The Instability

The Instability is a parallel forth Dimension to the Third Dimension and a place without space. Travel between systems uses the instability to function, a dimension without space means that moving between points is much quicker and simpler. However, the Instability is not a safe place, home to Demons and Devils that would love to destroy the weak barriers protecting the fleshy cargo of the ships traveling through.

Demons, Devils, and Archdevils

Demons, Devils, and Archdevils are the main inhabitants of the Instability, often called the Infernals, the same name as their shared language, Infernal. They are in many ways the physical embodiment of the lost souls of the universe and the pain and torture sentients inflict on each other. Infernals are completely past reason, often extremely chaotic, and view life as far less important than Humans do (that is, outside of their own lives). Few have seemingly any morality to speak of.

• Demons are weaker inhabitants of the instability, humanoid beings with multicolored skin, horns, and tails and often with dark powers. Within the Instability, they are very resilient and have high firepower, but outside the instability they are much weaker and easier to kill. Demons often serve as foot soldiers and slaves for Arch Devils.
• Devils are the middle class of the instability, usually humanoid and with large variability in coloring, they often have power over small groups of Demons. They are immortal within the instability, outside of specific circumstances. In the Third Dimension they can be killed, however they will respawn within the Instability after some period of time.They often serve under Arch Devils or rule territory of their own.
• Archdevils are the Infernal pinnacle: near unkillable, with high reality altering powers, and armies of Demons and Devils. They're incredibly variable in appearance, only rarely even humanoid, and often embody concepts of the Third Dimension. Killing Archdevils is impossible in the Instability and only sends them back home from the Third Dimension (which depending on the Archdevil's powers may be very useful or near useless). They also have extreme power in the Instability, with reality altering abilites, and diety level powers outside of the Instability. Few ever leave the Instability thankfully, as nearly every time one does it means something is about to happen on a galactic scale.

Descending into Hell

Despite the danger of the Instability, it's a building block of society. Without it, lightyears of travel would be near impossible to traverse. Other options have been explored, but none are nearly as energy efficient and fast as traveling through the Instability. Yet this travel does bring new risks.
Ships with Instability Engines need relatively steady refueling and if low on fuel can get people stranded in the Instability. Plus, within the Instability most normal technology shuts down or goes on the fritz, so autopilot is required for travel in the dimension. Shields usually shut down, so a backup Unstable Shield is required on Instability Engine owning ships in order to make them not get quickly destroyed. And on top of all that, you have no idea where you'll end up in the Instability. If you travel through the wrong section, you may be totally screwed.

Type

Dimensional plane