There is a thing called gravitational waves, these waves are what keeps planets afloat in a sort of, layered system, sideways or otherwise. A planet or sun's influence on these waves is that of funnels into the waves themselves which cause an orbit around them. If objects in this orbit come too close, the gravitational force from the planet's funnel will drag that object into its surface. Sometimes, an orbit may stray far from the funnel caused by a planet or sun's gravity until it is flung out of its funnel of influence. This applies to objects such as satellites or spaceships, depending on if they are planning to slingshot themselves off of the planet's funnel. There are multiple ways of slingshotting and there is a specific way that has been adopted within the Andromeda galaxy.
Using thick steel wires and intertwining them together until it becomes a thick sturdy rope, attaching it to a machine sitting just barely outside the atmosphere. This machine is called a skyhook, it will constantly swing a small landing bay for ships into the atmosphere, using the momentum to throw a ship outside of the said atmosphere and towards another planet. In a combination of the skyhook, the planet, using the momentum of the skyhook and going for a wider trajectory around the planet they are residing on, they will then use the planet's funnel to then slingshot themselves again, building up speed even more. Most people use this method when going to a planet farther than the one they are currently at. Most use only the skyhook.
Coinciding with the slingshot and skyhook is a new type of fuel used out in space. Since the laws of g-force do not apply unless at unreasonable speeds such as 0.5 of a percentile for light speed - using a new type of fuel combining a variety of inane minerals and the substance known as strange matter, gained from neutron stars, a ship, depending on their size could reach up to two million miles per hour without much resistance. This is about .004 of the speed of light. This speed is often used when going from solar systems and allows being to not die when going at inane speeds such as .02 the speed of light. It is possible to go above .004 the speed of light but it is nearly impossible without a massive ship with artificial gravity.
Going at the speeds presented though, it would still take years in their planet's lifetime to be able to travel to another solar system, there is a failsafe to this though. A very confusing chemical make up made up by pure chance on the planet Icharis F-01. This is the chemicals that allow every living being to be on the same clock to one another, though, this makes every being age significantly slower. There are scientists today still trying to understand how in the world it was possible to create something like this.
It automatically adjusts itself depending on which solar system or planet you are orbiting around, or are currently on. It's as if nanobots are adjusting each and every factor of this chemical but we have confirmed this to not be the case.
One thing has been confirmed though and that is the main piece of matter that had made it possible, to begin with. The same piece of matter that had helped us leaps and bounds when it comes to space travel as a whole. Strange matter...
Though strange matter is extremely toxic and is an even more extreme business to take part in, it is one of the most precious things in space because of the pure unadulterated power that it holds. Concentrating it and purifying turns it into a weaker substance as strong as suns called a Pieatris Vasjores, it will not infect nor spread. They used this substance for both the chemical put into every Pilot's blood, it is also the substance that had us go through a breakthrough in space travel in the span of ten years.
Commentaries from the Abyss, Ludis Minor, Commander of Terra.
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This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
A haunting ring echoes through the ship as the Gambler aimlessly floats around its interior. Three years feels like three months for those accustomed to space travel but for the Gambler, since this is his first experience in space, to him it had felt as if ten years have passed. Alone... at this point, the Gambler has completely forgotten how to act in front of another person. He wouldn't know if he had to bow or even come close to a romantic relationship with another. Idly floating by as drones do his bidding.
"If you ever go onto a planet and encounter a dangerous situation, I suggest taking one of the Lethin Hareth with you."
"What is that?" The Gambler says in a deadpan tone.
"It means Deadly Hunter. It was created by a race called the Ielgro. I know nothing more than that."
"Any other tips?"
"Each individual ring on your suit will activate a specific function. The one's on your index fingers or mechanisms which will automatically assess an enemy you are going against and adjust your body accordingly. The middle rings will call small drones to your area that will scan and assess your surroundings for you. Your ring fingers will activate your Lethin Hareth and put it on kill mode since normally it is put on 'follow' mode. Your little finger is to assess your health, refresh settings, et cetera. Your thumbs will carry a materialized weapon called the Phalirith Morphos. From the same planet and race as Lethin Hareth, it is a material that can be morphed into a variety of melee weapons."
"So I don't have any guns?"
"Guns are rare, they weren't exactly made in this galaxy either."
"Guns are on ships right?"
"Yes, such is the case. But guns are still limited, I have read your memories and I'd have to say that it is similar to the victorian times of your world."
'So people have limited weaponry here?' The Gambler thought to himself, his feet beginning to point to the ground until fully sealing himself against it with magnetization. "How's the progress?'
"We are almost at optimal conditions for space travel."
"Fucking... finally." The Gambler thinks for a moment, "The languages in this galaxy are different from my own's right?"
"Yes."
"Could you give me something to study or something? I'll need to speak their language to survive after all."
"I'm surprised you are asking this now."
"I'm surprised with myself too."
"I will prepare an optimal study guide for you."
"Thank you." The Gambler lets out a deep sigh, heading towards the engine room. The Gambler goes to one of the airlocks and puts on his helmet, making sure to seal and plug it into his Pauldron. The Gambler grabs a tether, the ends of it having two intricate, mechanical hooks. The Gambler presses a small button on the hooks and they both unclamp themselves. The Gambler attaches one side of the tether to his belt, pressing a button and locking it on. He grabs the rest of the tether and brings it with him into the airlock.
A sizzling whisper is heard as it seals itself, the airlock to the outside making a loud cracking noise before opening itself. The Gambler floats slightly outside the ship before grabbing onto a railing, putting the other side of the tether's hook onto it, and locking it in just like his belt. The Gambler brings his entire body outside the ship, magnetizing his feet against its hull, walking across it, and moving to the top, sitting on top of it as it rotates in abstract directions orbiting around this massive desert planet. The Gambler looks to his wrist, confused by the manual.
'What is the point of mining through this planet if strange matter is an important component for the fuel?' He thinks to himself, scratching the back of his helmet. The Gambler turns to get a good look at the ship, a massive ship with the same functionality as his suit. Though the camouflage is not perfect, rather than making itself transparent, it instead changes it's color to the object it is above. It's exactly like his suit.
On the ship is lines scrawled within it, sometimes a yellow glow pulsing throughout them as the ship spins as if it was alive. The ship is large in size but relatively normal, more normal than the Gambler expected because of the ship's functionalities which it had.
It is high quality and would go for a good bargain but the Gambler would be unable to separate himself from it purely because it was the first thing he had encountered and is his only way of returning to the Milky Way, even if it was a fruitless endeavor doing so.