s soon form a new kind of under society.

ENVIRONMENTS: No information yet available.

MEGASTRUCTURES: No information yet available.

=== Life Sciences ===
BIOLOGY: No information yet available.

MEDICINE: Brain transplants open up new possibilities and troublesome bioethics questions. Memory erasure becomes more exacting with the possibility of selective memories being erased. Intelligent antibodies almost completely eradicate disease. Advanced biological sciences seems to have no limits. If it can be damaged, it can be healed. Psychology and the sciences of the mind are becoming more advanced than ever before.

AGRICULTURE: No information yet available.
 
=== Martial ===
TACTICAL COMBAT: High-energy and gauss weaponry now rule the battlefields and spinal mounts reach their apex. Guided “Bright Munitions” supplement direct-fire energy weapons and increasingly effective defensive power and force fields become practical. White and [[Black Globe]]s are less enigmatic than they were to earlier generations, which once thought them not reproducible. Individualized infantry vehicles, or infantry pods, supplement [[battledress]] (power armor), and armed [[speeder]] [[gravcraft]] provide supportive fire in greater numbers than ever before.

SMALL ARMS: No information yet available.

PERSONAL ARMOR: No information yet available.

STRATEGIC COMBAT:
* Prototype [[Star Trigger]] technology

HEAVY ARMS: No information yet available.

HEAVY ARMOR: No information yet available.

== History & Background ([[Dossier]]) ==
The widespread availability of [[artificial person]]s, practical [[robot]]s, [[artificial intelligence]] in computers, and self-aware mechanisms replace [[sophont]]s in many to most non-creative activities. The much vaunted post-scarcity society is increasingly looking viable. This breakthrough holds the potential to radically transform the interstellar economy. Although this technology is still in its early phases. 
 
Post-Jump Drives provide an order of magnitude improvement on the foundational [[Jump Drive]]: Hop, Skip, Leap, Bound, Vault, and beyond with the potential of crossing the [[galaxy]] in mere hours. Only the [[hop drive]] actually becomes available within this epoch, but the promise of vastly more capable [[FTL]] engines seems theoretically achievable.

=== Alternate Nomenclature for this Technological Epoch ===
Terran historians have many names for this [[TL]] bracket including:
* [[TL-16]] [[Hop Drive Age]]: TBD
* [[TL-17]] [[Artificial Intelligence Age]]: TBD
* [[TL-18]] [[Post-Scarcity Age]]: TBD
  
==== Hallmark Technology-1: Advanced Artificial Intelligence ====
Previous iterations of artificial intelligence had not been very reliable or capable in contrast to what many consider the first true artificial intelligence, an intelligence capable of truly making independent decisions. AI still cannot experience dreaming, emotions, and make leaps of intuition, but it’s a huge step towards building practical robotics.

==== Hallmark Technology-2: Hopdrive ====
The [[Hopdrive]] makes it abundantly available that [[jump space]] contains many different layers and vastly more capable forms of [[FTL]] transportation are possible. [[Scientist]]s will continue to explore gradually more advanced FTL technologies until the end of time as we know it.

==== Hallmark Technology-3: Post-Scarcity Economies ====
With advanced robotics, makertech, and a plethora of other advances, even greater levels of material wealth can be achieved. Robotic labor threatens to replace sophontic labor causing great societal upheavals. Massive sophont unemployment forces governments to reexamine how value is evaluated within societies. Many societies rebel, outright banning or destroying [[machine mind]]s. A few choose biological alternatives, which can reach the same stage of development.

=== Representative Sophont Species ===
TL:16-18 sophont societies are rare within [[Charted Space]], but not unknown. The [[Darrian]]s were known to have established technical mastery around TL-16 before the [[Maghiz]] catastrophe. The [[Sabmiqys]] are also known to possess technology at or in advance of TL-16. There are lesser known examples from other sophonts. A few Imperial worlds are known to be nearing mastery of some TL-16 technologies, even if not across the entire spectrum of TL-16 standards. 

The following sophont species are known to possess technical mastery within these technological limits:
{{Sophont epochs|epoch={{PAGENAME}}}}

* [[Darrian]]s, also known as the [[Daryen]] 
* [[Sabmiqys]]

==== Major Races ====
All of the [[major race]]s are believed to be researching TL:16-18 [[technologies]] as of [[1105]]:
'''[[Big Nine]]:'''
* [[Aslan]]
* [[Droyne]]
* [[Hiver]]
* [[Humaniti]]
** [[Imperial Man]]
** [[Solomani]]
** [[Vilani]]
** [[Zhodani]]
* [[K'kree]]
* [[Vargr]]

== References & Contributors ([[Sources]]) ==
{{Intermediate}}
{{Detail}}
{{Sources
|S1= {{Ludography cite|name=Worlds and Adventures|page=14-15}}
|S2= {{Ludography cite|name=Referee's Companion|page=28-29}}
|S3= {{Ludography cite|name=World Builder's Handbook|page=}}
|S4= {{Ludography cite|name=Fire, Fusion, & Steel|page=7}}
|S5= {{Ludography cite|name=The Traveller's Handbook|page=378}}
|S6= {{Ludography cite|name=T5 Core Rules|page=502-507}}
|S7= [[Traveller Wiki Editorial Team]]
|S8= Author & Contributor: Lord (Marquis) and Master of Sophontology [[Maksim-Smelchak]] of the [[Ministry of Science]]
}}


[[Category: Science]]
[[Category: Technology]]
{{LEN|Technology Epoch}}