Emergency Backup FTL

SWvST: the subject of the main site.

Moderator: Vympel

User avatar
Captain Seafort
Jedi Council Member
Posts: 1750
Joined: 2008-10-10 11:52am
Location: Blighty

Re: Emergency Backup FTL

Post by Captain Seafort »

Darth Wong wrote:Han Solo triumphantly announced that the ISDs were no longer trailing them in ANH; how could he possibly know that if they aren't capable of tracking anything in hyperspace? I know the EU says otherwise, but ANH overrides the EU.
Spectre of the Past suggests a reason why both might be accurate - range limitations. There, a Chiss ship buzzed the Errant Venture, ducked behind the command tower to put it out of line-of-sight of other ship's sensors, and jumped. The discussion that followed aboard the EV included the statement that ships could be tracked for a few microseconds after entering hyperspace. This suggests to me that they can be physically tracked, but you've got to be quick to jump to lightspeed after them otherwise they'll be out of range, can change course, and poof - gone.
User avatar
Starglider
Miles Dyson
Posts: 8709
Joined: 2007-04-05 09:44pm
Location: Isle of Dogs
Contact:

Re: Emergency Backup FTL

Post by Starglider »

Darth Wong wrote:Han Solo triumphantly announced that the ISDs were no longer trailing them in ANH; how could he possibly know that if they aren't capable of tracking anything in hyperspace?
It's possible, although unlikely, that he dropped to sublight briefly to check. The EU is ridiculously harsh on this; it often acts like ships in hyperspace can't be tracked at all, even though they blatantly can in the movies.
This suggests that flying wide orbits at warp speeds would prevent Trek ships from being engaged, since the Empire doesn't have FTL tactical missiles and its beam weapons are lightspeed at best.
The Trek ship could theoretically approach at warp, drop to sublight, fire, and then warp away again, then drop out of warp at long range, turn around at sublight, and make another pass. However, it does presume that the ISD is incapable of tracking an FTL object, despite precedent from ANH. If it is, then it can simply lob fire in the direction of the Trek ship as it approaches at warp.
Even in the EU, ISDs have FTL 'subspace' sensors so it seems almost impossible that they couldn't track a warp ship (where warp drive is acknowledged to produce a massive signature unless the ship is cloak-capable and fitted with 'nullifier cores'). What you are proposing is just a slightly longer range version of the 'Picard maneuver', assuming they're closing to a range where phaser fire is useful, and it might work once or twice at best before Imperial gunners adjust their targeting parameters. This is why I said 'wide orbits', since the Imperials have FTL sensors but not have FTL weapons. Trek ships aren't terribly maneuverable in warp, but at hundreds of c it only takes a tiny course change to dodge slower-than-light TL bolts.

Actually I recall that my very first post to this site was asking whether photon torpedoes would be a useful innovation if fitted with the warheads from SW missiles. The reason being that at ~1000c they are much, much harder for point defence to shoot down - and the relative ease of shooting down normal missiles may be a major reason for their scarcity in SW fleet engagements. The main problem with that, other than being speculative in general, is that we AFAIK don't have any examples of Trek PT accelerating to FTL on their own - in fact the TNG tech manual claims they cannot do so. If so, one could make one reasonable, albeit highly specialised claim for how warp drive could be useful in the SW universe; a warp-equipped 'missile frigate'. It would use exactly the tactic I describe above - orbiting at high warp at standoff range from the enemy fleet, releasing clouds of PT-equivalents with decent warheads. Obviously this is something that could only work as a support ship for proper capships, but it sounds like something that Imperial R&D might build a few examples of, to try out the concept.
User avatar
Batman
Emperor's Hand
Posts: 16329
Joined: 2002-07-09 04:51am
Location: Seriously thinking about moving to Marvel because so much of the DCEU stinks

Re: Emergency Backup FTL

Post by Batman »

Spectre of the Past suggests a reason why both might be accurate - range limitations. There, a Chiss ship buzzed the Errant Venture, ducked behind the command tower to put it out of line-of-sight of other ship's sensors, and jumped. The discussion that followed aboard the EV included the statement that ships could be tracked for a few microseconds after entering hyperspace. This suggests to me that they can be physically tracked, but you've got to be quick to jump to lightspeed after them otherwise they'll be out of range, can change course, and poof - gone.
For a few microseconds after they jumped yet in ANH the Imperials where apparently able to not only tell in which direction the Falcon was going as it initially jumped but actually TRAIL him for a time. You're NOT going to follow a ship into a jump on that short a notice.
'Next time I let Superman take charge, just hit me. Real hard.'
'You're a princess from a society of immortal warriors. I'm a rich kid with issues. Lots of issues.'
'No. No dating for the Batman. It might cut into your brooding time.'
'Tactically we have multiple objectives. So we need to split into teams.'-'Dibs on the Amazon!'
'Hey, we both have a Martian's phone number on our speed dial. I think I deserve the benefit of the doubt.'
'You know, for a guy with like 50 different kinds of vision, you sure are blind.'
User avatar
Captain Seafort
Jedi Council Member
Posts: 1750
Joined: 2008-10-10 11:52am
Location: Blighty

Re: Emergency Backup FTL

Post by Captain Seafort »

Batman wrote:You're NOT going to follow a ship into a jump on that short a notice.
A human couldn't - but a computer probably could. Pursue the ship trying to grab it with a tractor, but set the computers to automatically jump the ship after the Falcon if it jumps, matching its course.
Transbot9
Youngling
Posts: 50
Joined: 2009-10-27 12:10am

Re: Emergency Backup FTL

Post by Transbot9 »

Han Solo triumphantly announced that the ISDs were no longer trailing them in ANH; how could he possibly know that if they aren't capable of tracking anything in hyperspace? I know the EU says otherwise, but ANH overrides the EU.
And he could be talking out his ass again. Even if he isn't, tracking in hyperspace isn't necessarily the same as tracking a trek ship at warp.

Hyperspace exists in Trek, though nobody knows how to use it (some DS9 episode mentioned it) but they do know that it was insanely faster than Warp drive. However, hyperspace =/= subspace and TNG Warp travel is part spacial wave compression and part submergence into the dimension known as subspace. While SW tech would have a reason to track in hyper, it wouldn't have a reason to track any other type of FLT transit methods unless someone had the tech to move at FTL speeds without using hyper. If we assume the imperials have a way of tracking an object at Warp (per EU as noted by someone else), then that assumption makes it more plausible that the backup FTL drive wouldn't be just a crappier hyperdrive. Heck, a class 10 hyperdrive may even work similar to Trekwarp in that it only pulls the ship partially out of normal space instead of fully out of normal space.

Now, as to why an imperial would want to capture a Federation vessel - mostly it would be intel. When a ISD first arrives in the Milky Way, it would most likely show up in butt-fuck nowhere (assuming the wormhole connection). Having no nav charts for hyper, the Imps would have to take their time starmapping, probably going from system to system to get various readings, etc. Capturing a Federation vessel they run across and ripping the data would be quicker (Fed tech seems compatible with nigh-everything, even when they say it isn't), even if the tech staff has to get creative. Oh, and sometimes you want prisoners. As Starfleet sends ships to explore & such, the likelyhood of running into one is greater than randomly stumbling across an inhabited world or starbase that has the info needed.

If the Imp-in-charge is competent, he'll talk the first federation vessel he meets into face-to-face negotiations and get them to dock. Then he orders a boarding action and Stormtroopers easily overwhelm the crew. If the Imp-in-charge lacks subtly or creativity to act on such a situation, then you have a problem with Imp tech easily overwhelming fed tech and it takes them a few tries to figure out just how far they need to tone things down in order to accomplish the mission.
The main problem with that, other than being speculative in general, is that we AFAIK don't have any examples of Trek PT accelerating to FTL on their own - in fact the TNG tech manual claims they cannot do so.
Yet a TNG episode had someone aboard a probe the size of a PT that was able to travel at Warp 9. Voyager (yes, I know, referencing VOY is bad, but in this case it isn't completely stupid) had to deal with warp-capable missiles smaller than a PT. What with the Phoenix (First Contact) being a modded nuclear missile, it is probably one of those things that can be done, should be done, but nobody in trek is militarily competent enough to think of it.
There are only two ways the Federation defeats the empire: Either some hot shot idiot of a captain uses the cosmic undo button known time travel (in a poorly written 2-hour special) to undo however the Empire ended up in the Milky Way, or the leftovers join the rebellion after being horribly crushed to provide them with cannon fodder. The OT plays out like normal with any "federation" support being not even notable enough to get a foot-note in the history books.
User avatar
Starglider
Miles Dyson
Posts: 8709
Joined: 2007-04-05 09:44pm
Location: Isle of Dogs
Contact:

Re: Emergency Backup FTL

Post by Starglider »

Transbot9 wrote:However, hyperspace =/= subspace and TNG Warp travel is part spacial wave compression and part submergence into the dimension known as subspace.
SW has subspace comms and sensors. They are detailed in The Essential Guide to Weapons and Technology and The Essential Guide to Vehicles and Vessels.
Heck, a class 10 hyperdrive may even work similar to Trekwarp in that it only pulls the ship partially out of normal space instead of fully out of normal space.
Completely unfounded. There is no indication in any SW source of hyperspace being anything other than a binary transition. The 'conversion to tacyhons' explanation in particular has no concept of a 'partial transition'.
Capturing a Federation vessel they run across and ripping the data would be quicker
Capturing a starbase would be quicker and easier still, though with good automated data analysis they wouldn't even have to do that; they could just monitor the subspace comm network and pull pretty much any public, commonly used data out. If the Federation isn't aware of the threat yet, it's even easier.
The main problem with that, other than being speculative in general, is that we AFAIK don't have any examples of Trek PT accelerating to FTL on their own - in fact the TNG tech manual claims they cannot do so.
Yet a TNG episode had someone aboard a probe the size of a PT that was able to travel at Warp 9.
Irrelevant. The probe was based on a PT casing and could easily have been launched from a ship that was already at warp (in accordance with the TNG tech manual claims).
Voyager (yes, I know, referencing VOY is bad, but in this case it isn't completely stupid) had to deal with warp-capable missiles smaller than a PT.
When?
What with the Phoenix (First Contact) being a modded nuclear missile,
That was the size of a large shuttle. Obviously warp shuttles exist, though they're usually limited to low warp. A PT has 1000 times less volume.
It is probably one of those things that can be done, should be done, but nobody in trek is militarily competent enough to think of it.
It has been done; the Cardassian dreadnought weapon, a large, expensive strategic missile. That would not be a practical or economical weapon to use for general fleet engagements.
Transbot9
Youngling
Posts: 50
Joined: 2009-10-27 12:10am

Re: Emergency Backup FTL

Post by Transbot9 »

SW has subspace comms and sensors. They are detailed in The Essential Guide to Weapons and Technology and The Essential Guide to Vehicles and Vessels.
Fair enough.
The 'conversion to tacyhons' explanation in particular has no concept of a 'partial transition'.
Wait, what? As I understand it, Hyperdrive involves dimentional transition where you pop-out of this dimension then pop back in at another location. Never heard of tacyhons being involved.
Capturing a starbase would be quicker and easier still, though with good automated data analysis they wouldn't even have to do that; they could just monitor the subspace comm network and pull pretty much any public, commonly used data out. If the Federation isn't aware of the threat yet, it's even easier.
Again, it's a matter of finding it. And, uh, not accidentally blowing the snot out of it. Accidentally running across civilian transmission network would be easier, or finding a subspace relay to jack. While logical, though, it seems against typical Imperial M.O. Of course, if you have someone from Military Intelligence of a decent rank on board able to convince the commander that it's a good idea, that would work. Imp commanders typically seem to like to take immediate and destructive action.

On Warp Missiles:
Voyager Episode: It was the one where Doc wanted to salvage a missile's AI rather than toast it as it was sentient, even though the sucker just wanted to blow up it's target (and wipe out a group of people on one side of an ancient war that was no longer going on).

Cardassians: Great back stabbing badguys who were technologically retarded.

Warp Missile: So just take the engines from a warp-capable shuttle and put a bigger warhead on it. Considering all the bullshit Feddie Engineers figure out on a consistent basis, this shouldn't be too hard to figure out. Or just a solid weight of high-density material to serve as a sort of warp bullet.

BTW, per Ex Astris Scientia the technical manuals are known to contain lies, damn lies, and statistics.
There are only two ways the Federation defeats the empire: Either some hot shot idiot of a captain uses the cosmic undo button known time travel (in a poorly written 2-hour special) to undo however the Empire ended up in the Milky Way, or the leftovers join the rebellion after being horribly crushed to provide them with cannon fodder. The OT plays out like normal with any "federation" support being not even notable enough to get a foot-note in the history books.
User avatar
Batman
Emperor's Hand
Posts: 16329
Joined: 2002-07-09 04:51am
Location: Seriously thinking about moving to Marvel because so much of the DCEU stinks

Re: Emergency Backup FTL

Post by Batman »

Transbot9 wrote:
Han Solo triumphantly announced that the ISDs were no longer trailing them in ANH; how could he possibly know that if they aren't capable of tracking anything in hyperspace? I know the EU says otherwise, but ANH overrides the EU.
And he could be talking out his ass again. Even if he isn't, tracking in hyperspace isn't necessarily the same as tracking a trek ship at warp.
Err yes it is. Tracking Wars ships under hyperdrive means tracking ships going FTL in real space. Tracking ships under Warp means-tracking ships going FTL in real space, only a hell of a lot slower.
Hyperspace exists in Trek, though nobody knows how to use it (some DS9 episode mentioned it) but they do know that it was insanely faster than Warp drive.
Erm-hyperspace as an alternate dimension is no longer part of Wars continuity. It's merely realspace as seen from a FTL perspective.
However, hyperspace =/= subspace and TNG Warp travel is part spacial wave compression and part submergence into the dimension known as subspace.
I don't recall Warp drive ever being described that way. Ships under Warp travel FTL in realspace by cheating.
While SW tech would have a reason to track in hyper, it wouldn't have a reason to track any other type of FLT transit methods unless someone had the tech to move at FTL speeds without using hyper.
As both Wars and Trek travel FTL in realspace both have that technology by default.
If we assume the imperials have a way of tracking an object at Warp (per EU as noted by someone else), then that assumption makes it more plausible that the backup FTL drive wouldn't be just a crappier hyperdrive.
Err-how so?
Heck, a class 10 hyperdrive may even work similar to Trekwarp in that it only pulls the ship partially out of normal space instead of fully out of normal space.
Um-neither does.
Now, as to why an imperial would want to capture a Federation vessel - mostly it would be intel. When a ISD first arrives in the Milky Way, it would most likely show up in butt-fuck nowhere (assuming the wormhole connection). Having no nav charts for hyper, the Imps would have to take their time starmapping,
A lot of that can be done with simple optical telescopes you know.
Capturing a Federation vessel they run across and ripping the data would be quicker.
Which can easily be done STL.
The main problem with that, other than being speculative in general, is that we AFAIK don't have any examples of Trek PT accelerating to FTL on their own - in fact the TNG tech manual claims they cannot do so.
Yet a TNG episode had someone aboard a probe the size of a PT that was able to travel at Warp 9.
Which was launched at a base velocity that was-never stated.
Voyager (yes, I know, referencing VOY is bad, but in this case it isn't completely stupid) had to deal with warp-capable missiles smaller than a PT.
Which has what exactly to do with PTs being independently Warp capable?
What with the Phoenix (First Contact) being a modded nuclear missile, it is probably one of those things that can be done, should be done, but nobody in trek is militarily competent enough to think of it.
You DO remember the Phoenix was considerably LARGER than a photon torpedo, which apparently are roughly the size of a coffin.
Nobody's saying Warp missiles are impossible. Photon torpedoes however are NOT.
'Next time I let Superman take charge, just hit me. Real hard.'
'You're a princess from a society of immortal warriors. I'm a rich kid with issues. Lots of issues.'
'No. No dating for the Batman. It might cut into your brooding time.'
'Tactically we have multiple objectives. So we need to split into teams.'-'Dibs on the Amazon!'
'Hey, we both have a Martian's phone number on our speed dial. I think I deserve the benefit of the doubt.'
'You know, for a guy with like 50 different kinds of vision, you sure are blind.'
User avatar
Serafina
Sith Acolyte
Posts: 5246
Joined: 2009-01-07 05:37pm
Location: Germany

Re: Emergency Backup FTL

Post by Serafina »

For all we know, they could simply accelerate the torpedoes to a high speed using equipment installed on the ship - the missile would only need a maneuvering drive after that. Which seems to be supported by the slow turning rates, and the fact that it starts out at a high speed (tough there might be some acceleration, not sure about that.)

And it would safe a lot of space and money, too.
SoS:NBA GALE Force
"Destiny and fate are for those too weak to forge their own futures. Where we are 'supposed' to be is irrelevent." - Sir Nitram
"The world owes you nothing but painful lessons" - CaptainChewbacca
"The mark of the immature man is that he wants to die nobly for a cause, while the mark of a mature man is that he wants to live humbly for one." - Wilhelm Stekel
"In 1969 it was easier to send a man to the Moon than to have the public accept a homosexual" - Broomstick

Divine Administration - of Gods and Bureaucracy (Worm/Exalted)
User avatar
Ghost Rider
Spirit of Vengeance
Posts: 27779
Joined: 2002-09-24 01:48pm
Location: DC...looking up from the gutters to the stars

Re: Emergency Backup FTL

Post by Ghost Rider »

Actually the Imperials aren't that destructive given that more times then not they have taken a path to conquer, not mindlessly destroy.

Also...problems of warp missile? Expense. As Starglider pointed out, the Cardassian missle gave one a clear idea of how much is needed to push something like that along and the ST powers don't have that material to fling around just to see what would happen.
MM /CF/WG/BOTM/JL/Original Warsie/ACPATHNTDWATGODW FOREVER!!

Sometimes we can choose the path we follow. Sometimes our choices are made for us. And sometimes we have no choice at all

Saying and doing are chocolate and concrete
Transbot9
Youngling
Posts: 50
Joined: 2009-10-27 12:10am

Re: Emergency Backup FTL

Post by Transbot9 »

Hyperspace: whoot - retcons. I didn't know about that particular one - then again, I've read very little EU stuff outside the Thrawn trilogy and that was years ago. Wookipedia is pretty vague on hyperspace being another dimension or not (looked it up right before this post). So due to EU conflicts with Hyperspace, I'll just go with old school dimensional hopping as it fits with Trek's definition of hyperspace.

Oh, wait, this helps my argument (sort of). Since Hyperspace is just normal space as viewed at FLT, an ISD should be able to slow down just enough to engage Federation vessels at their own speed.

ST Warp: More info than you'd ever want to know: http://www.ex-astris-scientia.org/warp.htm. And no, subspace submersion doesn't make much sense, but it's official trektech.

Warp-capable torpedo: Torpedoes already can be fired while in warp and maintain relative velocity to a certain extent. The problem is that either way, they are relatively short ranged. I have a hard time believing that it's impossible or impractical to extend it. Rather, it seems like it is just one of those things that nobody has thought of for some reason.
There are only two ways the Federation defeats the empire: Either some hot shot idiot of a captain uses the cosmic undo button known time travel (in a poorly written 2-hour special) to undo however the Empire ended up in the Milky Way, or the leftovers join the rebellion after being horribly crushed to provide them with cannon fodder. The OT plays out like normal with any "federation" support being not even notable enough to get a foot-note in the history books.
User avatar
Batman
Emperor's Hand
Posts: 16329
Joined: 2002-07-09 04:51am
Location: Seriously thinking about moving to Marvel because so much of the DCEU stinks

Re: Emergency Backup FTL

Post by Batman »

Transbot9 wrote:Hyperspace: whoot - retcons. I didn't know about that particular one - then again, I've read very little EU stuff outside the Thrawn trilogy and that was years ago. Wookipedia is pretty vague on hyperspace being another dimension or not (looked it up right before this post). So due to EU conflicts with Hyperspace, I'll just go with old school dimensional hopping as it fits with Trek's definition of hyperspace.
In the face of of Wars hyperspace NOT being that,
Oh, wait, this helps my argument (sort of). Since Hyperspace is just normal space as viewed at FLT, an ISD should be able to slow down just enough to engage Federation vessels at their own speed.
Err-why? Them moving FTL in realspace as opposed to some alternate dimension or other doesn't mean they can do so at arbitrarily slow OR fast speeds. It just means they CAN.
ST Warp: More info than you'd ever want to know: http://www.ex-astris-scientia.org/warp.htm. And no, subspace submersion doesn't make much sense, but it's official trektech.
As evidenced by-what,exactly? Ex Astris Scientia is NOT canon.
Warp-capable torpedo: Torpedoes already can be fired while in warp and maintain relative velocity to a certain extent.
The operative term being RELATIVE velocity.
I have a hard time believing that it's impossible or impractical to extend it
It isn't, as evidenced by the Warp-capable missiles you yourself mentioned earlier. That doesn't mean it's actually worth the effort.
'Next time I let Superman take charge, just hit me. Real hard.'
'You're a princess from a society of immortal warriors. I'm a rich kid with issues. Lots of issues.'
'No. No dating for the Batman. It might cut into your brooding time.'
'Tactically we have multiple objectives. So we need to split into teams.'-'Dibs on the Amazon!'
'Hey, we both have a Martian's phone number on our speed dial. I think I deserve the benefit of the doubt.'
'You know, for a guy with like 50 different kinds of vision, you sure are blind.'
User avatar
Darth Hoth
Jedi Council Member
Posts: 2319
Joined: 2008-02-15 09:36am

Re: Emergency Backup FTL

Post by Darth Hoth »

Batman wrote:Erm-hyperspace as an alternate dimension is no longer part of Wars continuity. It's merely realspace as seen from a FTL perspective.
Actually, I believe that line from the AotC: ICS was retconned out again in the CCS. There is also the matter of the WEG sourcebooks, which had "Other Space" or some similar parallel universe that was accessed through hyperdrive. As it stands, the nature of hyperdrive travel does appear to have at least some extra-dimensional component.
"But there's no story past Episode VI, there's just no story. It's a certain story about Anakin Skywalker and once Anakin Skywalker dies, that's kind of the end of the story. There is no story about Luke Skywalker, I mean apart from the books."

-George "Evil" Lucas
Transbot9
Youngling
Posts: 50
Joined: 2009-10-27 12:10am

Re: Emergency Backup FTL

Post by Transbot9 »

Err-why? Them moving FTL in realspace as opposed to some alternate dimension or other doesn't mean they can do so at arbitrarily slow OR fast speeds. It just means they CAN.
Doesn't mean they can't. Any evidence that a hyperdrive can't go slower than it's rating?

This portion of the article on Ex Astris does reference a lot of TNG stuff - they just don't cite the sources like they should. The Warp factor chart is from either pre-production or one of the tech books, and a lot of the other info on subspace I remember seeing in a number of TNG episodes.

If the dimensional aspect is completely removed from hyperspace travel, I don't see any reason technological why a SW ship couldn't just slow down to chase a trek vessel. If the dimensional aspect is mixed in the way it is with trek, then hyperspace travel equates to the next step above quantum slipstream and should be able to be slowed down to ST:tech levels when they need it. If it is old school dimensional popping out and back in, that would be closer to rendering my argument bunk.
There are only two ways the Federation defeats the empire: Either some hot shot idiot of a captain uses the cosmic undo button known time travel (in a poorly written 2-hour special) to undo however the Empire ended up in the Milky Way, or the leftovers join the rebellion after being horribly crushed to provide them with cannon fodder. The OT plays out like normal with any "federation" support being not even notable enough to get a foot-note in the history books.
User avatar
Batman
Emperor's Hand
Posts: 16329
Joined: 2002-07-09 04:51am
Location: Seriously thinking about moving to Marvel because so much of the DCEU stinks

Re: Emergency Backup FTL

Post by Batman »

@Darth Hoth:Thanks, I didn't know that.
Transbot9 wrote:
Err-why? Them moving FTL in realspace as opposed to some alternate dimension or other doesn't mean they can do so at arbitrarily slow OR fast speeds. It just means they CAN.
Doesn't mean they can't. Any evidence that a hyperdrive can't go slower than it's rating?
YOU claim they can, YOU provide the evidence. Besides, hyperdrive ratings (if the chart and measurements provided by Chokula are accurate) are wildly at odds with the speeds evidenced in the movies (as are some of the actual quantified speeds in the EU) and thus are of dubious reliability at best.
This portion of the article on Ex Astris does reference a lot of TNG stuff - they just don't cite the sources like they should. The Warp factor chart is from either pre-production or one of the tech books, and a lot of the other info on subspace I remember seeing in a number of TNG episodes.
No Warp factor chart was to my knowledge EVER presented on the actual SHOW and the incidents of Warp factors being associated with an actual quantified speed are far and few between.
If the dimensional aspect is completely removed from hyperspace travel, I don't see any reason technological why a SW ship couldn't just slow down to chase a trek vessel.
So you're a hyperdrive engineer now? Given that we have NO CLUE how hyperdrive technology works there might be OODLES of technological reasons why they can't.
Leaving alone the pointlessness of chasing down Trek ships to begin with (which Mike and others have already explained), we already KNOW Wars hyperdrive CAN'T be dialed down arbitrarily far, else fleet cohesion during jumps would be a nonissue. (I don't have the actual quote handy but in TTT Palleon muses that the reason fleets tend to jump to the outer system of a target rather than directly on top of it is
so the ships have time to reorganize because minusucule differences in the cycle time of the stardrive ALONE can scatter the fleet all over space. Hardly an issue if you can just ease on the pedal arbitrarily far).
We KNOW you can use Warp to go pretty much any speed STL to maximum Warp. We know no such thing for Wars hyperdrive.
'Next time I let Superman take charge, just hit me. Real hard.'
'You're a princess from a society of immortal warriors. I'm a rich kid with issues. Lots of issues.'
'No. No dating for the Batman. It might cut into your brooding time.'
'Tactically we have multiple objectives. So we need to split into teams.'-'Dibs on the Amazon!'
'Hey, we both have a Martian's phone number on our speed dial. I think I deserve the benefit of the doubt.'
'You know, for a guy with like 50 different kinds of vision, you sure are blind.'
User avatar
atg
Jedi Master
Posts: 1418
Joined: 2005-04-20 09:23pm
Location: Adelaide, Australia

Re: Emergency Backup FTL

Post by atg »

Batman wrote:@ (I don't have the actual quote handy but in TTT Palleon muses that the reason fleets tend to jump to the outer system of a target rather than directly on top of it is
so the ships have time to reorganize because minusucule differences in the cycle time of the stardrive ALONE can scatter the fleet all over space. Hardly an issue if you can just ease on the pedal arbitrarily far).
Actually IIRC Pellaeon indicates that fleets don't routinely meet just outside of a system because it is easy to get lost, and that he had and arguement with Thrawn over Thrawn's practice of doing so.
Marcus Aurelius: ...the Swedish S-tank; the exception is made mostly because the Swedes insisted really hard that it is a tank rather than a tank destroyer or assault gun
Ilya Muromets: And now I have this image of a massive, stern-looking Swede staring down a bunch of military nerds. "It's a tank." "Uh, yes Sir. Please don't hurt us."
User avatar
The Spartan
Sith Marauder
Posts: 4406
Joined: 2005-03-12 05:56pm
Location: Houston

Re: Emergency Backup FTL

Post by The Spartan »

Batman wrote:
Transbot9 wrote:
Err-why? Them moving FTL in realspace as opposed to some alternate dimension or other doesn't mean they can do so at arbitrarily slow OR fast speeds. It just means they CAN.
Doesn't mean they can't. Any evidence that a hyperdrive can't go slower than it's rating?
YOU claim they can, YOU provide the evidence. Besides, hyperdrive ratings (if the chart and measurements provided by Chokula are accurate) are wildly at odds with the speeds evidenced in the movies (as are some of the actual quantified speeds in the EU) and thus are of dubious reliability at best.
You know, there is real life precedent for a technology that acts exactly like that. That is, a method of propulsion that only works at high speed and doesn't have a lower gear, so to speak: a ramjet. I majored in Mechanical rather than Aerospace engineering but I do recall from my classes that ramjets do not work at subsonic speeds. They require supersonic airflow at the inlet to function as a ramjet. The result is that designers had to create a dual function engine. I don't remember the details on exactly how they did it, but the end result was a jet engine that worked as a standard jet at subsonic speeds and as a ramjet once the aircraft reached suitable speeds.

In fact, they used an engine like that on the SR-71 and part of the design of the aircraft was such that when it was traveling at high speed the supersonic shockwave coming off the nose lined up with the air intakes of the engines. Or so said my Fluid Mechanics professor.
The Gentleman from Texas abstains. Discourteously.
Image
PRFYNAFBTFC-Vice Admiral: MFS Masturbating Walrus :: Omine subtilite Odobenus rosmarus masturbari
Soy un perdedor.
"WHO POOPED IN A NORMAL ROOM?!"-Commander William T. Riker
User avatar
Starglider
Miles Dyson
Posts: 8709
Joined: 2007-04-05 09:44pm
Location: Isle of Dogs
Contact:

Re: Emergency Backup FTL

Post by Starglider »

The Spartan wrote:I majored in Mechanical rather than Aerospace engineering but I do recall from my classes that ramjets do not work at subsonic speeds.
Your memory is broken. The first ramjet powered aircraft was strictly subsonic. Ramjet-powered helicopters have been built; I assume you remember that helicopter rotor blades need to stay subsonic?

There is a starship drive concept called a Bussard Ramjet that needs high forward speed for 'compression' of ambient fuel/reaction mass, but there is no reason to believe hyperdrive is anything like that - it uses onboard fuel only.
User avatar
The Spartan
Sith Marauder
Posts: 4406
Joined: 2005-03-12 05:56pm
Location: Houston

Re: Emergency Backup FTL

Post by The Spartan »

Well, shit. I guess he was being more specific that I realized.
The Gentleman from Texas abstains. Discourteously.
Image
PRFYNAFBTFC-Vice Admiral: MFS Masturbating Walrus :: Omine subtilite Odobenus rosmarus masturbari
Soy un perdedor.
"WHO POOPED IN A NORMAL ROOM?!"-Commander William T. Riker
bz249
Padawan Learner
Posts: 356
Joined: 2007-04-18 05:56am

Re: Emergency Backup FTL

Post by bz249 »

Then take somethinge easier: the 4 stroke internal combustion engine. Its optimal rpm range is rather narrow: for a typical engine in a contemporary car it ranges from high hundreds to low thousands rpm. That´s why there is the gearbox there, otherwise it would be difficult to drive in the city and in the highway with the same car.

Of course it has nothing to do with the hyperdrive, but real life engines have a certain domain of optimal operation, and since an upper limit certainly exist for any hyperdrive it is not that irrealistic that a lower one exists also.
User avatar
Darth Wong
Sith Lord
Sith Lord
Posts: 70028
Joined: 2002-07-03 12:25am
Location: Toronto, Canada
Contact:

Re: Emergency Backup FTL

Post by Darth Wong »

I'm sick of the word "dimension" being used in sci-fi as a catchall excuse to explain away anything they can't bother to properly define, which is exactly how it's used by most authors. Take the "alternate dimension" of hyperspace and this stupid "mass shadow" bullshit. It's so goddamned idiotic that the person who thought of it should be flogged for public stupidity. Do these imbeciles even understand what "dimension" means? If there's another dimension and we can move around in it, we wouldn't fly through a star: we'd fly over it.

Take the analogy of going from two dimensional travel (ie- surface travel) to three-dimensional travel (air travel). In a plane, you simply fly over obstacles such as hills, buildings, and mountains. Mind you, you still must travel the same distance, so one objection immediately comes to mind: you have not necessarily shortened your travel distance at all, so the use of a fourth dimension (other than time) does not automatically allow you to go FTL. Not unless this other dimension is very strangely connected to ours, thus allowing you to use it like wormhole travel (which would obviously not require you to worry about flying through stars).

PS. It's worth noting that tachyonic travel does in fact require the use of another dimension anyway, ie- the complex number domain. Complex numbers exist perpendicular to real numbers. There is no telling how this would translate into reality (apart from the most obvious answer which is that they're simply impossible).
Image
"It's not evil for God to do it. Or for someone to do it at God's command."- Jonathan Boyd on baby-killing

"you guys are fascinated with the use of those "rules of logic" to the extent that you don't really want to discussus anything."- GC

"I do not believe Russian Roulette is a stupid act" - Embracer of Darkness

"Viagra commercials appear to save lives" - tharkûn on US health care.

http://www.stardestroyer.net/Mike/RantMode/Blurbs.html
User avatar
Connor MacLeod
Sith Apprentice
Posts: 14065
Joined: 2002-08-01 05:03pm
Contact:

Re: Emergency Backup FTL

Post by Connor MacLeod »

Galaxy Guide three for TESB covered the transit to Bespin. Basically it can be summed up the following:

- Han's tinkering with the Falcon screwed up the hyperdrive in some ways (Which was always finicky sas it is). It wasn't even conected reictly to the hyperdrive system nor to the Nav computer (and was described as an "old" model on top of that). And Han managed to damage it during his escape with the Avenger (but not critically), so that was further playing against it. Nevermind it was described as "painfully slow" to begin with.

The end result was that the Falcon could only make FTL jumps for "several hours", and needed course calculations made by hand. Solo only risked it for "short" hyprespace skips and that most of the travel was done at sublight speed (hence why Fett was said to be able to easily track the Falcon.)

Without knowing the exact distance we can't really determine how fast the thing moves. Its not like it needs to move ALL that fast anyhow - the whole point of a Backup hyperdrive is that it simply gets you to the nearest place where you can hopefully fix the main one - it doesn't need to be al that big, fast, or precise - it just needs to get you a short distance sompelace so you don't die of old age. (I once had a car that had an emergency tire that served a similar purpose.)

We basically know shit all about bakcup hyperdrives to really judge their usefulness in a combat situation, but for their purpose they really dont need to be all that fast or powerful, nor would you really expect them to be used in that way. They're a fucking emergency device. If you wanted that capability you're better off either equipping a ship with a hyperdrive that's slower. BEsides, some sources (EG the Lando Calrissian novels) mention hyperdrives being able to change their velocity as it is (which is pretty much required given the variable velocities.) so it seems eminently possible to "accelerate" in hyperspace (you need to manuver anyhow...) I think I discussed the tactical uses of hyperdrive somewhere else anyhow, you dont need to "chase" an enemy anyways (at least as long as you have sensor ability to track them.) There's no reason a hyperdrive couldn't pull a hit and run FTL against enemies either (you just might need to hyper out a greater distance to do it.)
Transbot9
Youngling
Posts: 50
Joined: 2009-10-27 12:10am

Re: Emergency Backup FTL

Post by Transbot9 »

Right, well, I think I'm going to throw in the towel on this - not because I don't think that it wouldn't be an interesting idea, but rather I'm too lazy to type out a lengthy discourse addressing a number of the things posted. Han poking at the hyperdrive (backup or regular) to coax it to Bespin makes sense in context of the movie (much like coaxing a car that keeps stalling).

BTW, I think the confusion over dimensions comes from it as a word that describes both "Alternate Reality" and "component of reality (length, width, depth, time, etc). Explanations to simple non-math people like me of certain aspects of string or quantum theory don't really help matters. Although, aren't there theories that gravity is a force that exists pan-dimensionally? Would a hyperdrive need to circumnavigate that along with the aspect of relativity that prevents FTL travel?
There are only two ways the Federation defeats the empire: Either some hot shot idiot of a captain uses the cosmic undo button known time travel (in a poorly written 2-hour special) to undo however the Empire ended up in the Milky Way, or the leftovers join the rebellion after being horribly crushed to provide them with cannon fodder. The OT plays out like normal with any "federation" support being not even notable enough to get a foot-note in the history books.
User avatar
Darth Wong
Sith Lord
Sith Lord
Posts: 70028
Joined: 2002-07-03 12:25am
Location: Toronto, Canada
Contact:

Re: Emergency Backup FTL

Post by Darth Wong »

Transbot9 wrote:Right, well, I think I'm going to throw in the towel on this - not because I don't think that it wouldn't be an interesting idea, but rather I'm too lazy to type out a lengthy discourse addressing a number of the things posted. Han poking at the hyperdrive (backup or regular) to coax it to Bespin makes sense in context of the movie (much like coaxing a car that keeps stalling).
The biggest argument in favour of the "backup hyperdrive" is from TPM: we've seen how big a hyperdrive unit is, even for a rather large vehicle like Amidala's blackbird, and it's shockingly small. It's like the size of a large plasma TV, which makes it more feasible for Han to be carrying a backup unit. However, it begs the question of why he never even mentioned the possibility, since a fully functional backup unit should be just as fast as the regular unit (indeed, one must wonder why the backup hyperdrive should be inferior in any way to the regular one if the damned things are so small). But of course, Han being Han, he would have used it years ago, and freed up the space so he could store more contraband.
BTW, I think the confusion over dimensions comes from it as a word that describes both "Alternate Reality" and "component of reality (length, width, depth, time, etc). Explanations to simple non-math people like me of certain aspects of string or quantum theory don't really help matters. Although, aren't there theories that gravity is a force that exists pan-dimensionally? Would a hyperdrive need to circumnavigate that along with the aspect of relativity that prevents FTL travel?
Even if gravity extended into this other dimension, so what? All you have to do is move farther into the dimension, and you avoid it. It's like avoiding a tall mountain by simply flying higher. The real problem is that it doesn't cut your traveling distance at all, especially since EU hyperdrive is defined as coterminous with realspace at all points. This means that hyperspace does not solve the problem of FTL travel at all. It would be more useful for avoiding detours in flight, ie- allowing you to make a straight flight despite obstacles, much like an aircraft can fly in a straight line from point A to B while a car must travel a winding road.

Hyperspace as defined in most of the EU is literally written as a meaningless escape clause from reality, which is a habitual behaviour among idiot sci-fi authors.

The whole thing could be retconned by saying that both statements are true: the ship must go tachyonic in order to travel at such great speeds, and hyperspace actually refers to the complex-number regime where the ships push most of themselves when they go tachyonic. However, the remaining real-space component and the limited submersion into hyperspace still means they can't go through extremely dangerous phenomena such as suns or black holes, although they might be able to pass through something like the Alderaan debris field without damage.
Image
"It's not evil for God to do it. Or for someone to do it at God's command."- Jonathan Boyd on baby-killing

"you guys are fascinated with the use of those "rules of logic" to the extent that you don't really want to discussus anything."- GC

"I do not believe Russian Roulette is a stupid act" - Embracer of Darkness

"Viagra commercials appear to save lives" - tharkûn on US health care.

http://www.stardestroyer.net/Mike/RantMode/Blurbs.html
User avatar
Starglider
Miles Dyson
Posts: 8709
Joined: 2007-04-05 09:44pm
Location: Isle of Dogs
Contact:

Re: Emergency Backup FTL

Post by Starglider »

Darth Wong wrote:(indeed, one must wonder why the backup hyperdrive should be inferior in any way to the regular one if the damned things are so small).
Cost. Hyperdrives seem to be really expensive.
Post Reply