Manifold Distortion
Manifold distortion (also known as dimensional instability, or informally as Warp) is a symptom of the malfunction of the substratic grid that forms and contains a three-dimensional spatial manifold, leading to the breakdown of dimensional boundaries, consciousness delegation links, and the basic laws of physics. It is generally temporary due to the intrinsic self-healing properties of the Substrate, but if allowed to reach dangerous levels, the consequences of its effects are permanent.
Manifold distortion is the primary threat that anomalies pose to reality, via the manifold distortion field (MDF) they create. On a positive note, distortion only affects a localised spatial area; this allows protection of life via evacuation and quarantine orders. Within this area, the consequences are both highly unpredictable and lethal to all entities, biological or synthetic.
Mechanics
There are two ways for manifold distortion to occur: either through the lowering of manifold vacuum levels or through direct damage. While manifold vacuum levels are low, the manifold grid loses coherence; however, usually, it can return to normal quickly after levels are restored. Manifold vacuum levels can be altered artificially in an area via the use of machines such as bridge generators, portal generators, or manifold stabilisers, which aim to bring the vacuum levels back up to habitable levels if they are currently low.
Direct damage results not from vacuum differences but from actual damage to the manifold's substratic grid, from, for example, a psionic entity or anomaly with abilities powerful enough to cause such damage. This damage cannot be repaired, at least by human hands, and manifold stabilisers are ineffective, as the vacuum levels are of no consequence. Instead, the only option often available for humanity is to place such damaged manifolds under grid control, which artificially holds the manifold together by actively rewriting its substratic networks.
Effects
Dimensional Bleed-Through
Dimensional Bleed-through (DBT) is a consequence of manifold distortion that effectively allows the distorted area to bleed through into different dimensions. Lower levels of corruption can produce a "ghosting" effect behind objects and people from subtly different variations of the current dimension, and radio waves can intermix, resulting in confusion or outright jamming.
The higher the level of corruption is, the stratically further the dimensions appear, resulting in increasingly more chaotic effects as particles overlap and replace each other. This can mean the replacement of entire buildings or people. When corruption reaches dangerous levels, it becomes possible for dimensional incursions to occur, making prevention extremely important.
Delegation Link Corruption
Substratic delegation links bind an individual's consciousness to their concrete physical makeup. When manifold distortion occurs, the threshold between the two becomes vulnerable, resulting in hallucinations, cognitive disassociation, and at dangerous levels, severance of the individual from their body.
The symptoms of delegation link corruption continue to persist even after an entity is removed from an affected manifold. This is known as "distortion syndrome", and can be mitigated at lower levels by specialist medication (or for synthetics, arbitrative subroutines).
Laws of Physics
The substratic grid that hosts the dimensional manifold is also responsible for enforcement of its standard physical laws. Distortion can result in unpredictable changes to these laws, such as the modification of universal physical constants. This is one of the most dangerous effects of manifold distortion, as it can result in the affected area becoming instantly unable to support life, with damage to objects being permanent even after reversal of the distortion.