Drive Engine

Drive Engine is a Mecha technology that upgrades the movement and travel capabilities of the Mecha. It is one of the key progression lines in the game because it gradually unlocks higher forms of mobility, first on the planet surface and eventually in space. The research can be continued indefinitely after the initial milestones, further increasing warp speed over time.

At the beginning, the Mecha can only walk and hover over water. The first level unlocks flight mode, allowing short-distance aerial movement up to 50 m of altitude. Level 2 and Level 3 unlock navigation mode, which lets the Mecha leave the surface and travel in orbit and through space; Level 2 raises navigation speed to 1000 m/s, and Level 3 raises the maximum navigation speed to 2000 m/s. Level 4 unlocks warp, which requires a Fuel Chamber with a Space Warper slot available. Once that slot is filled, warp can be activated while in navigation mode above 1000 m altitude. Later levels increase warp speed further, with Level 5 adding +3.0 AU/s to the maximum warp speed and Level 6 and above continuing to add +3.0 AU/s per level.

The early movement modes have practical but limited use. Hovering is available from the start when entering water, and it allows building across water, including placing conveyor belts, but it constantly consumes about 1.00 MW of power. If power runs out while hovering, the Mecha drops into the water and movement becomes very slow. Flight mode improves mobility, but it still consumes significant energy even while simply hovering in the air, so it is useful early on mainly for crossing terrain and moving over placed structures rather than for long journeys.

Navigation mode is the point at which interplanetary travel becomes possible. At this stage the Mecha can orbit a planet, climb away from it, and leave its gravity well to travel between worlds. In practice, this is enough to reach other planets, but it is still slow for interstellar travel. Warp is the real breakthrough: it is much faster than ordinary navigation and consumes Space Warpers when activated. The warp speed is far higher than standard travel, and it remains possible to slow down, accelerate, or change direction while warping. Warp can be forcibly canceled if the Mecha runs out of energy or comes too close to a celestial body.

A few practical points make Drive Engine especially important for progression:

• Flight mode is unlocked at Level 1, navigation mode at Level 2, and warp at Level 4.
• Hovering over water is available from the start and is useful for construction, but it has a continuous power drain.
• The speeds of walking and flight-related ground movement are tied to Mechanical Frame, not Drive Engine.
• Warp requires Space Warpers, and one is consumed each time warp is initiated, regardless of distance.
• Longer warp trips place heavy demands on energy capacity, charging speed, and fuel quality; stronger Mecha Core, Energy Circuit upgrades, and better fuel all improve practical range.
• If warp fails because of insufficient energy or lack of Space Warpers in an undeveloped area, returning home can take considerable time, so carrying reserves is important.

In short, Drive Engine is the research line that turns the Mecha from a local construction tool into a true interplanetary and interstellar vehicle, and it becomes one of the most important technology investments in the game.