TechnologyStar EnginesMost Human worlds now do not appear to be the abodes of a space faring civilization; since The Ruin most have only readvanced to a steam age industrial society, some are a little further ahead and some a little less. The Silver Republic snatches up anything from the Golden Age it can find (seeking to monopolise as much as it can), as well as all the best physicists and engineers from other worlds. They have managed to relearn much of the science behind old technology, although some is just so advanced that it seems like magic. Even so the Republic and others have become quite proficient at reproducing most of what they've found and at making huge profits selling it on to those who still can't. The transportation of choice for any space farer; well, the only choice. Star Engines are remarkable machines but although The Silver Republic discovered the secrets of their construction much about them still remains a mystery. The biggest mystery of all is how they defy everything people currently think they understand about physics and achieve faster than light speeds. Nevertheless, they do and are thus are a vital tool in The Republic’s arsenal; currently they are the only civilization with the technology and resources to build them. They will sell them to private owners on other worlds, but the cost even for the most basic model is great, translating into about a city’s worth of gold. They grant the Republic a huge advantage militarily, giving them the ability to bombard worlds that don’t fall in line from a safe orbit as well as transport troops from all corners of the galaxy. They are also vital for interstellar communication since no means to broadcast signals faster than light is currently known; the postal service is considered one of the most illustrious wings of the Republic’s Armada. Generally speaking Star Engines consist of a large metal cylinder with an enormous engine at the back. The hulls are made of a metal called Cavorite, which when a current is passed through counters the effects of gravity. At the heart of every Star Engine is a ‘furnace’. Any matter placed in here is broken down to its constituent atoms which are then rearranged into anything the vessel requires, whether it be fuel for the engines or water and oxygen for the crew. Some vessels are fitted with enormous plough like scoops which they use to catch hydrogen atoms around stars or skim the atmospheres of gas giants. While The Republic does its best to keep track of every vessel it produces, it has over the years managed to lose a few. Most end up in the hands of Space Pirates, who are a constant nuisance to them boarding vessels and disrupting trade; sometimes a Captain is tricked by a fake distress beacon into landing his vessel only to have it overrun. Other Star Engines that aren't owned by the Republic might be pre-ruin vessels that have been left abandoned on worlds or floating through space for thousands of years; these are of course extremely valuable since they might contain other Golden Age technology or knowledge.
© 2009 John Coutelier
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