Gravitic /Gravemetric Engine

One of the key problems for spaceship construction, perhaps the key problem, is that of propulsion. The simple axiom, "Every action requires an equal, but opposite, reaction" has limited spaceship designers to traditional (but highly efficient) variations of rockets. While the efficiency might vary from species to species throughout known space, for the most part, with only a few exceptions, some form of rocket is the only form of propulsion available.

However, as R&D for the UPA have noticed, there are some exceptions to this rule: the "Old Races". These species seem to have found some way to break the limitation upon rockets, to enable their craft acceleration and maneuverability that navies such as UPA are only now capable of copying. Key to the superior technology of these species is their ability to manipulate, on a macro as opposed to quantum level, the special characteristics of the Zero Point Field (ZPF), also known as a Lorentz Field.

Possibly explained as a three dimensional representation of the dimensional objects known as 'superstrings', believed to be the key building blocks of both matter and energy in our universe, the ZPF is essentially a 'leakage', on the quantum scale, of energy in process of being translated into this reality. Normally, this leakage involves the creation and dissipation of energy such that the result is an almost zero increase of energy. However, it is possible to use the potential of the ZPF as a power source of enormous implications. As Cal Tech physicist Richard Feynman once noted, the energy inherent in the space defined by a single coffee cup- anywhere in the universe- is enough to boil all of the oceans on planet Earth.

There are other implications of the ZPF field in addition to that of an enormous power source. In addition, it has been discovered that inertia- the propensity of an object when at rest to stay at rest, and when in motion to in motion, is a manifestation of that objects electromagnetic interaction with the ZPF. Thus, both gravity and a lowering of inertia are both capable of being manipulated through the use of controlling the electric interaction with the ZPF.

Thus, the most technologically advanced species in known space, the "Old Races", are capable of both anti-gravity, but also lowering of the inertia of a vessel, and then propelling through 'pushing' against the ZPF- allowing for both great acceleration and maneuverability, without violating the Conservation of momentum. In addition, the ability to 'tap' into the power inherent in space, through the ZPF, allows for these species to draw enormous power reserves without the requirement of prohibitively large power plants, such as those on the UPA Psi classes and Warlock class vessels. The ability to generate and carry a power plants capable of generating at LEAST two orders of magnitude more power in wattage of the Warlock and Psi class ships in the hull of a vessel the size of the

White Star ships (which are several times smaller in both mass and volume) allow the "Old Races" now the Hammer Fleet to dramatically increase both the maneuverability of their vessels and the 'punch'-or power output- of their weapon systems.