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Secondary, sub-light
propulsion system used on Federation Starships for approximately the last
two centuries. Powered by at least one fusion reactor - which are also used
as a secondary power source in most starships, this system employs a traditional
linear thrust effect to propel the ship through normal space up to velocities
approaching one quarter the speed of light at maximum yield.
Though due to
relativistic time dilation effects approaching the speed of light in this
manner, such prolonged usage is not recommended, and a more manageable 1/4
impulse power is usually employed for extended sub-light cruising -(one 16th
of c).
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