I've been spending some time thinking about what it would take for a pirate to catch a frieghter in both the classic KH and in the KH vector movement systems.<br /><br />1. with the target speed of 1% of light speed for void jumping ships coming in system under either system would be cooking along way too fast for a pirate waiting in a general area- he'd have to be coasting in system a high speed and hope that a ships jumps into his vincinity to have a chance to catch it. with the limitations of radar and energy sensors I think it would be very hard for a pirate to intercept ships inbound. But with good intel, like regular travel times for starliners and freightlines a pirate could do just this. Possibly a spotter craft in the departure system uses subspace radio to warn the raider in the arrival system so he is placed at the right speed and/or vector.<br /><br />2. shadowing a ship on its way out system would be easier but more obvious. Militias dispatching a ship to a patrol zone would have it keep its speed down and allow any number of ships to tag along as that patrol zone would just happen to be along a major jump route. though 1 assault scout and 6 freighters would be a tempting target.<br /><br />3. poking around the asteroids would be simpler and easing pickings to prey on the mining operations which would give rise to paying protection money to said pirates- say 2 hull units worth of mined/refined ore per month to be left alone. Mined ore sells with no questions asked while credit transfers leave a trail. Even though the militia would conduct sweeps of the asteroids the miners would keep their mouths shut as the militia cant stay around all the time and the pirates will come back.<br /><br />4. system ships would be natural prey. <br /><br />5. Ag ships (i would think these need ion engines to maintain some gravity to throughout the 1 month growth cycle) an ag ship that delivers food every month to an outpost on some non habitable planet keeps that outpost fed but it has a regular monthly schedule and is moving slow close into the planet- very easy pickings for a pirate.<br /><br />just a few thought; comments?<br /><br /><br />
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