[ExI] Physical limits of electromagnetic launchers

[Jeff Davis]

Regarding deceleration to land the probe..  The goal is to seed the
destination with a replicator, yes? And the replicator is composed of
a universal constructor and its data, yes?  Then there is one
circumstance where braking is unnecessary.

If the probe is inbound to a technologically advanced star system,
then one can avoid braking entirely by transmitting a "virus" that
hijacks a bit of the local manufacturing capacity.  It should be
possible to determine ahead of time -- perhaps even prior to launch --
if the destination system has the needed tech.  Then the probe listens
and evaluates en route, and configures the virus accordingly.  Some
thought might be given as to whether this is excessively "unfriendly".

Clearly, a special case.

Best, Jeff Davis