Would a far/free trader ever use missiles?

[actionman]

Question for the thread.

If a target merchant ship sets itself into a tumble or spin, how would a pirate take its cargo or board it?

 

[Arkathan]

Still under power? Weapons fire until it is no longer under power.
No longer under power? Piloting check to match the tumble/get the two in orbit, and if that isn't enough, send boarders across on a grav vehicle at the axis of spin or in suits with magnetic clamps.

Also, a hauler net or tow cable could be employed to get it under control.

 

[actionman]

Perhaps drones, networked to operate in unison, which would grapple or magnetically clamp the target, and then use their gravitic drives to stabilize the target.

 

[CordwainerFish]

Question for the thread.

If a target merchant ship sets itself into a tumble or spin, how would a pirate take its cargo or board it?

Depends. Does Trav's magic artificial gravity have an analogue to eddy currents?

 

[Arkathan]

Perhaps drones, networked to operate in unison, which would grapple or magnetically clamp the target, and then use their gravitic drives to stabilize the target.

Same with the drone operated cargo net

 

[swordtart]

Question for the thread.

If a target merchant ship sets itself into a tumble or spin, how would a pirate take its cargo or board it?

Tell them to stop messing about and if they are sick that they'll be cleaning it up. Fire on the cargo doors, catch the cargo as centripetal force throws it out.

But yes as Arkathan says home on in the centre of rotation.

 

[Sigtrygg]

Question for the thread.

If a target merchant ship sets itself into a tumble or spin, how would a pirate take its cargo or board it?

Shush, we are not allowed to ask questions like that. Assault pods just work, assault docking tubes just work.

 

[Condottiere]

Tractor beam.

Probably allows more leeway than trying to physically counter act unpowered, uncoordinated, movement.

 

[swordtart]

Shush, we are not allowed to ask questions like that. Assault pods just work, assault docking tubes just work.

Maybe they have a free rotating clamp and external door after the first door of the airlock at the business end. You could then "just" clamp on at the centre of rotation and carefully float in zero-g from your non-rotating airlock through the rotating external door. The rotating linkage might start leaking after a bit, but as long as you degas the air lock when not in use and give it plenty of space-lube, it should work when you need it.

Some ships use rotational gravity, where only parts of the ship rotate, so this shouldn't be impossible.