BP said:
You might want to also consider how/ramification of 'signal' interception/jamming.
Well, I'm trained as a Navy communications technician, and I've been dealing with various forms of electronics for the past 25 years, so yeah, I've considered that.
In order to make it easier on myself, I've decided that the FTL portion of the communications is very secure - no way to easy way to tap into that, as the ansibles have to be "tuned" to each other and know where and how many other ansibles are in range of them. So someone could "add" an ansible to tap into the FTL portion, but the other ones would immediately know it was there, setting off alarms. There are several ways to "tune" them, so that multiple networks can exist side by side - giving me coverage maps ala AT&T & Verizon's 3G coverage maps
The actual signals going back and forth will be more "standard" - various encrypted voice, video and data encryption streams, processed by by computers much like regular shipboard and planetside communications are. And since the tech will be j-drive based, like j-drives, the ansibles won't work inside the 100d limit - systems will have to have a platform outside the 100d limit, and comms will be standard light speed between them (allowing for some comm lag, and opportunities to "tap" into them).
Shipboard ansibles will cease to work inside the 100d limit, which should make for some interesting tactical situations to fleets using the ansibles.
phild said:
One group of people who'll be pursuing this technology very hard will be investment bankers. When the rest of the galaxy is basing stock market investments on jump-speed information, any individual with access to faster communications is going to be able to pre-empt the rest of the market, and make a complete killing. Similarly, if a feature of your campaign is mining MegaCorps chasing around after prime locations, those with faster comms will always be ahead of the competition.
I was making somewhat of a quick list of every entity that would be pursuing the technology once they learned of it, and how they might react:
Imperial Navy & Scout Service - would probably start by appealing to the patriotism of the PCs. Some particularly ruthless individuals might try to use some sort of laws to coerce/pry it from them. The Scout Service wouldn't rely on obtaining the technology, but would immediately embark upon an expensive research program to duplicate it, and feed every little bit of data they did manage to acquire to that program.
The Zhodani - stealth agents, would probably first attempt to simply pry it from the PCs minds, without them being any wiser. Depending on the precautions the PCs take, the tech might fall into the hands of the Zhodani first.
Various Aslan Clans - I could see internal problems within the clans themselves as the females attempt to buy it, where as many males simply want to seize it.
Various Vargr Clans - can you imagine the Charisma gain of being a Vargr who manages to acquire and effectively use the tech? I think most Vargr would definitely try a physical seizure of the tech in some way.
The MegaCorps:
Most of the megacorps would want the tech for their own internal communications systems, and would attempt to set up their own networks as a new communications divisions. Certain mega-corps, like Ling Standard, GSbAG, and General Products would have advantages in that they already produce jump drives, while other mega-corps like Naasirka and Makhidkarun already specialize in the communications equipment.
I'm thinking most of the firms would be reasonable in their pursuit of the tech at first - mostly suited guys with briefcases/datapads full of contracts with every increasing sums of money - until one of their rivals either acquired it or looked like they were about to. At that point, they'd probably start using more drastic measures to coerce the PCs into forking over the plans.
The more I look over this, the more I realize that I need a way for the PCs and their knowledge of the tech to be valuable, even if they sell it off to someone else for an incredible amount of money. That way they are always pursued by those who don't have it and those who do who would rather they not share it with anyone else.
Hmm - maybe I'm going about this all wrong - maybe the PCs should simply be hired by the guys who invent it.