Faster-than-light

In the "Occupied Earth" constructed world, nothing can travel faster than the "Cosmic Speed Limit", colloquially known as the "Speed of Light." However, ships of the Imperial Navy, and some other ships, routinely travel from point-to-point within a period of time that would require travel much faster than the "Speed of Light." In the "Occupied Earth" constructed world, this type of travel is referred to as "Faster-Than-Light" or "FTL" travel, but that is just a convenient term for this type of travel. In fact, this term is technically inaccurate. The ships of the "Occupied Earth" constructed world travel using a system/engine/device/concept that is unknown to present-day human science. It is a fictional method of transportation, which is used in this fictional constructed world. It cannot be described to present-day humans, because they do not have the technology or science necessary to duplicate it or understand it.

The following items are accepted as Fact, regarding "FTL" travel in the "Occupied Earth" constructed world:

1) FTL travel requires a lot of power, and is normally only possible for ships which have combined length/beam/draft (length/width/height) dimensions of over 500 Linear Feet.  There are exceptions... but small, fighter-like craft are NOT capable of FTL travel.

2) The maximum tested and known FTL velocity will allow a vessel to travel from one edge of the galaxy to the other in approximately 1.5 (1-1/2) years.

3) Exceeding the safe limits of a ship's FTL capability can result in the "disappearance" of that ship... permanently.  The ship is essentially "Lost in Hyperspace."  Once again, this is a concept that is not explainable using current human technology and scientific knowledge.

4) Transmissions (communications) are subject to the same limitations as the transportation of ships and other matter.  In other words, it takes 3 years (1.5 X 2) to receive a reply to a question from the other side of the galaxy.