I'll advocatre the nano-tech solution to what form it takes. It will resemble the biotech goop to a very reasonable degree, and yet still retain mechanized aspects. I.E.: the guy who shoved some into his laptop's battery slot? It suddenly takes on the shape of the battery that fits in there.
As for replication, that can be easy. Feed it more than it needs to maintain. The Nano's will go nuts and replicate like crazy until you got enough to spare to a friend. That said, we need something to feed these things that, while not so common place that they'd take over the planet inside a week, is quite obtainable.
Also, this can support the "What if somebody eats it?" notion. I'd imagine that it would either give a person a SINGLE special ability or perform ONE major change/transformation to said person. Either would depend highly upon said person's most heartfelt desires.
I agree with the three hard limitations you stated, Fnord. Sounds right to me. Besides, I figure that the light barrier can be circumvented some way within scientific reason. There's always hyperspace or whatever form of extra-dimensional FTL transit - this seems to be the favorite in sci-fi communities.
Black Aeronaut Technologies Group
Aerospace Solutions for the discerning spacer
"To the commissary we should go," Yoda declared firmly. "News
of this kind a danish requires."
As for replication, that can be easy. Feed it more than it needs to maintain. The Nano's will go nuts and replicate like crazy until you got enough to spare to a friend. That said, we need something to feed these things that, while not so common place that they'd take over the planet inside a week, is quite obtainable.
Also, this can support the "What if somebody eats it?" notion. I'd imagine that it would either give a person a SINGLE special ability or perform ONE major change/transformation to said person. Either would depend highly upon said person's most heartfelt desires.
I agree with the three hard limitations you stated, Fnord. Sounds right to me. Besides, I figure that the light barrier can be circumvented some way within scientific reason. There's always hyperspace or whatever form of extra-dimensional FTL transit - this seems to be the favorite in sci-fi communities.
Black Aeronaut Technologies Group
Aerospace Solutions for the discerning spacer
"To the commissary we should go," Yoda declared firmly. "News
of this kind a danish requires."