Hyperspace gate

Overview

A hyperspace gate is a combination of a hyperspace FTL module, several emitters, and a power source, which when combined creates a FTL gateway from one gate to another. In the event the target location does not have a gate, the sending gate can send a ship to the location with a low degree of accuracy. Due to recent advances by the Hermes Alliance in hyperspace targetting, a ship can now exit the gate network in a sense and navigate on its own to a location with a higher degree than what was previously conceivable.

For proper operation, there must be two gates: one for incoming traffic, and one for outgoing traffic. Attempting to send matter in opposing directions will result in an FTL collision and subsequent destruction of said matter. If one gate tries to 'call into' another gate, and the receiving gate 'blocks the call', the exit point will emerge far from the gate (possibly resulting in death or severe damage to a ship).

Orbital Gates

An orbital gate allows for the transfer of spacecraft from one system to another in an expedient fashion (although near-instantaneous travel is possible when utilizing a hyperspace 'jump'). Usually paired, the gate complex requires a steady supply of Helium-3 fuel to maintain operation. Modularized gate designs with perimeters exceeding 50km by 50km are being designed and built by the Hermes Alliance.

'Pedestrian' Gates

A pedestrian gate allows for foot traffic and ground vehicles to pass from one planet to another. Usually paired, pedestrian gates allow for the near-instantaneous travel of people and vehicles without the need for space travel (near-instantaneous to allow for the comfort of pedestrians utilizing the gate). Pedestrian gates normally have dimensions of 4 meters by 4 meters. Devices known as 'stargates' cannot dial into pedestrian-style hyperspace gates, since both technologies are completely incompatible.

Freight Gates

A Freight gate allows for passenger and freight trains to pass from one planet to another without requiring a starship to ferry the train or the train carrying a bulky hyperspace module. Gates with radii of 10m exist in specific Hyperrail tunnels under the ground of New Haven's colony worlds, providing a means of maintaining mass suppy and mass population transport during times of peace and times of crisis. Due to the construction of these freight gates, civilian space traffic has been reduced 65% and reducing the amount of space lane collisions accordingly.