Unreviewed Delta Drive

[Hansen]

An example of a Delta Drive on-board an Anartar Corvette.
Source (x)​

OUT OF CHARACTER INFORMATION
Intent: A key plot-point I want to touch on with the Commonwealth of Zorn, is that it doesn't possess the industry, expertise or fuel necessary to manufacture and operate Hyperdrives, as a consequence they could be classified as an information age civilisation even though they do possess some esoteric technology. I want to show that they have developed Interstellar propulsion technology that can get them around Zorn system. The hyperdrive issue will be a key problem the Commonwealth of Zorn will be looking to overcome going forward when it comes to their interactions with foreign cultures and policy motivations.
Image Source: Source one.
Canon Link: Not applicable.
Permissions: Not applicable.
Primary Source: Alcubierre Drive, Commonwealth of Zorn, Zorn Defence Force, Zorn System, Torsion Drive Propulsion, Vacuum Energy.

PRODUCTION INFORMATION
Designed: 502 ABY-863 ABY.
Manufacturer: State Industry, Private Industry.
Manufactured: 878 ABY.
Affiliation: Commonwealth of Zorn
Market Status: Closed-Market

• Commonwealth of Zorn.
• Zorn Defence Force.

Model: Delta Drive.
Modularity: Yes - Drive Quality determines achievable velocity.
Production:Mass-Produced.
Material: Titanium, Dark Matter.

TECHNICAL INFORMATION
Minimum Velocity: 0.18c / 53,962 Kilometres Per Second / 33,530 Miles Per Second.
Maximum Velocity: 0.93c / 281,803 Kilometres Per Second / 175,104 Miles Per Second.

SPECIAL FEATURES

• Discrete: No Hyperwave signals are generated by virtue of drive operation.

STRENGTHS

• Dark Matter: Delta drives are fueled by Dark Matter energy that permeates all existence; as such, the drives are not limited by fuel consumption and effectively have indefinite endurance subject to fuel collection, drive integrity and maintenance permitting Starships to possess a high level of operational independence, much like a modern day nuclear-powered submarine that docks only for food and maintenance.
• Discrete: Delta drives themselves do not emit Hyperwave signals and thus are not detectable using the likes of Hyperwave signal interceptors, to say nothing of the ship itself. A tactical implication of this behaviour is equipped Starships are less likely to be successfully detected and subsequently interdicted by a Starship equipped with a gravity well projector, of course. Once successfully detected through other means such as electromagnetic, infrared, visual or radar cross-section the Delta Drive and Starship's course and propulsion can still be interrupted.

WEAKNESSES

• Course Changes: Delta drives don't shift their equipped spacecraft into a different dimension of space and time; its propulsion exists within standard space, which has implications for navigation. For example, a spaceship would still be subject to gravity wells, which could cause the spacecraft to decelerate or veer off course dramatically. Additionally, any physical objects obstructing the starship's course become a collision risk. This can make long journeys difficult as the orbits of worlds shift; the speeds consummate with the drive also render it very difficult to maneuver.
• Drive Size: Delta drives scale up in physical dimensions with their equipped spacecraft. While starfighter-sized Delta drives might be able to be manipulated by most adult humanoids, the Delta drives equipped to capital ships are often constructed as part of the hull, which complicates maintenance of a damaged drive, particularly for larger starships.
• Power Consumption: Delta drives consume a tremendous amount of power to operate, sufficient that regardless of what starship is equipped with them, the draw is sufficient to disable certain protective systems such as Energy or Deflector Shields, which dramatically increases the equipped starship's vulnerability to everything from space debris to weapons fire. Generally speaking, nothing short of a nuclear fusion powerplant will generate sufficient energy to satisfy the drive's thirst.
• Sub-light Propulsion: Delta drives typically propel equipped Starships to velocities between 53,962 kilometres per second and 281,804 kilometres per second or 18% and 94% of the speed of light, if a Starship equipped with a Delta drive and Hyperdrive execute a 'jump' at the same time, the starship with the Hyperdrive will arrive before the Delta drive regardless of its' class this is most pronounced over large distances where the difference in arrival time can be a matter of years, decades and centuries.

DESCRIPTION
The theoretical physics principles behind the 'Delta Drive' were first beginning to be understood in 502 ABY when the first manned spaceflight was occurring. It would take centuries more research, development and testing for a functioning prototype to be constructed in 863 ABY. Thereafter, the Delta Drive entered full-scale production in 878 ABY and was responsible for powering the Commonwealth of Zorn's colonies' rapid population growth and burgeoning economy. The Delta Drive is a new method of achieving near superluminal velocities for the Commonwealth of Zorn. By contracting space in front of a spacecraft and expanding it behind, this drive allows for apparent superluminal speeds. Fueled by Dark Matter, the Delta Drive harnesses negative energy density to manipulate spacetime, enabling the spacecraft to reach its destination at relativistic speeds. The Delta Drive was revolutionary for the Commonwealth of Zorn. Now widely accepted, it fundamentally altered the civilisation's understanding of space travel and the limits of the cosmos.