Weird Harold wrote:sunhawk wrote:Diesel engines do not need electricity to work.
There have been several long discussions on whether Diesel engines could be used without waking the Orbital Bombardment System (OBS or "Rakurai") True, they don't use electricity, but electricity is not the only thing prohibited by the Proscriptions -- just the only thing specifically prohibited in detail. Diesel engines produce combustion byproducts unique to high-pressure combustion and that "pollution" could be one of the OBS triggers.
Personally, I think that steam is adequate for the immediate future and all types of internal combustion can be bypassed once the Proscriptions and OBS are dealt with.
Electricity may be specifically prohibited to be used on Safehold's surface, but it obviously is required for the defensive detection and response of the Rakuri array to the SNARC approach. It is also obvious that electricity is or will be required to the use of the "key" on the computer panel underneath the Temple. There is also the use of electricity by OWL, and in the skimmers and transports used by Merlin, and communicators given to the Inner Circle. Therefore, it appears that Mr.Weber intends that electricity is not detectable by the Rakuri sensors below a certain level, or not at all.
Eventual use of electricity is an imperative for technological development of Safehold civilization, which Mr.Weber has indicated as Merlin's goal.