| Destination | Alpha Centauri |
|---|---|
| Distance | ~4.37 light-years |
| Speed | 0.86c |
| Duration (Earth frame) | ≈ 5.08 years |
| Duration (Traveler frame) | ≈ 2.57 years |
| Relativity Factor (γ) | ~1.978 |
| Notes | Time dilation reduces subjective travel time aboard the vessel. Travel is not instantaneous but significantly altered by relativistic compression. |
Sleeplight Travel is the dominant form of long-distance space traversal used by sanctioned entities in and around Neo-Europa. Unlike speculative Faster-Than-Light (FTL) systems of earlier centuries, Sleeplight functions by combining relativistic sublight propulsion with neural cryo-hibernation, allowing passengers to survive journeys that span decades in real-time—but mere weeks in dream-time.
Though not truly faster than light, Sleeplight is colloquially referred to as “slow FTL” due to the subjective experience of compressed time.
Overview
Sleeplight travel is regulated by the Council of Nobles and monopolized through facilities such as the Serhugh Ascension Terminal. Only a handful of ships are equipped for such journeys, and even fewer are re-entry certified.
Mechanism
Sleeplight-capable ships utilize a combination of:
- Quantum glide engines – Advanced gravitic propulsion systems that can maintain sublight velocities of ~0.86c over long durations
- Stasis chambers – Cryogenic pods with neural encapsulation tech, maintaining mental continuity through CortexOS-linked dream loops
Passengers do not simply sleep—they enter shared dream threads, guided by passive AI constructs to prevent neural degradation.
Why 0.86c for Sleeplight Travel? (OOC)
Neo-Europa's Sleeplight vessels travel at a cruising velocity of approximately 0.86c (86% the speed of light). This specific speed was chosen for both narrative and technical reasons. From a physics standpoint, 0.86c allows relativistic effects (such as mild time dilation) without requiring infinite energy or exotic propulsion. It also creates meaningful but not absurd travel durations between solar systems—measured in years, not centuries. From a worldbuilding perspective, 0.86c represents the upper limit of stability for humanity’s long-duration cryo-navigation, reflecting a society that has mastered the brutal efficiency of relativistic travel without conquering true FTL. Sleeplight journeys are rare, high-risk, and expensive—used by the Council for exile, exploration, or secrets too dangerous to remain in-system.
Time Dilation Effects
Because of relativistic speeds, journeys that take 45 to 90 Earth years may feel like 3 to 6 weeks to the sleeper. This leads to:
- “Waking Drift” – Cultural dislocation after return
- Memory Bleed – Emotional residue from shared dreamspace
- Chrono-Fatalism – Psychological syndrome in which travelers believe they’ve outlived their destiny
Access and Control
Only a select few are granted passage via Sleeplight:
- High-ranking Nobles
- Deep-space researchers under Council contract
- Certain convicted individuals sentenced to “Ejection” (deferred exile)
- Rodenbex Industries hospitality staff assigned to orbital colonies or ghost luxury liners
Unauthorized travel is considered orbital sedition and punishable by identity erasure.
Rumored Enhancements
Some Depth Witches claim that certain Sleeplight vessels are equipped with Spiral Drive Elements—unofficial tech fragments derived from the fabled Spiral Engine. These ships are believed to:
- Move faster than physics allows
- Leave behind echoes of passengers in Cypherspace
- Require Chapel Node blessings to safely exit Earth’s gravitational grip
Notable Sleeplight Routes
- Alvion Spindle – Off-world research facility focused on organo-digital hybrid systems
- Ganymede Relay Node – Data mirroring satellite with live AI traffic
- The Echo Arks – Supposedly houses the consciousness of extinct bloodlines
- The Lazarus Loop – An orbital path reserved for exile; no return routes listed
In Popular Culture
Sleeplight features prominently in Neo-Europan myth and media. Common themes include:
- Lovers split across centuries
- “Dream pirates” who hack stasis threads mid-flight
- Echoes of those who never fully woke up
Slum poets often call Sleeplight “the long yawn of the dead”.