Slipstream space: Difference between revisions
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The relativistic side-effects of slipspace travel are normally eliminated by a process known as causal reconciliation,<ref name="cryp322">'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 322''</ref> or particle reconciliation.<ref name="cryp135">'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 135''</ref> This effect is briefly experienced once the ship returns to normal space, and manifests as a shimmering blue glow radiating out of the ship<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 312''</ref> and static electricity building up in the occupants' bodies.<ref name="cryp322"/> With longer jumps, the effects of reconciliation are clearly noticeable for several seconds upon returning to normal space.<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''pages 100, 135, 266''</ref> However, the range for causal reconciliation is limited. If a ship performs a significantly long jump, time dilation effects may be experienced.<ref name="cryp135"/> With shorter jumps like those typically performed by human ships, the effects experienced by the occupants are negligible. | The relativistic side-effects of slipspace travel are normally eliminated by a process known as causal reconciliation,<ref name="cryp322">'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 322''</ref> or particle reconciliation.<ref name="cryp135">'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 135''</ref> This effect is briefly experienced once the ship returns to normal space, and manifests as a shimmering blue glow radiating out of the ship<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 312''</ref> and static electricity building up in the occupants' bodies.<ref name="cryp322"/> With longer jumps, the effects of reconciliation are clearly noticeable for several seconds upon returning to normal space.<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''pages 100, 135, 266''</ref> However, the range for causal reconciliation is limited. If a ship performs a significantly long jump, time dilation effects may be experienced.<ref name="cryp135"/> With shorter jumps like those typically performed by human ships, the effects experienced by the occupants are negligible. | ||
In addition, there is a "bandwidth" for the amount of things going through slipstream space at once. This effect is noticeable if immense amounts of mass are transported over large distances frequently, making slipspace travel throughout the galaxy move more slowly and journeys require more individual jumps to complete.<ref name="cryp266">'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 266''</ref> This was seen when [[Master Builder]] [[Faber]] used slipspace portals to transport the Halo Array.<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 223 | In addition, there is a "bandwidth" for the amount of things going through slipstream space at once. This effect is noticeable if immense amounts of mass are transported over large distances frequently, making slipspace travel throughout the galaxy move more slowly and journeys require more individual jumps to complete.<ref name="cryp266">'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 266''</ref> This was seen when [[Master Builder]] [[Faber]] used slipspace portals to transport the Halo Array.<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 223''</ref> | ||
===Drive operation=== | ===Drive operation=== | ||
[[File:POA SSexit.png|thumb|250px|The {{UNSCShip|Pillar of Autumn}} exiting slipspace near [[Installation 04]].]] | [[File:POA SSexit.png|thumb|250px|The {{UNSCShip|Pillar of Autumn}} exiting slipspace near [[Installation 04]].]] | ||
The [[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. UNSC slipspace drives use particle accelerators to rip apart normal space-time by generating micro black holes. These holes are evaporated via [[Hawking radiation]] in nanoseconds. The real quantum mechanical marvel 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> It must be noted that the Shaw-Fujikawa Translight Engine itself provides no motive power, and ships equipped with such a device still require conventional engines in order to move. | The [[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. UNSC slipspace drives use particle accelerators to rip apart normal space-time by generating micro black holes. These holes are evaporated via [[Hawking radiation]] in nanoseconds. The real quantum mechanical marvel 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> It must be noted that the Shaw-Fujikawa Translight Engine itself provides no motive power, and ships equipped with such a device still require conventional engines in order to move. | ||
Starships and their occupants are not directly exposed to the eleven-dimensional space-time while moving through slipspace; instead, the ship is enveloped in a quantum field generated by the drive. The field acts as a medium between the ship and the higher dimensions, translating its presence as a normal-space object to the arcane physics of slipspace and enabling it to "squeeze through" the higher dimensions.<ref name="quantumfield">'''[[Dr. Halsey's personal journal]]''', ''December 25, 2534''</ref> This field requires an enormous amount of constant calculations to maintain, with the number of needed calculations increasing with the size of the ship. For example, the slipspace translations for a {{class|Phoenix|colony ship}} require 4.3 quadrillion calculations of the quantum field per second.<ref>'''Halo Wars: Genesis'''</ref> | |||
The Covenant have a very finely tuned version of slipspace technology, far superior to the human Shaw-Fujikawa Translight Engine. 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, takes less time during travel, and is able to plot a course with error not exceeding an atom. This is why in battle Covenant ships are able to slip by human defenses by using slipspace.<ref>'''Halo: First Strike''', ''page 86''</ref> Standard Covenant tactics include using short slipstream jumps to gain positional advantage and surprise other ships, in addition to avoiding incoming ordnance. The Covenant's superiority in drive technology, combined with differing weapon and shield technology, allows a small number of Covenant ships to effectively engage a much larger UNSC force. Missiles, especially, can be defeated by a brief slipstream jump, as they cannot track through slipstream space. | The Covenant have a very finely tuned version of slipspace technology, far superior to the human Shaw-Fujikawa Translight Engine. 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, takes less time during travel, and is able to plot a course with error not exceeding an atom. This is why in battle Covenant ships are able to slip by human defenses by using slipspace.<ref>'''Halo: First Strike''', ''page 86''</ref> Standard Covenant tactics include using short slipstream jumps to gain positional advantage and surprise other ships, in addition to avoiding incoming ordnance. The Covenant's superiority in drive technology, combined with differing weapon and shield technology, allows a small number of Covenant ships to effectively engage a much larger UNSC force. Missiles, especially, can be defeated by a brief slipstream jump, as they cannot track through slipstream space. | ||
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When human ships jump into slipspace, they need to reach a [[Safe Slipspace Entry Point]], or SSEP, where it can be ensured they won't drag anything from normal space into the slipstream as the ship initiates the transition.<ref>'''Halo: Contact Harvest''', ''page 34''</ref> In addition, star systems have specific slipstream space transfer points known as "[[interstellar jump point]]s", or IJPs, locations designated ideal for initiating a slipspace transition.<ref>[http://www.bungie.net/projects/reach/article.aspx?ucc=intel '''Bungie.net''' - ''Halo: Reach Project Page'']</ref> | When human ships jump into slipspace, they need to reach a [[Safe Slipspace Entry Point]], or SSEP, where it can be ensured they won't drag anything from normal space into the slipstream as the ship initiates the transition.<ref>'''Halo: Contact Harvest''', ''page 34''</ref> In addition, star systems have specific slipstream space transfer points known as "[[interstellar jump point]]s", or IJPs, locations designated ideal for initiating a slipspace transition.<ref>[http://www.bungie.net/projects/reach/article.aspx?ucc=intel '''Bungie.net''' - ''Halo: Reach Project Page'']</ref> | ||
=== | ===Navigation and precision=== | ||
In addition to temporal anomalies, UNSC ships are not able to jump with exact precision. A ship may transition back to normal space millions of kilometers from its intended destination.<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''page 136''</ref> As a result, UNSC ships often transition in and out of slipspace outside star systems, far from any gravity wells of celestial bodies. In-system jumps are also not generally attempted by the UNSC due to the dangers present.<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''page 104''</ref> A notable exception of this is during the [[Battle of Psi Serpentis]], when the [[UNSC Battle Group India|Battle Group India]], under command of [[Admiral]] [[Preston Jeremiah Cole|Preston Cole]], performed an in-system jump. Even though Cole had made thorough calculations for the jump a week in advance and [[Slipspace guidance beacon|guidance beacons]] were used as navigational assists, a part of the battle group scattered, reappearing outside the main group.<ref>'''Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe''', ''The Impossible Life and the Possible Death of Preston J. Cole'', page 477</ref> In addition, the {{UNSCShip|In Amber Clad}} was able to make a successful precision jump into ''[[High Charity]]''. This may be due to an improvement on the ship due to the recent capture of Covenant Slipspace technology, the [[Gravemind]] adjusting it or simply luck.<ref>'''Halo 2''', campaign level ''[[Gravemind (level)|Gravemind]]''</ref> Finally, Cortana was able to perform a slipspace jump inside the atmosphere of the gas giant Threshold directly after the battle of [[Installation 04]]. <ref>'''Halo: First Strike''', ''page 80, 87''</ref> | The plotting of slipspace jumps is known as [[astrogation]], and is typically performed by a [[navigation computer]] or an [[artificial intelligence|AI]],<ref>'''[[Halo: Contact Harvest]]''', ''page 96''</ref> although humans are capable of conducting at least some of the calculations involved.<ref>'''Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe''', ''"The Impossible Life and the Possible Death of Preston J. Cole"'', ''page 426''</ref> | ||
In addition to having to deal with temporal anomalies, UNSC ships are not able to jump with exact precision. A ship may transition back to normal space millions of kilometers from its intended destination.<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''page 136''</ref> As a result, UNSC ships often transition in and out of slipspace outside star systems, far from any gravity wells of celestial bodies. In-system jumps are also not generally attempted by the UNSC due to the dangers present.<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''page 104''</ref> A notable exception of this is during the [[Battle of Psi Serpentis]], when the [[UNSC Battle Group India|Battle Group India]], under command of [[Admiral]] [[Preston Jeremiah Cole|Preston Cole]], performed an in-system jump. Even though Cole had made thorough calculations for the jump a week in advance and [[Slipspace guidance beacon|guidance beacons]] were used as navigational assists, a part of the battle group scattered, reappearing outside the main group.<ref>'''Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe''', ''"The Impossible Life and the Possible Death of Preston J. Cole"'', ''page 477''</ref> In addition, the {{UNSCShip|In Amber Clad}} was able to make a successful precision jump into ''[[High Charity]]''. This may be due to an improvement on the ship due to the recent capture of Covenant Slipspace technology, the [[Gravemind]] adjusting it or simply luck.<ref>'''Halo 2''', campaign level ''[[Gravemind (level)|Gravemind]]''</ref> Finally, Cortana was able to perform a slipspace jump inside the atmosphere of the gas giant Threshold directly after the battle of [[Installation 04]]. <ref>'''Halo: First Strike''', ''page 80, 87''</ref> | |||
===Gravitational effects=== | ===Gravitational effects=== | ||
Although they are not present as tangible objects within slipspace, the gravitational pull of large masses, such as stars, affects the geometric trajectory of objects traveling in slipspace much like it would in normal space. This effect typically distorts and scatters clouds of dust drifting in the Slipstream.<ref name="tfor137"/> | |||
Gravitational fields of significant size, such as those generated by a planet, affect the superfine quantum filaments that a slipspace drive must use to calculate an entry point to the slipstream, and UNSC calculations are unable to offset this effect.<ref name="numbers">'''Halo: First Strike''', ''page 85''</ref> Covenant drives, in turn derived from Forerunner technology, have a much higher resolution of the filaments, and use more accurate calculations, and though the Covenant do not use this ability, are capable of making slipstream transition in and out of a planet's [[gravity well]]. Indeed, while using the captured ''[[Ascendant Justice]]'' to make a slipspace jump within [[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 [[Battle of Mombasa]], the [[Prophet of Regret]] used this newfound knowledge to transition into slipspace while directly over [[New Mombasa]] in Earth's gravity well, damaging the city and causing the weakening and eventual collapse of the [[New Mombasa Orbital Elevator|orbital elevator]] there.<ref>'''Halo 2''', campaign level ''[[Metropolis]]''</ref> These events show that, while the Covenant often cannot innovate their own solutions, they are quick to adopt any practice that increases their combat prowess. | Gravitational fields of significant size, such as those generated by a planet, affect the superfine quantum filaments that a slipspace drive must use to calculate an entry point to the slipstream, and UNSC calculations are unable to offset this effect.<ref name="numbers">'''Halo: First Strike''', ''page 85''</ref> Covenant drives, in turn derived from Forerunner technology, have a much higher resolution of the filaments, and use more accurate calculations, and though the Covenant do not use this ability, are capable of making slipstream transition in and out of a planet's [[gravity well]]. Indeed, while using the captured ''[[Ascendant Justice]]'' to make a slipspace jump within [[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 [[Battle of Mombasa]], the [[Prophet of Regret]] used this newfound knowledge to transition into slipspace while directly over [[New Mombasa]] in Earth's gravity well, damaging the city and causing the weakening and eventual collapse of the [[New Mombasa Orbital Elevator|orbital elevator]] there.<ref>'''Halo 2''', campaign level ''[[Metropolis]]''</ref> These events show that, while the Covenant often cannot innovate their own solutions, they are quick to adopt any practice that increases their combat prowess. | ||
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==Velocities== | ==Velocities== | ||
[[File:Nomis78 opened gateway.jpg|250px|thumb|A Forerunner [[Slipspace portal]].]] | [[File:Nomis78 opened gateway.jpg|250px|thumb|A Forerunner [[Slipspace portal]].]] | ||
Slipspace velocities are generally dependent on the ship's momentum on transition, as the Slipspace drive itself does not generate thrust.<ref>'''Halo: Contact Harvest''', ''Chapter 1'', Page 23''</ref> As a result, ships | Slipspace velocities are generally dependent on the ship's momentum on transition, as the Slipspace drive itself does not generate thrust.<ref>'''Halo: Contact Harvest''', ''Chapter 1'', Page 23''</ref> As a result, ships which are faster in normal space due to their more powerful conventional thruster engines and proportionally small mass, such as [[corvette]]s, usually travel faster in the Slipstream as well.<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 187''</ref> Frequent traffic, especially when moving objects of considerable mass, will also slow slipspace traffic down on a galactic scale, although this is only known to have occurred when the Forerunners moved the Halo installations across the galaxy.<ref name="cryp266"/> | ||
However fast it may appear, human faster-than-light travel is by no means instantaneous; "short" jumps routinely take up to two months, and "long" jumps can last six months or more for the crew. UNSC ships are known to be able to travel at a speed of 2.625 light years per day,<ref group="note">Velocity=Distance/time (V=[[Reach|10.5 light years]]/4 days=2.625 l/d)</ref> while Covenant ships can reach 912 light years per day.<ref group="note">Velocity=Distance/time (V=[[Zeta Doradus|38 light years]]/1 hour=38 l/h or 912 l/d)</ref> After the end of the Human-Covenant War, the discovery and reverse-engineering of Forerunner technologies allowed humanity to achieve significantly greater velocities; by [[2553#January|January 2553]], the {{UNSCShip|Port Stanley}} was equipped with an upgraded drive which enabled the ship to cross interstellar distances in mere hours.<ref>''Halo: Glasslands''', ''page 68''</ref> | However fast it may appear, human faster-than-light travel is by no means instantaneous; "short" jumps routinely take up to two months, and "long" jumps can last six months or more for the crew. UNSC ships are known to be able to travel at a speed of 2.625 light years per day,<ref group="note">Velocity=Distance/time (V=[[Reach|10.5 light years]]/4 days=2.625 l/d)</ref> while Covenant ships can reach 912 light years per day.<ref group="note">Velocity=Distance/time (V=[[Zeta Doradus|38 light years]]/1 hour=38 l/h or 912 l/d)</ref> After the end of the Human-Covenant War, the discovery and reverse-engineering of Forerunner technologies allowed humanity to achieve significantly greater velocities; by [[2553#January|January 2553]], the {{UNSCShip|Port Stanley}} was equipped with an upgraded drive which enabled the ship to cross interstellar distances in mere hours.<ref>''Halo: Glasslands''', ''page 68''</ref> | ||
One example of the differences between speeds is comparing the Covenant cruiser ''[[Ascendant Justice]]'' with the UNSC [[Halcyon-class cruiser|''Halcyon''-class cruiser]] {{UNSCShip|Pillar of Autumn}}. It took several weeks for the ''Pillar of Autumn'' to get from [[Reach]] to [[Installation 04]], yet the ''Ascendant Justice'' could get from Installation 04 to Reach within thirteen hours from the occupants' frame of reference. | One example of the differences between speeds is comparing the Covenant cruiser ''[[Ascendant Justice]]'' with the UNSC [[Halcyon-class cruiser|''Halcyon''-class cruiser]] {{UNSCShip|Pillar of Autumn}}. It took several weeks for the ''Pillar of Autumn'' to get from [[Reach]] to [[Installation 04]], yet the ''Ascendant Justice'' could get from Installation 04 to Reach within thirteen hours from the occupants' frame of reference. However, this may have been due to the influence of the [[Forerunner crystal]], which simultaneously caused the ''Ascendant Justice'' to go back in time for several days as a result of its occupants being on an event path intersecting the crystal.<ref>'''Halo: First Strike''', ''pages 247-248'' (2003 edition)</ref> | ||
Though the Covenant use a modified version of Forerunner systems, true unaltered [[Forerunner]] slipspace technology has only been observed in the form of [[The Portal|the portal]] transporting UNSC and Covenant vessels from [[Earth]] to [[The Ark]], transporting them hundreds of thousands of light years within a month.<ref group="note">The Sol system is located between 25 and 28,000 lightyears from the galactic centre, while the Ark is "2<sup>18</sup>"ly from it (262096ly). If the Earth was at its nearest to the Ark (that is, 28,000ly away from the centre and on the Ark's side of the galaxy), it would be 234,096ly away - at its furthest it would be 290,096ly away. It should be noted that the Ark had been used by Forerunner dreadnought shortly beforehand; its wake could exaggerate the velocities within the slipspace portal.</ref> Additionally, while a Covenant assault carrier could reach Delta Halo from Earth in thirteen days, the [[Forerunner Dreadnought]] took only five days to travel the same distance. Given the fact that Covenant understanding of Forerunner technology is comparatively primitive, the ship may have been capable of much higher velocities. | Though the Covenant use a modified version of Forerunner systems, true unaltered [[Forerunner]] slipspace technology has only been observed in the form of [[The Portal|the portal]] transporting UNSC and Covenant vessels from [[Earth]] to [[The Ark]], transporting them hundreds of thousands of light years within a month.<ref group="note">The Sol system is located between 25 and 28,000 lightyears from the galactic centre, while the Ark is "2<sup>18</sup>"ly from it (262096ly). If the Earth was at its nearest to the Ark (that is, 28,000ly away from the centre and on the Ark's side of the galaxy), it would be 234,096ly away - at its furthest it would be 290,096ly away. It should be noted that the Ark had been used by Forerunner dreadnought shortly beforehand; its wake could exaggerate the velocities within the slipspace portal.</ref> Additionally, while a Covenant assault carrier could reach Delta Halo from Earth in thirteen days, the [[Forerunner Dreadnought]] took only five days to travel the same distance. Given the fact that Covenant understanding of Forerunner technology is comparatively primitive, the ship may have been capable of much higher velocities. | ||
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==Dangers and risks== | ==Dangers and risks== | ||
[[File:Slipspace.JPG|thumb|200px|''[[Solemn Penance]]'' entering Slipspace over [[New Mombasa]].]] | [[File:Slipspace.JPG|thumb|200px|''[[Solemn Penance]]'' entering Slipspace over [[New Mombasa]].]] | ||
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 [[Čerenkov 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 a shielding material, or with their improved slipspace technology and [[energy shielding]], it does not affect them at all.<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 13''</ref> In addition, slipspace travel generates a great deal of static electricity on the ship's hull. To discharge the static energy, [[human]]s have developed a piezoelectric material known as [[polymerized lithium niobocene]].<ref>'''Dr. Halsey's personal journal''', ''July 30, 2511''</ref> | |||
Direct exposure to the Slipstream is incredibly dangerous. Despite the presence of a quantum field which effectively keeps the ship within a "bubble" of normal space,<ref name="quantumfield"/> people traveling on a slipspace-capable craft can experience a range of symptoms, from nausea, to heart failure or even death. Even more uncommon, but still known to happen, is the total disappearance of a person while in the slipstream.<ref>'''Halo: Contact Harvest''', ''page 175''</ref> In some rare cases, having a specific reality-manipulating object such as the [[Forerunner crystal]] aboard has caused a ship to enter an anomalous slipspace dimension different from the normal slipspace used for travel. | |||
Since the Slipstream is constantly shifting, and its laws of physics are different to our own, the magnetic coils of Slipspace drives drift out of phase when entering and leaving a Slipspace field, requiring constant maintenance. During the [[2490]]'s, technicians had to manually repair Slipspace drives, exposing themselves to the Slipstream and occasionally suffering injury, death or simply disappearing.<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 146''</ref> Mechanical failures like [[Slip Termination, Preventable]], or STP, can also occur with Slipspace drives, usually resulting from poor maintenance.<ref>'''Halo: Contact Harvest''', ''page 24''</ref> An improperly mounted Slipspace drive can also result in catastrophic accidents, as was the case with a colony ship ''en route'' to the [[Cygnus system]] in the mid-2550's: as a result of a maintenance failure, the drive tore the ship apart, transporting half of it into an unknown location. During the [[Fall of Reach]], the UNSC intentionally recreated the conditions of this accident to destroy a [[Covenant supercarrier]].<ref>'''[[Halo: Reach]]''', campaign level ''[[Long Night of Solace (level)|Long Night of Solace]]''</ref> | |||
[[File:H2SSRupture.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Regret's jump into slipspace from a mere several kilometers above Earth's surface inflicted enormous damage on New Mombasa; the iconic space elevator would later collapse due to the damaging effects of the jump on its superstructure.]] | [[File:H2SSRupture.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Regret's jump into slipspace from a mere several kilometers above Earth's surface inflicted enormous damage on New Mombasa; the iconic space elevator would later collapse due to the damaging effects of the jump on its superstructure.]] | ||
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Entering and exiting the slipstream is normally only attempted by ships of large mass, their gravity wells stabilizing the constantly fluctuating slipspace to a degree that allows safe passage.<ref name="fs289">'''Halo: First Strike''', ''page 289''</ref> Small ships, such as dropships, do not possess the same gravity and are placed under considerably more stress than a warship, able to crack the hull and buckle reinforcing struts.<ref>'''Halo: First Strike''', ''page 296''</ref> It is not impossible, and UNSC slipstream monitoring probes make the transitions all the time, but require heavy reinforcement to survive the stresses, and are unmanned, having no need to protect internal occupants.<ref name="fs289"/> Specialized craft like [[Long Range Stealth Orbital Insertion Pod]]s can make the transition, but are still an extremely uncomfortable ride.<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 13''</ref> A Slipspace-to-normal space transition has been successfully attempted by a Spirit dropship, but it had been extensively equipped with Titanium-A battleplates, lead, and carbon-molybdenum steel I-beams. | Entering and exiting the slipstream is normally only attempted by ships of large mass, their gravity wells stabilizing the constantly fluctuating slipspace to a degree that allows safe passage.<ref name="fs289">'''Halo: First Strike''', ''page 289''</ref> Small ships, such as dropships, do not possess the same gravity and are placed under considerably more stress than a warship, able to crack the hull and buckle reinforcing struts.<ref>'''Halo: First Strike''', ''page 296''</ref> It is not impossible, and UNSC slipstream monitoring probes make the transitions all the time, but require heavy reinforcement to survive the stresses, and are unmanned, having no need to protect internal occupants.<ref name="fs289"/> Specialized craft like [[Long Range Stealth Orbital Insertion Pod]]s can make the transition, but are still an extremely uncomfortable ride.<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 13''</ref> A Slipspace-to-normal space transition has been successfully attempted by a Spirit dropship, but it had been extensively equipped with Titanium-A battleplates, lead, and carbon-molybdenum steel I-beams. | ||
Even the Forerunners had potential dangers when traveling through slipspace. During the assault on the [[capital]] by Mendicant Bias, seven of the twelve original Halo rings in existence at the time attempted to flee using a slipspace portal. Only one of them, along with [[Bornstellar Makes Eternal Lasting]]'s ship made it through. The rest were destroyed when the slipspace portal closed due to the stress of the Halo installations passing through. | Even the Forerunners had potential dangers when traveling through slipspace. During the assault on the [[capital]] by Mendicant Bias, seven of the twelve original Halo rings in existence at the time attempted to flee using a slipspace portal. Only one of them, along with [[Bornstellar Makes Eternal Lasting]]'s ship made it through. The rest were destroyed when the slipspace portal closed due to the stress of the Halo installations passing through. The enormous amount of mass passing through simultaneously also put massive strain on the slipspace portal, causing any occupants to be dangerously exposed to the foreign physics of slipspace. This resulted in causal reconciliation effects far more severe than normal, as well as symptoms involving the loss of perception of reality and time, massive amounts of electrical charge, and even perceived lack of solidity.<ref name="cryp322"/> After such an event, a slipspace channel may not return to a stable state for years.<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 341''</ref> | ||
===Slipspace wake=== | ===Slipspace wake=== | ||
