Difference between revisions of "Stargate"

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== Introduction ==
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[[Stargate]]s, also termed ''Ferlin tunnels'', use massive amounts of solar power to warp spacetime in order to literally reduce the distance between two such devicesWhile similar in concept to a wormhole, they do not bypass any intervening spacetime, and the gates are forced to remain nearly at rest with respect to one anotherThe only motion they undergo is modification to accommodate changes in distance and vector between two [[star]]s.
[[Stellar gate]]s, sometimes called [[stargate]]s, use massive amounts of solar power to warp spacetime in order to literally reduce the distance beteen two such gatesCurrently, seven exist inside the [[Solar System]], each reaching nearby major [[star system]]s, and two more fully active pairs reside in the Sirian system, connecting [[Sirius]] to [[Procyon]] and [[Alpha Centauri]]Eighteen additional pairs are currently under construction, and will eventually link [[human]]ity to ten additional [[star system]]s.  Of those around [[Sol]], these giant [[megastructure]]s reside some distance outside [[Neptune]]'s orbit, providing (relatively) rapid transportation to nearby stars.
 
  
The massive energy required for these hundred-thousand kilometer behemoths makes it nearly impossible to use them around a [[red dwarf]] star, as even with the aid of [[mobius pattern]]s, these seven gates require well over half of the [[sun]]'s energy.
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In order to function, they need to be 'anchored' to a large [[mass]] - around half a solar mass, at a minimum. The first such gates had a maximum reach of a bit over four [[parsec]]s when formed, though later, more refined models can stretch close to twelve between large enough stars.  Once so anchored, and the necessary energy densities established, a proper stargate will become a stable feature of the stars it binds.  It will expand and contract to accommodate true velocity between the two, and actually work slightly to retard this motion.
  
== List of Gate Pairs ==
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Physically, the tunnel itself is exceedingly tiny when viewed from the outside - smaller than an atom, it is actually possible for [[ship]]s to fly over it with a measure of safety. The inside, on the other hand, is at least several kilometers in diameter, though the actual depth is only a few millimetersThe physical hulls of each gate are joined together on the inside, to help prevent collisions and to help maintain the field.
The seven gates inside the [[Solar System]] lead to the following [[star system]]s:
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* [[Alpha Centauri]] (4.36) - The first gate constructed, activated in [[2212]] by the [[Centaurus Mission]].  It is sometimes called the [[Centaurus Gate]]Alpha Centauri is host to the first gate not linked to the [[Solar System]], connecting the system directly to [[Sirius]].
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A hemispherical cap covers each mouth, maintaining the 'spacial bleed' region surrounding each, which performs the reverse of what the stargate does - increasing the volume of space in a region between the gate and its host star.  Thus, in order to make a [[superluminal]] transit between two stars, a ship cannot fly straight through, but must instead weave through in an s-patternMost such gates, therefor, look like half an ellipsoid, the rounded end pointing at the local star.  A sectioned ring opens the way into the structure in the back, allowing transit.
** Alpha Centauri has one further gate under construction to [[Epsilon Indi]].
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* [[Sirius]] (8.58) - The second gate constructed, fully active in [[2216]] through the [[Sirius Mission]]Sirius has both fully active gates not linked to [[Sol]] - to [[Procyon]], activated in [[2219]], and [[Alpha Centauri]], activated in [[2221]].
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Once established, a well-built gate will use its altering of spacetime geometry to reinforce it - making them extremely difficult to destroy as immense tidal forces rip apart kinetic projectiles and redshift light to 'safer' valuesMost stargates are not destroyed in combat, but rather by stellar motion bringing the path of one stargate pair across the actual physical structure of another. This creates a violent reaction similar to a matter-antimatter one, releasing the immense energies used in the construction of the victimized gate.  Because of this, engineers are rarely too zealous about making the web of stargates 'too thick'.
** Other gates are under construction to reach [[Epsilon Eridani]], [[Tau Ceti]], and [[Omicron Eridani]]A number of further gates are planned.
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* [[Epsilon Eridani]] (10.32) - Activated in [[2218]], by the [[Eridani Mission]].
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If a star's motion should take it outside the gates' mutual range, or if two lines cross between the physical stargates, their deactivation is usually much less dramatic than a collision, with the energy slowly being released over the course of several years on each sideThe gate can then be used to link to a new star, deconstructed for raw materials, etc.  On the other end, gates being actively linked are also generally quite visible, as the host star's light is usually focussed into such a tight beam that it fluoresces the interplanetary medium.
** This system has four further gates under constructionThese plan to reach [[82 Eridani]], [[Omicron Eridani]], [[Procyon]], and another to [[Sirius]].
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* [[Procyon]] (11.40) - Host to the [[Procyon Concord]], this gate was actually completed and fully active in [[2216]], before [[Epsilon Eridani]]'s was.  It currently has only one additional gate active, giving the system direct access to [[Sirius]].
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== Black Hole Gates ==
** Additional gates are under construction to [[Omicron Eridani]], [[Groombridge 1618]], and [[Epsilon Eridani]].
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[[Black hole]]s form a different sort of stargate, frequently called a [[blackgate]]. They are able to cross thousands or even millions of parsecs to another black hole, depending on the [[mass]] and comparative spin of the black holes in question.  These links have a different structure than that of normal stargates, and do not destroy 'normal' links, though they do render them untraversable for a time.
* [[61 Cygni]] (11.40) - Activated in [[2220]], by the [[Cygnus Mission]].
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** Gates under construction in 61 Cygni will lead to [[Altair]], [[Alsafi]], [[Eta Cassiopei]], and [[70 Ophiuchi]].
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A special [[regalic]] device, called a [[singulus]], can be used to open a similar path to a high (1.6 solar masses or more) mass [[star]], if the device is allowed to remain fixed.  Each member of the [[Triad]] was granted one such device. The [[Dyrajt]] used theirs on [[Sirius]], and the [[Thireshi]] on [[Altair]]. [[Human]]s recovered the Altair device at the beginning of the [[Diaspora]], but left the [[Sirian]] one at the behest of the [[Concord]], which continues to remain in the system.  The [[First]] recovered the device gifted to the [[Khavene]] shortly after.
* [[Epsilon Indi]] (11.82) - Fully on-line in [[2221]], by the [[Indi Mission]].
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** This system has three further gates under construction, to [[Alpha Centauri]], [[Gliese 783]], and [[Delta Pavonis]]. Materials are also in place for the construction of a gate to [[Tau Ceti]], but barring a significant increase in gate efficiency, its completion will not come any time soon - the other four gates will drain nearly all of this star's light.
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Such links - whether using a singulus or a 'natural' one - are extremely valuable in that interstellar - or even intergalactic - travel is not required in order to make the link - just extremely precise calculations.  Using this, it is possible not only to reach across the [[galaxy]] in mere years, but even to giant neighbors in other galaxies.
* [[Tau Ceti]] (11.88) - On-line in [[2221]], by the [[Ceti Mission]].
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** Additional gate under construction will link this system to [[Epsilon Eridani]], [[Omicron Eridani]], and [[Sirius]].  Additional materials are set aside for a potential gate to [[Epsilon Indi]] but this will require a breakthrough in research.
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== Pre-Purge Gates ==
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The [[Triad]] were entirely dependent on what the [[First]] cared to provide to them, which was merely the means to relink [[stargate]]s to nearby [[star system]]s, and established access to a [[black hole]] so that they could deal with a newborn [[cerevate]] species should they find oneWhile extremely generous of them, they never properly understood how these mechanisms worked, and could not grow beyond the limits of those gates that they were able to activate.
  
Three further gate pairs are currently under development:
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This, fundamentally, was a subset of those [[stargate]]s that the [[Renlai]] and [[Soronen]] had constructed.  Many were destroyed - intentionally or accidentally - and the simple passage of time de-linked many.  Even still, this left them in control of billions of [[star]]s, held together by blind theocracy.
* [[36 Ophiuchi]] will be linked through [[Gliese 783]]
 
* [[Gliese 570]] will be linked through [[36 Ophiuchi]]
 
  
== Structure ==
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=== Renlai Gates ===
Each of these will remain the seven largest [[megastructure]]s created by [[human]] hands for some time, at least in terms of raw dimensionsWhen initially constructed, they are massive, silvery rings over a hundred thousand kilometers in diameter, seeming featureless from afarThe intense quantities of starlight directed at them visibly flouresces the interplanetary medium, looking like twelve great - if dim - pillars of light reaching them from the host [[Dyson swarm]].  This is considered a safety feature - anything wandering into the pillars is going to experience several yottawatts of light focused on a point about a single square meter in area.
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Many of the renlai gates have decayed through one fashion or another over the aeonsEven still, billions remainTau Ceti, Gliese 783 and 82 Eridani all had remnants of such gates, which humans used to expedite the process of settling these systems.  See [[Cetan civilization]].
  
When activation begins, a bubble of darkness reaches out from behind the gate, rushing towards its companion at the speed of lightThe length and terminal properties of this artificial void are very specifically controlled, usually to allow one host star to compensate for the lack of energy production in its partner.
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=== Soronen Gates ===
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The soronen gates include a number of renlai constructions that were repaired and refitted to their needs.  They did not reach a black hole before the [[First]] found them, and thus were limited to only a few million star systemsBuilding on the knowledge of their predecessors, theirs are the most durable of the ancient gates, and though stellar motion has scattered many of them across the galaxy, a vast quantity of them - about 60% - remain in a general cluster.  Many call it the [[Soronen cluster]], though it is predominately controlled by the [[Khavene]].
  
The amount of energy required increases dramatically with distance - gates linking more than two parsecs are generally considered infeasibleThis limits the rate of [[human]] expansion, though [[carrier]]s alleviate this burden.
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=== Human Gates ===
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[[Human]]s began constructing their stargates in wavesThe first wave went to the nearest eight 'major' [[star]]s, of around .6 Solar masses and higher, and the second went to another twelve, though that set was destroyed.
  
Once fully active, from the outside, it is as if a great darkness passes between the gates, with a notable [[Einstein line]] surrounding it - a silhouette of those stars the line would normally hide visible in a concentrated form on either side, clearly marking the dangerous event horizon to travellers.
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* [[Alpha Centauri]] (4.36) - The first gate constructed, activated by the [[Centaurus Mission]].  It is sometimes called the [[Centaurus Gate]]. 
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** First-wave gates to Lacaille 8760, Sirius, and Epsilon Indi.
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* [[Sirius]] (8.58) - The second gate constructed, through the [[Sirius Mission]].  Sirius had the first two gates to other [[star system]]s - to Procyon and Alpha Centauri.
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** First-wave gates to Alpha Centauri, Procyon, Epsilon Eridani, and Tau Ceti.
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** Second-wave gate to [[Keid]].
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* [[Epsilon Eridani]] (10.32) - Activated by the [[Eridanus Mission]].
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** This system has two first-wave gates, to Procyon and Sirius.
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** Second-wave gates to [[82 Eridani]], [[Van Maanen's Star]], and Keid.
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* [[Procyon]] (11.40) - Host to the [[Procyon Concord]], this gate was actually completed and fully active in [[2216]], before Epsilon Eridani's was.
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** First-wave gates to Sirius and Epsilon Eridani.
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** Second-wave gates to Keid and [[Groombridge 1618]].
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* [[61 Cygni]] (11.40) - Activated by the [[Cygnus Mission]].
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** Second-wave gates lead to [[Altair]], [[Alsafi]], [[Eta Cassiopeiae]], Van Maanen's Star, and [[70 Ophiuchi]].
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* [[Epsilon Indi]] (11.82) - By the [[Indus Mission]].
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** First-wave gates to Alpha Centauri, Lacaille 8760, and Tau Ceti.
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** Second-wave gates to [[Gliese 783]], and [[Delta Pavonis]].
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* [[Tau Ceti]] (11.88) - On-line in [[2221]], by the [[Ceti Mission]].
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** First-wave gates to Epsilon Eridani, Epsilon Indi, Lacaille 8760, and Sirius.
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** Second-wave gate to Keid, Van Maanen's Star.
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* [[Lacaille 8760]] (12.87) - Activated by the [[Microscopium Mission]].
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** First-wave gate to Alpha Centauri, Epsilon Indi, Tau Ceti.
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** Second-wave gates to Altair, Delta Pavonis, Gliese 783.
  
Viewing from the inside of an activated ring is quite the opposite - several light years of starlight is focussed into several kilometers, causing the edge of the interior to glow brilliantly.  Since matter still crosses the event horizon from the outside, the edge is filled with rarified gas - largely hydrogen and helium, acting as a faint atmosphere.  This exits the ring on either side in a phenomenon called [[gate wind]].
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Additional second-wave gates:
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* [[36 Ophiuchi]], linked through Gliese 783
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* [[Gliese 570]], linked through 36 Ophiuchi
  
Safely crossing the edge of this wormhole is not typically possibleBy design, crossing the horizon from the outside compresses dimensions by a factor of ten trillion to one - even from interstellar gas, this causes a detectable neutron flux as protons are fused with their electronsAny sort of macroscopic structure is crushed under the force of the fabric of space itself.  Crossing in the other direction is somewhat more difficult - atoms resist such violent tearing more than they do compression,  
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Inside the Solar System, the eight gates were locked some distance outside [[Neptune]]'s orbitSince the [[Diaspora]] and the formation of the [[dreadskearn]]s, it is still possible to use these 'gates' - or at least what they've become - to cross to the othersMost generally prefer take other routes instead of running that gauntlet.  The drastically increased mass of the [[hellskearn]] has kept the first and second-wave gates within range, though several crossings have required management.
  
 
{{SSG}}
 
{{SSG}}

Latest revision as of 06:01, 22 April 2007

Stargates, also termed Ferlin tunnels, use massive amounts of solar power to warp spacetime in order to literally reduce the distance between two such devices. While similar in concept to a wormhole, they do not bypass any intervening spacetime, and the gates are forced to remain nearly at rest with respect to one another. The only motion they undergo is modification to accommodate changes in distance and vector between two stars.

In order to function, they need to be 'anchored' to a large mass - around half a solar mass, at a minimum. The first such gates had a maximum reach of a bit over four parsecs when formed, though later, more refined models can stretch close to twelve between large enough stars. Once so anchored, and the necessary energy densities established, a proper stargate will become a stable feature of the stars it binds. It will expand and contract to accommodate true velocity between the two, and actually work slightly to retard this motion.

Physically, the tunnel itself is exceedingly tiny when viewed from the outside - smaller than an atom, it is actually possible for ships to fly over it with a measure of safety. The inside, on the other hand, is at least several kilometers in diameter, though the actual depth is only a few millimeters. The physical hulls of each gate are joined together on the inside, to help prevent collisions and to help maintain the field.

A hemispherical cap covers each mouth, maintaining the 'spacial bleed' region surrounding each, which performs the reverse of what the stargate does - increasing the volume of space in a region between the gate and its host star. Thus, in order to make a superluminal transit between two stars, a ship cannot fly straight through, but must instead weave through in an s-pattern. Most such gates, therefor, look like half an ellipsoid, the rounded end pointing at the local star. A sectioned ring opens the way into the structure in the back, allowing transit.

Once established, a well-built gate will use its altering of spacetime geometry to reinforce it - making them extremely difficult to destroy as immense tidal forces rip apart kinetic projectiles and redshift light to 'safer' values. Most stargates are not destroyed in combat, but rather by stellar motion bringing the path of one stargate pair across the actual physical structure of another. This creates a violent reaction similar to a matter-antimatter one, releasing the immense energies used in the construction of the victimized gate. Because of this, engineers are rarely too zealous about making the web of stargates 'too thick'.

If a star's motion should take it outside the gates' mutual range, or if two lines cross between the physical stargates, their deactivation is usually much less dramatic than a collision, with the energy slowly being released over the course of several years on each side. The gate can then be used to link to a new star, deconstructed for raw materials, etc. On the other end, gates being actively linked are also generally quite visible, as the host star's light is usually focussed into such a tight beam that it fluoresces the interplanetary medium.

Black Hole Gates

Black holes form a different sort of stargate, frequently called a blackgate. They are able to cross thousands or even millions of parsecs to another black hole, depending on the mass and comparative spin of the black holes in question. These links have a different structure than that of normal stargates, and do not destroy 'normal' links, though they do render them untraversable for a time.

A special regalic device, called a singulus, can be used to open a similar path to a high (1.6 solar masses or more) mass star, if the device is allowed to remain fixed. Each member of the Triad was granted one such device. The Dyrajt used theirs on Sirius, and the Thireshi on Altair. Humans recovered the Altair device at the beginning of the Diaspora, but left the Sirian one at the behest of the Concord, which continues to remain in the system. The First recovered the device gifted to the Khavene shortly after.

Such links - whether using a singulus or a 'natural' one - are extremely valuable in that interstellar - or even intergalactic - travel is not required in order to make the link - just extremely precise calculations. Using this, it is possible not only to reach across the galaxy in mere years, but even to giant neighbors in other galaxies.

Pre-Purge Gates

The Triad were entirely dependent on what the First cared to provide to them, which was merely the means to relink stargates to nearby star systems, and established access to a black hole so that they could deal with a newborn cerevate species should they find one. While extremely generous of them, they never properly understood how these mechanisms worked, and could not grow beyond the limits of those gates that they were able to activate.

This, fundamentally, was a subset of those stargates that the Renlai and Soronen had constructed. Many were destroyed - intentionally or accidentally - and the simple passage of time de-linked many. Even still, this left them in control of billions of stars, held together by blind theocracy.

Renlai Gates

Many of the renlai gates have decayed through one fashion or another over the aeons. Even still, billions remain. Tau Ceti, Gliese 783 and 82 Eridani all had remnants of such gates, which humans used to expedite the process of settling these systems. See Cetan civilization.

Soronen Gates

The soronen gates include a number of renlai constructions that were repaired and refitted to their needs. They did not reach a black hole before the First found them, and thus were limited to only a few million star systems. Building on the knowledge of their predecessors, theirs are the most durable of the ancient gates, and though stellar motion has scattered many of them across the galaxy, a vast quantity of them - about 60% - remain in a general cluster. Many call it the Soronen cluster, though it is predominately controlled by the Khavene.

Human Gates

Humans began constructing their stargates in waves. The first wave went to the nearest eight 'major' stars, of around .6 Solar masses and higher, and the second went to another twelve, though that set was destroyed.

Additional second-wave gates:

Inside the Solar System, the eight gates were locked some distance outside Neptune's orbit. Since the Diaspora and the formation of the dreadskearns, it is still possible to use these 'gates' - or at least what they've become - to cross to the others. Most generally prefer take other routes instead of running that gauntlet. The drastically increased mass of the hellskearn has kept the first and second-wave gates within range, though several crossings have required management.


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