Pads

First drawings of a Pad, 1994

The almost ubiquitous Alliance technology.

History

Developed in 102 BA, just over a hundred years (101) after the Well drive, which was the technology on which the Pads were based. Pad technology made the Medimage platform possible; since they're based on the same technology, technicians can service both as long as they're aware of the differences between them.

Technology

Quantum tunnel. In the initial days of the Pad's development, energy weapons of any kind (palmers, holoblades, etc) didn't make it through the quantum tunnel without damage.

They can be used to send people and material to a location that does not have a receiving Pad, but you have to have a Pad to go from the location.

Range is planetary, and orbital. I don't believe we've seen interplanetary distances done? Hypothetically pads can be chained between stations.

Visuals

Pads can be configured with varying levels of feedback, but staring at someone directly as they pass through one causes a momentary flash, in which the person is seen as a silhouette.

Other Species

The Chatcaava have some equivalent of Pads, though it is unclear whether it has similar properties to the Alliance version.