Slipstream space: Difference between revisions

The [[Forerunners]] had a far greater understanding of Slipstream space, with the abilities to travel nearly instantaneously over galactic distances, to disrupt slipstream travel from normal space, to create bubbles of Slipstream space such that time slows considerably inside (if not stopping time altogether) while keeping the contents of the bubble visible in normal space, to store considerable mass and volume in Slipstream space stably for thousands of years and potentially for all of time, and to transition matter from normal-space to the inside of a construct in Slipstream space without requiring the construct to transition back to normal-space. In addition, the Forerunners had the ability to construct a weapon system that could not only severely damage a ship while in Slipspace, but also force it to transition back to normal space.<ref name="blood">'''[[Halo: Blood Line]]''' - ''[[Halo: Blood Line Issue 1|Issue 1]]''</ref>

The Covenant have a very finely tuned version of this technology, far superior to the UNSC Shaw-Fujikawa Translight Engine. Instead of simply tearing a hole into Slipspace, Covenant Slipspace drives cut a very fine hole in the fabric of space-time and slips into Slipspace with precision (much like a scalpel compared to a butcher knife). It exits with the same pinpoint accuracy, takes less time during travel, and is able to plot a course with error not exceeding an atom. This is why in battle Covenant ships are able to slip by human defenses by using slipspace.<ref>''[[Halo: First Strike]]'', page 86</ref> Standard Covenant tactics include using short Slipstream jumps to gain positional advantage and surprise other ships, in addition to avoiding incoming ordnance. The Covenant's superiority in drive technology (combined with differing weapon technology) allow a small number of Covenant ships to effectively engage a much larger UNSC force. Missiles, especially, can be defeated by a brief Slipstream jump, as they cannot track through Slipstream space.

Gravitational fields of significant size, such as those generated by a planet, affect the superfine quantum filaments that the [[Shaw-Fujikawa Translight Engine]] must use to calculate an entry point to the slipstream, and UNSC calculations are unable to offset this effect.<ref name="numbers">''[[Halo: First Strike]]'', page 85</ref> Covenant drives, in turn derived from Forerunner technology, have a much higher resolution of the filaments, and use more accurate calculations, and though the Covenant do not use this ability, are capable of making slipstream transition in and out of a planet's [[Gravity Well|gravity well]]. Indeed, while using the captured [[Ascendant Justice]] to make a Slipspace jump within [[Threshold]]'s atmosphere, [[Cortana]] remarked that "It was as if she was blind before."<ref name="numbers"/> After observing this innovation, a [[Associated Intelligence|Covenant AI]] managed to leak the data out to the rest of the Covenant in a transmission. During the [[Battle of Mombasa]], the [[Prophet of Regret]] used this newfound knowledge to transition into Slipspace while directly over [[New Mombasa]] in Earth's gravity well, damaging the city and causing the weakening and eventual collapse of the [[New Mombasa Orbital Elevator|Orbital Elevator]] there.<ref>''[[Halo 2]]'', level [[Metropolis (Level)|Metropolis]]</ref> These events show that, while the Covenant often cannot innovate their own solutions, they are quick to adopt any practice that increases their battle prowess.

Slipspace travel is dangerous due to the high level of [[radiation]] encountered during the trip, which can be extremely hazardous to the crew. This is negated by the use of [[Lead Foil]] in UNSC ships, which absorbs the radiation. Fissile materials also emit radiation (specifically [[Čerenkov Radiation]], emitted when particles travel through a medium at a faster rate than light travels in that same medium.) upon exiting Slipspace; this is not harmful to humans, however it does make emerging from Slipspace very noticeable. It is not known how the Covenant deal with radiation, but it is presumed that either they also utilize a shielding material, or with their improved Slipspace technology and [[Energy shield]]s, it does not affect them at all.<ref>''[[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]]'', page 13</ref> During the beginning of the [[Great Schism]] a [[Flood]]-controlled {{UNSCShip|In Amber Clad}} entered slipspace and exited inside the dome of ''[[High Charity (Structure)|High Charity]]''.<ref>''[[Halo 2]]'', level [[Gravemind (Level)|Gravemind]]</ref>

When ships jump into Slipspace, they need to reach a [[Safe Slipspace Entry Point]], or SSEP, where it can be ensured they won't drag anything from normal space into the slipstream as the ship initiates the transition.<ref>''[[Halo: Contact Harvest]]'', page 34</ref> In addition, star systems have specific Slipstream space transfer points known as Interstellar Jump Points, or IJPs, where it is safe to initiate slipspace transition.<ref>[http://www.bungie.net/projects/reach/article.aspx?ucc=intel Bungie.net - Halo: Reach Project Page]</ref>

One example of the differences between speeds is comparing the Covenant cruiser ''"[[Ascendant Justice]]"'' with the [[UNSC]] [[Halcyon-class]] cruiser {{UNSCShip|Pillar of Autumn}}. It took several weeks for the ''Pillar of Autumn'' to get from Reach to Installation 04, yet the ''Ascendant Justice'' could get from Installation 04 to Reach within thirteen hours.

Though the Covenant use a modified version of Forerunner systems, true unaltered [[Forerunner]] slipspace technology has only been observed in the form of [[the Artifact|the portal]] transporting UNSC and Covenant vessels from [[Earth]] to [[The Ark]]. Additionally, while a Covenant Assault Carrier could reach Delta Halo from Earth in thirteen days, a distance of approximately 11,856 lightyears<ref group="notes">Distance=VelocityxTime (312 hours x 38 lightyears per hour=11856 lightyears)</ref>, the [[Forerunner Dreadnought]] took only five days to travel the same distance, giving a speed of approximately 98.8 lightyears per hour.<ref group="notes">V=D/T (11,856 lightyears / 120 hours = 98.8)</ref> Given the fact that Covenant understanding of Forerunner technology is comparatively primitive, the ship may have been capable of much higher velocities.

In addition, Cherenkov radiation is emitted by fissile materials, including a ship's reactor and nuclear armaments, upon entry and exit of the dimension, requiring all Slipspace-capable craft to be fitted with lead shielding as radiation protection. Slipspace drives can only be equipped on large ships, as the stress that the constantly fluctuating Slipstream exerts is considerable and can tear a small craft, such as a dropship or star fighter, completely asunder.<ref>''[[Halo: First Strike]]'', page 289</ref>

Prior to 2552, entering slipspace from the gravity well of a planet had never been attempted, either by the UNSC or the Covenant. The effect of gravity upon the creation of a slipspace entrance usually collapsed UNSC-generated holes, and was assumed to be the same with Covenant technology. The flagship ''[[Ascendant Justice]]'', however, was able to escape from a gas giant's gravity well after [[Cortana]] realized that it had a far higher resolution of the quantum filaments that allowed a transition, and she was able to compensate for the gravity. Subsequently, the ability was transmitted by a Covenant AI, and the Prophet of Regret used an in-atmosphere slipspace jump to escape [[Earth]], with the resulting shockwave dealing devastating damage to the city of [[New Mombasa]]. Slipspace jumping inside an atmosphere, however, is extremely dangerous to the surrounding people and objects.  When a ship transitions into normal space in-atmosphere, the air that was there is pushed aside, causing a massive shockwave centered at the ship.  If a ship transitions to Slipstream space inside an atmosphere, on the other hand, it leaves an empty space that air quickly rushes to fill, causing an implosion.

The [[Forerunner]]s were somehow capable of advanced message carrier waves in slipspace. This way, messages and memorandums could travel at great speeds throughout the Forerunner empire. Cortana was able to use this technology to declare codes [[Bandersnatch]] and [[Hydra (code)|Hydra]] during the [[Battle of Earth]] and the [[Battle of Installation 05]] in close-knitted timing and symmetry.

The closest technology the UNSC has been able to create like this is the [[Slipspace COM Launcher]]. Even then this technology is limited as there were only three in existence before 2552: one on [[Reach]], one on [[Onyx]] and one on [[Earth]]. As of the conclusion of the [[Human-Covenant War]], both the devices on Reach and Onyx have been destroyed, with the fate of the Earth device unknown. Because all communications can take years or decades to travel the light years between colonized star systems, [[UNSC]] civilians use '''Slipstream packets'''.<ref>http://transmit.ilovebees.com/surveillance_archive/week6_subject3.wav</ref><ref>[[Axon Clips Chapter 6#Kamal]]</ref> They use the slipstream to travel and to send communication signals significantly faster than otherwise possible, allowing faster communication between colonies. Another method of interstellar communication also exists, known as the [[Slipbeacon]].<ref name="blood"/>

 

A "Slipspace Wake" is a phenomenon occurring for some time after a ship has made a slipspace transition. When another, slower ship encounters a slipspace wake, they will be pushed to the speed of the ship that left the wake, thus propelling them through Slipspace at the same velocity. The {{UNSCShip|Dusk}} took 2 weeks to get to Installation 05 via the [[Prophet of Regret]]'s [[Regret's Carrier|Assault Carrier's]] weakening "wake", but came back to [[Earth]] within hours by following the Forerunner Dreadnought's wake.<ref>'''[[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]]''', ''Chapter 22, page 186''</ref>