Trotzdem Stasis Fields

"Getting there isn't hard, it's getting people there alive that is tough... and infinitely preferable"

Stefen Jung, Discoverer of the Trotzdem effect

Since the early 20th century, one of the greatest impediments to long-distance space travel was our ability to keep the passengers alive long enough to reach their destination. Lacking faster-than-light travel, or some kind of miracle, once humanity had conquered the moon the race was on to find a cost-effective way to keep significant numbers humans alive on long journeys without consuming a massive amount of resources. Every power player in the world was conducting research in the field, knowing that the first to discover it would have an edge on the others to colonize the other planets of our solar system.
in 2107, researchers at the University of Freiburg, Germany who were studying Quantum Fields discovered a way to prevent particle interactions entirely, effectively leaving them in limbo. While the initial experiments were only marginally succesful, the following years would see their research immediately brought under European government oversight. The increased resources (and secrecy) allowed the phenomenon's discoverer, Stefen Jung to generate the first stable "Trotzdem" (German for "still") Stasis Field.
Today, Trotzdem Stasis Fields are a staple of inter-solar travel for the nations of humanity, who use it to transport large quantities of people and supplies over long journeys through space. While inter-solar travel is still possible without them, they dramatically increase the scalability of extra-terran operations. As a result, despite the efforts at secretiveness by the European government, Trotzdem fields are employed in some form within the navies and corporations of all of Earth's nations.

Benefits for Long-Distance Space Travel

The development of stasis field technology has revolutionized interstellar travel, offering unparalleled advantages for missions spanning decades or even centuries. One of the most significant benefits is the drastic reduction in life support requirements. Since stasis effectively halts biological processes, the need for oxygen, food, water, and waste management is eliminated, allowing spacecraft to carry more occupants or extend their operational range without the logistical burden of sustaining active crew members.
In addition to reducing resource consumption, stasis pods also extend the functional lifespan of their occupants. By suspending aging and cellular activity, these devices enable spacefarers to outlive their natural lifespans, making multi-generational missions or return journeys spanning decades feasible. This has made deep-space exploration and colonization efforts practical for the first time in human history.
Furthermore, stasis technology alleviates the psychological toll of prolonged isolation in space. Instead of enduring years of monotonous travel, crew members experience what feels like instantaneous arrival at their destination, preserving their mental well-being and readiness for critical operations upon awakening. These benefits have cemented stasis fields as an indispensable tool for humanity's expansion into the stars, fundamentally reshaping the way we think about time, distance, and survival in the cosmos.

Proliferation

While all of the nations of Earth have access Trotzdem fields in some manner, they are not all of the same design or quality. For instance, the "Genesis-1" Stasis Fields used by the Pan-American Concord are the cheapest, most space-efficient, and most numerous of any spacefaring vessels to date. However, they also have a recorded 0.567% chance of outright failure. Meanwhile, the "Archangel" Trotzdem Field generators produced by Yoruba-Sahara are famously large, because they were the first to use them to transport dangerous, volatile, fragile, or fast-expiring goods such as vaccines, explosives, and radioactive material in relative safety compared to traditional transportation methods.

Manufacturing

The production of a device capable of manipulating quantum fields, particularly within the unforgiving vacuum of space, is nothing short of an engineering marvel. These machines must operate with precision at an atomic level, all while enduring the harshest environments humanity has ever explored. Often separated from the void of space by mere inches of plasteel and alloy, the margin for error is virtually nonexistent.
The manufacturing process is as intricate as the technology itself. Stasis field generators require vast quantities of rare earth metals and exotic materials, many of which must be sourced from off-world mining operations or carefully guarded terrestrial reserves. Each component is crafted using cutting-edge manufacturing equipment capable of atomic-level precision, operated by a workforce that represents the pinnacle of human expertise. The slightest flaw in production could lead to catastrophic failure, making consistency a monumental challenge.
Due to the immense technical and resource demands, only a small handful of facilities worldwide are capable of producing these devices. These factories are often located in highly secure, undisclosed locations, shrouded in secrecy to protect against espionage, sabotage, and even corporate rivalry. National governments guard these sites as critical infrastructure, treating their blueprints and locations as state secrets. Unauthorized disclosure of their details is considered an act of treason in many countries.
Rumors abound about the conditions within these clandestine manufacturing hubs. Stories speak of sprawling underground complexes buried deep beneath mountains or hidden in the barren wastes of alien planets, where every precaution is taken to prevent infiltration. Some whisper of staff who are not just employees but permanent residents, cut off from the outside world to ensure security. These workers reportedly live in luxurious but isolated accommodations, complete with state-of-the-art amenities to compensate for their confinement. While such tales may verge on myth, they underscore the lengths to which nations go to protect their manufacturing capabilities.
This intense secrecy and exclusivity have fostered an ecosystem of competition and paranoia among the world's powers. Black markets thrive on even the smallest scraps of technical information, fueling an arms race to refine and optimize the technology. The stakes are astronomical: whoever controls the production of stasis field technology not only dominates interstellar travel but holds the key to humanity’s expansion beyond Earth.

Method of Use

Trotzdem Fields are generated within highly specialized "stasis pods," often referred to simply as "pods" or, more dramatically, "sarcophagi." These pods are precision-engineered to contain the quantum field with absolute stability, preventing the dangerous "leakage" that could result in Quantum Degradation (QD) Sickness. To ensure safety, stasis pods are typically isolated from any non-frozen personnel, critical systems, or equipment. This separation minimizes the risk of contamination or field interference, both of which could lead to catastrophic outcomes.
Occupants inside stasis pods are submerged in a dense, gel-like solution specifically formulated to suspend the body and reduce physical stress during the transition into and out of stasis. This solution prevents contact between the occupant and the edges of the pod, where even minor quantum distortions could prove fatal. The process of entering stasis is highly technical: occupants must first be intubated and connected to advanced life-support systems that regulate vital functions such as oxygenation, circulation, and waste management during the slow descent into stasis. Training is essential, as many first-time users experience disorientation or panic when awakening in the viscous solution, often finding the sensation claustrophobic or overwhelming. As a result, prospective spacefarers undergo rigorous simulations to prepare for the physical and psychological challenges of using stasis technology.

Social Impact

The widespread use of Trotzdem Stasis Fields has profoundly shaped human society, particularly in the context of space travel. On Earth, however, these fields remain shrouded in mystery, generating a mix of awe, rumor, and deep-seated superstition. For many, this advanced technology feels indistinguishable from magic, especially given the harrowing legacy of its early iterations. High fatality rates during the initial stages of development only heightened public mistrust. Tales of catastrophic failures—where individuals emerged as lifeless husks or were irrevocably "quantum shattered"—spread fear among those expected to entrust their lives to the technology. To counteract these fears, early adopters of stasis field technology were offered significant financial incentives to take the risks. Even today, the phenomenon of "stasis panic" persists, where the psychological strain of entering a stasis chamber overwhelms potential users. Spacefarers are now rigorously trained to overcome this instinctive terror, undergoing both mental conditioning and extensive simulations to prepare them for the disorienting experience of stasis.
Beyond the practical concerns, the use of stasis fields dramatically alters a spacefarer’s perception of time and their relationship with society. While in stasis, individuals essentially "skip" through time, emerging years—or even decades—after entering. This temporal displacement creates a gulf between spacefarers and those who live in the constant flow of linear time, often referred to by the derogatory nickname "Gravs" (short for "Grav Lovers," those who remain planet-bound). Gravs tend to view spacefarers with suspicion, perceiving them as detached, otherworldly figures unmoored from the rhythms of everyday life.
This temporal disconnection often leads to profound personal sacrifices. Many spacefarers abandon hopes of traditional family life, as the logistics of maintaining relationships across massive time gaps become insurmountable. Friendships and family bonds frequently dissolve, leaving spacefarers to form tight-knit but insular communities of their own, where shared experiences of stasis and displacement provide a sense of belonging.
Perhaps one of the most unsettling societal developments stemming from stasis technology is the practice of "future-proofing" among the ultra-wealthy. This controversial phenomenon involves the creation of cloned bodies, artificially grown to maturity and placed in stasis as biological backups. These preserved "spare selves" serve as repositories for replacement organs, stem cells, or even entire body parts, enabling the rich to extend their lifespans and maintain peak physical health. The ethical dilemmas surrounding future-proofing are hotly debated, with critics arguing it dehumanizes the clones, treating them as commodities rather than sentient beings. Yet, the practice continues to thrive in secret, shielded by immense wealth and power.
Stasis fields have become a double-edged sword: a technological marvel enabling humanity’s reach into the stars, yet a source of profound cultural, ethical, and psychological upheaval. As the technology becomes more ubiquitous, society must grapple with the complex legacy of this quantum leap in human advancement.

Access & Availability

Stasis fields are prohibitively expensive for all but the ultra-wealthy, national governments or major corporations. Many news organizations have repeatedly received anonymous tips that Trotzdem-like devices have been acquired by criminal organizations for unknown purposes, but this claim is unanimously refuted by national governments.