Faster-than-light travel
Supralight Cross Galaxy is roughly 7 months (No one would do this because there is nothing in a straight line, you'd stop somewhere). That is 15,000 Lightyears per month if acceleration wasn't a factor. Supralight has an acceleration variable.
For 7 months across the galaxy, Variables are roughly in the 10,000 light-year increase in speed.
The warp field creation is the main consumption of material. After it's been created, maintaining the field does not require burning Exotic Material.
RAD Stacks. Radioactive Decay batteries provide a use for old radioactive material. They continue to push atoms out to generate power. Provided shielding is in place this is a relatively safe and reliable method of power generation for most Spaceship needs.
Atomic. The vastness of space has opened up the collection of Helium 3 and Thorium. These are used in Fusion reactors. It's a burnable fuel source but can generate large sums of power for larger industrial or military use ships.
Solar, Radiation. Most ships have a sprayable coating that collects Solar and other forms of radiation into small batteries built into the hulls. While not overly powerful it will keep life support chugging along for a bit.
Exotic Material. Used for large power requirements over short periods it is perfect for the creation of a supralight field. You could use it for other needs but considering the cost why would you?
Kalirian Priestess. Kalirian monks can generate strong electrical fields around them that can be used to power a starship. A choir of them can create a Superalight field. Though this would be slavery since those fields are created during extreme arousal. Not that this hasn't been tried by some slavers or curious mad scientists around the galaxy.
Methods of FTL
Supralight
Supralight is a warp drive system that requires the use of Exotic Materials most commonly found in Stellar Nurseries. The Exotic Material is use to create a 'Supralight Field' The field causes space to push on the ship propelling it through space at faster and faster speeds.Slingspace
Slingspace is an FTL travel method that requires a launch site in space. Before the collection of Exotic Matter made Supralight possible, SlingSpace was the main method of travel. The ships required a device to stop the effects of time distortion and to begin decelerating hours or days before their arrival. While this isn't still in use, it was a popular method of FTL during the ascendancy era period of many worlds. These 'Space Slingshots' were not without accident, as they cannot stop if something got in the way.Warp
Warp Drive. While Supralight operates under the same principle old fashion Warp Drives with no exotic material do still exist. They're slower but they do exist. Many worlds use Nuclear based Warp Drives for their first foray into space. The Cross Galaxy Warp trip would take at minimum 5 years to complete.Non-FTL travel engine options
- Ion drives. Reliable, acceleration is steady.
- Plasma drive. Faster to accelerate than Ion. Much more energy intensive for larger ships.
- Solar sails. A sail powered by the sun or a beam of light projected from a ship.
(re: Solar Sails) "Who the fuck is using these? This is rich person bullshit used by the elite who are begging to get bushwacked by pirates."
- Cpl. Tsukamoto on a mission to escort
