((Question, doesn't plotting jumps take some time, with longer jumps needing more calculation time? ))
Yes, but minutes, not hours.
Or can we assume instant plotting?
Not instant, no. If you're being shot at, don't expect to insta-plot and jump to warp to escape. But when you're sitting around in a non-combat situation chatting each other like right now, I'm not going to post a turn update to say that you "start plotting" a course and then wait a real life day to tell you how long it will take to get there. Proper narrative flow, and all that.
Review what protocol for transponder failure is. Surely we have other identification methods. Comm codes for example, as I doubt our communucations are unsecured.
Review what Imperial procedures call for the wiping of the transponder. Mutiny, Piracy, scuttling ...
10ebbor10: I don't have a character submission for you. Would you like to play? Post major/minor skills and rank and so forth and then go ahead and have a walk onto the bridge moment
like Ituem did.
To answer the question:wiping the transponder code generation software (along with any other sensitive data) would be standard procedure in any instance where the ship is expected to be definitely lost, abandoned, etc.
Perhaps I was not sufficiently clear, but like
Taricus pointed out the Imperial code software and the ship identifier hardware are not the same thing. They are separate systems. Even a ship that's not a naval ship still has a transponder that identifies it.
Think of caller ID on a phone. It's all automated. When you make a phone call, you don't have to specifically do anything to turn caller ID on, that data is simply sent along with the conversation, and whomever's on the other end can see it. In the case of a military transmission, the Imperial code software provides a layer of authentication. But in your case, not only do you lack the code software, your ship's identifier that even any civilian vessel would have, is off.
So when the base comms officer received an incoming transmission with not only no authentication, but also what is effectively a great big "Caller ID blocked" on it, he just assumed it was a prank. It's not that the loss of the code software is a huge problem or that nobody could possibly believe you that you might be an Imperial warship, but right now you look like you're obviously trying to hide who you are.