OBS Invulnerable?

This may be a silly question but has anyone ever asked OWL if he could devise and create a means to disable the OBS? Way back in OAR OWL was very literal about his answers. I think he said something like 'no weapon available to him could damage the OBS from beyond the range of its defences' Given other things that have happened, I think there might be room for surprises (as defined by Honor) in that answer. But maybe someone can tell me different?

Randomiser wrote:This may be a silly question but has anyone ever asked OWL if he could devise and create a means to disable the OBS? Way back in OAR OWL was very literal about his answers. I think he said something like 'no weapon available to him could damage the OBS from beyond the range of its defences' Given other things that have happened, I think there might be room for surprises (as defined by Honor) in that answer. But maybe someone can tell me different?

In the first book OWL stated that he couldn't do anything with Rakurain with the systems and powers he currently control. Remember: OWL is the tactical computer, designed to military purpose.

Yet Owl was quite limited then.

Owl would have been able to use available weapon systems quite well but wasn't likely able to "think outside the box" in terms of creating weapon systems.

Currently, Owl might be able to "think outside the box" if asked to do so but even now Owl might have to be asked to do so.

IE Owl would not initiate such a research program.

Dilandu wrote:

Randomiser wrote:This may be a silly question but has anyone ever asked OWL if he could devise and create a means to disable the OBS? Way back in OAR OWL was very literal about his answers. I think he said something like 'no weapon available to him could damage the OBS from beyond the range of its defences' Given other things that have happened, I think there might be room for surprises (as defined by Honor) in that answer. But maybe someone can tell me different?

In the first book OWL stated that he couldn't do anything with Rakurain with the systems and powers he currently control. Remember: OWL is the tactical computer, designed to military purpose.

I doubt that possible. Remember; the defense systems of Rakurai were designed during the War against Fallen, were the possibility of high-tech attack were much more significant. If the Fallens (i.e. Shan-Wei followers) weren't able to do something against the Archangels (i.e. Langhorne followers) space superiority, we could assume that the OWL simply hasn't enought industrial capability.

Randomiser wrote:This may be a silly question but has anyone ever asked OWL if he could devise and create a means to disable the OBS? Way back in OAR OWL was very literal about his answers. I think he said something like 'no weapon available to him could damage the OBS from beyond the range of its defences' Given other things that have happened, I think there might be room for surprises (as defined by Honor) in that answer. But maybe someone can tell me different?

Most likely is that the Command and Control systems at the Temple will need to be taken. They are in the infamous 'basement' i would assume.

Randomiser wrote:This may be a silly question but has anyone ever asked OWL if he could devise and create a means to disable the OBS? Way back in OAR OWL was very literal about his answers. I think he said something like 'no weapon available to him could damage the OBS from beyond the range of its defences' Given other things that have happened, I think there might be room for surprises (as defined by Honor) in that answer. But maybe someone can tell me different?

OK I found the original passage I was thinking of; OAR p117 pb,
'The kinetic bombardment and solar energy platforms are nested in the center of a sphere of area defense systems and passive scanners which no weapons at my disposal can hope to penetrate, the AI told him.'

My suspicious mind naturally turned to weapons not then 'at his disposal' which might work. In those days if OWL didn't have it to hand he wouldn't have spontaneously offered to make it even
if he could.

I would like to ask this in a different way based on information from LAMA. Nahrman and OWL worked together on virtual research to build and program the new PICA. Could they do virtual research to theorize the construction of(based on all the information, including historical facts)and then potential flaws in each and every design. How would the OBS reach to a small swarm of SNARCs slowly settling towards it, over a 6 to 12 month period? These could be programmed to perform many destructive or disabling actions.

schoeffelk wrote: How would the OBS reach to a small swarm of SNARCs slowly settling towards it, over a 6 to 12 month period? These could be programmed to perform many destructive or disabling actions.

OWL tried to penetrate outer defense by heavily stealthed SNARC. The laser platform shoot faster.

I would like to ask this in a different way based on information from LAMA. Nahrman and OWL worked together on virtual research to build and program the new PICA. Could they do virtual research to theorize the construction of(based on all the information, including historical facts)and then potential flaws in each and every design.

It would be too speculative, and even if they found some flaws in design, they have only a very limited production capability. They couldn't build really effective planet-to-space weapon.

To my mind, there has to be some mechanism, probably located in or under the Temple, by which the orbital defense system can be turned off.

XofDallas wrote:To my mind, there has to be some mechanism, probably located in or under the Temple, by which the orbital defense system can be turned off.

Yes, that would be nice. Now, where did they scribble down the password?