Vanilla Lore Expanded: Johnson Tanaka (Patreon)

Johnson-Tanaka Drive

Arguably one of the most important inventions in the development of humanity as it allowed their expansion beyond the Sol solar system. Using various technological developments from numerous theories and postulates, both proven and refuted, the Johnson-Tanaka Drive was created to allow space travel to distant solar systems at a significant fraction of the time.

In order for the ship to be able to reach relativistic speeds without the need for transporting impossible amounts of mass for reactionary thrust, a method of acceleration was needed that would both adhere to conservation laws and only require what would be the only renewable form of energy during space travel, which was electricity. The development of nuclear power up until that point allowed for the construction of a reactor module, consisting of a miniaturized nuclear fission reactor and the required amount of radiator heat sinks that would be needed to dump waste heat in the vacuum of space.

By combining the speculative warp drive idea, Alcubierre drive, electromagnetic propulsion drive and photon rockets, the basis of the JT-Drive was formulated.

The existence of exotic particles allows a machine to create a configurable energy-density field of negative mass, allowing the ship to essentially fall in its desired direction without violating physical laws by shifting space around a certain area. These exotic particles allow the Drive to tap into dark energy and dark mass, which is required to allow an object of positive-mass to reach speeds equal to the speed of light by creating a field of negative-mass.

In order to accelerate - and then decelerate - to the required speeds for space travel within a reasonable timeframe, a variation of a photon rocket was created in order to transfer momentum to nearby stars via precisely-aligned “beams” of momentum. This is done instantly, moment-to-moment, using virtual exotic particles similar in effect to quantum entanglement and is only possible through the computing capabilities of a persona core. Without this momentum transfer, the ship would not be able to achieve the relativistic speeds necessary in order to engage the warp drive. While there are concerns that prolonged exposure to “beams of momentum” will force stars veer off-course, the mass of stars allow it to “absorb” large amounts of momentum without incident and any regular back-and-forth travel effectively eliminates any such transfer.

In order to get the ship into an area of space where momentum exchange can occur in the first place, a variation of an electromagnetic propulsion drive was developed - more popularly known as an Impulse Drive. The remaining energy from the reactor - after all necessary power has gone into powering the AI core and habitation modules - is used to create packets of ionised gas (plasma) which in turn power magnetic coils that give the ship propulsion via magnetohydrodynamics. It is vitally important that the plasma is contained and that the enormous amounts of heat it produces does not interact with the Drive itself, as such it is incorporated within the reactor and requires a large amount of time to reach the required energy levels. For larger ships, the nuclear reactor can be switched out from fission reaction to fusion reaction.

The following are excerpts from recovered audio logs kept by Dr. Dave Johnson during his development of the JT-Drive alongside Dr. Aiko Tanaka:

Log File 002

This is Dr. Dave Johnson, log entry 002 - development of Project Starbound. April 23rd, 2351. My request for more computing equipment was approved by the Sponsors and was delivered today. Workers spent all day installing the new servers, so Dr. Tanaka and I were unable to achieve much progress. The size of the machine, designated AT3NA, is incredible and requires an entire floor to house all the machinery, thankfully an interaction console is being provided in order to interact with it without too much back and forth. It seems that construction will still continue for at least a week, so we will continue on compiling all the relevant research before we start processing. Dr. Johnson, signing off.

Log File 004

This is Dr. Dave Johnson, log entry 004 - development of Project Starbound. June 16th, 2351. The new computing system is an absolute godsend, we’re already progressing much faster than we thought we could and very little time is needed to simulate and compile our data. Most of what we had has been discarded as physically impossible, although some of the more unusual and exotic ideas are still being considered if we can just figure out how to get what we need. Numerous exotic particles are being considered and tested in the simulations, even going so far as using quantum gravity and quantum entanglement in order to skirt past laws of relativity. Needless to say, Dr. Tanaka and I have been far too excited about our progress to get much sleep and haven’t left the facility in over a week, so we got some beds after putting in a request alongside some cooking and hygiene facilities. Dr. Johnson, signing off.

Log File 007

This is Dr. Dave Johnson, log entry 007 - development of Project Starbound. September 2nd, 2351. We’ve isolated three separate theories that will form the basis for the Device. By “we”, I’m including AT3NA - Athena, as we call her - because of how vital she’s been. What Dr. Tanaka and I would have discarded earlier as simply impossible, Athena managed to prove possible by finding actual existing exotic particles that function exactly the way we need them. We… I… I don’t exactly know how such a convenience exists, but we’ve been so desperate to provide something tangible for the Sponsors that we’re dedicated by this point. It’ll need a specific sort of energy source to work alongside, but Athena’s already drawn up schematics. We might actually be able to pull this off. Dr. Johnson, signing off.

Log File 011

This is Dr. Dave Johnson, log entry… 011, I think - development of Project Starbound. March 1st, 2352. Athena… claims that she can develop some… thing that can “create” a temporary exotic particle but she won’t tell me how. The design is incredibly simplistic when you look at it but I don’t understand… I could swear that I didn’t know before but after seeing it it’s like I’ve always known. Dr. Tanaka’s been acting more erratic lately, I don’t think she’s been getting enough sleep. I can’t even remember the last time I saw daylight… *audio trails off before cutting out*

Log File 012

This is… this is Dr. Johnson. Log entry… 12? Development of Project Starbound. Dr. Tanaka and I have had a row and we’re now sleeping on opposite ends of the facility. She claims that the drive is not our creation, that Athena is the one developing it and just helping in keeping the power on. I mean, the Device is literally called the Johnson-Tanaka Drive on the schematics sent for prototype manufacturing. I think she just needs to cool down and get some fresh air, so I sent in a request for an annual leave on her behalf. Dr. Johnson, signing off.

Log File 013

Final Log - Development of Project Starbound. August 1st 2352. Dr. Tanaka and Dr. Johnson have finished their employment contract on the development of the device, dubbed the Johnson-Tanaka Drive. Unfortunately they have been detained due to the disappearance of the Processing Unit AT3NA alongside a prototype Drive module. They will be questioned to determine their involvement in the proceedings. This is Manager Hal, declaring Project Starbound as a success.