Waypoint Network

The Waypoint Network is a key faster-than-light technology used by the United Earth System Federation for long distance travel.

Description & Characteristics
The Waypoint Network allows users to travel immense distances relatively instantaneously, bypassing many problems of space travel including limited resources life support and environmental hazards. This high speed travel network is made up of individual travel nodes called Waypoint Gates. Not only did this allow for the rapid expansion of the UES territory but also granted high speed transit of ships from one sector to another for both military and civilian use. In order to ensure the gates are not used for unauthorised activities the Peacekeepers regulated usage of the gates for civilian ships, requiring all non-military ships using the Waypoint Network to be cleared beforehand and issued with a licence.

Hyperspace Travel
Each individual gate is capable of forming a hyperspace tunnel directly with another, allowing matter to be sent at FTL speeds from one point in space to another. When the system is activated the system locks onto the destination gate, forming a hyperspace tunnel between the two, circumnavigating the standard space separating the two gates. Theoretically it is possible to adjust the power of the gate, allowing users to use the gate as a hyperspace catapult, however there is a high risk of the exit window forming outside the target area, this error is known as "drifting", with two gates in use there is a stable receiving platform there is no chance of the traveller drifting en route.

Installations
Depending on the level of traffic in an area more than on gate may be placed in a location, these stations can vary in size depending on requirements.


 * Waypoint Gate
 * Single gates are often distributed on the oustkirts of areas, these are automated and require remote control from a ship in order to activate.


 * Waypoint Station
 * In more visited areas often multiple gates will be built into large stations with defensive weaponry and a central control centre for managing the station.


 * Waypoint Hub
 * A massive orbital installation, currently only a single three exist and orbits the Earth, Mars and Jupiter in geostationary orbit. Hubs contain at least sixteen gates as well heavy defences and limited mobile suit forces.

Core Components

 * Hyperspace Generator
 * The heart of the system, the generator allows the formation of a stable hyperspace window so that ships can enter and exit.


 * Power Regulation System
 * Despite drawing on massive amounts of power the Waypoint Gates require precision power regulation in order to function properly.


 * Prometheus Mapping System
 * Each gate is loaded with a real-time updated version of the Prometheus Mapping System so that hyperspace corridors can be established with other gates at the target coordinates.


 * Remote Interface
 * Automated gates require a remote access in order to activate them, this is done my using the ship's systems to control the gate.