motherships

A mothership is a concept primarily found in science fiction, referring to a large, primary spacecraft that serves as a mobile base of operations for smaller vessels. These smaller craft, often referred to as "drones," "fighters," or "shuttles," are typically launched from and return to the mothership. The mothership itself can vary greatly in size and function, from a simple carrier to a self-sufficient mobile city or even a planet-destroying weapon.

In many fictional narratives, the mothership is depicted as the command center for a fleet or an alien invasion force. It often possesses advanced technology, including powerful weaponry, extensive defensive systems, and the capacity for interstellar travel. The crew of a mothership might range from a small contingent of pilots and engineers to a vast population living aboard the vessel. The term "mothership" implies a nurturing or protective role for the smaller craft, suggesting a central hub from which they are deployed and to which they return.

The concept allows for convenient storytelling by providing a centralized location for characters and resources, as well as a dramatic focal point for conflict or exploration. It's a common trope in space opera and military science fiction, enabling stories with large-scale space battles and the logistics of operating a fleet in deep space.