O' Neil Cylinders
Large stations used by many factions.
As an alternative to energy-intensive Graviton Wave Refraction, it is possible to construct a large, hollow cylinder structure and make it spin rapidly. The interior of this cylinder will gain a strong centrifugal 'spin gravity' force, similar to a ring world but elongated massively and closed off at both ends. At one end there is typically a powerful, rotating light. This rotates at a slightly different rate than the rest of the cylinder so that it has a rotational period of about 24 hours relative to the main cylinder. This can produce a mostly natural day-night cycle. O' niel cylinders can have populations in the millions.
The Tranal Nomads can have quique variants of these - mobile cylinders. Although Banfranal cannot survive in gravity, they can easily house other species in these structures. Their worldships often have large cylinder compartments. The TN mobile cylinders are in normal operation most of the time, but while in movement this can impact the effective local gravity. As such, these people are moved to certain designated Δv areas while the ship is accelerating.
They can have many uses and vary massively in size. There are very few limitations to the possible length of a cylinder, and its radius is also variable (increasing the radius will reduce the rotational velocity necessary for gravity). A key disadvantage is that gravity is reduced in a linear fashion if one climbs up a large building that stretches towards the rotational axis. They might also be quite vulnerable to attack, and a sufficiently large hole in the cylinder at any location will depressurise it. If a cylinder is boarded, there is the constant possibiliity of enemy sniper nests attacking from the other side of the cylinder and shooting across the central medium, making use of the massive sight range available. This is a hazard that both sides would need to be constantly aware of, but it also reveals the sniper across the other side of the cylinder. This also makes anti air weapons far more effective, though the possibility of collateral damage is extremely high, especially near areas that are mostly covered in cities. As such, air units are generally not deployed.
As an alternative to energy-intensive Graviton Wave Refraction, it is possible to construct a large, hollow cylinder structure and make it spin rapidly. The interior of this cylinder will gain a strong centrifugal 'spin gravity' force, similar to a ring world but elongated massively and closed off at both ends. At one end there is typically a powerful, rotating light. This rotates at a slightly different rate than the rest of the cylinder so that it has a rotational period of about 24 hours relative to the main cylinder. This can produce a mostly natural day-night cycle. O' niel cylinders can have populations in the millions.
The Tranal Nomads can have quique variants of these - mobile cylinders. Although Banfranal cannot survive in gravity, they can easily house other species in these structures. Their worldships often have large cylinder compartments. The TN mobile cylinders are in normal operation most of the time, but while in movement this can impact the effective local gravity. As such, these people are moved to certain designated Δv areas while the ship is accelerating.
They can have many uses and vary massively in size. There are very few limitations to the possible length of a cylinder, and its radius is also variable (increasing the radius will reduce the rotational velocity necessary for gravity). A key disadvantage is that gravity is reduced in a linear fashion if one climbs up a large building that stretches towards the rotational axis. They might also be quite vulnerable to attack, and a sufficiently large hole in the cylinder at any location will depressurise it. If a cylinder is boarded, there is the constant possibiliity of enemy sniper nests attacking from the other side of the cylinder and shooting across the central medium, making use of the massive sight range available. This is a hazard that both sides would need to be constantly aware of, but it also reveals the sniper across the other side of the cylinder. This also makes anti air weapons far more effective, though the possibility of collateral damage is extremely high, especially near areas that are mostly covered in cities. As such, air units are generally not deployed.
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