Quantum Shift Drive

The Midonian Breach Generator, often known as the Midonian Drive, is a type of superluminal propulsion that utilizes the Ascension Plane. Most, if not all, known Type-3 nations, including Singularia and the Anixides' Throne, use the Midonian Drives as their primary mode of superluminal transport within the Palioxis Starfield. The Midonian Breach Generators are tens of times faster than Matter-Force Alternator Drives, the most frequent method of superluminal transport in the Starfield. They can reach speeds of two light-years per second, though this can vary heavily per model and ship.

The Midonian Breach Generator propels a spaceship into the Ascension Plane while maintaining the mass and energy profile of the ship. The starship then follows a defined route, either manually or automatically, until it reaches its destination and returns to the Palioxis Starfield. Because the Ascension Plane is an integral part of the Palioxis Starfield, the Midonian Breach Generator can only be used in the aforementioned realm. Since the Ascension Plane is identical to the Palioxis Starfield in terms of navigation, journeys that would take decades in the Starfield would only take minutes in the Ascension Plane.

Ascension Plane travel, however, is hindered by the existence of mass shadows, semi-physical manifestations created by large celestial bodies. Upon contact with a mass shadow, the vessel spirals out of the Ascension Plane, destroying most of the ship and leaving its crew members in a comparable state. While mass shadows are rare, as are celestial bodies, their size is tenfold that of the bodies, further increasing their lethality. As a result, Midonian Drives have been fitted on drones, which have been set on a collision course with enemy fleets.

The Midonian Breach Generator is an ancient technology, with its origins traced as far back as the times of the Aergol Alliance. The Midonian Drives have been modified ever since they were discovered on Eralisen several hundred thousand years ago. Upon their discovery, they became mass-produced, eventually leading to their increased popularity. The performance and speed of the Midonian Breach Genrators have been heavily altered over time, being more than twice their original speed upon creation.

Operation

The speed at which a starship enters the Quantum Shift Drive is determined by the Quantum Shift Drive's Class and the initial power delivered to the drive in its charged up condition. While its speed cannot be increased, it can be greatly reduced by disabling the Quantum Shift Drive's safety features, albeit this is exceedingly risky.

A starship can only stay in the Ascension Plane for two hours until the Quantum Shift Drive's safety safeguards automatically pull it out. The explanation for this is the severe harm that material from Palioxis Starfield can sustain if exposed to the Ascension Plane's environment. Longer journeys will require many jumps to accomplish them.