the idea is that there is a target, and the target is hit by a projectile indirectly. if after solving the puzzle and action happens where this occurs, that would fit the theme. if no such action occurs, it would not.
hmmm. not quite. if you are shooting the crack with direct aiming, it is not an artillery-style shot. it may be an indirect effect on the target, but it is not an indirect shot. think of the theme as the shot itself as required to have a non-linear trajectory.