Transportation-old
Contents
Ship Size-Type Information
There are three classifications of ship Size-Types.
- Small Intergalactic Ships (SIS)
- 5-10 Decks
- Medium Intergalactic Ships (MIS)
- 10-25 Decks
- Large Intergalactic Ships (LIS)
- 25-250 Decks
Other Types of Spatial Craft
- Shuttles
- 1-5 Decks
- Small Fighter Craft
- 1-2 Decks
- Maintenance Vehicles (Not generally suitable for Spatial Travel)
- 1-3 Decks
Faster than light flight
Expanded and Extended Physics: Faster than Light Flight and technologies that are based on the same core concepts.
The Anthropic Principle
To start to understand some of the expanded and extended physics of USI, its important to first look at what great minds have done today in the 21st century which have laid a groundwork for this, primarily the Anthropic Princple. My own definition is as such:
We observe the universe the way it is, because we are here to observe it as it is.
Somewhat cryptic but its fundamental. It explains that the universe is the way it is, and we as humans are able to observe it as such by the very nature that we are able to observe it! Stephen Hawking puts forth the example of a two-dimensional being, how its universe is different than ours even if we happen to literally exist in that same universe. Its very nature prohibits it from naturally comprehending the third axis in which we are traditional three-dimensional beings are able to exist on.
How does this effect physical space dimensions in the future? Well, the principle and the analogy used imply some features of physical space dimensions which I think are not new, but often not thought upon.
One is that physical space is not limited to three dimensions. In the same respect that our two-dimensional being can’t fathom that third dimension, yet we know there is, we have a harder time fathoming 4th or 5th or more additional physical dimensions. Our universe doesn’t appear to have them, because we are only able to natively (that is without the aid of technology) observe three of them. Now keep in mind that we are currently referring to additional physical dimensions. Not like dimensions that produce parallel worlds or the abstract dimension of time (often called the fourth-dimension), which has its own rules and is effected by a whole other set of rules.
Another is that Physical space is inherited, and hierarchal. This means as you increase your physical space dimensions, any descended dimension inherits its ancestor’s properties. Starting with our first known physical space, is the 1 Dimension, X. Additionally, add in the physical dimension of Y, and it also has properties of Y. Z contains all three. Now as to which one is really the first, second, or third is irrelevant as they themselves could all be considered a First dimension as separately they all share the same property of a linear flat physical space.
This means that it’s possible for objects to exist on limited separate physical space dimensions, but as they grow in complexity, they begin to become similar and share attributes. For example, the surface of the floor is 2-dimensional, and consists only of Length (x) and width (y). Any number of such 2d surfaces may occupy a particular 3d volume of space, some of which intersect (the floor and walls) and some of which do not (floor and ceiling). All of these surfaces are 2D, and physically share identical spatial properties (only an x and y dimension), but aside from this similarity, they might be strikingly different.
So if we begin to take our physical space dimensions and layer them, we being to form a higher complexity of our physical space universe in which we live in. And every time you add another layer of physical space dimensions, the new properties become inherited, and the linear formation is hierarchal. The first dimension does not inherit its descendant physical space dimension properties.
String Theory
There are many string theories in existence today. While I will confess that I don’t understand 90% of what is there, it was enough for me to formulate my own ideas in conjunction with my views on physical Space dimensions. As you may or may not have realized, there are in fact more than 3 physical space dimensions. The actual number could be infinite, or it could be much more simple such as 9, 12 or 15, as is often theorized *usually considered a number +1 to account for the abstract dimension of time, which may not even be a real dimension.
We do not natively observe strings due to the fact that while a complex object, they are not arranged in the same universe linear physical space dimension hierarchy as we do. They do however, exist on at least 2 dimension which leads us to be able to observe them through technology, if even if only on a passive observation level in the 21st century.
So what are strings? My theory is that they are the mass of the physical space universe as a whole (meaning all dimensions considered one). Just as it may be considered that mass is an actual dimension, making us more than just three-dimension creatures, physical space must have structure of some form. Gravity theories even provide direct mechanisms in which this physical structure is modified. This is why everything has a string attached to it, include physical space itself. Physical space in concept seams like an untouchable object, but through strings we find that we are able to.
Strings and their type exist on different physical space dimensions from themselves as well. Physical space strings are considered to be two dimensions above us in the physical space dimension diagram. Physical mass strings are considered to be only one higher, as they are intersected by physical space strings, and they intersect us. This may be also why planetary bodies themselves are able to affect this physical space dimension creating gravity effects. And of course, there is a theorized Meta-String, which exists higher and helps define further string mechanics. Other levels of string dimension may exist, but we have yet to explore and discover them.
Technology of the Future
These concepts discussed are the core basis of major technology required for the future. Faster than Light Flight, Instantaneous Communication, short range and long range spatial travel without the use of Intergalactic vessels are just some of the puzzled solved with careful observance of applications using these concepts.
Faster Than Light Flight
Faster than light flight is impossible as defined by Einstein’s famous equation E=MC^2, where our mass begins to become heavier as our velocity increases, requiring an exponential increase of energy the faster we go. This presents a problem with intergalactic travel being effective and exploring the universe even viable. With the ability to manipulate strings, and consequently manipulate the very physical structure of space just as gravity is able to do, we can reform space, fold it, and compress it to where we can cross large expanses of space as if it were really small distances and get from Point A to point B in a fraction of the time. Traveling through these space deformations would still require the use of normal sub-light speed mechanisms.
Observing a ship traveling in compressed space across folds would be like observing a stone being skipped across water, and watching it from the viewpoint of a fish.
Because of this, it’s also not necessary for each individual ship to generate space folds to create a spatial compression. A single ship may create the effect, and ships may follow behind or aside up to a maximum distance which would be based on the ships drive ability. For example, a larger ship could create a larger wake and ships would be more easily able to follow than a smaller ship.
Space folds could potentially interfere with each other while two independent ships travel that happen to intersect, but due to the nature of spatial folding and compression, they likely would literally fold around each other. But there is a possibility for a problem of exact intersection does happen to occur. This would require the pinnacle of folded space to be shared between both ships as that would be a common compression allowing both to possibly crash into each other.
This same method can be used to dock two ships that come to share a common compression although it would still require the usual sub-light procedure in order to conduct the docking maneuver.
Time Dilation is not a subject of concern when traveling through compressed space. When traveling through at Faster than light speeds, you really aren’t traveling through all of the compressed space. It’s considered compressed space because you’re taking space and bunching it up like an accordion. Ships are not traveling literally through the space as an entirety compressed, rather just across the peaks of the folded segments. So a ship never is in an actual space distortion except for some during entering and leaving a compression.
Space folds are created and a compression is created at a very high rate. Ships do not have the power to take a single string and compress so much space that it would be equivalent to traveling across the galaxy in a single jump. Successful spatial compression is done with a ship manipulating a series of strings, releasing and manipulating new ones as it travels across space, kind of like Tarzan swinging through the trees.
A ship may not also manipulate too many strings at a time as this would cause physical space tension and likely cause a stress on the FTL Drive, resulting in it being destroyed. In most cases, only enough strings to create successful spatial compression is used as it uses more energy to manipulate more strings, reducing the efficiency of a ships FTL drive unnecessarily.
Ships FTL Drives are also only able to fold and achieve spatial compression in a single direction. Part of this is that its impraticle to develop a drive with the ability to do so in more than one. A ship can only go a single direction to begin with, and the power requirement to sustain two compressions would be more than is worth it.
Space folding and compression cannot also be used as an effective offensive weapon; however it can be used defensively. Ability to use space compression and folding begins to diminish around large planetary bodies where their natural gravity already has manipulated space. The Expletuns and Preservers are known to fold space around a planet or system to protect it, and effectively hid it, but anything smaller would be near impossible. String structure is seen to not only change around larger planetary (or larger) bodies, but it becomes more difficult to manipulate smaller strings as they are already under strong effects. It would take an enormous amount of effort to get past this barrier.
Because of this, all current FTL capable transportation systems can only bring a ship to within 1 to 5 hours of a planetary orbit (depending on planetary mass and sub-light drive velocities). Planets particularly close to their sun will experience further delay, as the stellar gravity well must also be accounted for. It should also be noted that space stations do not typically generate gravity wells, and a station that is not in orbit around a planet would not entail such a delay between arriving in system, and arriving at the station.
The effects of the folds and compressed space are slight gravitational. Due to the small size of the folds to begin with, there isn’t much if any. There is also the possibility that the nature of the folds can actually increase structural stability of a ship while within a compression or a compression corridor (where the ship actually ends up traveling).
Combat within a corridor, fold, or the compression as a whole would react according the physics which are being imposed on. So in most cases, they would act normally. Shooting torpedo or missile from within a corridor to leave through not an exit or entry point would result in the projectile having an immediate change in its spatial state and location. The projectile is most likely going to end up in one of the space folds and either ‘ripple’ out or ‘ripple’ right back into the corridor itself. So it’s a variable that should be taken into consideration, and it will not help the shooter in any way, and most likely will hinder his success of the shot.
This technology as used for Intergalactic space ship travel is not a precision technology. As is noted by side effects caused by large bodies of mass (planets, suns, etc) it is impossible for a ship to maintain a compression and come out from within the atmosphere of such a body of mass. It would disrupt the compression and make it impossible for the ship to create folds. Likewise, it’s also possible for some areas of space to be impossible to create spatial folds and achieve compression for a variety of reasons; natural and technologically imposed are both possibilities.
Subcell technology is also a direct new advancement as a result of achieving space folding and compression. Compression drives do not have the ability to achieving the same effect of Subcells. A subcell is a fold of physical space on which the effect is a pocket of physical space enclosed about. You get the effect of a cloak as the infinite endpoints of the mouth of the pocket are drawn so close that its difficult to detect, and impossible to detect what is inside. A separate mechanism achieves this on Subcell ships, which are unique, replace and occupy a great portion of the internal ships systems.
The Inertia Problem
Its always been known that inertia is going to squish you flat if you accelerate or decelerate to quickly. The problem is actually solved using the same technology used to fold space and create compressions.
String Manipulation Fields.
With the case of the String folding drives (Compression Drives) the drive manipulates several strings at a time and uses those fold space. The strings are of a specific size on which are large enough to actually accomplish a spatial compression. Since we know that Gravity and Magnetism are actually just string manipulation of varying degrees, Inertia was overcome by using a level of string manipulation which essentially freezes or binds local strings of a type. IN this case, a String Manipulation Field (SMF) is used to avoid inertia altogether since the strings used for FTL are much much larger than the strings which a ship and its internal contents, people equipment, etc use.
This is also the same method to generate artificial gravity. Since SMF's are localized, several can be generated at once achieving several effects at the same time.
A secondary system called Inertial Compensator's are also employed, but are using energy redirection instead, like a spring. The energy caused by acceleration and deceleration are transfered using less complex string manipulation, but isn't field based, and are tuned for each ships string signature. This causes a minor indirect SMF reducing the forces of inertia directly on the ship and its occupants.
Travel Old
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Information might be antiquated and might be incorrect. |
Travel in the galaxy is performed among many methods. The most common way is sublight speeds. Most ships can only obtain sublight speeds upto approximately .5 light years due to technology restrictions before the ship must either reduce speed or break the light barrier; otherwise they will break apart.
When the light barrier is broken, the ship is automatically enveloped in a pocket of space, which keep the stress on the hull down, and protects the ship by warping smaller objects around it. Many people call this going to light speed and Warp, because of the warping nature of space which occures. On the technical aspect, it is merely called light speed or TransLight Velocity. Currenty no limit of light speed has been found, as most ships break apart after a certain limit due to stress on the hull. As with all things in the USI universe, a very delicate balance factor is applied when determining the max light speed of a ship.
Transspacial Conduits are another method of spacial travel. Given the observance that space bends ( as we observe with light speed and wormholes) then we also have come into contact with way of getting underneath the fabric of space. A ship can enter a transspacial conduit given correct technology, and go from point to point using sublight engines. While within the conduit, it has been found that you must use sublight engines as a pocket of space will not form around a ship to protect it from the stress of speed increase. Transspacial Conduits are another method of warping space around the ship. This too can be referred to warp, but is most commonly called TransConduit.
(Note: Transportation physics and underlying technologies are being redeveloped to be resleased shortly! Information on this page may be obsolete in near future. 11/07/2006.)
Sublight Types & Scale Engine Type / Engine Name
Speed Range
Notes Mag Pulse Drive 0 - .7LV A common form of Impulse. Design of ship will effect max speed. Rugged design, very easy to maintain. Often times is integrated with Mag Gravity Well as a single unit. Fusion Reactor 0 - .4LV Cheepest. Most Common form. Small impact of speed from design of ship Spacial Displacement 0 - .8LV Expensive. Potentially Dangerous as Spacial Displacement often times are uncontrollable. Easy to make transition to Translight Velocity. Partical Carrier 0 - .99LV Similar in design from the Soliton Drive. No Ship Design impact to Max Speed. Expensive to build. Easy to integrate into ship systems, very easy to damage. High Maintainance. Large Ships will tend to use these more as they are more powerful than the others.
Translight Types & Scale
Engine Type / Engine Name
Speed Range
Notes Mag Gravity Well 1LV- 6LV Most common among smaller ships and SFC (Small Fighter Craft). Rugged Design and very easy to maintain. Light Drive 1LV - 9LV Common form of LV by most the galaxy . Uses some similar theory to the Mag Gravity well by creating a large contained gravity well and using its properties for propulsion. The light drive takes the gravity well and pushes light through it by way of a particle Generator causing greater forces. The Disadvantage is that the light drive is somewhat larger than the simple MGW and has higher maintainance. A plus though is increased max speed. Soliton Matrix 1LV - 9.9 LV By taking the simple yet faster than light particle the Soliton, and generating large quantities, or waves of Solitons, and putting it through a Matrix of Crystals which catch them and causes propulsion. The Crystals, called Disc's within the Matrix, are tuned to either catch the solitons, redirect the direction, or simply ignore them to be recycled. Soliton Matrix Drives are unique to USI only. Sometimes takes a short time to build up larger waves. TransConduit
- Varies by length of the conduit in direct proportion to speed of impulse while traveling.
By burrowing into the fabric of space by way of Quantum Technologies, TransConduit is able to create a hole in space and enter to what is known as Transpacial Conduit. The Conduit distance is considerably shorter from point to point when dealing with large distances. TransConduit is almost always a Secondary method of Travel as in many shorter distance cases, standard Translight Velocity is quicker. Spacial Displacement 1LV - 8 LV Expensive. Potentially Dangerous as Spacial Displacement often times are uncontrollable. Partical Carrier 1LV - 9.5 LV Similar in design from the Soliton Drive. No Ship Design impact to Max Speed. Expensive to build. Easy to integrate into ship systems, very easy to damage. High Maintainance.
Translight Comparison Speed
A Translight Velocity Comparison Speed chart will be made available shortly. The chart will show some basic examples of the speed variation with near exact numbers ( at least near as can be calculated given the limited information on exact distances ). A visual chart will also be made available with visual comparison diagrams so you can " see " the differences of translight 1 vs Translight 8 and the size of a parsec vs a sector etc.
Note : The technology of the soliton matrix is one that is explored deeply in USI. For more information regarding it, please referre to the Technology database. More information will be added to the records as more definite ideas are created about each item.
Ships
As with many Science Fiction universes, space travel is a very unique and exciting thing. With new species around the bend and who knows what type of anomoly, its easy to get caught up with the mere subject of space and only space. Star Trek has at least 1/4 of their episodes revolving around spacial anomilies yet many of the greatest Science Fiction Classics mention spacial troubles to a small degree such as a astroid field. This proves that interesting stories can be made not only about people in space, but space itself.
Many types of ships exist within the USI Universe. The below graph will outline the types of ships most often used in USI, their speed ranges, and their uses within USI. Note that if a HUGE ship of 100 decks doesn't go TLV 9, its because of technological complicatoins. While the USI universe was created to give a writer an imagination to explore new possibilities, as the architect of the universe, I also felt that it had to have boundries.
Note That USI ships will have different data due to technology differences in the universe. This is based on a typical scenario using more ships than just USI based ships. A Seperate Graph will show the USI standard. Galactic Standard Ship Size (Class)
of Decks
Sublight / TransLight Engines
Speed Range
General Uses / Notes Small Fighter Craft (SFC)
1-2
Fusion / Mag Gravity Well
0 - .4LV / 1LV- 6LV Secondary Offensive / Defensive Role in combat engagement. Escort vessels. Are often times used as a Primary attack vessel when SIS or MIS vessels are configured less for a battle situation. Being more manuveralbe, they make for excellent attacking ships. Because of size, their firepower is often limited. Small Shuttle
1-2
Fusion / Mag Gravity Well
0 - .4LV / 1LV- 6LV Light Transportation Vehicle. Little offensive, little defesive capability. Often used when a larger ship cannot be used in investigative and exploration situations. Used as a secondary science multipurpose device. Large Shuttle
1-4
Mag Pulse / Mag Gravity Well
0 - .7LV / 1LV- 6LV Standard Transportation vehicle. Can be used like small shuttle as well. Small Intergalactic Ships (SIS)
5-10
Mag Pulse / Light Drive
0 - .7LV / 1LV - 9LV Scouts, escorts, cargo ships. Mostly used by private organizations or individuals for their own internal affairs. Are often modified to any end for their own purpose. Cargo ships are most likely of this class as to maximize shipment, but not pose as a gold mind for pirates and the like. Pirate and rebel organizations also preferre this class due to their lower cost, easy repair factor, and easy modification to ship purpose. Government factions also favor the class for the same reasons. SIS ships have a low durability factor. Medium Intergalactic Ships (MIS)
10-25
Mag Pulse / Light Drive
0 - .7LV / 1LV - 9LV Highly favored in the USI for its cost + Functionality value. Although many Gov. Factions tend to use either the SIS or the LIS class ships, the MIS is good for well rounded ships that feature both the adaptability of the SIS, and the durablility of LIS. Most MIS ships are created for a certain purpose, and remain that way until either decommissioned, destroyed, or taken apart for salvage. Large Intergalactic Ships (LIS)
25-250
Particle Carrier / Light Drive
0 - .4LV
/
1LV - 6LV
Large Behemoth's of ships. Created usually for battle or large transport. Many are carrier ships for SFC's or SIS's. Some are designed for the transport of whole worlds by conquering factions. Because of their slow speed, but excellent armor, they make surpurb support vehicles. Most LIS ships are only slightly equiped with offensive weaponry, and only moderately for defensive. Shield and Armor factor are usually high.
Other
Travel isn't always restricted to vehicular type methods. Wormholes, rifts within space, and spacial Tunneling ( Transconduit ) are other common forms of moving without direct use of a ship or vehicle. These listed methods often use a vehicle, as their application is most effective long distances within the harsh environment of space. But they could be used in the confines of a planet or other permitting environment. Some of these are created by way of Technology, others are naturally occurring.
One of the more common methods of non vehicular travel are the use of Translocational Gateways.
Lame mans Terms : Gateway between two points in space, reducing overall distance to a meter at most, allowing lifeforms to simply step through, and objects to be dropped in. This is often referred to as Gating. The Faction of USI uses the Technology specific to Translocation Gating. Other factions and races have created compatible variants of the same technological basis.
Gating does have its uses, but is limited in size and distance. Often times, when a wormhole isn't around (stable at that) or the ability to create a transpatial conduit or other form of spacial tunneling, getting from one point of the universe to the next is somewhat time consuming, considering how vast the galaxy is. Scattered throughout the galaxy there is a device known as a STNN, Starship Transport Network Nexus. By combining the technology and theories of Wormholes, black holes, and spacial tunneling, these STNN's connect points of space together, allowing for faster travel without the hassle of wasted time. The only draw back, is the STNN's are at fixed points in space, and the race that created them have disappeared.
