Faster than Light (FTL) travel in our timeframe is the cornerstone of the expansion of both the terrachians and the tir’a empire. FTL ships ride the warp-space trade routes that primarily crisscross the Orion Spiral Arm of the Milky Way Galaxy linking more than 100 worlds.
FTL engines have only been developed by two races independently, though the technology has now been shared with two other post industrial races that have since become part of the Federation, the the wier wann and the avopham. Of the other sentient races thus far encountered, only the Koumuch and the Echodi have availed themselves of the opportunity to go off-world in any numbers. The more primitive Anyl seem to have little interest in travel beyond the borders of their domains.
Despite differences in the engineering details, both terrachian and tir’a designs operate on the same principle. The engine generates a stable worm-hole, or warp-tunnel that connects two disparate points in space directly. Transport through the warp-tunnel (referred to by spacers as “Pushing Cs”) is accomplished using the same means as slower than light (STL) travel, using ionic engines for propulsion. Technically the ship itself never travels faster than light, but travels an artificially shortened distance to its destination.
While the ionic engines are relatively small, the FTL engines and the power plant necessary to feed them is massive. FTL ships are roughly twice the size of early 21st century aircraft carriers, more than 60% of their mass is power generation and FTL capabilities.
There is a specific ratio of mass to engine size that gives the best return on investment for power generated. This ratio, known as the Lucas Mass Power Ratio (LMPR), is the defining engineering principle for commercial ships and is why almost all civilian ships are of about the same size. Massive engine compartments are off set by tiny, often cramped crew quarters and large open cargo bays. Most commercial transports have a crew of no more than a dozen, some with as few as two or three.
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