Negative Energy Technology

Negative Energy is a natural phenomenon linked to gravity and the curvature of space.  It has a number of practical uses, from creating artificial gravity fields, to hyper-efficient refrigeration and noise-cancellation systems, to some of the most powerful weaponry in the galaxy.  It is also the key to spatial compression, the primary FTL (faster than light) technology in human-controlled space.  It even impacts the world of communications with spatial compression radio technology.

The generation of negative energy is generally accomplished through the use of Casimir Stacks (a device that operates on the Casimir effect ), or through the squeezed light technique. 

Manipulation of negative energy often requires the use of time crystals, exotic objects that never reach thermal equilibrium, as well as nega-conductors, special materials that can transmit negative energy.

Negative energy can also be stored in an anticapacitor.  When charging, anticapacitors are said to "charge down", rather than charging up, as one might think of a normal energy storage device.

Negative Energy Hazards

A negative energy field counteracts positive energy that it comes into contact with, so a common injury from exposure to excessive negative energy is frostbite, as it absorbs the heat in the environment.  An environment rich in negative energy is one with dim light or darkness, little or no sound, and cold temperatures.  All movement slows down in its presence.  Electronics often fail in such environments as well.

This feature also makes negative energy based weapons the preferred armament of assassins and spies.  Where a conventional weapon would give away its presence with emitted light and sound, a negative energy blaster or blade blocks out light and sound, making its use harder to detect.  

Negative energy systems have to be carefully shielded and insulated. If they aren't, the area around the equipment can quickly become hazardously cold.

Grabber Trucks

Developed from a combination of heavy-duty mining equipment and battleoid components, grabber trucks were a versatile piece of earth-moving equipment.  Based on the body of a large dumptruck, grabber-trucks were capable of relatively independent operation, as the grabber arm could load large objects into the hopper, even in the absence of other earth-moving equipment.  Grabber trucks were used extensively in mining, construction, and terraforming operations.

After the crash

"A few days after the crash, I was out in the desert, looking for other survivors. Food was scarce, and things were looking bad, when I crossed a ridge, and there, dead ahead was the best thing that I have ever seen.  One of the large cargo pods, mostly intact had popped open when it had crashed into the valley.  Inside was an Ares Systems series 80,000 grabber truck.  The AI assistant had already used the arm to set the truck upright, and was apparently just waiting for signs of life to come along.  As I came down the ridge, it flashed its lights at me and lowered the access ladder to the cab.  The best part was that the crew cabin was fully stocked and ready.  I had food and water, a place to sleep, and, of course, a big grabber truck that could do a lot of big jobs.  The cargo pod mostly held surveying equipment, so I took a couple survey drones, and loaded them into the auxiliary equipment bay opposite the arm (it was a one-armed model).  These were perfect lookouts to scout the way ahead.  After I had settled into the crew cabin and tested out the truck, I sent up one of the drones, and it spotted a bunch of wreckage not far down the valley.  Time to get to work."  --

From the vlog of Dennis Glich, survivor of Garcia's Hope

Tectonic Stabilizers

Tectonic stabilizers are huge robotic platforms used in terraforming operations to reduce geological activity on a planet.  A tectonic stabilization platform is typically built on top of a large drill head and burrows deep into the ground, typically at some critical location on a fault line.  Tectonic stabilizers are often deployed in networked groups to reduce geological activity in a particular region. 

Once in place, the tectonic stabilizer deploys a number of different tools to absorb and mitigate geological forces.  Most such platforms include enormous shock absorbers and thermocouples that convert geological activity into electricity.  This energy is then used to power the platform, with any excess power transferred to the surface via long power cables that extend from the top of the platform.

While in place, most tectonic stabilizers also deploy a number of other tools, such as drills, jackhammers, earth-moving equipment, etc. to shift the earth around it into more stable configurations to reduce seismic activity.  This activity is coordinated by the platform's artificial intelligence, as these platforms are deployed without any biological crew.

Soil Processors

Description

Soil processors are terraforming tools used to make regolith or alien soil amenable to agriculture.  Usually built into a mobile platform, such as a large truck, and paired with earth moving equipment, soil processors go from site to site, producing usable soil.  Some soil processors are stationary production plants, but these are the exceptions to the rule.

The first stage of the soil processor consists of a rock crusher that breaks stones into small enough pieces for the process to continue.  The second stage of soil processing sends the soil through a tumbler with microbial cultures added.  This stage takes the edges off of sharp-edged fragments, aerates the soil, and starts the growth of beneficial microbes.  After the tumbler, the soil spends a certain amount of time fermenting in a bioreactor, where it is stirred together with engineered algae, fungi and other living agents, such as worms and insects.  After the bioreactor is done, the soil goes through one more aeration stage before being returned to the ground.  

The whole process can take between a week and several months depending on what kind of soil is being processed, and for what use.

Soil processing operations on Shoji circa GSC 215

Impact Ships

Description

Impact ships are designed to collect and launch asteroids or comets to impact with a planet.  Generally this is accomplished by landing thruster-drones on the object in order to dock it to a powerful railgun attached to the ship.

The technology was developed to terraform a planet by adding mass and desired chemicals (such as water and oxygen) to its environment.  This can boost a planet's gravity, improve its atmosphere, and even create oceans.

Unfortunately, the more cruel leaders and commanders also learned to use impact ships to rain destruction on whole planets.  The democratic societies of the galaxy see this later use of the technology as a crime, while the more despotic and Machiavellian see it as a means to an end.

During Era-2, the Holy Empire of Man included a large number of impact ships in its "Purification Fleet".

Heat Mills

Description

Heat Mills are used to warm the air and/or water of a planet.  Generally, if a planet's greenhouse effect is at the desired level, but the climate is still too cold for some other reason (usually Albedo or orbital eccentricity), heat mills are used to warm the environment.

A heat mill is generally constructed in the form of a tower covered in radiator vanes.  In the center of the tower are the heaters .  If a planet's greenhouse effect is too low, fuel-burning heaters may be used to increase it, otherwise the heaters are usually electrical.  The heater heats the radiator vanes, which in turn heat the air and/or water around the heat mill.  

Working in a heat mill is hot, heavy, repetitive and dangerous.  The height of a typical heat mill makes falling a real danger.  Long hours spent adjusting huge radiator vanes, and tending to the heaters make it one of the galaxy's least desirable jobs.

The planet Scharlaff is home to some of the most infamous heat-mills in the galaxy. As the planet gradually drifts away from it’s sun, more of these mills need to be constructed cheaply. So, as a cost-saving measure, the Empire of 1,000,000 Suns staffs them with convicts.

Gravity Satellites

Description

After the discovery of gravitonium in Era-1, gravity manipulation became possible, and one of the main applications was to modify the gravitational fields of planets, to make them more amenable to human life.  

Gravity Satellites are a massive investment for a planet, because of the large amount of gravitonium needed.  Gravitonium is both rare and dangerous to obtain, since it is most often found in the vicinity of black holes and neutron stars, making it quite expensive.

Since a Gravity Satellite exerts a cone of influence between its self and the surface of the planet it orbits, it takes a number of them to fully adjust a planet's environment.  Most planets that have gravity satellites, only have a few in geostationary orbits creating a band of adjusted gravity around the equator.  Many planets with partial systems have the problem of inconsistent coverage, where the surface gravity varies throughout the day.  Few planets are wealthy enough to have full and consistent coverage.  

Atmospheric Conditioners

Description

Atmospheric Conditioners generally take the form of large buildings, the size of skyscrapers covered in large ventilation ports.  The ports serve to draw in the planet's atmosphere, and to expel the newly conditioned atmosphere.

Inside the conditioner ducts lead the incoming air first to a bioreactor that uses genetically engineered algae and other microorganisms to remove unwanted substances and to add oxygen, and other gasses if needed.  If the planet's greenhouse effect is too low to sustain a habitable climate, the air then goes to a chamber where the appropriate gasses are added, often by burning certain fuels.  The heat produced by this process is re-captured to provide power.  If the planet's climate is too cold, the conditioner may also include a Heat Mill to warm the outgoing air.  If the air is too dry or too humid, an atmospheric conditioner also includes humidifying/dehumidifying equipment.

The number of atmospheric conditioners installed on a planet depends on the volume of the atmosphere, as well as how much the air needs to be altered.  Planets with higher populations also tend to need more conditioning.  

Atmospheric Conditioning technology also has its abuses.  The corporate state of Cosmid used this technology on several planets to test new drugs on unsuspecting populations.  The Holy Empire of Man also used atmospheric conditioners to drug entire planets. 

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Atmospheric conditioners in the Black Iron Desert on Bonnard's End