## **History** Nuclear fusion was long seen as the holy grail of power generation, but remained elusive in much of humanity’s past. In the 22nd century CE (~8000 [[AR]]), a combination of design, materials and thermoelectric methods brought fusion reactors from the experimental stage to commercially viable power plants. Miniaturization came next. Large facilities were simplified into modular units for distributed power generation. The military replaced fission reactors on surface vessels and submarines, advancing reactors further. While still larger than their fission counterparts, the new fusion reactors provided significantly more power and reduced the risk of radiological accidents. Small to medium-sized reactors were used for intra-system space travel. Utilized to power electrothermal thrusters. They made slow, but steady and reliable space travel possible. Plasma-bleed Torch Drives were experimented with, but the ionizing radiation emitted from their exhaust plumes was too dangerous to use anywhere near habited planets or colonies. This engine concept has occasionally been used as a weapon or in surface preparation for future construction (melting the terrain into a flat surface). In the end, conventional chemical rockets still had the highest thrust ratios. Until the development of the [[Fuel Cask|fuel cask]] and metallic hydrogen powered rocket engines. --- ## **Modern Reactors** Helical-Tauroid Electrothermal Reactors (HERA). These reactors are often larger than the reactors of the past, but can generate significantly more power in a short period of time. Utilizing a combination of electrothermal and low-volume/high-pressure micro turbine generators, they produce ample power for all shipboard energy requirements. When combined with [[Hub Drive|Hub Drives]], they charge large capacitors, needed for the powerful energy shunt that activates the [[Artikybahl Device]].