Python - self-defensive missile blind spot

[Tragan]

Good evening, fellow Commanders; something strange happened to me passing through the Anbeen sector, and I thought I would share it with you.

Cruising from the 'Beacon to the planet, I set my Cobbie on auto-pilot, and went to the galley to brew a cup of Orrereian tea (one of my few vices!). I'd just poured the cup when I heard the 'wup wup wup', indicating I'd attracted hostile attention. Buckling into the seat, I cursed myself for allowing 7 pirates to come up on me, just because I was thirsty. Anyway, after 4 minutes, I'd cut the 7 down to a juicy fat python; you know how it is - you get rid of the battle stress, and it is only down to you and a lumbering Python, usually lucratively salvageable. I came in on his 6 and got to between 300 and 400m, and followed his jinks, keeping distance. Then, to my horror, I noticed that my ECM system had fried somewhere in the previous 6 engagements. Problem! In previous encounters with Pythons, they always loose 2 missiles before I 'encourage' the pilot to eject, and with the EMC system down, I was in a bit of a spot.

So I stuck right behind him until my shields were fully charged and the energy banks were full, before I gave him a full burst of my military laser. As predicted, he launched off a missile, to which my instictive reaction would have been to have set off the EMC disruptor - but I couldn't. I watched the missile launch - then crash into the side of the Python! Oosha be praised! I tickled him some more, and sure enough the second missile was launched - and crashed into the side of the Python. Needless to say, after a little more engagement, I captured the fugitive, got the Python in tow, and made a nice transaction at Anbeen.

Which is where I am now, in the bar, reflecting on my luck, and trying to work out what happened, albeit aided with a local stimulant.

Theory #1: The Faulcon de Lacy missile is the defacto missile you can pick up anywhere, but does one size fit all? After all, it must have a minimum turning radius, and is that radius too small for a, shall we say, "generously proportioned" Python?

Theory #2: The Faulcon de Lacy missile has a homing algorithm, based on target's speed, launch speed, and intervening distance. Does the algorithm not take into account the profile of the launching vessel?

Either would appear to be a flaw in the missile software, and there must be a market out there for customization, based on the vessel it is fitted to.

I'm not sure I'm brave enough to be a Faulcon de Lacy Test Pilot, once they iron out this kink; I'm just interested on other commanders' views.

Cdr Tragan

[cim]

Welcome to the forums.

Both of your theories are essentially correct - missiles don't have a particularly tight turning circle, but it's tight enough as they're just launched and yet to reach full speed (even with a smaller ship like a Cobra, on occasion), and the flight routines don't take the likely existence of a launching ship into account.

Prototype guidance updates intended to give better results in this scenario are being prepared for distribution to test pilots. Thanks for the report, Commander.

[Diziet Sma]

G'day Tragan, and welcome aboard!

Prototype guidance updates intended to give better results in this scenario are being prepared for distribution to test pilots.

Awww...

Ah well, at least we can still have fun with bad guys packing Military Missiles..