[Suicide Junkie]

Val: RE hyperspace.

Since you're making a map in the editor anyways, why not create paths through hyperspace.

IE: fill up a "hyperspace" system with red storms, that dish out 5000 damage. Then, create a warppoint in, clear a path straight across (arbitrary number of squares), then a warppoint out to the destination.
Ships which veer off course get demolished by the storms, and you can make the travel time whatever you want.
If you use only one or two paths per hyperspace system, you can have the storm damage vary with distance from the path.