Subspace

“Resonance Surge Imminent!”

- UNE Ship AI

**Resonance Space** (colloquially known as **Shadowspace** or **Res-Space**) is an alternate, **multi-dimensional** space, which serves as the primary FTL travel method for the UNE and most other sentient, spacefaring races in the Galaxy. Making a transition from Normal Space into Res-space is known as a **Surge** or a **Jump**.

## Physics

Res-space’s physics are completely separate to those of Normal Space. It is essentially a tangle of intertwined micro-dimensional pathways. Res-space exists ‘around’ and ‘inside’ the three dimensions that we call **Normal Space**, and both dimensions are intertwined so extensively that stable pathways between major gravitational influences, such as stars or black holes emerge, meaning that every system containing at least one star or Black Hole, will usually carry a pathway in and out the system via Res-space. Res-space appears pitch black to Human eyes, as nothing on the visible spectrum of light exists in Subspace.

## Subspace Drive

An engine used to transition a ship from Normal Space to Res-space is typically called a **Resonance Drive** (**Res-drive** for short), or colloquially as a **Binary Drive**. It operates with two primary components, known as the **Quantum Field Accelerator**. The Quantum Field Accelerator spins two bubbles of matter, eventually opening a small rupture that acts as a **gateway** into Res-space, which subsequently appears before the ship, ready to be traversed. The drive was invented by 23rd Century scientist Dr Ellen Carr, and patented in early 2297. On the 25th of March, 2320, the drive’s patent expired, and the technology was adopted by multiple large corporations, including the **Alterra Corporation** and **Vixen Dynamics**. By the end of the First Galactic War, many private corporations had adopted the technology. Prior to this, the technology had only been used by the fleets of the United Nations of Earth. Because of Res-space’s strange physics, a strong Energy Shield (grade 6 or above) is required to facilitate safe travel.

Three main pieces of equipment are required for safe traversal of Subspace:

* An Energy Shield (Grade 6 or above)
* A faster-than-light navigational suite (FTLNS)
* Trans-light engine (Resonance Drive)

Although an Energy Shield is technically not mandatory, it is strongly recommended, as much of the physical strain exerted on a ship’s hull during a surge can be mitigated by the shield. The FTLNS allows the ship to orient itself within res-space by firing antimatter particles periodically from twelve separate vents spread across the hull. This serves to maintain the ship’s course, ensuring that it stays on the desired resonance corridor.

## Transitioning to Res-space

### Resonance Nodes

The res-space transition is one of the most dangerous points in the surge. The transition can be made either solely by a ship’ own res-drive, or with the assistance of a **Resonance Node**, typically located in orbit of most major colony worlds. Use of a res-node greatly increases fuel efficiency across the voyage, but are not accessible to any ship larger than frigate. The node operates by using a **Binary Catapult System**, meaning that the vessel does not have to expend fuel for the transition. Res-nodes in systems such as Starbound are well-kept and heavily policed, but in lower security systems, they can be popular points for pirates to wait to ambush a ship preparing for a surge.