Editing Lattice Drive (section)

== Overview ==

The Lattice Drive embedded one or more mnemonic core matrices within a purpose-built propulsion frame on a fusion-drive vessel. The cores served as the computational substrate for corridor navigation: the drive queried routing instructions encoded in crystal structure rather than solving transit equations from first principles.

A standard corridor-gate system required prepared termini at both ends and human-derived mathematics. A Lattice Drive vessel could, in principle, initiate FTL transit without pre-existing gate infrastructure, provided the core held routing data for the destination.

=== Operating principles ===

* Query mnemonic core for embedded corridor routes
* Resonance induction coils coupled core output to the propulsion frame
* Fusion torch provided baseline power; FTL phase drew enormous peak load
* No reproducible method existed to manufacture new functional cores

=== Known limitations ===

Operational logs from 2560–2610 CE documented recurring failures:

* Causality anomalies and positional drift on emergence
* Timestamp inconsistencies persisting for days after transit
* Core degradation under repeated activation cycling
* Unpredictable routing when cores were partially damaged

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Parameter !! Documented value
|-
| Typical vessel class || Corvette or smaller
|-
| Largest assembly || ~12,000 t survey tender (low reliability)
|-
| Simultaneous operators || Fewer than several dozen fleet-wide
|-
| Core supply || Non-reproducible; salvage-only
|}

The term "Lattice Drive" was contested: some records applied it to the full assembly, others reserved it for the mnemonic routing core alone.