Subspace currents
From Hidden Frontier
Contents |
Properties
The currents undergird most of the Patch. They are a natural phenomenon, though their origin is not known. As tunnels through subspace, they are free of the metreon gas and metaphasic radiation that normally prevent starships from forming a stable warp field inside the Patch. The currents vary in size; some can accomodate large starships. They have many entrance points, and some exit points are near many of the otherwise hidden planets within the Patch.
History
It is not known which race discovered the currents. At least 200 years ago, an El-Aurian refugee, Tolian Naros, learned of their existence and how to navigate through them. He shared this knowledge only with his partner at the time, Siroc. Naros used the currents to lead trade missions on behalf of Tren'La, a planet in the Tikrit Expanse deep within the Briar Patch. When he left Tren'La, he took his knowledge of the currents with him, leaving an embittered Royal Family behind him. Until recently, the currents appear to have gone unused since Naros left the Patch.
Accessing the Currents
The methods of accessing and traveling the currents are closely held secrets. One must first know how to locate a subspace launch point, or entrance. A properly configured tachyon beam, combined with a modified warp jump, allows a ship to enter. From there a ship may follow various routes to a desired destination.
Information about traveling through the currents is highly prized. While some may know how to access a current, the paths through them are not obvious. Navigation is accomplished through trial and error, or using maps charted by those with much experience traveling through the currents, like Naros and his nemesis, Siroc.
Who Uses the Currents
The currents have been utilized by different races to travel through the Patch. The two largest groups using the currents are the Federation and the Tholian Assembly. Both powers did not discover the currents on their own, however. The Federation learned about the currents from Naros, now a Starfleet officer, and the Tholians from Siroc. Both powers now use the currents to explore the Patch to their own sometimes conflicting ends.
Siroc appears to have a more extensive knowledge of patch current locations than the Federation. In 2383, the Tholians used currents that were unknown to the Federation to perform a devastating attack on a convoy under the protection of Rear Admiral Jennifer Cole and the USS Independence.
