Thanks, Shorty! That ought to get me a lot farther down the road.
As a matter of fact, you got it right: My plan is to build a linear motor launcher along that very track. That is, a "mass driver." It's only science fiction, but hey, all human endeavor starts as a fictional scenario in someone's mind!
Oh yes, this will
definitely give you something to look at!
I don't want to talk about the story too much because I have learned that I can either talk about a story or write it, but not both.