Janus Gate

Janus Gates, are spatial phenomena that allow for ships to warp between star systems quickly. Precious little is known about Janus Gates and even less about what happens inside them. Normally invisible to the naked eye, these disturbances in space time can often only be detected by the fluctuations in gravity around them, and seem to spontaneously appear usually inside star systems. though can seemingly last for centuries once manifested. Often they tend to connect to other Gates in nearby stars, however the reason for this behaviour is unknown. Originally discovered by accident in 2952 when a starship travelling to the edge of a system suddenly was pulled inside one, and emerged in a nearby system completely out of control. Miraculously the ship had survived the trip, though not without significant damage, and its crew was able to relay what had appeared to happen to their ship. In lue of a proper name from imperial physicists the disturbances were eventually nicknamed: “Pluto's Gates”, by sailors who despised their dangerous nature and tendency to destroy what entered them.

In the 32nd century, astronomers at the Gartia Vega Stellar Installation witnessed the birth of one of the disturbances with their gravitational telescope. Shortly thereafter they would observe one dissipating. Noting that while they usually tend to be long lasting once created, it was possible for the spatial disturbances to eventually dissipate similarly to blackholes. After experimentation they noted that extremely dense concentrations of certain exotic compounds, which when heated immensely, undergo a phase transition causing them to burn off their constituent elements, which in turn critically react with one another. The result was a highly dense sphere of material with tremendous gravitational force which lasted for a short time before re - expanding and seemingly vaporising. Once the reactions had completed, it appeared that nothing significant beyond them had occurred. However after further study and experimentation it was determined that the reaction process caused the gravitational turmoil inside the spatial disturbance to stabilize for a certain length of time. Though the exact reason for this outcome remains a mystery.

This development was a shock to the scientific community of the empire and it wouldn't be long before theories suggesting the possibility of faster than light travel began to surface. These theories would culminate in the experiment performed in the latter half of the 32nd century by physicist: “Gallio Pedius Olympicus”. Assisted by a private company. He named his experiment the: “Wings of Mercury”. In which four relatively small prototype structures were constructed at two disturbances in two different star systems. For each disturbance there was a signal device designed to try and communicate with each other using their respective disturbances. Additionally were two other structures designed to try and create a stabilized connection, between each other and transport a remotely operated probe to one end and back safely. Both signal devices worked immediately, able to communicate with each other and the transporters instantly. The transporters though were less successful, failing consistently to transport the probe without destruction occurring. However after 113 failed attempts and consistent modifications to the structures… It finally worked. The probe successfully made both trips intact. His success earned him a Minerva prize, and he would go on to officially rename the disturbances as: “Janus Gates”, after the roman god of gates and doors. The two structures he created would be named: “Nodes” for the signal structure and “Waystations” for the structure actually responsible for transporting objects respectively. Finally the device he pioneered that powered the waystations and their ability to stabilise Janus Gates he would name the: “Olympicus Anchor”.

## Process

To begin harnessing a Janus Gate. “Nodes” are built at the Gate site. nodes act as massive interstellar beacons and space stations. Taking advantage of the Gate to send out signals and transmissions to other “connected” nodes across space. In that sense nodes function both as a transportation beacon to other nodes, and their waystations, as well as a primary means of faster than light communication between star systems. Some star systems only possess a single Janus Gate and thus in turn only a single node. However others may have multiple Gates allowing for the system to host several nodes. Though such systems tend to be fairly rare. Nodes are so large that they often also serve as large space stations, featuring docks, and hangars for spacecraft. In addition, interior facilities which may depend on the node and the system it's located in, but most offer markets, rooming for space travellers, and other services.

Nodes are additionally surrounded by “Waystations” ,  smaller constructs which serve as the actual means for FTL travel. At any given node there may be as few as one or as many as a dozen waystations depending on the number of nodes that are connected to the host node’s Janus Gate. Upon receiving a target destination and scanning the ship/ships that want to travel, a Size-matched Warp Ring is deployed, clamping to the sides of the travelling vessel/vessels. The waystation then orients itself to the receiving station and it in turn mirrors the sending station. Once both stations have mirrored each other’s orientation in space they will stabilise their Gate connection, and the sending station will initiate the rings which will then flip over the ships causing them to appear near instantly at the receiving station in the exact mirror to their position at the sending station. Due to the need to physically orient the waystations, departures and arrivals are usually scheduled in specific time brackets. With the waystation departing ships roughly every 3 hours.

## Discovery

Locating new Janus Gates is a task normally performed by “Gromatici”. These starships are equipped with specialized sensor suites and other detection equipment designed to locate the gravitational anomalies emitted by these disturbances. Along with the necessary equipment, materials, and specialists needed to temporarily exploit them until more permanent nodes and waystations have been constructed. They also serve as the discoverers of new star systems making blind jumps through existing waystations to suspected exit points. Such ventures are extremely dangerous as the Janus Gate has not been properly stabilized at each end, which can lead to any number of undesirable exit points. Assuming the vessel in transit isn't simply torn to shreds by the tumultuous gravitational waves inside the disturbance. However these ventures if successful can be extremely profitable to the crews, and as a result Gromatici tend to have no shortage of volunteers willing to take the risk in return for being set for life. Once or if they have successfully made it through the Gate and into the new star system the ship will drop a temporary small scale node at the location, and establish a temporary limited scale waystation allowing for limited travel back and forth to the new star system.

## Economic Impact

Some worlds, regardless of their mineral or face economic value, can become massively prosperous by simply having an abundance of available Janus Gate sites. These star systems can become known as: “Node Hub’s”, and can serve as multidirectional transportation points connecting several constituent star systems. In addition Military exclusive nodes also exist, however their locations and destinations are generally kept classified in addition to being well guarded physically.

Upon the discovery of this method of warp travel, Over the course of a brief period, thousands of nodes and waystations across the empire opened upon the realization of the sheer economic opportunity. The Imperial Government of the time immediately recognized the risks. As the rapid economic shift ruined official trade and economic routes and strategies, and in months the economy very nearly imploded from lack of control, as the central boards which usually regulated and controlled most parts of the economy were unable to keep up with the changes.

Thus, the Imperial Government began a decades-long process of registering and taking control of the new nodes. The government then introduced a law limiting production, sales, and access to the compounds used in waystations to try and ensure a more controlled spread of the technology. While somewhat successful in slowing down the expansion of nodes and waystations. Nevertheless, the wealthy and criminal minded were able to attain some sources of these compounds, and as such several worlds often located on the fringes of imperial space gained their own nodes. Furthermore, a few criminal empires are built off the backs of secret node networks. Some of which hide in plain sight masquerading as legitimate nodes. At the current time, the standing Imperial Government's stance on the construction of nodes and waystations is generally uncaring. The constructions are semi-frequent, but famous, so easy to track, and so long as all safety regulations and processes are performed, these civilian nodes and waystations remain unbothered.

Since this turbulent time, Janus Gates, enabled the Imperium to expand massively and rapidly. With the empire exploding from around two hundred systems in their thrall, to several thousand, to nearly 2 million over the course of a few centuries.

## Myth and Legend

There are several 'sailors tales' about the Janus Gates arising from the little knowledge of what happens during a warp. Tales of beasts and aliens who steal away ships in transit, or of how the transit brings crews dangerously near to the god Janus Himself, who takes some as his personal prizes. Many of these are scientifically explained away as malfunctions or fluctuations in the way stations, the nodes, or even the Janus Gate itself, resulting in catastrophic accidents during transit. However, before any official nodes are opened to the public, there is a long standing tradition of sending through a series of scientific probes and a box with gifts to Janus through the transit system, in hopes that they might be the victims of one such of these 'sailors tales' and might either win the favor of Janus for travelers safety, or learn further scientific data on the malfunctions/interruptions to the transit.