Stellar Highways

Stellar Highways are artificially created wormholes that serve as the main form of faster-than-light (FTL) travel across the galaxy. These highways are periodically created outside of Network Stations, which have been specifically designed to open and connect them.

Functionality:

• Travel Time: It typically takes most ships a couple of days to traverse through a Stellar Highway from one end to the other.
• Gravitational Effects: Due to the immense gravitational pull generated by these wormholes, which draws objects from one end of the highway towards the other, the gravity of the system in which the Network Station resides can be significantly affected.
• Regulation: To mitigate the potential negative effects on solar systems, there are designated times when these highways can be opened. Laws are in place to regulate the operation of these highways to minimize disruptions.

Dangers:

• Highway Closure: If a ship is inside a Stellar Highway when it closes, it is lost, with the prevailing theory suggesting that these "lost souls" are either sent to another plane of existence or crushed to infinity, similar to the theoretical effects of a black hole.
• Permanent Highways: When certain conditions are met, such as improper entry into the wormhole, the highway can become permanent. This can also open a portal to another plane of existence, creating unpredictable and potentially hazardous connections.

Technical Requirements:

• Negative Mass Requirement: Ships must possess a material or device with negative mass to safely pass through these wormholes. Without it, the wormhole could destabilize, leading to one of two possible outcomes:
  1. Highway Collapse: The wormhole could rip apart, causing the Stellar Highway to close abruptly.
  2. Permanent Gateway Creation: Alternatively, the failure could cause the highway to become permanent, leading to gravitational effects that throw off entire systems.