Explanation of photonic power technology in +700. In lieu of archaic, unresilient, and volatile electrical power delivery, Terra has since switched to the use of light instead, thanks to developments in antemir technology as well as a comprehensive government infrastructure retrofit programme.
Welcome to the light age.
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Runewuff
Law of Sci-Fi:
"Each ounce of unobtanium replaces 2 miles of impossible plumbing."
I like it. It's plausible enough given current research into materials, and certainly makes more sense than, say, Star Trek's electroplasma, (and its unfortunate tendency to "slosh" around the conduits whenever something goes wrong and explode out the first workstation that gets in its way.)