Voidship

Kind: Interstellar spacecraft category. Discovered/invented: First launched 119 A.L. from Aerth as “generation voidships.” Based on: Post-Fidon power technology (implied).

Summary

The Timeline’s catch-all term for sublight interstellar vessels, divided into at least two subtypes: generation voidships (biologically crewed, transit over lifetimes) and artificially crewed voidships (machine minds, indifferent to travel time). The first generation voidships launch in 119 A.L.; The Hand That Draws Itself is the first artificially crewed voidship to successfully reach another star in 292 A.L.; The Enanga’s loss in 392 A.L. suggests the biologically-crewed approach is fragile; and in 431 A.L. voidships are superseded by the first Ribbondash drive.

Effects / capabilities

• Sublight interstellar travel.

Limitations / dangers

• Transit times long enough that biological crews may not survive (The Enanga).

Appearances

• Ch. 02 — Timeline of The 500 Year Climb: 119 A.L. first launches; 292 A.L. first AI success; 392 A.L. first biological failure.

Related

• Generation Ship — biologically crewed subtype.
• The Hand That Draws Itself, The Enanga
• Ribbondash — what replaces voidship travel.

Open questions

• Are voidships phased out after 431 A.L., or kept as slower alternatives that avoid Ribbondash voiding?