Slipstream space: Difference between revisions

From Halopedia, the Halo wiki

No edit summary
No edit summary
Line 21: Line 21:
[[Image:Covenant Assault Carrier FanArt.jpg|right|thumb|A [[Covenant]] [[Assault Carrier]] opens a Slipspace vortex.]]
[[Image:Covenant Assault Carrier FanArt.jpg|right|thumb|A [[Covenant]] [[Assault Carrier]] opens a Slipspace vortex.]]


The SFTE ([[Shaw-Fujikawa Translight Engine]]) generates a resonance field, which when coupled with the unusual physics of the Slipstream, allows for dramatically shorter transit times between stars; however, scientists note an odd "flexibility" to temporal flow while inside the Slipstream. Though no human scientist is sure why travel time between stars is not constant, many theorize that there are "eddies" or "currents" within the Slipstream—there is generally a five to ten percent variance in travel times between stars. This temporal inconsistency has given military tacticians and strategists fits, hampering an uncounted number of coordinated attacks. Shaw-Fujikawa engines allow ships to leave normal space and plow through slipspace. Slipspace drives use particle accelerators to rip apart normal space-time by generating micro black holes. These holes are evaporated via [[Hawking Radiation|Hawking radiation]] in a nanosecond. The real quantum mechanical "magic" of the drive lies in how it manipulates these holes in space-time, squeezing vessels weighing thousands of tons into Slipspace.<ref>''[[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]]'', page 53</ref>
The [[Covenant]] have a very finely tuned version of slipspace propulsion technology, far superior to UNSC Shaw-Fujikawa engines. Instead of simply punching a hole into slipspace, Covenant drives cut a very fine hole in the fabric of space time and literally slip into slipspace with precision (much like a scalpel compared to a butcher knife). It exits with the same pinpoint accuracy, and is able to plot a course with error not exceeding an atom.<ref>''[[Halo: First Strike]]'', page 86</ref>
 
The [[Covenant]] have a very finely tuned version of this technology, far superior to the UNSC Shaw-Fujikawa Slipspace Drive. Instead of simply tearing a hole into slipspace, Covenant Slipspace drives cut a very fine hole in the fabric of space time and slips into slipspace with precision (much like a scalpel compared to a butcher knife). It exits with the same pinpoint accuracy, and is able to plot a course with error not exceeding an atom.<ref>''[[Halo: First Strike]]'', page 86</ref>


Because the superfine quantum filaments the UNSC use to compute paths are disrupted by gravity<ref name="numbers">''[[Halo: First Strike]]'', page 85</ref>, [[Human]] vessels are incapable of transitioning while in any significant gravitational field. The Covenant's technology, though, is more than capable of computing slipspace paths in gravitational fields, meaning that they are able to transition while in a gravity well. Indeed, while using the captured [[Ascendant Justice]] to make a Slipspace jump within [[Threshold|Threshold]]'s atmosphere, [[Cortana]] remarked that "It was as if she was blind before"<ref name="numbers"/> After observing this innovation, a Covenant [[AI]] managed to leak the data out to the rest of the Covenant in a transmission. During the [[First Battle of Earth]], the [[Prophet of Regret]] uses this new found knowledge to transition to slipspace while directly over [[New Mombasa]] in Earth's gravity well, destroying the city<ref>''[[Halo 2]]'', level [[Metropolis (Level)]]</ref> These events are further proof that the Covenant are imitative rather than innovative.
Because the superfine quantum filaments the UNSC use to compute paths are disrupted by gravity<ref name="numbers">''[[Halo: First Strike]]'', page 85</ref>, [[Human]] vessels are incapable of transitioning while in any significant gravitational field. The Covenant's technology, though, is more than capable of computing slipspace paths in gravitational fields, meaning that they are able to transition while in a gravity well. Indeed, while using the captured [[Ascendant Justice]] to make a Slipspace jump within [[Threshold|Threshold]]'s atmosphere, [[Cortana]] remarked that "It was as if she was blind before"<ref name="numbers"/> After observing this innovation, a Covenant [[AI]] managed to leak the data out to the rest of the Covenant in a transmission. During the [[First Battle of Earth]], the [[Prophet of Regret]] uses this new found knowledge to transition to slipspace while directly over [[New Mombasa]] in Earth's gravity well, destroying the city<ref>''[[Halo 2]]'', level [[Metropolis (Level)]]</ref> These events are further proof that the Covenant are imitative rather than innovative.


Slipspace travel is dangerous due to the high level of [[radiation]] encountered during the trip, which can be extremely hazardous to the crew. This is negated by the use of [[Lead Foil]] in UNSC ships, which absorbs the radiation. Fissile materials also emit radiation (specifically Cherenkov radiation, emitted when particles travel through a medium at a faster rate than light travels in that same medium) upon exiting slipspace; this is not harmful to humans, however it does make emerging from Slipspace very noticeable. It is not known how the Covenant deal with radiation, but it is presumed that either they also utilize lead, or with their improved slipspace technology and energy shields, it does not affect them at all.<ref>''[[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]]'', page 13</ref> During the beginning of the [[Civil War of the Covenant]] a [[Flood]]-controlled ''[[UNSC In Amber Clad|In Amber Clad]]'' entered slipspace and exited inside the dome of ''[[High Charity]]''.<ref>''[[Halo 2]]'', level [[Gravemind (Level)]]</ref>
Slipspace travel is dangerous due to the high level of [[radiation]] encountered during the trip, which can be extremely hazardous to the crew. This is negated by the use of [[Lead Foil]] in UNSC ships, which absorbs the radiation. Fissile materials also emit radiation (specifically Cherenkov radiation, emitted when particles travel through a medium at a faster rate than light travels in that same medium) upon exiting slipspace; this is not harmful to humans, however it does make emerging from Slipspace very noticeable. It is not known how the Covenant deal with radiation, but it is presumed that either they also utilize lead, or with their improved slipspace technology and energy shields, it does not affect them at all.<ref>''[[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]]'', page 13</ref> During the beginning of the [[Civil War of the Covenant]] a [[Flood]]-controlled ''[[UNSC In Amber Clad|In Amber Clad]]'' entered slipspace and exited inside the dome of ''[[High Charity]]''.<ref>''[[Halo 2]]'', level [[Gravemind (Level)]]</ref>
The concept of using an alternate dimension with different laws to travel faster than general relativity allows was first posited as the [[Wikipedia:Minkowski space|Minkowski Space Theory]].


It should be noted that the [[Forerunner]] may have been able to achieve instantaneous travel through slipspace, as the portal generated slipstream space that allowed the fleet to travel through to the Ark in an instant.
It should be noted that the [[Forerunner]] may have been able to achieve instantaneous travel through slipspace, as the portal generated slipstream space that allowed the fleet to travel through to the Ark in an instant.
Retrieved from "https://www.halopedia.org/Slipstream_space"