to sleep perchance to dream

[warpfairy]

Isabella drifts into a new system. This is farther than she usually ventures, but she can make it back to a new human colony after a complete survey here, with a margin of error, and refuel there to get back into central Federation space. Still, she's a little apprehensive as she drops out of warp. If the system proves to be unusually complicated she'll have to do it in two stages.

Comments

[evesystem]

"... It's quite possible that an Earth that developed warp technology independently of us might discover a different method. We have two - well, maybe three forms of faster-than light transport. Warp drives, jump drives, and jump clones. Warp's good for in-system transport: Jump drives and jump gates have a range per jump of about five or six light-years, though I think some established gate complexes do better. Warp drives require a large mass or a previous targeting fix from someone who's already physically been to the location: Jump drives require a cynosaural field generator to be actively running at the other end of the jump, providing a beacon for the jump drive to lock on to."

[warpfairy]

"None of these things are what I'm calling warp. Earth came up with the drive in 2063; other species at other times but eventually they almost always manage, which is part of why I'm surprised you have this alternate technology but not - subspace warp, let's call it that."

[evesystem]

"It's possible that some portion of the original colony developed subspace warp, but died out or left. Sleeper tech is generally as good as or higher-quality than ours, and we still don't understand its principles yet."

[warpfairy]

"...Anyway, if you can't call off the attack drones I should probably get out of their way. Can you still hail me if I go into orbit around the nearest moon?"

[evesystem]

"Yes, anywhere within system should be fine. I can't stay around to chat forever, though: these wormholes are naturally occurring, and at my best guess the one I've come through will dissipate within two or three hours. While you're fascinating, I'd rather not end up stranded and have to pod-jump home."

[warpfairy]

"...Since you're human I can give you warp equations without contravening Federation law." She punches up impules power to zoom into a high orbit around the moon.

[evesystem]

"...I see we need to talk about the politics of my local systems. Please, don't repeat that offer to anybody."

[evesystem]

Another small ship arrives in system, from the other wormhole. Its IFF proclaims it to be owned by an "Absentminded Professor", belonging to the incorporated entity "SOLODRAKBANSOLODRAKBANSOLODRAKBANSOLO". It deploys small a set of four small probes, which warp away into a pyramidal formation: from their movements over the next few minutes, it looks like they're triangulating the position of the arcology.

[evesystem]

"We have company. Stay to the secure channel: wormhole space is lawless, and I don't think we want to attract attention."

[warpfairy]

"...If you say so."

[evesystem]

"If it's a hostile, I'll probably wake up with a headache and a nice hole in my bank account, and you'll have to run: we'd probably never find each other again with the way wormhole space shifts."

[evesystem]

Absentminded Professor gets a fix on the Sleeper complex. A few moments later, a small fleet of four heavily-armed ships appear from the wormhole, the largest dwarfing the other three with its bulk.

The wormhole wobbles noticeably.

[warpfairy]

This is all really interesting, but Isabella stays ready to warp the hell out of here and leave the whole thing on Starfleet's doorstep.

[evesystem]

The fleet warps in towards the arcology, and engages the drones there. Railgun-accelerated antimatter-fullerene rounds, hull repair nanobots, and EVE shield tech are all put on display for T'mir's scanners. Missiles, lasers, and electronic countermeasures are also in evidence.

[evesystem]

"So, where should I start?"

[warpfairy]

"If this space is lawless, what sort of laws are in force elsewhere?"

[evesystem]

"The galaxy can be roughly broken down into three categories: highsec, lowsec, and nullsec. High security areas are patrolled by CONCORD, and are basically safe to exist in. There are occasional terrorist acts, but CONCORD has a response time of about five minutes and a very big stick: most people with decent shields survive long enough for the cavalry to arrive, even in dire situations. Outside that, there are empire-policed low security areas: if you're near a gate or a station, you're probably safe, but if you're out in an asteroid belt you might run into pirates. Outside that, in the nullsec areas - you're on your own. That's the territory of Capsuleer nations, and few of them appreciate having strangers in their territory. This is wormhole space: it doesn't even have a proper security designation."

[warpfairy]

"I'm not sure what the legalities are between a lost human colony and the Federation. This might get complicated."

[evesystem]

"Hence why I suggested you not tell me instantly about how to make my own warp drive like yours. It would be problematic."

[warpfairy]

"Well, where's the civilized area?"

[evesystem]

"Through the wormhole I came from, then maybe one or two jumps after that."

[warpfairy]

"I don't think I had better go hopping through strange unstable wormholes. Could you point it out on a map?"

[evesystem]

"Wormhole space is unmapped. I have no idea where I am right now, save that it's 'through a wormhole.'"

[warpfairy]

"...Okay, but I know where I am. Do you know where civilized space in your society is?"

[evesystem]

"Not relative to where I am right now, or to any landmark in our current sky. Otherwise wormhole space would be mapped by now."