HOME | DD

Description
Space Travel in Science Fiction
Ok, in looking over the material about the Conquered Army series I notice someone could think it is a bit grim- after all, the premise is you are caught on one side that is evil and the other side, also evil, is going to kill you and everyone else. Then a dabble with a tribute to a World War I soldier who never came home. Just so you don't jump to the understandable conclusion that the entire series of six books is death, despair, and more death I am offering this explanation of how Space Travel works in the Conquered Armies universe. Enjoy.
First, it is almost always there by default- if you are going to adventure among the stars you have to get there somehow.
Second, no one has done it yet and no one has a clear idea or explanation for how it will happen. Some have theories on how humanity will reach the stars, but no matter how fervent their supporters are they are still only theories.
Third, it seems no two authors or producers have addressed this issue in the same way. Explanations range from the very detailed mechanics of the Star Trek universe (excluding of course the abominations of JJ Abrams and his universal teleportation and his ‘bring back the dead nasal spray’ garbage) to the jumping about of Star Wars craft- from short range single seat fighters to Death Stars effortlessly hopping from one scene, er planet, to the next with a only a token few minutes of plotting the jump when drama demands delay.
So how does space travel in the Conquered Armies Universe work? To travel between star systems in a reasonable time frame (a week to 10 days or so) you have to go fast. Really fast. Really, really, really fast. This comes at a cost. Anyone familiar with airplane movies- especially those with jet fighter pilots- has encountered illustrations of G-force. This force is the effect of gravity (that ‘G’ in force) when you are going really fast and make a turn, if you have ever been in a car going fast in a turn you have felt G-force as you are pressed against one side of the vehicle.
‘But wait’, you cry, ‘there is no gravity in space!’ Wrong- there is some gravity, an almost inconsequential pull from nearby suns and planets when you are floating in the void. Almost inconsequential. When you are travelling really, really, really fast- crossing light years in mere moments- that inconsequential pull is enough to rip your ship apart if you change course even slightly, much like a car going very fast does not take curves as well.
So how does a ship travel between stars? First, it has to go in a straight line for the part of the journey at the really, really, really fast speed. Second it has to slow down carefully after accelerating or risk folding itself into a pancake – if the nose is slightly slower that the tail for instance and the ship is going fast enough then the tail will pass the nose and take everything between the tail and the nose with it. So what does the trip require? Careful aim – start with your aim off by an inch and multiply that by 70 light years and when you arrive your destination will appear as a tiny star in the distance. Second, it takes time to accelerate and then deaccelerate and by the nature of your power source you must always be doing one or the other- no cruise control in space, your speed increases exponentially and you have to slow down at the same pace. Third, there is a maximum safe speed- once you exceed it you don’t come back- this results in the Gordon limit of 70 light years, any more and you risk overaccelerating to nonexistence.
How is this accomplished? Each ship capable of interstellar travel has two drives- an antigrav unit that can partially negate the pull of surrounding planets and suns- and allow non-aerodynamic ships to maneuver in the atmosphere. Second, the drive- an engine that when it is used in interstellar travel actually devours and fuses some of its internal components as part of its operation thus limiting ships to one trip of up to 70 light years before ‘refueling’- a process that aside from the actual liquid energy that is burned requires substantial mechanical replacements for the engine -although the ship can, for instance, go 30 light years, idle down, and then go 40 more light years before the engine is effectively ‘turned off’ and consumed and of course a ship can still operate their drive in the local system for an extended period after its arrival in the system.
Some of you are undoubtedly in awe at the brilliance of this system while others are frothing at the mouth at the numerous (allegedly) illogical and ‘unscientific’ principles I have put forth. Before I can take the credit, or suffer the lectures, let me say that I based this on the work of another artist and if you find it unsatisfying it is he, not I, who you need to address. Without going into the details, mechanics, and limitations to the system I found necessary in writing my novel he introduced his complete system in a single succinct and brilliant scene that I am happy share by the magic of the internet with all of you. Enjoy. www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygE01s…

Description
Space Travel in Science Fiction
Ok, in looking over the material about the Conquered Army series I notice someone could think it is a bit grim- after all, the premise is you are caught on one side that is evil and the other side, also evil, is going to kill you and everyone else. Then a dabble with a tribute to a World War I soldier who never came home. Just so you don't jump to the understandable conclusion that the entire series of six books is death, despair, and more death I am offering this explanation of how Space Travel works in the Conquered Armies universe. Enjoy.
First, it is almost always there by default- if you are going to adventure among the stars you have to get there somehow.
Second, no one has done it yet and no one has a clear idea or explanation for how it will happen. Some have theories on how humanity will reach the stars, but no matter how fervent their supporters are they are still only theories.
Third, it seems no two authors or producers have addressed this issue in the same way. Explanations range from the very detailed mechanics of the Star Trek universe (excluding of course the abominations of JJ Abrams and his universal teleportation and his ‘bring back the dead nasal spray’ garbage) to the jumping about of Star Wars craft- from short range single seat fighters to Death Stars effortlessly hopping from one scene, er planet, to the next with a only a token few minutes of plotting the jump when drama demands delay.
So how does space travel in the Conquered Armies Universe work? To travel between star systems in a reasonable time frame (a week to 10 days or so) you have to go fast. Really fast. Really, really, really fast. This comes at a cost. Anyone familiar with airplane movies- especially those with jet fighter pilots- has encountered illustrations of G-force. This force is the effect of gravity (that ‘G’ in force) when you are going really fast and make a turn, if you have ever been in a car going fast in a turn you have felt G-force as you are pressed against one side of the vehicle.
‘But wait’, you cry, ‘there is no gravity in space!’ Wrong- there is some gravity, an almost inconsequential pull from nearby suns and planets when you are floating in the void. Almost inconsequential. When you are travelling really, really, really fast- crossing light years in mere moments- that inconsequential pull is enough to rip your ship apart if you change course even slightly, much like a car going very fast does not take curves as well.
So how does a ship travel between stars? First, it has to go in a straight line for the part of the journey at the really, really, really fast speed. Second it has to slow down carefully after accelerating or risk folding itself into a pancake – if the nose is slightly slower that the tail for instance and the ship is going fast enough then the tail will pass the nose and take everything between the tail and the nose with it. So what does the trip require? Careful aim – start with your aim off by an inch and multiply that by 70 light years and when you arrive your destination will appear as a tiny star in the distance. Second, it takes time to accelerate and then deaccelerate and by the nature of your power source you must always be doing one or the other- no cruise control in space, your speed increases exponentially and you have to slow down at the same pace. Third, there is a maximum safe speed- once you exceed it you don’t come back- this results in the Gordon limit of 70 light years, any more and you risk overaccelerating to nonexistence.
How is this accomplished? Each ship capable of interstellar travel has two drives- an antigrav unit that can partially negate the pull of surrounding planets and suns- and allow non-aerodynamic ships to maneuver in the atmosphere. Second, the drive- an engine that when it is used in interstellar travel actually devours and fuses some of its internal components as part of its operation thus limiting ships to one trip of up to 70 light years before ‘refueling’- a process that aside from the actual liquid energy that is burned requires substantial mechanical replacements for the engine -although the ship can, for instance, go 30 light years, idle down, and then go 40 more light years before the engine is effectively ‘turned off’ and consumed and of course a ship can still operate their drive in the local system for an extended period after its arrival in the system.
Some of you are undoubtedly in awe at the brilliance of this system while others are frothing at the mouth at the numerous (allegedly) illogical and ‘unscientific’ principles I have put forth. Before I can take the credit, or suffer the lectures, let me say that I based this on the work of another artist and if you find it unsatisfying it is he, not I, who you need to address. Without going into the details, mechanics, and limitations to the system I found necessary in writing my novel he introduced his complete system in a single succinct and brilliant scene that I am happy share by the magic of the internet with all of you. Enjoy. www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygE01s…