Space Ripper

Overview

Space Ripper. Typical human name. It's designation has a real name and it is called Zero-Point Energy Fold Drive (ZPEFD). Why that name? Because if you spool up the ZPEFD - some people called them Zedder in the first days - you zero-in on an entry point with your ship and "aim" at the exit point. Then the energy is fired away towards the entry point.
Back in the day the scientists made a grave error in judgement. Their FTL drive worked and they assumed it was folding the space around it like sheets of paper before releasing it again and dropping the ship in the area of their endpoint. But the reality was different which they noticed a few years later.
Instead of folding the space around the ship the Zero-Point Energy Fold Drive tore a hole into the fabric of the universe, somehow dipping into the "coordination system" of the universe, plunge the ship into the hole and bring it out the same way roughly at the coordinates the drive was set to aim.
Does it matter for the humans? The technology not really. Does it matter to the other species? Oh, definitely. But the humans can hear things outside the ships, mostly growling or screams, faintly in the distance or a bit closer.

"But they must know that they're seen and heard like this..."
"No, they don't know."
"But what if they do?"
"What you mean if they do?"
"What if they do know? And they just don't care?!"

— Two frightened Lyranians

Inside a ship

The Space Rippers are powered by strong and very efficient fusion reactors. Top notch server calculate the entire journey and two water cooled systems bring out the heat from each jump into open space. Which is a liability, because - besides seeing the hole in the fabric of space - the enormous amount of heat makes a good target for any kind of scanner.
Once the Ripper is activated, it resonates and vibrates, sometimes people hear it hum and sing and scream. But that couldn't be, right? Because why should it scream or hum if it is just a fusion reactor?
Those FTL drives - if it is even the right description to it - are the most expensive part of a ship right after the main fusion reactor. In addition to this they are also well protected with layers and layers of heat-repelling steel and blast doors. Every ship, be it civilian or military, carries at least two fusion bombs. Normally there is no emergency ejection or contingency plan if the reactor is hit or going to overheat except for shutting it down.

Space Ripper inside a ship by CrazyEddie via Midjourney

"Did you hear this?"
"What?"
"I thought... I thought I hear someone screaming inside the Ripper chamber." keyboard keys clacking "No, nothing... can you see something with the cameras or through the glass?"
"Negative."

— Two technicians close to a Space Ripper