Space Travel

Star systems are mapped in a hexagonal grid based on known metadimensional pathways between them. The shorter the pathway, the closer the systems are on the map.
  This is unrelated to physical distance - systems that are metadimensionally-adjacent might be on opposite ends of the galaxy. The map requires updates when pathways mutate or new rutters are developed.
  A ship's spike rating describes how many hexagons the ship can traverse in a single drill, as well as how quickly it can make the trip.

• Spike-1 engines are common in freight and personal ships. They can only travel to adjacent systems and take 6-10 days to get there.
• Spike-2 engines are in most commercial and military ships. They halve the travel time of a spike-1 and can traverse between all clusters.
• Spike-3 engines are rare. The intense power draw often requires pre-Scream technology to support, which few private citizens could acquire. A spike-3 is the only way to reach Rada.
• There are records of spike-4 through spike-6 engines existing centuries ago, but nothing this powerful has been redeveloped.