Mithrael Two
30-07-2008, 02:57
Its architecture was unusually elegant; so much so that the metal and synthetic materials that made up the space station seemed almost alive. There were the big sheets of clear material that made up what might have been massive windows; the attractively coloured photon panels that owed much to modernistic sculpture; the way its body seemed to ray out in a quarter-circle from around the central hub, which only felt central because it was larger than any other part of the structure. This station had either been designed by someone who paid attention to the aesthetic component of its function, or its purpose involved the use of long undulating lines and picturesque arches.
Somewhat more notable than its appearance, however -- at least to those observing it -- was its ability to move far faster than light, unaided by any visible or detectable propulsion system.
There was a time when faster-than-light travel was thought impossible. Of course, there was also a time when faster-than-sound travel was thought impossible, but the barriers to hyperlight velocity had seemed much more real, and much more difficult to break (in no small part because of the difficulty of building an engine that could provide sufficient thrust, and a structure that could withstand the acceleration). Now of course it was common.
Still, there were some types of hyperlight travel that could seem a little far-fetched, even in this day of hyperdrive, regulated singularities, and the Immaterium. One of those was about to be demonstrated by an architecturally interesting but otherwise apparently insignificant space station, which once had only been able to move when caught in a starship's tractor beam.
There was no sign of any activity on board. It simply moved.
Behind it it left only a trail of barely detectable particles that disintegrated into flashes of gamma radiation within seconds.
Somewhat more notable than its appearance, however -- at least to those observing it -- was its ability to move far faster than light, unaided by any visible or detectable propulsion system.
There was a time when faster-than-light travel was thought impossible. Of course, there was also a time when faster-than-sound travel was thought impossible, but the barriers to hyperlight velocity had seemed much more real, and much more difficult to break (in no small part because of the difficulty of building an engine that could provide sufficient thrust, and a structure that could withstand the acceleration). Now of course it was common.
Still, there were some types of hyperlight travel that could seem a little far-fetched, even in this day of hyperdrive, regulated singularities, and the Immaterium. One of those was about to be demonstrated by an architecturally interesting but otherwise apparently insignificant space station, which once had only been able to move when caught in a starship's tractor beam.
There was no sign of any activity on board. It simply moved.
Behind it it left only a trail of barely detectable particles that disintegrated into flashes of gamma radiation within seconds.