In article <j53d949k9acd0o666iq2gq6nqs1ig5khme DeleteThis @4ax.com>,
Dahak <Dahak_II DeleteThis @theXOUTfifthimperium.com.invalid> wrote:
> I wouldn't expect that a credible indigenous threat to the
>bombardment system could be developed without a noticeable
>above-ground infrastructure capable of being easily detected.
The above ground installation would be for delivery which comes later.
I take it by emission that it the electro-magnetic spectrum is implied.
So if one were to construct a chemical fuel or purely kinetic launch
mechanism without electromagnetic emissions then maybe one could reach
the launch platforms. We don't know how high are the platforms.
Presumably escape velocity is needed.
> Merlin does not have any base in the Reef.
A poster indicated that Merlin's cave is up north in "Mount Olympus" in
the Mountains of Light. I stand corrected.
> But they're mobilizing to deal with it. They know of the threat.
No spoilers..
> I think you've lost me, there.
>
> Are you suggesting that detectable activity on the Reef drawing a
>kinetic strike is somehow going to get the bad guys somewhere else?
No.. if Merlin creates an emission disturbance over Zion .. and
if he times the disturbance to happen after the Church has done a really
bad thing, what will be the consequence?
The mindless bombardment platform will start bombardment. It's many birds
in one stone:
1- Church installations are destroyed
2- Church looks like is being punished by God
3- The scientists - let's not argue where they are located, they could be in
Charis for all I care - would study the bombardment pattern for clues.
Next they can try with different emission signatures to probe the
detection envelope. They do all the probing in enemy territory or
uninhabited space like the Reef just in case they trigger a bombardment
response. The platform is an automatic system, i.e. no (natural)
intelligence.. just programming.. that's a weakness that humans can
exploit.
> As an aside: who cares about studying the bombardment pattern -
>especially after it's wiped out your budding colony?
You (respectfully) missed the point - the purposeful emission would happen
in enemy territory. At any rate if you don't accept the concept of the
colony, scratch that, make it a bunch of scientists doing underground work in
Charis. It would almost serve the same purpose.
> About the only way I can currently see disarming the system would
>be to offer it repeated targets to stamp flat, exhausting its cells.
>(Or, perhaps, using a long-range kinetic strike of their own in
>orbit.)
We don't know what's powering it. Not sure how far DW thought out
the energy consumption of the bombardment platforms. What is the
platform sending down? Nukes? Chemical? Death rays? Can't be just
rocks without a supporting mining operation or limited supply.
When the story line requires it, DW will reveal.
> Being able to fly the skimmer in atmosphere at medium mach numbers
>or into low-orbital flights over the horizon is /not/ the same thing
>as being able to fly into the defended engagement shell.
Somebody once that flying a paper kite or air balloon is no the same
thing as flying a heavier than air aircraft. People can do research
and probe and exploit weaknesses in the system.
> No. There'll be no 'board the bombardment platforms' being done
>without somehow infiltrating its command & control systems from the
>ground first.
Maybe there are controls in the Church grounds in Zion. If there are
Merlin could possible figure out how to operate them.
> Merlin has no revealed active system that can strike the
>bombardment platforms. The only things that I can imagine would be a
>long-range kinetic strike of his own using inert projectiles in
>intersecting counter-orbits (a scenario the designers must have
>anticipated), infiltrating it's control systems remotely, or
>alternatively, exhausting the system's offensive strike capacity.
We won't know without studying the bombardment platform and the best
way to do it would be to stimulate a response over an enemy territory or
uninhabited lands.
bassem
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