Hello Sci-fi fans and writers, I hope that this here is the correct spot to ask this question regarding a conundrum I have come about during my work on a sci-fi short Story.

Outline

In said Short Story, I have some people (Agents) chasing after some other people (Heroes). The heroes stumbled upon some critical information that could damage the faction (Bad Guy) that employs the chasing party. The information got intercepted in time, but to make sure that the information wouldn’t be leaked again, they would need to silence the heroes.

Technology

In space there are two modes of flight: conventional reaction based propulsion and a higher speed propulsion which uses a so-called jump drive which flings the spaceship along a predetermined trajectory at high sub-light speeds (max speeds would be 0.5c). There is near instantaneous communications, but you would need to be in coverage of the network itself, which is flaky at best.

Conundrum

So how would agents be able to intercept / interdict the heroes in a plausible fashion? Would it be reasonable to have a micro wormhole generator or some other way to deploy gravimetric wells, which would destabilize the entire star system? Would it be anticlimactic to just have the agents wait for the heroes to finish their jump, as they would know where they would drop out?

I would love to hear opinions and suggestions from you.

  • inkican@kbin.social
    2·
    1 year ago

    Ooh - workshopping a scifi story? My time to shine!

    1. Check out how the Star Wars EU handled this in the Thrawn series (Hint: Interdictor cruisers)
    2. Tractor beams - your friend and mine
    3. Think of every way other people have done this and ask yourself - “how could it be different?”
    4. Plausible is fun but pleasure is better - people need a story they can engage with and will forgive all kinds of logical fallacies if you’ve engaged with their emotions sufficiently.

    Hope that helps

    Source: I do this for a living

    • macniel@feddit.deOP
      1·
      1 year ago

      Oh, that’s some good advice, and I’ll take a closer look on your website as well.

      Yeah I know about those Interdictor cruisers from the EU, that was my second idea I also mentioned: e.g. generating gravity wells so that you can’t jump to hyperspace. But I believe that only ships of the size of an ISD could have such components. And as such only the militaristic empire in my setting would be able to get a hold on that.

      Tractor Beams are interesting. I could certainly make them work in that scenario as it could disorientate an opposing ship and or be used in a defensive manner.

      Your fourth point is really good advice. And thanks again for your input!

      • inkican@kbin.social
        1·
        1 year ago

        Yeah I know about those Interdictor cruisers from the EU, that was my second idea I also mentioned: e.g. generating gravity wells so that you can’t jump to hyperspace. But I believe that only ships of the size of an ISD could have such components. And as such only the militaristic empire in my setting would be able to get a hold on that.

        This is an intrinsic functionality of an implausible science-like device that A) hyperspace is a ‘speed’ you can achieve and B) gravity wells affect their behavior.

        I’m saying all that to say this: when it comes to scifi, your technology doesn’t have to be 100% factual, logical, plausible. Engage w/ their emotions - make them feel something.