Quantum Shift Drive
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The Quantum Shift Drive, 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 Quantum Shift Drives are tens of times faster than Force 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 Quantum Shift Drive 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 Quantum Shift Drive 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.