The Solar Ring

The particles raced along the tiny tube, accelerated to near the speed of light. Once around the sun, twice, a dozen times. Streaking along their paths in opposite rotations, their paths drew closer with every revolution. Then, in a moment of energetic cataclysm, the particles met. Ripped apart at the smallest possible level, the primordial forces of the universe that had been so violently unleashed had to find a new form to take in a fraction of an instant. A new form both rare and bizarre. More collisions, hundreds of times a second. A unending stream of spectacular devastation to create one of the most valuable substances in the known universe: Exotic Matter.

Purpose / Function

The Solar Ring is the largest particle accelerator ever built by Terrans, vertically encircling the circumference of the sun. By accelerating particles to near the speed of light before colliding them, Exotic Matter can be generated. Subspace travel is made possible by Exo, with each ship requiring a significant amount within their tangent drive. Originally found in tiny deposits in the farthest reaches of the Oort Cloud, this means of reliably producing Exo has enabled the Terran Union to meet the demands of a true interstellar nation.

Alterations

As the production of Exo ramped up, it was determined that the Ring would also serve as the most effective location for the Union Fleetyards. A vast array of construction scaffolds and massive industrial nanofaxes was centered around the Exo production forge at the top of the ring.

Architecture

The massive ring-shaped megastructure is actually quite small in comparison to the vastness of Sol itself. The duranium construction is built within the star's corona and the inside of the ring is lined with solar collectors. These collectors provide the energy required to accelerate particles to near lightspeed. The structure requires continual maintenance by a swarm of automated drones as it is gradually broken down by solar bombardment.
The Union Fleetyards at the top of the ring is arranged in such a way that the megastructure itself protects the construction scaffolds from the deadly solar radiation. Each shipyard extends out from the ring like long eyelashes.

History

The Solar Ring was the greatest achievement of the newly formed Terran Union. Its construction over the course of a hundred years required the cooperation of all Terrans to complete. It was a symbol of Terran solidarity and ingenuity, so much so that the ringed star became the emblem of the Union itself going forward. So grand was this endeavor that even the alien nations took notice of the brilliant Terran solution to the Exo problem and began work to emulate their method.

Alternative Names

The Ring, The Exoforge

Type

Megastructure, Stellar scale

Parent Location

Solar System

Owning Organization

Terran Union