Deconstructing Destiny // On Jumps : Part 2 - Special Abilities

[ [b]DISCLAIMER [/b]] I am not a physicist. There's a reason we aren't going around shooting aliens and flying spaceships: it's not possible yet. This series is meant for entertainment only, and I have taken some literary freedoms where I deemed necessary. Content on this page is not final. I am open to civilised discussion, and am more than happy to correct my mistakes. I will also answer questions to the best of my knowledge. [ END OF DISCLAIMER ] * * * [b]On Jumps : Part 2 - Special Abilities[/b] 2. On special abilites For brevity's sake, both Catapult and Triple Jump will be omitted from this section, as they are redundant considering Part 1 of this article. Which leads us to Blink. Note: I have discussed Blink earlier on [url=https://www.bungie.net/en/Forums/Post/179404795?sort=0&page=0&path=1]Paradox1055's Strength of the Pack Ch. 11: Lost Light pt 2[/url]. However, I wish to rectify my claims here on this page. 2.1 Common principles: "Blink" is the colloquial name for warp. It is not instant teleportation. It's not even at light speed. It s fast though - faster than human reaction. Warping is about distorting spacetime to travel an arbitrary distance along a geodesic. Using this definition, it's trivial to understand why [i]neither [/i]class can Blink through things: the local Euclidean space geodesic does not match the spacetime one. Warp is only possible as long as these two match - in other words, one can only Blink in a straight line until one stops or collides with an object. There is still the matter of the gravitational ripple caused by exiting warp. This "wave" can and will obliterate literally everything in the vicinity. This is part of the reason why Blink is called Blink and not Warp - Blink must operate at subluminal speeds (slower than light) to mitigate the effects of this ripple. These speeds are still faster than human reaction, effectively functioning as a "teleport". Despite being shared between two classes, it is my belief that Blink operates very differently for each one. Clearly, it takes advantage of each element's properties, which are presented below: 2.2 Void based: A Voidwalker's Blink jump is a 'classical' subluminal warp. When I say 'classical', I mean based on an Alcubierre Drive [1]. The idea is to compress timespace in front of an accelerating user, while expanding it behind them. Using this "tide" and one's acceleration, one can effectively "surf" timespace at an arbitrary velocity. It is demonstrable that such a drive requires exotic matter to operate - namely with negative mass-energy. Initially, this requirement was believed to be equivalent to several solar masses, but it was later demonstrated that a few milligrams would suffice [2], provided special care is taken with the tidal bubble. I believe Void energy satisfies this negative mass-energy requirement, and that the Warlock is more than capable of maintaining a safe and efficient Alcubierre bubble. 2.3 Arc based: While I believe that Hunters stole Blink from Warlocks [3], I maintain that this mode of operation is quite original. Nothing changes in principle - that is, warping, spacetime compression and expansion, tidal gravitational surfing all still happen. However, instead of resorting to negative mass-energy, Bladedancers take advantage of the Arc element's intuitive manipulation of the electromagnetic field to actively stress spacetime into submission. By influencing the electromagnetic stress-energy tensor (via manipulation of electric and magnetic fields) one is capable of changing the behavior of spacetime [4]. Since the stress-energy tensor is the source of the gravitational field, by controlling it one can form a suffuciently safe and efficient Alcubierre bubble. While in the air, it's possible to divert electromagnetic charge from the back of the Bladedancer to the front, in a slanted circle, all the while using momentum to provide the necessary acceleration for warp. 2.4 Remarks It becomes clear why Bladedancers and Voidwalkers always Blink in the direction they are moving in - an initial acceleration is required to maintain warp, and that is only possible for moving objects. The safety of the operator is a non-issue in this case, since by using Void or Arc energy, each class can successfully signal the bubble to transform. This means that the operator can exit warp almost trivially. Sources: [1] [url=https://arxiv.org/pdf/gr-qc/0009013v1.pdf]The warp drive - hyper-fast travel within general relativity. Miguel Alcubierre. Depment of Physics and Astronomy, University of Wales, College of Cardiff[/url] [2] [url=http://arxiv.org/pdf/gr-qc/0207057v3.pdf]The quantum inequalities do not forbid spacetime shortcuts. S. Krasnikov. The Central Astronomical Observatory at Pulkovo[/url] [3] [url=https://www.bungie.net/en/Armory/Detail?item=2756821695&itemname=Nemesis%20Plane]Nemesis Plane // Leg Armor (Armory). Bungie.net[/url] [4] [url=http://www.amazon.com/Introducing-4eins-Relativity-Ray-dInverno/dp/0198596863]Introducing 4ein's Relativity. New York: Oxford University Press[/url] * * * [url=https://www.bungie.net/en/Clan/Post/1371758/206195692/0/0]Part 1 here. [/url] Hey, this was a relatively short post, I just wanted to expand Part 1 and incorporate my thoughts on Blink. Be sure to make suggestions for the next topics in the comments! Thanks.