Fusion rockets...

As a point of interest...the "fusion rocket" principle that is being
discussed seems to be based on a mass-reaction idea (ie chucking stuff out
the back *very* fast).

Fusion power plants in Traveller are considered to be contained fusion
reactors which then power the maneuver drives.  It could be argued therefore
that traveller drives work by an "impulse" mechanism, that is creating a
force (and hence accelaration) action without any accompanying reaction.

This requires you to break the usual Newtonian mechanics but then every law
in physics has its exceptions.

Ships driven by impulse engines would be as "quiet" as their shielding would
allow.  (They would also be as "green" as you could be :-)

Dave Sansom

[email removed]