Nov. 13: Which way did he go, George?

[Madmoonie]

Well, here is a new comic for those who are complaiming a great deal Hard Onions (which I happen to be enjoying) but anyway, look like our hero dodged a bullet there in more ways then one. Now I understand why pursuit would be a ludicris thing to do, but even knowing the direction he was going help? I mean, it seems to me that it would help knowing in what direction to start looking. As in knowing he went that way instead of this way, even if he went really, REALLY far in that direction. I don't know I am just asking. It boils down to.....can one turn in FTL? In BSG (It think it is that one), you could not. You had drop out of FTL, make the course correction then re-enter FTL. so which is it?

Also, I enjoyed seeing her royal gooseness so ticked off (Yes, I do realize that she is a swan, I said it on purpose. Did you notice her name was Violente? HA! Thought not! So there!). And boy, that kid really messed things up. Is he in trooooouble!

[The JAM]

Did we get away? No, but at least our story is back!

[Chaser617]

well, considering the further you travle, your 'vague' idea of 'that away' can tend to drift over time in a cone shaped vector plot.

Remember, dealing with emense distences here.

[LoneWolf23k]

You know, I can just tell the Admiral is just thinking "Chairwoman, you're this close from making me start a coup..."

[Madmoonie]

Or leap in the other direction of the assasian bullet. Actually, I don't think so. The Admiral is too honorable for such a thing.

[Earl McClaw]

While I think it unlikely, it's entirely possible that the FTL system they use could allow travel in any direction from point of origin, including 180 degrees from the normal space vector. Wouldn't that just confuse things?

Still, it's now obvious that there's something like an FTL radio. Otherwise the navbouy system won't be able to feed them useful location information.

I have to wonder if that system doesn't have just a few gaps in it... that an experienced hauler like our foxy hero could know and exploit...

[Atarlost]

While I think it unlikely, it's entirely possible that the FTL system they use could allow travel in any direction from point of origin, including 180 degrees from the normal space vector. Wouldn't that just confuse things?

Still, it's now obvious that there's something like an FTL radio. Otherwise the navbouy system won't be able to feed them useful location information.

I have to wonder if that system doesn't have just a few gaps in it... that an experienced hauler like our foxy hero could know and exploit...

Space is big. Unless sensors are FTL and have immense range there is no way to cover deep interstellar space. With lightspeed sensors and FTL comms they would, judging by the industrial capacity and military budgets the new flagship indicates, have difficulty covering even all their star systems. The capital system may have full coverage if they're worried about people throwing rocks at them, but usually only inhabited worlds and key industrial and military facilities would be covered. For systemwide coverage you're going to be limited to a few thousand element VLA in solar orbit somewhere suffering from lightspeed limits. Fringe worlds would have nothing at all. If sensors are FTL and have a range measured in light months you can do better, but interstellar space may still have gaps. You pretty much need multi-light year ranged FTL sensors to get full coverage in an interstellar empire, and any in the fringe were probably destroyed by the rebels and haven't been replaced yet.

[Deckard Canine]

I'm glad to see Violente alive for now, but the lack of a crash had me briefly disoriented. Guess he just wanted to give her a good scare at the moment.

can one turn in FTL?

Given that FTL is a fantasy* premise within a movie within a comic, I think we'd best accept that the physics of our world need not apply at all.

Did you notice her name was Violente? HA! Thought not!

I noticed, too. How about waiting for an answer next time before you gloat?

*This is not an invitation to debate the difference between sci-fi and fantasy. The latter term is sometimes used to include all of the former.

[Squeaky Bunny]

I'm glad to see Violente alive for now, but the lack of a crash had me briefly disoriented. Guess he just wanted to give her a good scare at the moment.

And I thought the poop deck was at the back of the ship.

can one turn in FTL?

Given that FTL is a fantasy* premise within a movie within a comic, I think we'd best accept that the physics of our world need not apply at all.[/quote]

The assumption in everything I've seen is that FTL is set before the jump and is pretty much straight line travel. Slipstream drive (as seen in Andromeda) looks like it more convoluted.

Did you notice her name was Violente? HA! Thought not!

I noticed, too. How about waiting for an answer next time before you gloat?

*This is not an invitation to debate the difference between sci-fi and fantasy. The latter term is sometimes used to include all of the former.[/quote]

[Madmoonie]

Did you notice her name was Violente? HA! Thought not!

I noticed, too. How about waiting for an answer next time before you gloat?

How about not getting overly offended over a joke?

[Dragon Furry]

. Now I understand why pursuit would be a ludicris thing to do,

Unless you go to ludicris speed.
Dark Helmet: AH! BUCKLE THIS! Ludicris speed GO! ...

[Madmoonie]

Ah, well, but then you go to plaid...and no one wants THAT.

[Deckard Canine]

How about not getting overly offended over a joke?

I wasn't really offended, but perhaps the emoticon was insufficient to stop me from being offensive. Sorry about that.

[Madmoonie]

I am sorry that I jumped the gun and snapped. I'm sorry.

[Detrius]

Given that FTL is a fantasy* premise within a movie within a comic, I think we'd best accept that the physics of our world need not apply at all.

Fun Fact: If you'd pilot a spaceship weighting approximately as much as a fully fueled space shuttle with only 30% of light speed into Earth, the released explosive force would be equal in strength to 150 times today's global nuclear arsenal.



oh...and space fighters suck

[Earl McClaw]

Still, it's now obvious that there's something like an FTL radio. Otherwise the navbouy system won't be able to feed them useful location information.

Space is big. Unless sensors are FTL and have immense range there is no way to cover deep interstellar space. ... If sensors are FTL and have a range measured in light months you can do better, but interstellar space may still have gaps. You pretty much need multi-light year ranged FTL sensors to get full coverage in an interstellar empire, and any in the fringe were probably destroyed by the rebels and haven't been replaced yet.

Which makes the Admiral's statement imply light-month/-year range on FTL sensors. (Hey, Trek routinely scans for parsecs - one of which equals 3.26 light years.)

But what the heck, it makes for a good story and keeps the Rebel Cry under a credible threat.

[LoneWolf23k]

oh...and space fighters suck

That's one of the reasons I like SJGames' Transhuman Space setting.. It has a much more realistic, logical take on the concept of space warfare evolved from current scientific theory.

THS' "Space Dominance Vehicules" are long and skinny, so as to present a minimal (but well-armored) front towards their enemies, but with their flanks rather fragile. Other SDVs are spherical, and the qualities of "Sphere" vs "Spikes" are debated by tacticians.

The main strategy for "Spike" battles is to maneuver your SDV to flank the enemy, keeping your armored nose pointed at the enemy's vulnerable flank. Since this is near impossible to do in space, the key to winning is to outnumber your enemy.

The weapon of choice are high-energy UV lasers and neutral-particle accelerator weapons. Nuclear missiles are rare, in part because of the stigmata attached, and in part because there's no atmosphere to carry a blast wave or EMP. Small missiles are basically replaced by robot fighters known as Autonomous Kill Vehicules, or AKVs. They're basically robot rockets which destroy targets by shooting their coilguns at them, or if it's required, by ramming them.

Frankly, I think it's a refreshing concept from the usual Space Dogfight made cliche by Star Wars..

[Deckard Canine]

I am sorry that I jumped the gun and snapped. I'm sorry.

Quite all right. It's hardly a first in my experience.

[Jaydub]

. Now I understand why pursuit would be a ludicris thing to do,

Unless you go to ludicris speed.
Dark Helmet: AH! BUCKLE THIS! Ludicris speed GO! ...

Wow, They've gone to Plaid.......

[Tigermark]

heh,

"AWWWRRRIIIIGGNNGH..."

Couldn't have said it better myself, young lad. That's quite an angry Todd he's facing.

Tigermark