Temple ship

The rarest of all ship classes. Although starships have other engine types for maneuvering in-system in an emergency, most rely on a fleet of up to 300 tugs moored on the surface to get them in position. The ship's main engine is a vacuum chamber in which a pair of captured neutron stars orbit each other at about 98% of light speed. When the chamber is flooded with GK-streams (a technology not yet understood by any non-Theocratic Science Service scientist), the neutron stars orbit closer, going from hundreds of miles to a few yards apart, and the resulting increase in angular velocity punches a hole in the known laws of physics and catapults the ship to the next galaxy in a handful of seconds.

Around this core, the main part of the ship has a reasonable earth-like gravity due to the mass of the neutronium. Several floors are dedicated to the crew and their families, who serve on the ship for life. These habitation chambers are hermetically sealed, and even have their own hydroponics plants, meaning that a hijack of the ship is impossible.

Beyond that, the 'outside' crew have their offices, and this is where the ship's churches also lie. Then there is the passenger levels, and that is surrounded by a mile-thick layer of cargo bays and docking ports. On the very outside are a group of islands for the security personnel, as well as surface mounted weapons to drive off any pirates stupid enough to come close, and docking space for the tugs and maintenance ships.

At present, there are 9 temple ships. Their names are inspired by the books of the bible, although most people would refer to their shortened forms.

• Temple of the Law
• Grand Temple of the Voyage
• Temple of Judgement
• Temple of Esdras
• The Ecclesiastical Temple
• Temple of Zechariah
• Temple of the Word of Timothy
• Temple of the Mission to the Corinthians
• Temple of the Revelation

There are also two retired temple ships:

• Temple of the Acts of Joel (Joel)
• Grand Temple of the History (Genesis)