Python - self-defensive missile blind spot
Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2014 8:11 pm
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
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
