Reticule

Not to be confused with Reticulum, the capitalized, planet‑spanning network of networks.

Definition

• In Proto-, Old-, and Middle Orth: a small bag or basket, netlike in its construction.
• In early Praxic Orth: a gridlike network of lines or fine wires on an optical device (an aiming or measuring pattern).
• In later Praxic and New Orth: two or more syntactic devices that are able to communicate with one another (i.e., a small network).

Context and Usage

• Conversationally, speakers sometimes use “reticule” to mean a private or ad hoc communication loop. An example is the joking idea of a “private reticule—like the Ita,” comparing a tight circle of exchanges to the way the Ita are said to coordinate.
• In present mathic speech, “reticule” often denotes a localized or small-scale network, while broader interconnections are discussed under “Reticulum.” Specific technical mechanisms are not described; devices such as a jeejah appear in communication contexts, but “reticule” refers to the linkage rather than any particular device.
• Joining and presence: in field use, a participant may say a voice command such as “Reticule scan,” receive a confirmation like “Network joined,” and then see presence ikons for others in range. Members can drop off when they drift out of range and rejoin automatically when back in range.
• Access control: participants can be explicitly locked out of a reticule when necessary (reported in dialogue during an operation), preventing them from hearing or being heard until re-admitted.
• Wired fallback: when radio silence is required, users have hard‑wired their suits together to maintain the reticule without using wireless. In that mode, suit‑to‑suit cabling carries local traffic; without being physically connected, a user cannot send or receive on that loop.
• Bridging: a local reticule can be bridged into the broader Reticulum by lashing up a relay with clear line of sight to Arbre. After such a bridge comes online, additional displays on handhelds such as a jeejah light up as Reticulum data begins to flow. The local reticule remains the small loop; the Reticulum carries world‑spanning traffic when available.

Related Terms

• Reticulum: uncapitalized, a reticule formed by interconnecting two or more smaller reticules; capitalized, the largest such network linking the preponderance of reticules. Sometimes abbreviated “Ret.”
• Avout: members of the mathic world among whom the term is used and discussed.
• Concent: the walled communities where mathic usage and discussions of reticules and the Reticulum commonly arise.

Notes

• Usage varies by era of Orth; the senses above reflect a historical shift from a physical container, to an optical pattern, to a communications concept.
• Technical details of how reticules operate are not specified in-text; descriptions focus on function and scope rather than implementation.