View source for Space Travel (Galaxa)

'''Space Travel''' within the universe of [[Galaxa]] has evolved alongside the discovery and navigation of fundamental cosmic principles known as the '''[[Divine Constants]]'''.  
Originally limited by the natural barriers set forth by the [[First Divine Parents]], spacefaring civilizations have gradually transcended their initial isolation—not by violating cosmic law, but by artfully circumventing it through mastery of adjacent planes and metaphysical technologies.

== The Speed of Light Limitation ==

One of the foremost '''Divine Constants''' is the '''Speed of Light Limit''', a metaphysical boundary designed to:
* Isolate developing civilizations,
* Enforce natural progression through the cosmos,
* Prevent premature cultural contamination.

Early civilizations could achieve '''near-light-speed travel''', but voyages between stars often required decades, centuries, or even longer, relegating exploration to acts of monumental sacrifice.

It was universally accepted that faster-than-light (FTL) travel was impossible without breaking physical reality—an unforgivable act under [[Divine Law (Galaxa)]].

== Discovery of the Interstellar Drive ==

True breakthrough came when mortals discovered the existence of '''adjacent planes of existence'''—the [[Teleka Plane]], [[Astral Plane (Galaxa)]], and [[Ethereal Plane]].

Using these planes, mortals found ways to **bypass** the Speed of Light Limit without violating the Divine Constants:
* **Phase Travel** – Phasing a vessel partially into another plane where space and distance behave differently.
* **Folding Travel** – Compressing or reweaving space itself.
* **Sigil Tuning** – Creating ethereal "pathways" aligned with the natural flow of existence.

Thus, the Age of True Interstellar Travel was born.

== Types of Interstellar Drives ==

Three major types of interstellar FTL drives emerged:

=== Teleka Drives ===
* Phase the vessel into the [[Teleka Plane]].
* Navigators initially required Teleka attunement.
* Later replaced with advanced AI navigators in Valdian derivatives.

=== Astral Fold Drives ===
* Fold space through astral manipulation.
* Early explorers often misfolded catastrophically, ending up far from intended destinations.
* Eventually perfected with the use of automated [[Folding Nodes]].

=== Magicka Sigil Drives ===
* Craft pathways through the [[Ethereal Plane]] using intricate sigils.
* Initially slow to warm up and cooldown (days to months), but capable of extremely rapid travel.
* Evolved into Jump-like Ethereal Tuners for focused leaps across galaxies.

Each method reflected the strengths and weaknesses of the civilizations and magic systems that pioneered them.

== Valdian Mark I–X Teleka Drives ==

The [[Valdians]], masters of Teleka, pioneered the most stable form of early interstellar travel:

* **Mark I Teleka Drive** – Primitive; allowed short hops between nearby stars.
* **Mark II–V** – Improved stability and range across sectors.
* **Mark VI–IX** – Exponential increases in phasing depth and speed.
* **Mark X** – Capable of crossing entire galaxies within a few days, operating at an effective speed of '''10^10''' times the Speed of Light.

The Mark X Drive solidified the Valdians’ place as one of the dominant powers of the cosmos.

Even as other species caught up using Astral and Magicka-based technologies, the '''Valdian Teleka Drives''' remained a symbol of precision and stability in FTL engineering.

== Rise of the First Imperial Federation ==

The proliferation of reliable Interstellar Drives ushered in the rise of the '''First Imperial Federation'''.  
Key factors included:
* The Valdians sharing Drive technology with Teleka-attuned and allied species.
* Empires uniting based on compatible "Pro-" and "Anti-" Sentiments.
* Trade routes, colonization, and diplomacy becoming routine across vast stellar distances.

The First Imperial Federation, under Valdian guidance, experienced a golden age that shaped much of Galaxa’s modern political and cultural landscape—until its collapse during the [[Imperial Civil War (Valdian)]].

== Timeline of Space Travel History ==

{| class="wikitable"
! Time Period
! Event
|-
| c. 1,300,000 Galaxian Years Ago
| [[Human (Galaxa)]] create the first Near-Light-Speed (NLS) Drives.
|-
| c. 1,299,950 Galaxian Years Ago
| Launch of the first 7 Human colony ships: [[Kledik Colony Ship]], [[Volmar Colony Ship]], [[Miliard Colony Ship]], [[Tokoya Colony Ship]], [[Cardi Colony Ship]], [[Solthi Colony Ship]], [[Bilmar Colony Ship]].
|-
| c. 1,200,000 Galaxian Years Ago
| Valdians invent the Mark I Teleka Drive.
|-
| c. 1,100,000 Galaxian Years Ago
| Unification of Valdia under the Valdian Empire.
|-
| c. 1,000,000 Galaxian Years Ago
| Creation of the Teleka Mark X Drive; formation of the First Imperial Federation.
|}

== Related Articles ==
* [[Divine Constants]]
* [[Divine Law (Galaxa)]]
* [[Teleka]]
* [[Astral (Galaxa)]]
* [[Magicka (Galaxa)]]
* [[Valdian Empire]]
* [[Imperial Civil War (Valdian)]]

[[Category:Galaxa universe]]
[[Category:Technology]]
[[Category:Space Travel]]
[[Category:FTL Technology]]
[[Category:Valdian Legacy]]
[[Category:Primordial Sciences]]