FTL Smorgasboard

I started to design such a system when I was in late High School/Early
College. From memory, it went something like this:

1) Hyperspace. Ships are able to transition into an alternate universe and
travel through it. Hyperspace is parallel to Newtonian Space (NS, slower than
light space as we know it). Hyperspace has a kind of reverse physics,
where nothing can travel _slower_ than the speed of light (i.e. it takes
energy to slow down). It is fairly easy to stay near c, but the farther you
speed up, the harder it is to slow down toward c. Obviously no combat can take
place between Hyperspace and NS. Combat between ships in Hyperspace may take
place, but it takes different weapons than in normal space (physics work
differently). Not as fast as Jump Drive, but faster than most other means.

2) Warp or Envelope Drive. This creates a pocket of space. The ship does not
move, but the pocket of space slides through NS bypassing the limit of
c.
The faster the envelope goes, the more energy it requires (as the
envelope/warp tends to break down). Only FTL energy weapons (tachyon
lasers)
or weapons with their own envelope drive (very rare) can attack into/out
of an envelope drive ship effectively (it is possible to place objects in
front of such a ship and have them collide into the weapon, [provides some
protection]). Weapons designed to attack envelope drive craft do not work well
against craft in NS.

3) Anderson Drive. Using this drive, the ship makes tiny leaps from one
location in NS to another without traveling the distance inbetween (like
electrons moving from one energy shell to another). This cycle repeats
millions/billions of times a second. While the ship does not actually
move, the effective movement is FTL. The speed of the craft is limited by the
number of drives (set up sequentially), since a drive takes a tiny fraction
of a second to recharge/reset. The speed of the computer controlling the
drives is also a factor (although the drives autocycle, unless the computer
provides a new course, the engines jump on the previous course). The drives
can be burnt out by continuous running. Slower than Warp Drive, but much more
maneuverable. To hit a AD craft, you must get a lucky shot (hit it inbetween
jumps) or match the jump cycle from another AD craft.

4) Jump Gate. Ships transition from one jump gate to another instantly. Jump
sickness causes some reduction in efficiency after emerging from jump. No
jump engines are required, but you are limited to entry/exit where the
jump gates are.

5) Jump Drive. Like Jump Gate, but not limited to entry/exit point. This
type of drive takes the greatest energy to accomplish (most mass for
engine/fuel).

6) Colony Ships (non-FTL). _H_U_G_E_ ships that travel using ramjets
(and
sub-warp tinkering) to travel at speeds upto .999c. Very powerful and
hard to kill, but most expensive option (you only get 1 to start). Long time
to transit between systems.

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Brian Bell
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