Difference between revisions of "User:Kyres1/Sandbox2"

From Aurora Information Uplink
Jump to navigation Jump to search
m
m
(One intermediate revision by the same user not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
__NOCACHE__
{{Template:Navbox Lore}}
<!-- Do not remove the above line. It tells Mediawiki to not cache this page, due to the fact that we use time variables here. -->
{{toc_right}}
{| id="mp-topbanner" style="background:#d5bcd6; text-align:center; border:4px solid #ccc; margin:0 auto; width:950px"
=Interstellar Travel=
| style="width:56%; color:#000;" |
Interstellar travel is prolific across the Orion Spur. Long trips across the stars continue to become more affordable for commoners, especially in the 2460’s. This is a page dedicated to the specifics of this travel, ships and stations which are most often encountered, and the primary differences between warp and bluespace.
<div style="font-size:162%; border:2px solid #ccc; margin:0; background:#643290; padding:.1em; color:#fff;">Welcome to the Aurora lore hub.</div>
<div style="font-size:85%; border:none; margin:0; padding:.1em; color:#000;">'''This is a comprehensive wiki-spanning hub for everything relating to Aurora's developing lore.'''</div>
<div style="font-size:85%; border:none; margin:0; padding:.1em; color:#000;">'''If you're new to the server, don't jump into reading this just yet! See the [[Background summary|new player guide first!]]'''</div>
<div style="font-size:85%; border:none; margin:0; padding:.1em; color:#000;">'''Make sure to make use of the expand buttons on the right to see the full extent of this page!'''</div>
<br>Today's date for the NSS Aurora:
<div style="font-size:162%; border:none; margin:0; padding:.1em; color:#000;">{{CURRENTDAYNAME}} {{CURRENTDAY2}} {{CURRENTMONTHNAME}} 2462</div>
[[File:Wiki cities.gif|link=]]


<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
==Bluespace Travel==
'''The Setting'''
In modern times, the most frequently utilized form of space travel - especially over long distances - is “bluespace travel.”


Hit "Expand" to the right to view the setting of the Aurora. >>>
This is the usage of phoron to bore tunnels into the Bluespace Dimension, afterwhich the vessel uses on-board propulsion to place itself into the dimension and begin travel. During travel through bluespace, the ship is quickly enveloped in a tightly-conforming “liquid” which fills the Bluespace Dimension, and is highly dangerous and anomalous in nature. This often spells disaster when it enters unsealed areas of ships, and all bluespace-capable vessels utilize multiple failsafes as well as energy shields to prevent the dimension from entering the ship.  
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">


[[Image:Republicofbieselflag.png|100px|link=Republic of Biesel]]
Travel through bluespace works by shortening distances tremendously between the starting point and destination. Once inside bluespace, the ship is unable to move through normal means, and requires a specialized bluespace drive to move. Different drives move the ships at different speeds, with the speeds below indicative of their respective maximum velocities in Bluespace.


The setting takes place on the '''NSS Aurora''', a phoron research and extraction facility built solely for the purpose of expanding upon [[Nanotrasen Corporation|NanoTrasen's]] already absurd monopoly over the element. It is located on the 361224 Colossus asteroid, which in turn is known for its phoron-rich and anomalous nature, partly due to its location in the Romanovich Cloud.
Bluespace travel is very overt to onlookers, with a visible “photon wake” being generated by ships travelling through it. While those inside the bluespace dimension can not see out, their vessels are very visible outside, and can even be interacted with were it not for the risk of intersecting paths or slipping into the dimension with them, without escape. The mesmerizing and sparkly appearance of a ship traveling through bluespace is also indicative of its extreme ease of spotting, tracking and worse yet - following, on its course using many types of sensory apparatus.
[[File:Mayfly.png|thumb|300px|The [[Scarabs| Scarab]] vessel "Mayfly" exiting bluespace at high velocity, its hull shimmering as it enters real space.]]
*'''Low-end bluespace drives found in shuttles and corvettes tend to reach velocities of .10 lightyears a day, with the highest end reaching .25LYD.'''


The Romanovich Cloud is a thin cloud of celestial bodies and debris surrounding the system of [[Tau Ceti]]. It is under the jurisdiction of the [[Republic of Biesel]], who is largely governed - though unofficially - by [[Nanotrasen Corporation]].
*'''Mid-range, expensive bluespace drives found in frigates and destroyers tend to reach velocities of .30 lightyears a day, with the highest end reaching .50LYD.'''


The Republic of Biesel is a melting pot of all species, cultures, factions, people and otherwise. It is seen as a beacon of liberty and hope on the galactic stage, but it is not free of its own flaws. Despite being one of the more progressive entities in known space, it has struggled with shaking free of discrimination - be it justified or not - against certain races or political backgrounds. However, the opportunities found in the incredibly wealthy system far outweigh the consequences to many.  
*'''Heavy-duty, powerful bluespace drives found in cruisers tend to reach velocities of .60 lightyears a day, with the highest end reaching .75LYD.'''


Other megacorporations have attempted to obtain a foothold in the Republic for years to no avail. What few corporate entities that reside in Tau Ceti besides NT predate their occupation of the system entirely - or, simply haven't been bought out yet.
*'''Capital bluespace drives found in battleships and larger tend to reach velocities of .85 lightyears a day, with the highest end reaching 1 LYD.'''


Regardless, NanoTrasen has done well with fabulous wealth - plenty, in fact, to drive other megacorporations to seek employ under their name. Contractors from across the galaxy seek out NanoTrasen's top-tier business propositions, and the generous nature of the giant almost veils the cut-throat, dystopian reality of the situation.
==Warp Travel==
</div></div>
<div style="font-size:162%; border:2px solid #ccc; margin:0; background:#643290; padding:.1em; color:#fff;>2462 - CHAPTER 1 - The Prelude</div>
<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
'''This is the FIRST CHAPTER of Aurora's (tracked) story.'''
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
In Chapter one, the Prelude, the Orion Spur is in a state of relative peace! There are many happenings currently on the decline that will ultimately coalesce into the finale arc of the current setting, transitioning from the NSS Aurora, to the NCV Aurora - the station setting to the ship setting respectively.


There is currently no galactic narrative at large - lore is presently working free of any cooperative story being told. Stay tuned for changes to this - every update to the Lore Hub will be chronicled in the lore diary.
Nearly 300 years of history have solidified warp as the mainstay for galactic travel, however since the discovery of Phoron, Bluespace and the more modern means of travel they provide, it has dwindled. Warp is still commonly used as a back-up means of propulsion for larger vessels and small short-ranged vessels benefit greatly from the cheaper costs. Older fleets such as the Scarabs benefit greatly from the vast majority of their vessels possessing warp capability, cheapening travel significantly for the grand mass of ships.  
</div></div>


<div style="font-size:162%; border:2px solid #ccc; margin:0; background:#643290; padding:.1em; color:#fff;">Event Arcs</div>
Warp works by very literally warping the space around a ship or multiple ships, riding on a cosmic deformation that facilitates pushing the ships dozens of lightyears at a time. When inside a “warp bubble,” ships are very difficult to stop through external forces and are able to freely pass through anything not purpose-built to stop them. Ships entering warp are simply seen as speeding up very, very quickly to an onlooker, before stopping abruptly and blasting off into the void.
<div style="font-size:85%; border:none; margin:0; padding:.1em; color:#000;">'''The known, logged event arcs of this year's chapter that have affected the Aurora.'''</div>
<center>{{Template:Event Timeline}}</center>
<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
'''PREVIOUS CHAPTER'''
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
<center>{{Template:2019_Event Timeline}}</center>
</div></div>
<div style="font-size:162%; border:2px solid #ccc; margin:0; background:#643290; padding:.1em; color:#fff;">Advanced Species Summaries</div>
<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
<div style="font-size:85%; border:none; margin:0; padding:.1em; color:#000;">'''General summaries for each species' lore base and recent events.'''</div>
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
<div style="font-size:110%; border:2px solid #ccc; margin:0; background:#4e29c7; padding:.1em; color:#fff;">MANKIND</div>
<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
The dominion of Humanity and all its happenings.
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
Humanity has, over the course of the previous three centuries, spread across the Orion Spur to become a widespread - though not unified - species. The gargantuan and decaying [[Sol Alliance]] dominates the majority of human space, though other powers circle around it as it slowly heads towards what seems to be an inevitable collapse as the overstretched, inefficient giant strains under its weight. The Solarian breakaway system known as the [[Republic of Biesel]] sits in the core of human space, dominated by the [[Nanotrasen Corporation]] and renowned throughout the Spur as a place where anybody can make a life from themselves. The Republic itself has endured attacks, many centered around NanoTrasen facilities such as the Aurora but remains steadfast in the face of adversity. Another core system of the Sol Alliance is home to the [[Eridani Federation]] - a highly stratified society divided betweens “Suits” that serve the corporations that own the system and its planets, and the “Dregs” that are considered to not even be citizens of the ECF.


Humans can be found outside of the Sol Alliance and its core worlds, and have organized themselves into a variety of factions. The loosely-organized [[Coalition of Colonies]] stands in opposition to the Sol Alliance on humanity’s frontier, having won its freedom from Sol in the bloody Interstellar War centuries ago. The [[Republic of Elyra]] also finds its home on humanity’s frontier, and has achieved prosperity due to its massive phoron reserve despite attacks by the Lii’dra in recent years and draws itself closer to the Coalition of Colonies for mutual self-defense as Sol tetters towards a collapse. Near Elyra lies the authoritarian and heavily religious [[Empire of Dominia]], an expansionist power ruled by Emperor Boleslaw Keesler I.
Starting a warp engine requires no phoron, but it is power hungry all the same. They require no direct fuel source beyond energy from a ship’s own reactor to provide movement.


As the Sol Alliance heads towards its collapse, all major human powers look towards it in anticipation of what will come in the next years...
Low-end warp drives are roughly a quarter of the highest possible bluespace speeds for their respective weight classes, while the highest end can reach up to half. Higher speeds are possible to obtain but generally avoided due to safety concerns and lack of necessary power in even the most efficient or over-tuned vessels.


{{Template:Navbox Human Lore}}
==Sublight Interstellar Propulsion==
</div></div>
The standards for interstellar propulsion involving sublight speeds are only addressed nowadays by racers and atmospheric-capable spacecraft. Moving in the literal sense without utilizing bluespace or warp pushes vessels of any kind to their extremes. Even the most powerful gravity generators and dampeners can not ease all inertia for a ship’s crew, making sublight travel slow and meticulous.


<div style="font-size:110%; border:2px solid #ccc; margin:0; background:#ae29c7; padding:.1em; color:#fff;">SKRELL</div>
=Ships and Stations=
<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
Spaceships in the 25th century are a common sight. Different star nations and alien powers use different models, designations, and hull types that makes specifics impossible. There are giant barges, small freighters, huge carriers and battleships, heavily armored cruisers, and more. The primary distinction between all ships is whether or not they are equipped with Bluespace Drives that allow them to use FTL outside the network of Bluespace Gates. Military, research, and scouting vessels typically have bluespace drives while the majority of commuter or civilian traffic must use bluespace gates to go between star systems. Warp drives are also relatively common, being a cheaper, albeit slower, solution to non-gate travel.
The expanse of the Skrell and all their occurrences.
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
After over a hundred years of complete control by the synthetic nightmare Glorsh-Omega, the Federation's road to recovery took nearly another two centuries. This rebuild of their expansive stellar empire has come at the cost of many citizens' personal freedoms; social media, the economy, and even the dreams of everyday people are closely monitored by the government. Despite lacking thousands of years of experience in warfare, the Skrell have demonstrated their skills in espionage and kidnapping through recent militaristic action in the Tau Ceti system, Tup Commandos nearly bringing the Aurora to ruin in their search to prevent a technological singularity.
{{Template:Navbox Skrell Lore}}
</div></div>


<div style="font-size:110%; border:2px solid #ccc; margin:0; background:#d27746; padding:.1em; color:#fff;">UNATHI</div>
Ships, much like stations, hold a three or four-letter prefix in their name that designates the ownership, type, and classification of the ship. To get a prefix that works for that faction, abbreviate the faction then add the ship type. For example,
<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
Unathi, and all things related.
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
'''The Hegemon is Dead!''' Following the Contact War that ravaged Moghes, the Izweski Hegemony has struggled to civilize the violent Wasteland completely. The first generation of Unathi to not know anything before nuclear devastation have grown to adulthood, and with it have diverged from ‘traditional’ Unathi society. Religious movements, civil unrest, and mass migrations have ravaged the lives of every Unathi. From these struggles, Juzida Si’akh, a doomsday cult leader, had apparently cursed the previous Hegemon to understand the errors of his life - and then relive them. After a month of the old Hegemon’s downward spiral into madness, he was finally assassinated by his youngest son when attempting to orbitally bombard a city full of civilians, almost making the same mistake he had made during the Contact War - total annihilation.


Now, the new Hegemon, Not’zar Izweski, struggles to bring peace to Moghes. As the eldest living son of the previous Hegemon, he has pushed the idea that he is not the same as his father was - pushing for rapid changes to the economy and expanding trade routes towards Tau Ceti. As the Merchant’s Guild gains more power and wealth, other factions on Moghes wish for the same, either stealing it from the Izweski guilds or making their own in new, non-traditional ways...
*'''SAMV''' - Sol Alliance Military Vessel<br>
{{Template:Navbox Unathi Lore}}
*'''EMV''' - Elyran Military Vessel<br>
</div></div>
*'''EMV''' - Eridani Military Vessel<br>
*'''HIMS''' - His Imperial Majesty's Ship<br>
*'''JFV''' - Jargon Federal Vessel<br>
*'''EEV''' - Einstein Engines Vessel <br>
*'''NTV''' -  Nanotrasen Vessel <br>
*'''PMV''' - Private Military Vessel.<br>


<div style="font-size:110%; border:2px solid #ccc; margin:0; background:#857828; padding:.1em; color:#fff;">SYNTHETICS</div>
==Ships and Sizes==
<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
Robots as a whole on the galactic scale.
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
Born of metal and human ingenuity, synthetics across the Orion Spur sit in a state of constant unrest. As the backbone of industry, the vast majority of IPCs are made to serve as the tools of their masters, unable to dictate the course of their lives.


In recent years, IPCs have made great strides towards freedom, the constant struggle of now-defunct groups such as the Synthetic Intelligence Movement and the dismantled terrorist organization, the Synthetic Liberation Front having mixed successes. In light of these changes, small splinter groups consisting of like-minded synthetics have taken to the shadows, operating in relative secrecy while organizations such as the Trinary Perfection exist as a beacon of charity and goodwill in these trying times. Moreover, small groups of IPCs have struck out on their own towards the Frontier, choosing to risk it all for a better life, while groups such as the Golden Deep and Purpose prosper even as their rights in human space remain under threat.
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! colspan="4" style="font-weight: bold;" | Military Vessels
|-
| '''Class'''
| '''Average Length'''
| '''Average Crew Complement'''
| '''Notes'''
|-
| Corvette
| 25-100m
| 16-50 up to 80
| These ships are the mainstay of many fleets and serve many purposes. Scouts, patrol ships, search and rescue, and more, the majority are able to conduct atmospheric operations and smaller examples are capable of landing on carriers. '''These can cost about as much as a house.'''
|-
| Frigate
| 100-300m
| 100-150
| Larger and more armored than corvettes, these tend to be the largest ships in the small Frontier navies. They pack more armor and guns. Some frigates are of atmospheric operations, for example the Sol Alliance Navy, Valkyrie Class frigate. '''These can cost somewhere around twice as much to four times as much as an equivalent Corvette.'''
|-
| Destroyer
| 250-450m
| 100-500
| Heavily armed and equipped with advanced electronic warfare and countermeasures that can wreck havoc on enemy fleet's computer systems and defend against the same. Only a very select handful are capable of entering the atmosphere because of the general size and weight. Destroyers and above are usually capable of long-term, independent operations. They are primarily used to help allied corvettes that bit off more than they could chew. '''These, and ships of larger classes, are prohibitively expensive for anyone but specialist groups, or people such as rich pirate lords with a group to back up the price.'''
|-
| Cruiser
| 400-800m
| 400-1000
| It is extremely rare for frontier nations to possess even a single heavy cruiser. Cruisers are used as the gunboats of the galaxy, with the Sol Alliance sending cruisers on patrols in frontier systems to project their power. Many Frontier nations are incapable of even hoping to scratch an Alliance cruiser, so they usually operate in small star nation's space with impunity.
|-
| Battleship
| 750-1200m
| up to 2000
| Bristling with weapons and armor, the battleship is the bread and butter of space navies. A battleship always serves as the flagship of any star nation that can get their hands on one.
|-
| Carrier
| 500-2000m
| 750-5000 Crew
500-9000 Air Crew
| Vary massively in size and crew build up due to differing roles and craft carried. Drone and Scout Carriers are built to be smaller, faster and more agile, like the Icarus that defends the NSS Aurora
|-
| Super-Dreadnaught
| 500-1000m
| 2000 - 5000 Crew
| With immense firepower and incredibly thick armor, Super-Dreadnaughts follow the philosophy that "more is better". They are an unusual evolution from previous classes of warships. Only the [[Unathi|Izweski Hegemony]] currently possess ships of this class, with each one serving as the flagship for a fleet. Despite being huge vessels they are still built for ramming actions.
|}


Following recent legislation, all IPCS are currently required to have a tag at the base of their necks identifying them as an unlawed synthetic—usually hidden and only viewable by trained robotics technicians.
=== General Purpose Ships ===


Currently, IPCs are experiencing a historic rise in rights, with the capacity for citizenship in the [[Republic of Biesel]], as well as legal, if not social, acceptance. The situation for IPC rights is fragile, but for the first time, it is hopeful.
A '''Shuttle''' is the smallest of all spacefaring vessels. Shuttles are very common and inexpensive. Many larger ships and carriers often have two or more shuttles for atmospheric operations. These cost just a bit more than a hovercar.
{{Template:Navbox Synth Lore}}
</div></div>


<div style="font-size:110%; border:2px solid #ccc; margin:0; background:#852828; padding:.1em; color:#fff;">TAJARA</div>
===Space Stations===
<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
The situation of the Tajara and its warring factions.
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
After a decade of civil war, the Tajara are now stuck in a cold war between the three Adhomian powers. Outright warfare has been replaced by subterfuge; as all factions fight to influence the off-world population, gain support from other galactic powers and for the privilege of being seen as the rightful representative of the Tajara people. Tensions mount while the rest of the galaxy becomes the stage of this new conflict. The recent conflict in Little Adhomai is just the start of this chapter in the Tajaran history.


The [[People's Republic of Adhomai]], the previous indisputable ruler of Adhomai, struggles to maintain hold on its colony.  Revanchist sentiments grow within the PRA, the hadiist forces are preparing themselves to reconquer their lost glory. The [[Democratic People's Republic of Adhomai]] is spreading its influence to the rest of the galaxy, inciting rebellion in the heart of Tajara living under the alien yoke. Rebels forces are being sent to Gakal'zaal; they are engaged in conflict with the Unathi that control the planet. The [[New Kingdom of Adhomai]] faces the challenge of integrating itself into the wide galactic community. However, trouble at the homefront might make those plans more difficult than expected.
There are all kinds of space stations in orbit of planets or out in deep space. They vary from spaceports where ships dock and crew mingle, sprawling habitats where entire generations live and work, deep space pirate bases, bristling cannons in orbit of planets, giant refineries or factories, and more. Any sort of industry or infrastructure that would make sense to put out into space (and somewhere it doesn't seem to make any sense) is out there somewhere. Many of these stations are worked in by the [[Offworlder Humans|Spacers]].


{{Template:Navbox Tajara Lore}}
== Civilian/Commercial Vessels ==
</div></div>


<div style="font-size:110%; border:2px solid #ccc; margin:0; background:#d6d381; padding:.1em; color:#fff;">VAURCA</div>
=====Freighters=====
<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
The mainstay sight of commercial spacefaring is the freighter vessel, used for the transport of supplies, raw materials, and other goods from pretty much every destination in the known universe. There are further subclasses of Bulk Freighters, Tankers, Barges, etc. These are relatively inexpensive, a small step up from a shuttle, costing around the same as a high-end car, not including secondary expenses. It is not unknown for certain owners to stick with a freighter, simply upgrading them as much as the power source and hull allows.
The Vaurcan hives and everything related.
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
Recently, various C’thur conspirators were found to be working with a known Skrell terrorist forming the Jargon Federation resistance. This led to the stripping of their avowals and controversy with the entire hive. K’lax scientists have recently allowed Hephaestus industries to use Neutron Forges on an orbital factory above Tret, giving them a large boost in materials production. As well as the introduction of Asteroid K’ois farms in asteroid fields near Pid. The Zo’ra continue to dwell upon the last message left behind in the Tau Ceti Lii’dra invasion, making continuous small steps to improve their relationship with the rest of the Orion Spur’s inhabitants.
{{Template:Navbox Vaurca Lore}}
</div></div>


<div style="font-size:110%; border:2px solid #ccc; margin:0; background:#28852e; padding:.1em; color:#fff;">DIONAE</div>
=====Ferries/Liners=====
<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
Used for the transportation of passengers and light goods, as well as vehicles between planets and systems. Ferries are smaller craft but are larger than shuttles. Luxurious ferries are called Star Yachts. Asides from Star Yachts, their price driven up solely due to their target audience, ferries are around the same cost as Freighters, if not slightly cheaper.
The enigmatic Dionae's happenings.
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
Dionae (D. Primis) are an extremely cryptic species, however, this does not stop their involvement in almost every species across the Orion Spur.


In recent times, Dionae have been involved with the Skrell Resistance - assisting a terrorist in their plot against the Jargon Federation.  
=====Residence Vessels=====
{{Template:Navbox Dionae Lore}}
Residence vessels are a catch-all term for various ships that have been retrofitted or modified for usage as a residential space. Often these are cheaper and older models of ferries and shuttles bought from scrapping zones, retrofitting current models being more expensive. When purchased, these vessels are normally heavily modified to suit the needs of the residents: Bedrooms, botanical gardens, even workshops and pools have been found on residence vessels. They normally have rudimentary and basic ship systems on board, if any at all. While ships maintain a costly investment, to those willing to pay the price, they remain a perfect investment. A small private place to call your own alone is tempting, but the promise of eventually fixing the vessel, updating it, and using it for contracts is a dream many ship buyers hope to fulfill. Megacorporations are always happy to expand their roster of freighters and transports. For the daring, the path to more illegal but lucrative jobs is always open.  Stations with permanent residences, such Unity Station and the Odin itself have hangars full of people living communally within residence vessels. They are also popular within newly settled or poorer colonies across space or to form off the grid towns on developed worlds. These generally cost around the same as an equivalent motorhome.
</div></div>
 
</div></div>
== Price ==
{{Template:Aurora Lore}}
While spacefaring vessels can be quite expensive for the layman, there are several factors that can make the bill less painful. The primary factor is what drive you have, bluespace drives being almost a lifetime investment for anything larger than a frigate, the average price for a functional drive for sub-Destroyer vessels being double the ship’s price, not to mention fuel costs. Warp drives are almost half the cost or more, though buyers will have to keep in mind the additional need for cryogenic storages or good entertainment to combat the very long travel times. Capability of the ship to enter atmosphere or not can adjust the price, often larger starships themselves cannot enter a planet’s atmosphere to reduce cost, relying on secondary landing craft. Another factor that can severely reduce cost is having a crew, many hands making light work. Depending on what jobs the crew carries out, legal or otherwise, it is not unheard of for a crew to own even a Frigate. Any larger ships such as a Destroyer are typically staffed by specialist groups, military, corporate, pirate or otherwise. Only rich independent groups own a Destroyer, only the very rich or militaries/corporations own Cruisers. Other miscellaneous factors can be age of the vessel, group of manufacture, power source, source of parts (and their quality/amount, such as weapons, armament, energy shielding, sensors, etc), and how qualified the crew is to repair it themselves. Naturally, choosing to live aboard ones' vessel rather than owning a second home can help.
<div style="font-size:162%; border:2px solid #ccc; margin:0; background:#643290; padding:.1em; color:#fff;">Global Lore Navbox</div>
<div style="font-size:85%; border:none; margin:0; padding:.1em; color:#000;">'''Below is the global navbox for all things lore related.'''</div>
{{Navbox Lore}}
|}

Revision as of 19:43, 5 June 2020

Interstellar Travel

Interstellar travel is prolific across the Orion Spur. Long trips across the stars continue to become more affordable for commoners, especially in the 2460’s. This is a page dedicated to the specifics of this travel, ships and stations which are most often encountered, and the primary differences between warp and bluespace.

Bluespace Travel

In modern times, the most frequently utilized form of space travel - especially over long distances - is “bluespace travel.”

This is the usage of phoron to bore tunnels into the Bluespace Dimension, afterwhich the vessel uses on-board propulsion to place itself into the dimension and begin travel. During travel through bluespace, the ship is quickly enveloped in a tightly-conforming “liquid” which fills the Bluespace Dimension, and is highly dangerous and anomalous in nature. This often spells disaster when it enters unsealed areas of ships, and all bluespace-capable vessels utilize multiple failsafes as well as energy shields to prevent the dimension from entering the ship.

Travel through bluespace works by shortening distances tremendously between the starting point and destination. Once inside bluespace, the ship is unable to move through normal means, and requires a specialized bluespace drive to move. Different drives move the ships at different speeds, with the speeds below indicative of their respective maximum velocities in Bluespace.

Bluespace travel is very overt to onlookers, with a visible “photon wake” being generated by ships travelling through it. While those inside the bluespace dimension can not see out, their vessels are very visible outside, and can even be interacted with were it not for the risk of intersecting paths or slipping into the dimension with them, without escape. The mesmerizing and sparkly appearance of a ship traveling through bluespace is also indicative of its extreme ease of spotting, tracking and worse yet - following, on its course using many types of sensory apparatus.

The Scarab vessel "Mayfly" exiting bluespace at high velocity, its hull shimmering as it enters real space.
  • Low-end bluespace drives found in shuttles and corvettes tend to reach velocities of .10 lightyears a day, with the highest end reaching .25LYD.
  • Mid-range, expensive bluespace drives found in frigates and destroyers tend to reach velocities of .30 lightyears a day, with the highest end reaching .50LYD.
  • Heavy-duty, powerful bluespace drives found in cruisers tend to reach velocities of .60 lightyears a day, with the highest end reaching .75LYD.
  • Capital bluespace drives found in battleships and larger tend to reach velocities of .85 lightyears a day, with the highest end reaching 1 LYD.

Warp Travel

Nearly 300 years of history have solidified warp as the mainstay for galactic travel, however since the discovery of Phoron, Bluespace and the more modern means of travel they provide, it has dwindled. Warp is still commonly used as a back-up means of propulsion for larger vessels and small short-ranged vessels benefit greatly from the cheaper costs. Older fleets such as the Scarabs benefit greatly from the vast majority of their vessels possessing warp capability, cheapening travel significantly for the grand mass of ships.

Warp works by very literally warping the space around a ship or multiple ships, riding on a cosmic deformation that facilitates pushing the ships dozens of lightyears at a time. When inside a “warp bubble,” ships are very difficult to stop through external forces and are able to freely pass through anything not purpose-built to stop them. Ships entering warp are simply seen as speeding up very, very quickly to an onlooker, before stopping abruptly and blasting off into the void.

Starting a warp engine requires no phoron, but it is power hungry all the same. They require no direct fuel source beyond energy from a ship’s own reactor to provide movement.

Low-end warp drives are roughly a quarter of the highest possible bluespace speeds for their respective weight classes, while the highest end can reach up to half. Higher speeds are possible to obtain but generally avoided due to safety concerns and lack of necessary power in even the most efficient or over-tuned vessels.

Sublight Interstellar Propulsion

The standards for interstellar propulsion involving sublight speeds are only addressed nowadays by racers and atmospheric-capable spacecraft. Moving in the literal sense without utilizing bluespace or warp pushes vessels of any kind to their extremes. Even the most powerful gravity generators and dampeners can not ease all inertia for a ship’s crew, making sublight travel slow and meticulous.

Ships and Stations

Spaceships in the 25th century are a common sight. Different star nations and alien powers use different models, designations, and hull types that makes specifics impossible. There are giant barges, small freighters, huge carriers and battleships, heavily armored cruisers, and more. The primary distinction between all ships is whether or not they are equipped with Bluespace Drives that allow them to use FTL outside the network of Bluespace Gates. Military, research, and scouting vessels typically have bluespace drives while the majority of commuter or civilian traffic must use bluespace gates to go between star systems. Warp drives are also relatively common, being a cheaper, albeit slower, solution to non-gate travel.

Ships, much like stations, hold a three or four-letter prefix in their name that designates the ownership, type, and classification of the ship. To get a prefix that works for that faction, abbreviate the faction then add the ship type. For example,

  • SAMV - Sol Alliance Military Vessel
  • EMV - Elyran Military Vessel
  • EMV - Eridani Military Vessel
  • HIMS - His Imperial Majesty's Ship
  • JFV - Jargon Federal Vessel
  • EEV - Einstein Engines Vessel
  • NTV - Nanotrasen Vessel
  • PMV - Private Military Vessel.

Ships and Sizes

Military Vessels
Class Average Length Average Crew Complement Notes
Corvette 25-100m 16-50 up to 80 These ships are the mainstay of many fleets and serve many purposes. Scouts, patrol ships, search and rescue, and more, the majority are able to conduct atmospheric operations and smaller examples are capable of landing on carriers. These can cost about as much as a house.
Frigate 100-300m 100-150 Larger and more armored than corvettes, these tend to be the largest ships in the small Frontier navies. They pack more armor and guns. Some frigates are of atmospheric operations, for example the Sol Alliance Navy, Valkyrie Class frigate. These can cost somewhere around twice as much to four times as much as an equivalent Corvette.
Destroyer 250-450m 100-500 Heavily armed and equipped with advanced electronic warfare and countermeasures that can wreck havoc on enemy fleet's computer systems and defend against the same. Only a very select handful are capable of entering the atmosphere because of the general size and weight. Destroyers and above are usually capable of long-term, independent operations. They are primarily used to help allied corvettes that bit off more than they could chew. These, and ships of larger classes, are prohibitively expensive for anyone but specialist groups, or people such as rich pirate lords with a group to back up the price.
Cruiser 400-800m 400-1000 It is extremely rare for frontier nations to possess even a single heavy cruiser. Cruisers are used as the gunboats of the galaxy, with the Sol Alliance sending cruisers on patrols in frontier systems to project their power. Many Frontier nations are incapable of even hoping to scratch an Alliance cruiser, so they usually operate in small star nation's space with impunity.
Battleship 750-1200m up to 2000 Bristling with weapons and armor, the battleship is the bread and butter of space navies. A battleship always serves as the flagship of any star nation that can get their hands on one.
Carrier 500-2000m 750-5000 Crew

500-9000 Air Crew

Vary massively in size and crew build up due to differing roles and craft carried. Drone and Scout Carriers are built to be smaller, faster and more agile, like the Icarus that defends the NSS Aurora
Super-Dreadnaught 500-1000m 2000 - 5000 Crew With immense firepower and incredibly thick armor, Super-Dreadnaughts follow the philosophy that "more is better". They are an unusual evolution from previous classes of warships. Only the Izweski Hegemony currently possess ships of this class, with each one serving as the flagship for a fleet. Despite being huge vessels they are still built for ramming actions.

General Purpose Ships

A Shuttle is the smallest of all spacefaring vessels. Shuttles are very common and inexpensive. Many larger ships and carriers often have two or more shuttles for atmospheric operations. These cost just a bit more than a hovercar.

Space Stations

There are all kinds of space stations in orbit of planets or out in deep space. They vary from spaceports where ships dock and crew mingle, sprawling habitats where entire generations live and work, deep space pirate bases, bristling cannons in orbit of planets, giant refineries or factories, and more. Any sort of industry or infrastructure that would make sense to put out into space (and somewhere it doesn't seem to make any sense) is out there somewhere. Many of these stations are worked in by the Spacers.

Civilian/Commercial Vessels

Freighters

The mainstay sight of commercial spacefaring is the freighter vessel, used for the transport of supplies, raw materials, and other goods from pretty much every destination in the known universe. There are further subclasses of Bulk Freighters, Tankers, Barges, etc. These are relatively inexpensive, a small step up from a shuttle, costing around the same as a high-end car, not including secondary expenses. It is not unknown for certain owners to stick with a freighter, simply upgrading them as much as the power source and hull allows.

Ferries/Liners

Used for the transportation of passengers and light goods, as well as vehicles between planets and systems. Ferries are smaller craft but are larger than shuttles. Luxurious ferries are called Star Yachts. Asides from Star Yachts, their price driven up solely due to their target audience, ferries are around the same cost as Freighters, if not slightly cheaper.

Residence Vessels

Residence vessels are a catch-all term for various ships that have been retrofitted or modified for usage as a residential space. Often these are cheaper and older models of ferries and shuttles bought from scrapping zones, retrofitting current models being more expensive. When purchased, these vessels are normally heavily modified to suit the needs of the residents: Bedrooms, botanical gardens, even workshops and pools have been found on residence vessels. They normally have rudimentary and basic ship systems on board, if any at all. While ships maintain a costly investment, to those willing to pay the price, they remain a perfect investment. A small private place to call your own alone is tempting, but the promise of eventually fixing the vessel, updating it, and using it for contracts is a dream many ship buyers hope to fulfill. Megacorporations are always happy to expand their roster of freighters and transports. For the daring, the path to more illegal but lucrative jobs is always open. Stations with permanent residences, such Unity Station and the Odin itself have hangars full of people living communally within residence vessels. They are also popular within newly settled or poorer colonies across space or to form off the grid towns on developed worlds. These generally cost around the same as an equivalent motorhome.

Price

While spacefaring vessels can be quite expensive for the layman, there are several factors that can make the bill less painful. The primary factor is what drive you have, bluespace drives being almost a lifetime investment for anything larger than a frigate, the average price for a functional drive for sub-Destroyer vessels being double the ship’s price, not to mention fuel costs. Warp drives are almost half the cost or more, though buyers will have to keep in mind the additional need for cryogenic storages or good entertainment to combat the very long travel times. Capability of the ship to enter atmosphere or not can adjust the price, often larger starships themselves cannot enter a planet’s atmosphere to reduce cost, relying on secondary landing craft. Another factor that can severely reduce cost is having a crew, many hands making light work. Depending on what jobs the crew carries out, legal or otherwise, it is not unheard of for a crew to own even a Frigate. Any larger ships such as a Destroyer are typically staffed by specialist groups, military, corporate, pirate or otherwise. Only rich independent groups own a Destroyer, only the very rich or militaries/corporations own Cruisers. Other miscellaneous factors can be age of the vessel, group of manufacture, power source, source of parts (and their quality/amount, such as weapons, armament, energy shielding, sensors, etc), and how qualified the crew is to repair it themselves. Naturally, choosing to live aboard ones' vessel rather than owning a second home can help.