The Nexus Cable is one of the most vital piece of component in the Lantea space elevator, as there wouldn’t be much of a project without it. The meaning of the word “Nexus” itself means connection, link, series of connections, central/vital piece. Properly named, the Nexus connects Terra to Atlas and helps propel and stabilize Hermes along it’s journey towards the skies. The Nexus itself is not one cable, but a series of segments connected to each other spanning a massive 6,000 km stretch.
These double rings at the center of each Nexus segment help boost and stabilize Hermes. Each time Hermes passes these rings, the elevator gets a magnetic charge and boost. They act as a rudimentary “charging station” for Hermes. In this case however, the charge only takes a fraction of a second due the rapid transit of Hermes through the Nexus. With the double rings at every center point of a segment, the distribution throughout the whole Nexus is equal, and therefore the Hermes gets a consistent charge every pass.
These interlocking mechanisms are what connects each separate Nexus segment to each other. The locks are believed the be the most powerful locks every constructed. They were designed and engineered to withstand not only the force and speed of the Hermes, but most importantly the tension of every segment. The tendrils on the brace drills into the cable, giving it more hold on the Nexus core. Since magnets are used all around the project, they are also placed on the locks to act as a secondary measure, a failsafe in case the structure is weakened. Although they are already being used in conjunction with the interlocks, they are powerful enough to hold the Nexus in place until a repair team is in place.
The curve twist on the Nexus allows for an even distribution of magnetic force on the inner rings of the Hermes. As mentioned earlier, there’s no actual friction between Hermes and Nexus due to magnetic levitation. These magnets make the frictionless journey up the elevator possible, allowing for faster travel. Eliminating friction was an impressive feat as it would’ve worn out the elevator and cable and reduce its lifespan. The magnets also act as stabilizers of the Nexus itself, as they can also turn into directional boosters in case the Nexus is leaning too much on one side, vice versa, or both.