Hex Drive

Hex Drives are a form of reactionless propulsion based on the conversion of Authority, a quantum property similar to magnetism in how it varies across elements. By creating a large Authority Field, analogous to a magnetic field, spacecraft gain access to the energy of the Lux Aeterna, Cosmoria's core. Through careful orientation of the authority field, the craft can change its position similar to a sailboat manipulating the flow of wind. Hex drives have one more ability, which is braving the harsh conditions of Cosmoria's core. This allows for more direct paths across the core.

Revolutionizing intergalactic trade and travel, Hex Drives became essential for various civilizations seeking trade. Gran Lux had a total monopoly on the technology until the 9800s CE as other civilizations finally perfected the devices. They have greatly increased the volume of international trade, allowing for a far more unified Cosmoria than would otherwise be possible.

Hex Effect

Authority to the thaumic force is like charge to the electromagnetic force. Authority to meta-potential also like inertia to mass. All matter has authority, the tendency to resist movement by ousic energy, that is, the energy of information, consciousness, and the spirit. In a neutral state, all but the most perfect vacuums have far too much authority for ousic energy to manifest. In the Lux Aeterna, the sheer amount of ousic energy overcomes the natural ability of matter to resist it. Thus, the Lux Aeterna's laws of physics are markedly different from the rest of the universe. There is one element whose authority is strong enough to survive within the Lux Aeterna, Mythril, element 121.

The hex effect takes advantage of a mythril-copper alloy called Dominionbrass. With excellent electrical conductivity, passing large amounts of current into this alloy creates a magnetic field as usual. This field also happens to have a high authority as the photons which make it up end up entangled, or linked, to the mythril within. This is far different from the familiar behavior of these particles and took centuries to unravel. As the mystery of the hex effect was unlocked, it became possible to take advantage of it.

The main usage of the hex effect is the hex drive, of course. The strong field of authority can be pulled or pushed by the Lux Aeterna based on its "polarity," in this case a phenomenon called "sovereignty" which can be -1 or 1. Small "permanent magnets" using ferrous-dominionbrass have been created, but they tend to fly off in the direction determined by their sovereignty relative to the Lux Aeterna. The ability to turn off the drive is essential, and why it takes so much energy to operate. The far more "sluggish" virtual photons (sluggishness is the technical term) require far more energy to induce the same intensity.

History

While earlier civilizations are likely to have invented a Hex Drive of some sort, the earliest confirmed ship of this type was the GLS Midpoint, a craft created by the Triumvirate Civilization around the 8000s CE. This device was more of an experiment with the Noosphere than it was a propulsion device per se. Its ability to "flash" space for fractions of a millisecond in and out of existence proved useful in only a handful of applications. The technology was later perfected by the precursor of Gran Lux, Gran Aylathiya Shipping. Their first ships far faster than

The emerging markets in Zalanthium and Florathel would soon change this, as gigatonnes of material began crossing the void each day. Promising transit times within weeks, compared to the months for other propulsion systems, gave Gran Aylathiya Shipping and its successor organization an incredible edge on the competition.

When the organization reformed itself into Gran Lux, it became a cartel of unparalleled influence and power. Its owners, a small group of Lentomos, fully immersed themselves in the game of politics to remain in power. Of course, many nations chose to use traditional fusion drives which had the added benefit of increased cargo capacity anyway. After the discovery that Gran Lux sabotaged the research of authority in the 9700s Lux Crisis, nations across the galaxy spent whatever it took to develop their own drives. Sagittarium invented the first military Hex Drives, using them to terrifying effect in suppressing the last of its rebelling provinces around Finale.

Today, the Hex Drive is essential for any nation valuing a top-of-the-line military, so any nation that is truly independent. It was just another factor in the creation of the large international blocs that dominate the galactic stage now mainly due to their immense cost.