Re: [VV] Vectorverse FTL

As a minor point, in Niven and Pournelle's THE MOTE IN GOD'S EYE
and THE GRIPPING HAND (where StarFire's jump point system was
borrowed from), the Alderson jump points are *stationary*.
They do *not* orbit the primary star.

This means they *cannot* be defended by orbital fortresses.
Such fortresses are, well, in *orbit* around the primary star,
and will gradually move away from the Alderson point.

If they are made stationary with respect to the Alderson point,
they will start falling into the primary star.	Gravity, you know.

If you put station-keeping engines on them, they are not
forts any more, but are instead a species of warship.
And they lose most of the advantages a fort with no engines
has over a ship with engines.

In THE GRIPPING HAND, the points are defended by pickets of
starships, which have to accelerate *constantly* in order
to stay stationary with respect to the Alderson point.
There is a steady stream of fuel ships travelleing between
the picket and the closest gas giant.

Of course ships have to be relieved occasionally.  Running
the drive 24-7 puts a lot of wear and tear on them, so
they need regular maintainance.

OK, you can go back to what you were talking about.