#6 - The SciPod Engines, World Building

Because of the top-secret nature of this FTL technology, all of these science ships were rigged with a self-destruct mechanism, activated if tampering was detected. The destruction left a certain part of the ship intact, but otherwise, the shaped-charge damage was total.

The secretive and powerful terraforming corporations often engaged in clandestine reverse engineering and other industrial espionage. The military arranged a space-based demonstration for them, to discourage attempts at tampering. The phenomenal explosion destroyed a mock-up of a SciPod.

Despite the military’s warning of this self-destruct mechanism and the threat of loss-of-life, one of the corporations still attempted to unveil the secret engine tech. The moon-based facility that had housed the illegal operation was practically vaporized in the explosion. The SBMMP received a signal immediately and were there within the hour to survey the damage, collect a fine and the value of the very expensive vehicle. They also combed the area for the remaining, very precious piece of debris. When it wasn’t found, General Swan had been furious. He doubled all of their licensing fees. The military did not bluff.

The SciPod ships were targets for pirates due to their FTL properties. Only one had ever been captured; their ability to escape and their typical out-of-reach locations generally prevented capture. The one SciPod had never been recovered. Certain events suggested that the pirates had figured a way to use the science pod as a propeller for their own craft, without triggering a self-destruct. It was possible.