Hyperspace Drive
Standard type of FTL Drive, at least for this corner of the Galaxy. In fact, noone really known how it works. For every known civilization the practical breakthrough showed up suprisingly, and without any plausible theories backing it up. Truth to be told, there exist no known civilization twith even the slightest hint, including even the most technologically advanced civilization (like Greys or Ancients). This led to many wild theories, including to ones that search for answer in religion and ezoterism... not to mention the popular theory that actually discovering the answers means some type of technological ascendency. With all the civilization that actually understood it now being... somewhere else.
Or dead.
Hyperspace Drive uses very advanced technology of space and gravity manipulation to literally rip apart space, creating a small slip through which the ships then fly while using STL Engines. Thus they reach Hyperspace. A dimension that is somehow connected to what we consider "Reality". The space there works completely different. 1 light year in Hyperspace can equal from 1,5 to 500 light years in Realspace. With 99% of surveyed and navigable hyperspace having compression ratio between 70 to 150. Thus the lightspeed can be breached while still using primitive chemical engines to propel ships.
This drive, however, has its own share of disadvantages. First one is the fact that attempting to enter Hyperspace within planetary systems ends with effect that can be compared to shooting a stone wall with pulse cannon loaded with soft-boiled eggs... with humans inside being eggs. It leads to paradoxical situations in which ship on the outer edge of Solar System can reach Alfa Centauri system faster than Earth.
The second disadvantage is the negative impact for prolong exposure to Hyperspace for human psyche. The normal practise is leaving the Hyperspace every seven days (twelve in case of warships) to spend at least a day or two in Realspace. There are drugs that can prolong the safe time of exposture, but their long list of side effects made them be the last resort.
Hyperspace Drive Generations
First Gen. Hyperspace Drive - A basic FTL drive, devised by humans (and most other sapient species) on the very beginning of their expansions. It is typically used for first phase of space expansion, including settling of the nearby star systems and the general beginning of space exploration, including first archeotechs. It allows entering and leaving hyperspace, but it's extremely imprecise and often requires multiple attempts to reach the edge of the target system.
Second Gen. Hyperspace Drive - An improved FTL drive, created by countering the lack of precision in travel distance and route. It is done by settling small beacons (existing in Realspace but creating signals that could be received in Hyperspace) along the routes connecting systems. While it's costly and tends to get messed up if there are many, many routes connecting with the single system (it is advisable to have a limited number of routes, instead of connecting everything to everything). It stabilizes the travel and makes it much faster.
Third Gen. Hyperspace Drive - An advanced FTL drive. This level is achieved when a creation of artificial hyperlanes becames possible. It is extremely costly and requires cooperation from both sides of the tunnel, but it allows very quick communication between vastly divided star sectors. Terran Federation in currently stuck on Third Gen.
Fourth Gen. Hyperspace Drive - A very advanced FTL drive. This level is achieved when hyperspace drives reaches levels when many lesser and weaker hyperlanes became detectable and navigable. This allows the creation of subsectors and is almost a pinnacle of Hyperspace Drives. Most of Outer Colonies is currently on this level of advancement.
Fourth and a Half Gen. Hyperspace Drive - Unoficial name for the moment when Hyperspace Drive technology allows one to create both Void Drive and Subspace Drive - or, to be exact, either one or them or both. They are considered a part of a the Hyperspace Drive family three due to being an addons to the Hyperspace Drive rather than separate thing. More advanced of the Outer Colonies are currently on this level.
Fifth Gen. Hyperspace Drive - A penultimate level of FTL drive. It is achievable when the level of hyperspace manipulation technology allows the short-distance hyperjumps inside the star systems. Achieving this level means immense improvement of travel and economy. Purely hypothethical, though it is believed to 'happen' in next century or so.
Sixth Gen. Hyperspace Drive - An ultimate level of FTL drive. Achievable when a country achieves ability of creating and destroying hyperlanes. Reaching this level means ability to create unshakable and invincible empires that could theoretically reach the size of the Galaxy... unless the contenders arise.
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