And then they need Singularity volunteers to do the same thing, and -?

The ansibles: work.

How convenient!

They can head back to the capital to tell the Empress that dreamshaped communication devices do something very useful and will likely be very much in demand.

Oh, good. Have they checked if it's a feature of dreamshaping in general or that particular dreamshaper?

They've just checked the one person; they can check a batch if there're lots of people with things that might do it.

There are.

Cool! They'll check a batch at everyone's convenience, then.

Everyone's convenience can be in a few hours or tomorrow depending on how large a batch he wants.

"We'll wait for tomorrow, the testing process is a bit involved."

In that case she will pull together a fairly large group of dreamshapers who have communication magic.

And they'll go run the same test again!

Some of the communication methods pass the test; some do not.

He returns to the empress with a list. "These are the ones that can be used to communicate directly with us no matter where we are. What are the main barriers to holding onto a dreamshaped object indefinitely, the need for sleep?"

It is actually possible to maintain a dreamshaped object while unconscious/asleep, the problem is that no one has infinite stamina and very few people have so much that holding an object spends energy slower than they recoup it.

That makes sense. "We're working on a technological solution to the distance problem, so it hopefully won't be relevant for too long. ...you can also contact us at any range by writing Cam, if an emergency arises."

She does not especially anticipate an emergency but then, you generally don't, that's definitely good to know.

"Neighborly relations all peaceful? We're not willing to hand out future weaponry - war gets very, very terrible - but we should probably figure out the best posture to deter wars if it's more complicated than 'if you get along with us we'll give you shiny new stuff.'" 

"Yes," she says, "it does. Relations aren't such that that would be on my top ten list of possible imminent disasters but yes, such a policy would likely be wise."

"Other kinds of disaster we can do more about. War - I don't want to throw our weight around or end up supplanting local dispute resolution mechanisms, but - when you die you just actually stop existing, doing that ever seems very close to unconscionable."

"People die anyway," she says, "so some things are worth dying sooner for. Not that most premises for wars qualify."

"We're working on that. Death, I mean."

"As in fighting old age or as in resurrection?"

"Both."