Haradath: Technology

Haradath space lifter

The nature of Haradath Technology

Haradath technology rests on two principal elements. The first is the straightforward mechanical and civil engineering as would be recognised by any race in the sector. Anything form building a wooden hulled sailing vessel, a space going hull hollowed from an asteroid, a building or a bridge. This element - engineering - is handled by the 'Thumper Clutch' - thumper being an early term of derision for a Haradath involved in this kind of manufacture, and deriving from the act of thumping metal, chiseling wood, etc into the required forms. 

Ceremonial Sky Yacht

What in other cultures might be considered energy engineering or electronics to dominated by the Chanter Clutch, and this is where Haradath technology becomes distinctive. Chanters maintain the ability to control and organise lower life forms from insects to small mammals, birds and aquatic life forms like fish. An example might be the control system for an airborne craft - volumes of cocooned insects passing pheromone signals back and forth at the command of a Chanter taking the place of electronics, rat like creatures called into service to scout out damaged systems via inspection ducts, or fish summoned to unblock a submersible hatch jammed with weed. Lift bladders attached to sky rafts are filled with lighter than air gas produced by methane generating worms, and lighting is provided by glow-spiders. Even reaction mass for space craft, or vehicle fuel is biological in origin, distilled from excretions of living creatures.

Chanters and Thumpers often work closely together, and this relationship works well on one proviso: the thumpers accept their inferior status in the hierarchy. This is largely acknowledged by thumpers, but as ever with the Haradath there are complexities. Outling thumper innovations have started to permeate Haradath technology, including a hybrid mechanical/biological 'bug-cell', a manufacturable component looking not unlike a fuse or plug. Inside, however, it contains living and sustained organic material, enough to replicate the biological function of a bug, but NOT the bug itself, rather a manufactured 'bio-logical analogue'. This undermines Chanter superiority, and may in time, lead to a shift in the comparative status of these two rival technological aptitudes.

Small Things - Haradath decorative object

In addition, there is also the 'Small Things Clutch' - an imprecise translation as no direct human word exists. the Small Things are responsible for the manufacture of small, domestic objects, from clothing, to interior fixtures and fittings, furniture and small arms. Small Things is seen as inferior to both Chanters and Thumpers - Small Things utilises both manufacturing and chanter skills in their work and so merge both the aptitudes of their more prestigious rivals. Haradath of the Small Things Clutch tend to be individuals who have been relegated from both Thumper and Chanter Clutches and so are seen as 'failures'. The truth, however, is that the work of the Small Things Clutch is often exquisite, detailed, and shows exceptional levels of craftsman ship. Few of the material works of the Haradath that have any export market amongst neighbouring humans, but most of what does is 'Small Things' work.