INTERSTELLAR PROPULSION
POWER GENERATION
Military vessels typically rely on Monopole Reactors, which rely generation of energy from matter using reactions between magnetic monopoles and normal atoms.
Monopole Conversion uses magnetic monopoles or monopole matter in conjunction with common elements such as hydrogen and helium (although in principle any material that can be converted to a plasma to allow the monopoles to come into contact with the protons will do). More advanced conversion reactors work by carefully applying controlled amounts of conventional matter against a magmatter surface, resulting in the instant conversion of the conventional matter to energy.
During the conversion process, the converted nucleon dumps its energy into the surrounding nucleus, fragmenting it into small, fast pieces. These pieces (except for neutrons) quickly dump their energy into the surrounding matter, heating it up. Exceptions occur for very light elements, where some of the energy may be released in the form of pions. Any conversion process will also produce a positron, neutrino, or electron. The positrons annihilate with a nearby electron to produce a gamma ray pair. Neutral pions decay nearly immediately into high energy gamma rays. Charged pions will travel a considerable fraction of a meter before decaying into muons and muon neutrinos, and the muons travel for many tens or hundreds of meters before decaying into electrons, positrons, muon neutrinos, and electron neutrinos. Charged pions that are slowed down by collisions with surrounding nuclei such that they are brought to rest in the material will be captured by nearby nuclei, and when they decay they will fragment that nucleus, similar to if a nucleon of that nucleus was converted (although with somewhat lower energy release). Positrons from charged positive pion —> muon —> positron decay (ignoring the neutrinos) will also annihilate with nearby electrons to produce gamma ray pairs. Unstable nuclear fragments produced either by pion capture or conversion will eventually decay via gamma, beta, or alpha emission.
The output of a conversion reactor is usually used to create a high temperature plasma from which electricity can be extracted via standard magnetohydrodynamic methods.
[Concept by the Orion's Arm team]
Elsewhere, energy generated from a range of methods such as reactors, solar collectors, renewables and others is stored into hydrocell batteries, which store energy potential as a pure compressed hydrogen which, when introduced to oxygen, burns and forms H20 whilst releasing energy. Hydrocell batteries are typically used for smaller vehicles and ground vehicles.
Monopole Conversion uses magnetic monopoles or monopole matter in conjunction with common elements such as hydrogen and helium (although in principle any material that can be converted to a plasma to allow the monopoles to come into contact with the protons will do). More advanced conversion reactors work by carefully applying controlled amounts of conventional matter against a magmatter surface, resulting in the instant conversion of the conventional matter to energy.
During the conversion process, the converted nucleon dumps its energy into the surrounding nucleus, fragmenting it into small, fast pieces. These pieces (except for neutrons) quickly dump their energy into the surrounding matter, heating it up. Exceptions occur for very light elements, where some of the energy may be released in the form of pions. Any conversion process will also produce a positron, neutrino, or electron. The positrons annihilate with a nearby electron to produce a gamma ray pair. Neutral pions decay nearly immediately into high energy gamma rays. Charged pions will travel a considerable fraction of a meter before decaying into muons and muon neutrinos, and the muons travel for many tens or hundreds of meters before decaying into electrons, positrons, muon neutrinos, and electron neutrinos. Charged pions that are slowed down by collisions with surrounding nuclei such that they are brought to rest in the material will be captured by nearby nuclei, and when they decay they will fragment that nucleus, similar to if a nucleon of that nucleus was converted (although with somewhat lower energy release). Positrons from charged positive pion —> muon —> positron decay (ignoring the neutrinos) will also annihilate with nearby electrons to produce gamma ray pairs. Unstable nuclear fragments produced either by pion capture or conversion will eventually decay via gamma, beta, or alpha emission.
The output of a conversion reactor is usually used to create a high temperature plasma from which electricity can be extracted via standard magnetohydrodynamic methods.
[Concept by the Orion's Arm team]
Elsewhere, energy generated from a range of methods such as reactors, solar collectors, renewables and others is stored into hydrocell batteries, which store energy potential as a pure compressed hydrogen which, when introduced to oxygen, burns and forms H20 whilst releasing energy. Hydrocell batteries are typically used for smaller vehicles and ground vehicles.
SUBLIGHT TRAVEL
Sublight travel is achieved by a combination of simple thrusters and gravitational spin foam manipulation. Gravity spin foam is artificially manipulated by creating sandwiches of 4-geometry to create a gravatic current, or shadow, which draws the ship along as if affected by a large celestial body. Gravity manipulation is particularly useful in countering some of the deleterious effects of atmospheric travel.
FTL - HYPERSPACE [ANC CLASSIFICATION: ALCUBIERRE/WARP]
The most common form of Faster-Than-Light (FTL) travel in the Jade Empire is the hyperspace drive. The hyperspace drive uses carchon particles to achieve FTL. Carchon particles cannot exist beneath the speed of light, and hyperspace drives utilise these particles to propel their craft at faster than light speeds. When engaged, the carchons effectively tear through the space-time continuum, travelling laterally along the flow of time. A series of motivators allow the hyperspace drive to build up a charge of carchon particles. The sublight drive is then engaged to provide ignition to the hyperspace drive, regulated by dampeners
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and is used to create a stabilisation field that prevents the vessel from being torn apart by stresses of hyperspace. The most common model of drive is the Fujikawa-Dethloff Hyperspace Drive.
FTL - SLIPGATES [ANC CLASSIFICATION: HYPER/SLIPSPACE]
The Jade Empire has also made successful use of Slipgate technology. Slipgate drives are typically mounted on larger vessels, requiring a significant amount of power and infrastructure. Slipgate technology works by creating a connection from the 'real' plane to the Far. The vessel then passes through this Slipgate, which closes behind it, and navigates through the Far. The physics governing the Far are not fully understood, and theories abound as to whether vessels are able to travel faster than usual in the Far or whether the Far does not correspond geographically to the 'real' plane. Travel using Slipgates takes mere fractions of the time even hyperspace travel would take, but the systems must undergo a full power cycle and decontamination purge following each Slipgate jump. This means that, depending on the size of the vessel, efficiency of the drive and that the system can take anywhere from an hour to a full day between uses.
FTL - THERR [ANC CLASSIFICATION: QUANTUM ENTANGLEMENT DRIVE]
An innovative Katasian design, the THERR system is a miniaturised entropic drive which effectively removes the target matter from the space-time continuum and reintroduces it elsewhere, acting as an instantaneous teleporter system. The Katasian Order of the Watcher was known for utilising this technology 'blind' without pre-established exit co-ordinates, a risky strategy that allowed for ship-to-ship insertions but carried a high danger of fatal mis-drops.
THERR's practical uses are highly limited as it requires significant fuel consumption and can be easily baffled by enemy counter-measures. This makes it prohibitively expensive for ship transportation and unsuited for offensive purposes, and its primary use is for emergency extraction and exfiltration procedures where the exit co-ordinates are predetermined and precisely calculated.
THERR's practical uses are highly limited as it requires significant fuel consumption and can be easily baffled by enemy counter-measures. This makes it prohibitively expensive for ship transportation and unsuited for offensive purposes, and its primary use is for emergency extraction and exfiltration procedures where the exit co-ordinates are predetermined and precisely calculated.
INTERDICTION - TIME-SPACE INTERDICTION LATTICE [ANC CLASSIFICATION: BLANKET INTERDICTION]
The TILT system works by creating a lattice of artificial gravity shadows so massive that it momentarily distorts the physics and space-time continuum of a region. This alters the relationship between alternate dimensions, realities or planes being utilised by the intruder, meaning that for example, a wormhole attempting to open inside the lattice will no longer connect to the same region of space-time that was initially selected for re-entry. This has the effect of forcing the target vessel or object to emerge in a completely different location than expected, and can provide disastrous results. This is particularly for larger vessels which may find their bow arriving in a completely different location from their stern if they attempt to continue through the lattice despite the inevitable warnings any standard navigational system would deliver.
TILT systems can also be fielded as a form of Networked Interdiction via multiple drones generating small TILT fields.
The TILT system was first developed in order to act as an interdiction system for non-transitory FTL drives, in particular the use of the Warp by Merger forces attempting to ambush Axis vessels. However, in combat against the Kirans it proved its worth as a defensive system and so further research has been devoted to adapting the system for more proactive use.
TILT systems can also be fielded as a form of Networked Interdiction via multiple drones generating small TILT fields.
The TILT system was first developed in order to act as an interdiction system for non-transitory FTL drives, in particular the use of the Warp by Merger forces attempting to ambush Axis vessels. However, in combat against the Kirans it proved its worth as a defensive system and so further research has been devoted to adapting the system for more proactive use.