Hello Sci-fi fans and writers, I hope that this here is the correct spot to ask this question regarding a conundrum I have come about during my work on a sci-fi short Story.
Outline
In said Short Story, I have some people (Agents) chasing after some other people (Heroes). The heroes stumbled upon some critical information that could damage the faction (Bad Guy) that employs the chasing party. The information got intercepted in time, but to make sure that the information wouldn’t be leaked again, they would need to silence the heroes.
Technology
In space there are two modes of flight: conventional reaction based propulsion and a higher speed propulsion which uses a so-called jump drive which flings the spaceship along a predetermined trajectory at high sub-light speeds (max speeds would be 0.5c). There is near instantaneous communications, but you would need to be in coverage of the network itself, which is flaky at best.
Conundrum
So how would agents be able to intercept / interdict the heroes in a plausible fashion? Would it be reasonable to have a micro wormhole generator or some other way to deploy gravimetric wells, which would destabilize the entire star system? Would it be anticlimactic to just have the agents wait for the heroes to finish their jump, as they would know where they would drop out?
I would love to hear opinions and suggestions from you.
Maybe something where the well generator pulls your Heroes off course from the pre-defined trajectory and they “drop out” to an unexpected situation, like (and also unlike) when the Millenium Falcon arrives at “Alderaan”?
I guess the method you choose depends on your universe’s departures from “real” physics, but also your story’s narrative aims. Are you looking to build a tense chase sequence or have a gotcha surprise?
I am looking for a “gotcha surprise”. The reader would know that the agents are on their toes to find and neutralize the heroes, which will then end in the interdiction and if still alive a space battle.
I wouldn’t want to meddle with gravimetrics as it would have unwanted consequences e.g. pulling planets, moons and asteroids out of established orbits and the like :)