Janus Coordinates

Janus Coordinates are how trans-dimensional wormholes are targeted to a particular reality. There are a total of 10 values, with two ordered triples and one ordered quadruple. The full Janus Coordinates are relative to the origin gate location as an ordered decuple. These values break down how one locates not only a specific subspace domain (reality) but the specific timeline and location in space within that timeline.

The Coordinate System

All Janus Coordinates can be expanded out to an ordered decuple: {(ρ, k, ℵ), (τ, λ, δ, α), (r, θ, φ)}. This expression contains 3 distinct sets of coordinates, Reality, Temporal, and Physical coordinates of a destination relative to the origin gate.

Reality Coordinates

The first triple forms the relative location of the destination coordinates relative to our own subspace domain.

• The first and second symbol are ρ (Realia) and k (Corealia) which specify the coordinates of the destination reality, i.e. the group of possible timelines branching out within a single reality.
• The third symbol is ℵ (Infinity) and represents energy level of the destination subspace domain relative to ours.

While in theory the first two values of this triple should specify a specific reality to target, the third value confirms the other two and together they provide a direct reference to a given reality.

Temporal Coordinates

The second triple forms the relative location of the destination timeline from our own.

• The first symbol is τ (Temporal) and represents the temporal variance to our own origin time

Since other realities can run at different speeds relative to our own, this value synchronizes the temporal displacement so that the conceptual "clock" in both locations is equal at the time the wormhole connects.

• The second and third and fourth symbols are λ (Continua), δ (Discontinua), and α (Anticontinua) identify the specific timeline.

Since a given subspace domain has infinite branches of the timeline these coordinates pinpoint which timeline branch is to be targeted.

These values pinpoint a specific location in time along a specific timeline within the reality specified by the first triple. Since the rate of time is fixed within a given reality, the Temporal component ensures if 2 months pass in our origin timeline that 2 months have passed in the destination reality. While the Continua, Discontinua, and Anticontinua specify the specific branch of that timeline being targeted.

Physical Coordinates

Finally the physical coordinates represent the specific location in three dimensional space. The coordinates are based on the galactic core relative to our own, since each domain exists within the same space at a different subspace energy level, these coordinates map from our corresponding gate location to a remote location in spherical coordinates from that location.

• The first value is r and represents the radial distance from the corresponding location
• The second value is θ and represents the altitude angle from the corresponding location
• The third value is φ and represents the azimuth angle from the corresponding location

These three coordinate specify a location relative to where our gate would appear if it was suddenly moved to the destination timeline.

Intra-Timeline Travel

The central point of Janus Coordinate system is to be able to direct a wormhole to any gate anywhere. To this end, the Janus Coordinates can be used to pinpoint a gate in any space within a reality. In this case the Reality Coordinates are null, being relative to our own reality all values are static and do not change from the reality we are in. Likewise the Temporal Coordinates are also null, also being relative coordinates where there is no temporal change. The only coordinates which are used are the Physical Coordinates which are relative to the origin gate location as described above.

The Janus Coordinates for a gate within our own universe and timeline correspond to {∅, ∅, (r, θ, φ)}, which is just written as {r, θ, φ} indicating that there are no other relevant coordinates to specify.

Intra-Timeline Travel With Temporal Offset

Time travel is possible with any Hermod or Janus gate. The Janus Coordinates for a shift in temporal location is similar to the above, where the Continua, Discontinua, and Anticontinua are all null, indicating no change in relative timeline location but a relative change in our position within our own timeline. There is also no change in our subspace domain, so the Reality Coordinates remain null.

So the full coordinates for time travel with a gate is {∅, (τ, {∅}), (r, θ, φ)}. This is rewritten as an ordered quadruple then, {τ, r, θ, φ}. As previously this is relative to the origin gates location in space-time. Any ordered triple Janus Coordinate is expanded to mean a gate location within our own reality and concurrent time. Any ordered quadruple Janus Coordinate will be expanded using temporal displacement.

Within the Hermod Network only Solas Tempus has the access codes requires to unlock this capability. The system will detect if someone attempts to manually enter a full ordered decuple attempting to bypass the restrictions and lock out anyone attempting to establish a wormhole to another time.

It should be noted here that when using this system, one cannot travel to the future. As the future of a given timeline is not set, the gate has no way to determine exactly which potential branch of the timeline should be targeted. The link between a person and their time of origin is their own Temporal Anchor, which would normally be used to ensure a person returns to the present after visiting the past within their own timeline. Without an anchor to a future point, the system is unable to determine which branch of the given timeline can be targeted. If an attempt is made, the wormhole loops back onto itself with a somewhat random effect. The wormhole will usually jump to the nearest gate to where it is being targeted but without temporal offset but can occasionally loop completely back onto itself and collapse altogether.

Intra-Domain Travel

Traveling within our own subspace domain follows similar rules to previously state, with the Domain Address being null. Since time within our own domain all moves at a unified rate, the Temporal Coordinates would have no offset. To specify an alternate branch of our own timeline one would thus specify the Continua, Discontinua, and Anticontinua. The full address would be {∅, (∅, λ, δ, α), (r, θ, φ)} leaving a 6 value address, simply written has two ordered triples; ({λ, δ, α), (r, θ, φ)}. As with other addresses any Janus Address entered as an ordered sextuple would be expanded out this way.