>Senario:
> Dr. Sigmund Starpuppy, noted Sophontologist, wishes to send a manuscript
> to his friend in a system 6 parsecs distant.
When you have a condition where the fastest mode of communication
is by hand you have a situation quite unlike our own. In fact it most
closely corresponds to the middle ages. Using that as a source one can draw
several posibilities.
Nobles and guilds had their own messengers. If they wanted something
sent, they sent it themselves, by their own servant. The cost of several
high-passages is certainly comparable to what was paid on trains of relay
horses. For those who would have gone the whole distance, but on one horse,
there is always low passage.
Those not of such high finances usually sought out a traveller who
was journeying towards where they wanted the message delivered. They would then
pay them to deliver the message when they reached their destination often
with the promise of further payment by the recipient. Far traders are excellent
choices.
In Traveller one can have further possibilities, the most notable
being the courier. An individual from a responsible company is entrusted
with the item and seeks passage to the destination. Cost? Well it will be at
least the middle passage fare to the destination (and back if a reply is
desired) plus the salary of the individual (500Cr). If security is a concern
just charge 500Cr per basic skill rank in what they require. If you want
someone with Streetwise-1 Handgun-2 that's a basic salary of 1500Cr.
Liners with fixed routes probably allocate a ton or two of cargo
to reserved mail. Costs would be based on the price for a ton of freight
divided by the volume and weight, a (probably hefty) handling charge and
of course, the cost of postage at the far end.
I assume X-boats don't necessarly use all their data space for
imperial intelligence and messages. The scouts can sell excess data space
to private customers on a standby basis (high mail vs middle mail?). Of course
no individual would wish to send sensitive information this way.
I wouldn't think there would be enough call for interstellar main to
justify an actual mail network (poni express notwithstanding) but as always
it depends on your actual universe...
Jo Jaquinta
[email removed]