Can Merlin build a base off planet?

n7axw wrote:Probably. I admit to ignorance as to how stationery orbits are maintained. As for your other comment, at the moment I wonder if the OBS is reacting to anything at all except direct threat to itself. If the theshhold is violation of the proscriptions, it should have reacted to steam.

Don

You are probably thinking of geosynchronous orbits, sometimes called geostationary orbits. An object in such an orbit is stationary with respect to the planet, which means they stay above the same part of the planet all the time. In other words, a geosynchronous satellite around the Earth orbits in 24 hours, the same rate that the Earth rotates.

A geosynchronous satellite is the only orbit which does not let the planet surface go by underneath it. Orbits closer than geosynchronous orbit faster than the rotation, and orbits further than geosynchronous orbit slower than the rotation.

Alistair wrote:With angels return a base off planet would give the inner circle a "bolt hole" if the angels win and turn back the clocks on Safehold.

A self sustaining habitat with a small number of people based on it would give the inner circle options if Charis was reduced to rubble.

They might be able to establish a "bolthole" base more easily on Safehold itself. Depends on the actual power of the OBS though... I think the OBS' power has to be limited to prevent it damaging the biosphere too much.

Nimue's Cave might well survive even if the OBS fired on that continent -- it seems like it uses a LOT of projectiles rather than a few extremely powerful ones... six miles of rock and metal might be enough to protect against it.