Singularity
The Gravitational Singularity is a special entity created from successfully starting the engine. It emits radiation (which powers the station), EMP, and an immense gravitational field. Proper care and handling of the Singularity stands between you and horrific death, so be careful!
Hazards
There are several hazards to be immediately aware of if you are standing near the singularity:
- It will, naturally, attempt to suck you towards itself with gravity. Engineers are mostly protected from this by the window casing the singularity core, but an unbolted airlock can cause someone to slip in.
- While the singularity is in sight, a human has a chance of accidentally looking at it and becoming dazed, stunning them for long enough to be sucked in. This can be safely avoided by wearing mesons.
- The singularity emits light background radiation, though rarely enough to do harm.
- The singularity emits EMP, which will fry nearby systems, most notably the cameras in Engineering as well as headsets.
Containment
The Singularity is kept in place by a containment field, which is created by Field Generators. The field generators in turn receive their juice from lasers coming from Emitters, which receive their power off the regular power grid. When the generators first activate, they have very little battery power on hand and are at the most risk of failing if the emitters suddenly stop firing. As time progresses, the generators build up a backup charge and can maintain the containment field even if their power source fails.
The containment field itself is another hazard. If disrupted for long enough time, it will permit the singularity to run free, immediately destroying one of the generators and cascading into total system failure. The field is generally safe from humans touching it, they will be horribly shocked and tossed backwards, but other obstacles thrown into the containment field may disrupt it.
Traitors wishing to sabotage the engine typically try to shut down the emitters, destroy a field generator (if they have enough explosive), or subvert the AI and demand it shut down the containment remotely.
Containment Failure
Welp, it happened. The Singularity is loose. Once out of containment, the Singularity will move about in a random manner in a rather lackadaisical pace, destroying everything it touches. Anyone who goes too close risks being sucked in. Generally the crew is quick to notice the singularity has gone free by the frantic shouts of "SING LOOSE" over the radio. Here are some considerations for this event:
- The singularity will destroy everything it touches, and that includes everything-- even otherwise indestructible things like shuttle walls. Mining may find itself cut off from the main station if the singularity eats their transport shuttle. A rare but hilarious possibility is that the singularity may be on top of a shuttle when the shuttle moves, bringing the singularity along for the ride! Why contain the destruction to just one space station?
- If the singularity was released within the first 5 minutes of the round, it's usually the fault of shitty Engineers. Feel free to track them down and throw them into the singularity to give them a closer look at their work.
- The station can quickly expect massive power loss, complicating escape. Even if the solar arrays have been configured, the singularity may destroy essential wiring.
- A singularity can be generated anywhere on the station by a traitor engineer using a Singularity Bomb.
- The risk posed by the singularity largely depends on the direction it takes. If the crew is lucky, it will merely breach the west side of engineering and mosey around in space, doing nothing of consequence. More dangerous are if it heads north or south, wrecking the Cargo Bay or Hydroponics. The worst case scenario is if the singularity moves into the station proper, tearing a gaping hull breach that literally rips the station in two.
- A catastrophic loose singularity means depressurization, large parts of the station completely missing, and danger if you are anywhere near the singularity itself. Get internals, a spacesuit and jetpack if you can, and try to find your way to the escape arm before you are completely cut off.
- A rampaging singularity can be destroyed with a bomb. The Research Director begins with one just for this purpose, but Toxins researchers can make even bigger bombs to fight the singularity with. The core of the singularity must be caught by the bomb blast. Throwing the bomb directly into the singularity will just disintegrate it like anything else, the bomb must get as close to the sing without being destroyed before detonating. The larger radius of homemade bombs makes this task easier.