I figured out how and WHY You'd haul a "stargate" around the galaxy for.By using a "Predialed" location, say a "metaspace" jumpgate a ship stranded in "metaspace" could use a "collapsable" stargate to excape, but it could only take you to a certain location, which means if that postion would be over run by hostile forces the already distressed ship would be jumping from the pan into the fire.
Everybody getting this?
Instead of having to "dial" a location the portable "stargate" would be networked into having to select the closest connection and the ship could pass through it and afterwards it could collapse and self-distruct so it's tech couldn't be stolen.
Example would be IF a small ship would have a major FTL drive malfunction enroute to Earth, the crew could erect the "stargate" and activate it and arrive in Earth orbit in a few seconds and then head to one of the dockyards fore repairs, IF the Earth "metaspace" gate was equipped to handle such traffic.
How does this sound?
Just some ideas I got while at work.
Pattrick