National Photonics Laboratory (NPL)

Who Are We?

National Photonics Laboratory (NPL) is not your typical research lab. Founded in total secrecy and funded through means best left unexamined, NPL is on the cutting edge of space exploration, materials science, and several other fields that may or may not exist legally. Our mission is simple: pursue every branch of science possible, regardless of whether it is rational or presents a modest existential threat.

Departments and Research

Within NPL's enormous underground facilities, over a dozen departments operate in parallel with their own three-letter designation and questionable priorities. Experimental propulsion laboratories, gravitational anomaly research, exotic alloy smelters, and entire departments that do nothing but try to find out what happens when you shout at antimatter. Our organization is built around the philosophy of "why not?" rather than "should we?"

Starship Racing Division

Of course, some projects go beyond research. Our Starship Racing Division (SRD) has already become the crown jewel of NPL, combining high-speed engineering and interstellar competition. With proprietary engines and a healthy disregard for safety regulations, SRD is still redefining the term "pushing the limits." From official leagues to "unofficial" orbital sprints, our racers are the fastest, the loudest, and the least insured in the galaxy.

A Philosophy of Progress

At NPL, progress is not measured in Nobel Prizes or peer-reviewed articles. It is measured in how many acronyms we can invent before we run out of whiteboards. With over a dozen divisions, several classified projects, and a motto we will not put into writing, the National Photonics Laboratory is dedicated to one thing above all else: making the future louder, faster, and far more confusing than anyone ever expected.