Metadimensional Storms

The only thing that exists in the metadimension is a storm that can destroy a ship in minutes. Fly often enough, and the occasional tangle of flashing lights you see out the window may come a lot closer than most would enjoy.

Nature of the Storm

Massive and fast-moving, these storms appear as roiling, churning masses of darkness. The typical trails of iridescence seen flowing like aurora twist and knot around each other in erratic patterns. They occasionally flare in a bright flash, burning a hole through the mass that closes just as quickly.

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Cause

The most-supported theory is that friction between metadimensional currents generates the storms. However, this is based on more typical weather patterns, which are often the result of shifts in pressure and temperature. The metadimension doesn't abide by the physics we know, and the storms can be due to entirely different mechanisms.

Effects

Turbulence

Violently shifting currents can cause minor bumps or throw an adult across the room. Some report feeling motion sick well before the turbulence starts.

Electrical surges

Systems may flicker or burn out entirely, putting even vital life support systems at risk. These surges may be related to the iridescent flares.

Shifting pathways

A violent storm can blow unlucky ships far off their course and change viable pathways entirely, making exiting a distant hope.

Staying Safe

The best way to stay safe from metadimensional storms is to avoid them. While they can't be predicted, there are ways to gauge risk based on how frequently storms occur along a given path and how many people have recently encountered one. Several compad apps collect this data to provide such danger ratings. The one operated by the Protectorate is considered the best, and even those who despise the policing group end up using it over others.
All ships fitted with spike drives are required to have on-board detection and alerting systems. These systems are able to detect sudden shifts in metadimensional currents that can indicate a coming storm. Usually this gives the pilot enough time to safely divert course, but sometimes the storm moves too quickly to escape unharmed.

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Concepts like "inertia" don't apply in the metadimension, and a capital class ship will be tossed aside just as easily as a shuttle. Exiting at a different system than intended is better than never exiting at all.

— Pilot training guide

Did you know?

Not all ships encounter the same storm even when following the same rutter. This is either another sign of a possible quantum nature of the metadimension, or indication that we lack even basic understanding of location within the space.

Storm Chasers

Some intentionally seek out metadimensional storms. Researchers hoping to collect data will pay pilots to get them close enough to launch drones and sensors into the storm. Psionic enthusiasts try to get inside the storm in hopes of developing MES (there is no evidence this works, but also no evidence it doesn't).

Information

Key location

Metadimensional Space

Author Commentary

Future Art?

I wanted to make a mockup of what the compad app would look like but that would take too long to add to a Summer Camp article. Leaving this note here so maybe I remember to come back and do that some day.