Warp point

The Warp Point

What is it?

Warp points are natural occurances in space, resulting from some unexplained condition in gravity interaction. The simple explanation is that they are 'wormholes' connecting two points fairly distant in Einsteinian space, which allow the transit of ships instantly between those two points, at least, by the ships' clocks. Depending in the distance involved and the type of connection, the external time passage varies from less than a minute to nearly ten minutes.

More scientifically, a warp point is a fold in the gravitonic spectrum permanently linked to another similiar fold in another solar system. A gravitonic analysis shows them to be cylindrical in nature, usually in the realm of about twenty kilometers in diameter and a kilometer deep. Outside the actual warp point, the area immediately surrounding the 'front', in a funnel shape, it gravitonically warped out to about fifty kilometers, preventing the emplacement of permanent, stationary defenses. This area is known as the Gravity Eddy. FTL travel is impossible in the Gravity Eddy.

Types of Warp Points

These warp points are classified in order of discovery by ships of Sentient Peoples and Revenia.

Type 1: Most Common Type of Warp Point

Diameter: 19.8 kilometers +/- 3%

Width: 1.1 kilometers +/- 4%

Depth of Gravity Eddy: 48.9 kilometers +/- 2%

Type 2:

Diameter: 21.4 kilometers +/- 2%

Width: 1.05 kilometers +/- 6%

Depth of Gravity Eddy: 45.2 kilometers +/- 5%

Type 3:

Diameter: 22.1 kilometers +/- 6%

Width: 1.15 kilometers +/- 3%

Depth of Gravity Eddy: 44.2 kilometers +/- 4%

Type 4:

Diameter: 18.5 kilometers +/- 4%

Width: 0.95 kilometers +/- 1%

Depth of Gravity Eddy: 54.6 kilometers +/- 1%

Type 5: Second Most Common Type of Warp Point

Diameter: 20.2 kilometers +/- 2%

Width: 1.00 kilometers +/- 5%

Depth of Gravity Eddy: 47.9 kilometers +/- 3%

Type 6: Least Common Type of Warp Point

Diameter: 28.5 kilometers +/- 6%

Width: 1.3 kilometers +/- 3%

Depth of Gravity Eddy: 30.2 kilometers +/- 4%

Type Seven: Closed Warp Point

A closed warp point is a warp point that is undetectable on sensors unless something comes through it on from the other side. They have no Gravity Eddy. It is speculted that these are actually the most common warp points in existance, but since it is impossible to gain empirical data on their frequency, this is usually ignored. These points are usually about 17 kilometers across and of unknown depth, since the only way to chart the size is use the enterable area, which is only on the 'front' side.

Effects of Warp Points on Travel

Sublight Travel

Like any other object with a measurable gravitonic presence, such as a planet, moon, asteroid or star, warp points must be accounted for when plotting a course, if such a course should pass through in or close proximity to the Gravity Eddy. Due to the extra-dimensional properties of warp points, though, this gravity effect only extends about twice the distance of the Gravity Eddy in all directions from the warp point (Except closed warp points, obviously). The gravity that must be taken into account is equivalent to that of the Earth's gravity and EM fields, though there is little to no betraying EM radiation from a warp point.

FTL Travel Near a Warp Point

Within the Gravity Eddy, there is no FTL travel possible, whether real space or extra-dimensional. This is due to the intense gravitonic- and hyper-shear associated with an open warp point. Further, the hyper-shearing affect extends out into the same area through which the gravity field of the warp point effects sublight travel, creating a so-called 'hyperlimit' around the warp point, an area where hyperspace and other forms of FTL travel reliant on extra-dimensional access cannot access real space, though they can travel across the area.

Warp Point Transit

Warp point transit is the process by which warp points can be used to move from one solar system to another. It involves taking a ship into the 'front' of the warp point at fairly low velocity, since one can never be sure what ships will be on the other side and in what locations. Warp point transit is accomplished one ship at a time, for ships emerging at the same time from a warp point may interpenetrate as they reenter real space, causing the total destruction of both vessels as reality tends not to appriciate having two pieces of matter attempting to cohabitate the same quantum reality. Emergence from a Warp Point after transit results in temporary destabilization of internal systems and can cause insanity in less advanced AI. For this reason, it is usually best to take vessels through a warp point on manual control, with AI temporarily deactivated.

Further, each warp point has an exact approach vector by which it should be traveled for least disruption of electronic and organic systems. Approaching along this vector limits the destabilization of systems as well as the physiological effects of warp point transit. Also, approaching along this vector limited the randomness of the exit vector from the warp point. Each vector, both entry and exit, are unique to each warp point, and must be mapped. Warp points can be entered in other areas than the approach vector, though this has a tendency towards greater strain on the vessel transiting. Near the edges of the 'front', on the other hand, the Warp Point is untransitable with extraordinarily high levels of gravity shear, which can render heavy damage to unprepared vessels.

Warp Point Chains

A Warp Point Chain, or Warp Chain, is merely a series of systems connected by warp points and are many times indentified by the presence of so called 'choke point' systems at either end or by terminal systems containing only a single warp point. The location of the warp points in the systems that make up the chain has absolutely no apparent relation to the location to the system the warp point connects its home system to.

Choke Point Systems

A choke point system is a system which contains three or more open warp points. More often than not, they appear to contain main sequence stars, though viable planets are just as unlikely as they are normally. Because they are systems where multiple warp chains often meet, they are referred to as choke points, as moving down these warp chains will force all the forces in these chains to meet in the single choke point system.

Also, these systems are known as choke points because of Warp Point Resonance. A system containing three or more open warp points experiences process known as Warp Point Resonance which closes the system to FTL travel methods involving extra-dimensional access. Basically, the three (or more) warp points fall into an interaction pattern with the system sun which causes their natural hyperlimits to be magnified enormously and exponentially. A system with three warp points has a hyperlimit of approximately a light month, but a system with six open warp points is sealed against FTL travel for nearly a lightyear. Like the hyperlimit of a single warp point, these areas can be transversed extra-dimensionally, but cannot be entered or left in this manner. Purely real space FTL methods still operate. Extra-dimensional FTL communications systems also would be inoperative with the resonance area, just as they are inside the hyperlimit of a single warp point.

Controling Warp Points

Currently, the only way to control a warp point is to establish permanent fortifications on either end of the warp point. In the Sol System, the Federation of Sentient Peoples has a small station outside the Gravity Eddy of the Type 1 warp point located there and charges a small toll to permit transit of the warp point, based on the tonnage of the vessel transiting the warp point, at 1.00 Federation Credit per metric ton of merchant vessel and 5.00 Federation Credits per metric ton for a warship.