Phase Space Acceleration
Travel to Messier 4 without interacting with the Galactic Barrier, which has negative physiological effects on all mammalian life forms, is achieved through the use of the Phase Space Accelerator. The original prototype model was built into the support cage of the mobile drydock USS I Knew I Forgot To Tell You Something, with two solar energy collectors put into the orbit of a blue giant star to provide power. The effects of the Accelerator’s activation rendered the trio of acceleration rings unfunctional, but given the scale of the prototype, this was expected.
Side by side with the creation of the prototype, and in step with the plans for Project Long Jump, a large and more robust accelerator was created. The Alpha Accelerator would be able to be refurbished between uses, allowing for steady if infrequent travel to Messier 4. This device would orbit close to the star Starbase 72 orbits, allowing it to draw in energy from the star between uses. Power usage depends on tonnage going through the Accelerator to the other side, ranging from low powered station keeping to facilitate communications or flotilla strength size masses that see the Accelerator down for a month of refits and recharges. Alpha trio of rings, one lined up behind the other, have a diameter of nearly eight hundred meters allowing for most ship classes in Starfleet’s books.
The use of the Phase Space Accelerator is a dangerous, and time-consuming affair both in resources and calculations. Given the higher dimensions accessed by the Accelerator, accurate projections of the target point are very hard to come by. The USS Traveller’s single shot towards Messier 4, a relatively close target for the Accelerator, took several months to compute and they still fell short of Messier 4 by 30 light years. Given the theoretical range of a Phase Space Accelerator misfire could be halfway to Andromeda, it’s important to check the math.
But therein lies the true beauty of the Long Jump Projects goal. Along with the Traveller, and the four auto freighters for logistical support, a colony barge came along. The plan was to set up a colony to act as an industrial base to build a second Accelerator, this was called Beta. With both an Alpha and Beta Accelerator online, it is theorised that their phase space harmonic signatures would act as a beacon, drawing ships in phase space transit directly to the companion gate without the need for excessive navigational computations.
DANGERS OF PHASE SPACE TRAVEL
Ships must be physically shielded within fairings to protect from the higher dimensional energies they are exposed to in transit. Unprotected travel can lead to Capsule Syndrome, where neurological functioning can degrade rapidly. Symptoms included an inability to parse tenses, a cough inflicted as a neurological tic in the diaphragm, loss of fine motor control, and bleeding on the brain.
Firing an expedition to Messier 4 is not something done on a whim. It needs to be planned for, prepared, and executed. There will be no rapid evacuation from Messier 4, not unless all of the escapee’s want an unregulated neural dysfunction. If you go, plan to stay a long while.
