Slipstream space: Difference between revisions

{{Era|Forerunner|Covenant|Human|UNSC|HCW|Post|FA}}

{{Ratings}}

==Background==

It is likely that the theory of slipstream space existed prior to [[2291]], however in that year, [[Tobias Shaw]] and [[Wallace Fujikawa]] were the first humans to successfully implement a device that could transition normal matter into slipstream space, the [[Shaw-Fujikawa Translight Engine]].

Slipspace is a tangle of intertwined spacial dimensions, comparably similar to a wadded up piece of paper, which lie underneath the three conventional spatial dimensions of the universe. Because of this tangle of intertwined dimensions, objects in slipspace often group together in mass transit.  

However fast it may appear, faster-than-light travel is by no means instantaneous; "short" jumps routinely take up to two months, and "long" jumps can last six months or more for the crew.  The time it takes to normal-space observers, however, varies substantially - one cannot depend on the same amount of time passing in slipstream space and normal space. These variations are typically measured in weeks or months, and are unpredictable.  A fleet that transitions to slipstream space at the same time may or may not transition back to normal space at the same time.  Furthermore, if ship 'A' and ship 'B' both were to enter slipstream space at the same time and exit at the same time, the crew on ship 'A' could have experienced a longer journey subjectively, and the crew of ship 'A' could be a week older than that of ship 'B' despite appearances in normal space.  

In addition to temporal anomalies, UNSC ships are not able to jump with exact precision. A ship may transition back to normal space millions of kilometers from its intended destination.<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''page 136''</ref> As a result, UNSC ships often transition in and out of slipspace outside star systems, far from any gravity wells of celestial bodies. In-system jumps are also not generally attempted by the UNSC due to the dangers present.<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''page 104''</ref> A notable exception of this is during the [[Battle of Psi Serpentis]], when the [[UNSC Battle Group India|Battle Group India]], under command of [[Admiral]] [[Preston Jeremiah Cole|Preston Cole]], performed an in-system jump. Even though Cole had made thorough calculations for the jump a week in advance and [[Slipspace guidance beacon|guidance beacons]] were used as navigational assists, a part of the battle group scattered, reappearing outside the main group.<ref>'''Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe''', ''The Impossible Life and the Possible Death of Preston J. Cole'', page 477</ref> Also the {{UNSCShip|In Amber Clad}}, was able to make a successful precision jump into ''[[High Charity]]''. This may be due to an improvement on the ship due to the recent capture of Covenant Slipspace technology, the [[Gravemind]] adjusting it or simply luck.<ref>'''Halo 2''', campaign level ''[[Gravemind (level)|Gravemind]]''</ref> Finally, Cortana was able to perform a slipspace jump inside the atmosphere of the gas giant Threshold directly after the battle of [[Installation 04]]. <ref>'''Halo: First Strike''', ''page 80, 87''</ref>

Slipspace can be thought of as the detectable universe, (which, technically, it is), but with a greater number of dimensions. Our plane of existence is thought to have four dimensions (up-down, front-back, side-to-side and time), but slipspace is an eleven-dimensional spacetime.<ref name="eleven"/> By [[2552]], slipspace is theorized as a "tangle" of our plane's dimensions, rather like taking the classic "flat sheet" used to represent gravity and crumpling it up into a ball, thereby creating extra dimensions and shorter spaces between points. The slipstream also possesses different laws of physics than our "normal" universe, although some basic ones, such as energy transfer and momentum, remain the same.<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 55''</ref>

==Velocities==

[[File:Nomis78 opened gateway.jpg|250px|thumb|A Forerunner [[Slipspace portal]].]]

Human Slipspace velocities are far slower than those of the Covenant. UNSC ships are known to be able to travel at a speed of 2.625 light years per day,<ref group="note">Velocity=Distance/time (V=[[Reach|10.5 light years]]/4 days=2.625 l/d)</ref> while Covenant ships can reach 912 light years per day.<ref group="note">Velocity=Distance/time (V=[[Zeta Doradus|38 light years]]/1 hour=38 l/h or 912 l/d)</ref> The capture of a Covenant Slipspace drive by [[John-117]] and survivors of the [[Fall of Reach]] and the events at [[Installation 04|Halo]] may have increased the capabilities of these human Slipspace technologies.

==Dangers and risks==

[[File:Slipspace.JPG|thumb|200px|[[Regret's Carrier]] entering Slipspace over [[New Mombasa]].]]

[[File:H2SSRupture.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Regret's jump into slipspace from a mere several kilometers above Earth's surface inflicted enormous damage on New Mombasa; the iconic space elevator would later collapse due to the damaging effects of the jump on its superstructure.]]

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. Exiting slipspace in-atmosphere is generally far less destructive than entering it, as ships have done so numerous times without disastrous effects.

Even the Forerunners had potential dangers when travelling through Slipspace. During the Assault on the Capital by Mendicant Bias, seven of the twelve Halo Rings in existence at the time attempted to flee using a Slipspace portal. Only one of them, along with [[Bornstellar Makes Eternal Lasting]]'s ship made it through. The rest were destroyed when the Slipspace portal closed due to the stress of the Halo installations passing through.

===Slipspace wake===

===Anomalies===

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.  

===Teleportation===

{{Main|Slipspace translocation}}

===AI housing===