Virtual Particle Reaction

The Virtual Particle Reaction is a process in which muons are collided to from virtual particles by temporarily breaking the law of conservation of energy. The creation of virtual particles (V-Particles) creates a massive energy surge which can be collected.

The V-Reaction is the primary source of energy for all members of the Galactic Union and is the only known energy source (apart from experimental Dark Energy) sufficient to fuel Hyperspace FTL Travel.

Canen
Canen invented the V-Reactor in 1403 and the FTL drive in 1407

Florian
Florians invented the V-Reactor in 549 BC and, by 552 BC had invented the FTL drive.

Human
The first effective human V-Reaction took place at CERN in 2043. The uncontrolled energy surge blew CERN apart, but subsequent reactions were more successful and by 2046, V-Reaction became the standard energy source of Earth and was incorporated into the first FTL drives in 2047.

In 2053 the Pebble Island V-Reactor, developed by the United Kingdom in the Falklands in 2047, exploded. The V-radiation from the blast infected the entire population of the Falkland Islands and by 2055, the first signs of genetic mutation in the children of V-radiation sufferers was recorded. In 2076, the Canton V-Reactor suffered a meltdown and a significant portion of Canton Ohio was infected.

Following first contact with the Galactic Union in 2069, V-Reactor design has been significantly improved.

Apart from those two events, no V-Reactor in Earth Federation Space has suffered an accident.

Krikta
Kriktans invented the V-Reactor and FTL drive in 1153 BC

Naxarl
Naxarls invented the V-Reactor in 397 BC and the FTL drive in 392 BC

Uxen
Uxen invented the V-Reactor in 103 AD and the FTL drive in 112 AD.

Xenozorg
Xenozorgs invented the V-Reactor in 171 and the FTL drive in 187

Military Use
The V-Reaction's potential to create massive surges of energy can be utilized much like a nuclear weapon. The main constraints being that the apparatus needed to sustain a reaction for a period long enough to generate sufficient energy which would not merely dissipate into short wavelength radiation, is rather unwieldy. However small scale implementations of typical V-Reactor technology have been successful in powering conventional projectile weapons, using electromagnets, such as Gauss rifles.