Relays

Among the many technologies developed by the inhabitants of the Proxima Galaxy, few have been as significant to the development of interstellar society as the Stellar Relays (often shortened to Relays). First constructed during the time of the Shapers, and rediscovered eons later by the modern races of the galaxy, these relays are capable of using the Starways to bridge the gaps between the stars, allowing for faster and safer interstellar travel. With how vital interstellar travel is to the survival and expansion of galactic society, the Relays (and the technology behind them) are considered by all to be immeasurably valuable, with every effort being spent to protect, maintain, and improve them.

Utility

Relays are designed to act as "gates" to the Starways that connect the stars, allowing travellers to select specific "routes" to travel along when jumping across systems.

Social Impact

Relays are considered to be one of the most vital technologies to galactic society as a whole. While it is possible to access the Starways for FTL travel without using a Relay, it's much riskier to do so, making them a vital part of interstellar travel, from commercial trade to recreational travel.

Inventor(s)

While the exact details remain largely unknown, it's believed by many that the inventor of the first Relays was a member of the Shapers named Mazehn.

Access & Availability

Relays are widely available to the general galactic population, who make ready use of them for both industrial and recreational interstellar travel.

Complexity

Since the Relays are designed to use the bizarre tunnels through spacetime known as the Starways, the technologies behind them are understandably complex. Most of this complexity comes from the process of Relays at opposite ends of a "path" through the Starways connecting with one another, linking the jump drive of the transiting ship(s) to the route, and bringing the entrance and exit of the route into realspace for the ship(s) to access.

Discovery

It's widely understood that the technology behind the Relays was first discovered by the Shapers around the same time that the Starways were discovered. While the Shapers were well aware of the pathways between the stars carved through spacetime by the mysterious Void Serpents, as well as the potential to use them for near-instantaneous interstellar travel, they wanted to improve the safety and efficiency of this method of FTL travel, leading to the creation of the first Relays at the endpoints of these Starways.