[Varley]

The star ship design is constrained by a minimum size. It would be possible to build them to doiuble the critical size but not smaller.

This is because di-lithium crystal structure can become destabilised by interaction at a quantum level between the di-lobed lithium atoms that make up one crystal with that of another. All the atoms allowed to form a propulsion grade lattice are 'selected' (by non-detangling spin spectrometer) to be in the same quantum state. That state cannot be influenced, only measured and stored in isoquantum corals from which a crystal can then be synthesised.

This also explains why collisions of Warpspeed enabled spacecraft are more likely to result in complete stranding as the risk or mutual interaction between the two crystals involved becomes more likely. There is an ongoing subatomic research effort into effective shielding to guard against the interaction and so allow for 100% redundant propulsion plant.

It is conjectured by the SAIB that many of the boarding beam fatalities are caused by accidental disentanglement of of hearing aid and pacemaker power packs as the wearers encounter the active filter found at both ends of a transporter conversation link. The wave that is the transportee in transit has any harmonics in the same quantatrope as the destination propulsion plant crystal removed and so remains in the receiving transporter's spam box as having failed the parity checks.

The major cause of grounding remains poor ECDIS training and practises. The major cause of earthing is the same officers carelessly washing down thus ignoring Varley's first law of electricity at sea. There is no such thing as Deck-Watertight.