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Subspace-Interface Nexus
10 days.
Basically, this is a continuation of VakhysÂ’ research into subdimensional theory. The SIN is to be the cornerstone of all future technologies to come out of this theory, because it is basically the device which allows Azdgari vessels to access subdimensions. It involves mention of hyperspheres, which are tiny versions of hypercubes which are used primarily to transfer data to and from subdimensions. They can also transfer small amount of matter, and as such the SIN will later be used to plug antimatter reactors into, as matter can be flipped through hyperspheres into antimatter, transferred into an antimatter reactor, reacted with matter, producing vast amounts of energy.
For now, however, the SIN is a network of hypersphere rings which will be fitted onto every Azdgari ship (more hypersphere rings on Aradas representing more capabilities - and once the antimatter is built, far more power). In many ways, it is the base for future technologies, as it provides the basic system and the 10 day project also includes general prerequisite theories that will lead to future technologies (not all of which have to be researched by Vakhys - so my 2nd slot may also be used in the future for related techs to some extent, but revolutionary stuff is limited to the 1st.)
The SINÂ’s primary use on its own is as an ftl communication device. While in actuality the SIN-comm. system does not rely on hyperlinks, for the sake of simplicity it can be thought of as taking about 30 minutes per hyperlink to transfer data. The reason behind this extremely fast pace is that while ordinary hypercomms rely on transferring information through hyperspace, an actual dimension where it seems data cannot travel faster than 1 hyperlink per day, the SIN uses artificial subdimensions which are connected to by ships across realspace (over-simplification, but weÂ’re talking extremely odd stuff here.)
The SIN device itself has a second, patchwork application. A “SIN-sensor” can be employed working under a related premise to the comm. system. It is extremely primitive and, as of now, can do nothing more than pinpoint the locations of ships quick enough to have major battlefield applications. Although primitive, the SIN-sensor will likely be used in conjunction with generic hypersensors to escape the negative effects of ECMs. Due to the nature of the SIN-sensor, confusing it is a far different matter from confusing ordinary hypersensors that work under a premise that everybody has access to.
As aforementioned, a later designed antimatter reactor can be plugged into a shipÂ’s SIN, and in turn produce antiparticles for a beam weapon to replace phase weaponry eventually in yet another project. The SIN also provides the base for research into new forms of ftl travel, and perhaps other things...
Level 5 Phase Shielding
8 days.
Replacing the Level 4 phase shielding developed some weeks ago is the next stage is the project to improve the Azdgari shielding systems.
Differences:
1. An increase in the effective shielding of all Azdgari vessels in the region of ~40% over Level 4 phase shielding. Unlike Level 4 phase shielding which improved some basic systems allowing the Azdara very significant bonus on top of the overall improvements, Level 5 shielding applies this new bonus to Azdaras, (Azdgari/Freight) Aradas and Warships equally. This increase is the primary change in the L5 shielding.
2. Shield regenerators are now 20% more efficient, meaning that Azdgari ships will regenerate even faster than the L4 shielding, although the factor of improvement is now far less.
3. Shield dispersion. A similarly desperate technique to overload regeneration, this allows Azdgari ships to surrender their shielding almost completely (Azdaras will keep just enough to survive in space). The shield generator is temporarily overloaded, as opposed to the overloading of the shield regenerators in L4. (Consequently, overload regeneration may be called overloading, whereas this is called dispersion - the two effects may work together, but overload regeneration ends when the generator is burnt out by shield dispersion, which is sooner.) The effect is a temporary shield net 50% more powerful, which collapses after 4-5 seconds. As a result, the shield generator itself is annihilated. The result of this is that the ship is left virtually unshielded, and also incapable of regenerative abilities.
4. Some general improvements to reliability, stability and calibration. These upgrades will have no influence on battles.
This post has been edited by SilverDragon : 28 February 2005 - 03:33 PM